Thu, Jun 23 2016 - Piedmont Park Early Evening Hike + Optional free outdoor Atlanta Symphony Concert (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Luz Maria, Eva, Kathleen M, Clay White, Elvi, Carol, Brigitte, Gloria Colley, Jerry Colley, Mtn Mike, Shirley N, Tom N, Gena, Armin, Oscar

We had a fine time Thursday evening at Piedmont Park and after the hike enjoyed the marvelous outdoor ASO concert.  At about 6:30 PM we staked out an ideal shady viewing spot high on the lawn of the huge natural "Oak Hill" amphitheatre, where about 10,000 other music and nature lovers also gathered for the big event.  Thanks to Jerry, Armin and others for watching our "stuff" while most us continued the hike and rejoined them there at 7:30 just before the concert began.

Conductor Joseph Young and the Orchestra did a bangup job with beautiful music including the overture to Rossini's Barber of Seville, a jazzy bass trombone Concerto and Beethoven's immortal 5th Symphony.  It concluded at about 9:30 with Sousa's Stars & Stripes Forever. the traditional rousing finale for these free ASO summer concerts that were first led by the legendary conductor Robert Shaw in the 1960s.

Our hike included some of the lesser known areas and trails in the newer NE quadrant of the Park including the Six-Springs Wetland trail.  In the lovely "Promenade" a friendly park visitor used Elvie's camera to take a group shot of us playing in the "waterjets fountain." 

Thanks to my fellow AOCers and ASO members - friends both old and new - who made this such an unforgettable experience!  Clear skies and a few nice breezes made it quite pleasant all evening although it was warmer than average for late June.
  -Submitted by Charlie, 6AM Friday