Reginella's!

 Overall this was a yummy place at a decent price.

 In a plaza in Virginia Beach

 They are trying to be artsy but it feels more like a theme park decor

 Their calamari wasn't the best in Hampton Roads but it wasn't the worst either, I would recommend trying a different appetizer.

 Yum! My Husband pointed out another table's order of hot subs which also looked tasty

This Italian restaurant is decently priced and I thought the decor was amusing. I had their pizza and my Hubby had pasta with seafood. They serve Italian expresso and coffee I added a little sugar and cream to my expresso and enjoyed it!   If I go back I will be trying the gellatto I know another Italian place which has great gellatto.

Mi Casita

 My husband's favorite food...

Mexican!

Overall the food was okay

I wouldn't get too excited but I do like their chips and salsa

 

They have paintings all over the walls, which was pretty cool.

Something I try to indulge in as much as possible... Pho Noodles!Pho 79 the Chesapeake location is great!

 I like Pho Noodles as much as I like Bubble Tea and my friend showed me this wonderful Pho 79 location that offers both!

 Like most noodle shops they give you a tray of condiments for your noodles...

 I love Pho Ga! It's Chicken, onions, chives and pho noodles in a yummy broth. I also loved the Taro Bubble tea it was a sweet treat which was great after having a salty dish. Yum!

The Chesapeake location is clean and new! I thought the decor was nice in comparison to the other Pho shops in Hampton roads. The staff is nice too! Its a family and the brothers are usually the guys serving. My friend frequents here and she always likes the way she is treated so she drives out of her way to enjoy Pho 79!

Freemason Abbey Restaurant

 So after we left the Pagoda we opted for a nearby Restaurant for lunch...

 Lunch in a 139 Year old church!

 Complete with old wood beams...

 And stain glass windows!

 The staff was friendly and the crowd wasn't too crazy...

 The decor is simple and clean, look around and spot some old treasures...

 Their menu offered soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, entrees and desserts, Oh yeah, there's a full bar!

 French onion soup! It wasn't too salty like the ones in a can...

 Yum!!

The soup came with a sammy! I had a prime-rib sandwich with au jus and cheese, I am a cheese a fan. Overall it wasn't bad, my  lunch was reasonably priced, the staff was friendly and they get their cheesecake from New York City! If you are downtown and want to see a cool church with a good lunch stop in and check it out. My friend says dinner is good here too!

Norfolk Pagoda

 So my friends and I thought we would go experience the Norfolk Pagoda downtown....

 The Pagoda looks pretty cool I will have to go back when I can and get some pics on the inside I know they offer Asian tea and treats, so I can't wait to try it out...

 Turns out they close in the afternoon for lunch so come early or go later on...

The garden around it is pretty and is part of the Cannonball Trail, which is a touristy way to see the sights downtown. I plan on trekking the trail some time soon

Harbor Fest!

Thanks to FestEvents, downtown Norfolk offers great festivals for locals and visitors alike. Harbor Fest took place at Town Point Park, a great location with or without a festival. Its Waterside Market Place offers refuge from the elements and the marina draws in some great boats (some available to walk through and others to sail on). The admission is free and there is plenty to see, hear and taste! It was good for free admission, my friend and I walked around but it did get hot so we decided to duck into the waterside marketplace. It was cool, wished I brought my own lawn chair. We found a wine tasting tent and got samples for fifty cents. I wouldn't recommend spending thirty-five dollars for the seafood fest that happens before the actual festival. The food was more bar quality, fast deep fried seafood and there were lines for all the different samples. For the most part if I didn't go with good friends and there wasn't free beer I would of left. But check the festival it's free and there is plenty to see.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens

 These gardens are centrally located in Norfolk. There are many different paths and a children's play area, so wear your walking shoes! It offers many great spots for photo ops, don't forget your camera and watch the weather. The gardens offer more than a great view, they have tours, classes, events (like dinners) and a cafe. Their spaces are available for rent if you're planning a party or a wedding. There is also a cafe and the lake side park sometimes has canoe and kayak rentals. I think it's great for jogging, walking or entertaining the kids. I have also ran into photographers and bird watchers. You can either pay for a day or purchase a pass (good for families). The gardens are great for people watching. My favorite people find was senior citizens partying on the cafe patio by the Japanese garden.Whenever I spot a wedding I always try to get a peek of the bride, there are plenty of interesting things to see around the gardens.

The Pilot

 I admit, this is my first attempt at blogging. I have decided to try and create a blog of my adventures in Norfolk. Why? Perhaps I need a hobby or an expressive outlet, but truly if this grasps anyone's attention it will show me that I am slightly capable of producing material that will attract an audience. So back to Norfolk, I wasn't born here, nor did I grow up in this urban environment. It started with a recruiting office, "Join the Navy! See the world!" and I did but the Navy also landed me in Norfolk. It's been a big chapter in my life but I have to admit, growing up I never heard of this place. So I joined the world's largest Navy and eventually landed in Norfolk. I have to confess I didn't like this place for years but it grew on me and now I am trying to enjoy this place. No one likes change and all changes require transitions. The reason why I did not enjoy Norfolk for so long was because I was constantly passing through. The Navy did send me around the world, as promised, and I viewed Norfolk as a holding center. When I was here I couldn't be home and there was always another destination to go to. All that time before I noticed that Hampton Roads offers much more than most places I have seen. So I finally decided I am going to try and make the most of my time here, I do not know how long I will be here, possibly a few more years or maybe a few more decades, but I have finally acknowledged the opportunities Norfolk has to offer and am going to try and document all the interesting aspects that I can find. Let's see how I do...