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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Telling Our Story
By Al Markowitz I have dedicated much of the last twenty years to reclaiming and publishing the literature of working people. As a poet, the emphasis of my publishing efforts have been through the “Blue Collar Review, Journal of Progressive Working Class...
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ERADICATING NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ TRUANCY AND DROPOUT DILEMMA
By John L. Horton “It takes an (entire) village to raise a child.” (African Proverb) “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come” (Victor Hugo, Writer-Poet-Statesman) “No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” (Abraham Lincoln, Among...
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Deep Ecology: How Life Works
By Tench Phillips, Naro Cinema I’ve been conflicted about the message I want to convey in this month’s column. How do I tackle the most important issues of our time. What is the tone or spirit I want to express that would make some kind of a contribution for...
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Change for All the Wrong Reasons on NPR
(NPR theme music composer and former Virginia Beach resident BJ Leiderman) By Jeff Maisey Let’s set the record straight: National Public Radio (NPR) has made a mockery of BJ Leiderman’s theme music composed for its “Morning Edition” news program. The new version is...
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US Bonds Brings His Story Back to Norfolk
By Jeff Maisey In a 2013 released autobiography titled “By US Bonds: That’s My Story,” singer Gary US Bonds shared insights about his life as a young recording star from Norfolk, Virginia, the creation of the Norfolk Sound, family life, his up-and-down music...
Local Music Reviews: July 2019
Suburban Key Party “2nd Place Medals” (Self-Release) Alternative rock band Suburban Key Party could very well unlock the doors to success with this new 6-song EP. Two songs stand out big time: “Sticks & Stones” and “Secrets.” “Sticks & Stones,” for one, has...
Keepin’ It Real with Marcus King Band
By Jeff Maisey In talking with guitarist/singer Marcus King, it doesn’t take long to realize his heart, soul and head are all in the right place. King learned to play guitar by watching his father, bluesman Marvin King, and absorbing the music he heard on...
Modern Exhibition Redefines Asian Art
By Betsy DiJulio It all started—and ended—with a donut. In the spring, my good friend and Hermitage Museum board member, Trish Pfeifer, excitedly shared with me the roster of artists for their summer show, which includes Jae Yong Kim of South Korea. I was so...
MUSIC: Bottle Rockets Set to Explode in Downtown Norfolk
By Ron Wray 1993 St. Louis was launch site for bottle rockets that have been exploding on the music scene ever since. The band The Bottle Rockets was formed then as members worked on merging their interests in punk and country rock somewhat like Uncle Tupelo,...
Sinnett Curates Worldclass Jazz Series in Phoebus
By Michael Curry Known throughout the nation, especially the world of jazz, Jae Sinnett has been a fixture and leader for almost three decades. He is a drummer, composer, leader, teacher and mentor. And, of course, he is the voice of jazz on WHRV Public Radio....
The Last Bison’s Musical Evolution
By Jeff Maisey And then there were three… Back in 2011, local alternative rock radio station 96X began airing “Switzerland,” an infectiously melodic song full of emotion blending what seemed to be a marriage of Appalachian mountain music, classical and pop. ...
Lalah Hathaway Keeps Family Legacy Movin’ Forward
By Jerome Langston It takes less than 5 minutes for me to become pleasantly surprised by information shared by singer/songwriter Lalah Hathaway during a substantial and quite enjoyable, lengthy phone conversation with her, earlier this week. Shortly after her...
Jimi Hendrix Tribute is Sandstock Highlight
(Kiss The Sky's Jimy Bleu as Jimi Hendrix) By Jeff Maisey Kiss The Sky, an authentic musical tribute to the late Jimi Hendrix, will be the highlight of the Sandstock: A Tribute to Woodstock festival when they perform Sunday, June 30 at 24th Street on the Virginia...
Shakespeare’s Greatest Show on Earth in a Chesapeake Grove
BY MONTAGUE GAMMON III Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, has that claim to preeminence reinforced locally this week. . Shakespeare in the Grove’s big cast, Big Top, all stops out, Push-motored free admission production of Dream takes the...
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...
Coastal Virginia Brewery Alliance Festival
(Porter Hardy IV is President of the Coastal Virginia Brewery Alliance and Smartmouth Brewing Co) By Jeff Maisey The 30 independent craft breweries counting themselves as members of the recently formed Coastal Virginia Brewery Alliance (CVBA) are hosting a party and...
Precarious Beer Hall – Ale, Arcade, and Americana
(Spacious Precarious Beer Hall is fun, fun, fun) Words & Photos by Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones What are the sounds you associate with Colonial Williamsburg? Pumpa-rum pumpa-rum twee twee tweeee…that’s a fife and drum corp as they march through the pedestrian...
New Realm Wins VA Craft Beer Cup, 757 Breweries Score Numerous Medals
Hampton Roads breweries scored multiple awards and Virginia Beach's New Realm Brewing won the overall Virginia Craft Beer Cup, when the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild held its 8th annual Virginia Craft Beer Awards Monday evening at Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond. In...
Dining à la (shopping) Cart at Wegmans & IKEA
(Take a break from shopping at Wegman’s Burger Bar. Photo courtesy of Wegmans) By Marisa Marsey Have you heard about the Swedish meatballs at IKEA? They’re delicious. If only you didn’t have to put them together yourself. Ba-dum-CHING! I’m joking, of course. You don’t...
