Week 37 Sept. 9-15

Horrible Dining Day

There were a few "technically new" things this week that happened, but I didn't go out of my way to find something new to do really.  Sometimes I do, but I was busy, tired, and had a lot of afterschool activities this week. 

On Friday though, I got to go out for lunch and dinner, both to new places and both with the same results.

At work, a subcontractor took a group of us out to lunch at this really cool restaurant on the river in Richmond.  We went to a place called the Conch Republic at Rocketts Landing.  It is a "taste of the Florida Keys on the James River".  The atmostphere was really cool.  We sat outside overlooking the boat traffic on the river and enjoying the sunshine.  With a group, I ordered their lunch special, a chicken wrap, easy enough.  It came with a side, which they are supossidly famous for Aligator Chili.  They were out....at lunch....Ok, so I went with Jumbalaya.

There were about 6 in our party.  Everyones food came out exept mine.  After about 10 minutes, the waitress came out, noticed I didn't have my food, and then told me they "lost my order in the kitchen" and were rushing it out.  10 minutes later, it arrived.  Wrong order.  I didn't care at that point, as we were on a schedule, and I am not a picky eater, so I got to try their collard greens.  I must admit, the greens were excellent, so I was happy to have tried them.  So for the Conch Republic: Atmostphere 4 stars, Food 3 stars, Service 1 star.

Not to be lost though, because Jenny and I were going to go out to eat that night after Aiden's football practice.  This is the first night Jen and I have been out together, without the kids, for a nice time together.  We have been eyeing this place near us called Pescados.  This is a "vibrant mix of Caribbean and Latin flavors".....perfect!  This place came highly rated on Yelp, which I refer to to find new places and think is a great resource.

I called ahead to get a table.  They don't take reservations, so I asked about the availability on a Friday night around 8:00.  They said they are typically slowing down and it shouldn't be a problem.  The place is a lot smaller than I had thought.  It is located in  a small strip mall type center, and the architecture inside is reminicent of either a cheap mexican restrauant or an all you can eat chinese buffet.  Strike one. 

Their was a 15 minute wait, so we could wait at the bar.  The bar was full, but if you stood in line for 10 minutes, the bartender would finally acknowledge your presence and be so kind as to screw up your drink order.  Strike two.

During the next half hour, almost all of the people left the bar area, either to leave after eating, or to take their table.  As people were leaving, we started to notice the empty tables.  One, then two, then four, yet we still sat there.  Strike three.  Finally we were seated.

While at the bar, I notice a gentleman eating a whole fish.  I mean the WHOLE thing complete with a tail and head.  I mentioned to Jenny that I should ask what it was to make sure I didn't get that.  Fast forward.....I had narrowed my choices down to the Austrailian Sea Bass or the Snapper (Awarded a top dish in Richmond).  I love sea bass, but I thought I better go with the award winner!  You guessed it, the snapper, complete with a head, a tail, and all the fins.

I must admit, the food was good.  It wasn't "best I ever had" good, but definately a nice dining experience.  As discussed how they seemed to have plenty of help for such a small restaurant, but the staff didn't seem that ambitious, the bill came.  Our bid was itemized nicely, as one would expect.  About half way throught he itemized list was an item we didn't recongnize.  "Cheap Date.  $8.00"  I had to laugh and pointed out to Jenny that this must be a mistake, since she was far from a "cheap date".  Turns out, this is their "code" for a desert we had that they also offer as part of a "Cheap Date Special" they run midweek.

So for Pescado: Atmostphere 2 stars, Food 4 stars, Staff 1 star. 

It seemed such a waste to go to two potentially great restraunts in one day and have such a crappy experience at both.  I will not be in a hurry to back to either one.  I guess they all can't be winners.

Week 36 Sept. 2-8

Louisa, VA

 
We went for a ride to Louisa, VA this weekend.  I am bidding a new Elementary School here in the next couple of weeks and wanted to visit the site.  This gave Jen and I an excuse to break out the bikes and go for a ride.  Louisa locate just of I-64 between Richmond and Charlottesville, but closer to Charlottesville.
 
On the way there, we stopped for gas and a pop (soda) at a small town called Georges Tavern.  All that was there was a gas station and what looked like a mechanic's shop, but it may have been a junk yard as well.  No tavern...
 
Georges Tavern is in Goochland County, so we got to see the Gooches again.  The ride there was nice.  The roads were curvey and wooded, so we actually got a little chilled in the shade.
 


Pennys in a bag of water to repel flies.

While in Louisa, we stopped to visit the courthouse, which I am sure has some Civil War signifigance as do most places in Virginia.  We parked in front of a Drugstore.  Hanging above the door to the Drugstore was a plastic bag full of water with pennies in it.  According to the all knowing Google, this is a method of repelling flies.  A couple of people here have heard of it, but I had not.


