Posted by stayathomedad on September 3, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Who are the best businesses in Virginia Beach?
If you want an unbiased and unbought and often humerous review of the top businesses in Virgina Beach, then you have found the right place. You can shop with confidence at these local beach businesses!
We will also feature several businesses you may want to stay away from based on numerous customer complaints, our own experiences or negative customer reviews. A business has to be pretty bad to make our list though, we do not take this resonsibility lightly.
Otherwise, we will cover some really awesome places and plan to really pull back the curtains behind many of Virginia Beach’s best businesses. None of our featured businesses have paid to be here, any advertising you see are from sponsors and help us keep this site online.
Check back often as we plan on adding many valuable money saving coupons in the coming weeks!
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Posted by stayathomedad on August 14, 2011 at 7:52 pm
If you plan on spending any time on the beach this summer, you might be thinking about losing a few pounds to fit in that 2 piece again.
Or what about the guys out there with the big guts hanging over their bathing trunks?
Our pick for the best personal trainer in Virginia Beach is actually a guy named David and he is very, very private. In fact, one of his students recommended that we look into him after she lost 45 pounds and was feeeling the best she had ever felt, all because of the magic this guy dishes out.
But we could not find him!!!
So, we called ourt contact back and she sent us his address. Once we did our research I have to say, David does not look like your typical personal trainer. Come to find out he has lost a considerable amount of weight but he has not pushed himself towards the muscle bound personal trainers you normally think of.
Says he would rather use that energy helping other people reach their weight loss goals.
And his Gym? Well, its private and the name has nothing to do with personal training or weight loss. David said he did this on purpose because many of his clients are rather embarrassed of the condition they are in and did not want to go into a big gym or even let anyone see them go into some weight loss clinic.
He doesn’t post many customer testimonials either. His entire clientel is mainly word of mouth and they have already seen the results from the person that sent them his way.
Discreet is the operative word here for what David does and what he offers and we think it is much needed.
So, if you need to lose a few pounds or are feeling tired and slugish and just want to get some of that energy back, David is your guy.
That is our pick for the best personal trainer in Virginia Beach.
Check out the site one of his students put together to honor the guy: Personal Trainer Virginia Beach
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Posted by stayathomedad on April 9, 2011 at 9:28 pm
In our opinion, the best heating and air conditioning company in Virgina Beach, or any city on the southside for that matter is, Hometown Heating and Cooling. Their website, www.heatcool911.com says it all.
Just go there and watch the video put out by the owner, David Bocock, and you will be surprised by what he reveals. Also, he lists the actual costs for replacement parts right on his website. not what you will be charged but what he actually pays for the part!
Pretty amazing when you consider that most companies charge by the job and will not tell you how much the part costs them and what labor rate you are being billed for.
We found that you will save at least 50% on your heating and cooling repairs using Hometown Heating and Cooling.
The owner has kept the company at a manageable size stating that he ran two large companies and the overhead was over whelming and why companies have to charge so much just to keep their doors open.
If you are looking for heating or air conditioning repair in Virginia Beach, we highly recommend this business. Check out their website at by Clicking Here
And don’t just take our word for it, check ou ttheir awesome reviews at Googles local listings by clicking on this link: AC Repair Virginia Beach
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Posted by stayathomedad on April 3, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Best Lawyer in Virginia Beach – Afshin Farashahi
What can we say about lawyers? I haven’t a ton of experience with them but I recently went through the most trying time of my life because of a lawyer not doing her job… even though I paid thousands for that job.
In fact, I had to hire another lawyer to try to undo the damage but she proved inept as well. This ongoing case is an adoption. My wife and I could lose our little girl who has been living with us for four years because most lawyers seem to care about only one thing. MONEY!!!!
Now, that aside, I can recommend a lawyer if you get yourself in to any type of criminal trouble. My experience with this exceptional person stems from a friendship we developed in grade school on out past college, so I know him well and to be of good character.
