THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507180093
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: On The Town
SOURCE: Sam Martinette
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
If you're in the mood for something unusual to do this weekend, you can ``Eat Your Art Out'' downtown Friday night by munching on edible art at the d'Art Center and cracking crabs under the big top at Ocean View Park this Saturday. Talk about culture shock!
The edible art, along with two and three dimensional non-edible art, will be available for viewing between 6 and 8 p.m. at the d'Art Center (125 College Place, 625-4211). Sydney Meers, chef/owner of The Dumbwaiter and a work of abstract art in his own right, is serving as honorary chair of the event and will be providing some art for the palate, as well as a painting for the silent auction that will be part of the evening.
Joining Meers will be chef Amy Brandt of The Lucky Star in Virginia Beach, Ruth Tavss of La Galleria, Heather Whitehead of Maude's, John Milleson of the Town Point Club, a representative of Monroe's, and Cory Beisel and Mike Atkinson of the 501 City Grill at the Beach. About 30 artists also will participate.
``We are giving awards to both artists and chefs in three categories,'' said Susan Bernard, executive director of the d'Art Center. ``The best-of-show is the Piece o' Cake award. The award for the most original medium is called the George Bush Broccoli award, while the most creative entries will get the `Give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything' award.
``We're celebrating the art of food and the food of art.''
The event requires no ticket, and there will be food and beverages available. The show itself (the non-edible art, that is) will hang through Aug. 20.
When the food tries to crawl away, you know it's fresh, at least in the case of crabs, of which there will be plenty Saturday between noon and 7 p.m. during the fourth annual Chesapeake Bay Feast at Ocean View Beach Park on the site of the former amusement park.
Food vendors will offer steamed crabs, crab cakes, crab fritters, crab soup and a number of other crabby creations, I'm told, as well as some non-seafood items. There will be a big-top tent for those who shun the sun. The Huck Finn Band from Indianapolis will provide live music.
The event is being produced by the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3548, Legion Post No. 327, the Ocean View Democratic & Social Club, VFW Post No. 3160 and Fleet Reserve Branch No. 60, and admission is free and open to the public. The crab feast will benefit selected local charities. With its grassy slopes and a beautiful view of the Bay, the park is a fine place to have a party. For information, call Norfolk Festevents, 441-2345.
Golfers may want to take note of San Antonio Sam's third annual Desert Classic, a flighted, 18-hole, four-man team, Florida best-ball golf tournament, set for Tuesday, Aug. 8, with an 8:15 a.m. ``shotgun start.'' The event will benefit The Children's Performance Workshop and costs $75 per player. A chicken and rib barbecue luncheon with ``beverages'' will be provided to all participants, and prizes include a car for a hole in one. For information, call Ben Rogers at San Antonio Sam's, 623-0233.
The Taphouse Grill at Ghent and Open Wide may well be open by the time you read this. Both new restaurants were in the final stages of construction and remodeling last week.
The Taphouse Grill (931 W. 21st St., 627-9172), opening in the former Bebe's Tune's 'n Tonic/Los Amigos/Robert Allen's/the Dining Car location between Colley Avenue and Hampton Boulevard, will offer a dozen different microbrewery beers, according to general manager Karl Dornemann.
``We've extended the bar through both rooms of the restaurant, and will have 24 taps, with beer menu changes at least once a week,'' he explained.
The food will be nouvelle American regional cuisine, I'm told, as well as burgers and ribs. This will be the second Taphouse Grill, Dornemann said. The first is in Richmond.
As for Open Wide, it's located at 124 Granby St., next door to Emerson's Fine Tobaccos, and will be operated by the folks who owned Phil's Grill at the Oceanfront until recently. I stopped by a week or so back, and it looked like the remodeling job is almost completed. I can't tell you anything about the menu yet. I'll pass it along when they open their doors. by CNB