Gotta love it! Thanks, Mark (Bert's brother), for sending this our way. Here is the article in its entirety; maybe our other family and friends will find it useful, too:
MY HOMETOWN
Of Time and Tides
There's more to Norfolk, Va., than the country's biggest naval base. Thomas Berger just needed a few years to realize it.
by Thomas Berger July/August 2008 issue
When I was growing up, Norfolk was not a popular place for tourists—it was a place where people just lived. And it was a kind of rough-around-the-edges seaport city. My friends Mike and Ilona, who still live in town, like to remind me that there was a monkey at the zoo who'd smoke cigarettes and flip kids the bird. That monkey was the real Norfolk.
Before a recent trip back to Norfolk (the stress is on the first syllable, pronounced nah; the pronunciation of the second syllable is unprintable in a magazine—well, most of them anyway), I hadn't been to my hometown in almost 15 years. After my parents moved away, there was little reason to return. But, in the past few years, I've noticed that scrappy Norfolk has turned into quite the destination.
Downtown Granby Street, which once wasn't very safe even during the day, is now lined with restaurants and trendy bars like Bodega, which has a tapas menu and "the best bartender on Granby," according to my friend Kevin. There's also a fancy new cruise port next to Nauticus, a combination ocean-science and naval-history museum. The kid in me liked strolling around the deck of the USS Wisconsin, a decommissioned World War II battleship staffed by retired Navy personnel.
But what made my recent visit most enjoyable was rediscovering the spots that have been around for years, such as the Donut Dinette. I went there the morning I arrived for a hearty breakfast of eggs, corned beef, and hash browns. (I had to stop back a couple of days later just for the doughnuts, which are not made on Mondays in the summer.)
The diner is down the street from an art-house theater, Naro Expanded Cinema, that used to be the place to go for $3 double features and midnight showings of Stop Making Sense. The theater still screens cult flicks, but it's now one movie for $8. After a matinee, you can get a cheeseburger at Dog-n-Burger Grille and sit outside in the picnic area.
For a caffeine fix, there's a cozy coffeehouse nearby that's run by Elliot Juren. A few years ago, he closed his popular restaurant, Elliot's, to take some time off. It wasn't long before he was looking for something else to do and noticed the stream of people heading for a certain national coffee chain across the street from his wife Gail's collectibles shop, Texture. So he opened Elliot's Fair Grounds, a café that has board games and free books. Downstairs at Texture, I was tempted to buy a clock made from a folding camera.
A couple of my favorite Norfolk sights are the Hermitage Museum and the Chrysler Museum of Art. On the banks of the Lafayette River, the Hermitage was once a private home built by William and Florence Sloane, who made their fortune in textile mills. There's a beautiful collection of Japanese snuff bottles, and kids will love checking out the hidden door and passageway. The Chrysler is another spot I know well because my mom was a docent there. The museum is in a sprawling Italianate mansion and known for its collection of glass, including works by René Lalique and a gorgeous group of Louis Comfort Tiffany lamps.
Norfolk has several historic homes downtown—many of which date from the late 1700s and early 1800s—that visitors can explore during the Historic Garden Week in the spring. If you want to spend the night in the area, I found a good B&B called the Freemason Inn. The breakfast was a three-course feast: fruit and yogurt, followed by poached eggs with salmon, and, to finish things off, a waffle topped with fruit and whipped cream.
That night, I joined Mike, Ilona, and another friend, Christine, for a Norfolk Tides game at Harbor Park. When I followed the Tidewater Tides, a farm team of the New York Mets, they played on a field by the airport. Now they have a new name, a nicer park, and they're affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. The Tides won, but I didn't catch much of the game—that's the downside of going to the ballpark with people you haven't seen in decades.
I also met up with my friend Larry and his son Derek at Cogan's Pizza. When I first heard the name of the place, it didn't register, but then I realized that I'd been there when it was called Cogan's Instant Art Bar. A group of noted local beer experts (i.e., friends of Derek) claim that Cogan's has the best beer selection in town. There's also some interesting art on the walls, including a painting of a gorilla being attacked by aliens; the caption reads: FOR SPACEMAN STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE, EAT AT COGAN'S.
