This Weekend in Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: home, purchases, shop)

[Rita Mordio]

Alright, now that work has power again. ((I was working on this yesterday when the contruction guys across the way accidently forgot to pay attention to the schematics showing where the power lines were........))

Come out to 24th Steet at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Saturday for SharkFest 2008, presented by FM99 and LandShark Lager. Free concert by the Grant Austin Taylor Band and Plastic Eddie. For those who don't know, LandShark Lager is a new Anheuser Busch product! ((Personally, I like their new Chelada more....))

This weekend in Great Neck Park is the Artisans In The Park (formerly Princess Anne Park Arts & Crafts Festival). Almost 100 artisans will be out demonstrating their artwork and wares - with selling going on everywhere. This is a great place to find decorations for the home!

Sunday will be National Kids Day over at the Portsmouth Museum... ALL of them: the Children's Museum, the Courthouse Galleries, the Lightship PORTSMOUTH, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. There will be plenty of activities geared towards this special children's day!

[Shoobie]

24th street you say? Concert sounds like something that's more my style. Also, I must say that I disagree. Land Shark is a good beer. It taste nothing like a Busch beer, which is a good thing. Must be because Jimmy Buffet has his hands in the deal with his brewing company/label. Busch beers always taste like disinfectant to me.

So, anyone else going to this?

[Rita Mordio]

Originally Posted by Shoobie

24th street you say? Concert sounds like something that's more my style. Also, I must say that I disagree. Land Shark is a good beer. It taste nothing like a Busch beer, which is a good thing. Must be because Jimmy Buffet has his hands in the deal with his brewing company/label. Busch beers always taste like disinfectant to me.

So, anyone else going to this?

I was quite surprised myself when I found out that the Land Shark drink was really made by Anheuser Busch. It's unique and alright. But I like the new Chelada a whole lot more.

And I would be going to Sharkfest 2008 if I wasn't already planning on wearing myself out at Friday's Concert. However, my husband still thinks we might be going to Water Country (free tickets, heck ya!) on Saturday...

[Shoobie]

I'll give that a shot one day. And what is going on Friday? I work to much to keep up with all the happenings going on here.

[Rita Mordio]

So this Friday, Face II Face is holding a young adult/teen modeling competition! This will be at the Virginia Beach Conference Center on Shore Drive. Participants will compete for a full photo shoot and printwork, while learning proper makeup and poise by Earl Lewis of the Model Boot Camp.

This one little tidbit caught my eye this week. Until the 10th of August, you can check out the performance by the Lost Colony Company at the Waterside Theater in Manteo. It's called "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

On Saturday, 2008 is the Bacardi Silver Mojito Summer Beach Party!! A Caribbean themed event complete with live music, games, giveaways, freebies, food, and a Pig Roast! Kuharai will be attending this event at East Beach.

For those who cannot make it, head over to the Chesapeake City Municipal Center for the 4th Annual Chesapeake Criterium. It's a bicycle race! With competitions for all ranks, it should be interesting to see who the best in Hampton Roads is.

If you're in Virginia Beach, head over to Little Island Park in the Sandbridge area for They Will Surf Again. This is an event to build support for surfers with spinal cord injuries. Yes, I'm a sucker for a good cause. Surfers with injuries, new surfers, experiences surfers for the cause, all will be out there. Lifeguards and experienced watermen (and women, too!) will be present. No prior surfing experience is necessary!

For those with children, head over to the Norfolk History Museum off Freemason for the How Does your Garden Grow: Feathered Friends event. Starting at 1pm, you can learn why birds are so popular and necessary in this country. You can also learn why and how they became loving pets. Create a birdfeeder to attract "new friends" in your own backyard, to boot! This event is absolutely free!

Love Watermelon? ((I DO, I DO!)) Head over to the Farmer's Market at 11am on the corner of Princess Anne Road and Dam Neck. Come and enjoy the Watermelon Festival. This free event will have great and delicious watermelons for sale - and even seed spitting contests. YUM! I also hear that there will be a Watermelon Rolling contest as well - and even PONY RIDES!

[RMELIFER]

There's a Hampton Cup Regatta this weekend on the water between Fort Monroe and Phoebus. Website - 82nd Annual Hampton Cup Regatta

[Erma]

Gretchen Wilson will be performing at Little Creek Amphib Base Friday, Aug 8th at 8:30 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m.

