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TALL SHIPS AT CAPE CHARLES 2013 FESTIVAL ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA

Thursday, June 27th, 2013

Runners in the Great Bay Run in Cape Charles VA registering to participate

Last Chance To Register To Compete In Cape Charles Tall Ship Festival’s Great Bay Run

Eagerly awaited with much anticipation, Saturday June 15, 2013 saw the little Eastern Shore Virginia historic town of Cape Charles abuzz with events from the town center to the outer reaches of the Harbor. First off in the morning was The Great Bay Run, kick-off at 8:30. Organized by Blue Heron Realty Co. agent Eva Noonan and her friend Gary Hack, the Run was off to an early start by 7:30 am when participants could begin to sign in and receive their official PIB badges for either the 1.25 mile fun walk/run or for the more serious folks, the 5k event. Over 180 people registered, including kids of all ages, the young and young of heart, moms & dads pushing 3 wheel jogging strollers. Up and down Mason Avenue, in the heart of the Cape Charles historic area, guys and gals of all shapes and sizes gathered in little groups, stretching ham strings, doing warm-up deep knee bends, trying to get ready for the Run, psyching up in anticipation of a hard final push needed to cross over “the Hump”, the steep overpass above the railroad tracks near the finish line at the Marina.

Runners taking off from the starting line for the Great Bay Run

Wooosh, They Are Off !

By 8:15 am, runners were lined up clear across the road at the corner of Harbor and Mason Avenues, awaiting the starter’s gun to begin a course that would wind them down streets of Victorian and other historic homes, past views of sparkling sand dunes and shimmering blue Chesapeake Bay waters, on out to the finish line at the new marina. Then wooosh, they were off and I slipped over to the Cape Charles Harbor to await the first arrivals. I’m proud to say that of the 7 Blue Heron agents and/or their family members who ran this event, 3 won first or second place in their age group– go Herons, go ! In line with being a carefully budgeted event, the donated trophies were inscribed antique bottles and large shells– but winners were all proud smiles as they accepted their unique prizes. Everyone who finished the course got a colorful Great Bay Run T-Shirt as well as free after-the-race pizza and Coke to rebuild energy for the rest of the day’s fun. Race proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia Society and to Broadwater’s Track & Field Team.

The sailing ship "Alliance" moored at the Cape Charles Harbor for the Tall Ships Festival

The “Alliance” berthed in Cape Charles for the 2013 Tall Ship Festival

Next up, a stroll through the marina to see the Tall Ships in the soft morning light– we had brought the grandkids down at sunset Friday evening to enjoy the music events scheduled for the Harbor stage and view the ships, always interesting for young and old alike. Although our old friend, the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel, had earlier dropped in for an overnight anchorage, for the Festival weekend this year Cape Charles was host to the 97 ft. Sultana, a replica of a 1768 British schooner whose job was to enforce the tea taxes prior to the American Revolution, the 105 ft 3 masted schooner Alliance and the 126 ft Virginia, a replica of a harbor pilot boat used on the Bay in the early 1900’s. No matter how many of these replica ships I see I never cease to feel amazed that back in the day, 100 foot vessels like these routinely sailed across stormy oceans with nothing between them and disaster but a skilled captain ( hopefully) and sheer luck– no auxiliary engine, no GPS mapping, no radar, no depth finder, no marine weather service, no ship-to-shore radio and no rescue helicopters, just strong canvas sails, grit and determination. And a daily rum ration…… Each Festival ship offered deck tours as well as 2 hour day-sails out on the Chesapeake Bay, a great opportunity for landlubbers and sailors alike to enjoy a taste of maritime history. And the weather was so co-operative– cool temps, clear skies, steady breezes all weekend.

Brown Dog Ice Cream Shop in Cape Charles VA

A Crunchy Waffle Cone Filled With Brown Dog’s Lush Ice Cream Is Not To Be Missed

Good food and plenty of it, paired with lots of music, is part of the secret to a good festival and there was plenty of both in Cape Charles. From BBQ ribs to Greek gyros, deep dish pizza to “Aden’s Dawgs”, washed down by everything from Kona ice to Bud Lite, plenty of variety was available to satisfy the ole taste buds. The Shanty, a great new-as-of- last-year seafood restaurant right at the edge of the water at the marina, was doing a landslide business. Huge platters of steamed hardshell crabs accompanied by luscious grilled corn on the cob were zooming out of the kitchen at the speed of light, I think the servers must have been wearing jet pacs they moved so fast ! Downtown, just a few minutes walk from the Harbor, Kelly’s Gingernut Pub was going full blast, the Cape Charles Coffee House had extra tables outside for al fresco dining and the Hardware store was putting on a “bring your own hot dogs” BBQ bash for friends and customers. But the really, really big smiles were coming from the folks leaving Brown Dog Ice Cream shop holding crunchy waffle cones stuffed full of the best ice cream I’ve had in a long time, made right on the premises. The only other thing I’ll say about Brown Dog is that when you’re in town next, try a scoop of their pina colada topped with a scoop of rum raisin. Double yum !

A Colonial Village at Tall Ship Festival in Cape Charles VA

Colonial Village- Fun & Educational

But my favorite events were back at the Festival grounds where a very talented group from Raleigh, NC, Historic Interpretations, Inc. teamed up with a group also from Raleigh, called the East Coast Pirate Crew, to set up a Colonial Village. Dressed to “kill”, the East Coast Pirates manned a ” pirate gear for sale” tent plus a tent featuring typical pirate weaponry as well as a display of the typical foodstuff found aboard a pirate ship, with members on hand interpreting same and offering samples of the 17th century on-board daily food staple called “hard tack”. ( No grog offerings though, a true pirate wouldn ‘t stand for that. ) Historic Interpretations program offerings were quite interesting, completely interactive, with all their members dressed in authentic period costume, looking great. The Village included a “typical Colonial kitchen” tent, complete with homemade strawberry and lemon cordials brewing, ( for which I got the recipe ), a games tent, herbs and medicines tent and 17th century “home ec” tent staffed by two very knowledgeable ladies who demonstrated weaving, embroidery , sewing and fashion tips of that era.

A Pannier To Increase Hip Widith Appearance Under Colonial dresses

Just what every modern woman wants– a pannier to make her hips look wider !

