We have moved to our own site!!!

I have moved my blog to my own site called RedMillLiving.com
I wanted to be able to some other things and it seemed the right time to move to my own domain name, so Red Mill Living was available and I took the opportunity.

check it out! I think you will still like.

ciao for now!

Havana's Menu for this week and RMFCA Meeting Monday Night

Rosemary Wilson to Run For State Senate

Rosemary Wilson, At-large City Council member since 2000, will be running for State Senator upon Ken Stolle being elected to Virginia Beach Sheriff in November.

Councilmember Rosemary Wilson served on the Virginia Beach School Board from 1996 to 2000 and was vice chair in 1998. She has served on numerous school board committees, including chair of the Advanced Technology Center, chair of Curriculum and Instruction, and co-chair of the Legislative Committee. Councilmember Wilson is a lifelong resident of Virginia Beach. She is a former teacher with a bachelor of science degree in education from Old Dominion University and is a fellow for the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. She received the "Friend of Education Award" from the Virginia Beach Education Association in 1999 and the "Award of Excellence" from the Virginia School Board Association in 1998 and 1999. She is chair of the Lynnhaven House Board, chair of the Virginia Municipal League's Human Development and Education Committee, chair of the Capital Campaign for the Colonial Education Center at the Lynnhaven House, and a member of the Friends of the Library Board. She is also a member of the Old Dominion University Alumni Board and a fine homes specialist, award-winning realtor, and a member of the Hampton Roads Realtors Association.
Rosemary Wilson has been a friend and supporter of Red Mill Farm initiatives since being on City Council and is going to help us with our current initiative of changing the setbacks to allow for front porches. She is expected to attend our National Night Out event this August - as will the Chief of Police, Virginia State Police, other City Council Members and maybe even the Mayor - Councilmember Wilson also has a MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/voterosemarywilson.

Havana's Menu for 2-8 July

Here is what's cooking at Havana's:

Havana's Menu for this week and RMFCA Meeting Monday Night

The Red Mill Farm Civic Association will meet Monday night, 7 p.m. at the Princess Anne Branch Library. They will discuss changing the setbacks on Red Mill Farm homes from 40 feet to 30 feet. We need all homeowners to be there and provide their thoughts. 

Havana's has submitted their menu for this week:

I don't know what a 'machengo' is but the rest of the ingredients for the stuffed oysters looks good! See you there.

Ciao, braon caow!

Hey! Who's Out There!?

Today is both a sad day and an end of legend. Michael Jackson has just died from cardiac arrest, at the age of 50.

Don't forget that Monday, the Red Mill Farm Civic Association will meet at the Princess Anne Branch Library to discuss changing the setbacks to our front yards. 

If you're reading this blog, holla back.

chowdy!

Red Mill Rewards Cards Are In?

According to Jeff Fritz, Marketing Guy for the shopping center, the rewards cards should have shown up in our mail boxes by now. According to Jeff, "The Rewards cards should have reached you by now…please let me know if you did not get them as I have had a few phone calls of “holes” in our mailing.  The cards should be mailed to majority of zip codes 23456, 23454; a few folks in the 23457 and 23453; and all of 23451."

If any of you have not received your rewards card in the mail, send me a message here. Jeff is monitoring and he will rectify as soon as possible. 

The Farmers Market is growing each week. I can't wait to see what it looks like in July!

Come out and support local growers and producers, every Saturday 8 to noon. 

And don't forget that the Red Mill Civic League is meeting at the Princess Anne Branch Library on Monday, 29 June, at 7 p.m. The main topic will be deciding to pursue the changing of the setbacks from 40 feet to 30 feet for the development of front porches.

See you around, Charlie Brown!

Update on Civic League Meeting

The Red Mill Farm Civic Association is meeting on Monday, 29 June, at 7 p.m., at the Princess Anne Branch Library. The main topic of discussion will be on whether or not to pursue an initiative to get the City to change our setbacks from 40' to 30', in our front yards.  I think it's a cool idea, as it will enable many to create front porches - not the enclosed kind - and update their homes to more modern considerations.

I think that Councilwoman Barbara Henley and Eric Anderson of Lakeside Construction Co. (the developer of our great neighborhood and shopping centers) will be making appearances that night, also.

Please feel free to join the meeting on that day. And for those that haven't joined yet, the dues are $20 for the year, but I think that they will take $10, since the year is half over. 

I look forward to seeing many of you at the meeting! If not, there is always National Night Out in August!!!!

Chowdy!

