Anyone from Norfolk, VA?

[curse10]

I'm thinking of doing an internship there next year, but I know nothing about the place.

Is it nice? How expensive is it? What's the political persuasion?

Any websites I should check out?

[JohnKleeb]

1. not from Norfolk but been there

Its pretty nice I guess. Poltics I have no idea but I would assume republican because of the navy base but it also has a sizable minority population as well. Now dont go to Virginia beach the beach sucks and also its Pat Robertson's home.

[MediumBrownDog]

2. Now, now

I was born and raised in Virginia Beach and I take exception to that description. First, Pat Robertson's foul little compound is on the outer edges of what is considered the "City of Virginia Beach" but it's basically in Chesapeake. And Va Beach has spent millions on revamping the oceanfront and boardwalk in the last 10 years -- if you haven't been lately, don't knock it. Very broad beach, very family-friendly boardwalk.

As for Norfolk, it has some really nice, artsy and funky areas. Try Ghent. http://www.norfolk.gov/Planning/comehome/Ghent_History.asp

[JohnKleeb]

3. my bad I am sorry

I just didnt like the beach, too commerical for me. Also welcome to DU browndog and I am sorry about what I said. I just didnt like VA beach but a beach is better than no beach :).

[MediumBrownDog]

6. No offense taken

We native Va Beachers (and there are very few of us who are actually "from" there) get a little prickly about our admittedly tacky stretch of sand. No, it's not the Outer Banks, we know that. But it has its uses for those with little kids who really WANT that hermit crab, overpriced t-shirt, and the ability to be on the beach with a bathroom close at hand. And, as I said, huge improvements have been made.

[JohnKleeb]

7. thanks

I am from VA, more near DC though. I went there last a few years ago. My family goes to Delaware and its pretty good. I think the beach is the best so as I say beach better than no beach unless that beach has Pat Robertson clones on it and as lifeguards ;).

[jonnyblitz]

9. I lived there for 4 years while in the navy and had a blast in the 80's

and I was a "Don't ask don't tell" homo who snuck off to the gay bars and hung out with local punk rockers!! I think it's a pretty conservative area generally speaking tho because of the huge military influence. It has the largest US navy base in the world I believe or it did back then. It has a pretty thriving subculture and it has a bunch of gay bars and had some good ones back then . I could live there again if I had to!

San Diego was also a relatively conservative city but I loved it there also.

It's what you make of it.

on edit: I didnt mean to connect this post to JohnKleeb's post, it was meant for Curse10's original post!

[DemBones DemBones]

16. Every place is what you make of it, isn't it? I lived in Va Beach,

Norfolk, Portsmouth, all at different times -- guess what my dad did for a living?! :7

[MediumBrownDog]

4. Anyway

Not too expensive. The local free paper is PortFolio www.portfolioweekly.com and has lots of rental listings, the restaurant and arts scene, etc etc etc. That should get you started.

Despite the military presence, the area is not particularly political. They're more interested in local politics than national. The main newspaper has a liberal slant on its editorial pages for what it's worth. www.virginianpilot.com

[arcane1]

5. used to live in Richmond

and spent most of my weekends partying in Norfolk, Hampton, Va Beach

not a bad place, though it's been too long to recall any of the politics of the area...

[electricmonk]

8. Don't know what you're musical tastes are

But Norfolk has some awesome punk bands, Strap-Ons, Candysnatchers, Bottle Babies, Yeild and some others that I can't think of at the moment. That's about all I know about Norfolk. Usually go over there once a year or so to hang out with some friends that live there.

[underpants]

10. I "grew up" about 40 minutes from there

On the peninsula.

Some like it, I will tell that a lot of musical groups play there, form the biggees at the ampitheatre to the boathouse (I lived there in the 80's).

Expect to drive most anywhere unless you live in Gent (pronounced with a strong G not a J) which is very cool little area.

LOTS of military. Swimming in military. Part of the reason I moved to Richmond after getting out of the military.

VERY conservative and not in a fundamental ideology way just told what to do. Ollie North got most of his money from "the beach" for his failed (thank GOD) senatorial run. Most Virginians don't go to Va Beach they go to Nags Head or Myrtle (if you live in the western part of the state), Va Beach is for northerners and French Canadians.

I have no idea want expenses are there in terms of rent. About normal
I'd guess $500-700 for a 1 bedroom but I am completely guessing.

The Daily Press in the newspaper around there and I think the Virginia Pilot, check out the classifieds on those.

Strip malls and shiny shoes.

[jonnyblitz]

11. I saw the Ramones and Siouxsie and the Banshees at the Boathouse

And the Circle Jerks. Tina Turner played there, too, but I didnt see that show. I also saw that cheesy new wave band Berlin there.

[underpants]

12. Smithereens/Let's Active/10,000 Maniacs/Hoodoo Gurus/ Femmes

Hows that for alternative when it was alternative?

I saw the Fleshtones at the King's Head Inn. That was a great show.

The Connells in a "hall" (a room) at Wm&Mary-for some reason the lead singer came out and announced "TWO OUNCES!!!" to start the concert. It was St.Patrick's Day.

:shrug:

the Gurus were unbelieveable.

