Tattoos and Blues and Adventures

Two of my friends went to the annual Tattoos and Blues festival last year. One went looking for inspiration for a new tattoo. The other just wanted to experience a subculture for an afternoon. ("It's to expensive to travel anymore, so I'll just let other cultures come to me," she explained.) Both had wonderful things to say about the event.

My tattooed buddy said the Flaming Resort Hotel, which hosts the event, was full of top tattoo artists from around the world. You can wander from booth to booth and watch them work, or, if you you're so inspired, you can get inked right there and then. And my wanderlust-friend had a blast learning about a whole new world. She's always full of great stories about her escapades traveling around the planet. And these days, she'll throw in a story about the Tattoos and Blues festival into the mix.

They both plan on going to the Festival this weekend when it returns to the Flamingo. One is getting a new tattoo. (A small starfish by her ankle.) And the other, I'm sure, will collect a new adventure.

• See photos of Tattoos and Blues.

Izzy's 18th annual Santa Rosa Tattoos & Blues
Friday, Feb 27 to Sunday March 1; 12pm
(530) 842-6100
Flamingo Resort Hotel, 2777 4th St. (at Farmer's Lane)
Santa Rosa, CA

Three days of the finest tattooing by artists local and from around the world. Live Blues music, tattoo contests, circus acts, seminars, unique gifts.