He was a Virginia Beach prosecutor for awhile and has turned to the defending side of the courtroom. He has his own law firm and if I were to find myself in any type of criminal hot water, he would be my one phone call from jail… and should be yours as well.
If you are in need of a lawyer for other matters, good luck to you, I’ll say a little prayer for you and your family. Did you know that all the good domain names that say negative things about lawyers have all been bought up by lawyer associations? Criminal I tell you!
Sorry for the negative rant but I haven’t much nice to say about folks in this profession. Unfortunately it seems most of the real jerks and incompetent lawyers are now judges so keep your fingers crossed should your life ever be in the hands of one.
Afshin Farashahi can be trusted to do a good job for you and I am proud to call him a friend, despite his occupation. If I were you, I would call him to get advice on hiring a lawyer outside his field of practice and cut your odds down somewhat of getting ripped off (something I failed to do… twice!). By the way, if you do get ripped off like we did, good luck finding a lawyer who will sue another lawyer!
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Posted by stayathomedad on March 4, 2011 at 11:56 am
I love a good hot dog.
HOWEVER! I hate a bad hot dog.
I really like the kind of hot dog that has that little crunch when biting into the skin instead of the slimy steamed things you get at a lot of places.
Okay, I used to go to this place that was about 10 miles from my home just to get a good hot dog in Virginia Beach. That is a long drive through terrible traffic just to get a bite to eat.
Thankfully there is a new place near my home called Pappy’s Hot Dogs and it is awesome!!!
They are located at 1253 Nimmo Parkway and have been open for just a couple of months but they are already getting a regular crowd coming in which says a lot about the quality of the food and the great service.
Pappy seems to like his young women so the scenery from the servers ain’t bad either!
But I digress. I go there for the hot dogs. They have other things as well and they are all very good but I usually stick with my fav… The HOT DOG!
And, another big favorite of mine is the crushed ice they use in the drinks. I love me some crushed ice!!!
So, if you have the hankering for a good hot dog and want it fast, fresh, and with a pretty smile, Pappys is the place to go.
Hopefully I’ll be adding a printable coupon here soon once I speak with the owner so check back often.
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Posted by stayathomedad on February 9, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Who is the best dentist in Virginia Beach?
In my opinion it is Dr. Jeffery Bek of family and Cosmetic Dentistry at 1767 Princess Anne Road.
Now I will admit here that I hate going to the dentist. In fact, I have not visited a dentist in Virginia beach, or anywhere on the planet for that matter, in the last 25 years.
I brush everyday and floss on occasion but I do not get my teeth regularly cleaned. This is really not the point of the story though.
Many years ago when I was in the military I had my teeth worked on. I had a chipped front tooth and a broken back molar that was repaired.
Of course the military dentists are about as good at fixing teeth as my twelve year old is so shortly after leaving the military both repairs fell apart.
I did not go and get them fixed because I was scared to do so. You see, while the dentist was digging around in my mouth he dislocated my jaw and had no idea how to get it back together again. I had to sit there with my mouth wide open for another 30 minutes (after 2 hours of dental torture) before they found a medic that knew how to pop my jaw back in place.
Anyway, the two teeth have been falling apart ever sense and the back one got to the point that I was in so much pain I could not sleep, eat or concentrate on work and I had to find someone to take care of it.
I called a few local Virginia Beach dentists and no one really seemed to care how much pain I was in. I did manage to schedule an appointment with one place for the following Thursday but had no intention of keeping it because I surely would have blown my head off before then!
Thankfully my wife had been calling around too and found Dr Bek. Funny thing is, he was right down the street from us but I never even knew it. His office looks like a little house and he has no sinage to speak of… This guy needs a marketer bad!!!
Actually, he doesn’t… word of mouth seems to be suiting him just fine.
Anyway my wife told me they could see me that day and to get my poor pathetic self up there before I over dosed on aspirin.
Of course another big fear was how much was this going to cost me because I don’t have dental insurance.
