Animated/AI/Effects Music Video of the Year Nominees Announced
By Jeff Maisey We are pleased to announce the nominees in the Animated/AI Music Video of the Year category for the 2025 Veer Music Awards. This is a new category for our music awards presentation. We also include music videos with heavily artistic effects within this...
TRAVEL: Return To Scotland, Highlands & Castles
(Barcaldine Castle is an enchanting Bed & Breakfast today.) Words & Photos by Jeff Maisey We began Day 2 of our West Highland Way trek with sore muscles, dried mud on our boots, and an optimistic sense of adventure with nine miles of what would be very stony...
Hurrah for Film & TV
(Green room and studio at Hurrah TV and Film Academy. Photo by Michael Bibbo of Waverleigh Creative.) By Montague Gammon III The Hurrah Players unique new Nusbaum Family TV & Film Academy, which starts its first round of classes for ages 12 and up on January 6, is...
Instrumental Lifeline from Hampton to Swannanoa
(L-R) Chris Jaconson, Roberta Lea, Kelly Murphy, Bobby Black Hat Walters, Karen Benson, and Karl Werne raised $7,700 to benefit musicians in need recovering from Hurricane Helene. By Jim Morrison Bobby Jaramillo arose early, as usual, on a September morning in the...
ESSAY: The Resilience of Hope
By Tom Robotham In the wake of the election, as I noted here last month, I felt a profound sense of despair—and it lingers still. But in recent weeks, it’s been counterbalanced by meditations on hope—how it “perches in the soul,” as Emily Dickinson put it, “and sings...
Posed Photography Nominees Announced
BY STAFF The following submissions have been selected as nominees for the 2025 Veer Music Awards in the Posed Photography category. Voting is expected to go live on January 1 at veermag.com. Congrats to all nominees and thank you to those who submitted entries....
Live Photography Nominees Announced
BY STAFF The following submissions have been selected as nominees for the 2025 Veer Music Awards in the Live Photography category. Voting is expected to go live on January 1 at veermag.com. Congrats to all nominees and thank you to those who submitted entries. ...
2025 Veer Music Awards Performers Announced
The musical theme for the 2025 Veer Music Awards presentation will be A Tribute to The Dome. The music awards are presented by Elevation 27 on Sunday, February 2. Showtime is 6:00 PM sharp. Admission is free to all. In addition to awards being presented in a diverse...
NEWS: Virginia Arts Festival 2025
(Birmingham Royal Ballet’s “Black Sabbath”) By Jeff Maisey Familiar names — each with their own twist — in the performing arts world represent the highlights of the 2025 Virginia Arts Festival season. Perhaps top of the list will be the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s...
NEWS: Virginia Beach Dome
As part of the Atlantic Park entertainment complex, the grand opening of The Dome — the live concert component of the city-owned project — has yet to be formally announced, but officials from partner Live Nation have stated Spring 2025 with more details to be shared...
ART NEWS: Synergy in Suffolk
(Jennifer Lucy and Hillarey Breedlove) By Betsy DiJulio If you recall the Greek myth in which humans were originally created with four arms, four legs, and a head with two faces, you know that Zeus, fearing their power, split them into two separate parts condemning...
Local Music Releases
By Jeff Maisey This year we’ve been touting new songs released by 757 region recording artists on Veer’s Top 10 This Week playlist on Spotify. It’s a great way for people to check out what’s happening across the diverse spectrum of local music and an easy peek into...
Tuba Tunes and Treats to Boot
By Montague Gammon III Extra added attractions with kids-of-all-ages appeal promise to make the very family friendly, Saturday-before-Christmas, Coastal Virginia Chamber Music presented Christmas Tubas concert a Holiday party to remember. The audience at the Great...
Upbeat Christmas with Dave Koz & Friends
By Jeff Maisey Smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz has made a successful seasonal career hitting the road for the past 27 years in the month leading up to Christmas Eve with his critically acclaimed Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour. When the tour makes a stop at the...
Channeling Aretha
By Jeff Maisey R&B/gospel singer CeCe Teneal released a new single, “Try,” during the spring, but a major focus of her performing career is a tribute to her greatest inspiration in music. The show — coming to The American Theatre in Hampton on Saturday, December 7...
Days Gone Bayou
(Fighting Gravity was a crowd pleaser at The Bayou. They'll perform December 7 at The NorVa.) By Rick Mersel Unfortunately, what initially appeared like promising waves, with perfectly smooth double sets rolling off the sun-spangled ocean, had flattened almost...
