NORFOLK, VA -- Capital of Tidewater.

xGrendelx · #1 Posted **Nov 11, 2011, 4:56 PM**

I don't live in Norfolk anymore, but I still gotta represent my hometown. Plus, I got a bunch of pics from the opening of the city's light rail (The Tide) that I figured the people here would appreciate. Thanks for looking!

A few night shots from Downtown:

Commercial Place by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

York Street by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

E. Main Street by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Neighborhoods just outside the CBD (Freemason, Ghent, and West Ghent):

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Raleigh Ave. by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Redgate Ave. by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Boissevain Ave. by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

The Hague #2 by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

W. Freemason Street by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Botetourt Street by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Light Rail Tracks by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

As a local, I never really wanted to take any of the harbor tours but I had some family visit from overseas and they were into it, so I went. I was glad I did afterwards. Some great views from the water!

Norfolk International Terminal by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Panama, Monrovia, and Norfolk by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

The Highway by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Old Customs House by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Littman's Pawn Shop by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

A few from Harborfest 2011:

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Reppin' VA by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

From the opening day of The Tide (light rail):

I got there right at dawn, and these protesters from Virginia Beach were there. There was a big controversy over light rail getting built, and the people of Virginia Beach decided they didn't want it to extend into their city just yet, so I didn't really get why they were protesting. They had already won at this point.

The Protesters by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Here's the first people to get picked up at Newtown Station:

The Supporters by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Leaving Freemason by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Eastbound on Monticello Street by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Eastbound at MacArthur Square by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

It's not haze or fog... by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Monticello Street by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Bute and Boush by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

These last few are from my old Pentax K1000. I decided to dust it off, and I recently bought a Yashica Mat 124G TLR as well, so I've been using more 35mm and 120 film than digital lately. It's been pretty awesome.

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Byrd and Baldwin Bros. by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Riding the Tide by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

Thanks again!

Untitled by Kev Z. (xGrendelx), on Flickr

MNMike · #2 Posted **Nov 11, 2011, 7:27 PM**

Cool, we don't see much of this city often!

On a side note...I am kind of curious to know how that new city center over in Virgina Beach turned out? Did it get fully built out, and are the businesses doing well?

Kingofthehill · #3 Posted **Nov 11, 2011, 9:28 PM**

those rowhouse neighborhoods look just like some of ours here in dc! there certainly is a common rowhouse vernacular present in dc/norfolk/richmond (and parts of baltimore, too!).

Expat · #4 Posted **Nov 11, 2011, 10:11 PM**

I really enjoy the Tidewater area, especially Norfolk. These are great pictures. Congrats on the Tide rail! Looks great.

Simpseatles · #5 Posted **Nov 11, 2011, 10:15 PM**

Nice photo tour! I had a great time when I was there a few years back. Took the harbour tour and everything. Great to see a light rail system getting in place!

stepper77 · #6 Posted **Nov 12, 2011, 5:14 AM**

What a great collection. I don't know much about Norfolk, but, it looks like a really nice city. Great job with the light rail...lame with the protesters. Thanks!

xGrendelx · #7 Posted **Nov 12, 2011, 5:25 AM**

@ MNMike, the Virginia Beach Town Center hasn't been up to much. Nothing new in the past few years or so. I don't hang out there often, so I'm not sure how the businesses are doing. However, I will say the Sandler Center is a really nice venue. But Town Center, in general, feels so cheap and fake to me so I try to avoid it if possible.

@ Kingofthehill, yeah gotta love those rowhouses man. I wish Norfolk had more (urban renewal took out A LOT of the city's old housing stock). I'm living in Richmond now, and there's definitely blocks I'll pass by that remind me of Baltimore and Washington.

Thanks everyone for the comments!

ColDayMan · #8 Posted **Nov 13, 2011, 12:05 AM**

I have nothing but love for Norfolk.

plinko · #9 Posted **Nov 13, 2011, 5:30 AM**

We don't see alot of the Tidewater area around here.

I really like this shot.

hauntedheadnc · #10 Posted **Nov 14, 2011, 3:06 PM**

Norfolk intrigues me.

haux · #11 Posted **Nov 14, 2011, 6:12 PM**

If it's not haze or fog, what is it?

Nice shots. My uncle used to live in Norfolk, and I visited once a number of years ago. I applied for a job there a year or two ago, but it didn't go anywhere. Shame. It looks like a nice city.

spark317 · #12 Posted **Nov 14, 2011, 7:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by haux

If it's not haze or fog, what is it?

Nice shots. My uncle used to live in Norfolk, and I visited once a number of years ago. I applied for a job there a year or two ago, but it didn't go anywhere. Shame. It looks like a nice city.

It's gotta be early morning fog. The first day of light rail started early in the morning, so there's no other explanation.

Thundertubs · #13 Posted **Nov 15, 2011, 11:43 PM**

Ghent and Freemason look awesome. I like the old film pics at the end.

ifeeldope9779 · #14 Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 4:06 AM**

Nice to see Norfolk on ssp. As i have been stationed here back in 2007, this brings back good..and some bad memories. nice photos too!

Robert Pence · #15 Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 2:18 PM**

Good tour! I especially like the gorgeous B&W film shots. Threads like this are increasing the pressure on me to buy some film and wake up the 1955-vintage Rolleiflex.

giovanni sasso · #16 Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 5:23 PM**

nice pictures. i've been to virginia beach a couple times but am unsure if i've ever been to norfolk itself. congrats on the light rail, too. i'm all for peaceable assembly, but protesting something you already stopped is asinine. i hope they fast track construction to virginia beach in spite of them. how great would it be to have a new intercity light rail that goes to the ocean?

xGrendelx · #17 Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 4:47 AM**

@ haux and spark317, it was actually smoke. There was a wildfire in the Great Dismal Swamp for a few weeks during that time, and although the Swamp is a good 50 miles from the city, it was pretty smokey there for a few days.

@ Robert Pence, you should totally bust out the Rolleiflex! My Yashica has been incredible, and I'm sure the Rolleiflex is similar.

Thanks everyone!

spark317 · #18 Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

@ haux and spark317, it was actually smoke. There was a wildfire in the Great Dismal Swamp for a few weeks during that time, and although the Swamp is a good 50 miles from the city, it was pretty smokey there for a few days.

@ Robert Pence, you should totally bust out the Rolleiflex! My Yashica has been incredible, and I'm sure the Rolleiflex is similar.

Thanks everyone!

That's right - forgot all about the wildfire. Thanks for the reminder!

kcexpress69 · #19 Posted **Nov 26, 2011, 1:45 AM**

Nice shots of Norfolk!! Thanks!!

mello · #20 Posted **Nov 26, 2011, 3:15 AM**

Some very nice housing stock there. This metro is a very unique one with all of the different cities making it up but none being prominent. I can't think of another CBA like it. Great shots.