View of the Lousia Water Tower.

 
Other than our brief stops at Georges Tavern, Louisa, and at the potential jobsite, it was a pretty short trip.  We are in a hurry to get back home as we didn't want to leave the kids home for long, and we were also ready for some down time. 
 
At least during this trip we got to experience Louisa, found an old fashion way to keep the flies away, and learned that if your in the mode for a beer, don't bother going to Georges Tavern.


Jen at the Courthouse

JT on her bike.



Canned Goods at Georges Tavern.  Yummy.













Week 35 Aug. 26 - Sept. 1

Sandbridge Beach

Labor Day Weekend!  We were all going to the beach for the day, all that is until Josephine decided to make her grand entrance into the world, and Aunt Jenny went to St. Louis to see her.  (which we are all very happy about the new addition to our family)  So, it was the kids and me, heading to the beach.  Earlier this summer, we went to Virginia Beach, which was cool, but Drew was in her cast and couldn't go in the water, so we owed her a trip to the ocean.

I though Virginia Beach was nice, but it was pretty crowded and right down town.  I was looking for something a little more natural, less busy.  Maybe something that reminded me of the beaches at the state parks on Lake Michigan, but lots warmer.

I found Sandbridge Beach, just south of Virginia Beach, near Chesapeake, VA.  This is the start of the Outer Banks.  Many people from Richmond head to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to go to the beach, but it is a 3-4 hour drive.  This was a little more than I wanted to invest in a day trip.

Sandbridge was exactly what I was looking for!  We went to Little Island Park.  There was good parking, close to the beach.  They had bathrooms with changing areas and picnic pavillions.  It was busy, but not crowded.

While there for the day, we saw dolphins porposing on the ocean a few times.  Aiden dug us a small sand crab, and we all enjoyed bouncing on the waves.  Aiden and Drew both think they stepped on a ray or scate, but it was never confirmed.

This is definately a spot we will have to bring Jenny back to, and I think the spot we will go to when we have that desire to go to the beach!

Week 34 - Aug. 19-25

TRX

Jenny and I joined the YMCA when we got here.  It is just a couple miles away and easy to get to.  It is pretty impressive.  I think it only a few years old and has all sorts of activities.  There is a large weight area, cardio area, fitness rooms, yoga rooms, two gyms, indoor pool, outdoor pool, spa, sauna, and nice locker area.  They also have daycare and plenty of lounges with TV's and free wifi.  It is really a cool place to hang out.

With the membership, which I thought was pretty cheap, came the inclusion of any fitness class you want to attend.  They pretty much have something going on from 5:30 am-7:00 pm almost every day.  Wanting to take full advantage of this, Jenny and I decided to take a TRX class on Saturday morning.

We didn't know what TRX was, but it fit into our schedule and had to be a decent work out, so we tried it.  TRX stands for "Total Body Resistance Extercise".  I quess TRX is sexier than TBRE.  We had been working out on our own for a couple of weeks, so I thought we could handle a "medium" difficulty exercise class.  Well, we made it....barely.  It was an pretty tough workout for 45 minutes.  It is definately more difficult and more of a focused exercise when you have an entire class and a trainer working as a group and barking out orders.

Basically, you use straps anchored to a bar on the wall to do various exercises to target differnt muscle groups.  The more resistance you want, the steeper you lean against it.  You can really adjust you resistance pretty well.

It was definately fun and differnt.  A good way to keep the interest level up in exercising.  I will definately go back, and I hope Jenny will go with me.

Week 33 Aug 12-18

Some Little Things about Richmond

 
Usually, I try to post about one specific topic, but this week there wasn't one specific thing that was really worthy of devoting an entire post to.  However, since moving to Richmond, there are lots of new things that we experience every day that are cool to us.  You know, the little things.....
 
If you ask anyone from Virginia, we are definately in the South, yet we live about 85 miles from Washington DC, which I would not consider the south.  So when I think of the south, I think about those southern accents.  Richmond must be the melting pots of accents, I think because there are so many transplants here.  The realtors who helped us find our house are from Alabama, definatley a deep southern accent.  Some parents on Aidens football team:  one from Illinois, one who lived in Detroit for 8 years (Wayne State grad), and a guy who move here 25 years ago from Fremont.  Yep, Fremont, MI.  A main toll road heading west is the Powhite Expressway.  I would call it "Po - White", and some people do.  Most locals call it "Pow - Hite".  The County to the northeast is Henrico.  I would say "Hen-ri-co".  Wrong....it's "hen-RI-co".  And a town to the west is Powatan.  I say "po-WA-tan".  Wrong again... it's "POWA-tin". 
 
