Threatened by Rising Waters, Norfolk Museum Fights Back
The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, sits at the culmination of The Hague, an inlet of the Elizabeth River. (Photo by Jim Morrison for the Virginia Mercury) By Jim Morrison When Erik Neil moved to Norfolk to become president of the Chrysler Museum of Art,...
ESSAY: Power
By Tom Robotham The one prudence in life is concentration; the one evil is dissipation:… You must elect your work; you shall take what your brain can, and drop all the rest. – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Lately, I’ve been feeling powerless. One reason, no doubt, is that...
REVIEW: Black Sabbath The Ballet Thrills in American Debut
(Now, in darkness, world stops turning…Hand of God has struck the hour. Photo by David Polston) Review by Jeff Maisey Photos by David Polston Fucking brilliant! These are words I spoke from the heart as the blood red curtain closed at the end of Act I of the...
ESSAY: On Masculinity
By Tom Robotham Male and female represent the two sides of the great radical dualism. But, in fact, they are perpetually passing into one another. Fluid hardens to solid, solid rushes to fluid. There is no wholly masculine man, no purely feminine woman. – Margaret...
ESSAY: Daily News
By Tom Robotham Recently, I sat on a panel—convened at Old Dominion University—to talk about the state of journalism. I was impressed by the students in attendance. They struck me as bright, and they seemed to be knowledgeable about current events. That said, they...
Revved Up Rick Mersel Has Book Ready to Go
(Rick Mersel shares some insights into his new book at Chicho’s Backstage Cafe.) By Jeff Maisey As you might imagine, Rick Mersel has lived an exciting life thus far. Born in Norfolk, Mersel has now spent most of his life in the music business, opening the popular...
Virginia Beach’s ViBe District Celebrates 10 Years in 2025
(Murals painted on the exterior walls of local business are a signature of the ViBe Creative District.) By Kate Pittman In April 2025, the ViBe Creative District will celebrate 10 years of as the creative heartbeat of Virginia Beach, a place where hundreds of local...
VEER’s Top 10 This Week Playlist
Check out this week's Top 10 playlist from 757 region recording artists
All Fired Up — Perry Glass Studio
Spectators (in the background) are entertained by the process of glassmaking by Cedric Mitchell in the auditorium of the new Perry Glass Studio of Chrysler Museum of Art. By Jeff Maisey Take your seat; the show’s about to begin. Light-tight mechanical black curtains...
Live it Up
By Tom Robotham Our total attitude towards art, was, like, get up and do something — quit sitting there whining. – David Johansen, on the spirt of The New York Dolls In 1982, when I was working as a reporter and music columnist for The Staten Island Advance, I got...
Laughter Divides Sorrow, Not People, on the Palace Theatre Stage
Tony and Karla Robinson as George and Judy Kimball in Arts Enter Cape Charles' production of Send Me No Flowers. Photo credit: Chris Roll By Sheila Vera “Especially during a time when we’re so divided, we strive to find plays that draw the community together,”...
ART REVIEW: Intersections in Abstract Paintings
James Williams, “On the Other Side of the Bridge No. 3,” Mixed Media on Canvas, 40” x 60" By Betsy DiJulio In our digital world, in which comparisons are often linked with the negative emotions around FOMO, here you are expressly invited to compare. Intentionally...
An Exhibition Celebrating the 150th Birthday of Susan Watkins & Other Lesser Known Women Artists
Susan Watkins (American, 1875–1913), Le Five O’Clock (Tea), ca. 1903, Oil on canvas, Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Miles By Jeff Maisey Chances are you’ve never heard of American artist Susan Watkins. You likely had no idea she lived on Duke Street in Norfolk, died at age...
Soweto Gospel Choir Spreads Joy, Peace and Happiness
By Jerome Langston “I’ve been a fan of this music since I was a kid,” says Robert Cross, Executive Director and artistic director of the Virginia Arts Festival, referring to gospel music — which he became immersed in through the local scene of gospel choirs here in...
