ESSAY: Furry Friends
By Tom Robotham When I was a child, I longed for an animal companion: a horse, a dog, or at least a cat. A horse was unrealistic because our suburban yard was too small, and—let’s face it—they’re expensive to care for. Plenty of our neighbors had dogs, on the other...
Naro Minded: The Duo Who Defined a Neighborhood
(Tench Phillips and Thom Vourlas share a laugh and popcorn outside the Naro Expanded Cinema. Photo by Jeff Maisey.) By Jim Roberts Tench Phillips III and Thom Vourlas were featured on WTAR News in August of 1977—about two weeks before they opened the Naro Expanded...
RESULTS: 2026 VEER Music Awards
(The Last Bison and members from Tidewater Pipes & Drums perform "Switzerland") By Jeff Maisey BJ Griffin took home three awards during the 2026 Veer Music Awards at The NorVa in Norfolk. The America’s Got Talent contestant scored Album of the Year for...
ESSAY: Mind the Gap
Essayist Tom Robotham connects with Paris in an antique bookstore. By Tom Robotham This year, I’ll turn 70. What the fuck?! It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was sitting in my pajamas on the floor of my family’s living room in Staten Island, watching The Donna...
2026 VEER Music Awards Nominees Announced
By Jeff Maisey We are pleased to announce the complete list of nominees for the 2026 Veer Music Awards. The 757 region had an immensely diverse range of musical releases last year. In determining nominees, we looked primarily for bands and...
Music Video of the Year Nominees Announced
We received numerous music videos this year from 757 region recording artists. Following are our nominees for the 2026 Veer Music Awards in the Music Video of the Year category: BJ Griffin, “This Good?” Luh Mar1, “I Gotta Problem” The Revamps, "Fever" Red Weather,...
AI/Animated Music Videos of the Year Nominees Announced
The following are nominees for Best AI/Animation Music Video of the Year Starving Artists, “Talking Bible” Quicksilver Night, “Words” Jarrett Beeler, “Mergers & Acquisitions” Goldi, “Let Me In REMIX” Suburban Key Party, “Go Baby Go” Quicksilver Night, “The...
Live Photography Nominees Announced
We are pleased to share the 2026 Veer Music Awards nominees in the Live Photography category. Robbie Bruner, “Clover Stokes of The Band Monarch” Ryan Del Rosario, “Mean Jesus” Robert Peck, “Anthony Rosano” Katie Culver, “Sheezer at LAVA...
Posed Photography Nominees Announced
The nominees for the 2026 Veer Music Awards in the Posed Photography category are as follows: Cathy Hopkins, “Thru with Therapy” Will Clarke, “Emerald Beach” Katie Culver, “Community Witch Alternative Album Cover” Corijona Forlines, “Turncoat...
ESSAY: Reading As an Act of Love
By Tom Robotham When I was a young father, one of my greatest pleasures was reading aloud to my kids—often, from books I’d loved in my own early childhood: Blueberries for Sal, Curious George, Madeline, The Cat in the Hat, and many others. The riches of this ritual...
Reimagining Piece of Eden on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
(Cast of Piece of Eden. Photo courtesy of Sheila Vera.) By Sheila Vera On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, history does not feel distant. Along this narrow stretch of land between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, many places carry Algonquian names like Nassawadox,...
Finding Resonance: Kayce Laine Brings Sound Healing Home to Norfolk
By Jim Roberts When Kayce Laine saw her face on the digital marquee outside Scope Arena in Norfolk, she cried. “Growing up there, I always saw myself as being like a pop star,” she said. “I wanted to be on these stages doing pop music.” She will realize part of that...
World Premiere Destined for Greatness
(Jordan Williams and Edwin Green bring Redd Foxx and Malcolm X to life. Photo by Beth Dedman.) By Jerome Langston “This one feels really special because I have a new Foxy this time. I have a new co-star. And this guy just happens to be one of my best friends,” says...
John Lennon’s Lost Weekend Captured in Photos
(May Pang surrounded by her photographs of John Lennon. Photo by Scott Segelbaum.) By Jeff Maisey Funny thing happened on the long and winding road just past Penny Lane en route to a Madison Square Garden concert appearance with Elton John— former Beatle John Lennon...
