THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506040035
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
Despite a soggy start, skies cleared by midday and folks turned out by the thousands - albeit later than normal for a Saturday - at the Portsmouth Seawall Festival and Norfolk's Harborfest.
And even as people enjoyed the twin parties on either side of the Elizabeth River, some attending Harborfest were thinking ahead: To next year's 20th anniversary.
``It needs to be a big blowout,'' said Rick Sears, 23, of Norfolk. ``Big bands, big fireworks and big ships.''
What it will be is still uncertain.
But Chris Walker - who as this year's Harborfest vice chairman takes the helm Monday to begin organizing the anniversary event - promises a big show.
``We have considered a lot of things,'' Walker said Saturday as she walked in Town Point Park. ``But right now we're just talking to people and looking for ideas.''
And that's what Walker spent part of a suddenly sunny afternoon doing: chatting with festival goers to see what they like and don't like now and what they hope to see in a year.
Suggestions ranged from the simple - more portable toilets - to the unlikely - adding male dancers to the entertainment lineup.
``Nobody's idea is a bad idea,'' Walker insisted. But she couldn't help but grin at some suggestions.
``Better prices on the beer and a lot of single men,'' were the recommendations offered by Susan Montemurno, 27, of Norfolk.
Her friend, Linda Way, 29, of Norfolk, liked those. But she also had a few of her own, such as adding ``Touch of Scent'' air fresheners to the portable toilets and having ``a place where you can rent chairs.'' She quickly withdrew the second idea. ``No, no. Don't print that,'' she said. ``That might be our little business next year.''
Patty Graham, 42, of Virginia Beach said she enjoys the water events, but the crowds that gather along the promenade to watch get too thick. ``You need to spread it out so more people can see,'' she told Walker.
She also suggested that the edge of the park be lined with picnic tables, ``even if they had to be mounted permanently.'' And, for a festival whose theme is water-based, getting a glass of the stuff is difficult. She asked for more fountains.
Her husband, Glenn Graham, 49, said organizers should lengthen next year's festival. ``If it's the 20th anniversary, maybe it should be expanded by another day.'' And he suggested more activities and events for the younger crowd, including rides.
``One of the first things they asked when they got here was, `Are there any rides?' '' he said.
His son, Joey Graham, 13, made a pitch for some new entertainment. ``B*U*S*H,'' ``No Use for A Name,'' ``Live'' and the ``Phunkjunkies'' were among the names he shot off in rapid fire, all alternative rock bands.
His sister, Amanda, 14, had a decidedly different view of music, however. ``I want oldies,'' she said. ``I like when people start dancing to the oldies.'' She conceded her tastes might be unusual for her age group: ``I'm unique,'' she said.
Among the performers people said they would like to see featured next year are Garth Brooks, Wynona Judd, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Wayland Jennings and Michael Bolton.
One longtime festival spectator suggested an all-star lineup headed by Ray Charles and featuring the best performers from all the past Harborfests.
Many parents had requests. Top among them, a day-care center. Or, as Mary McLaughlin, 28, of Norfolk, put it: ``An hour-care center so parents can go off and eat and relax for a few minutes.''
Philip Ostrander, 35, of Virginia Beach said a petting zoo with pony rides would be a great festival addition. And Tiffany Basnight, 15, of Virginia Beach said water rides on boats big and small should be added.
But one ride that's already offered needs a change, said Bonnie Ostrander, 30, of Virginia Beach.
``Drop the cost of the ferry ride'' across the river between Portsmouth and Norfolk, she urged Walker. ``It should be a dollar both ways.'' Now it's a buck each way.
Stephen Cruise of Richmond said he would like a vendor's guide. ``There's five of us to feed and everyone has a different taste,'' he said. ``But it's hard when you just walk in circles to remember what there is and where it is.''
Others felt like there is too much to eat.
``It seems like there is more food than anything else,'' said Jackie Holst, 46, of Chesapeake. ``This is really nice, but I would like to see more craft shows.''
Much of what Walker heard Saturday was praise for this year's festival. In particular, a lot of folks liked changes in the layout, especially the addition of a food court area which included standing tables where people could eat and bales of straw they could sit on.
``It's much better than sitting on the ground,'' said Nancy Lassiter, 59, of Portsmouth, as she relaxed with her husband Harry.
Although she said she's been to 13 or 14 festivals over the years, Lassiter expressed surprise when told the 20th edition is around the corner.
``I had no idea it had been that long,'' she said. ``But I love it. I wish you could do it every weekend.'' She said she loves beach music and wants more.
Michael Coyner, 38, of Norfolk, was just ending his teenage years when the first Harborfest was held.
``We've been coming to every one since that started,'' he said. ``I've got T-shirts for every year but one. Of course, I don't fit in one of the earliest ones anymore.''
Funny how the old shirts shrink, his wife, Suzanne, 34, suggested.
She said she would like to see more tall ships next year. And she said that while she liked the addition of more seafood items to the menus of the vendors, she wished the festival would add some outdoor wash basins so folks eating crabs or shellfish have some place to clean up. ``We snuck behind one of the tents to use a hose,'' she said.
Kay Barrera, 43, of Chesapeake, had a different idea for a good time at Harborfest - bring on the Chippendale Dancers.
``They'd be great, but that wouldn't be a really family thing, I guess,'' Barrera said of the famous, risque male dance troupe.
Barrera said one of her favorite parts of the festival is the wide variety of foods offered by vendors. ``I never know what I am going to eat.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff
Elizabeth Neely, 11, of Virginia Beach, rests on the fluke of the
anchor in Town Point Park Saturday afternoon during Norfolk's
Harborfest. Despite a soggy start, skies cleared by midday and folks
turned out by the thousands.
by CNB