New Store in Red Mill Commons and Week 2 of the Farmer's Market

My Birthstone just opened up a couple of weeks ago, next to N0. 1 China Buffet. According to proprietors Cathy and Michelle: "We specialize in genuine birthstone jewelry at VERY affordable prices... we have the largest selection of genuine gemstone jewelry of anywhere, I do believe." 

I have summer birthdays coming up so I know of one more store to go for gift ideas.

Week 2 of the Farmers Market at the end of Keagan's is growing a little bit more this week. Panera was there along with Sugar Plum Bakery. The SPCA along with their Neuter Scooter came for a visit. We need for some more agriculture vendors to come in. There are only two vendors selling produce, one of which is Flanagan's Farm and the other is selling organic leafy vegetables and some killer sauces. But we need some Pungo corn, strawberries and blueberries (mine aren't doing squat this season...), more greens,....I'm just sayin'. Local farmers, come on down Saturday's this summer and get closer to the tourists of Sandbridge who are looking for our famous Pungo vegetables. 

Additionally, they have fresh shrimp and crabs on ice and for those like me who thinks it's too much work to pick crabmeat, there is even tubs of crabmeat! 

I can't wait to see who else shows up next week!

And lest I forget: Havana's menu for 11-17 June: 

Tilted Table: Spanish Influences On The Menu

Annette and Denise at the Tilted Table sent in this menu for the weekend. I don't know if it will only last for the weekend, but it looks good. I'm going to have to try it out, you should, too, if you like chorizo!

SPECIALS

Spanish Tortilla

Potato & onion omelet with tomato aioli

-6-

Scallops with Summer Squash

Seared scallops served on sautéed squash, zucchini & proscuitto

-9-

Seafood Stew with Chorizo

A medley of seafood in saffron broth with spinach, served with toasted bread

-14-

Steak with Lyonnaise Potatoes

Served with vegetable of the day & chive Chablis butter sauce

-14-

 

New Idea for Red Mill Farm: Fancy Front Porches

On 18 June, the Red Mill Farm Civic Association will meet at the Princess Anne Branch Library. One of the main topics to be discussed will be a proposal to get the set backs for Red Mill Farm house to be changed from 40 feet to 30 feet. What this will do is to enable homeowners to build nice porches that they can sit on and be neighborly.

Councilwoman Barbara Henley will be invited to attend and help guide the discussions and give guidance on how to word the proposal. But we'll see if she is able to attend.

Stay tuned.....

Saturdays: Farmers Market at Red Mill Commons

This Summer, Red Mill Commons will be having a Farmers Market in the parking lot next to Keagan's, located off of Elson Green Avenue. Fresh local produce plus a couple of other vendors will be there.
The Farmer Market will continue through the rest of Summer.
See you all at the Farmer's Market!
Oh, and get there early because I think it's over by noon.
Ciao Brown Cow.

Coming to your mailbox soon: Red Mill Rewards

I bumped into Eric Anderson, President of Lakeside Construction Company, this morning. He handed me this card that looked like a debit card. He said that they are about to be in every mailbox in Red Mill Farm. It's called a Red Mill Rewards card and it's got almost every store and restaurant in Red Mill Commons and Red Mill Walk participating in it.
On the back of the card lists the particpating merchants and what discounts they are offering; usually 10 - 15%.
Look for them in your mailbox in the next day or two.

ciao, brown cow!

US has 20 Cases of Swine Flu

I don't know how many of you are keeping up with the swine flu epidemic, but so far there are 20 known cases in the US. Here is the Center for Disease Control's website covering the cases found in the US. So far (knocking on wood...) there are no cases in Virginia, let alone in the Hampton Roads area. 

Red Mill Civic League Hosts Annual Eggstravaganza

Red Mill Farm Civic Association will host their annual Eggstravaganza this Saturday in Red Mill Farm Park on Red Mill Blvd.
The festivities begin at 10:00 with the Easter Egg Hunt commencing at 12:00. All Red Mill Farm residents are invited, and you are highly encouraged to be a member of the civic league, too. It's just one of the many great things that the all-volunteer civic association puts on for the benefit of the neighborhood.
So bring your kids, but don't send your kids; know what I mean? I knew that you would.

later, gator.

When is Frankie's Place not Frankie's Place????

When it's not Frankie's Place for Ribs. That's right. According to Michael Gelardi, president of Seafood Industries Inc, operator of Frankie’s Place for Ribs restaurants in Virginia Beach since 1982, and owner of the registered trade name and service mark “Frankie’s Place for Ribs” says it is someone trying to horn in on their good name to make a buck.