Probably doesn’t sound that interesting but it was really fascinating. The ladies had a large hunk of what I thought was spun wool but which was actually flax ready to be spun, then woven into linen cloth, which they demonstrated on a tiny portable loom. Wow, no wonder most folks back in the day had only 2 sets of clothes– at the most. Every woman had a ” housewife”, abbreviated to “hussif”, a cloth strip with multiple pockets on one side for important small implements such as scissors, pencil, glasses, etc., all expensive to replace. The hussif could then be rolled up tightly and stored in her sewing box which contained the rest of her sewing equipment. A typical box would hold lots of handmade sewing aids including a wooden “egg” for darning, a lump of beeswax to stiffen thread, a thimble made of horn, soapstone to mark lines on cloth, a cloth tape measure wound up in a casing made of a large nut shell, hoops of various sizes, and the list goes on and on. And the fashion accessories were pretty interesting too. Corsets were laced up with a long metal instrument called a bodkin. And if you’ve ever wondered how Colonial ladies managed to have a slender waist but appear as if they were four feet wide from hip to hip, well it was thanks to a “pannier”, a very narrow belt with two short cloth barrelly things hanging from each side to make the dress stand way out from the hips. Go figure !

The Festival was all this and so much more. Strolling musicians in town and at the Harbor, the Cape Charles Orchestra playing sea chanteys on Strawberry Street , sidewalk art, a Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt, helicopter rides all day long,Coast Guard water safety program, artists and artisans galore with lovely items for sale, a great display by the Waterman’s Association, an old time oyster “buy boat” at the marina. All capped off with the Pirates & Wenches Ball, everyone dressed in costume, dancing the night away, proceeds benefiting Cape Charles Central Park. But memories now– but we do have Tall Ships Festival 2014 to look forward to.

(Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA. )

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles, Tall sailing ship Kalmar Nyckel, Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival
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A Fitting Memorial Ceremony At The Eastern Shore Of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, Previously Fort John Custis, Near Cape Charles, VA

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

Susan Rice and Dignataries on the Dais At Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Refuge

Susan Rice & Visiting Dignataries At Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge

On Saturday, May 25th, along with hundreds of others, including scores of local veterans, we attended a very moving ribbon cutting ceremony at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge as part of the placement of a very special gun. A great deal of time and effort was expended, most particularly by Alan Stanz, a US Navy veteran from the Eastern Shore, as well as by Terry McGovern, author of a very fine pictorial history on coastal defense systems entitled “The Chesapeake Bay At War“, to make possible the transfer of this historic gun from the US Navy to the Refuge. Present on the dais were Ms. Susan Rice, Manager of the Refuge, Col. Paul Olsen representing the US Army, Barry White, USN retired, who had actually served aboard the Missouri, representing the US Navy, Vincent Rojas representing the Pearl Harbor Battleship Missouri Memorial in Hawaii, as well as representatives of Senator Mark Warner and Governor McDonald.

Mighty Mo underway at sea

Photo of Bunker # 2 at The Eastern Shore Virginia Wildlife Refuge

Gun Barrel #393 Standing In The Remains Of Bunker # 2 At The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At The Eastern Shore Of Virginia Wildlife Refuge

This is the story of the voyage of that gun, a single 168 foot long Mark 7, Barrel # 393, from her initial deployment to her final resting place here at the National Wildlife Refuge at the southern tip of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She proudly sailed on one of the most consequential battleships of WW II, USS Missouri, the “Mighty Mo“, christened in January, 1944 by then Senator Harry Truman’s daughter, Margaret. Fittingly, the “Mighty Mo” was initially stationed in nearby Norfolk, VA , swiftly cutting through the waters of the Chesapeake Bay during her shakedown and battle practice before setting sail for Pearl Harbor in December of that year. The gun of our story was one of only nine aboard in her class, a 16″ 50 Caliber Mark 7, constituting part of the main battery on the Missouri. But she was destined to play an important place in history, firing her heart out as the “Might Mo” participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima, then in the invasion of Okinawa as the Third Fleet flagship of the great Admiral Halsey and in the final assault on Japan in her home waters. This particular gun was a silent witness on V-J Day to the momentous surrender of the Empire of Japan on Sept. 2, 1945 as the world heaved a great sigh of relief when Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur came aboard the USS Missouri shortly before 9 am to sign the Surrender Documents on behalf of the United States of America. And this gun, # 393, with the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge over the Memorial Day 2013 week-end, has now become ” Our Gun”. At 168 feet long, firing a 16″ shell weighing 2100 pounds, capable of hitting a target at a distance of 23 miles, she is at last peacefully quiet, resting in her final emplacement, in Bunker # 2, which once wielded an identical 168 foot long Mark 7 gun during deployment at Fort John Custis from 1942 to 1945 as a part of its gun battery for the critical coastal defense system.

A bit more history…. During WWII, the defense of the 15 mile wide mouth of the Chesapeake Bay against possible attack by enemy warships was of the highest priority to the US military, particularly in consideration of the strategic importance of protecting the US’s largest Navel Station in Norfolk only a few miles away, the very important shipyard in the Hampton area as well as the necessity of keeping ports and the critical shipping channels between Norfolk and Baltimore secure and open. The upshot of this concern was that in September, 1941 a fort was established by the US Army at the very southern tip of the Eastern Shore. It’s mission was to work together with Fort Story on the Virginia Beach side of the Bay and Fort Monroe in Hampton to create a series of coastal fortifications of the highest level at the mouth of the Chesapeake. Originally designated Fort Winslow, re-named Fort John Custis in honor of a local Eastern Shore hero in 1942, at peak staffing over 1000 troops were stationed there, manning a variety of gun batteries, state of the art radars, controlled mines, searchlights and tall fire control towers, 24/7.

Aerial View of Fisherman's Island and the Eastern Shore VA National Wildlife Refuge

Aerial View of Fisherman’s Island & Eastern Shore VA National Wildlife Refuge Where Fort Custis & The Cape Charles Air Force Station Once Stood

And just a teeny bit more history…. After the War, the Army closed the Fort Custis but in 1950 it got a new lease on life when purchased by the US Air Force, re-named the Cape Charles Air Force Station, home station of the 77 1st Squadron. Here about 500 airmen during the 1950’s & 60’s were stationed, manning very specialized equipment as part of the military’s new national air defense radar network . In 1963 it became a joint use facility with the FAA but in 1981 all these missions were moved to the Navel Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, and the Cape Charles Air Force Station faded into the sunset. Enter the US Fish and Wildlife Service which in 1984 purchased part of the property to establish the now totally awesome Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge. This pretty much brings us to the present except to say that currently the Refuge owns 1340 acres at the Shore’s very beautiful southern tip, including all of what was once Fort Custis. And to quote from the program handed out at the ribbon cutting: “The Refuge staff continues history’s theme of protection– not one of protecting the Chesapeake Bay as Fort John Custis, nor protecting the skies as Cape Charles Air Force Station, but one of protecting the waters, the land and skies for wildlife and their habitates for the continuing benefit of the American people.”

