TRAVEL: The Best Ever

TRAVEL: The Best Ever

(An early evening glass of wine outside Au Vieux Paris. Photo by Lynn Hughes-Hailey.) By Jeff Maisey “How do you know about this place?”  A distinguished looking gentleman in his 70s from California introduced to Lynn and I as the Doctor kept looking over his right...

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Naro-Minded

Naro-Minded

(Kris King stands in the center of the Naro video collection at ODU’s Perry Library.)  Words & Photo by Jim Roberts Naro Expanded Video’s collection of 43,000 DVDs has been lovingly preserved at Old Dominion University’s Perry Library, but touring the new academic...

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ESSAY: The Slow Creep of Dementia

ESSAY: The Slow Creep of Dementia

By Tom Robotham Recent speculations that President Biden is afflicted with dementia have caused me to reflect on the disturbing experience of watching my mother descend into her own delusional state of mind.  I’m not sure exactly when she began to show signs of it. I...

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Top 20 Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Top 20 Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

As we approach St. Paddy’s Day, local businesses, concert promoters and the arts have offered a pot of golden opportunities at the end of the rainbow with many ways to enjoy the Irish-themed holiday and culture of the Emerald Isle.  1  Shamrockin’ In Ghent What began...

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ESSAY: The Slow Creep of Dementia

ESSAY: Fast Times at Wagner High

By Tom Robotham It’s hard to believe, but it’s fact: This year, my high-school graduating class will celebrate its 50-year reunion. In recognition of this occasion, I find myself reflecting on my high-school experience.  From the beginning, it was pretty grim. My...

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RESULTS: 2024 Veer Music Awards

RESULTS: 2024 Veer Music Awards

(Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos scored three 2024 Veer Music Awards following a phenomenal year of touring, Billboard Blues album charting, and rave reviews nationwide for the album "Cheat The Devil.")   By Jeff Maisey Blues rockers Anthony Rosano & The...

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Norfolk Wood Shop Celebrates One Year in Business

Norfolk Wood Shop Celebrates One Year in Business

By Jim Roberts Opening a small, brick-and-mortar woodworking supply store in the age of Amazon and “big box” competition might not seem like the wisest business decision, but James Brooks is making it work. His Norfolk Wood Shop—located across the street from Elation...

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ESSAY: The Slow Creep of Dementia

Growing Up with The Beatles

By Tom Robotham In December, 1963, my sister received a package from her “pen pal” in Scotland. Inside, was a 45 rpm record made exclusively for the “official fan club” of a band called The Beatles. Although Beatlemania had not yet come to America, and I was only 7 at...

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Amanda Knox: Still Clearing Her Name

Amanda Knox: Still Clearing Her Name

By Jeff Maisey Most Americans know the name Amanda Knox and her story of being a young woman studying abroad in Italy, and who’s British college roommate and friend was raped and murdered in their home.  Knox, in a highly publicized trial in an Italian court, made...

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The Poem Wants to be Heard

The Poem Wants to be Heard

(Poet Tim Seibles and jazz bassist/composer Chris Brydge. Photo by Jennifer Fish.)  By Tom Robotham  Most of us, I suspect, were introduced to poetry through the written word, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. And yet, when we read poems in silence—in the...

Lessons From The O’Jays

Lessons From The O’Jays

(Eddie Levert of The O’Jays) By Jeff Maisey The O’Jays are one of America’s most beloved old school soul and R&B groups.  You no doubt know the songs from radio play and television commercials: “Love Train,” “I Love Music,” “Use Ta Be My Girl,” and...

Justin Kauflin Headlines The Z

Justin Kauflin Headlines The Z

(Justin Kauflin performing at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. Photo by Andrea Palmucci.)  By Jerome Langston The first time I heard acclaimed jazz pianist and composer, Justin Kauflin, actually play — was in support of legendary jazz vocalist, Sheila Jordan, whose...

Hornsby + yMusic = BrhyM

Hornsby + yMusic = BrhyM

By Jeff Maisey Grammy-winning piano man Bruce Hornsby, known for his pop hits “The Way It Is” and “Mandolin Rain,” has a new collaboration project where he teamed with experimental chamber ensemble yMusic for a refreshing new album — “Deep Sea Vents.” Pop artists such...

ODU Students Shine in 2024 Exhibition

ODU Students Shine in 2024 Exhibition

(Avery Keys’ Static ) By Betsy DiJulio “Is it my imagination or is ODU student work considerably stronger than in the past?” I asked John Roth, professor and chair of the ODU art department, via messenger, pressing further, “If the latter, to what do you attribute...

