The $115 million dollar Lesner Bridge expansion, visible from Point Chesapeake, now features LED lights on the columns and outward facing road barriers of the bridge. The bridge includes 10-foot wide paths for pedestrians or bikes. The light feature was designed by Randy Burkett, who has lit other structures across the country. The light colors will change on various holidays. Read More
Just a few yards away from Point Chesapeake where the bay meets the inlet is a beautiful new sculpture created by nationally renowned artist, Donald Lipski. The Canoes is a gift to the city of Virginia Beach funded by private donations raised from the community by the Public Art Virginia Beach Foundation. One of the many sponsors is The Terry Companies Five, builders of Point Chesapeake on The Bay. The 36-foot sculpture overlooks the new Lesner Bridge and is a welcoming gateway to the bayfront area for residents and visitors alike.
Each of the ten real aluminum canoes set in a sunburst pattern has a filigree design cut, reminiscent of the decorative arts of the early settlers to the area. Lipski wanted to tie the surrounding waterways to this most basic historic watercraft.
In August, the new 10-foot wide multi-use path and overlook located underneath the sculpture opened for pedestrians as cyclists as work continues to complete the bridge expansion. Soon, there will be another 10-foot wide path on the Point Chesapeake side of the bridge.
Read more about The Canoes on www.vbpublicart.org. On the City of Virginia Beach’s website, you can also watch the sculpture dedication video and follow the bridge expansion updates.
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease close to Ryan Zimmerman’s heart. Ryan is a professional baseball player with the Washington Nationals and is also a Virginia Beach native and graduate of Kellam High School. Ryan founded ziMS since his mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS, a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system. The ziMS Foundation is 100% volunteer based and raises money to “bring home a cure for MS”.
Point Chesapeake on the Bay is proud to be a sponsor of the ziMS Flight Fest Fundraiser on Saturday, November 4th, 2017. This is a fun event for the entire family and will raise money for a great cause! Enjoy all-you-can-eat pig roast, oysters, sides, beer, wine desserts and more. There will be live music and a DJ, plus face painting, Bubble Soccer, Archery Tag and fireworks. Bid on over 100 items at the Silent Auction and check out the museum’s collection of planes.
ziMS Flight Fest
Saturday, November 4, 2017
2PM-7PM
Military Aviation Musum
1341 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23457
Purchase Tickets on the ziMS Foundation Website Here
Click on flyer to purchase tickets online.iMS Flight Fest
Mermaid Winery is opening on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, just down the road from Point Chesapeake. A first of it’s kind in the city, this winery is not located on farmland. Owner Jennifer Eichert opened her first location in Norfolk’s Ghent area five years ago. After harvesting grapes from Virginia and California, she then presses and blends them on site. The Virginia Beach location will include a restaurant, a wine bar and a tasting room for private parties. Read the Full Article Here
Spring in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area brings many annual events to enjoy. Below are just a few you won’t want to miss!
Chic’s Beach Festival
May 6th, 2017 marks HK On The Bay’s 4th Annual Festival with live outdoor music, great food, craft beers. Shop or browse Under The Oaks Market with a highly curated showcase of over 50 artisans featuring the very best in modern handcrafted art and design.
Waterside District
Just a short drive from Point Chesapeake On the Bay is downtown Norfolk’s world-class waterfront and festival site, Waterside District. Opening May 4, 2017, this revitalized waterfront experience in Norfolk offers unique dining and entertainment for the whole family. Dine and relax at Rappahannock Oyster Co, The Harbor Club, Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse, Stripers Seafood Restaurant, Blue Moon Taphouse, Norfolk Coffee & Tea, Rocky Mountain Grill, PBR Country Bar and more.
Wine Festivals
Annual wine festivals offer wine lovers a chance to sample new and different flavors including many from Virginia’s own wineries. Adjacent to the Waterside District is the Annual Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival – May 6th and 7th, 2017 at Town Point Park in Norfolk. Spend a relaxing afternoon at the park overlooking the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront and sample over 30 Virginia Wineries at one of the fastest growing events in Hampton Roads.
Neptune’s Spring International Wine Tasting at the oceanfront in Virginia Beach on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 is held at 31st Street Park. Enjoy wines from 9 countries plus delicious food, entertainment and a chance to purchase your favorite wines.
Performing Arts
The Annual Virginia Arts Festival brings performers from around the world to Hampton Roads with some of today’s most influential composers, choreographers and playwrights. Enjoy music, dance and theatre performances at venues including Chrysler Hall, Attucks Theatre, TCC Roper Performing Arts Center, Sandler Center for The Performing Arts, Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts.
Virginia International PAN Fest is held at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this year on May 12th and 13th, 2017. Enjoy the unique sounds and style of steel drum music fused with steel bands and international food along the ocean.
Salute to Summer is a “Star Spangled” salute to honor the many military men and women who have sacrificed their lives throughout America’s history. Live performances along the Virginia Beach boardwalk include music from local and regional band across three stages.
Air Show
The Annual Warbirds Over the Beach Air Show is held May 19-21, 2017 in Virginia Beach. Weekend events include Warbird practice flights, rides, live music, a WWII reenactment in the sky and an evening dance. Get a closer look at history and check out WWII aircraft fully restored.
Strawberries
The Pungo Strawberry Festival takes place every year in Virginia Beach during Memorial Day Weekend in the lush farmland area of Pungo. For the past 33 years, this event highlights the beginning of summer with strawberry pies, bake-offs, pony rides, a parade and entertainment on 3 stages.
The tradition continues just a few miles east of Point Chesapeake with the annual Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend beginning this Friday, March 18th, 2017 in Virginia Beach at the North End. Over 30,000 runners from all 50 states and several countries participate in this popular event with races for all ages. The races end with a huge finish line celebration on the beach at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Runners enjoy a flat, scenic course and later celebrate with live entertainment and refreshments. Five events are offers for any age and skill level – the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon (26.2 Miles), Anthem Shamrock Half Marathon (13.1 Miles), TowneBank Shamrock 8K (4.97 Miles), Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile (For Elementary School students) and the Leprechaun Dash (26.2 Yards). View Course Map Event Schedule Facebook Page
J&A Racing, located on Shore Drive at the foot of the Lesner Bridge, is the owner and director of the marathon. The company took over the marathon’s management in 2003 and has been successful in the event’s growth from 3000 participants to a record 30,000 in 2015. J&A Racing manages many other local race events including Blue Moon Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon, Corporate 5K, Crawlin’ Crab Half Marathon and more. The company also specializes in race training, running clubs and youth fitness programs.
Check out video highlights from last year’s Shamrock Marathon event on J&A Racing’s youtube channel.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Seashore Art Festival at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. On April 8th, 2017, First Landing State Park will hold this annual event with live demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages. A Kickoff Party begins March 3rd at Chick’s Oyster Bar where you can enter a drawing to win an oil painting by nationally renowned artist, Myke Irving, with additional prizes signed by the artist. Proceeds benefiting the Sheriff’s Office Charities and the JCA Foundation. Tickets are sold on Etsy where you can also check out Myke’s additional works.
More often than not, my friends in Virginia Beach ask me how it feels to live so far from everything. Really, it’s quite the opposite. It seems Shore Drive has been a hotspot for new eats in the last year with the opening of Pleasure House Brewing, Bay Local Eatery and Dish (now Pressed Wine Bar). On top of the dining scene, there are picturesque trails weaving through First Landing State Park along with the beauty and convenience of the Chesapeake Bay — a plus to avoid summer’s oceanfront traffic.