Rosie the Riviter WW II Poster saying "We Can Do It "

WE DID DO IT — Thanks To The Efforts Of Millions Like My Father & Mother

So the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony wasn’t just about this impressive and historic gun, it was about remembering the sacrifices of those who fought and those who died to protect us and to keep this nation free. As Col. Paul Olsen, representing the US Army at the Ceremony, said so eloquently, not every warrior returns from war. And Memorial Day is the time for we the living to contemplate the abstract idea of freedom and to remember those who paid for it with their last full measure of devotion. And not just those who fought in battle or those who died, but also those who sacrificed in so many other ways. I’m sure that almost everyone in my generation has a relative who was touched by WWII in a very personal way. For myself, I would like to pay tribute to my father, now passed on, captured by the Germans, managed to escape, awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, who struggled the rest of his life with medical issues from his war wounds. And to my mother, who after graduation from college went to work, not in her chosen profession, but in an aircraft assembly plant, noisy, dirty, difficult but like so many other women across this country, worked her heart out for her country. And so on Memorial Day I always think of them, of their sacrifices, as well as of our debt to those who died. It’s because of my parents and the millions of men and women just like them all over this nation, the Greatest Generation, we are all still free, still speaking English– not German, not Japanese. Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom. We can never repay our debt to you.

Tags: Cape Charles Air Force Station, Cape Charles Virginia, Coastal Defense System during WWII, Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, Fort John Custis, Memorial Day on the Eastern Shore, USS Missouri Battleship
Posted in Events In Cape Charles, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Some Serious Thoughts, Virginia History | No Comments »

The First Annual Great Bay Run in Cape Charles, VA

Friday, June 7th, 2013

The Great Bay Run

This summer an exciting new event is coming to the Eastern Shore of Virginia ! On Saturday, June 15, 2013, in conjunction with the Tall Ships at Cape Charles Festival, the town will be the site of the First Annual Great Bay Run.

Organized by race directors Eric Hack, a teacher and coach at the Eastern Shore’s Broadwater Academy and Eva Noonan, an agent at our own Blue Heron Realty Co., this is a first for both of them. Eva also works with Eric as volunteer assistant cross country and track coach at Broadwater. This is expected to be a premier event, kicking off the debut of what they hope will be an exciting annual runner’s challenge.

Cape Charles beach with Victorian homes in background

5k Run will pass along Bay Ave.in Cape Charles, VA

The Great Bay Run in Cape Charles will offer both a 5k race and a 1.25 mile fun run/walk. Both events start at 8:30 AM on Saturday, June 15th, near the Blue Heron Realty office at 113 Mason Avenue. The route will take runners along Bay Avenue, with its grand dame’ Victorian- era homes overlooking beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay and the sparkling sand dunes along the Town’s soft sand beach, weave through the Historic District, then out past the Coast Guard Station and finally into the Cape Charles Harbor of Refuge. By concluding at the Cape Charles Harbor, participants will be able to enjoy all the events at this state of the art marina which will be be filled for the Festival with sailboats of all sizes and descriptions, including three Tall Sailing Ships and a US Navy patrol ship, all of which will be visiting for the entire week-end. The three Tall Ships berthed there will also be offering deck tours and 2 hour day sails all weekend long so it’s a great opportunity to experience maritime history. Additionally, the winners will be presented with their trophies down at the Harbor right after the race.

Eric and Eva look forward to putting on a competitive and fun race experience that the hundreds of athletes of all abilities already signed up will enjoy. Eva has recently started a local women’s running group which has inspired many locals to join the June 15th race as well. And it’s really exciting that runners have signed up to participate from as far away as Ohio and Pennsylvania. For additional information about the race, visit its Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/greatbayruncapecharles. Anyone interested in registering for the race can still sign up, registration will be active until 7:30 am on the morning of the race.

Online registration is available on Active.com at this link: http://www.active.com/5k-race/cape-charles-va/the-great-bay-run-in-cape-charles-2013. So, whether you’re interested in being a spectator or a participant, come on down, we think it’s going to be lots of fun.

The Great Bay Run would like to thank it’s sponsors: Blue Heron Realty Co., QS LLC, Eastern Shore Custom Carts, Eastern Shore Signs, Hook U Up Gourmet, Rayfield’s Pharmacy, and Kelly’s Gingernut Pub. The proceeds of the race will be split equally and donated to benefit two causes: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as the Broadwater Academy cross country and track & field teams.

Tags: Cape Charles Harbor, Cape Charles Tall Ships Festival, Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Great Bay Run, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Sailing | No Comments »

Aqua Restaurant- Still Delightful, Delicious, De-lovely

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

Aqua Restaurant Easter Brunch

Having scheduled the family Easter dinner for Saturday, which came off quite well, including trying a new ( new to me anyway) version of ham from costco which everyone loved, an excellent Applewood smoked full length de-boned ham which had been cut in half vertically rather than horizontally, we had decided that brunch at the “new” Aqua would be just the ticket for Sunday. After a winter’s hiatus, which included a change in ownership, a bit of re-decorating and some staff changes, I was curious to see if the beautiful Aqua Restaurant, which overlooks the Chesapeake Bay in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia just re-opened on Friday, had retained its old charm. And more importantly, its fine flair for preparing regional cuisine. I hoped for the best but feared for the worst as we walked through the door on Sunday but, happily, my fears were for naught as the answer to my first question was a resounding “Yes, Shelly Cusmina is still the head chef.” So, off to a good start in its new iteration, still, as Cole Porter would say, ” Delightful, Delicious, De-lovely.”

Aqua is well known for its tradition of delectable Southern-style cuisine for holiday brunches and Sunday’s food definitely did that tradition proud. If Paula Deen had been there she would have said that they had outdone themselves with this luscious meal, nary a foot put wrong. Although Aqua’s regular lunch and dinner menus are geared towards fine dining, emphasizing the fresh seafood from our Chesapeake Bay region, its brunches often feature some classic Southern dishes that don’t appear on the set menu, including some of the best mac and cheese I have ever tasted, smooth, really creamy. And an ode should have been written to the fried chicken, that’s how good it was, crisp flakes of crunchy coating, mouthwatering tender chicken , accompanied by plenty of spicy Crystal hot sauce. ( You might be a Southerner if you can’t really enjoy fried chicken without an ample sprinkling of pungent hot sauce, preferably Crystal or Texas Pete brand. ) And rounding out the “must-have” trifecta of mac and cheese and fried chicken is, of course, a mess of collard greens. Now the important thing about collards (besides needing to be cooked until very tender ) is that they must be “well seasoned” which is a catch-all description for the rich peppery ham flavor that proper collards are supposed to have. Adding little chunks of smoked country ham or smoked side meat is the best cooking method to give collards the sort of sweet-salty tangy flavor that no holiday table in Virginia is truly complete without. And speaking of not complete, light as air biscuits are also a must serve, in Aqua’s case, feather-light sweet potato biscuits.

