Welcome to The Mermaids' Porch Bed & Breakfast

The Mermaids Porch Bed and Breakfast is located in the heart of historic Olde Towne Portsmouth.

Get a taste of history at this circa 1898 Queen Anne Victorian home, the new Mermaid's Porch Bed & Breakfast is located in the heart of Olde Towne Portsmouth's historic district.

Sip a glass of wine at their complimentary wine and cheese afternoon social hour. Full, three course breakfast is prepared daily with a changing menu so you won't be served  the same main dish each day (unless you request it). Local meats from Smithfield and fresh produce from the Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market will be used in preparing these delectable dishes when available and in season.

The dining room of the Mermaids Porch B & B.

The B & B amenities include a living room with working fireplace (and a cord of firewood for those chilly winter nights). The room is filled with Victorian era antique furniture and accessories. The adjacent parlor room offers cable TV and a variety of board games for home-style entertainment. An upright piano is also available if you choose to play a song or two. Enjoy sitting in brick-paved private courtyard for relaxing, reading a book and dining Fresco. Also, the beautiful Greenwich Park is located just across the street on the adjacent Olde Towne corner. The property is decorated throughout with art and furnishings purchased by the innkeeper during here years of worldwide travel during here naval career.

The Mermaid's Porch Bed & Breakfast is conveniently located just a short walking distance to the Historic High Street corridor where you will find an abundance of fine dining and pubs, antique shops, art galleries

The High Street corridor is located

just a short walking distance away 

offering an abundant selection of 

pubs and restaurants, antique shops, 

art galleries and unique shops to 

choose from.

and unique stores, the famous Commodore Theatre and four museums including the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, the Children's Museum of Virginia and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. Enjoy changing art exhibits at the Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center that also holds free music venues the first Friday of each month. The Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market is held each Saturday (from early spring through December) It is also just a few blocks away from the Portsmouth Visitors Center and the  North Street Ferry landing that takes you to downtown Norfolk.

About the Innkeeper

Dawn Richardson is a retired Navy Supply Officer who has traveled the world during her career. She was a restaurant manager prior to going into the service and has a Bachelors Degree in Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management from Purdue University. An exceptional chef and caretaker, Dawn will delight you with southern hospitality and a warm embrace for the weary traveler.

Enjoy sitting in brick-paved private courtyard for relaxing, reading a book and dining Fresco.

Here's the details

The Mermaids' Porch Bed & Breakfast
497 North Street (on the corner of North & Dinwiddie)
(757) 673-3790

email: dawn.richardson.usn@gmail.com

http://www.mermaidsporch.com/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mermaids-Porch-Bed-and-Breakfast/715652278499887

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/va-portsmouth-themermaidsporchbedandbreakfast-page.html

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/11/welcome-mermaids-porch-bed-breakfast

The Olde Towne  experience has been treasured by visitors the world over-an opportunity to shop our fine antique shops, visit our galleries and unique specialty stores, enjoy excellent dining, both indoors and out in one of our many fine restaurants and pubs. Discover all of the magic yourself.
Discover Olde Towne Portsmouth!

The Historic Olde Towne Holiday Home Tour Interview to Air on "Portsmouth Now"

Rob Lauer and Rebecca Larys  discuss the upcoming Olde Towne Holiday Home Tour

Rob Lauer, Producer &  Host of  "Portsmouth Now" on PCTV--Cox Channel 48/Fios Channel 39 interviews Rebecca Larys, a director of the Historic Olde Towne Holiday Home Tour discusses the upcoming holiday season event. Rob and Rebecca stand in front of The Mermaids' Porch Bed & Breakfast slated to open this Friday. The Mermaid's Porch is located at 497 North Street (corner of North and Dinwiddie) and is one of seven featured homes open for this years home tour decorated for the holidays.  The Historic Olde Towne Holiday Home Tour will be open this year Friday, December 12th from 5 -9 pm and Saturday, December 13th from 2- 8 pm. Enjoy live music and historic acted vignettes. Tickets are $20.00 and are available now at The  Portsmouth Visitors Center,  6 Crawford Pkwy., the Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center, 400 High Street,  The Coffee Shoppe, 300 High Street, Little Shoppes on High, 425 High Street, Way Back Yonder Antiques, 620 High Street and on line at http://www.otcl.org/Events.html.