Well, I go in and there is just the sweetest gal at the counter who gets me all signed up and then another really great gal takes me back within ten minutes of arriving (SHOCKING!!!!) and sets me in a chair and does some xrays.
The dentist comes in and we talk a little and he does a little poking around and says he can pull the tooth right then and there and get me on the road to recovery.
He numbs me up and the receptionist comes in and says my total bill will be just $217. There was no need for him to numb me up before giving me the price, it was completely reasonable in my opinion.
Yes, that is a lot of money but not when you are talking about one of the big three… Doctors, Lawyers and Dentists!
Less than 10 minutes later the tooth is out and I’m being given a prescription for some cool pain killers and anti-biotics.
If you need a good dentist and you live in Virginia Beach, Dr. Bek is your man. He and his staff are very friendly and professional. Give them a call, you won’t be sorry.
Phone 426-6151 And please, when you go in there, let him know that Grateful Dave from BestBeachBusiness.com sent you.
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Posted by stayathomedad on January 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Our wife and I have had a lot of experience with this one!
I won’t say where not to go but I will tell you that we have had our daughter enrolled in three different dance studios in Virginia Beach and we were not satisfied at all with the first two but extremely pleased with the one we now call home.
If you have a child who is interested in dance and wants to learn in a friendly, encouraging environment, Attitudz Performing Arts Studio is the place to be.
What we like most about this studio was the fact that our daughter was exposed to several forms of dance as well as singing lessons, acting and musical theater, all for one low monthly price.
The instructors are super friendly and you can tell that this is where they really want to be. At the other studios the instructors looked as though they settled for what they could get and really wanted to be on a stage somewhere and not in a classroom full of noisy kids.
My child is the most important thing to be and for that hour that she is in someone else’s care she better be the most important thing in the world to them as well… and at Attitudz we definitley feel this to be the case.
So, check out a couple of blogs dedicated to this site and then give them a call, you won’t be sorry!
Dance Studio Virginia Beach
Dance Studios Virginia Beach
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Posted by stayathomedad on December 6, 2010 at 7:02 pm
What could be better than a little skinny dip on a hot summer day?
A large Skinny Dip with chocolate sauce and whipped cream!
C’mon, you know chocolate puts everything over the edge, and there’s plenty of it at 1725 Laskin Road’s Skinny Dip frozen yogurt, along with dozens of other incredible toppings. . This place is awesome. I have to warn you though, if you end up going, you won’t be able to resist many more trips to this place.
I find myself coming up with excuses to go out of my way to do business in this part of Virginia Beach so I can stop in and sample some new flavors.
If you were around in the late 80’s you’ll remember all the frozen yogurt shops that popped up all over the place and then seemed to disappear with the shoulder pads and parachute pants. But now they’re popping up again and they’re better than ever because they’re self serve.
Skinny Dip’s got the best flavors and the most toppings. The variety is amazing. There are usually about eight flavors a day. You can sample as many flavors as you’d like. Just grab a mini cup and pull the lever.
If you’re like me, you’ll have a hard time deciding, but that’s okay. Put as many different flavors in your cup as you want. That’s the beauty of the self-serve concept. And I have to admit, I kind of like trying to get that perfect swirly twist in my cup.
At Skinny Dip there’s a bar filled with a large variety of fruits, cakes, nuts and candies. Sauces and syrups too. I’m always drawn to the long row of topping dispensers mounted on the wall filled with cereals, chips, granola, candy… everything you can imagine.
The kids always come up with the craziest concoctions. Birthday Cake Batter yogurt topped with gummy bears, sprinkles, M & M’s and Hershey’s syrup. Okay, I’m not recommending it, but they have a ball. I’m a bit more conservative with my favorites. I usually go for the chocolate flavors or mint varieties. The tangy and tart flavors like pina colada or mango are favorites too. I like mini chocolate chips, nuts or granola on those.