People don't know what "pop" is here.  When you ask for "pop" and they actually know what you are talking about, they get this sympathetic look on there face as if they feel sorry for you and say, "Awww, your not from around here.  Where ya'll from?....Canada?
 
I do love though talking to the southern women.   They are so endering, but I dare you to try to get a word in edgewise when a southern women is talking.  Conversation is like a full contact sport to them.  I think they even keep score.
 

RVA stickers are cool.  "Richmond Pride".  It stands for Richmond,VA.  I got one for my car, but have yet to put it on.  Maybe this weekend.  The cool thing, I think about these, is that the concept is not that this is "official" logo of Richmonders, rather groups are encouraged to take this logo and modify it to make it there own. 

We made a trip to "Sweet Frog".  Not unique to Richmond...in fact they are nation wide.  It's frozen yogurt place where you fill up a cup with your choice of frozen yogurt, then top it how ever you want what seems like a hundred differnt toppings, then pay by the pound.

 

Another, not unique to Richmond, but otherwise new to us is Five Guys Burgers.  This is a simple Burger and Fry joint.  Nothing fancy, just great, greasy, sloppy burgers! 

 

Everything here is new to us.  We just don't know any better, and that makes it exciting.  Not everything we try is great, or even good, but it's definately from a differnt perspective that we experience these things.

The kids start their new school in a few weeks.  Drew in middle school, and Aiden and Morgan will go to JB Watkins elementary.  I am very nervous for them.  For Jen and I, we've experienced starting over in a new place throughout our lives, but for these kids, this will be the first time.  I am very nervous for them and will feel terribly guilty if it is a rocky start, although, deep down, I know it will be fine over time.

 

Week 32 - Aug. 5-11

Kings Dominion

Mom and DJ came to visit us in Richmond this weekend.  On Saturday, we took at trip to the amusement park, Kings Dominion.  This is owned by Cedar Fair, the same people that own a number of other parks including Cedar Point and Michigan's Adventure to name a few.  It was a nice amusement park.  Lots of roller coasters and big rides.  This is definately a riders park. 

There is a waterpark inside as well.  We did both in one day, which is really too much as we were not able to ride all the rides we wanted to.  The weather was great.  We were supposed to get scattered thunderstorms, but they never hit us.  Only a small rainstorm while we were in the water park, which was great timing.

It was very tiring, but fun.  We stayed until close.  This was DJ's first time riding roller coasters, and he seemed to enjoy them.  Drew and Morgan were pretty much fearless, and Aiden enjoyed most of them.  We will definately go back.

Week 31 - July 29 - August 4

New Favorite Cuisine SOUL FOOD

So my office is south of the James River in Richmond.  The area is called, or was once called Manchester.  Downdown Richmond is essentially accross the river.  I compare it to being on the west side of the Grand River in Grand Rapids.  The neighborhood around my office is a revitilizing area, but was once almost exclusivly industrial, so as you can imagine, most of the good eateries seem to be on the other side of the river......save at least one!

Croakers Spot!  If your ever in Richmond, make a point to go to 1020 Hull Street and find this little gem.  It is highly rated on most of the internet rating type sites like Yelp and Google.  They specialize in seafood and soul food. 

So I must admit, I went here by myself...but what is a guy supposed to do?  Sometimes leftovers just aren't going to cut it for a Friday lunch adventure.  Plus, I like exploring to local establishments to be able to be a good host when my friends and family come to Richmond.

This place is in a really urban area.  Old buildings, buzy street in between an area of newly built urban condos and an area that has, what seems to be condemable buildings.  So I was a little nervous that I may be out of my comfort zone a little, but it was without the slightest insidence. 

As I am catching up on some blogging, I can't recall the dish, but I think it was the Fried Seafood Dinner.  It consisted of fried fish, fried shrimp, and crab cakes, covered with sauted onions and green peppers, with sides of cabbage, grits, and a piece of corn bread.  There was so much food here, even I, could not eat it all.

And it was delicious!  Litterally, some of the best seafood I have ever had.  Oh, and the grits?  They were great too.  Being a yanky, I guess I don't appreciate this southern side, but these were great!

The atmosphere was pretty cool as well.  The waitstaff was fast and friendly, even though it was packed for prime lunch hour.  They had some ecletic music playing, from what I could tell including jazz and some MoTown classics.

The building takes up at least two old storfronts.  In one half, the entrance if for take out only, which was packed, the other is seated dining.  Very nice woodwork inside that looks pretty recently renovated.  This is a definate go back spot.  I think this will be the spot when I am hankering for that grease fix/comfort food and look lazy to make it.

Although, I may have no soul when it comes to dancing, I certainly have soul when it comes to eating!  If they only had a microbrew here, I wouldn't go anywhere else.