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...
Virginia Opera Inks Schaefer and Turner
After serving six months as Interim General Director, John-Paul Schaefer has been officially appointed General Director and CEO of Virginia Opera. “I am honored to be entrusted with this role at such an important moment for Virginia Opera,” said Schaefer. “Our...
Little Known Virginia History Comes Alive in Opera
(Jacqueline Echols McCarley will make her Virginia Opera debut in the east coast premiere of “Intelligence.” Photo courtesy of L2 Artists.) By Montague Gammon III Virginia Opera is “bringing a Virginia story home” with its January 30 – February 1 East Coast premiere...
The Superpower of Wait Until Dark
By Jerome Langston "Starting is always a difficult thing, in any walk in life, but with a play, it looks like this giant mountain to climb. But when you arrive, and as soon as the actors sit at the table... and you hear their voices, and hear the energy, you can start...
Discovering the Art of Samuel Kahn
Samuel Kahn. Raining Cats and Dogs. 2006-2007. Felt-tip pen on paper. ODU Gordon Art Galleries Self-Taught Art Collection. 2013.208.02 By Betsy DiJulio To say that Samuel Kahn (1927-2007) was a self-taught artist is accurate, but somewhat akin to saying Emily...
Muscarelle Museum Made Over
By Betsy DiJulio Ten months ago, a twenty-year vision came to fruition on the campus of The College of William & Mary (W&M). There, the original Muscarelle Museum of Art, designed by Carlton Abbott—opened in 1983 and expanded in 1987—boasted five galleries...
A Merry Little Christmas Carol
(Actor Beatty Barnes Jr. will reprise the role of Ebenezer Scrooge) By Jerome Langston "I’m a therapist by day, and a theater director by night,” says Maryanne Kiley, very early in our recent phone chat, about her job as director of Virginia Stage Company’s A Merry...
An Enchanting Christmas with Sarah Brightman
By Jim Morrison Sarah Brightman's journey through dance, Broadway, international stardom and selling tens of millions of records began with singing at three with her family in England. So, her winter symphony Christmas tours take her back to that time decades ago....
Smooth Jazz Christmas with Dave Koz & Friends
By Jeff Maisey Smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz has made a successful seasonal career hitting the road for the past 27 years in the month leading up to Christmas Eve with his critically acclaimed Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour. When the 28th tour makes a stop...
The Hurrah Players prepare two holiday shows on consecutive weekends
(Santa and the starring cast of Hurrah for the Holidays. Photo by Elena Grace Photography courtesy of Hurrah Players.) By Jim Roberts Hugh Copeland has a simple piece of advice for anyone considering producing back-to-back theatrical performances: “Don’t do it.” Yet...
Nuts for Nutcracker Ballets
Ballet Virginia’s “Nutcracker” performance by professional dancers. By Jeff Maisey If you can’t get enough of the holiday season “Nutcracker” ballet, you’re in for a treat in Hampton Roads with several productions scheduled, each with its own unique...
Get Down with KC and the Sunshine Band
By Jeff Maisey The mid 1970s experienced a new pop culture fad that exploded in big city dance clubs and on the airwaves — disco was all the rage. Men wore extravagant outfits, silky big collar jackets, tight fitting spandex jeans, and unbuttoned shirts to show off...
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...
The Table Side Caesar Salad at Isle of Capri is as Popular as Ever
(Isle of Capri servers and Caesar Salad makers Justin Zobel, Nancy Binetti and Az Tomouro with restaurant GM Dave Cox) by Joel Rubin If you are a “server” at Isle of Capri Restaurant on the 6th floor of the Holiday Inn Express (39th and the oceanfront), you do much...
The (Ice Cream) Flavors of Summer
(Randy Windley says vanilla is most popular at Doumar’s.) By Marisa Marsey Call it a double-dip. In 1984, Ronald Reagan proclaimed July to be National Ice Cream Month and designated the third Sunday of the month (July 21 this year) as National Ice Cream Day. Good...
Roast Rider Still Riding High
(Coffee mates: Wayne and Lisa Richmon partner only with roasters who lead the industry in social and environmental responsibility including Equator. Photo by Tyler Kahlil.) By Marisa Marsey Cha-ca-cha-ca-cha-ca. Is there any sound more titillating than your favorite...
Ghent Burger Week
(Pixels Technotronic Burger) By Jeremy Bender Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the best burger of all? From May 27 through June 2, 13 restaurants will compete in the inaugural Ghent Burger Week. Loyal patrons and hamburger fanatics alike are encouraged to visit...
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