Archive for the ‘History and Museums’ Category
Sunday, November 27th, 2011 by Pat
Durant tout l’automne Virginia Beach concocte des plats délicieux et se prépare plus que jamais à célébrer le célèbre Thanksgiving qui vient tout juste d’avoir lieu, le 24 novembre dernier. Cette journée particulière permet de rendre grâce à Dieu et apparait comme une des fêtes les plus importantes en Amérique du Nord mais qui se célèbre différemment entre le Canada et les États- Unis. Petit cours d’histoire….
Si les célébrations d’action de grâce ont plus ou moins disparu en Europe, elles sont toujours très présentes en Amérique du Nord. La première remonterait à 1578, lorsque l’explorateur anglais Martin Frobisher, débarqué à Terre Neuve alors qu’il cherche un passage vers l’Orient par le nord, rend grâce à Dieu avec son équipage d’avoir survécu au voyage. Quelques années plus tard, le fondateur de la ville de Québec Samuel de Champlain fait aussi organiser de grandes fêtes dans le même esprit. L’action de grâce serait donc d’abord canadienne! Car, aux États-unis, il faudra attendre 1621 pour que les pères pèlerins du Mayflower proclament leur premier Thanksfiving Day, en compagnie de leurs hôtes amérindiens qui leur font découvrir la dinde sauvage, la tarte à la citrouille et les petits pains de maïs!
Et pour terminer, voici une petite rencontre très sympathique chez Gerry. Pour visionner, cliquez ICI: Gerry ice cream!
Tags: Virginia Beach
Posted in Beach Girl Blog, Cuisine, Events, History and Museums
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 by Sherry Friel
 Photo courtesy of Krissy Anderson Lately, I’ve been on a mad hunt for evidence to substantiate what I’ve long believed to be true: That Virginia Beach is a magical place—a virtual hotbed of creative energy and happiness. That once people move here, they magically and inexplicably unleash surges of previously unrealized talent and creativity. Some paint, others write gorgeous poetry and delve into photography or any number of creative arts. Local musicians are happily churning out some of the best songwriting and instrumentation anywhere. Case in point: I simply cannot get the song from a locally-produced and filmed music video out of my head. It’s called “Chillin’ in the Summer” by Tina Micula. Go ahead, I dare you to listen, but be warned: you will be humming it from now until summer! Whether you’re into jazz, folk, rock, or classical to name a few genres, chances are you’ll be in good company at the oceanfront.
 Nathaniel takes 1st place in music creativity contest - Photo by Sherry Friel
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Tags: Association for Research and Enlightenment, Beth Kulas, Boardwalk Art Show, culture and arts in Virginia Beach, False Cape State Park, First Landing State Park, Kirssy Anderson, Nathaniel Friel, photography, Tina Micula, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
Posted in Events, History and Museums, Living the Life, The Great Outdoors
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 by Katherine Jackson
 Photo credit: Katherine Jackson Although facts are few and often disputed, it is true that Blackbeard and other pirates sailed the waters in and around the Chesapeake Bay. Anyone who looks at a map of Virginia Beach can see that Broad Bay, just beyond the Chesapeake Bay, would have been an excellent hiding place for a pirate ship that was being pursued. And, for a pirate ship full of loot, the area that is now First Landing State Park would have been an excellent place to hide a treasure.
It’s no surprise, then, that treasure hunters have long thought there must be pirate treasure – maybe even Blackbeard’s treasure – somewhere in the woods and swamps at First Landing. With that in mind, I set out on a Saturday morning, not to find a Blackbeard’s treasure, of course, but to look for possible places where a pirate could have hidden a treasure. And on a five and a half mile walk, I found plenty of good spots.
We began our adventure at the Visitor Center off of Shore Drive. Our ultimate destination was White Hill Lake, a tidal body of water with links to Broad Bay. After walking about a mile and a half on the Cape Henry Trail – the main trail through the park – we turned onto the Kingfisher Trail. Although the Cape Henry Trail had lots of foot and bike traffic (since it’s the only trail where bikes are allowed), the Kingfisher Trail provided the peace and solitude I go to the park to find. This trail is predominantly white sand and pine straw, and is shaded by a canopy of American Beech and other trees. It climbs up and down small hills as it winds through the mossy woods toward the bay.
