Virginia Beach, VA

Just a word of warning for those planning on visiting the area after July 15th–the traffic cameras are coming back!

Traffic cameras were installed in several intersections around the Beach to stop people from running red lights. The camera takes a picture of the car and license plate as it runs the light and the driver is sent out a ticket in the mail.

After concerns over privacy issues, the cameras went away several years ago, but are now back due to numerous red light accidents, and a sagging budget.

The fine for running the light is $50. If you are ticketed by a policeman for the same offense, your fine would be $150 plus points to your license.

Just for the record, I’m amazed at the number of people who run red lights down here. I suppose it’s due to the amount of traffic and the small amount of time the lights remain green, or maybe people are just impatient? I highly recommend when driving in VA Beach area to look both ways before proceeding when you get a green light at an intersection.

Recently, I took my kids to the Norfolk Botannical Gardens. The gardens are a short ride from the Beach.

Of note is that a pair of eagles is nesting at the Gardens! Yes, really!

The pair has made 2 huge nests in a section of the garden. Eagle nests are incredibly large. I never knew! I say 2 nests because the pair abandoned their first nest after an owl took one of their eggs.

The Garden staff have set up telescopes so you can catch a glimpse of the eagles and also put up video cameras so you can get a closer view. For those of you who can’t make it to the area, you can check it out on the web.

I’d definitely recommend stopping in and checking it out if you can get to the beach this summer.

It’s NOT what you are thinking. Or what I think you are thinking anyway.

The VA Arts Festival holds a Tattoo Festival every year in Nofolk, VA at the Scope. Tickets start at $20 a piece and is well, well worth it so I hear.

The tattoo festival is actually a festival modeled along the festival in Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland. It has drums, dancing, pipers and a bunch of other exciting events.

Norfolk is a short distance from VA Beach…so I thought I’d include this!

My daughters–ages 14, 12, 10 and 9 have just discovered The Andy Griffith Show. They love it!

This just goes to prove that good TV is always good even decades after it was created. My daughter Bekki especially loves the episodes where they play the banjo and sing. I like the show because it’s genuinely funny, and the people are actually NICE to each other unlike today’s shows where most of the humor that exists is basically one liner put downs. I also don’t have to worry about the show containing inappropriate situations or language.

I told my children that Andy Giffith actually lives close by(at least that’s what I had been told. They didn’t believe me–like usual.

Today, I’m at home pulling sick baby duty while they are off attending church and I read an article in the local newspaper about this very subject. Ah, proof that Mom indeed was right.

I never knew that Mr. Griffith had acted in “The Lost Colony” play on Roanoke Island! I found that to be very interesting. By the way, if you are in Virginia Beach visiting, it’s a nice drive to Roanoke Island. We took the children there a few months ago, and although they weren’t perfoming the play in the open air ampitheater by the water, we explored the musuem and walked around the park grounds. Supposedly, they’ll begin excavating the site this year to find out more about the colony.

Back to acting….I heard on a local radio station that the sheriff from “The Dukes of Hazzard” TV show also lives in North Carolina. Who would have guessed?

What?

I said the same thing. Government offices, including the city offices are closed everywhere today in celebration of this little known holiday.

In fact, my daughter’s class was to visit the library today and suprise! it was closed.

What is exactly is Lee/Jackson Day? It appears to be a holiday only celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia to celebrate the birthdays of Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson. It is celebrated the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

According to information, the holiday was created in 1889.

Who knew?

Chesapeake City, which is very close to VA Beach city, has a free public planetarium.

The planetarium is located at the government complex in Chesapeake, which is about 30 minutes from the beach front with traffic time.

The planetarium presents a 1 hour public program on Thursdays around 8pm, depending upon the time of year. For additional information, you can call the planetarium at 757-547-0153.

I still remember how surprised I was when I moved down here at the amount of specialty food stores and restaurants. Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai, Soul Food, and other cultural foods are everywhere.

Our family’s favorite ethnic food store is The Delicate Oriental Grocery. This is the neatest store as it has all kinds of food from Japan, Vietnam, the Phillipines, and China. Adding to it’s “cool” factor was our experience the first time we went there. We came in and saw 2 oriental women with tongs running after a crab that had escaped from the basket. He was quickly making his way to the door. Now that’s one smart crab!

One of the other interesting cultural things in the store is the altar in the back of the store complete with offerings and incense burning.

We bought quite a few items and enjoyed reading the labels and looking at the products which were quite different than traditional “American” food. The store has fresh vegetables and also seafood as well.

The only downside–they take just cash! Remember to bring some along if you visit.

Just a quick note to wish everyone a very, very Happy New Year!

A recent article in the local paper confirms what I already suspected–Virginian’s are dangerous drivers.

Actually, I should correct that to say that Virginia is a dangerous state to drive. Many people are from other areas of the country and so they aren’t entirely familiar with the roads. Add to that the sheer amount of traffic on the roads which are up to 6 lanes wide with no shoulders for emergencies. Sprinkle in a few agressive drivers and a dash of folks engrossed in cell phone conversations. Stir in a few drunk drivers and well, you’ve got it. Here we are.

