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

The Amazing History of Hill House, Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

Imagine, if you will, a family gone for an afternoon stroll about the neighborhood and never returning home. Such is the appearance of the Hill House Museum, an early 1800's English basement home, completely furnished with its original family belongings left in place.

This is the phenomenal story of Hill House in Portsmouth in The Hampton Roads Shows’ brand new summer Historic Homes Series. Inspired by the New York Times bestseller, “Empty Mansions” by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr, which tells the story of Huguette Clark and her family. PORTSMOUTH, Va. 

The Hill House is located at 221 North Street in historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. The house is open for tours Wednesdays from Noon—4 p.m. or by appointment. Admission is $5.00 per person. For more information, visit the Historic Hill House website at:   http://www.hillhousemuseum.org/index.html
Give them a call at 757-393-0241. Thank you Hampton Roads Show for featuring this remarkable Olde Towne mansion!

Tastes of Appalachia Features Regional Food and Music at the Commodore Theatre

Chef Susi Gott Seguret prepares foods of the Appalachia.

Saturday, May 3, 2014
12:45 - 3:00 pm
at the Commodore Theatre
421 High Street
Portsmouth VA.

Award winning chefs Dale Hawkins and Susi Gott Seguret will discuss approches to preparing foods of Appalachia with a multi-course lunch will be held at the Commodore Theatre located in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. Music about Appalachian food and drink will be performed by Dr. Katie Hoffman on vocals and Brett Tiller on the banjo. This event will highlight the exhibit "Changing Appalachia" at the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center just across the Street.

Chef Dale Hawkins discusses foods of the Appalachia.

To make reservations or for more information please visit the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center Gallery Shop or call 757-393-8453. Tickets are $10.00 for balcony seating (does not include lunch) and $45.00 in the dining area which includes lunch. Beverages are extra.

Here is a link to the article 'Taste of Appalachia' offers sampling of regional music and food at Portsmouth's Commodore Theatre written by Virginian-Pilot reporter Lia Russell: Taste of Appalachia.

She-Crab Soup- Mannino’s Italian Bistro is Hard to Beat

According to a recent blog written by the Virginian Pilot’s food reporter Lorraine Eaton, expect tough competition in this year's East Coast She Crab Soup Classic. Crews last year from 19 restaurants toted urns and crab and vats and crab claws and ladles and squirt bottles of sherry over to the Oceanfront for the annual East Coast She Crab Soup Classic held at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

Mannino's Italian Bistro in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.

There were thin soups and soups you could stand a spoon in. There were soups flecked with carrots and soups with ribbons of onion. Two soups were served with a crab claw garnish; one came with a sweet potato biscuit. Some were hot, some were not.

"This is serious competition, people." Lorraine wrote. " Mannino’s Italian Bistro has been the team to beat in past years. As a judge, I can attest to the fact that not a single chef around here is conceding the title and the competition remains fierce.”

We agree. As a lover of all things delicious, there are few things that stands out from the pack than Mannino's she crab soup and Olde Towne residents and visitors know it.

Another food review written after the 2013 East Coast She Crab Soup Classic by George W. Culver stated: "the huge lump crab they put in their soup is as big as your thumb. Seriously. The soup is served with large pieces of crab and a sweet creamy soup with great mouth feel." This soup won first place in both the critics and the peoples choice awards!

And what is equally as sweet as Mannino's she crab soup is that you can dine at Mannio's Italian Bistro here in Olde Towne year round and order their award winning soup as often as you want. Mannino's Olde Towne is located at 606 High Street, Portsmouth, VA. 757-966-7522. Mannino's Italian Bistro Website.