VisitSouth.com is hiring a Norfolk Insider!

by MaryAnne Gragg | May 25, 2010

Are you the person everyone turns to for the latest information on what’s new in town or where to take out-of-town visitors?

Are you passionate about writing, the Web, and social media and always eager to enhance your skills?

Then we invite you to apply to join our team of local Insiders at VisitSouth.com, the premiere southern travel Web site. VisitSouth.com brings a personal touch to travel planning with Insiders like you …

Norfolk Tides, Norfolk, VA

Small-Town Americana At Its Best

by Katherine Davis | April 19, 2010

Summer baseball games truly are an American pastime, and the Norfolk Tides is small-town Americana at its best. A minor league feeder team for the Baltimore Orioles, the Tides give you a chance to see serious up-and-coming baseball greats play before they join the big leagues.

The atmosphere in the stadium is always charged with excitement, and the games have all the things best about summer baseball: hot dogs, beer, cotton candy …

The NorVa, Norfolk, VA

Smaller Venue Brings Big Name Bands to Norfolk

by Katherine Davis | April 15, 2010

Located in downtown Norfolk near the MacArthur Mall, the NorVa is a concert venue that could appear in a much bigger city. It brings in big names, such as SoCal favorite Social Distortion, The Goo Goo Dolls, or Blues Traveler, but the interior is intimate—so you feel like you’re able to reach out and touch the bands. The stage is set so that wherever you are inside, you still have an awesome view …

Crackers, Norfolk, VA

Martinis and Tapas in a Casual Atmosphere

by Katherine Davis | April 05, 2010

Crackers, located off a less-populated area of Granby Street, has a rather unprepossessing air, but don’t let that fool you. Next door to a florist, this bar is a quaint neighborhood spot that will quickly become a favorite. Filled with quirky decor touches such as the hand-painted figures on the exterior windows, the bar has a unique feel that is trendier than much of Norfolk.

Known for its delicious tapas and cocktails, …

Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Norfolk, VA

Great Yearround Fun for the Family

by Katherine Davis | April 04, 2010

Established in 1938 as part of the WPA, the Norfolk Botanical Garden has become one of the city’s most beautiful attractions. There are more than 150 acres, full of flowers, along with an arboretum. With more than 30 themed gardens, such as those that feature Virginia native plants, champion trees (five of which are listed in the Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project), and a Japanese garden created to honor Norfolk’s sister city (Moji, …

Pasha Mezze, Norfolk, VA

Great Mediterranean Food Tucked Away in Ghent

by Katherine Davis | March 29, 2010

Tucked away in a corner of the Ghent district behind the railroad tracks, Pasha Mezze serves up Mediterranean food made with organic produce from local farmers. There are plenty of vegetarian options, such as soups or wraps with organic hummus or tabouli and fresh vegetables, and the hummus with olive dip is amazing.

The dinner menu can be ordered either a la carte or individually and the different meat and poultry mezzes …

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Norfolk, VA

Three Hundred Years of History In the Heart of Downtown

by Katherine Davis | March 28, 2010

One of the most notable Norfolk landmarks, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located in the heart of downtown, right off St. Paul’s Boulevard, which of course took its name from the church. Complete with a cannonball imbedded in an exterior wall, the church has stood for more than 200 years, and received its cannonball decor courtesy of Lord Dunmore’s infamous attack on Norfolk on January 1, 1776.

The church is one of …

The Boot, Norfolk, VA

One of Norfolk's Best Restaurants, Featuring Locally Grown Food & Drink

by Katherine Davis | March 22, 2010

The Boot, located in the Ghent district of Norfolk, is one of best restaurants in town. Known around the city for its use of locally grown produce and meats from the best farms throughout Virginia, every seasonally available menu item tastes fresh and delicious. The Boot is a subscriber to the Slow Food movement, which advocates seasonality and items grown locally, and you truly can taste the difference in every bite. Particularly spectacular …

MacArthur Center, Norfolk, VA

High-End Shopping & Restaurants in Downtown Norfolk

by Katherine Davis | March 21, 2010

The MacArthur Center is the hub of all Norfolk shopping and is right in the heart of downtown. With a movie theater, every kind of restaurant, and stores both mainstream and high-end, the MacArthur mall caters to all budgets and tastes.

On the lower level, Kincaid’s Fish, Chop and Steakhouse is a popular place for an early dinner before catching a show at the Scope or Chrysler Hall. On the …

Norfolk NATO Festival 2010, Norfolk, VA

International Azalea Festival Gets New Name, Brings Same Great Fun

by Katherine Davis | March 14, 2010

Formerly known as Norfolk’s International Azalea Festival, the Norfolk NATO Festival was renamed in 2009 to better align with its mission to honor the NATO Alliance and each member nation. The North Atlantic Treaty Association (NATO) is a group of 28 countries in Europe and North America dedicated to safeguarding freedom and living in peace. The Festival has run for more than 50 years, making it the longest-running festival in all of Hampton …

Kelly’s Tavern, Norfolk, VA

Great Burgers, Great Atmosphere, Great Location!

by Katherine Davis | March 08, 2010

Kelly's Tavern brings a touch of the Irish to Virginia with tiny twinkle lights strung both inside and out, dark wood booths and landscape artwork. With more than ten locations throughout Hampton Roads, the Tavern is a Tidewater-area staple. The original restaurant and bar is located right in the heart of the Ghent district in Norfolk, and there’s another location just down the road on Granby Street in what’s considered downtown Norfolk.

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