Another great thing that sets Skinny Dip apart from some of the other froyo places is their stores are bigger and provide plenty of seating, which is nice when you’re walking in with a family, group of friends or a team. And I don’t know about you, but standing or walking with my dessert is just not acceptable. I’ve got to sit and savor the experience. I’m that much of a frozen yogurt foodie. So you can trust me when I say Skinny Dip is the best.
I guarantee everyone will find something they like here. There is always a sugar free option, and they’ve got soy yogurt for the vegans. Lactose free yogurt too! Oh, and something that is really appreciated by our family is that the ingredients in all the flavors is readily available. Our youngest daughter has numerous food allergies and we rarely go out to eat. She’s never had ice cream from a parlor for fear of cross contamination.
But at Skinny Dip they have allergen free yogurt options for her. What a treat! One day I saw a sign on a machine that warned customers that the last flavor in it contained nut. I’m glad Skinny Dip is looking out for us. We’ll go back again and again. It’s fun to see what new flavors will be featured that we haven’t tried yet.
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Posted by stayathomedad on November 6, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Drive down any major street these days and you’re bound to see a Chinese place every block or two, but most of these are counter or buffet service with the same old menu times over and over. If you want real, authentic Chinese food you need to go to Peking Duck Inn at 5204 Fairfield Shopping Center. It’s the best Chinese food in the area.
You can tell they have a lot of regulars (including myself) because the owner is often seen greeting customers by name and having familiar conversations with them at the tables. This is a family run place and it shows in the pride they take with their service and food quality.
Dishes have real flavor, unlike what you find in your run of the mill fast food Chinese. At Peking Duck Inn it’s the real deal; tasty, flavorful, meals with fresh ingredients and interesting combinations.
When I dine with a group we always start with the House Special Soup to share. It comes to the table in a large pot loaded with vegetables, meats and homemade wontons in a savory broth. It is SO good. I love the variety of dishes offered at Peking Duck Inn, and what is really nice is they will customize them for you if you have a special request. For instance I can ask for it to be extra spicy or without mushroom or no MSG.
I love when the food comes to the table piping hot. In fact, there have been times when all the food doesn’t come at exactly the same time because they don’t want their food sitting under a warmer waiting on other items. They get it out to you as soon as it comes out of the wok.
The portion size is great; always enough to share, which I enjoy at a Chinese restaurant. Everyone can sample a different dish family style. Presentation is nice too, which I find very important. I can’t wait to dig in when I see those bright veggies and quality meat.
And the sauces aren’t thick and gooey like what I’ve seen at other places. Some of my favorites are the Eggplant in Garlic Sauce, Grandfather Chicken and any of the seafood dishes. Trust me, it’s all good. You can’t go wrong.
And don’t forget their signature dish, the Peking Duck. You can’t get this dish everywhere so take advantage of trying it at a place that gets it right. It’s the best. Crispy skin, juicy meat and delicious sauce.
If you want to experience and extra special night of dining, make reservations for their annual Chinese New Year Celebration Dinner in January or February. It’s spectacular. For one price they serve you numerous courses throughout the evening. It’s a wonderful way to sample many different dishes and experience the culture.
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Posted by stayathomedad on November 4, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I pray that if your pet is in some kind of trouble and you have turned to the Internet to find a vet who can help them, that you have found this site.
Vet Virginia Beach is what I typed into the search bar when our 13 year old dog suddenly lost all movement in his hind legs.
One minute he was perfectly fine and the next he could not move.
We did not know if he had had a stroke or had been bitten by a spider, had cancer or a tumor or had suffered some type of spinal cord injury. All we knew was that he seemed paralyzed and in some pain and was as scared as we were.
This happened on a Sunday night and we searched frantically for answers online but could not seem to come to a conclusive answer as to what might have happened to him.
We looked for an emergency vet in Virginia Beach and found someone who would be willing to see him for $100 but they were incredibly rude on the phone and said it was going to be very expensive.