On my last day, I had lunch at Doumar's Cones and Barbecue, a diner with curbside service. (To signal to a waitress, pull up under the awning and turn on your lights.) The $2 sandwiches are excellent, but the main draw is the ice cream, served in waffle cones hand-rolled on the premises.
On a sugar high, I then did something touristy: I went on a narrated cruise past the naval base aboard the Victory Rover. I'd taken a regular bus tour of the base, but the cruise let me see a bit of the city, as well as Portsmouth just across the river.
My final stop had to be the Virginia Zoo, which has been spruced up since I was a kid. The African exhibits have raised walkways, so you're now at eye level with the giraffes. And the monkeys are behind glass, so they won't be getting any cigarettes. I didn't try to find out if they know any obscene gestures.
LODGING
Freemason Inn, 411 W. York St., 866/388-1897, freemasoninn.com, from $145
FOOD
Donut Dinette, 1917 Colley Ave., 757/625-0061, from $5
Dog-n-Burger Grille, 2001 Manteo St., 757/623-1667, cheeseburger $4
Elliot's Fair Grounds, 806 Baldwin Ave. #2, 757/640-2899, fairgroundscoffee.com
Doumar's Cones and Barbecue, 1919 Monticello Ave., 757/627-4163, doumars.com, from $2
ACTIVITIES
Nauticus, 1 Waterside Dr., 800/664-1080, nauticus.org, $11
Naro Expanded Cinema, 1507 Colley Ave., 757/625-6276, narocinema.com
Hermitage Museum, 7637 North Shore Rd., 757/423-2052, thfm.org, $5
Chrysler Museum of Art, 245 W. Olney Rd., 757/664-6200 , chrysler.org, $7
Historic Garden Week, 757/451-1512, vagardenweek.org, from $25
Norfolk Tides, 150 Park Ave., 757/622-2222, norfolktides.com, from $9.50
Victory Rover, 1 Waterside Dr., 757/627-7406, navalbasecruises.com, $16.50
Virginia Zoo, 3500 Granby St., 757/441-2374, virginiazoo.org, $7
SHOPPING
Texture, 806 Baldwin Ave., 757/626-0991
NIGHTLIFE
Bodega, 442 Granby St., 757/622-8527, bodegaongranby.com, tapas from $5
Cogan's Pizza, 1901 Colonial Ave., 757/627-6428, pints from $2.50
Showing posts with label tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tourism. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Norfolk makes Budget Travel magazine (family in Denver sent us this!)
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Cruise to Nowhere
Bert and I sailed during Harborfest '08 from Norfolk's beautiful Half Moone Cruise Center (located in our neighborhood at the Nauticus) on the Carnival Victory... the "Cruise to Nowhere".
This was my "practice" cruise. Two days out through the Chesapeake Bay into the Atlantic where, at some point, we no longer see land, then turn around and sail back. "Practice", since I'm not at my best on anything with motion, at least not things over which I have no control (like ships, roller coasters and planes). "Practice", since it would be better to be sick for 2 days rather than 7, in case we have the opportunity to take a longer cruise.
The Nowhere Cruise has all the trappings of a regular cruise, and Bert went all out to secure the best suite with balcony and our own mini bar and steward. We dressed up to dine in the special dining room. And, I took dramamine every 12 hours. Everything was planned so that I wouldn't even think about the motion of the ocean.
That is, until, someone mentioned that the center section of the ship looked just like the movie, Poseidon Adventure. You know the one, where the boat turns upside down and almost everyone drowns. Nice!
Anyway, it was a great cruise. I gained my sea legs about the time we landed back in Norfolk, and we found out that I could definitely do a longer cruise, one that actually goes somewhere.
The views along the Elizabeth River and the Chesapeake Bay through Hampton Roads was incredible.
