What’s Next for Virginia Restaurants, Brewpubs, and Tasting Rooms?
By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones The balance between public health and the economy has important implications for how and when Virginia re-opens restaurants and brewery, distillery, and winery tasting rooms to the public. Since mid-March most of these...
Vanguard Offers Sanitizer, Masks & More
By Jeff Maisey In the following video interview, Amelia Emr, general manager of The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery, tells Veer Magazine how the Hampton business has converted part of its operation to producing hand sanitizers. The Vanguard is also offering...
Norfolk Purchases Military Circle Mall
The Norfolk Economic Development Authority (EDA) voted unanimously to move forward with the purchase of the Military Circle Shopping Mall, located on North Military Highway. The deal was closed on Thursday, April 30. In 2014, the EDA purchased the former JC Penney’s...
VIDEO INTERVIEW: National Recognition for Lynne Seagle
By Jeff Maisey Longtime Hope House Foundation Executive Director Lynne Seagle has been honored by the National Historic Recognition Project for her work from 2000 to 2020 contributing to the transformation of the Developmental Disability field. Here is our interview...
Boardwalk Art Show Moves to October 23-25
By Brad Tuggle The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Boardwalk Art Show presented by PNC Bank is being rescheduled from the weekend of June 19-21 to October 23-25 given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. This signature Virginia Beach event, now in its 65th...
ViBe Story Exchange: Open Call for Artists & Writers
By Kate Pittman The ViBe Creative District nonprofit announced a reenvisioned partnership for programming with ViBe Story Exchange for 2020. The partnership pairs selected visual and performing artists with the written word—a true arts & humanities collaboration....
Social Distancing
By Tom Robotham On March 6, I was scheduled to depart for Rome in the company of Jeff Maisey, the publisher of this magazine, and another friend. It was the beginning of my spring break, and I’d been looking forward not only to connecting with history, but also to...
VIEWPOINT: Keeping Up With Our Joneses
By Tench Phillips, Naro Cinema I like to do my writing in the mornings when I feel most clear-headed. I sit with my laptop accompanied by my cats and a hot cup of black coffee. My daily java ‘jones’ requires freshly ground French dark roast beans placed in our...
Virginia ABC Stores Reduce Hours
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) will reduce operating hours at all of its stores statewide beginning Friday, March 27, due to the expanding nature of the COVID-19 outbreak. Like the reduced store hours already in place for 24 Virginia ABC...
NATO Staffer Tests Presumptive Positive in Norfolk
MARCH 22: A staff member at NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, has identified as “presumptive positive” on clinical grounds for the Coronavirus (COVID-19), marking the first potential case at the Command. The individual is in...
ART: From Automata To Robots
(Elizabeth King and Richard Kizu-Blair, What Happened) By Betsy DiJulio Springboarding from the Barry Museum’s collection of historical automata, this three-prong exhibition highlights intersections between art, science, and emotion asking, somewhat paradoxically, how...
STAGE: A Whodunit with Social Importance
By Montague Gammon III It’s a murder mystery every bit as baffling as any Agatha Christie whodunit; it’s a look at the African-Americans who were an under-recognized part of our Greatest Generation. It’s about stereotypes and how people of any race can succumb...
2022 Veer Music Awards Results
(Roberta Lea’s “Sweet Baby Ray” was selected Song of the Year) By Jeff Maisey Pandemic be damned. Local musicians once again found inspiration and released singles, EPs, albums, and music videos last year. Most performed live by late spring when a semi-normal...
Maestro Wilkins Takes the Podium
By Montague Gammon III Grand fanfares of orchestral brass herald the arrival of Maestro Thomas Wilkins as the first Principal Guest Conductor in the century long history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, February 18-20. It’s the second half of the concert program,...
Veer Music Awards on Tuesday
The 10th Annual Veer Music Awards are being presented Tuesday, February 8 at The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery in Hampton. Showtime is 7 PM sharp. Free admission.
Satirical Thanksgiving Play is Spot-On
( Director Jessica Holt) By Jerome Langston “It’s been an incredibly challenging 20 months to be a theater artist,” says Jessica Holt, early on in our conversation about her latest directorial work for Virginia Stage Company, The Thanksgiving Play. A bit earlier in...
