VIEWPOINT: A Perspective On The Trump Presidency
BY JOHN L. Horton “I am absolutely a Nationalist.” -- President Donald J. Trump “A person shows what he is by what he does with what he has.” -- Anonymous “When a person shows you who he is…believe him.” -- Maya Angelou “If you don’t know, now you know…” -- The...
Waiting For Godot: The Elusive Promise of Reopening
By Tench Phillips, Naro Cinema The temporary closing of the Naro Cinema on March 20 of this year marked the beginning of a long period of anticipation for the extended Naro family. We originally planned for a July 4 weekend reopening with showings of the...
Empowering Teachers/Overcoming COVID-19
By John L. Horton Well, the “new” school year (2020 – 2021)) is almost upon us. And, the issue of “improving” our public schools lies before us as never before. Accordingly, I got to thinking about what “we” can do to significantly “improve” our public schools for...
Progressland
By Tom Robotham Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, which I had the opportunity to visit twice. When it opened, I was just shy of my 8th birthday—the perfect age to appreciate the exhibits, it seems to me, in that I was old...
John Lewis: A Profile In Courage
By Tench Phillips It is a good time to reflect on the civil rights era of the sixties and re-learn the effective strategies used by protest organizers and leaders. America has long memorialized the life and work of Martin Luther King. And yet there were other...
OPINION: Moment of Reckoning
By Tom Robotham On the evening of June 1, I was watching CNN’s live coverage of a peaceful protest near the White House. It was quite encouraging, given that rioting and looting had taken place in various cities the night before. Then, without warning or...
Juneteenth — Its Symbolism, Substance And Significance
BY JOHN L. HORTON One hundred and fifty-five years after slaves were declared free, I can imagine the joy and jubilation in Galveston, Texas, when the proclamation was read. On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger recited the order that included these...
Chrysler Museum to Reopen June 20
The Chrysler Museum of Art plans to reopen to the public on June 20. From June 16 to June 19, members will get an early opportunity to visit the Museum. In planning its reopening, the Chrysler has adopted several guidelines designed for the safety of visitors and...
OPINION: America Needs Leadership
BY JOHN L. HORTON An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep. — Alexander the Great To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and...
Living with Books
By Tom Robotham As my friends and family members know, I own a lot of books—somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000, by my estimate. Many people have a lot more than that, of course. Years ago I did a feature story on a retired Norfolk librarian who had about...
MUSIC: Local New Releases
Bobby “Blackhat” Walters “America, How Great Do You Feel Today” (Self-Release Single) Bluesman Bobby “Blackhat” Walters in recent years has been keen on quickly capturing a current event or an issue in song. These studio recordings include “Gudment Shutdown” and “HRBT...
ART: Eccentric Delves into the Surreal
(Caroline Russell, “By Air Mail”) By Betsy DiJulio As we enter Phase II of the reopening of the economy in the Commonwealth, art centers and museums are maintaining their reinvigorated virtual personas stronger than ever as they simultaneously return to their...
TBT: Remembering Norfolk’s Boathouse Music Venue
(A crowd lines up to enter The Boathouse in the 1990s. Photo courtesy of Jeff Moore) BY JEFF MAISEY "We were backstage and there was a buffet spread out with chicken, roast beef and all kinds of good stuff," recalled singer David Middleton, whose local band, the...
ART CONVERSATION with Virginia MOCA
(Pictured: MOCA's Director of Audience Development Brad Tuggle and Executive Director Gary Ryan) By Jeff Maisey For this video interview we are joined by Virginia MOCA's Director of Audience Development Brad Tuggle and Executive Director Gary Ryan for a conversation...
VIDEO: Artists Gallery Debuts New Director & Virtual Exhibition
BY JEFF MAISEY The Virginia Beach Art Center, home to The Artists Gallery, has a new executive director and a virtual exhibition debuting on Facebook Live on May 1 at 7:00 PM. In the following video interview, resident artist and gallery manager Vinnie Bumatay shares...
VIDEO INTERVIEW: 20th Anniversary of The NorVa
By Jeff Maisey Twenty years ago today -- April 28, 2000 -- The NorVa opened its doors with the venue's inaugural concert headlined by the legendary Godfather of Soul James Brown. The building which houses The NorVa was constructed nearly 100 years ago as a vaudeville...
