Weekend Reflections - Life After Coming Out

Baylake Beach, Virginia Beach - where my parents lived for over 30 years.

Posts were down from normal levels over the weekend over the weekend and this morning.  Between PrideFest activities and a visit by family members things were pretty much non-stop in terms of activities. On Saturday, not only did the husband and I attend PrideFest in Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk, but will also attended mini-family reunion in my old neighborhood   during the period I was married and in the closet.  The good news is that my family is open and accepting, especially with my children and their cousins and now their children. Saturday was over schedule.  Yesterday was more relaxed with a outing to the beach at Fort Monroe in Hampton - I highly recommend it - and the house guests left this morning.   The image above is from the beach at my late parents' neighborhood.  Those set below are from PrideFest - yes, I was on the HR Pride Board when the first PrideFest in downtown Norfolk took place - and from the family gathering and views of the beach at Ft. Monroe in Hampton. 

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Family gathering at th Alanton-Baycliff pool, Virginia Beach, where
I served on the board of directors and as president for 2 years.

    

Ft. Monroe, Hampton, Virginia - why fight the crowds at Oceanfront when one can have this?

All said and done, it was a wonderful weekend. And while it might shock the Christofascists and Trump base, most gays have a wide range of supportive family members and friends, all of whom vot faithfully. 

Historic Garden Week - Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia

This week is the 83rd year of Virginia's Historic Garden Week which is put on by garden clubs across the state that utilize the proceeds to restore and maintain historic gardens across the Commonwealth. Today was Hampton's day to shine as homes and gardens in historic Ft. Monroe - now a National Landmark - were open for public tours (provided one bought a ticket) for the first time ever.  For the husband and I, the event is an annual ritual during which we typical host a number of the husband's clients and we get to see a who's who of Hampton/Newport News society and business leaders. While very traditional in many ways, both cities are surprisingly gay friendly, and with the husband being the hair stylist/salon owner of choice for many, we are always warmly received.  Indeed, it is a great marketing/networking event.  And the homes - many dated from the 19th century and turn of the 20th century on so-called General's Row were amazing to say the least (the commanding general's residence with its view across Chesapeake Bay is pictured above).  Among those doing the tours were both garden club devotees and former military service members who came back to see how the general officers had lived in stately splendor. Here are highlights from the Daily Press:

"We know visitors will enjoy looking at the beautiful flower arrangements in the five houses on tour. We hope they will visit The Casemate Museum, Chapel of the Centurion and Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, as well.

"And, The Marketplace, in the former Arsenal Building, will offer artwork, garden accessories, home décor, jewelry and clothing for sale."

As you walk along Fort Monroe's sidewalks, or stand inside the bayside bandstand, you can just imagine yourself living the life that so many military personnel enjoyed during their assignments at the scenic fort. Now that the property is no longer a major military command, the site is taking on its own brand of community for the families who occupy residences where generals and colonels once lived [one can lease homes and other housing options] .

"Additionally, everything is walkable at Fort Monroe. Residences are close to beaches, office spaces for work, restaurants, Hampton Community Center, YMCA fitness building, marina, soccer and ball fields, churches and the opportunity to walk the top of the fortress. Additionally, the retail portion of Phoebus is just over the bridge and also is in easy walking distance."

Historic Garden Week in Virginia, April 23-30, features 250 private homes and gardens open for public tours statewide. Sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia — gcvirginia.org — since 1929, the annual event raises funds for the restoration and preservation of public gardens at historic sites, including Monticello, Mount Vernon and Montpelier.

The garden club estimates the cumulative economic impact of the country's only statewide home and garden tour for the past 45 years is $425 million, according to a news release. The event attracts 30,000 visitors, and includes local residents and out-of-state tourists. 

 Below are a few more photos - and yes, I did pick up a couple new clients while enjoying the event.  After the festivities, our group decamped to the Hampton Yacht Club for Cosmos and dinner.

The beautiful Hutchinson Home

The Chamberlain - formerly owned by dear friends

Tiffany windows in the Chapel of the Centurion

Op Sail to Dominate Weekend

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This weekend's events in Hampton Roads will be dominated by Op Sail 2012 which brigs a large number of tall ships to the region.  A parade of sail will begin momentarily as the flotilla of ships moves from off of Virginia Beach and sails through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to enter Hampton Roads harbor itself.  The image above shows some of the ships while the video below shows the ships early this morning at anchor. The Virginian Pilot has these descriptions of the event:

Tall ships with billowing sails, the kind that traveled the seas hundreds of years ago, will encircle Hampton Roads on Friday as the boats of OpSail parade through our waters and draw thousands of gawkers.

