THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9601300144
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: ON THE TOWN
SOURCE: SAM MARTINETTE
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Festive February begins with a bang.
At Waterside on Saturday, Feb. 10, the ``Heart of the Winter'' wine tasting will showcase the wines of several of Virginia's finest vineyards. That same evening, a Mardi Gras ball to benefit St. Mary's Infant Home in Norfolk will be held at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts. The ball will feature the cuisine of New Orleans, plus music, beverages and a chance to have your fortune told.
From 5 to 8 p.m. this coming Tuesday, Feb. 6, the annual ``Taste of Portsmouth'' will present the food of 14 of that port city's eateries. Then on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Ghent, the annual Birdland Music-sponsored ``Blues Showcase'' will benefit local public radio.
Whew!
No time to be bored this month.
``The wine tasting is very intimate and popular,'' explained Christina Matthews, Waterside marketing director. In its seventh year, the event will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. and will feature wines form Barboursville Vineyards, Oasis Winery, Prince Michel Vineyards, Rapidan River Vineyards and others. The $10 ticket price includes unlimited sampling of wines in a souvenir wine glass. New this year are dinner/wine-tasting packages offered by four Waterside restaurants.
``I've worked out a great package deal with each restaurant,'' Matthews explained. ``If you purchase a package, you'll be issued a voucher for the wine sampling. And the packages are on sale at each restaurant prior to the event so you don't have to wait until the day of the wine tasting to make your plans.''
Il Porto (625-5483) offers a $50 per couple package that includes two entrees with salads, bread, cappuccino, coffee, tea or soda. Phillips Waterside offers a $50 package that includes crab and spinach dip for two, cups of vegetable crab soup and a pair of Caesar salads, with a choice of two entrees. Both are good that day only and include the two wine-tasting tickets (a $20 value).
Reggie's British Pub (627-3575) offers a $35 package, good through the Feb. 15, with a choice of two entrees, small soup or salad and beverage. The Shine Shine Palace (623-0778) has a $50 per couple voucher, good through Feb. 17, and includes a choice of two from among eight selected entrees, with shrimp egg rolls, tofu soup, fresh oranges, almond and fortune cookies. Wine-tasting vouchers are included in both.
``One good thing about the wine tasting is that because of its small size, people often make new friends,'' Matthews said. ``I see people talking and comparing wines. It's very casual.''
For information, call Waterside, 627-3300, or the restaurants.
Tickets for the St. Mary's benefit that same evening, Feb. 10, are $30 per person and include food, beverages and dancing to the music of the R&B All-Stars. The event will be at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. St. Mary's is a long-term residential care provider for severely disabled children, most of whom cannot walk or talk and are in need of round-the-clock nursing care. Costumes are optional for the ``Mardi Gras Magic'' party, but you can bet you'll see plenty of masks. It's a great cause and sounds like a good party. Call 491-1985 for information.
Next Tuesday, I'll sample the food of Portsmouth restaurants at ``A Taste of Portsmouth.'' Set for 5 to 8 p.m. in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn on Crawford Street, the event is a sellout every year.
``It's well-supported by Portsmouth people,'' Ports Events executive director Linda Lamm explained. ``It's a first of the year celebration, so people going stir crazy after the holidays can get out and see each other. We see a lot of new faces every year - people who eat out a lot.''
Tickets for the event are $15 and are available only in advance. Participating restaurants include Amory's Wharf, The Baron's Pub, Brutti's Cafe and Espresso Bar, China Garden, The Commmodore Theater, Huckleberry's, Lobscouser, Maddy's Diner, The Max, New York Deli, Scale O'de Whale, Sotto Voce Espresso, Vic Zodda's Harborside, and Wiener World. For information, call Ports Events, 393-9933.
As for the Naro's fifth annual ``Birdland Blues Showcase'' next Wednesday, tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. The featured bands include The Blues Exchange, Bobby Messano & NBO, and Jim Newsome & The Porch Rockers. It's sort of like old-home week at the Naro that night. For ticket information and locations, call Birdland Music, 495-0961. by CNB