NOTICING NORFOLK VIRGINIA
Merle Exit
July 15, 2010
Having traveled through Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown and Virginia Beach I went back to the area known as Hampton Roads to visit Norfolk, and I'm glad that I did.
Arriving in Norfolk I am transported to my hotel via a friendly and knowledgeable car service called Orange Peel. www.orangepeeltransportation.com. There I was at the new Residence Inn on Brambleton Avenue in the heart of downtown Norfolk. www.marriott.com/hotel/travel/orfm-residence-inn-norfolk-downtown
I love the lobby. It's really modern with plenty of seating spaces. Aside from free internet access, a large screen tv, there is one of those hand sanitizers to use. Smart idea, especially since there is not only a free hot buffet breakfast, but also a "social" at around 5:30 with food enough to sneak in dinner if you want. They have a sanitizer just as you come into the entrance.
All of the rooms have a full kitchen if you want to cook or even just buy items to store in the refrigerator. Going "green" there is a main light switch as you enter the room, so you can turn off any lights that are on before you leave the room.
I'm off to No Frill Grill for dinner. It's located in the Ghent section of Norfolk. I sampled spinach and artichoke dip, a gazpacho with crab meat and boison cheese that's made on the premises and perogies with sausage. The chef says that he likes to combine southern and asian cuisines.www.nofrillgrill.com
Esther and Eunice chowed down on a bagel at the free buffet
before we met Erin Filarecki from Norfolk tourism where Mark Landers was waiting with the segways. It was the same Mark Landers who I toured with in Virginia Beach. A new light rail system is being installed and we had the opportunity to travel along the rails as well as tour the area near the waterfront, the section of downtown Norfolk known as Ghent and another section called Freemason.
The Ghent section is considered to be Norfolk's "gayborhood" with the fine and performing arts, boutique shops and lots of restaurants. Freemason has some fabulous old homes that I certainly couldn't afford.
It appeared that Esther and Eunice spotted the headquarters of PETA and laughed knowing that they were made of rubber.
Down at the waterfront is a park that lends itself to outdoor events. You could also take in attractions such as the Nauticus, a nautical museum. One odd thing was seeing a particular sculpture called The Tourist (Mr. & Mrs.) by Chiam Cross. It looked just like the one in Provincetown, Ma only more weather worn.
We were going to walk to 219 American Bistro but my legs hurt from standing such a long time on the segway. Yes, I would do it again. Well, they have this free transportation called F.R.E.D. It's a golf cart powered by battery. You simply call about 15 minutes before you need it and they take you door to door anywhere in the downtown area. No tip allowed, either. Now pair this with a shuttle bus that's free as well.
219 American Bistro is on Granby Street. Once again, I ordered a smoked salmon appetizer and red fish as the entree. I was actually seeking soft shell crabs and oysters but neither were in season.
Doumar's was the next stop. Mr. Doumar invented the first waffle cone and it apparently still tastes great. But that's not the only draw to this diner. Park your car, flick your headlights and a waitress comes out to take your order. Just like in the 50's...as I see it in the movies.
Took a nap, did my radio show and now off to dinner at Press 626 Cafe & Wine Bar on West Olney Rd. Here I indulged in a white wine sangria, clam and sweet corn fritters and crab cakes. Panko encrusted with mango-pineapple salsa over organic field greens finished with a citrus vinaigrette.
Hand shape a yeasted wheat dough in a small ring, boil it for a short time, then bake it until it results in a soft chewy inside, browned and sometimes crispy outside. What you have is the New York kosher bagel. I was brought to a place called Yorgo's on Colonial Blvd. and 21st to taste test their bagel to see if it compared to NYC bagels. This is the first bagel that I have had outside of New York City, let alone New York State that replicated a true bagel. Too bad they didn't sell a bialy: a chewy yeast roll similar to a bagel, but unlike a bagel, which is boiled before baking, a bialy is simply baked, and instead of a hole in the middle it has a depression, which before baking is filled with diced onions. I ordered a honey wheat bagel with a smoked salmon and cream cheese spread on one half and an olive and cream cheese spread on the other.