There was, of course, a separate omelet station stocked with choices of just about every ingredient one could wish to be added to a fluffy omelet. I’m not really a breakfast person so brunch for me might as well just be called lunch but Hubby is just about the opposite and prefers the breakfast side of a brunch. In addition to the omelet station, a huge poached salmon cleverly decorated with cucumber slice “scales” accompanied by a mellow dill sauce, pan-fried Yukon potatoes, mini- sausage links, fluffy blueberry pancakes, bagels and rich flaky pastries were available for the breakfast foodies. Plus gorgeous fruit trays filled one end of a table, offering a wide selection of fruit including some very tempting strawberries, gorgeous, vivid red with an amazing bouquet and ambrosial Hawaiian pineapple slices, literally dripping with juice, a whole array of delights. It was a lovely event, enjoyed in good company, proving once again that a meal at Aqua’s is still “Delightful, Delicious, De-lovely ” ! (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7135 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA. )

Tags: Aqua restaurant Cape Charles Virginia, Cape Charles Virginia, Chef Shelly Cusmina, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Southern style food, Virginia Eastern Shore
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The 17th Annual Holiday Progressive Dinner in Cape Charles VA Was One Of The Best Yet !

Saturday, December 22nd, 2012

A holiday tradition kicked off 17 years ago by the Chamber of Commerce to help support various Eastern Shore of Virginia worthy causes, the annual Holiday Sampler Tour Progressive Dinner was held last week in Cape Charles. Entitled “Shake, Rattle and Stroll”, the theme of the evening was to relax and take a step back in time to the Fabulous Fifties. Not to dwell on my ever advancing age, but I was alive and be-bopping during the Fab 50’s so it was a nostalgic evening for me. In fact, I’m guessing that some of the other cute chicks and cool cats in our group were also be-bop-boppers ! Who can forget the guys with the Everly Brothers style Brylcreemed pompadours and “Duck Tails” ? Or the big bouffant “beehives” held in place with about a gallon of hair spray containing who knows what chemicals that enabled it to hold together for a week ! Venue # 1, serving the appetizer course, was as always, the beautiful Palace Theatre on Mason Avenue. Built in the art deco style 1941, in its day the Palace was considered absolutely splendid — it has now been restored to its former glory through the enormous efforts of the Arts Enter group, right down to the total refurbishing of the plush red velvet seats. We were met at the door by The King himself, attired in a white dinner jacket, slicked back long hair and quite possibly a pair of blue, blue suede shoes. Unless my eyes were fooling me….. In the lobby we registered, got our group badges and moved down into the house to nosh on some rather tasty appetizers. From the Blue Bay Crab Co., a Parmesan crab dip on flatbread crackers and from Mallards-On-The-Wharf Restaurant, a lovely display of fresh veggies and fruits served with warm spinach dip, a savory hummus and a tapenade of Greek style black olives. Yum ! While enjoying these goodies we were treated to a little play staring the ever lively Trina Veber. In a dream sequence, Elvis and Roy Orbison sang and danced merrily around the stage with Trina, fulfilling the “shake and rattle” part of the evening’s theme and getting us ready to “stroll” off to Venue # 2.

Venue # 2, presenting the soup course, was a darling little Victorian home on Peach Street, which has been extensively renovated and treated to brand new kitchen and bathrooms. First, a tour of the house which was very nicely decorated, then to enjoy a spicy chicken, shrimp and crawdaddy gumbo, expertly prepared by Kelly’s Gingernut Pub. Little Italy Restaurant had prepared the tasty bruschetta, nicely seasoned, complementing the gumbo quite well. Venue # 3, site of the salad course, was the new Bay Haven Inn on Tazewell Avenue. Just renovated by our Blue Heron customers, Tammy and Jim Holloway, this brand new B&B is the cat’s meow ! Decorated to the nines inside and out for the holidays, from top to bottom this 7 bedroom Colonial Revival beauty is simply gorgeous and ready for the most discriminating of guests. A delicious and sophisticated salad of roasted local sweet potatoes over roasted apples with arugula, garnished with paper- thin country ham and aged Gouda was presented by Amy B. Catering. Served along side was a trio of imported cheeses from Gull Hummock Gourmet Market, all paired with a lush rose’ from local winery, Chatham Vineyards.

Venue #4, making a splash with the fish course, was an interesting home on Monroe Avenue. Built in 1906, back in the day it served as a boarding house for teachers from the then nearby Cape Charles School. Currently a leisure home for its owners, who plan to retire to Cape Charles in the future, it too was all gussied up for the holidays. From the attractive new waterfront restaurant on the Cape Charles harbor, The Shanty, came seasoned haddock nuggets served with rich and creamy 3 Cheese Mac & Cheese from Hook-U-Up restaurant on Mason Avenue, both very nicely done.

Venue # 5, offering the evening’s entree’, was a unique home also on Monroe Avenue. It actually consists of two separate adjacent homes, both built in the 1920’s, which were then combined into a single home via a breezeway which connects the two. Painted a sunny yellow, this home was outlined with lots of cheerful outdoor lights and looked lovely. Lots of great decorations inside including a display cabinet filled with a large collection of colorful wooden Nutcracker figures, large and small, from all over the world. I happen to love and have a much small collection of Nutcrackers myself which I pull out and tuck all over the house for the holidays. Here we were served a chicken pot pie with a side of poached apples from the Exmore Diner. The apples were served hot and featured a hint of maple and cinnamon, very pleasing, both chicken and apples pairing well with the Chardonnay from the local winery, Holly Grove Vineyards.

From there we were off for dessert and coffee to Venue # 6, the Cape Charles Coffee House, whose holiday display windows, complete with an antique train set, are always among the finest in town. The Coffee House is a fabulous place for breakfast and lunch and is home to some of the best cakes on the planet. Let me just say that Roberta’s coconut layer cake with lemon filling and cream cheese coconut icing is simply heavenly, the best ever. Alas, that was not to be our dessert. But the next best thing was being served– homemade ice cream ! For some unfathomable reason, I love ice cream more in cold weather than in hot weather. But truth be told, I can enjoy really excellent ice cream at virtually anytime and this was from Brown Dog Ice Cream, a new gourmet ice cream shop on Mason Avenue. Brown Dog makes their ice cream in small batches so it’s always delightfully fresh. Anyway, it was ” make- your- own ice cream sundae, which was fun. A choice of three flavors of ice cream were set out and then each person helped themselves to toppings. I chose the chocolate and skipped the toppings, just savoring the deep chocolaty flavor, following my sundae with a chaser of Nicaraguan coffee, piping hot, steam rising from the cup. Perfect ! And then it was over, another fine time had by all. We had shaken, rattled and strolled through this quaint little town, admiring lights and decorations, enjoying the moveable feast, having lots of fun in a good cause at 2012 Holiday Sampler Progressive Dinner in Cape Charles, Virginia. (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA)

