What a great FREE night in Norfolk!

Last night my friend Dara and I went to Downtown Norfolk to take advantage 2 FREE events that I blogged about (see it 'pays' to read my blog).

Our evening started at d'Art Center for the free regional beer tastings from O'Conner Brewery of Norfolk, Legend Brewery of Richmond, Williamsburg Alewerks, St. George Brewery of Hampton and Weeping Radish of NC.  There was also live jazz from Jim Newsom and the new Chair Re-Done art exhibition.

I had had most of the other brewery beers before, but this was my first time ever tasting O'Conner Brewery products. For those of you who don't know who they are, it is a new micro-brew company in Norfolk! (there is a great article HERE if you want to learn more)  O'Conner's had 3 beers available for tasting (of course I tried them all) and I must say that the Pale Ale is a very good beer for summer.  It's light crisp and in my words 'girl friendly'.  Right now they are only distributing to bars/restaurants, but I was told that they are working on getting a retail license so they sell to the masses.  WOOHOO!

After/during the tasting we walked through the studios and saw some great works of art.  If you have never been to the d'Art Center before I recommend you make the trip because who knows...you might just get in the ground floor with the next great artist!  ;-)

When we finished up at the d'Art Center we headed over to Bean There Cafe for a reading and book signing of Fairy Tale Lust by Kristina Wright.

The book is a compilation of classic fairy tales {18 stories in a little under 200 pages} that have been reworked with a modern & erotic twist.  Not only are the stories in the book salacious and entertaining, they are a bargain at only $10!  I simply had to buy a copy to read to my hubby! ;-)  he he he

As if the reading weren't enough, there was also a live body painting demonstration by Jeff Edney of Jeff Edney Studios.   The BRAVE model {whose name currently escapes me} wore only a latex bikini bottom, pasties and a smile as she stood in front of the HUGE windows of Bean There for over an hour while Jeff transformed her into a 'pixie'.  As you can see above her time was not in vain because the final work was beautiful! 2 circles and a snap up to you both!

It was a great FREE night! BIG...HUGE...GINORMOUS THANKS to everyone at d'Art Center, all of the participating breweries, Jim Newsom, City Dock Restaurant, Bean There Cafe, Kristina Wright & Jeff Edney for feeding & entertain me and my friend last night!  YOU ALL ROCK!