We did have a bit of smokiness due to the fires still burning in the Great Dismal Swamp. You can even see the smoke spiraling skyward in this pic from our balcony as we set sail.
This was my "practice" cruise. Two days out through the Chesapeake Bay into the Atlantic where, at some point, we no longer see land, then turn around and sail back. "Practice", since I'm not at my best on anything with motion, at least not things over which I have no control (like ships, roller coasters and planes). "Practice", since it would be better to be sick for 2 days rather than 7, in case we have the opportunity to take a longer cruise.
The Nowhere Cruise has all the trappings of a regular cruise, and Bert went all out to secure the best suite with balcony and our own mini bar and steward. We dressed up to dine in the special dining room. And, I took dramamine every 12 hours. Everything was planned so that I wouldn't even think about the motion of the ocean.
That is, until, someone mentioned that the center section of the ship looked just like the movie, Poseidon Adventure. You know the one, where the boat turns upside down and almost everyone drowns. Nice!
Anyway, it was a great cruise. I gained my sea legs about the time we landed back in Norfolk, and we found out that I could definitely do a longer cruise, one that actually goes somewhere.
The views along the Elizabeth River and the Chesapeake Bay through Hampton Roads was incredible.
We did have a bit of smokiness due to the fires still burning in the Great Dismal Swamp. You can even see the smoke spiraling skyward in this pic from our balcony as we set sail.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Live passionately, just don't share symbolism with gangs
By MICHELLE E. SHAW, The Virginian-Pilot © August 18, 2007
The state’s new tourism slogan, “Live passionately,” almost died Friday.
The catch phrase, featured on promotional material, was accompanied by a hand gesture that has been associated with a decades-old gang that has members scattered across the United States.
Virginia Tourism Corp. officials decided to alter the images used in the ad campaign rather than scrap the idea.
The gesture, a heart made from both thumbs and index fingers, is one of many associated with the Gangster Disciples, according to several Web sites and the Virginia Gang Investigators Association.
The FBI Web site classifies the Gangster Disciples as “one of the most violent of four African-American gangs that hang out on the south side of Chicago.”
“Out of respect to those who have concerns about the use of this symbol, we will adjust the creative images in our ad campaign to eliminate any further misinterpretation of the heart/hand symbol,” said Alisa Bailey, president of the state’s tourism marketer, in an e-mail. “We regret if anyone interpreted the symbol as anything other than a symbol of love, as was intended.”
About $400,000 was spent on developing the campaign, not including ad buys, Bailey said earlier this week. By Friday afternoon, the pictures in question had been replaced with generic images or portraits of the same models – minus the hand gesture. No additional money was spent to make the change, Bailey said in a separate statement.
“We were able to use existing photography, so it was an easy change,” she said.
BCF of Virginia Beach developed the campaign. Art Webb, the company’s president, said he had “no idea things could go in this direction.”
“This is the first campaign that we’ve done that uses a hand gesture,” he said. “We ran it through a number of tourism industry leaders, and it was well received.”
Members of the Virginia Gang Investigators Association, a coalition of law enforcement officers, alerted various state officials on more than one occasion this week about the campaign, said Keith Applewhite, the association’s vice president. One of those calls was to the governor’s office, he said.
Kevin Hall, a spokesman for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, said the governor became aware of the problem after several law enforcement groups contacted the office with concerns. Col. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of the State Police also raised the issue with staff members in Kaine’s office, the spokesman said.
“The governor is pleased the tourism agency quickly, independently and, he believes, correctly chose to revamp the campaign to remove those images,” Hall said.
Tourism officials were made aware of the possible conflict earlier this week, before the T-shirts and bumper stickers were handed out in Virginia Beach on Wednesday. At the time, officials thought the gang was “a small group confined to South Carolina” and went ahead with the promotional event, Bailey said Friday.
She spent the better part of Friday morning “trying to decide the best course of action.”
