Baltimore celebrates Honfest 2013
Charm City Rolller Girls
It’s a shutterbug’s heaven! And, it’s called “Honfest!”
It is up and running “On the Avenue,” in Hampden. Saturday was opening day, with an 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. schedule.
On Sunday, the annual fun-filled event runs from noon to 6 p.m.
Any and all things associated with Bmore are celebrated in a massive one-of-a kind, Hon-a-thon.
Think iconic filmmaker John Waters; Highlandtown in the 50s; the drapes and the squares; Elvis; your father’s mustache; a Saturday night dance at the American Legion and/or K of C; tattoos; the colors pink and blue; beehive hairdos; Gov. William Donald Schaefer in a 1930s bathing suit; wide, like really wide, sunglasses galore; beads; large earrings; umbrellas; bow ties; Natty Boh, and, just about anything else in quasi-bad taste, that falls in between.
The first person I ran into at the festival was the popular Baltimore City Councilwoman, Mary Pat Clarke. Then, I bumped into two of my fave gallery owners from the “Avenue,” Minas Konolas and Rick Santiago. I also got a chance to chat with the Hampden-based artist, Matt Muirhead, and the poet/artist, Dina Marie Varsalone. And, soon after that, I encountered some of the “Charm City Roller Girls.” They were out spreading good will for their team and for the Roller Derby League. [Note, they play their home games at the Du Burns Arena over in Canton, Hon.]
Somewhere along the way, I stopped long enough to have my portrait drawn by the artist – Che Smith. If you get a chance, check out Honfest. It’s a don’t-miss kind of event.
Bill Hughes is an attorney, author, actor and photographer. His latest book is “Byline Baltimore.” It can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/William-Hughes/e/B00N7MGPXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1