Tags: Arts Enter Cape Charles, Cape Charles Virginia, Cape Charles Virginia historic home for sale, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles, Holiday events in Cape Charles Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Palace Theatre Cape Charles Virginia, Real Estate, Victorian homes in Cape Charles, Victorian homes in Virginia, Virginia historic home for sale
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A Dramatic Presentation of the Early History of the Eastern Shore of Virginia At The Palace Theatre In Cape Charles, VA

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

Chief Debedeavon and his tribal warriors appeal to the heavens

Demonstrating the incredible strength of our volunteer spirit here on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, members of our community, including myself, came together this November, 2012, for the production of “Piece of Eden” in the historic Palace Theater in downtown Cape Charles, Virginia.Written by long-time resident of our town, Jean Collins, and adapted for the stage by our very talented Sheila Cardano, this epic musical drama reenacts the significant events and politics of the 17th and 18th centuries which not only are the foundations of our country but also the basic principles of American liberty and democracy. Few people realize the importance of the Eastern Shore of Virginia in not only providing sustenance for the early Jamestown Colony but also the Eastern Shore’s role in saving that colony from annihilation by the Powhatan Native American tribes in the massacre of 1622. If truth be told, Jamestown would have been wiped off the face of the earth if the “Laughing King” of the Eastern Shore, Indian chief Debedeavon, had not warned the colonists of the western shore of Chief Powhatan’s plan to poison their wells and attack their settlement. The Eastern Shore’s Indian chief’s timely and courageous action prevented the massacre from achieving its objective of killing all 1100 settlers; as it was, more than 350 were murdered during the massacre but Jamestown survived as the capital of Virginia. Who can begin to speculate about our nation’s history if the Jamestown settlement had been completely wiped out?

Stephen Charlton leads the settlers in the first protest against unfair taxation.

“Piece of Eden” also portrays the peoples who made important contributions to our early history, especially the Native Americans. Living amongst us today in our community are the descendants of the Indians and the early colonists who shaped the foundation of our nation. Names like Opecancanough, Fox, Custis, Savage, and Charlton as well as the Indian tribes, Machipongo and Occohannock, who inhabited the Eastern Shore before the arrival of the colonists, are threaded throughout the play. Authentic costumes worn by the actors and the lively portrayal of the cultural life of early colonial times effectively bring to life the characters who made history here on the Shore. Portrayed on stage is a portion of the very first play acted on American soil in our town of Pungoteague titled “Ye Bear and Ye Cub”. “Piece of Eden” also incorporates scenes from historic meetings of the colonists with the Indians including the spreading of the small pox disease, the timely warning of the impending Jamestown massacre, the flight of Virginia’s early governor from Jamestown to the Custis family estate of Arlington during Bacon’s Rebellion, Northampton County’s letter of grievances which was the very first protest in the colonies against taxation without representation and the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the courthouse steps in Eastville in 1776. And lo, these many years later, Eastville is still the Northampton County seat.

The Declaration of Independence is read from the Northampton courthouse steps on August 13, 1776.

Over the week of November 15-20, 2012, our enthusiastic cast and crew played five performances of “Piece of Eden” to interested and appreciative audiences. Our last performance was held at 9:30am to accommodate all of the fourth grade students in the County as they are now studying Virginia history in their classrooms. The actors were able to greet the audience members after each performance and I heard many wonderful comments, such as “I never realized how important the history of the Eastern Shore is to the founding of America.” When one considers the impacts of such an enormous production, it is astounding to think of the educational, social, economic and cultural benefits that accrue to our community. Who knows what impressionable children may gather from seeing this spectacular and educational play? Or what decisions a new visitor to our area may make when they see such creativity and cohesiveness demonstrated by the members of our community? The Palace Theater, owned and operated by our own Arts Enter Cape Charles, is undoubtedly a most important resource to our community and well deserves the generous support it receives.

A proud and grateful cast takes their bow!

If you’ve never been involved in a little theatre group it is not easy to appreciate what goes into a production of this magnitude, especially for a non-profit entity as Arts Enter Cape Charles. Approximately 3600 hours were dedicated by more than sixty individuals to write this original play and it’s music, perform original musical scores, design and build elaborate sets, operate audio and lighting programs and fixtures, design and sew dozens of the amazing period costumes and rehearse the many scenes performed by actors of all ages from five to seventy-five years. And the support of family and friends in time, effort and funding was crucial as well. Such spirit of generosity and involvement really is a big part of what makes our small but vibrant community so special. Only in a small town like Cape Charles can amateur actors such as myself realize their dream of acting on the live stage when their lack of professional talent and experience would preclude such an opportunity in a large metropolitan area’s drama groups. I am enormously grateful to have that opportunity and am especially appreciative of being able to join the company of fellow thespians, enthusiastic individuals who hail from all over the country and who so generously give of their time and energy, enabling productions such as “Piece of Eden” to become a reality.

Tags: Arts Enter Cape Charles, Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore history, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles, Holiday events in Cape Charles Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Palace Theatre Cape Charles Virginia
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Cape Charles Kicks Off The 2012 Holiday Season With The 3rd Annual Grand Illumination In Central Park

Friday, December 7th, 2012

If you were in Cape Charles, VA the week-end of December 1st. , you already know it was a great opportunity to kick off the holiday season all around this quaint little historic town sited on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. First off, the Cape Charles Bed and Breakfast Association sponsored the annual “Cookie Trail” Open House. Lots of fun, this is the kick-off to many local celebrations of the season, an invitation to stop in to see some great decorations and enjoy delicious homemade cookies. If you’re a historic house fan, this is always great because so many of the these homes, most built in the early 1900’s, have been beautifully maintained and gorgeously decorated. I especially wanted to visit Bay Haven Inn, a new B&B, owned and operated by our customers, Jim and Tammy Holloway.

