This past weekend was a typical one in this urban American milieu: There was a street “faire” with local vendors, face-painting, live music, and Bard-inspired story telling; a free performance of classical music; the standing up of a special fall produce market featuring local fresh apples and pears, just now ripe; a design month exhibition staged at various locations across the city; a grand reopening of an independent science fiction bookstore; a show bringing together more than 100 local