Magnetic Hill residents stay home, enjoy concert
Published Monday June 29th, 2009
Neighbours along Front Mountain Road tune into Bon Jovi from their backyards
Residents in the Magnetic Hill area welcomed Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, and David Bryan, and about 33,000 more people to their neighbourhood last night.
And what a warm welcome it was.
All along Front Mountain Road, the lawns, patios, pools, and driveways of homes were transformed into some of the best -- and most fun -- vantage points for the big show, with all the amenities of home, to boot.
But although nearby residents could boast about being able to listen to a world class act like Bon Jovi from the comfort of their patio while being able to grab a refreshment in the fridge or step into their own washroom, some needed to install portable toilets on their own lawns due to the sheer number of family and friends who dropped by to enjoy the free entertainment.
Now that is authenticity.
"Feel free to enjoy the blue room," said Mary Lou Little, who was visiting her friends Richard Foran and Stella Walker.
"We're having a hard time, we're not relaxing," said Foran, his voice full of obvious sarcasm as he happily hosted friends from Woodstock and Kentville.
"We always have a lot of guests. We enjoy the hell out of it. We don't do anything small," said Foran, referring to the abundance of snacks, refreshments, and the fireplace that would keep the party going long after the last notes of music were played on stage.
The party had already started early in the afternoon for Gary Kenny, who was sporting a tall novelty party hat wrapped in faux fur that read "over the hill."
"We have the million dollar view; every year it's pretty awesome," said Kenny, from his driveway. "We have binoculars and a telescope, we can zoom right in on the stage."
Kenny said he expected about 100 revellers to enjoy the show from his patio, lawn, and driveway, and a stroll by his residence later in the evening showed his prediction wasn't far off.
"We have friends we never knew we had."
As kids played around on a slip and slide, and adults threw washer toss on Andy Bosshard's immense front lawn, a continouss flow of Bon Jovi fans could be seen making there way down to the concert site.
The unimpeded view of the stage would tempt many people to walk past his lawn and down toward the perimeter of the site, but Bosshard knows from experience that it pays to stand back.
"The show sounds better closer to the house," he said.
Bosshard's friend Rob Power was using his zoom lens to get up close and personal with the bands on stage from an impressive distance.
"I'll have a collection of about 700 photos," said Power, partly in jest.
Power knows he is fortunate to be enjoying the show with all the comforts of a friend's home, but he thinks the whole area is lucky to have access to such such a well-run event.
"This is awesome, the whole event and what they have done each year is just unbelievable. We have to be getting spin-offs."
Mike Curvin, John O'Keefe, Jennifer Agnew, Walter Agnew, Jim Girvan, Flow Agnew spent yesterday afternoon enjoying everything from samosas to crackers and dip on Curvin's deck.
"It's something we look forward to every year, said Jennifer Agnew, adding everything seemed to be occurring in an orderly fashion, but that would likely change once fans began exiting the show.
"It is hilarious when it ends and you see them all falling over each other," she said, with a smile.
"There is no bother. I don't know why some people complain."
"It's a great boost for the city, said Lloyd Hicks, whose lawn was transformed into a campground for family and friends. "It ends up being one big family."
He congratulated the RCMP on their professionalism in dealing with residents near the concert site.
Although many neighbours to the site considered the concert a pleasant event, it could also be profitable.
Many visitors spent the afternoon taking advantage of Magnetic Hill Winery's picnic basket deal, which includes local wine, cheese, crackers, and a place to park and relax.
Jeff Everett said the big concerts are a great opportunity to sell some wine, and introduce his product to more customers.
"We get a lot of repeats.
Roy Donaghy was also using the concert as a way to make some extra cash to spend on his next vacation.
"I just sat out here for something to do and get a little spending money for holidays," he said.
"We all put up with the traffic so we should all have the chance to pick up some spending money and participate in the whole thing."
He said the events are improving each year.
A group of young people from Hillside United Baptist Church used the show as an opportunity to raise money for their trip to New York in August.
"So far we have collected a lot of tips and donations" said Melissa O'Connor, with a smile.
"We might as well utilize it," added chaperone Angela LeBlanc.
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