Art from Guantanamo Bay
Muhammad Ansi, Untitled (Hands Holding Flowers through Bars), 2016, acrylic on paper, 11 x 8.5 inches By Betsy DiJulio Six artists. Over 100 artworks. Fifteen years, give or take. The artists in this rare exhibition include both current detainees at...
2022 Veer Music Awards Nominees Announced
Ongoing pandemic aside, last year saw music venues finally come back to life and local musicians once again played stages big and small throughout the 757 region. Below are this year's nominees for the 2022 Veer Music Awards. We considered the following when selecting...
Outstanding Winter Exhibitions at VA MOCA
(Cedric Baker’s Aunt Lou won Best of Show for the Made in VA exhibition.) By Betsy DiJulio A trio of new winter exhibitions is arguably Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art’s most captivating in years. Here’s my take on each. Shaping Memories: Expressions in Clay...
Forward with Native American Art
CARA ROMERO, American (Chemehuevi, born 1977), “Water Memory,” 2015, Archival pigment print on Legacy Platine paper, Acquired with funds from the Board of Visitors, Muscarelle Museum of Art Endowment By Jeff Maisey If you think you know Native American art,...
Commonwealth Brewing Revives Chic’s Beach Fire and Rescue Station
By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones We’ve been thinking about the amazing growth in the local craft beer scene, and are feeling more patriotic by the second (“Oh beautiful …”). By year’s end, we are liable to have over 20 breweries and brewpubs in the 757 (“for...
Williamsburg Readies for Virginia Beer Company
By Elizabeth Erschens Imagine a drive home from work on the 2nd Avenue corridor in Williamsburg, rounding the curve just past Merrimac Trail, and happening upon a 2,500 square foot patio beer garden in front of the old white building at 401 many recall as home to...
Bold Mariner, Ready to Set Sail
Words & Photo by Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones When you think of a "bold mariner", who comes to mind? Christopher Columbus, who boldly sailed west to (a) find a quicker route to the east, or (b) stop off in the New World and bring some germs to the locals?...
Green Flash to Host 2nd Treasure Chest Fest in Virginia Beach
While construction is in full swing at Green Flash Brewing Co. in Virginia Beach, the brewery is setting up their 2nd annual Treasure Chest Fest (Sunday, October 11, Noon to 5 PM) in an open air spot just across from the construction site (corner of General Booth and...
FOOD: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
By Jeff Maisey A restaurant my family, friends and I return to often is Andrea’s La Bella in Ghent. I can’t help but think of the Billy Joel lyrics every time: A bottle of red, a bottle of white It all depends on your appetite I'll meet you any time you want In our...
O’Connor Wins 5 Medals, 757 Breweries Have Strong Showing
By Jeff Maisey When craft beer enthusiasts in Hampton Roads order their local brew they are drinking many of the best libations made in Virginia. Norfolk’s O’Connor Brewing Company earned five medals, including a Silver in Best of Show, at the Virginia Craft Brewers...
Whistle Belly Festival in Williamsburg
By Jeff Maisey The popular DoG Street Pub Craft Beer Festival has gotten a new name this year. Scheduled for Sunday, August 2 (12:30 PM to 5:00 PM), the event is now dubbed Whistle Belly and will be presented by The Juniors Woman's Club of Williamsburg...
Indonesian Cuisine is Dutch Staple in Norfolk
By Jeff Maisey Think of food from Holland and what comes to mind? Typically, Gouda cheese, pancakes with powdered sugar, pickled herring and fried potatoes (pomme frites) served with mayonnaise, right? While the answer is a resounding “yes” for...
21 Craft Breweries in Hampton Roads by End of 2015
By Jeff Maisey Let’s see, how many breweries will the Coastal Virginia region have by the end of 2015? Currently operating are these: St. George (Hampton), Williamsburg Alewerks, Brass Cannon (Toano), O’Connor (Norfolk), Smartmouth (Norfolk), Reaver Beach (Virginia...
Summertime is Session Time
By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones Summertime in Hampton Roads, when air temperatures are in the 90s and the percent relative humidity is also in the 90s, no sane person wants a barley wine or an Imperial Stout. What we want is a session beer, a relatively low...
ADVERTISEMENTS