I only half jokingly tell visitors that they should look both ways before pulling out after the light changes green. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of people I’ve seen running red lights, or just plain driving thru a red light because they were busy I suppose? Who knows.

“They” speak about creating better highways. I really think that much of the blame lies with the drivers themselves. Seriously, look around you and see exactly how many people are gabbing on their cell phones or checking out the GPS system. It’s a lot.

Just a friendly reminder–be safe and stay alert when driving!

I’m amazed at the number of shopping opportunities down here. Having come from a very rural area, where we needed to drive over 30 minutes to the neares Wal Mart, it amazes me the number of strip malls and stores that are around this area.

There’s everything from upscale shopping(the MacArthur Mall in Norfolk and Towne Square in Va Beach) to the bargain shopping venues.

Did you know that The Dollar Tree has it’s corporate office in Chesapeake, VA? That’s right, it all began here.

The Dollar Tree has also expanded in our area anyway with an upscale party goods store and also a holiday store(these stores have inexpensive, quality products, but not necessarily for $1.00). A new addition to the stores in our area is a bakery. Yes, a bakery at the Dollar Tree. I love going in to the local store and just inhaling–hey that’s free.

Ok, with 5 kids, I spend quite a bit of time looking around the bargain stores, I’ll admit.

Last year, our local store actually handed out 10% off coupons. Wow! In addition, I caught a sale at the store last spring where the easter decorations were marked down to 25 cents each.

Well, it’s been an interesting few weeks. Getting ready for the holidays with 5 kids is well, crazy!

This week, we gathered our friends and went Christmas caroling thru the neighborhood. Afterwards, we had hot chocolate and cookies at our house.

You know, it’s still lovely down here. Today, it’s windy, but last week it was 80 degrees during the day. Come on down ya’ll.

Hey, gas is $2.75 a gallon. What about in your area?

School officially is over on Thursday for the winter break until January 2nd. Wow.

There was an article in the local paper about how the shelters are full of animals. Perhaps you might consider saving an animal’s life and adopting one this holiday season.

We were down at the oceanfront this past weekend to take our annual family photo. This year, we took it in front of the King Neptune Statue at 30th street on the Boardwalk.

It was lovely out, a bit windy, but we walked shoeless! Had to do it in December you know.

Two blocks up from the statue,there was a corral with horses in it. They were renting out horses so you could ride along the beach. The sign said, $45 horseback rides. Because we had all of the kids with us(and all wanted to do the ride with the exception of the baby who would have I’m sure wanted to do so if he could), we purposely didn’t venture over there to get a phone number or other information because riding horses on the ocean front wasn’t on the schedule for the day, or the budget for the week.

So, what a post, eh? There’s horseback riding, but that’s all I can tell you! Seriously, I haven’t been able to find out any other information after scouring the internet. Still, I believe it is noteworthy to mention, and hey, this is what I’ve asked for for Christmas.

So, if you are in the area, get down to the ocean front and check out the horseback rides around 30th and boardwalk. It’s well worth the drive. While you are there, stroll around and listen to the Christmas music on the intercoms along the boardwalk, check out the King Neptune Statue, and talk with the locals strolling up and down the boardwalk. Great fun!

One of my most favorite spots to visit is the Botannical Gardens in Norfolk.

It’s a great activity any time of year(more on that later), but at this time of the year, you can drive thru the gardens and enjoy the light displays. Wow.

I enjoy these displays even more than the ones at the oceanfront. They are beautiful!

The best part about it is that you can get a discount if you buy tickets for both displays–meaning the displays at the oceanfront and at the gardens. Discounted tickets are very limited, so you need to buy them early in the season.

The light display continues until December 31st. Check out the Botannical Garden website for more information or to plan your trip!

One of my most favorite spots to visit is the Botannical Gardens in Norfolk.

It’s a great activity any time of year(more on that later), but at this time of the year, you can drive thru the gardens and enjoy the light displays. Wow.

I enjoy these displays even more than the ones at the oceanfront. They are beautiful!

The best part about it is that you can get a discount if you buy tickets for both displays–meaning the displays at the oceanfront and at the gardens. Discounted tickets are very limited, so you need to buy them early in the season.

The light display continues until December 31st. Check out the Botannical Garden website for more information or to plan your trip!

Wishing everyone a happy thanksgiving and joyous beginning of the holiday season.

It’s natural to think of food on a day like today. I’m thinking of the coversation I had this morning with my step mother about turkey prices up north and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I paid significantly less for our turkey down south!

I remember when we first moved down here, friends and family came to check out the situation, and brought cars full of food “just in case” there wasn’t a grocery store close by. I laugh to think of them with their frozen lasagnas(seriously) hauled in coolers across the Mason Dixon line–just in case.

In case you are wondering, there is plenty of food down south. Grocery stores come aplenty. In this area, there is a bunch of Food Lion grocery stores. Food lion is my favorite because of the buy one get one free offers.

If you are looking for high end or specialty items, try Krogers or Harris Teeter grocery stores.

Of course, should you find it necessary, there’s always Walmart!