It?s that time again, hon.
Dust off the pink feather boas, bust out the cat?s eyeglasses, grab a can of Aqua Net ? Extra Super Hold, natch ? and head down to Hampden, where kitsch glamour will rule again at this year?s HonFest.
Dozens of vendors, musicians and quirky competitions are set to draw thousands of visitors to a four-block stretch along the Avenue, on 36th Street, honoring the Beehive era. Everyone?s invited to glam up their inner doll.
“It?s a very festive mood, kind of just down-to-earth, happy,” said Carol Breining, who owns the store Mud and Metal, on the Avenue. “There?s so many people in and out.”
It all started in 1994 at a neighborhood summer fair with the crowning of the city?s first Best Hon, Stella Gambino. She made a killer cannoli cake. Best Hon is still a festival staple, minus the original contest?s baking component, but now the whole day belongs to Bawlmer.
“People have called me up and said, tell me about this hon phenomena,” said Denise Whiting, who owns Cafe Hon and runs HonFest. “It is really and truly a celebration of working-class values … in every city and every year across the country.
“The contest itself is really an opportunity for women to have fun, and for us to honor the working woman.”
Her favorite part of the day? The kids? run for Best Lil? Hon and Honette.
“So hammy, so cute and so precious,” she said.
Not everyone has an intact pair of cat?s eyeglasses or knows how to stack and style hair that high. Fair enough ? head to the Glamour Lounge and the Hon Boutique for an unusually extreme makeover. Other highlights include the Hon Run, where dolled-up ladies show off their waitressing skills, and Spam Bowling. Stop by Soup?s On at Rose?s Cookies for coconut juice, berry lemonade and Jell-O cupcakes. Little HonFest delights.
How big can this whole Bawlmer phenomenon get? Whiting said she feels like she?s on a book tour these days, with so many media appearances. She?s even had a spot on CNN.
“Yeah, that?s pretty national, hon,” she said.
