street.life! For the Love of Portsmouth Returns to Downtown

PORTSMOUTH – It’s been held on Four Tree Island, the Shoals Steamship Company Dock and most recently in the West End of Portsmouth, right in front of PMAC—but this year—refusing to stay put, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth’s annual dinner will take place on Chestnut Street, in front of, and inside, The Music Hall. In addition, this will be the first year this event will have a sustainability sponsor and be as environmentally-friendly as possible.

This highly anticipated event, dubbed street.life! presented byWentworth-Douglass Hospital, is a celebration of the Music Hall, the streetscape and the newly erected Chestnut Street arch. Hosted by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, the annual dinner will take place on Thursday, July 25 from 5-9 p.m.

Cash bar cocktails and appetizers will be enjoyed from 5 p.m. until the main dinner event begins at 6 p.m.

The awards portion of the evening is slated to take place from 5:30 to 6 p.m., give or take a minute for extensive applause. The awards ceremony aims to honor the Portsmouth business community and Chamber members who contribute to its success. Awards include—with a nod to the Chestnut Street arch—the Making an Entrance Award; the Volunteer of the Year, the Collaborator of the Year, the Small Business of the Year, the Big Business of the Year and the Citizens of the Year.

And those awards? They will be printed on a 3D printer by New Heights using plans by the original designer of the arch himself, Terrence Parker.

As guests treat their discerning palates to beef tenderloin; lobster salad; smoked trout and more (vegetarian options available), Whiskey Kill will set the scene for eating, drinking, mingling and networking. This four-piece rockabilly band has been a Seacoast fan favorite for years!

The Chamber’s biggest fundraising event of the year, street.life! is a highly-attended gathering for local businesses and members of the Portsmouth community. Born in 2012 when members dined al fresco in the middle of Pleasant Street, it has been met with enthusiasm from Chamber members and non-members alike, coming from all corners of the Seacoast to celebrate the love of Portsmouth. To learn more, and to purchase tickets for the annual celebration, visit portsmouthstreetlife.com.

Shooting to be 100 percent environmentally responsible the Chamber is working with Foster’s Clambake and Mr. Fox. As mentioned, this is the first year street.life! will have a Sustainability sponsor. To that end attendees will sport street.life! hand stamps instead of wristbands, and all plates, service ware and utensils are sugar cane, palm leaf, wood or compostable paper. The napkins are compostable and 100 percent recycled content. Cups will be BPI certified compostable cups that come directly from Mr. Fox. And—the guest gifts for the evening will be reusable straws!

The Chamber is thankful to its sponsors: presenting sponsor, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital; VIP Reception sponsor, Granite State Minerals; Sustainability sponsor, Wheelabrator Technologies; Awards Ceremony sponsor, WIPFLi; Stage sponsor, Cambridge Trust; Centerpiece sponsor, Cross Insurance; Photo Booth sponsor, Service Credit Union; Memento sponsor, Eversource; Food sponsor, Divine Millimet; Award sponsors, Bangor Savings Bank, Federal Savings Bank and Newburyport Bank.

The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth celebrates its 102nd year as a Chamber. Learn more about the Chamber at PortsmouthCollaborative.org.