ESSAY: Future Shock
By Tom Robotham Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society. On one end of the spectrum is the grim scenario of robots taking over and either enslaving the human race or wiping us out altogether. This nightmare has...
Smartmouth To Close Norfolk Location
(Porter Hardy outside the Smartmouth Pilot House in 2017) By Jeff Maisey On the eve of its 13th anniversary weekend, founding owner/president Porter Hardy IV announced Smartmouth Brewing Company would be closing its original location in Norfolk by the end of this...
ESSAY: A Bridge Too Far
By Tom Robotham Seven years ago, I wrote an essay reflecting on a sudden anxiety attack I’d had while driving over the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The attack was wholly unexpected. I’d driven over that bridge countless times, without a thought. This time, I felt as if...
Z Creativity Honors
By Jim Roberts The Zeiders American Dream Theater—better known as “the Z”—is marking its 10th anniversary in 2025. To reflect on the milestone and what the theater has meant to the community, Veer Magazine spoke with founder and namesake Mike Zeiders. Veer Magazine:...
REVIEW: “Bitter Wine, Sweet Melons”
By Montague Gammon III The recently released memoir, “Bitter Wine, Sweet Melons,” very appropriately subtitled “Suffering Loss & Savoring Life,” by my VEER, and formerly “Hampton Roads Magazine,” co-worker Betsy DiJulio, is a series of “largely chronological”...
ESSAY: A Message to My Students
By Tom Robotham As the fall semester approaches, I find myself thinking about what I want to say to my students on the first day of class. Typically, that first meeting is brief. I review the syllabus, talk a bit about the purpose of the course, then let them go....
ESSAY: The Geography of Intimacy
By Tom Robotham Recently, I mentioned to a close friend that I would characterize myself as an introvert, and he was surprised. Like a lot of people, he seemed to equate introversion with shyness, and I can be quite outgoing at times. To Carl Jung, who coined the...
Wasserhund NFK
Get ready Norfolk, Wasserhund Brewing Company is coming to town and plans to bed-down at the former District Pizza location on Granby Street in the Railroad District. “If everything works in our favor, Wasserhund will open in autumn,” shared Aaron Holley, co-founder...
Blending Art and Life
(Artist Hunter Thomas) By Staff After some 43 years as a nationally acclaimed folk art institution, the Nancy Thomas Gallery has rebranded as aht ARTS with a tagline “Blending Art and Life.” “I have wanted to do it for a while but I just hadn’t had the nerve,” said...
New President and CEO for Virginia Symphony
Shannon Kelly succeeds Dr. Andrea Warren as President and CEO of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO). Kelly joined the VSO in 2023 as its Vice President of Development. Previously, she worked in leadership at Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. “It is a...
Soweto Gospel Choir Spreads Joy, Peace and Happiness
By Jerome Langston “I’ve been a fan of this music since I was a kid,” says Robert Cross, Executive Director and artistic director of the Virginia Arts Festival, referring to gospel music — which he became immersed in through the local scene of gospel choirs here in...
Queen of Soul Gets Symphonic Boost
(Capathia Jenkins is sensational singing Aretha Franklin hits) By Jerome Langston "I have the best airport in the world. The busiest airport in the world, right? So I can get, almost anywhere, on a direct flight from Atlanta because it’s Delta’s hub,” says Broadway...
WAR Headlines Neptune Festival
By Jeff Maisey Many of you know the classic hit songs from the band WAR — “Low Rider,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Summer,” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” What you may not recall is the musical crossover group from Southern California known for weaving elements funk, jazz,...
Last Stop on the O’Jays Love Train
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 “Backstabbers.” Perhaps their 1973 hit,...
How Soon Is Now, Johnny Marr?
(The Smiths’ iconic guitarist is coming to Norfolk. Photo by Heiko DeWees By Jim Roberts How much money would it take for Johnny Marr and Stephen Patrick Morrissey to reunite and tour as The Smiths? According to recent reports, $75 million wasn’t enough to get them...
Jaleel Shaw Opens Fall Jazz Series Season at The Attucks
By Jerome Langston When I reached jazz saxophonist Jaleel Shaw for our phone chat a few days ago, the Philadelphia native was navigating the running of errands around the city in New Jersey — and was especially zeroed in on the need to drop off a suit at a local dry...
Broadway Show Brings Beautiful Noise of Neil Diamond to Life
Nick Fradiani as 'Neil - Then' (center) and 'The Noise' in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.” Photo credit Jeremy Daniel. By Jim Roberts “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” ran for less than two years on Broadway, but a national tour featuring...
Stockard to Shine in Ain’t Misbehavin’ Director’s Chair
(Director Anthony Mark Stockard) By Jerome Langston “But ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ is a song I sang a lot, and it used to be my go to audition song,” recalls Anthony Mark Stockard, university professor and NSU Theatre Company’s producing artistic director, during a recent...
REVIEW: Laufey in Concert
Words by By Montague Gammon III Photo by Jeff Moore The jam-packed opening night Chartway Arena-Virginia Arts Festival concert called “Laufey: A Night at the Symphony with Virginia Symphony Orchestra,” provided this opera and classical music (and classic rock and ‘60s...
An Evening of Songs, Stories and Wild Tales with Graham Nash
(Graham Nash’s 2013 autobiography “Wild Tales” is a fabulous example of his storytelling brilliance.) By Jeff Maisey No matter how simple or complex every song has a story behind it, and inspiration for its creation. David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash...
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...
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...
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