Moving to the Norfolk, Va Area

I'll be moving to the Norfolk, Va area this summer. My girlfriend, a Coast Guard officer, will be working over in Portsmouth, Va.

We're currently living in New England, and know nothing about the Norfolk area. If anyone lives in the area and can tell us the cool places to live and hang out, or anything else, that'd be awesome. We're both in our mid twenties, so we're looking to find an area that would have a similar age group. Also trying to look to rent an apartment (maybe a loft?), not a single family home, if possible.

Any help is appreciated, and may or may not be thanked with a beer over the summer when we get down to the area .

I was in the Coast Guard back in the sixties and stationed on a ship in Portsmouth for over 2-1/2 years. I wasn't thrilled, and the last time I was there it hadn't changed all that much. No offense to anyone living in that area, but I don't envy you.