| Easton resident Leslie Westbrook's dream came true this weekend when a little piece of Morocco came to Easton. "A year ago, I traveled to Morocco," Westbrook said. "I fell in love with the culture, the people, the food, the music." Captivated with the idea of bringing Moroccan flair to Easton, Westbrook rallied the creative staff at the Academy Art Museum to produce a two-day fundraiser for the academy that came to be called "Paint the Town Moroccan!" "Welcome to a historic event for our small, but mighty town of Easton," Westbrook told a crowd gathered on Harrison Street Saturday afternoon to welcome the former US Ambassador of Moroccan Ed Gabriel and Moroccan Ambassador Rachad Bouhlal. The weekend began Friday evening with a free lecture by former Ambassador Gabriel, who was instrumental in helping the group bring members of the Moroccan-American community of Washington, DC, and the Moroccan ambassador to town. On Saturday afternoon, Harrison Street became the scene of a "Marrakesh Souk" or Moroccan Market, with tents full of vendors selling colorful Moroccan dresses, sparkling ornate silver and piles of vivid, handmade wool rugs. Moroccan-American women served up trays of exotic cookies and breads. As desert music drifted through the air, a bellydancer shimmied her way through the crowd. Gabriel made the introductions as the "Marrakesh Souk," or Moroccan Market, was opened officially by Moroccan Ambassador Bouhlal, who spoke of friendship between the two nations ... |
