Jefferson Lab Open House

Jefferson Lab Open House for the Daily Press. Open to the public every two years to share where tax dollars are used and inspire young minds. 

Liam Thomson, 8 walks down the stairs as John Thomson of Hampton holds his hands as they saw the inside of the GlueXModel at Experimental Hall D for the Jefferson Lab Open House, Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the…

Liam Thomson, 8 walks down the stairs as John Thomson of Hampton holds his hands as they saw the inside of the GlueXModel at Experimental Hall D for the Jefferson Lab Open House, Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press) 

From left, Newport News resident Brady Vincent, 11 and Virginia Beach Dian Chen, 10 as Tuo Chen, 4, watches them place body parts back into a demonstration on proton therapy at the Jefferson Lab Open House in Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. …

From left, Newport News resident Brady Vincent, 11 and Virginia Beach Dian Chen, 10 as Tuo Chen, 4, watches them place body parts back into a demonstration on proton therapy at the Jefferson Lab Open House in Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)  

A rope with a caution sign separates the visitors from the quadruple magnetic equipment at the Accelerator Tunnel South for the Jefferson Lab Open House, Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press) 

A rope with a caution sign separates the visitors from the quadruple magnetic equipment at the Accelerator Tunnel South for the Jefferson Lab Open House, Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press) 

From Left, Staff Dr. Paul Gaye holds a Nerf Gun to demonstrate proton therapy to seven-years-old Olivia Waltz and William Waltz of Hampton at the Jefferson Lab Open House in Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Dail…

From Left, Staff Dr. Paul Gaye holds a Nerf Gun to demonstrate proton therapy to seven-years-old Olivia Waltz and William Waltz of Hampton at the Jefferson Lab Open House in Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)  

WILLIAMSBURG Black Friday Shopping

I avoid Black Friday shopping every year. It's a time where everyone, I mean everyone, is out shopping after the Thanksgiving. Long lines, bad parking and "apparently" great shopping deals. I prefer Cyber Monday. I sit back relax my pajamas while I surf the net for tech deals. 

This time, Daily Press sent me to cover for the Virginia Gazette at Williamsburg's quaint shopping areas, New Town. I didn't see lots of hoppers with multiple bags. Everyone I've talked said they did shopping on Thanksgiving Day or just avoided shopping all together. 

Stuart Brown, Arlington, Va., smiles with his children from left, Kendall Brown, 10, and Peter Brown, 12, with Paul Sheehan as Santa Claus who looks at picture taker Deena Walls, worker for New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. I'm normally …

Stuart Brown, Arlington, Va., smiles with his children from left, Kendall Brown, 10, and Peter Brown, 12, with Paul Sheehan as Santa Claus who looks at picture taker Deena Walls, worker for New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. I'm normally the photographer in the family, Brown said, I'm glad I can be in the picture this time." Meeting with Santa and picture taking are free, said Paul. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Nina Gokita, 10, shows off her Black Friday purchase, a heart locket with the letter N at Justice in New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. According to her mother Tonya Gokita, Williamsburg, Nina bought the locket with her birthday money. "I…

Nina Gokita, 10, shows off her Black Friday purchase, a heart locket with the letter N at Justice in New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. According to her mother Tonya Gokita, Williamsburg, Nina bought the locket with her birthday money. "I bought this for 40% off and I'm happy, Nina said. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Owner Amanda Wilbourne of Nautical Dog places dog related items in a bag for her loyal customer Amanda Stendardo, Woodbridge, Va., after purchases at New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Wilbourne was offering her customers Nautical Dog cas…

Owner Amanda Wilbourne of Nautical Dog places dog related items in a bag for her loyal customer Amanda Stendardo, Woodbridge, Va., after purchases at New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Wilbourne was offering her customers Nautical Dog cash for every $50 spent towards $10 off purchases in January, she said. She will also offer the deal tomorrow on Small Business Saturday. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Pro tip for shoppers: The best time to go shopping is at Midnight closer to 3 am in the morning. Many shoppers are already sleeping and Thanksgiving door busters deals extend till Black Friday evening. I think it's a better deal then staying in line at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Reserve your time with family. 

Pro tip for photographers: Scout your locations earlier in the week. Small businesses are willing to have you around, then big box stores. Bath and Body Works didn't want me in to photograph inside the stores, but was OK with me outside the doors. 

Whats was your best deal that you got from Black Friday shopping? If you didn't go shopping, what other actives did you do? Sleeping till 3 p.m. counts. 

Adventures in Missouri with BF

I didn't know what to expect when I visited St. Louis, Missouri. My best friend of over 12 years wanted to visited an area we both didn't see before. We have visited majority of the East Coast on our own and most of the Google plane prices were a little over $300 for a weekend. We wanted something cheap and fairly new, and so we found MO for our weekend vacation. 

St. Louis was beautiful and quiet for majority of the city. But most of the hustle was at the baseball stadium with the Cardinals vs. Cubs. Sadly, we were never baseball fans - and didn't have tickets either. But, we did find the fountain to be oddly bright orange, which signifies Cardinal's color. 

"Sad day for the ⚾️ Cardinals, but the scenery was pretty dope. St. Louis, MO 📍#baseball #cubs #stlouis"

What we didn't expect is how extremely nice everyone was to us. My friend always compared themto people of DC, who were more unspoken. We got into the Botanical Gardens for free because I caught an elderly's hat flying off her head due to the wind. It was nice she bought us tickets.

"Hi, my name is Goose and I will be your Airbnb host. I'll lay right here for a second. 🐈🐈 St. Louis, MO #stlouis #cat"

"日本庭園 Missouri Botanical Gardens 🎏🍂🌳 #path #travel #stlouis"

"🎏🍂 Missouri Botanical Gardens #koi #stlouis #fish"

  

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