30 Things You Need to Know About Norfolk Before You Move There

1. It’s Pronounced Nah-F$%k. Seriously.

How do you say Norfolk? First practice your proper Southern drawl. Once you’ve gotten that down, emphasize the first syllable and let the second roll off like it’s nothin’. Just don’t be surprised by the raised eyebrows in mixed company.

2. The MacArthur Memorial Isn’t Just Some Old Guy’s Stuff

Who doesn’t love a guy with a corn cob pipe? We sure do. We even made a memorial for him. General MacArthur not only fought in WWI and WWII, but he became the most decorated American soldier of the Great War and the effective ruler of Japan between 1945 to 1951. Looking at his shirts is pretty awesome.

3. Old Dominion University’s Throwing the Pigskin (And They’re Throwing It Well)

We may be a little late in the game, but our Monarchs have garnered a big audience since their revival in 2009. So big, in fact, that everyone will need to step up their spirit, since we’ll be returning in 2014 as a Division 1 team.

4. Mermaids on Parade Is the Tip Off that We Like Art

About 10 years ago the city had this crazy idea to mass produce larger-than-life mermaids, have artists decorate them, and then place them all over town. And everyone loved it. Some are painted, some are bejeweled, and if you’re looking for something to do, get the mermaid map and try to find them all.

5. Harborfest Is Fun, Family Friendly, and Free

Tall ships, seafood, and mermaids… all we’re missing is Davy Jones. This annual weekend-long event brings together land and sea with entertainment such as the Parade of Sails, Colours Junkanoo Carnival, and the East Coast’s largest display of fireworks.

6. It’s Too Good To Be Called a Mall

Enter into dream world. With three floors, more than 100 stores (including Nordstrom and Dillard’s), and a seasonal ice-skating rink, it’s like bliss walking into MacArthur Center. But note where you parked, as it’s easy to forget during entrance euphoria.

7. Stick Your Toes in this Sand

Skip Virginia Beach and head here. It’s much more local and has Ocean View Beach Park, a great venue for concerts, and Ocean View Fishing Pier, the longest free-standing fishing pier in North America.

8. Surf Rider’s Crab Cakes Are To Die For

Best. Crabcakes. Ever. A family run business with a big local following, this is definitely where we go for our seafood fix.

9. Naval Station Norfolk: Even the Name Is Intimidating

The country’s largest naval station? No, no—the world’s. An impressive collection of ships, aircraft, and forces can be seen during one of their guided tours, but make sure to call ahead because the times change.

10. Lions and Tigers and Badass Conservation Work

The Virginia Zoo is making a name for itself by going green. They are taking extraordinary steps toward conservation and trying to bring everyone with them through recycling and transportation projects. Not only do they want everyone to appreciate their wide variety of cute cuddlies—do not cuddle the animals, especially the spiny ones—they want sustainable habitats for their animals to appreciate too.

11. This Isn’t Your Grandma’s Gallery

In addition to a killer collection of classic and modern pieces of artwork, the Chrysler Museum is known for its Glass Studio. The Third Wednesday performances, which include live music, glass blowing, and imbibing, are a must and are usually packed.

12. Don’t Judge this Book by Its Cover

With renowned shows such as Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and Jekyll and Hyde, Chrysler Hall far makes up for what it lacks in visual perfection.

13. Ding Ding Ding! We Have a Winner

Scope Arena, on the other hand, is the perfect venue for large scale events. We like that it has something for everyone—WWE, the circus, and our local hockey team. Go Admirals!

14. Our Mascot Is Famous

You just never know what you’ll see at the impressive Harbor Park stadium. Last year, RipTide had a major wipeout during a Norfolk Tides’ minor league game and it went viral. He dusted himself off before we started posting the video. We swear!

15. TGIF Is Most Definitely Not the Restaurant

Contrary to popular belief, August is the most wonderful time of the year. It means Fresh Catch Friday: blue crabs and beer. Every Friday night for the entire month, TowneBank Fountain Park hosts this stuff-your-face festival serving up freshly caught local blue crabs with sides of live music and brew.

16. Nordstrom Cafe Is Heaven

Fatigue and severe hunger are common symptoms of TMS (Too Much Shopping). Hidden on Nordstrom’s third floor is a cafe oasis and remedy for the terrible affliction. Fresh, local ingredients and a commitment to being environmentally friendly makes Nordstrom Cafe a deliciously guilt-free rest stop.

