3rd Annual Coast guard City Celebration

European-style bakery to Open in Olde Towne Portsmouth



 By David Cartier
A New Day in Olde Towne

Residents have been waiting for years for a bakery to come to the Olde Towne neighborhood.  Well, the wait is almost over.  Artisans Bakery & Café is scheduled to open in mid-July 2011.

Owners Georg & Karen Seyrlehner were looking to bring a taste of Europe to Hampton Roads. Their journey started last October. To the delight of many, the two Chesapeake natives chose historic Olde Towne Portsmouth. "We just kept coming back to Old Towne and this building", stated Seyrlehner. The bakery and café will be in a Queen Anne Victorian home at 711 Washington Street, just off the downtown High Street corridor.

Artisans Bakery and Cafe's new location at 711 Washington Street, Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA.

The couple wanted a location where they could provide high quality foods in a relaxing setting. Their dream was to open a bakery that would provide artisanal breads and pastries that they have experienced in their travels throughout Europe during their 14-year marriage. Click on the link here to read the full story about Artisans Bakery and Cafe.

Scottish Walk, Step Lively to Welcome a New Year

Participants clad in tartan and period dress from centuries past processed through the streets of Portsmouth to the sound of bagpipes and drums as a part of last year's annual Olde Towne Scottish Walk. (Amanda Lucier | File Photo The Virginian-Pilot)

The Virginian-Pilot
© December 30, 2010

By Joy Vann
Correspondent

Pull on your winter woolies and get ready to ring in the New Year Scottish-style with the 13th annual Olde Towne Scottish Walk in Portsmouth on Friday.

Revelers will gather at the corner of Queen and Washington streets for an old-fashioned holiday parade.

Founder and organizer Susan Cocke said this Scottish Walk was inspired by her family’s participation in Olde Towne Alexandria ’s Christmas Walk, which marked its 40th anniversary the first weekend of December. It’s based on the Scottish New Year’s Eve tradition called Hogmanay, a celebration of friends, family, hospitality, thanksgiving and well-wishing.

13th Annual Olde Towne Scottish Walk

Cocke started Portsmouth’s Scottish Walk in 1998, and she expects more than 2,000 people to participate. The event takes months of planning.

“There is much involved with contacting people outside of the area who come as tourists for this. We have people from California; Toronto; Canada; Washington, D.C.; and Baltimore who come every year,” she said. “ The musical pub/shop crawl that follows the event is the most fun, and needs more planning as musicians are asked to volunteer and coordinate with venues.”

The Olde Towne Scottish Walk is based on the Scottish New Year’s Eve tradition called Hogmanay, a celebration of friends, family, hospitality, thanksgiving and well-wishing.

Participants will include Boy and Girl Scouts of America, church communities, dog walking groups, Scottish societies and musicians, including local and regional pipers and drummers. A highlight will be the singing of Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne” accompanied by bagpipes.

Walkers can rest their feet at shops and restaurants after the parade when free Scottish music will be performed at venues including Roger Browns, Baron’s Pub, Griff’s, Gosport Tavern and Montgomery Grill. Cocke said that participating businesses such as Skipjack Nautical Wares will offer free cookies and cider.

The evening will be capped off with a lighted boat parade on the waterfront. Cocke said that wraps up the formal event, but folks will then likely go to restaurants or private houses to count down the year.

Cocke, who is “partly” Scottish, said she organizes the walk and boat parade as a display of gratitude.

“This is my gift to the city and merchants to thank them for their service in the past year and wish them success in the year to come – per tradition.”

 Joy Vann, joyvann@cox.net

The NEW "Unofficial" Boaters Guide to Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.

Welcome to Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

Welcome to Olde Towne Portsmouth. Virginia's quaint historic seaport.

We love boaters and we hope that you are planning to visit us while traveling the ICW. Olde Towne Portsmouth is an historic seaport conveniently located at Mile Marker Zero of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and we have the deepest natural harbor anywhere.

Buoy number 36 is mile marker "0" on the Intracoastal Waterway is located on the Elizabeth River between downtown Norfolk and Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.

This is the “unofficial” Boater’s Guide for our great neighborhood, Olde Towne. “Unofficial” since any descriptions may be colored by our personal opinions as business owners and residents of Olde Towne – this is not an official publication of the City of Portsmouth. We have worked hard to provide you with information specifically useful to boaters and to do so as accurately as possible.

The "unofficial" boaters guide to Olde Towne Portsmouth, mile marker "0" Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

State law (no pump-out facility or electricity) prohibits Portsmouth from making its two basins or landings (High Street Landing and North Landing) officially available to overnight stays. But the landings are perfect
for tying up and enjoying the many great shops, restaurants and attractions in town. We also have 2 great marinas on each side of downtown Portsmouth waterfront: Tidewater Yacht Marina and Ocean Marine Yacht Center, both of which have transient slips and are conveniently located in walking distance to the many historic sites and museums, downtown shopping and numerous "chef owned" restaurants. You can also ride the downtown Portsmouth "LOOP" bus for FREE with numerous stops through downtown Portsmouth and even to the local Food Lion  for groceries and other necessaries before continuing your journey on the ICW. This is one of your last accessible opportunities to replenish your coffers for 100's of miles with exception to the occasional convenience store.

We have 2 great marinas on each side of
downtown Portsmouth, Virginia: Tidewater Yacht Marina and Ocean Marine Yacht
Center, both of which have transient slips

If there is a piece of info we have overlooked, let us know! We intend the “unofficial Boater’s Guide” to be updated regularly. Write us at askus@skipjacknauticalwares.com

Skipjack Nautical Wares and Marine Gallery storefront
is located on the Elizabeth riverfront in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia, just slightly south of mile marker "0" and next to the High Street basin.

Welcome!

You can pick up a FREE copy of the "Unofficial" boaters guide at Skipjack nautical Wares & Marine Gallery located at One High Street (next to the High Street basin,) or download a copy here.