I will post more as this story unfolds. And it is unfolding faster than I can type; bet on it.

chow for now.

Frankie's Place Has Soft Opening

Frankie's Place, located in the little strip next to Red Robin, on Nimmo Pkwy., had a soft opening with a 6 entree menu. Talking to the owner/manager he said that originally this was intended to be Friends and Family only, but someone mistakenly put out the Grand Opening sign. 

Anyway, me and my son went to try them out.

For an appetizer, I had the seafood bisque and he had the onion loaf. The onion loaf was fried onions, lightly battered and stuffed into the fryer basket and deep-fried. It wasn't that tasty, unless of course you like your onions fried. The batter was a little too light and could use some seasoning, otherwise it tasted like oily onions. The Seafood Bisque was better. It was thick, had bits of crab and shrimp or was it lobster? I'm thinking lobster due to the little pieces of shell that were in it. It came out lukewarm, but that's not a complaint. Remember this was a soft-opening; they are working out the kinks. 

For the entree we had the Haddock and Ribs. I had the beef ribs and my son had the pork ribs. The haddock was a miss either way; mine was over-fried, his was under-fried. But the ribs were delicious. The bones had plenty of meat and the sauce was not overbearing nor messy. The meat practically fell off the bones. 

All in all, the service was very slow - it took us an hour and a half to get our meals - but our server, Stacy, was very apologetic and attentive. 

I am looking forward to opening day, which I am told should be around the 15th of this month, and seeing what the full menu has to offer. 

If anyone else has input on this event, do post. I'd like to read about it. But of course if you're going to complain about the service, the point is moot. I am trusting that they will have all the kinks worked out come opening day.

chow for now, brown cow....

11 April: Easter Eggstravaganza in Red Mill Park

Saturday, 11 April, 10:00 to 12:00, the Red Mill Farm Civic Association and Essential Church are hosting their annual Easter Eggstravaganza in the park on Red Mill Blvd. All families are invited to come and enjoy races, cookie walks, a puppet show and then the big Easter Egg Hunt at the end. But please, please parents: Bring your kids and don't just send them down. I'm just saying...

This is but one of the many things that the neighborhood civic association does for our great neighborhood. We should all be so lucky to be members of a community that has a voluntary organization so concerned about the vitality and well-being of our community; compared to all the others that have mandatory homeowners associations. Again, I'm just saying.

Buffalo Wild Wings Opening in two weeks? No!!!!!

An anonymous source commented below that the BWW will not be opening in a couple of weeks, but instead will open in May. Stay tuned for an exact opening date. Maybe we can make it a party.

Thank you, Anonymous.

All the construction going at the new Buffalo Wild Wings seems like it won't be ready for years. But I have been told that the kitchen equipment is being installed this coming week and it should be a couple more before it's ready for opening. Does that put it around Easter or Tax Day? 

I will say this, though: for the prices they charge for those wings, the very least they could do is provide proper plates and cups NOT MADE OF PAPER!

I'm not saying anything, I'm just sayin', is all.

Liberty Tax Service to Speak at Red Mill Farm Civic Meeting

Liberty Tax Service is to speak at the Red Mill Farm Civic League meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday), 7 p.m. at the Princess Anne Branch Library. They will be answering questions and bringing refreshments!!!!

I'm there!

See ya

Valentines Day Menus in Red Mill Commons Restaurants

Havanas and The Tilted Table sent in their menus for Valentines Day. Make your reservations quickly! The menus look fabulous.

Chowdy!!!

Where is 2009 Going?

The year is already going by so fast. I kept procrastinating my post in January so often that here it is, February. January was a busy month for me, that I didn't even get to re-organize, as everyone does at this time of year, myself. 

Anyway, February is another busy month. The Red Mill Farm Civic Association is having it's first meeting of the year. It's going to be Tuesday, 10 February, at 7 p.m. at the Princess Anne Branch Library. Liberty Tax will be there, as well as discussion of getting the Neighborhood Watch programs stood up again. Also, the civic league will be discussing plans for the annual Easter Eggstravaganza in the park.

Nature Walks: 

Gwen and I have been going for walks at the National Wildlife Refuge at the end of Sandbridge. The views are nice and there is plenty of wildlife to see - even in winter - as we walk. I was thinking that maybe some of you would like to join us for these walks. We are going to plan our next walk at the First Landing State Park trails, on the north end of the beach. If you are interested, do contact me, we welcome your company.

That's all for the moment....chowdy!