A flurry of festive events connected to the arrival of these ships includes concerts, air shows, symposiums and fireworks. It all culminates [today] with the Parade of Sail, the arrival of military and warships from different countries plying the waters of Virginia. The international fleet will be manned by hundreds of military officers and crew, with some ships open to tour.

[T]he ships will move through Hampton Roads and up the Elizabeth River to downtown Norfolk. The first ships in the parade will reach Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk at noon. Ships will then proceed to their docks in downtown Norfolk, or in other ports, before opening to the public for tours.

Fort Monroe and the Future of Hampton

Since 1828 Fort Monroe has stood in Hampton at the mouth of Hampton Roads harbor and remained an active military base. Today, that will all change after almost 200 years after the Army departs Fort Monroe. The 565-acre fort will no longer serve as an active military base and its future uses and development are still not fully resolved. It seems destined to remain home to hundreds of residents and, potentially, to businesses and nonprofit and academic institutions such as the Casemate Museum.

The Fort Monroe Authority, a state agency, will oversee leasing 300 residential units and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space. Officials also are working to designate much of the land a national park. To date Barack Obama has not acted to designate the Fort as a National Monument and Congress has yet to act as well. If handled properly, Fort Monroe could be a huge tourist draw and a wonderful asset to the region. Much of the control over the fort's future rests with the Commonwealth of Virginia - I truly hope this jewel doesn't get squandered and/or misused. More on Fort Monroe can be found here.

Interestingly enough, the City of Hampton has asked HRBOR to hold its December, 2011, business networking event at Fort Monroe. Information on the effort to secure national park status is here.

400 Year Anniversay of City of Hampton, Virginia

This weekend the City of Hampton celebrates it's 400th Anniversary. Wikipedia describes Hampton in part as follows:

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Hampton traces its history to [July 9,] 1610. The city's Old Point Comfort, home of Fort Monroe for almost 200 years, was named by the voyagers of 1607 led by Captain Christopher Newport on the mission which first established Jamestown as a British colony. Since 1952, Hampton has included the former Elizabeth City County and the incorporated town of Phoebus, consolidating by mutual agreement.

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After the end of the American Civil War, historic Hampton University was established here, providing an education for many of the newly freed former slaves. In the 20th century, the area became the location of Langley Air Force Base, NASA Langley Research Center, and the Virginia Air and Space Center. Hampton features many miles of waterfront and beaches.
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The photos above are of St. John's Episcopal Church, the oldest Anglican parish in the United States (the "new" church in the photos dates from the early 1700's and is actually the fourth church buiding), and a view down Queen's Way in the old downtown area of Hampton. Several restaurants that the boyfriend and I frequent are located on this stretch of Queen's Way.

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With all of the history in this area, I have always thought if marketed correctly, Hampton could be a great LGBT travel destination. Nearby Williamsburg has a number of gay and gay friendly B&B's. The Air & Space Museum is a draw in and of itself. The Mariner's Museum in Newport News is also pretty amazing.

Historic Landmark Revisited

Yesterday evening the boyfriend and I went to a wonderful reception put on by one of his friends for her elderly parents at The Chamberlain in Hampton, Virginia. The Chamberlain was a grand hotel for many decades (and the only civilian structure on historic Fort Monroe - pictured below - which juts out into the mouth of Hampton Roads harbor) but had fallen on hard times as high end vacationers tended to prefer ocean front resorts and more exotic destinations. Fortunately, the Chamberlain was saved and now offers high end apartments for senior citizens in a truly elegant and magnificent setting with nearly a 360 degree view of water vistas. The reception was in the solarium on the top floor which can be seen at left. The sunset from the large roof top patio was absolutely incredible and we had a great time.

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For the history buffs, here are some interesting facts about Fort Monro which will soon cease to be an active military installation via Wikipedia:

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Fort Monre was completed in 1834 and was named in honor of U.S. President James Monroe. Throughout the American Civil War (1861-1865), although most of Virginia became part of the Confederate States of America, Fort Monroe remained in Union hands. Completely surrounded by a moat, the six-sided stone fort is the only one of its kind left in the United States that is still an active Army post. Fort Monroe is one of several posts selected to be closed by September 2011. Many of its functions are being transferred to nearby Fort Eustis (which itself was named for Fort Monroe's first commander, General Abraham Eustis, a noted artillery expert). Several re-use plans for Fort Monroe after it is decommissioned are currently under development in the Hampton community.

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Fort Monroe has become a popular historical site. The Casemate Museum, opened in 1951, depicts the history of Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort, with special emphasis on the Civil War period. It offers a view of Confederate President Jefferson Davis' prison cell. Also shown are the quarters occupied by 1st Lt. Robert E. Lee in 1831-34, and the quarters where President Abraham Lincoln was a guest in May, 1862.