Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Ginny's Marvellous Beach Day!

"Beach" had been on the Bucket List for sometime now. I happened once to meet this cute guy who, once-upon-a-Thanksgiving, had listed it off as one of the pluses of living in Richmond: just a short two-hour drive to the Ocean. 
   Cute guy having lately ticked off "Mountains", it was therefore down to Katie to organise a trip to the seaside. Our intern numbers had depleted once again but - no matter - a trio of girls was just enough to settle upon an adventure. 

East!
 I was interested to see what Virginia Beach was about. I knew, from old friends, that it held a naval base nearby so there was that aspect. 
Tour had also taught me that "seaside" was not entirely always familar - Llandudno took a week to show me its proper colours - so I wanted to see how "seasidey" it was, compared to the likes of Scarborough or Brid'.

We found ourselves close to the resort strip on arrival. Lots of promisingly tacky souvenir/beach shops on the way into town. So far, so recognisable. Our hunt for lunch soon threw up subtle differences though. No by-the-beach eateries, no cafes nor food huts to be seen. Instead the boardwalk is backed entirely by hotels, towering over the sandy beach - affording great views to their guests but pushing the restaurants, as opposed to cafes or diners, further back into town.


There was however, plenty of ice-cream.

To the beach then!  Lots and lots of art & sculptures adorning the paths by the boardwalk,
Neptune included.
Jenny found palm trees, reminding her of home in Floridia.


 Beside the sea. 
At the Ocean's edge.



  ^ That's kind of how it was. A big gap of sand, a long line of people in chairs, on towels and the sea. Not so many children building sandcastles in the interim space but plenty of sunbathers about, closer to the edge.

The waves of the Atlantic Ocean took some getting used to. It was fairly choppy & the breakers would come in every so often, usually in two or threes. I got the dance routine of hold your nose/close your eyes down to a fine art. I
guess I have spent the last 13 years cursing the Atlantic so it was high time for the Ocean to enact its revenge.





We swam some until we
tired of the waves crashing & beating us up & headed back to sunbathe.

(I probably shouldn't have dozed off.
 I probably should've worn a higher SPF.
 I definitely didn't expect to finish the day with lobster  legs, given that my legs never, ever tan.
 But we live & learn & are sure to take as-cold- as-can-be showers once home to lessen the burn.)




The day went from overcast & cloudy to being
          much brighter by mid-afternoon.  


Her name is Ginny & she dances on the sand                          A brighter Neptune

About the boardwalk:

In its various forms, the thoroughfare has seen it all: Prohibition and German U-boats, Big Bands & surfer girls, shag contests & rollerblades. Throughout time, the Boardwalk has remained an enduring symbol of Virginia Beach. Built from wooden planks in 1888 during the nation's "gilded age," the five-block promenade attracted thousands of Victorian vacationers.

I imagine the wooden planks had a certain appeal but fire put an end to them. I see it more, as at Llandudno & Portobello, like a promenade running parallel to the sea.


B&J had passed us a voucher earlier for Doughboy's Pizza so we headed that way for tea. Pretty awesome choice of toppings made these sun & sea-sated swimmers rather happy: sundried tomatoes, avocado, spinach, chicken... Nom.  Doughboy's then presented us with another voucher.


Vouchers are ace! Vouchers create a dangerously circuitous loop:
                                             
                    Pizza. Ice-cream. Pizza. Ice-cream. Pizza.
I wasn't altogether sure if we'd ever make it out of Virginia Beach.

  Penguin-sized ice-cream at that.
To Scale.



Homewards: happy, tired, thankful.
 
To cold showers & Aloe Vera. 



The afternoon after the day before:
Ouch.

Saturday, 27 July 2013

A Week Plus Some: In Pictures


RVA summer colours, turning pink by the Dairy!

It's been kind of humid too...


"Greg, it ain't easy. All I need is an opening. You remember the pitch? 
  What can I use? What's new around here?"
 
The other day: Teddy Grahams, three-in-a-row!

With the opening of Steel, the final one of three back-to-back shows, 
we Officially Functioned like never before.

This one included we 4, 
Theresa (MM hat designer extraordinaire), Lynn (Busytown designer), 
Lesley+Ivy ("The Costume Shop ") responsible for finishings on MMs Pick-a-Little Ladies 
along with Abby; as well as Liz, our Go-To for period research & dress patterns.

Quite the crowd! OF  #12
When I thought about how many years of combined costuming were under that one roof ... 
Wow.  :) 


I discovered a new brewery, Parkway.  
I like their artwork (as well as the fact they do Blonde).

 

Being based in Salem, VA (about half an hour's drive from Roanoke),
I know their landscape well ... winding roads & starry hills.


This week,  

the fabulousness of Mellow Mushroom, new to Carytown. The pizza place which all 
the elsewhere-kids rave about. They're very happy to see it arrive here.

 

Record Wall.




Lowly Worm gracing the doughnuts at Busytown, Willow Lawn.
There was a Wednesday night going spare
so this happened:

New release! The Double IPA, better known as the "Dipper".

Plus Piiigs.


A Trip to the Trailers!


 
where the other ⅓ of extant stock from "dead shows", likely
to be revived sometime, reside on
Southside. We were on
a Quest to relocate some Important Costumes for a Fall tour.






Four Velveteen Rabbits found!

Friday afternoon = 
BOWLERAMA!
 The annual staff summer social.
 
Doug-Squish-Hug.   :)

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Wall Art #14: I am a Vampire.

There's a new addition to our neighbourhood.
It's a little strange but I kinda have a big crush on this wee guy.  
 Just look at him! He's so cute & bashful & those stripy pants! 
Dracula's Limelight.
 Thank you Stormie Mills! 
He's a part of the current RVA Mural Project which is happening across the city right now.
(He's also infinitely preferable to freaky 4-eyes at Harrison, haunting every journey to K.Roger/down Broad & back. Ugh. Not a fan.)  

Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Intern Outing #2: Lewis Ginter

 

  
Moth Orchid

 
 


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