Chairs say fair was successful

Despite inclement weather on Sunday, Spring Fair 2002 was hailed an unprecedented success by the Spring Fair Committee.

"Sunday's rain was not enough to ruin the success of the Friday and Saturday, and thus we can confidently say that Fair as a whole was a great success," said Spring Fair co-Chair Joseph Hanauer. "The Beer Garden broke all single-day records for ticket sales, and the Roots show in the Recreation Center became the largest concert in Hopkins history."

This marked the second year that the fair was held on Garland Field, and vendors shared mixed feelings on the site. Oscar Wageley, who owns a jewelry store called Beaches, has been coming to Spring Fair on and off for 22 years. According to Wageley, whose booth was located on the road next to Garland, Garland Field is an "excellent location," allowing for "smoother and easier" selling and purchasing of wares. John Kalenski, another jeweler, has been coming to Hopkins for 10 years and feels that business was "better on the quad." Kalenski was one of the six or seven crafts vendors who remained on the pavement Sunday, after the rain deterred all who had spots on the field.

"I'm grateful that the Spring Fair Committee allowed us the opportunity to sell on the asphalt," said Kalenski. "I do very well here ? but I know a lot of vendors who are not returning because of the [location on the] field. Even in good weather, dust can ruin merchandise like jewelry, paper products and clothing."

The Spring Fair Committee is pleased with the changes made to the layout of vendors, and cite this as a chief reason for the fair's success.

"Our food, nonprofit and arts & crafts vendors enjoyed our improved layout and space utilization, with its separation of groups and its increased pedestrian accessibility," said Spring Fair co-Chair Yue-Yung Hu. "We do have a very large turnover for arts and crafts vendors ? certain [crafts] just aren't suited for this kind of fair."

Hu also said that the committee is "still adapting" to the shift to Garland Field, and is "definitely willing to adapt and change" to suit the needs of vendors and patrons.

According to Hanauer, the number of arts and crafts vendors was "well over 100," a number that remained about the same as last year.

The number of food vendors, however, was reduced by a third to 26 or 27. Hanauer felt this move was successful.

"The vendors got more business, and we improved our relations with them," said Hanauer. "It's a step in the right direction."

Most vendors did praise this measure, citing the decrease in competition as a benefit for all those involved. Dottie Taylor, from Lenden Corps Beverage, described this year's Spring Fair as "the best year ever" for business. The company has been a regular at the fair for seven years, and was "glad [they] stuck around" on Sunday, since the weather improved by mid-afternoon.

A vendor from Kurtz Korn and Nut House, however, suggested that "perhaps a percentage might be appropriate ?as a guarantee against inclement weather."

One food vendor, who asked that his name not be used, predicted on Monday that he "lost $1700" at the event, due to what he termed "poor planning." Hu expressed skepticism at this number, but acknowledged that a certain level of trial and error is involved with food sales.

"We're sorry that this happened," said Hu. "It means that this is not the fair for him, and we will both pursue other avenues in the future."

Fair-goers flocked to the vendors on Friday and Saturday, and the long lines were constant. Freshman Song Hia, who stood in line for his second pit beef sandwich at Pasadena Joe's, expressed his appreciation for the cultural, down-home nature of the food that was sold.

"[The sandwich] tasted like heaven, in beef form," said Hia. "I have two or three new favorite foods because of Spring Fair."

Many booths at Spring Fair were run by students. The Hopkins Christian Fellowship, who sold snow cones, had "very good" business, and expected to make a profit. The Jewish Students Association (JSA) didn't predict they would make a significant profit, but they had not anticipated making one either.

"We are the only booth that provides kosher or strictly vegetarian food," said JSA member Dan Rosenthal. "We provide that service for people."

Members of Sigma Chi Sigma, a local group petitioning to receive a charter from Sigma Chi Fraternity at Hopkins, raised a total of $1002.25 selling Children's Miracle Network paper balloons for one dollar apiece

"We're trying to get as much money for the kids as we can," said founding member Joseph Chung. "We also want to help bring support, more diversity, and more positive recognition to the Johns Hopkins' Greek system."

This year's Kid's Section involved the Just Read literacy program, and featured characters and themes from the book The Phantom Tollbooth.

"The Phantom Tollbooth project drew hundreds of children from various outreach programs, elementary schools and Baltimore area families," said Hanauer.

Friday's Casino Night raised over $1200, which will also go to local literacy programs.

In addition to vendors, games and rides, entertainment was provided on a stage outside of Garland Hall. Featured performers included the Burn It Up Models, the JHU Belly Dancing Troupe, The Beltways, Tube and the Macdaddies.

Other bands performed at the 98Rock Beer Garden Stage, including The Players, Kustom Blend and Lennox. There were nine booths at the Beer Garden, and all had varying levels of success with their sales. According to Spring Fair Committee member Nikolas Buescher, the event was more about having fun than making money.

"On Friday, most groups didn't make a profit," said Buescher. "A lot of the people who attend [the Beer Garden] were still at work. It was a day for the groups to relax and have fun."

Still, Saturday was a successful day for groups, with a total of 40 kegs sold. According to Buescher, it was "the best [success] in quite a few years."

The Beer Garden was closed on Sunday, due not only to the weather, but to the fact that most groups did not show up by the 12 p.m. opening. With an inch of water, and "no one to staff," the committee was forced to cancel, according to Hu. While the groups may have lost out on another day of sales, they did not have to pay for Sunday's kegs.

Tae Kwan Do's booth, which was in a "prime location," according to member Dave Koch, predicted to cover their kegs and possibly make a profit. In addition to selling beer, the group demonstrated their board-breaking skills on Friday.

Security Guard George Kibler, who has been at Hopkins for five years, described the night as "very uneventful, from a security standpoint."

"This was a rather pleasant, very well-maintained event," said Kibler. "There was a nice blend of young, middle-aged, and family [patrons].