Williamsburg, Virginia

Disclaimer: I am a history nerd above all else.  Please bear with me.

I moved to Norfolk from Williamsburg after having attended school there for 4 years.  Right now, I know The 'Burg better than I know my current hometown.  Lucky for you, oh reader, I can now pass on this valuable information.

Williamsburg.  The Colonial Capital.  Birthplace of American Independence.

No big deal.  Williamsburg was established in 1699 out of the former settlement of Middle Plantation.  Not much was there other than a church and a college, but Williamsburg eventually became a colonial metropolis.  George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Patrick Henry, and John Tyler all walked her dusty yet noble streets.  As the home of the royally-appointed governors, Williamsburg sat at the centerfold of dramatic events leading up to the Revolution.  It hit a bit of a bump-in-the-road after that, but made a grand comeback in the 20th century.

Today, the main attraction is Colonial Williamsburg, a historic recreation and reenactment of Williamsburg in its heyday, the 1770s.  Highlights include the Capitol Building, the Governor's Palace, and Bruton Parish Church--all of which are must-sees and well worth your time--but there's SO MUCH MORE.

Interested in Virginia plantation life or the process of drying tobacco?  Check out Great Hopes Plantation!

Want to learn more about the horrendous treatment of mental illness in colonial Virginia?  The Public Hospital of 1773 is there for you!

How did coffee and chocolate get to the New World?  Find out at Charlton's Coffeehouse and Stage!

Always had a burning desire to learn the valuable art of wig making?  Go visit the Wigmaker, the one-stop-shoppe for all your hair and hair powder needs!

You could easily spend an entire weekend enjoying all that Colonial Williamsburg has to offer (and, trust me, people have).

Shopping: the Outlets, Yankee Candle Store, The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg

Eateries:

• The Cheese Shop (cheese by the ounce, homemade sandwiches (get the house dressing)
• Blue Talon Bistro (French/continental European cuisine, chocolate mousse that will change your life)
• Aroma's (coffee, live music, fluffy quiche, yummy sandwiches, and cookies the size of your face)
• Sno-to-Go (seasonal snow cones definitely worth a visit)

And if history isn't your cup of tea, there's always Busch Gardens, the most beautiful theme park in America!

Chincoteague and the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Leaving work at 2:00 pm, I hopped into the car and drove toward the Eastern Shore.  Luckily, there was little traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at that hour--if you've never been on the tunnel, it's approximately 13 miles of expansive bridge with the occasional tunnel portion.  And it can be yours for the only slightly high toll of $15 dollars.  It is a pretty cool feat of engineering, though.  You can also stop along the way for views of the Bay.

I arrived at the Island Manor House Bed & Breakfast (http://islandmanor.com) and got into my room, the Hummingbird.  It was perfect for a single traveller on a budget--double bed, private but detached bathroom.  And the adventure began!

• Day One:  Leave work at 2 pm, drive the two hours up Route 13, check into B&B.  Drive out to Assateague Island National Seashore (daily pass is $8, so I bought a 7-day pass for $15)

• Day Two:  Breakfast at the B&B (fresh fruit and yogurt, frittata), 3 mile hike in the park hoping to see ponies, afternoon tea at the B&B, beach, shopping on Main Street in Chincoteague, postcard writing and reading

• Day Three: Breakfast at the B&B (fresh melon, eggs benedict), climb the Assateague Light House,1.5 hike in park hoping to see ponies, trip to the Island Creamery, back to Norfolk

I learned a big lesson on this excursion: do the research beforehand.  I rather stupidly assumed that the ponies would be right there, waiting for me, with little-to-no effort.  Realistically, the only people who saw ponies while I was there were people who decided to take an evening boat tour around the island.  I did tons of research into the inn, and I have no regrets.  If you have the time, I would absolutely recommend the afternoon tea; the wonderful food and excellent tea actually lasted for two whole meals!

The only true bummer of the trip was that I didn't actually see any of the famous Chincoteague ponies.  Which simply means that I'll have to make another trip up the Eastern Shore!

Norfolk Tap Room

This was not mentioned in the ~Official~ Norfolk Bucket List, but it was an integral part of birthday weekend 2k16 and deserves a post/review (I don't really know what I'm doing, just go with it).

First of all, I'm pretty sure that the Norfolk Tap Room is in an old bank building, so the venue is absolutely beautiful.  High ceilings, exquisite plaster and stucco work, gorgeous wooden bar.  There are high-top tables, regular tables, and lovely, comfortable booths.

The menu when we arrived was restricted to simply the late-night options, which featured pub fair with some great twists.  The bacon and crab dip was to. die. for.  10/10 would do again.  And next time, I wouldn't share (though it was amply sized to be shared, trust me).