The opening of Bay Haven Inn is the result of nearly 2 years of work on the part of Tammy and Jim. You can be sure it takes a substantial effort to renovate a grand 7 bedroom, 8 bath Colonial Revival home , built in 1906, into a simply gorgeous B&B retreat. A few years ago, when the Holloways first met with Blue Heron Realty Co. to begin their search for a historic home in Virginia to develop into a B&B, they had never been to Cape Charles. But on the very first visit, it was love at first sight, not just with this particular house ( which had actually been a B&B at a previous point in time ) but with the town itself. And not only did the house have great bones and tons of the original detail they were looking for, but it had a personality and ambience that just clicked for them. ( Some of the originals included elaborate ceiling medallions, leaded glass windows, columns, amazing pocket doors, 12″ baseboards, beautiful fireplace mantels and a quirky butler’s pantry. ) Now, dressed to the nines for the holidays, Bay Haven Inn is ready to strut its stuff, primed for the big time, picture perfect, all set for the guests who will come to relax and enjoy the Southern Hospitality for which Virginia is well-known. ( For reservations, call 757-331-2838 )

Next stop– pick up 2 grandkids for the Santa Workshop and after supper, the Illumination. Kids and parents, elves and Santa — the Workshop was a beehive of activities as 5 or 6 arts and crafts tables were jammed with happy kids making ornaments, necklaces and bracelets. Up on stage, Santa was busy finding out who had been bad and who had been good — and of course, everyone claimed to have been been good, very good indeed. After making 2 ornaments and waving to Santa, who was still very busy with the “naughty or nice” inquiries, the boys and I slipped out to make a quick run for supper to Sting Rays Restaurant, or Chez Exon as it is fondly nicknamed. Housed in a large red “barn” with 2 lanes of gas pumps outside, StingRays has been written up by Southern Living Magazine as serving some of the best seafood on the Eastern Shore. This time of year, when the rock fish are running, you can sometimes find this delicate fish on the menu but I am partial to the Shrimp Stuffed with Crab Imperial. Super- fresh crabmeat, enveloped in a creamy sherry laced sauce, piled high on jumbo shrimp and broiled to a golden brown ! Truly delicious, but takes a while to get to the table so the three of us ordered the BBQ. Southern BBQ is normally pork ( not beef as in so many other regions ), slow cooked over wood until it is fork-tender, then “pulled” into shreds, piled high on a kaiser roll and topped with a favorite sauce. Sting Rays has great pulled pork and a luscious house sauce to go with it. With favorites like cole slaw, potato salad and baked beans on the side, a Chez Exon BBQ platter makes a simple but delicious meal, a satisfying regional food.

After dinner, it was off to the 3rd Annual Grand Illumination at Central Park in Cape Charles. Hundreds of luminaries lined the long curving walkways, placed there earlier by the numerous Cape Charles helper elves, glittering points of light, flickering in the darkness. Standing in the large Gazebo, a focal point of the Park, Master of Ceremonies Chris Bannon reminded the crowd that it was just 11 years ago that a volunteer group called “Citizens For Central Park” was founded to turn an old playground surrounded by an ugly chain-link fence into the 5 acre green area ringed with winding walkways, beautiful landscaping, a flowing fountain and large Gazebo that exists today. Along the way, thousands of dollars in donations and nearly a million dollars in grant money, together with the ideas and efforts of so many individuals and organizations including architect Leon Parham, the Eastern Shore Garden Club and the Women’s Club of Cape Charles, all of whom worked synergistically to create this beautifully landscaped park. One of the unique aspects of Central Park are its Memorial Trees — many interesting trees, including Copper Beech, Golden Rain tree, Yoshino Cherry and Gold Atlas cedar were donated by individuals and planted in honor or in memory of a loved one.

The Northampton County High School band was on hand to set the mood, playing familiar holiday tunes as members of the US Coast Guard’s Cape Charles Station meandered through the audience, lighting candles as everyone sang carols— candles and carols are definitely my favorite part. It was a slightly chilly night, just a bit of a nip in the air, not enough for gloves or hats but enough to get into the holiday spirit. ( A couple years ago it was a “jazzercise” illumination, so chilly I was stomping my feet to the beat of the music– Jingle Bells, stomp, stomp, stomp, Jingle Bells, stomp, stomp stomp ! ) Then the “Countdown to Illumination”, with Mayor Dora Sullivan doing the honors– 5, 4, 3, 2, 1– the candles were blown out and as darkness fell over the Park, the Mayor threw the switch. Voila’, thousands of brilliant holiday bulbs, a celebration in all the colors of the rainbow, suffused the Park with a soft glow, beautiful to behold, a gift from “Citizens for Central Park” to everyone in Cape Charles, a very special gift indeed. (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA)

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Cape Charles, VA., The Little Town that Could! And Did !

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

Kalmar Nyckel attracts a romantic couple to Cape Charles, June 2011.Kalmar Nyckel shows her colors in Cape Charles, June 2011

A recent article in the paper brought back fond memories of last June 8-12, 2012 when the little Town of Cape Charles, Virginia on Virginia’s Eastern Shore hosted a big fleet of ships in its tiny deep-water harbor in celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the birth of the Star Spangled Banner. Attracted by this wonderfully varied armada, hundreds of thousands of visitors came from far and near to see this historic gathering of tall sailing ships from around the world, OpSail 2012, sailed into the Port of Hampton Roads, Virginia. In concert with the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Hampton VA, the people of Northampton County and the Towns of Eastville and Cape Charles had spent the better part of a year planning their celebrations of these historic events.

These amazing tall sailing ships began arriving in the lower part of the Chesapeake Bay a week early and the new Cape Charles harbor marina was included in the event, hosting the visits of three sailing ships – schooners Lynx, Appledore III, and Sultana – as well as the US Navy patrol craft Zephyr, and a harbor full of pleasure and commercial watercraft. Against the backdrop of Cape Charles downtown mini-skyline, the harbor full of these schooners presented a beautiful site for a festival of the first magnitude.

Planning for the event in Cape Charles called for the coordination of nearly every element of our community, private, business and public. Our own David Kabler from the Cape Charles office of Blue Heron Realty Co. had envisioned for many years the welcoming of tall sailing ships into the Harbor of Refuge in Cape Charles. This bicentennial celebration offered him the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to the Eastern Shore community the power of tall ships in stimulating our economy. Beginning in February of 2011, David presented to the county government leaders and the leading economic powers of the Eastern Shore his Tall Ships Economic Development Initiative for the attraction of the tall ship industry. The first part of the plan called for our community’s participation in OpSail 2012 and afterwards an ongoing effort to attract tall ships throughout the year. Such an effort has proven to stimulate an host locality’s economy, tourism, education, community organization and infrastructure improvements, and during OpSail 2012 the Eastern Shore was no exception to this rule. The plan was readily adopted and publicly funded, setting into motion an organization of our community’s assets like we have never seen before.

In June, 2011, Blue Heron Realty sponsored our first tall ship visitor, Kalmar Nyckel, arguably the

queen of the tall ship fleet. She hails from Wilmington, DE, and is a replica of the 17th century Dutch trading ship that brought the first Swedish settlers to the area of Cape Henlopen, DE. The arrival of Kalmar Nyckel to the town harbor heralded the beginning of a remarkable weeklong visit that brought thousands of school children, tourists, and Eastern Shore residents to town. They toured the ship, learning about 17th century transportation technology and nautical life and even taking sail charters aboard her out into the Chesapeake Bay. Government and business leaders throughout the County attended the ship that weekend to see first hand how remarkable such a ship is and how attractive she is to people of all ages and walks of life. To complement her visit, an anonymous donor generously sponsored the attendance of Queen Elizabeth I’s court, Historic Interpretations from Raleigh NC, replete with five Elizabethan tents populated by an entire troop of actors dressed in beautiful period costumes. Children came to the queen’s tent to be knighted, activities of the 16th century were re-enacted, demonstrations of dance, games, food, and armour of the period were performed, all set up in the new park in the center of town, appropriately called now Central Park.