Not sure how they knew that when they did not know what was wrong with our little Yorkie in the first place but I did not have a good feeling about them so we did not take him there.
Thankfully our dog made it through the night and I took him to the closest vet first thing the next morning. To be clear here, our dog was actually my mother’s dog originally and we had watched him for her on occasion and he eventually became a full time resident when my mother’s health took a turn for the worse last summer.
This being the case we had no regular vet nor did I have any kind of shot or vaccination records or any real medical history at all but figured that this was an emergency and I had no idea who to take him to but whoever ended up seeing him would worry about that kind of stuff later.
I don’t want to bash any vets on this site but I will mention one in particular that you may want to avoid if your pet is in trouble because they don’t take walk-ins, even if your pet is in pain, paralyzed or about to die.
I can’t imagine a doctor treating a person that way but I suppose they viewed our pet as just an animal and with that view I would not let them treat any family pet, even if it was just to clean his teeth! The name of this vet is the Pungo Veterinary Clinic on Princess Anne road.
So anyway, I took my paralyzed and scared little dog off their counter and on to the next closest vet which happened to be near the Virginia Beach courthouse and thankfully they agreed to see him right away, even thought the doctor was in surgery.
We only had to wait about 30 minutes, which was fine considering we just showed up unannounced in their busy lobby. I’m so glad the first place would not seem him because this veterinarian took such amazing care of our dog.
The doctor did an exam on him and said he believed he had suffered a spinal chord injury and needed x rays. Oh no, that sounded expensive!
I love our dog but he is 13 years old and I do not have the money for back surgery and feared we would have to put him down.
The doctor was very compassionate and said “let’s just take it one step at a time.”
Once the x rays were done he brought me back to look at them and showed me where one of the discs between the vertebrae had ruptured and was swollen and pressing on the nerves causing the paralysis of the hind legs.
Technically he was not paralyzed and I do not remember what term he actually used to describe the situation but it was not looking very good at all.
He also had a bladder stone and the onset of a bladder infection.
To my surprise the vet said that he would not recommend surgery due to the age and health of our dog. I thought his next words would be euthanization but they weren’t.
He said that once the swelling went down and if he could stop the pain, our dog may recover enough function in his hind legs to walk again and live the rest of his life in a way that was worth living.
He gave him a Cortisone injection and then gave me 2 weeks worth of Prednisone as well as antibiotics for the bladder infection and sent us on our way.
He said that if he made some improvements within a couple of days that he would likely recover enough that putting him down would not be necessary.
Well, I’m happy to say that our dog is now walking again, although not very well and not very far but he can get up and use the bathroom and get to his food and water and seems to be fairly comfortable, and just 48 hours after seeing the vet.
So, we have reason to be hopeful.
Also, the bill for everything was just $144.60 which I think is extremely fair. The only bad thing is they do not take checks but they said I could just come back that afternoon with the cash or could use a credit card.
After the amazing service I had received I did not want to leave without paying so I waited there while my wife went to the bank to get the cash.
I was so impressed with this vet, whose name by the way is Dr. Patrick A. Brett D.V.M. and his clinic name is Courthouse Veterinary Clinic located at 2492N. Landing Rd. Suite 106 in Virginia Beach and his phone number is 757-427-7427 757-427-7427, that I decided to create this site to spread the word about him and his great staff.
I don’t think they have a website and rely mainly on word of mouth to get clients, which is a great way to get busness, or lose it if you are the Pungo clinic I’ll make sure to mention to everyone as well!
So, if you have a cat or dog or bird or fish or any animal you consider part of the family and want to make sure they get the best treatment from basic vaccinations, de-worming, dental checkups to neutering or trauma surgery then this is your place!
So there you have it, my reason for creating Vet Virginia Beach. I’m pretty sure I will be adding articles and info on general pet care as well as updates as to how our little guy is doing so check back often and if you need a vet in Virginia Beach, Dr. Brett is your man!
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