Next Thursday, a unique event will take over the Washington Civic Center: Taste the Good Life in Little Washington. The title both does and doesn’t explain the occasion.

First, it is, literally, a taste — of many of the great things Washington has to offer. There are samplings from restaurants’ menus, along with tastings of wine and other beverages from wine and gourmet stores. Various other businesses will be present, to show patrons their products first-hand.

Whereas not many would argue that the good life can be represented by the finer things, for instance, good food and wine, some might argue that the term Little Washington does not accurately represent the town, that Washington is not little at all. At this event, that may true. Little Washington is actually larger than the town limits, encompassing a farm in Chocowinity and three restaurants in Belhaven. So, Little Washington, here, is a broader term. If this highly successful (sell-out) event continues to add on more vendors with each passing year, Little Washington may just be getting even bigger.

Is there any better way to showcase an area than to put together a taste of what we have to offer and open the doors to residents and visitors?

Likely not. It was a brilliant idea on the part of Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and Washington Harbor District Alliance executives. PotashCorp-Aurora, recognizing a good thing, has also stepped in to sponsor the event.

No one can argue that around these parts, we’ve got some fine fare to be had: from homegrown to homemade. Of course, not all of it can be found at Taste the Good Life in Little Washington—it’s spread across our abundant county.

But next Thursday, if you’re of a mind, you can have a taste of the good life we have, a sampling of a sampling of what’s right here at our fingertips.