17. Getting Around Is a Breeze

The Tide Light Rail, Virginia’s first light rail system, opened in 2011 and is hugely successful at connecting the downtown area all the way to the border of Virginia Beach. That’s seven miles without a traffic headache. It’s about time.

18. Ever Heard of The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway?

There’s this beautiful stretch of waterway along the southern east coast specifically created for boats and ships and sea creatures to safely travel to and from their destinations. And it starts here. Right here. At Mile Marker 0. Pretty impressive.

19. Even Adults Skip Into Here Because Everyone Becomes a Kid

Pull back your sleeve, stick your hand in the water, and pet some horseshoe crabs. Not your thing? Nauticus National Maritime Center has everything from the Secrets of the Deep exhibit to an entire Tsunami preparation station. With new and permanent exhibits, 3D films about the deep blue, and the actual Battleship Wisconsin to board and explore, this place never gets old.

20. Moms and Dads Take Comfort: We Have the Best Children’s Hospital

As a community, we’re very proud of The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. It’s a highly specialized pediatric hospital for kids only. The focus is solely on children to ensure they receive the best care, whether it’s for chronic illness or just an afternoon check up.

21. A Night at the Opera Is a Must

Everyone needs their “Pretty Woman” moment of going to the opera for the first time. Not only does the Virginia Opera have spectacular performances of classical and contemporary pieces, they also have the outstanding Emerging Artists Program, one of the most competitive in the country.

22. And You Can Balance It Out With a Night at the Symphony

Setting the mood for those powerhouse voices of the opera is the Virginia Symphony. When they’re not helping out those guys, they have their own act performing more than 200 breathtaking concerts a year.

23. We’ve Got “The Family” Here, Too

What city is complete without that Italian restaurant? Ours is Fellini’s and it’s all about the flavor, baby. Load up on fresh moz with Fellini’s special pizza or fresh garlic in their Pasta Corleone. But don’t even think about being on a diet at this place.

24. The Naro: It’s Almost Too Cool to Talk About

It’s Indie, it’s old school, it’s cheap. The Naro is where you want to go for a Rocky Horror show. Twice a month you can do the Time Warp and feel awesome. Or just stick with a film. The selections are equally non-mainstream.

25. The Ten Top: Our Hole in the Wall

It has huge portions and to-die-for sandwiches. Try the meatloaf or any of the sandwiches and then pop across the street to the Naro for an evening show. Dinner and a movie. Done.

26. Get Your Guac and Queso Here

A guilty pleasure for sure, Plaza del Sol is a local indulgence. The food is decent, but the margaritas are the real reason to come here—they have enough tequila in them to make you forget about your average meal. And get the Jumbo Texas Margarita on Friday nights to help you through karaoke, whether you’re singing or not.

27. D’art Center: Sounds Foreign, But Locals Love It

We. Love. Art. And we especially love our artists. D’art Center encourages this interaction between artists and community by opening up the workspace to watch the artists in action. Sounds a little stalkerish? It’s not. Just a casual environment where you can get your creative juices flowing.

28. Norfolk Botanical Garden: A Big Piece o’ Peace

Easily the most peaceful place in Norfolk, you could spend hours meandering through the 155 acre gardens. Ranging from roses to the popular butterfly house, we tend to lose track of time observing the Botanical Garden’s natural beauties.

29. So What If We Dig Nature? Get It? Dig Nature?

We’ve got even more artist love at Hermitage Museum and Gardens. In fact, one of the requirements for their Studio Artists Program is that the artist must have a desire to share their gift with the community. The museum, filled with an impressive collection of artwork, and the twelve acres of gardens and woods serve as inspiration to these artists, which then inspires us. The circle of life, er, art.

30. No More Paintings, I Swear. But…

Did I mention we like art? All types of art. the Virginia Arts Festival celebrates the performance kind by bringing in artists from all over the world. If ballet isn’t your cup of tea, they’ve got sketch comedy. If jazz isn’t your favorite, they’ve got the famous military music of the Virginia International Tattoo. Bottom line: We’re not letting you leave until you love the arts as much as we do.