Tickets will also be available each Saturday up to the event at the Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market is located at the northwest corner of High Street and Court Street (opposite the Visual Arts Center) and runs west along High Street and north along Court Street., http://www.portsmoutholdetownefarmersmarket.com/  Tickets will also be for sale at the Antiques to Flea Market held the first Saturday in December inside the Middle Street Garage. http://www.oldetowneportsmouth.com/ You can also purchase your tickets the day of the event at any of the seven houses open for tour.

This is Portsmouth, Virginia's Holiday Signature event weekend and the Holiday Home Tour runs in conjunction with the 17th Annual Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival, Saturday December 13 from Noon - 6 pm. Launched in 1998, this festival has

become one of Portsmouth's favorite Holiday Season events. It is a musical tribute to the spirit of the Holiday Season, enlivening the historic High Street corridor with performances, children's activities, re-enactors in period attire and strolling characters. This event offers a musically packed day for visitors to Olde Towne Portsmouth featuring choral groups from regional schools as well as performances by established recording artists.  http://www.portsvaevents.com/december_2014.html

The December "Portsmouth Now" episode will air 6 times a week throughout the month of December. For more information, visit http://www.otcl.org/Events.html  and  http://www.portsvaevents.com/december_2014.html

Buy your tickets now!

The Historic Olde Towne Holiday Home Tour is brought to you by the Olde Towne Civic League, The Olde Towne Business Association and the City of Portsmouth, Virginia.

The 34TH Annual Olde Towne Ghost Walk

The spirits of the Olde Towne Civic League have been putting on our spook-tacular Ghost Walk for over 30 years. This year’s Ghost Walk is on Friday, October 24, 2014, with tours leaving at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. from Trinity Church graveyard.

Guides carrying dim-lit lanterns will escort you through the
brick-covered walkways of historic Olde Towne Portsmouth.

The walk begins in the Graveyard of historic Trinity Church, where you will start your ghoulish journey by learning about real horror stories from Olde Towne Portsmouth's past. You are then swept away to the front steps of Portsmouth's old Court House where you will be transported back in time to the age of Jack the ripper, the Victorian era. A guide, carrying dim-lit lanterns will then escort you through the brick-covered walkways of historic Olde Towne.

The ghost of Portsmouth's founder, Colonel William Crawford.

 There, you and your guests will need to decide a direction to follow. Each route offers eight stories from our sometimes troubling past reenacted by performers upon the antique porches of our authentic period homes. As we say here in Olde Towne...you can't make these stories up (or something close to that) and believe you me, the more outrageous the story the closer to the truth it gets!

You will be transported back in time to the
age of Jack the ripper, the Victorian era.

Once your tour is complete, your attendant will take you to Cider Park located on Middle Street where a cauldron of hot witches brew, a concoction similar to apple cider is served to help shake off the the old cobwebs! Relax and enjoy featured music and meet the giant tree man...We Are Groot!!  For more information, visit their website at: http://portsmouthghostwalk.com.

The 44th Annual Seawall Art Show Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA

The 44th Annual Seawall Art Show at Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA's  waterfront.

Show dates and Hours:August 23rd and 24th, 2014
Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm

Virginia's historic seaport, Olde Towne Portsmouth is the place to be this weekend as we host the 44th Annual Seawall Art Show with some 90+ juried artists participating. As in previous years, expect to find a little of everything, from wood carving to oil paintings, handwoven clothing to art glass, fine jewelry to pottery, and more.

With more than 30 years experience showcasing juried fine arts and fine crafts on the Portsmouth waterfront, the Seawall Art Show draws large crowds of art buyers to this prestigious event. With the assistance of the Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission, it is an all volunteer run show. Show proceeds always go to support the arts in Portsmouth.

