The kitchens we all dream of - sleek and contemporary, cozy and traditional, packed with innovation and imagination - will become a reality for one day as The Music Hall presents its popular annual Kitchen Tour. Now in its 20th year, this benefit for The Music Hall will feature kitchens and dining spaces in the seacoast city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The tour will be held Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 10am to 3pm.
“This year’s tour, themed City Living, will be filled with creative and well-crafted kitchen designs, extraordinary views and 20th Anniversary surprises!” exclaims Meghan Durkee, Special Events and Corporate Manager at The Music Hall.
Each year, the tour attracts over 1,200 visitors, who come out to support The Music Hall and to gain inspiration for their own kitchens. Proceeds from the tour are used toward operating costs to support The Music Hall, an American Treasure for the Arts.
Kitchen Tour fan Janet Stevens, whose home has been on the tour twice, said, “The Kitchen Tour is a grand day - an opportunity to ‘case study’ because you can go into all of these new kitchens and see the different styles. It’s inspiring and uplifting.”
The Music Hall Kitchen Tour is self-guided, making it the perfect opportunity to come and see breathtaking kitchen designs as well as spending some quality time at unique shops and restaurants in downtown Portsmouth. According to Ann Kendall, co-chair of the event, “This year, our tour leads you through Portsmouth. We are confident that each home will thrill and inspire everyone on the tour. Our Kitchen Tour Committee is so thankful to all of our homeowners who so graciously open up their homes for this important event for The Music Hall.”
An easy-to-follow map is provided, and tour-goers can start and finish the tour anywhere they like. For visitors looking to turn their own dreams into reality, the craftsmen, artisans, designers and architects involved in the kitchens are noted in the tour’s guidebook along with detailed descriptions of the kitchens. Many of the fine craftsmen will also be available to speak with during the tour.
New this year: Gourmet Ticket
While tour ticket prices remain at the same level for the sixth year in a row, a new Gourmet Ticket has been created to celebrate the 20th Anniversary. Included is admission to all the kitchens on the tour, plus an exclusive peek at additional kitchens and a morning or afternoon reception featuring sample wines and gourmet foods from local celebrity chefs. The expanded ticket is $75.
About the city of Portsmouth
Settled in 1623, Portsmouth is a vibrant, coastal New England city that honors its colorful maritime and mercantile past and is passionately engaged in shaping its future. This walkable regional capital provides residents and visitors with a unique urban experience: a working seaport, unique locally owned shops and restaurants, and world-class arts and culture. The geographic location, history and cultural strength of Portsmouth regularly lands it on various “best places to live” lists. Prevention Magazine named Portsmouth one of the top 100 walking cities in the America for 2008. Also in 2008, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Portsmouth to its list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations , calling the city “one of the most culturally rich destinations in the country” with a stimulating mix of historic buildings, sidewalk cafes, great restaurants, art galleries, jazz clubs and distinctive artisans’ boutiques. In 2009, Forbes Traveler listed Portsmouth as one of America’s Prettiest Towns.
About the Kitchen Tour
1,200 visitors attend The Music Hall’s Kitchen Tour each year to get a peek inside the contemporary or traditional homes of a historic seacoast town, and to gain ideas for their own kitchens. Proceeds from the popular tour - now in its 20th year - are used toward operating costs to support The Music Hall. The tour highlights the work of local companies including architects, builders, carpenters, and lighting, landscape and sound designers. In addition, local retail shops and restaurants support the tour through ticket sales and special promotions.
Tickets
Kitchen Tour tickets are $20 for Music Hall members, $23 for non-members, and $25 if purchased the day of the event. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at 603.436.2400, or online at tickets.themusichall.org
