Downtown Norfolk-Hotels/Nightlife (neighborhoods, restaurant, mall)

[marylandkjm]

A group of us are going downtown to the NORVA for the Corey Smith concert. We've never been to Norfolk and was wondering if you could give me a lowdown on that area (I guess it's downtown?)..is it safe? best places to go out after the show? etc. Safest place to stay?

Thanks!

[Erma]

Originally Posted by marylandkjm

A group of us are going downtown to the NORVA for the Corey Smith concert. We've never been to Norfolk and was wondering if you could give me a lowdown on that area (I guess it's downtown?)..is it safe? best places to go out after the show? etc. Safest place to stay?

Thanks!

The NORVA is across the street from McCarther Center Mall. It also has a restaurant you can eat at or you can eat at the mall. If you walk south, maybe 3/4 of a mile, you will be at Waterside, so you could go there as well. A fella I work with is security at the NORVA and it's really not that bad around there before and after the shows. We had a great time and walked around when we went not too long ago.

[telemonster]

Closest hotel is probably the Tazwell Hotel on Granby. There is also a Sheraton near Waterside, and a Courtyard (Mariott) not far. No experience with any of the hotels.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by telemonster

Closest hotel is probably the Tazwell Hotel on Granby. There is also a Sheraton near Waterside, and a Courtyard (Mariott) not far. No experience with any of the hotels.

The Sheraton and Marriot are both very nice. The Marriot is very, very classy. I've been to a few conventions there. Some of the known recording artists who have performed at Waterside during Harbor Fest and at the N-Telos have stayed at the Sheraton.

[xGrendelx]

NorVa is a pretty sweet venue. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. Downtown Norfolk is like most other downtowns - it can be hit or miss. Waterside and Granby St (both within Downtown) is where most of the nightlife is with lots of clubs/bars. I've never really had any problems in Downtown/Waterside, but many of Norfolk's worst projects basically surround the Downtown district. If you use Google Maps, find where it says "DNC". That's where Downtown is (not sure why it says DNC), and also where Waterside, the NorVa, and MacArthur Mall are. Directly North of "DNC" is a neighborhood known as Freemason. It's one of Norfolk's oldest neighborhoods and really nice and considered Norfolk's residential neighborhood still within Downtown limits. North of Freemason is Ghent, another nice neighborhood with lots of nightlife on Colley Ave. I wouldn't venture farther north than Ghent since that'll lead you into Park Place which isn't exactly where you want to be late at night.

The other areas around "DNC" are labeled Young Terrace, Tidewater Gardens, and South and Central Brambleton. These are some of Norfolk's worst projects, and, as you can see, they basically surround Downtown. Because of that, Downtown can be hit-or-miss day or night. My advice is to stay with your group and be aware of what roads lead to what neighborhoods. It's quite difficult to just "end up" in the projects though - they're hard to miss. They're rows of red brick, barrack style buildings.

I don't know much about the hotels in Downtown other than what's already been stated.