Threshold Rides Symbolism

Threshold Rides Symbolism

By Betsy DiJulio Janus, the two-faced Roman god, is featured on the discreet, but rather baroque, medallion mounted above the entrance to the American Academy in Rome’s main building (c. 1914) with its austere, symmetrical, and orderly Renaissance architectural...

World Premiere, Mozart and a Monumental Work

World Premiere, Mozart and a Monumental Work

(Composer Juhi Bansal was commissioned by Virginia Symphony Orchestra to create a new classical music work — To Call the Rain.) By Montague Gammon III The Virginia Symphony Orchestra again gives Hampton Roads audiences the honor of being the planet’s first to hear a...

Overnite Lows High on Original Songwriting

Overnite Lows High on Original Songwriting

(Larry Berwald and Scott McMahan) By Jeff Maisey Musicians Larry Berwald and Scott McMahan, in collaboration with The Roads Bistro in Virginia Beach, have started a new series they call Songs & Stories: An Evening of Original Music.  Presented on the fourth...

Chef Close to Open ILO Bistro

Chef Close to Open ILO Bistro

(Chef Zack Close. Photo courtesy of Glass Light Hotel.) By Jeff Maisey Zack Close, who spent a decade in New York City and worked with Daniel Boulud at his Michelin- starred restaurant, Café Boulud, before returning to his hometown of Norfolk to become the Executive...

Vegan Korean

Vegan Korean

By Betsy DiJulio Vegan Korean fried chicken may be the tastiest oxymoron on the planet.  Korean Fried Chicken—which someone cleverly dubbed “the other KFC”—emerged as a “thing” in the US long after I no longer consumed meat.  So, I had never experienced this...

Backstories Vol. 1

Backstories Vol. 1

(Dylan & Jason of Waters Edge Winery Norfolk) By Joel Rubin If you have seen the weekly newsletter I publish (generally to promote the offshore wind industry Dominion Energy is bringing to the region), you know that many of the articles feature small businesses,...

Voodoo Brewing Co. opens pub in Virginia Beach

Voodoo Brewing Co. opens pub in Virginia Beach

(Alex and Chrissy Bergren have opened a Voodoo Brewing location in Virginia Beach. Photo by Jim Roberts.) By Jim Roberts   Voodoo Brewing Co., the newest entry into Hampton Roads’ beer scene, opened on January 13 in Virginia Beach. It’s a locally owned and...

DINING: A Tale of Two Italians

DINING: A Tale of Two Italians

(Something for every Italian taste at Sorella’s. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.)  By Marisa Marsey Hibernation season, for me, means hunkering down beneath a mountain of blankets and gorging on classic movies à la “Casablanca” and latter-day faves like “Moonstruck”...

Going to the Dogs

Going to the Dogs

(DOGGONE GOOD: Larry Sauger and Karl Neumann have Pittie Dog Grill sizzlin’) By Marisa Marsey Since adopting a puppy last year, my ears prick up at any mention of the word “dog” as avidly as Sheepish, my Miniature Sheepadoodle, sniffs out squirrels. So when I heard...

Big Ugly Wins 2023 Golden Tap Award

Big Ugly Wins 2023 Golden Tap Award

Big Ugly Brewing won the 2023 Golden Tap Award in a region-wide competition where the tally was picked by readers and our committee of judges — including Diane Catanzaro, Chris Jones, Brian Koski, and Jen McDonald — provided expert analysis.  The 757 region craft...

VEER’s Golden Tap Awards & The Key to Lager Town

VEER’s Golden Tap Awards & The Key to Lager Town

By Jeremy Bender Who is the best brewery in Hampton Roads this year?  What are the finest IPAs, stouts, lagers, sours and pilsners? On Tuesday, December 5, VEER Magazine will present its 2023 Golden Tap Awards at Elation Brewing in Norfolk beginning at 6 PM.   The...

Stuff Their Stockings…And Yourself

Stuff Their Stockings…And Yourself

(FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Brian Brinson’s popular Lizard Café is the perfect lunch combo with Prince Books in downtown Norfolk.)   By Marisa Marsey Time for the holidays. Yay! Time for holiday shopping. Ugh! I love pretty much any festive tradition (more mistletoe, please)...

WINE REVIEWS: Reds To Splurge On

WINE REVIEWS: Reds To Splurge On

By Jeff Maisey I’m normally a $25-$50/bottle wine guy at home, but during the festive fall and holiday season this year I’ve splurged a bit, and the upgrades have been noticeable.  Moone Tsai Howell Mountain 2018 Red Blend  Napa Valley Lynn and I recently hosted a...

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