They exist on a grand (often unfortunate) scale, but I'm thinking of something smaller, nonetheless large in my mind: the ideal of having a public walkway along Newport Harbor. It exists, of course — with interruptions — and it's terrific but could be so much better. Yesterday's Newport Daily News put the issue front-and-center (okay, slightly to the left): "How do we bring the Harbor Walk to the next level? How do we make it an attraction like the Cliff Walk?" It would be great to have two such walks, on opposite sides of town. Yin and yang. Beach and harbor. Sunrise and sunset. (I'm not trying to get romantic here; one faces East, and one faces West.) Fact is: I weave my way along the waterfront with some frequency, following more-or-less the familiar blue-and-white signs, straying when I need to, when I know the way. And the difference in property owners' approaches to the presumably-public walkway is striking. As is the bright, new, funky (I love it) paint trim at IYRS (International Yacht Restoration School). As are the huddled masts-on-land, with halyards tapping, waiting patiently (or impatiently) to be re-launched from crowded piers come spring. (Come, Spring!) As are the boat names, where one can always find an answer to something ... or just something to smile about ...