Staying in the world of food it was just down the block on W.22nd that Rowena's sat. Creators and producers of gourmet food, Rowena Fullinwider's emphasis is on jams, jellies, curds, bundt cakes and scones. Rowena met Esther and Eunice and fell in love with them immediately. That's because she has some special bunnies.
You can taste just about any of the products on crackers or even on a sample of the bundt cake. Favorite of everyone is the carrot jam. I do understand. The bundt cakes that I sampled were: chocolate, lemon, orange and almond. Will be testing out the lemon curd and a few others to combine for cooking.
A loved the Tea Room on the premises. You can have a group of adults or even kids partake in a great menu that features tea sandwiches, scones and her regular goodies.
Then there were the books that she has written. Cute children type books with recipes.www.rowenas.com
Time to walk off the food at the Virginia Zoological Park. There are sprouting fountains coming from the ground past the entranceway. Kids love to bring their bathing suits and take advantage on those hot days.
The Virginia Zoo is home to 350 animals, on 53 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. I entered the African area to see: elephants, red pandas, lions, giraffes, mandrills, bongos, kangaroos and a whole lot more. There is a no-smoking policy at the zoo. Isn´t that great!
Although Norfolk does have a separate botanical gardens, the landscape encompasses the feel of being in one.
The zoo is in a process of building an Asian area.www.virginiazoo.org
Last stop was the Chrysler Museum of Art on West Olney Street and just a few blocks from the Residence Inn. The museum is large but not as vast as one like the Met or MOMA. There are two floors and lots of galleries to explore. The museum is described as, "Housed in an Italianate-style structure facing the picturesque Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River, the Chrysler Museum of Art is home to an encyclopedic collection of nearly 40,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history. Highlights include an impressive and comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, a rich photography program, Art Nouveau furniture, as well as African, Asian, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Islamic art." And it's free, too. www.chrysler.org
Information on Norfolk can be found onwww.visitnorfolktoday.com
Arriving in Norfolk I am transported to my hotel via a friendly and knowledgeable car service called Orange Peel. www.orangepeeltransportation.com. There I was at the new Residence Inn on Brambleton Avenue in the heart of downtown Norfolk. www.marriott.com/hotel/travel/orfm-residence-inn-norfolk-downtown
I love the lobby. It's really modern with plenty of seating spaces. Aside from free internet access, a large screen tv, there is one of those hand sanitizers to use. Smart idea, especially since there is not only a free hot buffet breakfast, but also a "social" at around 5:30 with food enough to sneak in dinner if you want. They have a sanitizer just as you come into the entrance.
All of the rooms have a full kitchen if you want to cook or even just buy items to store in the refrigerator. Going "green" there is a main light switch as you enter the room, so you can turn off any lights that are on before you leave the room.
I'm off to No Frill Grill for dinner. It's located in the Ghent section of Norfolk. I sampled spinach and artichoke dip, a gazpacho with crab meat and boison cheese that's made on the premises and perogies with sausage. The chef says that he likes to combine southern and asian cuisines.www.nofrillgrill.com
Esther and Eunice chowed down on a bagel at the free buffet
before we met Erin Filarecki from Norfolk tourism where Mark Landers was waiting with the segways. It was the same Mark Landers who I toured with in Virginia Beach. A new light rail system is being installed and we had the opportunity to travel along the rails as well as tour the area near the waterfront, the section of downtown Norfolk known as Ghent and another section called Freemason.The Ghent section is considered to be Norfolk's "gayborhood" with the fine and performing arts, boutique shops and lots of restaurants. Freemason has some fabulous old homes that I certainly couldn't afford.
It appeared that Esther and Eunice spotted the headquarters of PETA and laughed knowing that they were made of rubber.
