‘Tis chow time at Taste

Newport-Mesa stoves and ovens got a well-needed rest Friday night, as

the 17th Annual Taste of Newport began.

An estimated 75,000 people are expected to attend the three-day

food and wine festival. More than 35 restaurants and 15 wineries are

participating in the event.

Each night, a headlining musical act will take the stage. The

1980s throwback B-52’s are set to rock audiences tonight. 1990s

chart-toppers Hootie & The Blowfish are scheduled to headline

Sunday’s festival.

Two tribute bands also will take the stage tonight.

The Classical Mystery Tour pays homage to the Beatles, and Mark

Wood and the Parrot Heat Band is featuring the music of Jimmy

Buffett.

Mark Wood has lived for more than 20 years in Newport Beach and

has played at the Taste of Newport before. This is the band’s first

shot at the main stage.

“We’re really excited for the show,” said Wood, who used to own

Mark Wood’s Palm Street Club in Newport Beach. “We’ve played every

club here you can imagine. This is a great opportunity for us. We

want to get the crowd involved.”

His band, which was put together years ago as a Jimmy Buffett

tribute band for a corporate event, ranges from a solo act to a

13-piece ensemble. Wood said eight members will play this weekend.

They will perform a mixture of mostly reggae, rock ‘n’ roll and salsa

in the two-hour set.

The band has gotten the approval of Buffett himself. The famous

singer has asked them to open for him in concert before, even though

the Mark Wood band plays the singer’s music.

“It’s the only concert in the world where a band did the artist’s

music before the artist came on,” Wood said.

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Vice President Jeff Parker said

this year’s concert presales are the highest in festival history.

“We’re excited,” Parker said. “There are some great local bands.

We are happy to have one of them here.”

While people are listening to Mark Wood and the Parrot Head Band,

they will peruse food booths placed throughout the grounds.

Among the restaurants attending the event are Ciao, Five Crowns

Restaurant, Red Rock Chili Co. and Soprano’s.

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: 17th Annual Taste of Newport

* WHEN: 4 to 11 p.m. today; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday

* WHERE: Newport Center Drive at Fashion Island

* COST: $20 entry

* CONTACT: (949) 729-4400 or visit o7www.tasteofnewport .comf7

for more information