THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501200208
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 112 lines
Monday, Jan. 9
6:37 p.m. - Virginia Beach Boulevard.
The license plate on a dark-colored Oldsmobile causes other motorists to wonder if the driver is talking about The Beatles or Freud.
The plate reads: LET ID B.
- Holly Wester
Tuesday, Jan. 10
2 p.m. - Parking lot at Virginia Wesleyan College.
A pro-choicer proclaims her activism by plate and bumper sticker.
While the license tag reads 1 4CHOIC, the sticker is much more thought-provoking: If you can't trust me with a choice, how can you trust me with a child?
- Holly Wester
Friday, Jan. 13
12:58 a.m. - TV commercial.
Sign of the times.
An art college's late-night advertisement on MTV uses a unique technique to attract students.
The screen reads: You've perfected the craft of making fake IDs. Now why don't you do something more creative with your time?
- Holly Wester
11:45 a.m. - Virginia Wesleyan College.
The window of a dorm room shows the eclectic taste of the resident. More than 20 packets of Taco Bell sauce are taped to the window, along with the words ``THE SHRINE.''
- Holly Wester
12:05 p.m. - Virginia Wesleyan College.
Professor Joyce Howell is beginning her January term class by asking students which night of the week would be convenient for an after-school meeting.
The group of eight students tosses around evenings, accounting for work schedules and necessary appointments.
``Monday is out of the question,'' one young woman says, with the rest of the class members shaking their heads in agreement.
A two-hour ``Melrose Place'' episode is the unspoken reason.
- Holly Wester
1:30 p.m. - Central Fidelty Bank at Pembroke.
Wishful thinking? The bank lobby is full of paraphernalia for Super Bowl XXIX - pennants, cups, posters, fancy bulletin boards and - behind the counter - a teller dressed in burgundy and gold wearing a Washington Redskins hat.
- Melinda Forbes
Sunday, Jan. 15
4 p.m. - Chix Cafe.
As the final seconds tick off the San Diego/Pittsburgh game, fans of the Super Bowl-bound team cheer in the packed oceanfront bar.
One man wearing a Steelers shirt takes his Pittsburgh hat off, throws it to the floor and begins to stomp and kick it.
Another patron looking on calmly offers the distraught fan a dollar for the cap.
- David B. Hollingsworth
5:05 p.m. Frankie's Place For Ribs, Fairfield Shopping Center.
A young man with an ear-to-ear grin approaches a couple at a booth.
``Hi, I'm Ryan,'' he says, giving them menus. ``I'll be your server this evening. How're you all doing?''
The man stares at Ryan, glumly.
``Not too good. My Steelers just lost,'' he answers. ``I'm still in denial.''
Ryan laughs.
``Wasn't that a great game!'' he exalts. ``I'm a San Diego fan. I am so glad they won!''
The man laughs in spite of his mood. ``This is the ultimate humiliation - being served by a Chargers fan,'' he says.
Ryan takes their order and shortly returns with a rack of pork ribs and grilled swordfish.
``Hope this helps,'' he says, still smiling. The man gives him a withering look.
Five minutes later Ryan returns with another, smaller rack of ribs.
``Here, this is from the cook,'' he says, as the man looks up in astonishment. ``He's a Pittsburgh fan, too. He can't believe they lost. Enjoy.''
``Thanks a lot,'' the man replies. ``This will help. I'll just stuff my feelings with food.''
- Pam Starr
7 p.m. - Pavilion Theater.
Applause, applause, applause. The near-packed house greets the city's ever-enthusiastic mayor, Meyera Oberndorf.
``But I'm not here to conduct the Virginia Symphony, they're far too talented for me,'' she gushes into the microphone. ``However, I am here to introduce the conductor of the new Casual Classics series here at the Pavilion. Leading the orchestra this evening is Virginia Beach's very own, Russell Stang . . . ''
A quiet gasp projects from the musicians. Russell Stanger, former conductor of the Virginia Symphony, is nowhere in sight. (Nor is he scheduled to be anywhere near the podium.)
``Oh, my goodness,'' Oberndorf moans at her faux pas. ``I mean, leading the orchestra is Virginia Beach's own - Walter Noona.''
Noona, well-known conductor and jazz pianist, strides out from the wings, throws his arms around the pink and flustered Oberndorf and simply patches up the crisis with a big hug and kiss.
A quick hop onto the conductor's platform, a quicker exit by the mayor, and it's Handel's ``Water Music'' at full tilt.
- Marlene Ford ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
No, we haven't had a dusting yet. Stoney's Produce on First Colonial
Road just makes it look that way with a tall snowman made of straw
and covered with lime. Unseasonably warm temperatures last week made
the sight even odder. But winter storms were only around the
corner.
by CNB