[jonnyblitz]

13. I saw the Bangles at Kings Head Inn

I would have KILLED to see the Fleshtones!! Do u remember the local band Waxing Poetics from back then? Or Antic Hay (named after an Aldous Huxley novel)?? They were both local and I used to party with them after hours.

[underpants]

14. Manakin Moon

I think that is what it was called. Oh hell yeah we played the hell out of that tape at "our" Pizza shop in Yorktown.

Skip Castro? I saw them IN the Chamberlain Hotel, rained out outside concert. People standing on tables. Much fun.

My girl is red hot
Your girl ain't doodly squat.

[jonnyblitz]

15. aah yorktown.

Big weapons station there. I was at Naval Air Station Weapons Dept on the Norfolk base that is how i know..

The song I remember the Waxing Poetics doing was a cover of "Planet Queen" by T. Rex.

And of course all of us freaks ,punks, straight and/or gay used to go to the gay after hours private club 'The Late Show" in downtown Norfolk and dance until sunrise....hehe

[JohnKleeb]

17. you mean Dorktown lol

Just playin when I went down there in fourth grade on a field trip, Yorktown was my favorite. My dad went to Yorktown high for a while in HS and he tells me people sprayed Dorktown on the school. So I kinda joke with my friends about dorktown although the dorks arent much of a rival.

[underpants]

19. Are you talking about with the battlefields?

It's not Yorktown High School, It's YORK high school. For crying out loud give us some credit, we went 8-3 every year.

Yorktown is pretty cool.

I went to a New Years Eve party one year at a house IN Yorktown, the national park part. Though I didn't see it every once in a while when the family was eating dinner a properly dressed young lad (~8 years old) would come join them at the table. Only problem was he had died about 200 years prior. True story, nice ghost apparently. Sleep well John.

[JohnKleeb]

20. no not that one

I went to the battle fields. Do you know where Arlington is? Theres a Yorktown High there. No York high seems to be pretty good. I am talking about Yorktown in Arlington.

[underpants]

21. Oh sh*t that's the northern part of Virginia

In the 50's they tried to kick them out of the Commonwealth.

reread my post above :scared:

[JohnKleeb]

22. tried to kick who?

That ghost story is freaky.

[underpants]

18. Ever been to THE PUB?

I used to work there. Yikes!

A cool place and possibly the best nachos (for the money) anywhere. The Prime Rid Sandwich is to die for but then there were the Coasties who are a strange lot.

[jonnyblitz]

23. nope..never hung out in Yorktown.

just Norfolk and sometimes Virginia Beach.

[cosmicdot]

24. The Late Show & Yorktown & to the original post

I'll never the first time I went to The Late Show ... I thought I had literally left Norfolk and landed in another city.

Used to enjoy the seafood kabob at Nick's Seafood Pavilion in Yorktown (and the banana pie)

the Norfolk area used to be a Democratic stronghold, but it has changed - but, as posters have already pointed out, it has its progressives, too ... but, provincial in balance.

Norfolk has several colleges and universities, as well as the Eastern Virginia Medical School - Scope and Chrysler Hall, and Chrysler Art Museum, Waterside and, now, a major mall in downtown. Several 'fests' occur each year in the Hampton Roads Metro area.

Williamsburg is nearby as is the Outer Banks. Not far from Richmond, DC, or the mountains.

Water is everywhere. So, if you like the beach - it's there along the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

[Zech Marquis]

25. I'm close by

compared to Northern VA, it's quite affordable living in this area--the only pain in the butt will be the traffic these local yahoos don't want to fix.

[grasswire]

26. Nick's Seafood Pavilion!!

MMMMMmmmmmmmm. The most wonderful seafood ever. I recall a lobster/scallop kebab to die for. And what a strange, strange place it is as far as decor goes. Nice view, too, of Gloucester across the river.

I love Yorktown. I would love to live in Yorktown. I love the whole tidewater area, actually. Williamsburg, Chincoteague, Assateague...it's a beautiful place.

[cosmicdot]

27. decor - owned by Greek-Americans

and the waitresses wear those traditional Greek outfits

just found this article - I can't believe this!!!!

http://www.hrticket.com/top/1,1419,N-WbgMag-thismonth-!ArticleDetail-8330,00.html

The selection has been a touchy issue, since the restaurant will replace the famous landmark, Nick's Seafood Pavilion. It's unlikely the name will be retained, except perhaps for a room or as a subtitle.

another landmark in America bites the dust -- sooooo sad

[grasswire]

29. arggghhhhhh!

The charm of Yorktown was its unspoiled atmosphere. Arghh!! Another cookie cutter waterfront development. Argghh!! Why can't they leave the beach with its pebbles and memories?

I'll never forget my first visit there. My friends and I were walking down the historic street at dusk along the water after eating at Nick's, and all of a sudden down the side street came a little fife and drum corps out practicing. Wow. It underlined the historic nature of the area. Now I spose there will be professional musicians hired to simulate patriots.

[underpants]

30. Decor? That place was so tacky I couldn't eat there

:puke:

[jonnyblitz]

28. I used to drive from VA Beach to the Navy Base and back everyday

It was pretty bad in the 80's too...