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Tags: First Landing State Park, The Great Outdoors, Virginia Beach hiking trails, Virginia Beach history, walking in Virginia Beach
Posted in History and Museums, Living the Life, The Great Outdoors
Friday, September 16th, 2011 by Teresa Diaz
 After an extremely warm summer, I welcomed the crisp air this morning as opened the back door to let my dogs out. Actually, as I walked across the deck I hollered “YES!” with my hands reaching toward the sky; I just wanted to kiss Mother Nature right on the lips!! I’m sure anyone who saw me thought I was having a seizure or something, but for me it was downright glorious to be smacked in the face with some cool air for a change. Don’t get me wrong – I love summer – but I also like the change of seasons and my favorite time of the year is the transition months of fall as we head into winter. That’s what is so awesome about living in Virginia Beach - we get opportunity to experience the change of seasons while enjoying pretty good weather all year long.
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Tags: dolphin watching trips, free things to do in Virginia Beach, Mediterranean Weekend, Old Coast Guard Station
Posted in Events, History and Museums, Living the Life, The Beach Report, With The Kids
Thursday, August 18th, 2011 by Patrick Evans-Hylton
Coastal Culinary Connoisseur Patrick Evans-Hylton shares tips for selecting and storing fresh tuna, as well as a recipe for Seared Tuna Atop Peppery Greens with Virginia Goat Cheese, Bay Seasoned Petitas and Citrus Vinaigrette.
Running off the coastal waters of Virginia this time of year are tuna – large, fast, fleshy fish that can be enjoyed in scores of ways. During the summer months, we like a simply grilled piece of tuna atop peppery greens, accented with creamy and cooling local goat cheese, flavorful pepitas (pumpkin seeds) roasted to a golden brown, and drizzled with a crisp vinaigrette that pops with citrusy flavor.
 Tuna offerings from a local farmers market courtesy of the author There are many species of tuna, and several varieties that can be found in the Atlantic. We look for fish that is a sensible choice; ones that are abundant, well-managed and fished or farmed in environmentally sound ways, or at least ones that are better choices than those that are overfished or otherwise non-sustainable.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach publishes a pocket guide outlining recommendations from their Sensible Seafood program; bigeye and yellowfin tuna are both on the “good alternatives” list.
Look for local tuna now at farm markets across Virginia Beach.
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Tags: bigeye tuna, farmers markets, hellowfin tuna, local recipes, Sensible Seafood, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Posted in Culinary / Dining, Fishing, History and Museums, Living the Life
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011 by Mike Halperin
 Recent catches of growing numbers of white and blue marlin, sailfish, red drum, golden tilefish, and black sea bass indicate these fisheries are all heating up along with the weather. Each bill fish and many of the red drum qualified for Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament release citation awards.
Inshore: While still early for the peak croaker, spot, and flounder runs, fishing for these inshore favorites has been good. To add to this list, anglers are also catching a few small sheepshead, sea bass, triggerfish and speckled trout. Many spot weigh a half pound with Rudee Inlet remaining a best bet for catch-and-release flounder action.
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Tags: amberjack, bigeye tuna, black drum, blue marlin, bluefish, blueline tilefish, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, citations, cobia, croaker, dolphin, free things to do in Virginia Beach, grouper, otters, Sea Bass, Spanish mackerel, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, wahoo, white marlin
Posted in Fishing, History and Museums, Living the Life
Friday, June 17th, 2011 by Teresa Diaz
 Another great Virginia Beach week and we’re full steam ahead into Father’s Day weekend. The weather is awesome and we’ve yet to hit summer (officially, the summer solstice is Tuesday, June 21). There are so many ways to celebrate this weekend, it will be hard to choose just one so rather than trying to decide, why not make it a whole weekend (or if you’re really lucky, a whole week!) of fun for the whole family?
Whether you’re planning a family celebration or giving Dad some free time on his own , here’s a short list of fun things to do in Virginia Beach. Still want more? Our website is chock full of ideas and info – just take a look!
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Posted in Beaches, Culinary / Dining, Fishing, Golf, History and Museums, Living the Life, The Beach Report, The Great Outdoors, With The Kids
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