Transformative Gospel Music
By Jerome Langston Speaking with award-winning choir conductor and workshop leader, Karen Gibson, MBE, the founder of the Kingdom Choir, the highly successful London based gospel choir, via Zoom a few days ago, felt akin to chatting with a genuine friend. Karen exudes...
A Carol or Two from Virginia Stage Company
The Cast and Production Stage Management Team of Virginia Stage Company's A Sherlock Carol : (L-R)Patrick Halley, Scott Wichmann, Seth Patterson, Steve Pacek, Sarah Manton, Beatty Barnes, Tia Collier, Emma D. Emde, Rachel Fobbs, and Abbigail LaRocque. Photo by TOC...
Local Musicians Pay Homage to The Last Waltz
By Jim Morrison In Patrick Higgins' memory, he saw the iconic film, "The Last Waltz," in downtown Washington, D.C.'s Warner Theatre on a big screen with an impressive sound system. "We were teenagers," he says, "so likely we were somewhat stoned." At the time, he was...
ART: The Substance Beneath the Surface of Reflections
Installation view of Reflections: Surface and Substance. Courtesy of the Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center. By Betsy DiJulio Immediately on the heels of the opening of the Torggler Fine Arts Center’s current exhibition, I was fortunate to catch up with curator...
Here’s to 2025: Local distillers preview plans and products for the new year
By Jim Roberts “Good things come to those who wait.” This is especially true in the world of distilling–where some spirits have to age for years before they are sold and consumed. With this in mind, we reached out to the distillers of Hampton Roads to see what...
Dessert Beers and Beer Desserts
Words by Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones Photo by Diane Catanzaro Beer, glorious beer. Is there anything beer can’t do? From appetizer, to main course, to dessert, beer has the culinary chops to enhance any part of your meal. Yet, beer is often overlooked for the...
Wines For The Season
By Jeff Maisey Caymus 50th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon California After our Fall Arts Preview issue featuring Virginia Opera’s 50th Anniversary on the cover, I decided to uncork my bottle of Caymus 50th Anniversary for a private toast to life and the...
A Tale of Two Sweeties
An international array of savory and sweet treats entice at Tous Les Jours. (Clockwise from left: coffee bun, kimchi croquette, Portuguese egg tart) By Marisa Marsey Two buzzy bakery-cafés – one on the Peninsula, a Hampton Roads inroad for a red-hot...
Start Spreadin’ The News…And The Schmears
(Baker's Crust Bagel offers a slice of New York with skyscraping sandwiches. Courtesy photo.) By Marisa Marsey Nostalgic for New York City? Haven’t yet gotten to Gotham? You could watch “When Harry Met Sally” or read some Meg Wolitzer for a fix. Better still, schlep...
Opa! ilo
(Chef Zack Close adds pepper sauce over the Hanger Steak) By Jeff Maisey The “food is phenomenal.” That was a common comment quickly spreading on Instagram following the friends-and-family soft opening of ilo, a neighborhood bistro located in the Historic Freemason...
The Executive Chef at Chesapeake’s Top Steak House is Just 26
By Joel Rubin If you request a 10 oz sirloin ($37), an 8-oz tenderloin ($49) or a 12 oz ribeye ($50) at The Butcher’s Son in Chesapeake, it better be hot, melt in your mouth and medium rare (if that’s your pleasure) when it arrives. “I know that very well,” says Jalen...
Aslin VB: Not Just Beer, It’s a Destination!
(Aslin’s tasting room in Virginia Beach. Photo by Diane Catanzaro) By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones How fortunate we are in Hampton Roads that the popular Aslin Beer Company has opened a taproom and brewery in Virginia Beach? Excellent beer, a diverse food menu,...
Green Onion Blooms Bright Again
(A healthy lunch: Poached Pear Pecan Salad with grilled chicken added.) By Jeff Maisey The Green Onion is back and better than ever. Like many independent, locally-owned restaurants, The Green Onion was challenged in a variety of ways during COVID and in the aftermath...
The Table Side Caesar Salad at Isle of Capri is as Popular as Ever
(Isle of Capri servers and Caesar Salad makers Justin Zobel, Nancy Binetti and Az Tomouro with restaurant GM Dave Cox) by Joel Rubin If you are a “server” at Isle of Capri Restaurant on the 6th floor of the Holiday Inn Express (39th and the oceanfront), you do much...
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