After the excitement of the visit of Kalmar Nyckel died down, serious planning took hold for our community’s participation in OpSail 2012. More than thirty people, representing town and county governmental departments, local business organizations, and volunteers, began meeting monthly to organize what promised to be the largest festival ever held in Cape Charles. Funding from Northampton County and the Town of Cape Charles provided seed money for grant applications that, together with generous private and commercial sponsorships, supported the wonderful concepts that made the Cape Charles Tall Ship Festival so special. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel offered organizers the use of the second island for public viewing of the spectacle of the Parade of Sail of the international fleet of tall sailing ships. The Bay Coast Railroad lent the use of their historic railyards for accomodating the many vendors and Historic Interpretations’ Elizabethan village. Cape Charles Town harbor generously offered the tall ships dockage at its brand new marina facility of floating piers. All of the schools of Northampton County participated in the Adopt-a-Ship program hosting the ships’ crews when they arrived at receptions and special events in their honor. Staging was erected for live music bands and food vendors of all sorts set up shop next to the docks. Hundreds of volunteers were organized by the Cape Charles Rotary for parking, transportation and maning of the information centers around town. It is estimated that ten thousand people came to the four day event called Tall Ships at Cape Charles! You can imagine what kind of economic impact such attendance generates in a county of only about 13,000, in a town of around 1,000.

Kalmar Nyckel shows her colors in Cape Charles, June 2011

Lasting impressions about our town, our county and our community were carried far and wide by the many visitors who left amazed by the wonderful scene of tall ships sailing in and out of the Cape Charles harbor. Months of public relations work generated huge interest in our event. Advertising on the highways, in printed publications and on the internet in websites and social media contributed untold benefits. All this together works long and hard towards establishing an identity for our community that will carry us forward for increased tourism, higher education, community cohesiveness and future improvements to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in general. Now, due to the success of our participation in OpSail 2012, Northampton County has again funded the effort to attract the tall ship industry in their 2012-13 budget planning! And Blue Heron Realty is proud to say that we were the driving force behind the whole kit and caboodle!

Tags: Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Cape Charles Virginia, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tall sailing ship Kalmar Nyckel
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Cape Charles VA, Named A “Best Little Beach Town” By Southern Living Magazine, Is A Great Place For A Relaxing Vaction

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

There is a reason why the June, 2012 isssue of Southern Living Magazine names Cape Charles, Virginia as one of their “Best Little Beach Towns“– because it REALLY IS ! I know, I know, that’s a non sequitur. But Cape Charles really is the best little beach town in Virginia and we invite you to decide for yourself if you agree with Southern Living and moi. To that end, I want to introduce you to Cape Charles’ newest vacation rental– Seahorse Retreat, presided over by Sindbad, the biggest, baddest, most bejeweled seahorse I’ve ever seen and his friends.

Located in the heart of the historic area, Seahorse Retreat is a second floor unit in a lovely historic brick building, circa about 1900. Truly a cozy haven for two, it features a beautifully decorated living room furnished with overstuffed, comfortable furniture, dining room with seating for four and a bedroom featuring a brand new and totally comfy king- sized bed, deliciously soft sheets, fat down type pillows. A full kitchen with dishwasher, built-in microwave and ceramic top range completes the ensemble. ( Well, of course, there’s also a bathroom. What to say about a bathroom ? It’s there, it works, the bathmat and shower curtain are both a seafoam color matching the fun painting on the wall, etc. …..) But the piece de resistance is the veranda. Step through the door onto the veranda and you enter the world of small town coastal living as on the sidewalk below, folks are taking leisurely strolls down Mason Avenue to shops, to galleries, to restaurants, to the beach. Personally, I find people watching lots of fun ! And as the veranda overlooks the Cape Charles harbor, it’s perfect for relaxing at sunset, as everything from a big yacht to a little Boston Whaler glides into port at twilight from a day out on the Chesapeake Bay. ( Boating is such hard work but someone has to do it….. )

Although Seahorse Retreat has already been booked through April, 2013, I might mention that in general, Fall really is a great time to visit the Eastern Shore so check out our other Vacation Rentals at www.blueheronva.com/vacation_rentals/ In fact, October is one of my favorite month here, blue, blue skies, huge white puffy clouds, soft sea breezes, still warm but not hot, Indian Summer usually nearly until Thanksgiving. Starting right after Labor Day things get a bit quieter but there’s still more than plenty to do. The beach, of course, ( that’s why it’s the “best little beach town” ). The Cape Charles town beach features sparkling, soft sand, the better to relax in a beach chair, feet bare, book in hand, ice cold tea in the cooler. Tide pools for beachcombing and wading, swimming perfect further out, a long boardwalk for just strolling– just a few of the reasons why the Cape Charles beach is so great.

At the tail end of the Boardwalk you’ll find a long handsome fishing/crabbing/boat watching pier. Of an evening the pier is lighted and the reflections of these many small lights mirrored in the waters below, together with the moonlight which casts a net all around, nearby channel markers blinking bright red or green, the lights in the homes along Bay Avenue twinkling a soft yellow in the distance, tangy air tinged with salt, all synthesized into a lovely experience. Actually, the pier at night is really one of my favorite places in Cape Charles, quiet but with always something interesting doing on– fish or crabs plopping into a bucket, the very last boats of the evening steaming in to the harbor, way out on the Chesapeake Bay maybe a big cargo ship or cruise ship, lights very faint on the horizon, passing by on its way from Norfolk to Baltimore, snatches of soft conversation or laughter echoing across the water. Definitely, when you visit, do not miss a walk out on the pier in the evening.

A to Z, from antiques to zesty clam dip, there is so much to do on the Eastern Shore of Virginia it’s hard to even know where to begin. Festivals, birding, wine trail, boating, biking, deep sea fishing, crabbing, clamming, horseback riding, kayaking, visiting museums and wildlife preserves, and the list goes on. Within the town itself, visit the cute little shops, full of unique gift items or stop in at Best Nest, a favorite of mine and the go-to place for nautical home furnishings and decorations. Four art galleries offer a tremendous variety of local art– from paintings to sculptures to lovely jewelry and more, you’ll find something that cries out, take me home, take me home with you ! Over at the Marina Village Shops you’ll find the art studio of Thelma Peterson, one of the Shore’s most renown painters, famous among other things for her paintings of the Coast Guard stations, now gone, but which long stood proud out on our off-shore Barrier Islands. What’s the most fun way to get to the Marina Village Shops ( and Aqua Restaurant right next door, but we’ll come to that later) ?? By golf cart, naturally.

