THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501170118
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: On The Town
SOURCE: Sam Martinette
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Some notable events loom on the horizon involving music, art and food, three necessities of life as far as I'm concerned.
``The Artful Setting: A Festival of Fine Design'' will take place the weekend of Feb. 4 and 5 at The Chrysler Museum, celebrating the art of the party.
That will be followed Feb. 7 by the fifth annual ``A Taste of Portsmouth,'' featuring 11 eateries from that city. Both will be preceded by a benefit for public radio on Feb. 1 at the Naro theater sponsored by Birdland Music in Virginia Beach and featuring live bands.
`` `The Artful Setting' is our annual event, but in the past it was a formal sit-down dinner,'' explained Blair G. Ege of the Chrysler Council, the museum's main fund-raising arm. ``Although it was tremendously successful, at $140 a ticket it was not financially doable for some people. For this event, tickets run anywhere from $10 to $65 for museum members and $15 to $75 for non-members, depending on what event they attend.
``The Artful Setting'' presents the art of entertaining at home, featuring nearly 60 ``table scapes'' or table settings, ranging from the whimsical to the very formal. Designed and arranged by interior design firms, art galleries, floral shops, antique dealers and private hosts, the tables will be displayed throughout the galleries of The Chrysler Museum. Imagine breakfast under a Braque, a lunch with La Tour or dinner with Degas, and you get the picture.
``It's a chance for people to get interesting, innovative ideas on how to set the table and entertain at home,'' Ege said.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 with a preview party under the big top outside the Chrysler featuring hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, music and a silent auction. The 5,400-square-foot tent, erected so that repairs may be made to Huber Court, will accommodate 500 people, but patrons will be wandering through the museum galleries to view the table scapes during the party. Tickets for the party are $50 for members and $60 for non-members and include wine and beer. There will be a cash bar.
On Feb. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m., the viewing of the table scapes will continue, including a lecture at 3 p.m. by Renny Reynolds, author of ``The Art of the Party,'' with a book signing to follow. Afternoon tea will be served at 4.
``Renny Reynolds is a floral designer out of New York who writes a column called `Renny's Rap' in Elle Decor Magazine and has a very impressive client list including the U.S. Open and the Metropolitan Opera House,'' Ege said. ``He has also done parties at the White House for three presidents.''
As for the tea, it will be done in the traditional English style, according to Rebecca Adelman, a co-chair of the event with Ege and Marcia Moss.
``The tea will feature small, delicious sandwiches, what your Americans call finger sandwiches, sweet things - cakes and such - and, of course, scones with cream and jam,'' Adelman said.
There are a variety of ticket combinations for the two-day event, so call the museum at 664-6287 for more information.
Each year I serve as a judge during the annual ``A Taste of Portsmouth,'' which features samplings of the food from 11 restaurants, delis and coffeehouses. The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 7 in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn on Crawford Parkway in Portsmouth. Tickets are $15 per person and are limited to 500. By the evening of the event, it is always sold out so don't try buying one at the door.
The food this year will be provided by Amory's Wharf, The Baron's Pub, Brutti's Cafe & Espresso Bar, China Garden, The Commodore Theater, Lobscouser, The Max, New York Delicatessen, Scale O'de Whale, Sotto Voce Espresso and Vic Zodda's Harborside. It's an evening to mingle and munch. Call 393-9933 for tickets.
To work up an appetite for all of this food and art you might want to boogie on down to the Naro theater in Ghent for the fourth annual ``Birdland Blues Showcase,'' set for 8 to 11 p.m. on Feb. 1.
``We like to say it's live from the big stage at the Naro,'' said Brian Friedman of Birdland Music in Virginia Beach, ``and all of the proceeds go to public radio here locally.''
Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door if available, and are limited to 500. The event will feature the Blues Exchange, the R&B All Stars, and Marty Jones and the TenTop Boys. Everyone from the bands to the music mixers from AL&M Sound are donating their time, including the Friedman family, which produces the event, and the Naro, which is giving up an evening's proceeds. Call Birdland at 495-0961 for information. by CNB