Chameleons Tour Glowing Arctic Moon
(The Chameleons play Richmond Music Hall on Monday, April 20. Photo by Helen Millington.) By Jeff Maisey By age 21, in 1983, I had absorbed the music of The Beatles as a kid influenced by teenagers on the dead end street I was raised on. From this impressionable...
Compelling Storytelling at the Heart of Primary Trust
(LeVonte’ Herbert as Sam (tan shorts with cigarette in hand) and Brenden Wrenn as Kenneth. Photo courtesy of NSU Theatre Company.) By Jerome Langston “And when it was done, and the rights became available — I saw it online... I think I was in Walmart. And I stopped...
The Unequalled All Things Equal Returns
(Michelle Azar portrays Ruth Bader Ginsburg.) By Montague Gammon III The Virginia Arts Festival brings back to Hampton Roads, March 29, the most important play that anyone in local audiences will see this year, and perhaps for many years to come. “All Things Equal –...
Kamikaze cabaret goddess Meow Meow returning to Norfolk
This Meow Meow loves milk too. Photo by Nicholas Harmony By Jim Roberts Meow Meow may not be a household name in the U.S., but in the world of cabaret, she’s a legend with an international following in cities like Sydney, London and Berlin. The day before we spoke,...
Dance Theatre of Harlem Reignites Firebird
(Ariana Dickerson and Micah Bullard. Photo by Nir Areli) By Jerome Langston "We are preparing for our tour to France, which is about to happen right now. And then we follow that up by coming to Lorraine Graves’ hometown,” said Robert Garland, the artistic director of...
Dreams Come True with Joseph
(The cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.) By Jerome Langston “It’s really been a dream come true honestly. Getting to work on this show has been a long-time goal. And getting to dive into it these past couple of weeks has been a real joy,” says...
Oktoberfest 2025
By Jeff Maisey If beer has a national — make that multi-national — holiday then surely it is Oktoberfest. Celebrations abound, including right here in Hampton Roads. So how did it all begin? Way back on October 12, 1810, King Ludwig I married Princess Terese of...
Nourish Your Soul
By Betsy DiJulio As a longtime foodie, I have a somewhat vast collection of cookbooks. But there are only two that are housed in my kitchen, along with my quintet of recipe file binders: mine and Angela Phillips’. Admittedly, Angela is a close friend and favorite...
A Taste of Honey
By Jeff Maisey The St. George Brewing Company in Hampton has long tapped into the flavor of honey and earned national and statewide acclaim in beer competitions with its multi-award winning Honey Meade Lager, now called Honey Lager. The buzz around honey at the...
That’s Kosher!
(Yogev Kremisi brings much needed dining menu to Ghent.) By Marisa Marsey “Are you Charlie?” Yogev Kremisi gets that question a lot. The trim, swarthy 38-year-old chuckles as he clarifies he’s not. But he is the new proprietor and chef of Charlie’s, the venerable...
A Taste of Joy
Dallas Walton, of Cork & Bull, is among the top chefs whipping up delicacies to benefit Easterseals PORT Health's Culinary Connections. Courtesy photo. By Marisa Marsey Ashley Bruno, looking sharp in a royal blue chef’s apron and puffy white toque (yet...
For Valentine’s, I Present My New Love: “Easy Weeknight Dinners”
By Marisa Marsey Emily Weinstein makes no bones about not being a professionally-trained chef. It’s why the editor in chief of Cooking and Food at The New York Times is so good at her job. Most home cooks aren’t culinary school grads either. Skill levels vary wildly...
Big Ugly Celebrates Big 10
(Peake Lager remains a big favorite amongst Big Ugly Brewery fans) By Jeff Maisey Chesapeake’s first craft brewery will mark its first decade in business with an event being dubbed as Big Ugly Brewing: 10 Year Anniversary Tiki Party. The weather might be chilly...
ESSAY: Lost & Found
By Tom Robotham Last spring, I wrote an essay called “Leaving the Treehouse”—a reflection on my realization that it was time to vacate the apartment I had occupied for 17 years. I called it the Treehouse because it was on the fourth floor of an old building in West...
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...
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