Cape Charles is the only town I know of in Virginia where golf carts are street-legal within the town limits. Nothing like seeing the town from the low & slow, green & lean perspective of a golf cart. It’s easy to rent one for just a day or for your entire stay. Of course, the reason the Cape Charles was granted this privilege was that two of the best golf courses on the East Coast are located on the Eastern Shore, the Bay Creek 18 hole Arnold Palmer and 18 hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses. So if you’re a golfer, a great treat is in store because although these fabulous courses are private, for a limited time the public can pay greens and cart fees to play them.

And then there is our regional food and wine, led by fine dining at Aqua Restaurant whose seafood is second to none. Located at Marina Village Shops, Aqua is right on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Dinner at Aqua at sunset is a mighty fine thing and you won’t want to miss it or their luscious crab cakes and Eastern Shore style clam chowder. Clear at the other end of the spectrum is The Shanty, located right on the new marina in Cape Charles’ harbor. Brand new and a replica of the old-fashioned crab shacks of old, The Shanty is the place for steamed Chesapeake Bay hard shell blue crabs- order by the half or full dozen. Served with corn on the cob and an excellent cole slaw plus a roll of paper towels to mop up the juices, the crabs are the star of the show. And they offer a mighty fine grilled burger as well. Another favorite is Kelly’s Pub, owned by Gene Kelly who offers great pub food all the time, live music most week-ends and absolutely the Shore’s best St. Paddy’s Day menu. Slainte’.

So if you’re looking for a terrific vacation spot, away from the “bright lights-loud music” crowd, consider Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Call us at 757-678- 5300 about a weekly vacation rental for next year at cozy Seahorse Retreat in historic downtown Cape Charles. Now taking bookings for availability starting May 1, 2013. (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA)

Posted in At the Beach, Climate and Weather, Events In Cape Charles, Fine and Casual Dining, Historic Homes, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Vacation rental homes | No Comments »

Cape Charles’ Inaugural Clam Slam Festival

Thursday, August 9th, 2012

What do a Shriner’s Parade, a crab skiff race, a fishing boat docking contest, paintings of whimsical mermaids and prancing horses have in common ? Surprisingly, they were all a part of a new Eastern Shore Virginia festival, the 2012 Clam Slam in Cape Charles, an inaugural event held last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Clam Slam blasted off Friday evening at the harbor with a huge Harbor Party featuring live rock/blues music music from 6-10 pm performed by John Baldwin and the Original Sinners, a well-known Virginia Beach band. I’m still a Glenn Miller-Tommy Dorsey-Benny Goodman-Artie Shaw fan myself but I’ve spoken to several people who went Friday night and commented that they really enjoyed the music.

10am Saturday morning brought a complete change of pace as the Shriner’s Parade and Car Show. led by the smartly stepping Color Guard from the US Coast Guard’s Cape Charles Station, began winding its way along Bay Avenue and then down Mason Avenue. Following was a colorful assortment of participants including the ever popular fire trucks from Cape Charles and nearby Cheriton throwing candies to the crowd and then what I think was litttle Miss Chesapeake Bay. Everyone loved the crab racing skiffs which would be struting their stuff in the harbor later in the day, a colorful collection of oranges, greens and blues, rolling past sidewalks crowded with on-lookers.

But of course it was the Shriners who highlighted the day, going all-out as usual in their efforts to raise money for their 22 hospital network where children are treated for free for a wide variety of very serious issues, including burns. Dressed in costume, the Shriner contingent led off with marchers, then a good sized marching band attired in teal slacks, white shirts, gold cummberbunds and their traditional red fezes, playing with plenty of volume and enthusiasm, followed by their top attractions, horses, clowns, mini-trucks and of course, the laugh-out-loud, crazy-driving miniture cars, probably the Shriners most famous parade unit.

Envision exuberant drivers, stuffed into tiny cars barely big enough to hold them, careening around in apparently randomly wild configurations. Further imagine what appears to be total mayhem, with these big guys in minuture cars, zipping every which way but Sunday, about 6 ways on this 2 way street, all to huge laughs from an appreciative audience and you’ve pretty much got the picture. The clowns were tons of fun too- dressed up like Beverly Hillbillies, one of the fellows was doing his antics in bare feet. Given that hot, hot pavement, I’d say, Wow, that’s really dedication. Following all of that fun, a string of sweet antique cars. A fellow standing beside me kept pointing to one yellow beauty, saying I had one just like that, exactly like that just as the Kedive motorcycle group roared into view, first you hear them, then you see them.

Next up, horses and riders from Triple M Ranch. Located just outside Cape Charles on 150 acres overlooking historic King’s Creek, a saltwater inlet from the Chesapeake Bay, Triple M has a dedicated group of riders and they have consistantly added a lot of interest to local events by bringing their gorgeous mounts to participate. Their horses were so cute last Christmas at the Cape Charles Grand Illumination at Central Park. Adorned in holiday bells, red bows, plush reindeer horns, red and green saddle blankets, etc., they certainly brought a lot of extra smiles to that special evening. Following the horses, a cute golf cart sponsored by the Friends of the Cape Charles Library advertizing their book sale and then, last but definitely not least, a long string of antique Corvette’s, buffed and shiny, clearly well treated by their proud owners.

I didn’t have time to stick around for the other festivities down at the harbor which included games for kids, a horseshoe contest, a crab pot cork race and the wildly popular Smith Island crab skiff race. I did however take a quick stroll down Mason Avenue to see what the sidewalk art booths had on display this year. Looks of good stuff, paintings, crafts, political buttons, you-name-it, for sale along the sidewalk. And at the very end of the sidewalk appeared a little tent filled to the brim with the most adorable mermaid dolls and whimsical paintings, prints and original oils both, all beckoning me in, singing sweetly like the Sirens to Ulysses, come in, come in, see me, touch me, take me home with you…… Created by talented Shore artisit, Katherine Kiss, who said she has been working in the fanciful genre for a long time, the mermaid dolls were so absolutely gorgeous, I’d have loved to have bought every one !

P.S. I didn’t attend any of the Sunday events but the Boat Docking Contest was the clear favorite– over 800 tickets for the event were sold, the proceeds to be used for the prizes and to help off-set fuel costs for the boat owners. However, Jennifer Ingram from Blue Heron’s Cape Charles office did attend, ( had a ticket in the VIP section no less ) and she was kind enough to supply me with the following pictures for this post.

(Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA)

Tags: Cape Charles VA, Cape Charles Virginia Central Park, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles, Holiday events in Cape Charles Virginia, horses on the Eastern Shore, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
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Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia