Williamsburg area Democrats and Republicans are hosting a fundraiser for the Erase the Need Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Art Café in New Town.

The Erase the Need Center coordinates efforts to provide food, hygiene items and school supplies for school children in need. Volunteers pack and deliver approximately 250 backpacks per week during the school year.

Attendees are asked to make a donation of $30 per person, with checks made payable to WJCC Schools with “Erase the Need” on the memo line. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. For further information, email Ralph Bresler.

Blood Drive to Benefit Local Red Cross

The Williamsburg Area Association of Realtors will host a blood drive and cookout to benefit the local chapter of the American Red Cross from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday.

A shredding truck will also be available for shredding, and donations will be accepted for the Red Cross. WAAR is located at 5000 New Point Road, Suite 1101 in Williamsburg.

Pedal the Parkway to be held Saturday

The Colonial Parkway will be closed to motor vehicles between Williamsburg and Jamestown on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the 15th annual Pedal the Parkway event.

This year’s event will feature a bike rodeo and helmet giveaways for kids. Refreshments will be offered at rest stops at Archer’s Hope and the Jamestown Information Station at Neck of Land.

Limited parking is available at Jamestown Settlement History Museum and the Williamsburg Winery. The event is free and open to the public, and will take place rain or shine.

For more information about Bike Month activities in the Williamsburg area, click here.

Celebrate 404th Anniversary of Jamestown Settlement

Historic Jamestown and Jamestown Settlement will mark the 404th anniversary of the 1607 founding of the first permanent English settlement with a day of entertainment.

“Jamestown Day” is jointly sponsored by Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum. It will include a variety of interpretive programs and demonstrations, including the mid-morning departure of the Godspeed, a replica of one of the three ships that sailed to Virginia in 1607. Young visitors can enjoy scavenger hunts, period games and more.

To see the full schedule of events, click here.

Chamber Accepting Armed Forces Scholarship Applications

The Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance is now accepting applications for the annual Armed Forces Committee Scholarship, a program designed to assist active duty, retired military, family dependents of active duty personnel and honorably discharged military students to attend college.

To be eligible, applicants must be within their second semester of college or beyond; have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better; and work, live or attend school within the Alliance’s service area.

Application forms and instructions can be downloaded from the Alliance website – click on the Armed Forces Scholarship listing in the “What’s New” section of the site’s home page. Completed scholarship application packages must be submitted by July 8, 2011. Awards will be presented prior to the 2011 Fall Semester.

For questions concerning the Armed Forces Committee Scholarship application process, please call (757) 327-0333.

Enjoy Moonlight and Music at New Quarter Park

From May to October, New Quarter Park will host “Moonlight and Music” jam sessions on the third Thursday of every month. The next jam session will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. May 19.

Musicians and music lovers will share old-time blues and roots music in the picnic shelter near the parking lot. Instrumentalists at all levels are welcome to join; the sessions are lead by local musician Joe Duggan.

Refreshments are available in the park office, but alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the park. New Quarter Park is located at 1000 Lakeshead Drive, near the Queen’s Lake neighborhood.

Enjoy Garden Party at Governor’s Palace

The Royal Governor of the colony of Virginia will host a new event, called “His Excellency’s Pleasure Garden,” at 6 p.m. on May 13.

Guests can meet Lord and Lady Dunmore and rub elbows with 18th-century Virginia’s finest society. During the event, guests may dress in 18th-century clothing and enjoy period music and dancing, along with garden strolls.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served with a wine cash bar available. Tickets are $55, and can be reserved by calling 1-800-HISTORY.

Four Companies Win at Taste of Williamsburg

Four culinary talents were recognized as the best in Williamsburg at the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance’s 18th Annual Taste of Williamsburg.

A panel of judges representing the region’s press and food industry selected Colonial Williamsburg for the “Critic’s Choice Award.” CW offered Welsh rarebit, Brunswick stew and Carolina-style barbeque with signature slaw.

William and Mary Catering was honored with the “Chef William Swann Award for Best Themed Presentation.” They offered a “taste from around the world” theme, with shrimp charmula sautéed with Serrano ham and savory creamy grits, roasted rosemary tenderloin of beef with bacon and blue cheese risotto cake, and dessert shots of tiramisu and caramelized pineapple, plus lemon madeleines.

Berret’s Seafood & Taphouse Grill and Riverwalk Restaurant received the “Toast of the Taste Award” for its surf and turf nachos, featuring beef tenderloin and crabmeat.

The “People’s Choice Award” went to Colonial Heritage, which served almond-crusted jumbo crab cakes with avocado mousse and corn relish, plus chocolate-dipped strawberries.

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