Game Day
By Tom Robotham I wanna grow up to be a politician, and take over this beautiful land. – Roger McGuinn. If you want to understand politics in the age of 24/7 “news” media, look no further than CNN’s “coverage” on July 30, 2019. “It’s game day!” one...
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OVERCOMING RACE AND RACISM IN TODAY’S AMERICA: IT IS WHAT IT IS
BY JOHN L HORTON “Those who live with us are our brothers (and sisters), and they share with us the same short movement of life, that they seek – as we do – nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and...
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Teamwork Drives 100 Years of Success for Hoffman
(Katherine Hines is President of Hoffman Beverage Company) By Jeff Maisey Teamwork. If you spend any time on the floor within Hoffman Beverage Company’s sprawling warehouse on South Military Highway in Chesapeake you’ll see it in action. Ask the guy driving a...
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Criminal Justice Reform Now
(Michael Britt being hosted as a special guest at the home of Senior Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas for a discussion on Criminal Justice Reform in Virginia.) By Michael Muhammad Imagine reaching the three-and-a-half-year mark of your current probation and...
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NORFOLK-HAMPTON ROADS: WAYS AND MEANS TO ACHIEVE ITS FULL POTENTIAL
BY John L. Horton “Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you will miss them.” (s) William Arthur Ward, American Writer (1921-1994) In the past several weeks, there has been much conversation and editorializing about how to bring...
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101 Things to Do Before You Die in Coastal Virginia (Revised 2019)
(The sand sculpture contest as part of the Neptune Festival is an amazing artistic sight.) By Staff Three years ago we published a list of 101 Things to Do in Hampton Roads Before You Die. The feature story was well-received by readers, and many contacted us to...
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VIEWPOINT: The Joy of Eating Safely
(O’Connor Brewing Company’s Harvest Market features a wide array of organic produce on the first and third Sunday of each month through October. Photo courtesy of O’Connor Brewing Co.) By Al Markowitz Good food is one of life's greatest pleasures. Due the obstacles of...
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VIEWPOINT: Busing and Politics
By Tom Robotham In the wake of the recent Democratic debates, the widespread consensus was that there was one clear winner: Kamala Harris. And there was one moment above all others that made her stand out—her confrontation with Joe Biden over his opposition to...
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5 Great July 4th Celebrations
Lights of Freedom July 4, All day/night Colonial Williamsburg www.merchantssquare.org Stars & Stripes Explosion The Deloreans, 31st St Park @ Oceanfront, 7-11 PM Chester B’s Motown Revue, 17th St @ Oceanfront, 7-10 PM Tidewater Winds, 24th St @ Oceanfront,...
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Battle of the Bar-Arcades
(Gaming like its 1989. Photo by Josh Howell) By Josh Howell When I first heard Norfolk was going to soon gain a bar-arcade (BARCADE is trademarked), I was excited. I have fond memories of blowing through quarters at Aladdin’s Castle and Flipper McCoys, but I also...
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Jake Clemons Has His Eyes on the Horizon
By Jeff Maisey The role of a true artist is to show the world in an imaginative way a mirrored reflection of reality, and Jake Clemons does exactly that in dramatic fashion on his dynamic new solo album titled “Eyes on the Horizon.” Clemons, who grew-up in...
Guys & Dolls is the Perfect Musical
(Brian Ray Norris and Sam Simahk in Guys & Dolls. Photo by Samuel W. Flint.) By Jerome Langston “He always brings me in for comedies,” says director Nicolas Minas, with a bit of a chuckle, in response to my question about how he was selected to direct Guys and...
Nobuntu’s Enduring Message of Joy, Peace & Hope
By Michael Curry The first-rate Attucks at100 celebrations continue with a performance by Nobuntu — a female vocal quintet from Zimbabwe that has been taking the arts world by storm. Norfolk is their first stop on this new coast-to-coast tour of the United...
Painting Rocketman
Michael Kagan's With All The Fucking Force (2011) By Jeff Maisey Ground control to Major….Kagan. If pop star David Bowie were alive today we can only assume he’d have a strong interest in the paintings of Michael Kagan. Bowie, like many recording artists of the late...
Artimus Pyle Keeps Skynyrd Legacy Alive
By Jeff Maisey Now that Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has retired from recording and touring, it may be more important than ever to experience The Artimus Pyle Band in concert. Artimus Pyle became Lynyrd Skynyrd’s drummer in late 1974 when the band was preparing...
