Some kind of recreational activity
Coffee as recreational activity: Virginia Beach in the snow, January 31,2014
“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.” — Dave Barry
I know people who have a genuine medical need for coffee, and I’m not one of them. I have a genuine medical need for tea, but I do sometimes engage in coffee as a recreational activity, especially if I can get eggs and hash browns with it.
Recently southeastern Virginia, where our York home is located, got a rare heavy snowfall, Under the circumstances, we did what anyone would do: we went to the beach. Seriously, the roads were pretty clear, and I was up for breakfast at the Belvedere again; it was a rare opportunity to see Virginia Beach covered with snow, and we didn’t even have to wait for the table with the best view. So rest easy, Dave: I did not keep anyone in dire circumstances waiting for their coffee.
If anything, breakfast at the Belvedere is MORE fun in the snow, especially with delicious hot coffee and a cozy booth with a great 180 degree view. Apparently lots of people share our enthusiasm for snow-covered beaches, because I snapped many photos of joggers, bikers and indulgent canines walking their human companions through the powdery white stuff. The waves kept crashing as always, totally unimpressed with the temperatures, and the sun perked everything up.
So coffee as a recreational activity is perfectly suitable for the beach, especially when it snows!
One year ago today:
This post was first published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: beach, breakfast, café, coffee, cozy, having fun, humor, keeping warm, snow, winter
Defeat Despair 
Good morning, Julia! I was just about to say, “I’m putting Breakfast at The Belvedere on my (ever lengthening) bucket list!” And then I followed your links and checked Google maps, and I’m sorry to say that if we ever have breakfast at 3603 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 it is unlikely to be Belvedere.
However, breakfast, tea and coffee are unlikely to come to an end, and one day we may find a delicious new breakfast in a place that is charming and delightful.
I’m willing to put the “search for” that place on my list!
Are you in?
Yes! Sorry about the Belvedere…I knew it had closed and probably I should have put some sort of notice on the post. Even before Covid, it was always obvious its days were numbered, given the stretch of high-value real estate on which it sat, and the sadly dated inn to which it was attached. People might be into “Retro” right now, but we all know that most of them are seeking the sort of Disneyesque updated imitations of Retro, rather than the (often shabby) real OLD thing. So, it always seemed to be only a question of when, not if, and I’m sure Covid was a natural time to make tough decisions (assuming it was not decided before then). Knowing the Belvedere probably could not last much longer only made the visits there more special.
Julia,
What a great little nook. Wish I was there sharing that delicious looking breakfast with you. Coffee? Thought you were a tea gal. Loved the pictures. Saved them in my family folder.
-Alan
Actually, Alan, I was drinking tea, not coffee, in that photo, and so was Jeff. You can tell because of the little stainless steel teapots on the table. Having said that, though, I started drinking coffee in 2013 when Jeff spent so many weeks in the hospital, and it was all that was immediately available since the hospital cafeteria was being renovated and it was a LONG walk to the nearest cafe. In contrast, they kept hot coffee available for free all the time, and soon I was drinking it straight and black, which is how I’ve been drinking it ever since, though still only a few times a week at most. Whereas tea is still an all-day, every-day affair for me!
Glad to hear you’re still a tea advocate!
-Alan
Dave’s quote is very Chestertonian!
-Alan
Well, that settles it. I’m going to have to move his name to the top of my “books I want to read” pile. He’s in there, but I still have not gotten around to his works, despite how often they are heartily recommended.
When I first read Chesterton I must admit a lot went right over my head. Or, so I thought. But whenever I completed one of his works, there was a change in me. And all for the better. Anyone who could either turn a lost soul toward God or return a one-time believer to Him truly must be considered a saint. For all the angels in heaven rejoice at every soul saved.
-Alan
I will look forward to reading him. 😀
You won’t be disappointed.
-Alan