“We are taking this seriously,” she said around 10 a.m. “But just because someone in another culture uses the symbol inappropriately or for some other reason, I find it almost offensive that we would change our campaign.”
Just before 1:30 p.m., though, a BCF spokeswoman e-mailed a statement on Bailey’s behalf, explaining the decision to revamp the campaign.
“Our intent was to show people using their hands to make a heart to signify 'Virginia is for lovers,’” the statement said. “For the majority of people, the heart sign is a symbol of love – and the campaign’s images intended to convey a love of travel and love of Virginia. A heart has been our symbol since 1969 and we were looking for new ways to express it.”
Staff writer Christina Nuckols contributed to this story.
The state’s new tourism slogan, “Live passionately,” almost died Friday.
The catch phrase, featured on promotional material, was accompanied by a hand gesture that has been associated with a decades-old gang that has members scattered across the United States.
Virginia Tourism Corp. officials decided to alter the images used in the ad campaign rather than scrap the idea.
The gesture, a heart made from both thumbs and index fingers, is one of many associated with the Gangster Disciples, according to several Web sites and the Virginia Gang Investigators Association.
The FBI Web site classifies the Gangster Disciples as “one of the most violent of four African-American gangs that hang out on the south side of Chicago.”
“Out of respect to those who have concerns about the use of this symbol, we will adjust the creative images in our ad campaign to eliminate any further misinterpretation of the heart/hand symbol,” said Alisa Bailey, president of the state’s tourism marketer, in an e-mail. “We regret if anyone interpreted the symbol as anything other than a symbol of love, as was intended.”
About $400,000 was spent on developing the campaign, not including ad buys, Bailey said earlier this week. By Friday afternoon, the pictures in question had been replaced with generic images or portraits of the same models – minus the hand gesture. No additional money was spent to make the change, Bailey said in a separate statement.
“We were able to use existing photography, so it was an easy change,” she said.
BCF of Virginia Beach developed the campaign. Art Webb, the company’s president, said he had “no idea things could go in this direction.”
“This is the first campaign that we’ve done that uses a hand gesture,” he said. “We ran it through a number of tourism industry leaders, and it was well received.”
Members of the Virginia Gang Investigators Association, a coalition of law enforcement officers, alerted various state officials on more than one occasion this week about the campaign, said Keith Applewhite, the association’s vice president. One of those calls was to the governor’s office, he said.
Kevin Hall, a spokesman for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, said the governor became aware of the problem after several law enforcement groups contacted the office with concerns. Col. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of the State Police also raised the issue with staff members in Kaine’s office, the spokesman said.
“The governor is pleased the tourism agency quickly, independently and, he believes, correctly chose to revamp the campaign to remove those images,” Hall said.
Tourism officials were made aware of the possible conflict earlier this week, before the T-shirts and bumper stickers were handed out in Virginia Beach on Wednesday. At the time, officials thought the gang was “a small group confined to South Carolina” and went ahead with the promotional event, Bailey said Friday.
She spent the better part of Friday morning “trying to decide the best course of action.”
“We are taking this seriously,” she said around 10 a.m. “But just because someone in another culture uses the symbol inappropriately or for some other reason, I find it almost offensive that we would change our campaign.”
Just before 1:30 p.m., though, a BCF spokeswoman e-mailed a statement on Bailey’s behalf, explaining the decision to revamp the campaign.
“Our intent was to show people using their hands to make a heart to signify 'Virginia is for lovers,’” the statement said. “For the majority of people, the heart sign is a symbol of love – and the campaign’s images intended to convey a love of travel and love of Virginia. A heart has been our symbol since 1969 and we were looking for new ways to express it.”
Staff writer Christina Nuckols contributed to this story.
Virginia Tourism Site http://www.virginia.org/
Gang Hand Signs http://www.knowgangs.com/gang_resources/handsigns/menu_007.htmVirginia Gang Investigators Association http://vgia.org/
The Virginian-Pilot © August 17, 2007
Updated full statement from Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corp., on the "Live passionately" campaign. (A heart-shaped hand gesture used in promotional images is associated with a notorious gang.)