Down at the waterfront is a park that lends itself to outdoor events. You could also take in attractions such as the Nauticus, a nautical museum. One odd thing was seeing a particular sculpture called The Tourist (Mr. & Mrs.) by Chiam Cross. It looked just like the one in Provincetown, Ma only more weather worn.
We were going to walk to 219 American Bistro but my legs hurt from standing such a long time on the segway. Yes, I would do it again. Well, they have this free transportation called F.R.E.D. It's a golf cart powered by battery. You simply call about 15 minutes before you need it and they take you door to door anywhere in the downtown area. No tip allowed, either. Now pair this with a shuttle bus that's free as well.
219 American Bistro is on Granby Street. Once again, I ordered a smoked salmon appetizer and red fish as the entree. I was actually seeking soft shell crabs and oysters but neither were in season.
Doumar's was the next stop. Mr. Doumar invented the first waffle cone and it apparently still tastes great. But that's not the only draw to this diner. Park your car, flick your headlights and a waitress comes out to take your order. Just like in the 50's...as I see it in the movies.
Took a nap, did my radio show and now off to dinner at Press 626 Cafe & Wine Bar on West Olney Rd. Here I indulged in a white wine sangria, clam and sweet corn fritters and crab cakes. Panko encrusted with mango-pineapple salsa over organic field greens finished with a citrus vinaigrette.
Hand shape a yeasted wheat dough in a small ring, boil it for a short time, then bake it until it results in a soft chewy inside, browned and sometimes crispy outside. What you have is the New York kosher bagel. I was brought to a place called Yorgo's on Colonial Blvd. and 21st to taste test their bagel to see if it compared to NYC bagels. This is the first bagel that I have had outside of New York City, let alone New York State that replicated a true bagel. Too bad they didn't sell a bialy: a chewy yeast roll similar to a bagel, but unlike a bagel, which is boiled before baking, a bialy is simply baked, and instead of a hole in the middle it has a depression, which before baking is filled with diced onions. I ordered a honey wheat bagel with a smoked salmon and cream cheese spread on one half and an olive and cream cheese spread on the other.
Staying in the world of food it was just down the block on W.22nd that Rowena's sat. Creators and producers of gourmet food, Rowena Fullinwider's emphasis is on jams, jellies, curds, bundt cakes and scones. Rowena met Esther and Eunice and fell in love with them immediately. That's because she has some special bunnies.
You can taste just about any of the products on crackers or even on a sample of the bundt cake. Favorite of everyone is the carrot jam. I do understand. The bundt cakes that I sampled were: chocolate, lemon, orange and almond. Will be testing out the lemon curd and a few others to combine for cooking.
A loved the Tea Room on the premises. You can have a group of adults or even kids partake in a great menu that features tea sandwiches, scones and her regular goodies.
Then there were the books that she has written. Cute children type books with recipes.www.rowenas.com
Time to walk off the food at the Virginia Zoological Park. There are sprouting fountains coming from the ground past the entranceway. Kids love to bring their bathing suits and take advantage on those hot days.
The Virginia Zoo is home to 350 animals, on 53 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. I entered the African area to see: elephants, red pandas, lions, giraffes, mandrills, bongos, kangaroos and a whole lot more. There is a no-smoking policy at the zoo. Isn´t that great!
Although Norfolk does have a separate botanical gardens, the landscape encompasses the feel of being in one.
The zoo is in a process of building an Asian area.www.virginiazoo.org
Last stop was the Chrysler Museum of Art on West Olney Street and just a few blocks from the Residence Inn. The museum is large but not as vast as one like the Met or MOMA. There are two floors and lots of galleries to explore. The museum is described as, "Housed in an Italianate-style structure facing the picturesque Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River, the Chrysler Museum of Art is home to an encyclopedic collection of nearly 40,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history. Highlights include an impressive and comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, a rich photography program, Art Nouveau furniture, as well as African, Asian, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Islamic art." And it's free, too. www.chrysler.org
Information on Norfolk can be found onwww.visitnorfolktoday.com