FILM: Blue Note Records at 80
By Tench Phillips, Naro Cinema It’s been a rewarding summer for a greying audience of baby boomers who have been rediscovering their hippie roots from the sixties and seventies. I’m not referring to CBD oil. The Naro has shown a number of new documentaries...
Virginia Beach Art Center Takes Root in the ViBe
By Betsy DiJulio Not to be confused with the old Virginia Beach Center for the Arts which, over the past few decades, evolved into MOCA, the Virginia Beach Art Center (VBAC) is its own thing, though a similarly long time in coming. VBAC’s home, a beautiful...
Locals Complement Headliners at American Music Festival
(Buddha Council open for 311 on Saturday at the 5th Street Main Stage) By Jeff Maisey This year’s American Music Festival will feature more local bands than ever. Many of the 757 entertainment were selected because they won Veer Music Awards earlier this year. “We...
A Tribute to Pink Floyd
By Jeff Maisey Tribute bands can be fun when a group such as Pink Floyd is not likely to reunite key surviving members Roger Waters and David Gilmore. Concert tributes like Australian Pink Floyd not only dedicate themselves to performing the music...
Ohio Players Rekindle the Fire
By Jeff Maisey While Ohio Players released their debut single, “Neighbors,” in 1967, it wasn’t until 1973 and “Funky Worm” that the Dayton, Ohio band experienced Billboard success on the R&B and top pop albums and singles charts. Ohio Players were...
Oktoberfest Beers to Enjoy
Erdinger Oktoberfest This seasonal beer offers a synergistic combination of two classic German styles, Oktoberfest and wheat beer; a surprising alliance that works very well together. Cloudy body with some amber hints. The head is frothy, pleasantly white and with a...
OKTOBERFEST 2019
(Portsmouth Mayor John Rowe poses with Mrs. Osfolk of the Bier Garden at last year’s Oktoberfest celebration) By Jeff Maisey If beer has a national — make that multi-national — holiday then surely it is Oktoberfest. Celebrations abound, including right here in...
Rah Rah for Ray Ray’s
By Marisa Marsey If April showers bring May flowers…what do May flowers bring? When it comes to the one that’s an apartment high-rise at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, the answer is Ray Ray’s at the Mayflower, a new breakfast/lunch eatery by consummate chef Ray...
Sly Clyde Celebrates 1 Year with Margarita-inspired Cider
Sly Clyde releases margarita-inspired cider By Jim Roberts Releasing a lime-flavored cider in the middle of a July heat wave wasn’t just a sly move—it was a Sly Clyde move. “The idea was just to be a summer refresher,” said Patrick Smith, who succeeded Brent...
Wine Spectator Recognizes Local Wine Lists
(Jennifer Eichert’s Mermaid Winery locations in Norfolk and Virginia Beach each received Wine Spectator’s 2019 Best of Award of Excellence) By Jeff Maisey Several Hampton Roads restaurants were honored in Wine Spectator’s 2019 Restaurant Awards, which highlights...
New Realm Beers Coming to Northern Virginia
Virginia Eagle Distributing Company (VED) announced this week that a formal distribution agreement has been signed with New Realm Brewing (New Realm). Beginning immediately, New Realm will be offering their award-winning brand to the entire VED territory. “This is an...
Culinary Alchemists Create Vegan Delights at Mea Culpa
Words & Photo by Betsy DiJulio When a chemist loses her job, what’s a gal to do? Make waffles, of course. Wait, what? Cristina Angelo, co-owner of Mea Culpa with her partner and chef, Kris Harvey, has a master’s degree in chemistry and, until her...
Lindsey Miller: The Fire Behind The Smoke At Redwood
(Lindsey Miller, "Boss Momma" of Redwood Smoke Shack. Photo credit: Back Bay Photography) By Marisa Marsey You may have heard about Bob Roberts and his award-winning, Central Texas-style barbecue. You may know that he found a stationary home for his two-year-old...
TASTE Acquires Cuisine & Co
(Jon Pruden, TASTE co-owner/president, with a Ghent location manager) Staff Report Taste Unlimited, the gourmet/speciality foods business operating TASTE stores throughout Hampton Roads and Richmond, recently acquired the popular full-service catering company known as...
New ABC Laws Go Into Effect July 1
Below is the list of new ABC laws that go into effect July 1. Happy Hour Advertising (HB 2073 and SB 1726) This law allows retail on-premise ABC licensees to advertise both the alcoholic beverages featured during a happy hour and the beverage prices. Creative...