If you happen to be a beer connoisseur, the Norfolk Tap Room would be akin to Mecca; their menu features everything from local pints to imported brews.  Our group went a little on the harder side, sipping cosmos, cucumber martinis, and mixed tropical rum drinks.  All were delicious and reasonably priced.

They also had live music that complimented the atmosphere perfectly.  Just a man, his voice, and his guitar.  No loud band, so you can have friendly conversations while enjoying a drink or two.  Dress code ranged from jeans and tees to dresses-- there was actually a wedding party there celebrating in their wedding attire.

Bathrooms are a little on the interesting side, but, honestly, that doesn't factor much into my bar experience.

In conclusion: excellent experience that will be repeated in the future.  The end.  Thanks for reading!

http://www.norfolktaproom.com

Naro Expanded Cinema

For someone who lives so close to the Naro, it should be a crime that I hadn't gone before this weekend.  Something about the dazzling marquis made my heart flutter from day one, and I was not disappointed.

Summary: I was impressed.  The prices seem very reasonable both for tickets and for snacks.  They also go above and beyond in the food department.  Candy and popcorn is plenty, but homemade cookies and brownies?!?!?  The key to my soul, ladies and gentleman.

The theater itself was very nostalgic.  Auditorium style, complete with a mezzanine balcony.  It could probably use a new coat of paint, maybe a more modern color scheme.  But wouldn't that take the fun away?  I certainly think so.  Besides, the theater has comfy seating and ample cupholders, which is all this girl really needs in her life.

The movie was Cafe Society, the latest Woody Allen flick.  The movie itself was decent: no Midnight in Paris, but beautifully made with phenomenal costumes and scenery.

I'm looking forward to seeing some vintage films here, as well as one of the twice-monthly showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Needless to say, I will be swept away by adventures on the Naro's silver screen again in the very near future.

http://www.narocinema.com

The ~Official~ Norfolk Bucket List

Activities

• Norfolk Botanical Garden
• The Mermaid Factory
• Virginia Zoo
• Chrysler Museum of Art
• Hermitage Museum and Gardens
• Naro Expanded Theater
• Push Comedy Theater
• Virginia Stage Company at the Wells Theater
• Moses Myers House
• Hunter House Victorian Museum
• Five Points Community Farm Markets

Eateries

• Mister Shawarma
• The Ten Top
• No Frills Bar and Grill
• Luna Maya
• Cafe Stella
• Handsome Biscuit
• Grilled Cheese Bistro
• The Dirty Buffalo
• Strawberry Fields
• Rajput Indian Cuisine
• LeGrand Kitchen
• Alkaline
• Toast
• Island Krave

Day-Away Trips

• Chincoteague and the Eastern Shore of Virginia
• Charlottesville and Monticello
• Williamsburg
• Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• The Outer Banks
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Asheville, North Carolina
• Shenandoah National Park

Mr. Shawarma

Mr. Shawarma is a dream.  Tall.  Dark.  Handsome.  Just a hunk of meat, if you catch my drift *wink wink*.

Basically, shawarma is a delicacy from the Near and Middle East, consisting of meat and seasoning roasted together into a pure miracle.  Not completely dissimilar from a Greek gyro or a Turkish doner kebab.  Generally served in a wrap or a pita with any one of a variety of sauces, spices, and vegetables.

First of all, I highly recommend the shawarma wrap with garlic sauce, a *little* spicy seasoning, hummus, and ALL THE VEGGIES.  Basically, it's to-die-for, filling comfort food in a convenient handheld package.  The sandwiches, wraps, platters, etc. are assembled right in front of you, so you can see the freshness of the food as well as your many filling options laid out before you.  Everything, everything as far as the light touches could be yours, Simba!  For the mere price of $11! 

Mr. Shawarma also serves bar-none ~the best~ falafel I've ever eaten in my life.  Little pillows of light, flavorful perfection with a crispy, crunchy exterior.  The owner has given interviews giving little hints to his secret.  I personally think it has more to do with addictive drugs, magic, and pixie dust, but maybe it's frying temperature.  Who's to say?

Stop in on Mondays and Tuesdays if you want a free falafel appetizer and soft drink with your meal (and, trust me, you do)!  

Update: also tried the beef kabob kufta platter, which consists of enough food to feed a small army.  And every single part of it is delicious.  Choose the falafel over the fries...just my advice.

Note: be sure to check hours before heading over.  They close pretty early on Fridays (3 pm) and don't open again until Sunday.  Those might just be the hardest 24-36 hours of your life, so save yourself the disappointment.

                          http://mrshawarmanorfolk.com