"We have decided to adjust the new Virginia is for Lovers Live Passionately campaign due to concerns that the heart/hand symbol has a meaning other than what our agency intended.
"For the majority of people, the heart sign is a symbol of love – and the campaign’s images intended to convey a love of travel and love of Virginia. A heart has been our symbol since 1969 and we were looking for new ways to express it.
"Attached (see below) is an example of the slight adjustment we were able to make in less than 24 hours at no cost that continues to promote Virginia is for Lovers but eliminates the hand symbol. We were able to use existing photography so it was an easy change. This ad example ties into one of the largest national travel trends involving groups of female friends traveling together.
"We will make the necessary adjustments to the new Virginia is for Lovers campaign to gear up for the full campaign rollout in spring of 2008. Virginia’s investment in tourism advertising is proven to generate a 5 to 1 return on investment."
NOTE: My take on this? We're giving way too much credence, weight, credit to thugs. This was the original article. What a difference a day makes:
By MICHELLE E. SHAW, The Virginian-Pilot © August 16, 2007
Since 1969, the Virginia Tourism Corp. has touted "Virginia is for lovers."
Wednesday, the state tourism arm introduced its latest love child, "Live passionately."
Neptune Park was abuzz with the slogan as hawkers passed out free T-shirts and bumper stickers.
"I'm not sure what it means, but I like the way it sounds," said Lore Baker, visiting from Illinois. "I'm kind of a hopeless romantic."
TV spots are airing in Richmond, and print and online ads are running on a limited basis.
The new catchphrase isn't meant to replace the old one, said Tamra Talmadge-Anderson, spokeswoman for the tourism unit.
" 'Virginia is for lovers' is our brand, and 'live passionately' is our call to action," she said. "They go hand in hand."
The new motto has been in the works since earlier this year and will debut nationally next spring, Talmadge-Anderson said. TV spots are airing in Richmond, and print and online ads are running on a limited basis.
About $400,000 has been spent on developing the campaign, not including ad buys, said Alisa Bailey, tourism corporation president. BCF of Virginia Beach developed the campaign.
"I like it, especially the passion part," Bill Price of Roanoke said. "I never liked the 'Virginia is for lovers' slogan, but I really like this passion thing."
Among state slogans, Brent Reed of College Station, Texas, said he remains partial to "Don't mess with Texas."
"I think it will just stick in my head like the old one did," he said of the Virginia slogan. "I mean, look at this beach. I can see how you could be passionate here."
Since 1969, the Virginia Tourism Corp. has touted "Virginia is for lovers."
Wednesday, the state tourism arm introduced its latest love child, "Live passionately."
Neptune Park was abuzz with the slogan as hawkers passed out free T-shirts and bumper stickers.
"I'm not sure what it means, but I like the way it sounds," said Lore Baker, visiting from Illinois. "I'm kind of a hopeless romantic."
TV spots are airing in Richmond, and print and online ads are running on a limited basis.
The new catchphrase isn't meant to replace the old one, said Tamra Talmadge-Anderson, spokeswoman for the tourism unit.
" 'Virginia is for lovers' is our brand, and 'live passionately' is our call to action," she said. "They go hand in hand."
The new motto has been in the works since earlier this year and will debut nationally next spring, Talmadge-Anderson said. TV spots are airing in Richmond, and print and online ads are running on a limited basis.
About $400,000 has been spent on developing the campaign, not including ad buys, said Alisa Bailey, tourism corporation president. BCF of Virginia Beach developed the campaign.
"I like it, especially the passion part," Bill Price of Roanoke said. "I never liked the 'Virginia is for lovers' slogan, but I really like this passion thing."
Among state slogans, Brent Reed of College Station, Texas, said he remains partial to "Don't mess with Texas."
"I think it will just stick in my head like the old one did," he said of the Virginia slogan. "I mean, look at this beach. I can see how you could be passionate here."
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