A few weeks ago I was able to check out a new tradition in Traverse City, titled the Comedy Arts Festival. This weekend of shows, brought to us by Michael Moore (as well as half of the people in the area who decided to volunteer for it), brought out a huge crowd. There were big names like Rosanne Barr (who has an extensive TV and Hollywood resume), John Waters (well-known for his odd/paranormal indie films) , and JB Smoove (from Curb Your Enthusiasm). The State Theatre was open all weekend for films from YouTube stars FunnyOrDie, and the City Opera House had acts that weren't so well-known. My personal opinion was that some of the material presented was a bit vulgar, but most of the weekend was good.