THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 13, 1994 TAG: 9407120129
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Helen Snow says cooking a big meal for friends is her favorite way to spend a day off, but this Saturday the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts president plans to leave the cooking to someone else. She's playing host to the ``Yabadabadoo!'' dinner party in which up to 100 guests are expected to turn her Princess Anne Hills back yard into a scene right out of Bedrock. The fun is all part of the center's ``A Taste for Art'' fund-raising series.
Full name: Helen Easter Snow.
Hometown: High Point, N.C.
What brought you to the Beach? Position at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts - two years ago.
Birthdate: 20th century.
Occupation: President, Virginia Beach Center for the Arts.
Nickname: None.
Marital status: Divorced.
Children: None.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? Sleep late, read on the beach, late lunch with a friend, putter around old bookstores, photograph and explore new neighborhoods, cook a big meal for friends.
Last smart thing you did: Moved to Virginia Beach.
Last dumb thing you did: Ask my assistant - I'm sure she heard about it.
Favorite meal: That's a toss-up between Chesapeake crabcakes and fresh pasta.
Favorite movies: I'm a cinema junkie so here goes: ``Out of Africa,'' ``Four Weddings and a Funeral,'' ``No Way Out,'' ``Scent of a Woman,'' ``The Color Purple'' and on and on. . .
Favorite song: I like all good music, but especially rock 'n' roll and the blues. Here are some of my favorites: ``Layla,'' by Eric Clapton; anything by the Beatles; ``The Road's My Middle Name,'' by Bonnie Raitt; anything by Billie Holiday; ``Auberge,'' by Chris Rea; and ``Good Intentions,'' by Lyle Lovett.
Last book read: ``Talk Before Sleep'' and ``Momma Makes Up Her Mind.''
Hobbies: Traveling anywhere, reading, rock and blues concerts, collecting contemporary crafts, photography.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be an astronaut by day and a ballerina by night.
If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be? I did.
Secret vice: Champagne (but I don't think it's a secret).
Favorite restaurant: This area is blessed with wonderful restaurants, but a few of my favorites include: The Dumbwaiter, Five-01 City Grill, Pasta e Pani, The Lucky Star, Coyote Cafe and Chick's Oyster Bar.
Your favorite night on the town: Fly to Florence, Italy, for pasta and chianti and dance till dawn on the Excelsior's roof garden.
Favorite TV shows: ``Murphy Brown'' and ``Northern Exposure.''
Favorite sport: Snow skiing, but I think race car driving would be my favorite if I get the chance to do it!
Last vacation: Driving from the Rockies to the desert: Denver to Santa Fe.
Pets: The wildlife in my back yard.
Worst job: I can't say. . . but there was a uniform and a cowboy hat involved. Need I say more?
Of what achievements are you most proud? Raising my parents in spite of 1950s television.
What would you like on your epitaph? Too busy livin' to die. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
KEYWORDS: INTERVIEW PROFILE
by CNB