Posed Photography Nominees Announced
The nominees for the 2026 Veer Music Awards in the Posed Photography category are as follows: Cathy Hopkins, “Thru with Therapy” Will Clarke, “Emerald Beach” Katie Culver, “Community Witch Alternative Album Cover” Corijona Forlines, “Turncoat...
ESSAY: Reading As an Act of Love
By Tom Robotham When I was a young father, one of my greatest pleasures was reading aloud to my kids—often, from books I’d loved in my own early childhood: Blueberries for Sal, Curious George, Madeline, The Cat in the Hat, and many others. The riches of this ritual...
RESULTS: VEER’s 2025 Golden Tap Awards
By Jeff Maisey Maker’s Craft Brewery took home the 2025 Golden Tap Award by accumulating the most points in our annual region-wide competition. This marked the 10th anniversary of VEER’s Golden Tap Awards. Gold medals earned three points, silver received two points,...
NEWS: Veer Magazine’s Golden Tap Awards Ceremony
The Golden Taps Awards ceremony will be held Monday, December 1 at 6:00 PM at Big Ugly Brewing Company in Chesapeake. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awards in nearly 40 categories including IPA, Stout, and Pale Ale to breweries in the 757 region. Admission is...
Anita Bradley’s Wearable Art
By Jeff Maisey Artist Anita Bradley has taken her vibrantly colorful abstract paintings in a whole new direction — literally from canvas to the fabric you wear out to dinner. The idea came to her four years ago after a long career in interior design and as a visual...
A Walk in the Woods
By Tom Robotham In the woods…a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth. – Ralph Waldo Emerson One of my great fortunes in life is that I grew up in the woods. There’s a...
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:...
World Premiere Destined for Greatness
(Jordan Williams and Edwin Green bring Redd Foxx and Malcolm X to life. Photo by Beth Dedman.) By Jerome Langston “This one feels really special because I have a new Foxy this time. I have a new co-star. And this guy just happens to be one of my best friends,” says...
John Lennon’s Lost Weekend Captured in Photos
(May Pang surrounded by her photographs of John Lennon. Photo by Scott Segelbaum.) By Jeff Maisey Funny thing happened on the long and winding road just past Penny Lane en route to a Madison Square Garden concert appearance with Elton John— former Beatle John Lennon...
Chameleons Tour Glowing Arctic Moon
(The Chameleons play Richmond Music Hall on Monday, April 20. Photo by Helen Millington.) By Jeff Maisey By age 21, in 1983, I had absorbed the music of The Beatles as a kid influenced by teenagers on the dead end street I was raised on. From this impressionable...
Compelling Storytelling at the Heart of Primary Trust
(LeVonte’ Herbert as Sam (tan shorts with cigarette in hand) and Brenden Wrenn as Kenneth. Photo courtesy of NSU Theatre Company.) By Jerome Langston “And when it was done, and the rights became available — I saw it online... I think I was in Walmart. And I stopped...
The Unequalled All Things Equal Returns
(Michelle Azar portrays Ruth Bader Ginsburg.) By Montague Gammon III The Virginia Arts Festival brings back to Hampton Roads, March 29, the most important play that anyone in local audiences will see this year, and perhaps for many years to come. “All Things Equal –...
Kamikaze cabaret goddess Meow Meow returning to Norfolk
This Meow Meow loves milk too. Photo by Nicholas Harmony By Jim Roberts Meow Meow may not be a household name in the U.S., but in the world of cabaret, she’s a legend with an international following in cities like Sydney, London and Berlin. The day before we spoke,...
Dance Theatre of Harlem Reignites Firebird
(Ariana Dickerson and Micah Bullard. Photo by Nir Areli) By Jerome Langston "We are preparing for our tour to France, which is about to happen right now. And then we follow that up by coming to Lorraine Graves’ hometown,” said Robert Garland, the artistic director of...
Dreams Come True with Joseph
(The cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.) By Jerome Langston “It’s really been a dream come true honestly. Getting to work on this show has been a long-time goal. And getting to dive into it these past couple of weeks has been a real joy,” says...
ODU Students Moving Forward with Art
Students take a quick break during a Professor Emily Culver's metal-casting class. Photo courtesy of John Roth By Betsy DiJulio “Students had to unlearn going to school in pajamas without leaving their bedroom,” recalls Peter Eudenbach, a professor of art at ODU who...
ART: Focusing on the Future
(Do Ho Suh, Specimen Series: Refrigerator, Apartment A, 348 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011, USA, 2013. Polyester fabric, stainless steel wire, glass display case with LED lighting; Edition of 3. Courtesy Gazelli Art House, LTD.) By Betsy DiJulio Recently, Lucas...
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...
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...
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