Hasta la Vista Newport - A Festive Downtown Enjoyed by Hundreds

Big line-up at the Buffalo Chili

QNEK productions were a crowd favorite

A blue "Whatsit" got lots of looks

Gorgeous Plymouth

Model A's, a perennial favorite at the show

The kids loved this mascot on a Plymouth Hot Rod

By Manfried Rieder Starhemberg

The jury was out when we left but at Jaspers for once the Red Sox, ahead on TV at the time, were relegated to second place as everyone was still filling out ballot forms for the favorite chili. Jaspers had a stand of course, so the patrons were somewhat reluctant to opine about the quality of the competition but slowly some crows favorites emerged. There was the chili by the Fresh Start Community Farm, our personal favorite, hotly contested by the Buffalo Farm chili and the "Duck chili". One patron eulogized the entry by the golf club bust after some ribbing by other jurors admitted that: "Well I work there, so I better vote for them".It was a very good chili nevertheless as was the one from the actors of QNEK productions who put on a lovely show with great zest, excellent music and immense joviality. But then, so were all of the contestants, outgoing, eager to explain ingredients and sharing "secret recipes". This was a  superb day which showcased how vivacious and generous the downtown merchants, the volunteers from the many groups who worked together to have this festive event and of course the local people who mostly walked there can be. It was fun, colorful and luckily we were blessed with a glorious fall day with the sun glimmering brightly on the lake, the last boats of summer bright against the distant hills and a general feeling of neighborliness and well being everywhere.

As a bonus, some 20 old car enthusiasts put on a parade and the vehicles could be viewed near the Gateway for those who needed to walk off some of the chili.
Saturday showed Newport as it should be every weekend - a vibrant colorful town full of appreciative visitors to enjoy the many sights, sample the excellent food and savor the drive to and from the city through the magnificent Vermont countryside.