VIDEO: Interview with Muralist Adam Stanton
VIDEO: Interview with Muralist Adam Stanton Veer Magazine caught up with muralist Adam Stanton as he was putting the final touches on the Virginia Maritime Association's 100th Anniversary Mural in downtown Norfolk on Plume Street. Stanton is a resident of Chesapeake...
Museums & Galleries Offer Virtual Exhibitions
(Kristin Skees’ “The Musgraves” digital photograph is part of Virginia MOCA’s “New Waves 2020” exhibition) By Jeff Maisey Several local visual arts museums and galleries are now offering virtual views of their current spring exhibitions. Virginia MOCA and The Artists...
JAZZ: Joel Futterman and Creative Music
(Virginia Beach jazz pianist/composer Joel Futterman) By Al Markowitz I wish I could live in that place of ecstasy between the notes in that malleable moment where time stands still These are the times that try our sanity for reasons I usually write about and that I...
Glen McClure: Capturing the Light of Ireland’s West Country
(Light at Loughros Bay, County Donegal, by Glen McClure) By Jeff Maisey Some 50 captivating images from Norfolk-based photographer Glen McClure were to be exhibited through May 21 at the Sandler Center Art Gallery in a show titled “Apprentice to Light: The West of...
Cider Talk with Sly Clyde’s Doug Smith
(Sandbar provides layers of flavor enhanced by raspberry and lemon. Photo by Sly Clyde.) By Jeff Maisey Like craft breweries, Sly Clyde Ciderworks in Hampton has a rotating series of seasonal beverages to compliment its core brands and provide a level of quality...
Something’s Always Brewing at COVA
(COVA Brewing Co in the 757’s newest craft brewery. Photo by Diane Catanzaro) By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones To brew or not to brew? That is the question. For Scott and Susan Bateman, the answer was “two brew.” Blending the family’s love of craft beer and...
PREVIEW: Syd’s Fish Pig Cafe
BY JEFF MAISEY In June, Chef Sydney Meers is set to open his seventh restaurant in a storied culinary career spanning 46 years. In this video interview, with most of the twisted folk art paintings hung on the walls and kitchy, Americana-cool figurines strategically...
Catching Up with Wasserhund’s Aaron Holley
(Bee-Thoven Honey Hefeweizen is one of Wasserhund's springtime special releases) BY JEFF MAISEY In this video interview Wasserhund Brewing Company owner/brewer Aaron Holley shares his viewpoints regarding operating a brewpub under state government mandated...
St George Unveils Rare Beers
By Jeff Maisey St. George brewmaster Andy Rathmann unearthed several bottle-aged Imperial stouts stored as far back as 2005. A limited number of these are available at the brewery and packaged as the St George Vertical Sampler Series. Watch our video interview below...
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Jennifer Eichert of Mermaid Winery
(Mermaid Winery's new "to-go" wine tasting glasses with plastic lids are a fun and clever way to take the winery experience home to share) By Jeff Maisey Like many Virginia restaurants and breweries, Norfolk's Mermaid Winery is getting creative to keep loyal customers...
Audacious Bold Mariner Unveils NATO Fest Beer
By Jeff Maisey The COVID-19 global pandemic has sunk many plans this spring, but it was unable to divert The Bold Mariner from completing its charted mission for this year’s Norfolk NATO Festival beer collaboration celebrating Italy. The beer is called Audace,...
Mead: The Drink of Ancient Kings & Warriors
(Glenn Lavender says everyone needs mead. Photo by Sarah Harris) By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones When you think of mead, what picture do you see in your mind’s eye? Some Thor-ish fellow downing a skull-chalice of mead after an epic battle? Beowulf, wolfing down...
Takeaways from VA Beer Co’s 4th Anniversary
(The crew from Virginia Beer Company celebrate curbside. Photo courtesy of the brewery) By Jeff Maisey Virginia Beer Company co-founders Robbie Willey and Chris Smith could never have imagined celebrating the fourth anniversary of their successful Williamsburg brewery...
The O’Connor Decade
(Penny & Kevin O’Connor in February 2020. Photo by Jeff Maisey) By Jeff Maisey A little luck of the Irish and a determined can-do attitude on St Patrick’s Day 2010 got O’Connor Brewing Company up and running with its first batch of beer. In our mid-March 2010...
