A tasty idea for a tasty event

In this economic climate, when the only sure stock is in parachute

companies, a loss of 6% from a year ago is pretty much a victory. By

that measure, the Taste of Newport, financially, was a scrumptious

success.

It certainly felt crowded, even if there were fewer people there

in part, organizers with the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce say,

because the stage acts weren’t quite as big as in 2001.

Even though food’s the real draw, it takes big-time names to pull

people out of the recesses, to get them to spend the money at the

gate and then at the booths. So, although chamber folk no doubt know

this, the mission and goal should be a series of real crowd

attractors (not to mention pleasers) for Taste of Newport 2003.

And keep the French dip sandwiches, sushi, kebobs and desserts

coming.