Little Fish - Day 87

Ceramic fish chop sticks holder at Fin Seafood Restaurant in Newport News Virginia.

Party! - Day 63 #CY365

Well it not exactly a party per se, it's lunch at the Chartreuse Bistro in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. It's one of my favorite places to eat. The food is wonderful, the tableware and decor are inspiring and the whole team make it a wonderful place for a relaxing break in the middle of the day. Chartreuse is locally owned by husband and wife team - general manager Karine Varga and executive chef Christopher Corrie. Just in case you're interested today's lunch was fish stew; a kale salad with goat cheese dressing, almonds, apricot, and onion; and an amazing mushroom & fontina focaccia. The menu is different everyday, you must try when in Norfolk.

iPhone 5 - with a newly cracked screen, Camera+ app.

Yummy - Day 14 #CY365

Today challenge: "Yummy". This is ginger pear white iced tea at the Chartreuse Bistro. Chartreuse is a locally owned organic farm to table European bistro located in the historic district in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. The menu is different every day based on what's fresh and available. They make these wonderful and different iced teas and flavored sodas every day. All I can say is Yummy! iPhone 5, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 320, Camera+ App.

Chelsea @ Night

Chelsea is a small Norfolk Neighborhood near Lambert's Point. It is home to the Smartmouth Brewery, The Birch, Norfolk's Little Theater and our regular Sunday night dining spot Tortilla West. T-West is featured in tonight's Norfolk @ Night photo taken after splitting crab and shrimp nachos, an Allagash Confluence Ale and a Smartmouth Holiday Helper Imperial Red Ale.

Canon G1X, 1/8 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 1600, focal length 50mm (35mm equivalent).

Triple Rainbow

A passing rain shower just before sunset resulted in these three rainbows. I took the photo on the deck at Bubba's Seafood Restaurant and Crabhouse in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The seafood is good at Bubba's but the view is outstanding, a must see place for dinner in Virginia Beach. Canon G15, 1/100 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Bottoms Up at Can Can

Champagne glasses await the celebration at Can Can Brasserie in Richmond Virginia's Carytown the "Mile of Style." Canon G15, 1/160 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 400.

American Pastime

It has been said that baseball is the all-American pastime. While the sport has been adopted around the world, Americans still hold it close from sandlot to little league, from to high school to college and from the minors to the big leagues. The Red Robin baseball flag reminds us of the sport's American heritage. Canon G15, 1/100 @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

Cuban Swoosh

No it's not an upside down Nike swoosh. This is part of the ceiling lighting detail at Bongos Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney in Orlando Florida. Created by music superstar Gloria Estefan and her producer husband Emilio, this vibrant restaurant is a mosaic of colors and flavors. Canon G1X, 0.6 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 400.

Hell's Demon Rat

This giant demon rat is part of the Halloween decorations at Hell's Kitchen on Granby Street in downtown Norfolk Virginia. I just couldn't resist taking his picture. I'm sure some followers of this blog will be happy after October 31st has come and gone. I have gotten a little carried away with the theme this month.

Canon G11, 1/6 sec sec @ f/4.5, ISO 800 handheld. Converted to black and white with a little focal color left in the eyes using Google's Picasa.

YNot

YNot Pizza has been making great hand-tossed pizzas in Hampton Roads Virginia for 19 years. This is our regular location in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach. Our favorite pizza - red sauce cheese pizza with tomatos, spinach and feta cheese. The name YNot comes from the reverse spelling of owner Tony DiSilvestro's first name. iPhone 4 using the Camera+ app and the Olloclip fisheye lens.

Sugar, Sugar

Oh honey honey, sugar sugar..............
You are my candy girl

Sugar Sugar was a 4 week number 1 hit from 1969 by fictional characters The Archies. The song was originally released on the album Everything's Archie. It was the product of a group of studio musicians managed by Don Kirshner. Ron Dante's lead vocals were accompanied by those of Toni Wine, and Andy Kim. Together they provided the voices of the Archies using multi-tracking. You're welcome for sticking this song in your head for the rest of the day. iPhone 4, 1/268 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, Camera+ app. This is straight off the iPhone with no post processing.

Pizza!

- Another Lytro light field camera photo this time type a slice of veggie pizza from Granby Street Pizza in Norfolk Virginia. Change the focal point by clicking on the line of condiments. Lytro, 1/60 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 1600, 62mm focal length in creative mode.

Don't Eff It Up

- The sign say's it all. The bar at Hell's Kitchen in Norfolk Virginia. Canon G1X, 1/10sec @ f/5.8, ISO 800.

Pollard's

- Pollard's Chicken restaurant is a South Hampton Roads Virginia institution. This is the Kempsville location on S. Witchduck Road in Virginia Beach. This building was originally a First and Merchants Bank branch. iPhone 4, 1/15 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 400, Camera+ App.

Warming Lamps

- The warming lamps at Terrapin's restaurant in Virginia Beach awaiting the next masterpiece from Chef Rodney Einhorn. One of the top fine dining restaurants in Virginia was jammed tonight as we enjoyed dinner with our friends Susan and Duane. This is Virginia Beach "Restaurant Week" with special deals, next week begins Downtown Norfolk's "Restaurant Week", so much great food, so little time. Canon G11, 1/25 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400, converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2. verted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2.

Press Flowers

- Real flowers on the table make lunch special. These were side lit by a great mid-day winter sun at 626 Press in Norfolk, Virginia. iPhone 4, 1/536 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

Lynnhaven Sunset

- The sun sets over the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach, Virginia tonight. We had an early dinner at one of our favorite places in Virginia Beach, Bubba's. As you can tell the view is second to none, the seafood is fresh and everyone is friendly. It was a little too cold and windy for dining on the outside deck tonight. I recommend Bubba's to everyone visiting Virginia Beach.
The general composition rule is to avoid the horizon line being right in the middle of the picture. The preferred placement is one third from the top or bottom but I wanted to frame this picture with the outside deck. So rule are made to be broken, hope you like the image. Canon G11, 1/320 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

Temples of Finance

- Early in the Twentieth Century banks were designed as imposing structures to instill confidence with depositors. This is the Virginia Club (formerly Virginia Bank and Trust) Building located at the corner of Granby and Main streets in Norfolk Virginia. Today it is home to Trilogy Bistro, one of our favorite downtown restaurants, and the Virginia Club one of Norfolk's oldest private social clubs. Completed in 1909 the building is excellent example of Beaux-Arts neo-classicism; an eclectic mix of classical Greek and Roman forms. Here you can see one of the engaged Ionic columns and Doric pilasters on the east facing facade. Next time you are walking down Granby Street look closely at the architectural details of the remaining classic downtown buildings. Too many have been lost recently but this restoration is worth a dinner at Trilogy just to see the inside and have a great meal. Canon G11, 1/1600 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 100.

Pacific & 32nd

- The new Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach pays tribute to it's original location on Pacific Ave. iPhone 4, Camera +, fill flash.

Flip Flops

- Who knew you could get a string of flip flops lights? Flip Flops Grill & Chill that's who. Flip Flops is one of our favorite Virginia Beach causal dining spots. Canon G11, 1/3 sec, F/8.0, ISO 400, camera supported on the table with a pack of Splenda used to get the right elevation.