By CHRIS KNAP
The Orange County Register
Oct. 9
The cake was cut weeks ago. The 100-year history lessons were growing stale.

So there was nothing left to do but party down.

Not that that's anything new for Newport Beach.

But this party was all official-like, with a VIP tent, music on four separate stages, and fireworks off the piers at nightfall to celebrate the end of a year of celebrations.

The actual birthday was Sept. 1, but that day came too soon for the city, which claims its Sunday celebration was the "biggest beach party ever held on the West Coast."

Certainly could be.

The Young Dubliners kicked it off at 2 p.m. just below the Newport Pier, ripping Irish reels to an eclectic crowd that variously sat, stood or danced on the sand.

"Music all day long, you lucky buggers," said Keith Roberts, the Dubliners founder and front man.

Just a slow stroll down the strand to 15th Street (speed was not possible on a sidewalk jammed like the San Diego Freeway on Friday), the Fabulous Nomads blasted out surf tunes while women with camera phones snapped pics of antique motorcycles - an Ariel, an AJS, and a Norton, five Triumphs, nine Indians and a Sunbeam.

On the east end of the perfect peninsula, the appropriately named 3 Mile Walk, winner of Newport's Battle of the Bands in August, kicked it off for Billy Vera and the Beaters and Dick Dale.

But across a grassy field, at the smaller Centennial Stage, was perhaps the most authentic Newport of all.

Thirteen-year-old sirens Natalie Goodman, Jessenia Hernandez and the Ensign Middle School Chorus sang "Seize the day," "Oh give me wings," and an Irish blessing.

And "Sizzling Seniors" Dorcas Preston, Klyda Mahoney, Rosemary Ballard and The Cameos, wearing stiletto heals, leopard-print dresses slit up the side, and elbow-length black gloves, awed an audience of all ages with a medley of songs about smiles, patriotism and surrender.

"We have reached the Age of Elegance," declared Preston, a Corona Del Mar resident who won the Ms. Senior America title in 2001.

No argument here.

As the sun began to sink Poncho Sanchez pounded out Latin Jazz at the west end stage and a distinctly beery smell emanated from the young crowd swerving their beach cruisers around baby strollers on the strand.

"We wanted to have a program that would be family oriented" said Mayor Don Webb, playing with his grandchildren in the VIP tent. "We wanted events for two different age groups.

"This is a birthday party we invited everybody to," he said.

By the time the fireworks started at 8:30, Newport Beach police reported no major problems.

If there was any bummer at all it was the surf, which was nearly flat by mid-afternoon.

"It was better this morning," reported Chris Doughty, 28, as he rinsed his longboard. "Maybe 3 feet, with good shape."