easily accomplished . The smells of Italian food , pizzas , bakery and grilling meat caused salivation . Perfect weather , and it was great to see the Vespa stand inundated with mums , dads and kids , with balloons handed out in a steady stream . As an event it was heartening to see the Newmarket area brimming with life activity , music , food , drink and conviviality , especially since on Broadway itself there were at least 25 shops closed up and empty , the victims of the great migration into the malls , which removed 50 or 60 percent of trade further down the street . One particularly active vendor had a guy waving a sign and encouraging people to enter their store Fallenfront , I ventured in and the skatewear clothing looked of good quality . I promised to return and bring my son , and will . The Vespa crew dispersed into the various food , drink , and entertainment venues , and after a couple of hours we had all separated . A lovely ride , a fun catch-up , and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon . The ever-popular Vespa always brings a crowd around , with those who owned one in their youth , one who rode one in Italy in the early 50s , and plenty more who plan on returning to the Vespa fold at some time . It ’ s an oddly social tribe , the Vespa crew , and there ’ s always something completely cheerful about seeing clumps of Vespas weaving along the boulevards . If there ’ s a happier machine in tough times , I ’ ve yet to meet it . Vespa makes La Dolce Vita .
26 KIWI RIDER