Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Putting on the Ritz at the Tomato Ball

When is the only time of year when dressing up like a tomato is not only acceptable,  it’s  de rigueur  ?    Tomato Festival time,  of course,   that wacky,  fun time of year in Cape Charles, Virginia when marinara  sauce meets  “Beautiful Baby”  contest.   And where you must  wear red  ( and preferably a tomato-like Mardi Gras style costume )  in order to get into the   annual Tomato Ball.  Talk about putting on the Ritz,  it’s definitely  time to dust off  those zippy red slingback heels and get ready to step out with your baby tonight !!   

Second only to the fun events scheduled for the 4th of July week-end,  Cape Charles’    Tomato Festival  week-ends  offer  a wide variety of  events,  something for everyone.  For art aficionados,  there is the  Mason Avenue ArtWalk  where many of the best artisans on the Eastern Shore of Virginia will  have  booths to show their latest work.  The  ArtWalk  exhibits  in  many mediums including watercolors,  oils,  pottery,  mosaics,  photography and carvings and features many fine .  Several categories will be judged and winners selected by a regionally recognized art professional.  (  One of the art booths is always set up outside Blue Heron Realty’s office at 113 Mason Avenue.  So if you are thinking about buying real estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia,   please stop in to say hello and  pick up our free property catalogue. )

Into the hole on the next shot

On Friday, September 24th,  the 3 rd  Annual Cape Charles Open golf tournament will be held at Bay Creek, with a portion of the proceeds  benefiting the United Way of the Eastern Shore.   This event is open to the public and is a great chance for non-member golf enthusiasts to strut their stuff on the incredible Arnold Palmer Signature course, which was designated last year by Golf Digest as one of its  “Best Places To Play”.    This 7204 yard beautiful waterfront course,  with perfectly manicured greens and fairways,  is built along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and Old Plantation Creek, a bay inlet.  Most golfers say that it’s  hard to keep their eyes off the scenery and on the ball, so participants in this event will just have to try to ignore the  sparkling waters,  soaring  ospreys and gorgeous landscaping  to  focus instead on less interesting matters like stance and swing.   A golfer’s life is hard but someone has to do it …..

Marinara Sauce In The Round

For foodies,  there are mouth watering tomato pies,  bubbling, wonderful   fragrant aromas for as far as the nose can smell.  I’m sure the local tomato pie champions  ( who actually were  invited to Washington DC to cater an Inaugural event in 2008 ) will be there,  holding forth with  their ambrosial offerings.  ( If you’ve never had tomato pie,  think a perfection blend of tomatos,  cheeses,  herbs and spices in a rich, rich crust. )   Other food vendors will be there preparing regional specialties plus wine and beer tastings usually are held as well.  Definitely no fear of  hunger at the Tomato Festival.   And of course the week-end  “Pizza Train”  luncheon ride and evening gourmet dinner trip will be running  on the  usual schedule,  as always, advance tickets required.  All aboard,  all aboard,  train buffs.

Grand Finale And Perfect End To A Fun-filled Day In Historic Cape Charles, Virginia

For kids,  special contests and events are scheduled including  the always fun  Face Painting booth.   Also  for  kids and kids at heart,  there will be an antique and classic car show, always a great hit.  For the girls there will be a no-swimsuit   “Miss Hot Tomato”  contest  as well as a pre-teen tomato contest.  The demands of  the baby lobby  are  covered by the “Beautiful Baby” contest.  Last year music lovers were entertained by the Pop, Rhythm and Blues concert featuring Clarance Smith,  presented by Art’s Enter at the Palace Theatre.  So I think that just about covers everyone — foodies,  golfers,  music lovers,  babies,  teens and pre-teens,  kids,  car enthusiasts,  art aficionados,  train buffs,  tomato costumes,  dancing the night away at the Tomato Ball….. is there  anything else that can be piled into this fun,  wacky, tomato week-end ?   Just one more thing ?     Yes, of course…. for everyone out there who loves a parade,  the Tomato Festival Parade kicks off on Mason Avenue at 10 AM.   Last call,  anything else ?   Yes, the fireworks !   High in the sky above  the Cape Charles beach and reflected in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay,  the brilliant flares  and ka-booms of  the fireworks  show brought the 2009  Tomato Festival to a   ( http://www.capecharles.biz/fallfestival.html )  to a dramatic close.  Yep,  with the parade and the fireworks,  there  truly is something for everyone.    So,  everyone,  remember,  it’s coming,  it’s right around the corner.   Get ready,  get set,  mark your calenders,  it’s  tomato time  in Cape Charles on Virginia’s Eastern Shore !