The Tide:

We were also lucky enough to be in Norfolk the weekend The Tide opened. We walked from The Birch via the Elizabeth River Footpath to the Fort Norfolk station and rode The Tide to Harbor Park. Riding it that night, I had a vision of how Norfolk is going to change in the next decade or two, and how The Tide is going to drive that. It is going to change the face of the city. In ten years, when you ride The Tide from your house in Ghent to the Oceanfront or Ocean View for a day at the beach, save a few bucks on gas and parking at MacArthur Mall while doing your Christmas shopping by not driving from the North End, or take it to ORF to catch your next flight to LA, remember I said that.

Harbor Park:

We have a fancy new ballpark in DC, and I do love my Nats, but Harbor Park is always a special place for me. Even now, with the Tides being the farm team for the hated Orioles, it’s still a great place. You’ll have a hard time reading the number of the back of the batter’s jersey at Nationals Park (or Camden Yards for that matter) for an $11 ticket. At Harbor Park, eleven bucks practically gets you into the dugout.

View from an $11 seat (Pic | Chris O'Brien)

We saw a great game, while the sky put on a spectacular show as the sun set behind the stands. And, typical of home, I even bumped into the parents of one of my friends from when I was a kid.

Doumar’s:

On our way home from the game, I decided to drop the Norfolk coup de grace. My friend had heard of Doumar’s from us in the past, but it’s really pretty hard to describe to anybody younger than 50 who has never seen American Graffiti. Of course, there’s the oft told story– original ice cream cone machine, delicious barbecue sandwiches, the myth of the Taylor Pork Roll (what is that?), perfectly tangy-sweet limeade, and some of the best milkshakes this side of Salt Lake City. (They have really good milkshakes there.) I got serious townie cred for ordering a chocolate Reggie off the secret menu. If you haven’t had one before, order your favorite milkshake flavor and be sure to eat it with a spoon. Tastes best with chopped pork BBQ with slaw or a grilled cheese with bacon. GO TO DOUMAR’S NOW!!

It is our history, it is our present.

d’Egg West:

Because driving back to DC on a summer weekend is basically an all-day grind, we didn’t have the chance to do much on Sunday morning. But we did have brunch at d’Egg West. Yet another locally-owned favorite, this diner serves the best Southern brunch around. The grits are best with cheese (what grits aren’t?). Unless you’re ordering the shrimp and grits, which you should. They also have something on the menu called “Aunt Betty’s Good Potatoes.” This looked like the kind of thing you would order on its own. Next time I go, I will order it. For science, obviously.

Last word: biscuits. Better than any biscuits you will have anywhere else. We ordered four, and as soon as they hit the table, my Mom said to the waiter, “We’ll need another order, thanks.” My Mom is a super-smart lady.

Talbot Hall (Pic | Chris O'Brien)

Talbot Hall:

Just before leaving town, we took a little walk to the 18^th Century plantation house that sits at the end of my parents’ block. In a lot of ways, this house and the property around it are a microcosm of the best of Norfolk. The house is more than 200 years old and has survived wars, plagues, economic and natural disasters.

The grounds border on the Lafayette River, one of the main tributaries of the Elizabeth, and represent one of the last unspoiled and open riverfronts around. Owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, it is a symbol of both the peril and promise of Hampton Roads right now. The Diocese, strapped for cash like many other non-profits, is moving to sell the property. It’s unclear who buyer will be, but it seems quite likely that the property would go the same way as many of its waterfront companions– high density residential development. That would be a tragedy– but the promise here is that there is already a motivated core of passionate, local supporters working to preserve the land and its historical home. I wrote an article about it in AltDaily last summer–check out the Save Talbot Hall page on Facebook for more.

There were plenty of other places I wanted to include– places like The Zoo, Public House, Cogan’s, the New Belmont, Dog ‘n Burger, Orapax, the Botanical Garden, Regino’s, Waterside, Prince Books, and Veneziano, to name just a few– that time would just not allow. Those places, though, are just as much a part of what has made Norfolk great, and the bright future waiting for us, as any of the ones above.

As we headed back to the house to pack up and start the slog north, I got a bit reflective. Looking out across the Lafayette River, you can see the shipping terminal, a reminder that Norfolk (and Hampton Roads), with all its rich history, is a city that faces the world. Some cities are entities to themselves, connected to others by highways and rails. Our Hampton Roads communities touch every part of the world, whether it’s the prosperity of thousands of tons of commerce flowing through our waterways, or the security and safety brought by our men and women serving abroad. It’s something that makes our region special, and gives us something to be proud of every day. Something’s happening in Hampton Roads. Bring your friends to town and show it off.

Back to First Page