[Erma]

Had a great time at the show at Little Creek. The access was very user friendly, the military personnel were super with their job of directing traffic and making sure everything went as planned. A few little booths for advertising, plenty of drink and food stands and above all, the 24 oz. can of beers were only 4 dollars! Next show, we will buy VIP tickets for stage seating, catered cookout/drinks and only a few feet to the port-o-potties. Part of the monies when you purchase VIP tickets go to the children's fund. The rest of the admissions are free and much respect to the performers for giving to the troops!

[Rita Mordio]

Well, my week has been eventful. Two weeks ago, the construction guys knocked out the power at work. This week, it was the water. Next, we're expecting them to somehow manage to knock out the A/C unit above the building. Wouldn't suprise us. Then of course, my car battery died literally two days after getting out of the repair shop.

So maybe this weekend, my luck will change... Let's see? ((From what it seems, Virginia Beach is having a lot of events!))

So on Friday, Toby Keith will be at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

Comedian Andi Smith will be performing at the Virginia Beach Funny Bone until Sunday.

Head over to Cox High School in Virginia Beach between Thursday and Sunday for the Annual Westminster-Canterbury's Giant Flea Market Sale. With just about everything you could ever want, maybe even a kitchen sink, the proceeds will go to Westminster-Canterbury's fund to help all people obtain decent residence. It's a very good cause.

On Friday Night, head over to Mt. Trashmore in Virginia Beach for a Movie Night. With Free parking on site, come with friends and family to enjoy the Bee Movie! This movie about a Bee who doesn't quite "fit the mold" is great for the entire family.

Head over to Atlantic and 31st in Virginia Beach on Saturday starting at 11am for the Polynesian Culture Festival. Enjoy the sounds and sights of Hawaii, Tahiti, Somoa, and New Zealand. Live bands will be performing, including fire knife master Tama Leao. The food should be incredible to boot.

Head over to the Book Exchange on E. Little Creek Rd in Norfolk on Saturday starting at 9am for the Charity Book Sale. Paperback and Children's Books for only 50 cents! Hardbacks, Movies and CDs will be $1. And for those who want both, fill a shopping bag for a mere $8. All proceeds will go to the Physicians for Peace "Seeing Clearly" Program which provides eye services for those in need.

Want to help a local high school band? Menchville High School in Newport News was one of twenty high schools selected by the United States by the Youth Music of the Word Organization to perform in London. They need our help! Head over there on Sunday for a yard sale with all proceeds going towards this expensive trip.

For those with children, head over to the Deep Creek Central Elementary School in Chesapeake on Saturday from 2-8 for SummerFest! With everything for children ranging from Health Screenings to Pony Rides to a Dunk Tank, this free event is great for the whole family. If it rains, the event will be held on Sunday.

For the Runners in us all, head over to the Smart Smiles 5K race in Newport News. Starting at the Mariner's Museum Park Entrance across from Warwick High School, all proceeds go to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula's Smart Smiles dental program. Registration begins at 7am on Saturday.

[Rita Mordio]

I'm a little late on this (again).... I've been busy dealing with paperwork, so I've had no time!

Alright! Well, this event is a fundraiser to benefit the Web of Life Animal Outreach, a 7-acre no-kill companion animal sanctuary right here in Hampton Roads. So head over to their facility in Chesapeake between 6 and 11pm. Why? GIRLS MUD WRESTLING!!! They need women 18+ to mud wrestle, and for you guys (and gals) to come out and watch. Three weight categories to go by, prizes on the line... geesh this sounds like a dirty movie. But it's legit.

On Saturday, there are two events at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront:

Now, I've never seen good surfing around here, meself... but apparently there is, because the East Coast Surfing Championships are here! Between Now and Sunday((They actually started yesterday... but I'm late on this)), hundreds of pro and amateur surfers will be competing for cash and other prizes. However! Not only is there surfing, but also other competitions including skimboarding, volleyball, an oceanfront 5K run, a swimsuit competition and skateboarding. Personally, I think the waves in Florida would be more suited. Another note to mention: Free Concerts while you are here. Headlining band is the Smithereens.

In the meantime! If you get bored with the (lack of) surfing competition, head over to 24th street for the Soul Music Beachfest. This two-day festival will be all about entertainment, food, activities, arts and crafts for the entire family. Make sure to grab your wallet, as there will be plenty of vendors with merchandise galore! Attending is absolutely free to the public.

On Saturday, head over to the Sandler Center for Performing Arts over at Towne Center in Virginia Beach for the Jazz Informance event! The main spectacle it seems, is Caleb E. Sanders, the 10 year old drummer/percussionist/composer. This kid took Madison Square Gardens' half-time spot at age 4! Absolutely outstanding work.

And before I forget, the American Music Festival will be here on Labor Day Weekend!