Now What?
BY TOM ROBOTHAM On the morning of Nov. 7, I was watching CNN, fervently hoping that they would finally call the election in Joe Biden’s favor. When they did, at 11:26 a.m., I let out a whoop that was likely heard throughout West Ghent. Van Jones—a CNN commentator whom...
Wasserhund to Open Chesapeake Location
BY CINDY MACKEY Wasserhund Brewing Company has leased 4,000 square feet of prime, street-level space at Summit Pointe, in Chesapeake’s Central Business District. The second location for the brewery, located at 510 Belaire Avenue, is scheduled to open in June 2021....
Rumble On
By Jeff Maisey Rick Rumble, host of WNOR-FM99’s mega-popular “Rumble in the Morning” show, recently celebrated 25 years at the radio station, and slathered a little extra icing on the cheesecake by signing a five-year extension. Several former interns,...
ROBOTHAM: See You at the Pub
(Columnist Tom Robotham was among the first to enjoy the patio when Taphouse Grill in Ghent reopened in late summer) By Tom Robotham Ten years ago, I wrote an essay in this space called “The Soul of the Pub”—my reflections on the appeal of pubs in general, and The...
ODU School of Music Tunes in Despite COVID
(Dr. Nancy K. Klein conducting Old Dominion University’s symphony and chorus. Photo courtesy of ODU.) By Montague Gammon III The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic hit ODU’s F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music last March, when this descendent of the University’s 62 year old...
OPINION: Reparations, To Be or Not to Be
BY JOHN L. HORTON I just finished reading the latest issue of TIME Magazine (double issue, September 21/28, 2020). The magazine has a feature/society piece about the “Rosewood massacre” (circa 1923), where nine survivors and descendants have been awarded some...
The Myth of Individualism
By Tom Robotham No man is an island, / Entire of itself, / Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. ~ John Donne I didn’t watch this year’s Republican convention—I couldn’t stomach the thought—but I did see the opening montage, which...
ESSAY: Thoughts and Prayers
By Tom Robotham Let me ask you a question: Do you pray? If so, for what and to whom? I used to pray a lot. Throughout my childhood, I attended services at a lovely old Episcopal Church virtually ever Sunday, and for several years I served as an acolyte. In...
CANCELED: 2020 Boardwalk Art Show
Virginia MOCA announced today the cancellation of the 2020 Boardwalk Art Show scheduled for the weekend of October 23. "It was a tough but necessary call given public safety concerns,” said Virginia MOCA Executive Director, Gary Ryan. “The good news is that we have...
My Story
(Jerry Gaines, pictured clearing 25-feet in the long jump, was Virginia Tech’s first full-scholarship black athlete. Courtesy photograph.) By Dr. Jerry Gaines The circumstances across our nation being what they are, it seems appropriate to share this story now. Back...
REVIEW: Prophetic Unknown Outcome a Must-See
(Sheila Giolitti (Norfolk ,VA), Atlantis Project #1, Mixed media, Plexiglas, pigment) By Betsy DiJulio A year ago, as the Hermitage staff prepared for an August public forum announcing calls for proposals for their summer 2020 exhibition, Unknown Outcome, they had no...
ART REVIEW: Shifting Gaze in Focus
Ebony G. Patterson, Untitled IV (Khani + di Krew) from the Disciplez Series, 2009. Courtesy of the artist and Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago. By Betsy DiJulio They didn’t see it coming. But it is almost as though they did. Not Covid-19 and the global pandemic, but...
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...
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...
