01:33 AM EDT on Sunday, May 9, 2004

BY CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY
Journal Staff Writer

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson Tedy Bruschi shows off the Patriots' Super Bowl trophy during a ceremony honoring the team at Waterplace Park Saturday night.

PROVIDENCE -- WaterFire Providence conjures up the scent of wood burning, the sounds of mystical drums beating, and images of spectators quietly absorbing the warmth of the bonfires.

Not last night.

The first WaterFire of the season ignited with a Super Bowl celebration, a protest for the homeless and the hum of electric generators that powered pizza and fried dough venders, who were inside Waterplace Park for the first time since the decade-old event was founded.

"We Will Rock You" blared from the speakers as the Patriots players entered the park around 7:15 p.m. Seven players from the championship team arrived with the Vince Lombardi trophy and paraded through the spectators, allowing fans to touch the shiny metal football.

"Thank you for a great season," Mayor David Cicilline said. "Thank you for bringing this great trophy back to us."

Tedy Bruschi presented the mayor with an autographed game ball. Bruschi was accompanied by Mike Cloud, Christian Fauria, Russ Hochstein, Lonie Paxton, Ty Warren and Jarvis Green.

Bruschi noticed how cold it was last night.

"It should be snowing," he said. "We do our best work in the snow."

The victory tour ended and the players boarded boats to help light the bonfires on the river.

Last night, Waterplace Park, the epicenter of WaterFire, was ringed with a brightly lit pizza cart, fried dough and kettle corn peddlers, and three different locations of "Biggie's Sausages @ Bella Vista," although you won't find Biggie's Sausages on the upscale Bella Vista menu.

Barnaby Evans, the creator of WaterFire, wasn't happy about the venders.

"It was a surprise to me," Evans said.

Evans said WaterFire illustrates the beauty of the city, the river and the park and shies away from commercialism. In the past, venders were allowed on the streets outside the river park, but not inside, so the food booths wouldn't get between the spectators, the cityscape and the art, he said.

Mayor Cicilline said he agreed with Evans. Both men planned to speak with the owner of Bella Vista, who leases space in Waterplace Park from the city and gave the venders permission to sell their goods last night.

"They won't be at the next WaterFire," Cicilline said.

The management of the restaurant was not available for comment last night.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson Lonie Paxton, of the New England Patriots, is in charge of a torch to light the braziers in the basin at Waterplace Park last night. After a victory tour through the park, the football champs helped light the bonfires on the river.

Bob Denis, a Warwick resident, said he didn't even notice the venders at first. He even said he liked the smell of sausage and peppers in the air.

"It's not going to degrade WaterFire," Denis said.

But Donna Misiazek, a frequent WaterFire-goer from East Bridgewater, Mass., said the venders ruin the serenity.

"It takes away from the beauty and simplicity. It's commercialism," she said.

As twilight fell, another group gathered on a bridge and dropped a banner that read "If this is a Renaissance, how can there be 5,600 homeless in Rhode Island?" About 50 homeless people and activists silently walked over the bridge with white balloons and posters advocating for affordable housing.

"WaterFire is a very symbolic event and we want to point out that as beautiful as it is, there are a lot of problems that need to be addressed," said Julia Wolfson, one of the organizers.

Moreen Caliri, of Pembroke, Mass., thought the demonstration was subtle and effective.

'If this is what they've got to do to get attention, then that's what they need to do," Caliri said.

She also proposed a solution: the food venders could donate their profits to the homeless.