The Seawall Art Show begins at the High Street basin (Ferry Landing)

Aside from works for sale, the show also features a student art show, entertainment, and a selection of food vendors too. Artists vie for thousands of dollars in awards gathered from exhibitor fees. The show is run by volunteers, and is supported by the Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission

Admission to the show is FREE. Street and city garage parking is also free on the weekends.

Best parking is the Water Street garage (on Water Street just off High at the riverfront) and the Middle Street garage (behind the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum).

For more information about this annual event, visit their website at 2014 Seawall Art Show. 

expect to find a little of everything, from wood carving to oil paintings, handwoven clothing
to art glass, fine jewelry to pottery, and more.

Don't forget to support Olde Towne Portsmouth's fine merchants and restaurants. The downtown

district begins at the riverfront and up the High Street corridor to Effingham Street. Peruse through some of Hampton Roads best antique shops, unique boutiques and one of a kind specialty stores. Take a break from all of the event shopping and enjoy a wonderful lunch or dinner in one of the regions best restaurants, taverns and sports bars located here in Olde Towne Portsmouth .Lot's off outdoor dining opportunities too! Shop, dine and experience Olde Towne Portsmouth!

Reck on the Road: Portsmouth outdoor art

Olde Towne Portsmouth is all about public art. From ever changing exhibits displayed at the Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center both inside the main galleries to the large sculptures displayed in the courtyard, art of all types and medias are here. Now the art movement has spread to our downtown streets covering once plain walls with painted murals and ugly electrical boxes with local themes. Olde Towne Portsmouth is a haven for outdoor art and new art gets added each year. Take a look at Portsmouth public art through the camera of Chris Reckling.

Chris Reckling of WAVY TV featured some of that art this week in this edition of “Reck on the Road.”  Just click on the arrow to watch the video.

Surf’s Up: An Exhibition

On Display in the Ridde Sports Gallery through September 28, 2014

Surf’s Up: a current art exhibition at the
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. 

Surf’s Up: a current art exhibition at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame features several artists original works of art, focusing on the ocean, waves, and surfing. The common thread that runs through this exhibit is that most of the artists are inspired by their respect for the sheer power and energy of a wave. This group exhibition will include a variety of fine art, painting, and photography. Artists include Matthew Haddaway, Reba McConnell, and Ed Obermeyer. Admission $7.

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum

206 High Street

Portsmouth, VA

757-393-8031

http://vshfm.com/news-events.php

A Restaurant With A View

757 Crave on the Harbor offers panoramic views of
Norfolk, Virginia's waterside and the Elizabeth River.

By Joe Elder
A recent article in the Virginian Pilot titled "Fresh food - and air: The best outdoor eats in town" written by Holly Van Auken, July 11, 2014, features places around Hampton Roads to get your eat and drink on- outdoors, that is. Here the reporter has selected some of the best. Included of course are some of the most likely candidates and those with ocean views top the list. A surprise entry- well, not so surprising to us, is 757 Crave on the Harbor. 757 Crave is located at the Tidewater yacht Marina here in Olde Towne Portsmouth and features exceptional panoramic views including downtown Norfolk's waterside and a wide expanse of the Elizabeth River and the marina too. Diners from this focal point typically are drawn to the hardworking tugboats maneuvering around, piloting large container ships as they travel down the river, and occasionally, views of naval vessels from submarines to aircraft carriers!  You will also see a barrage of personal yachts of all types and sizes passing by. That is because 757 Crave is located next to the "0" mile marker of the Intracoastal waterway. Enough about the views.

757 Crave on the Harbor is located at Tidewater Yacht
Marina, Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.

The main reason that people frequently visit 757 Crave is because of their unique, delicious food entrees offered breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is also a favorite place to meet with your friends for drinks and live music on Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons. 757 Crave is also a short walking distance from weekend music events, so take in a great music act and then chill out on the deck at 757 Crave on the Harbor! You can visit portsvaevents and peruse through the schedule of upcoming events.

757 Crave on the Harbor
10 Crawford Pkwy., Portsmouth,
757-966-7919
www.757cravers.com