Queen of Soul Gets Symphonic Boost
(Capathia Jenkins is sensational singing Aretha Franklin hits) By Jerome Langston "I have the best airport in the world. The busiest airport in the world, right? So I can get, almost anywhere, on a direct flight from Atlanta because it’s Delta’s hub,” says Broadway...
WAR Headlines Neptune Festival
By Jeff Maisey Many of you know the classic hit songs from the band WAR — “Low Rider,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Summer,” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” What you may not recall is the musical crossover group from Southern California known for weaving elements funk, jazz,...
Last Stop on the O’Jays Love Train
By Jeff Maisey The O’Jays are one of America’s most beloved old school soul and R&B groups. You no doubt know the songs from radio play and television commercials: “Love Train,” “I Love Music,” “Use Ta Be My Girl,” and “Backstabbers.” Perhaps their 1973 hit,...
How Soon Is Now, Johnny Marr?
(The Smiths’ iconic guitarist is coming to Norfolk. Photo by Heiko DeWees By Jim Roberts How much money would it take for Johnny Marr and Stephen Patrick Morrissey to reunite and tour as The Smiths? According to recent reports, $75 million wasn’t enough to get them...
Jaleel Shaw Opens Fall Jazz Series Season at The Attucks
By Jerome Langston When I reached jazz saxophonist Jaleel Shaw for our phone chat a few days ago, the Philadelphia native was navigating the running of errands around the city in New Jersey — and was especially zeroed in on the need to drop off a suit at a local dry...
Broadway Show Brings Beautiful Noise of Neil Diamond to Life
Nick Fradiani as 'Neil - Then' (center) and 'The Noise' in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.” Photo credit Jeremy Daniel. By Jim Roberts “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” ran for less than two years on Broadway, but a national tour featuring...
Pronounced New Eateries
By Marisa Marsey Restaurant names, like baby names, come in waves. Remember the address age (Bistro 210; useful, pre-GPS, for recalling locations)? And the monosyllabic era (here’s looking at you, Stove)? Now restaurateurs are spurning marketing gurus who advise...
Chef Close to Open ILO Bistro
(Chef Zack Close. Photo courtesy of Glass Light Hotel.) By Jeff Maisey Zack Close, who spent a decade in New York City and worked with Daniel Boulud at his Michelin- starred restaurant, Café Boulud, before returning to his hometown of Norfolk to become the Executive...
Vegan Korean
By Betsy DiJulio Vegan Korean fried chicken may be the tastiest oxymoron on the planet. Korean Fried Chicken—which someone cleverly dubbed “the other KFC”—emerged as a “thing” in the US long after I no longer consumed meat. So, I had never experienced this...
Backstories Vol. 1
(Dylan & Jason of Waters Edge Winery Norfolk) By Joel Rubin If you have seen the weekly newsletter I publish (generally to promote the offshore wind industry Dominion Energy is bringing to the region), you know that many of the articles feature small businesses,...
Voodoo Brewing Co. opens pub in Virginia Beach
(Alex and Chrissy Bergren have opened a Voodoo Brewing location in Virginia Beach. Photo by Jim Roberts.) By Jim Roberts Voodoo Brewing Co., the newest entry into Hampton Roads’ beer scene, opened on January 13 in Virginia Beach. It’s a locally owned and...
DINING: A Tale of Two Italians
(Something for every Italian taste at Sorella’s. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.) By Marisa Marsey Hibernation season, for me, means hunkering down beneath a mountain of blankets and gorging on classic movies à la “Casablanca” and latter-day faves like “Moonstruck”...
Going to the Dogs
(DOGGONE GOOD: Larry Sauger and Karl Neumann have Pittie Dog Grill sizzlin’) By Marisa Marsey Since adopting a puppy last year, my ears prick up at any mention of the word “dog” as avidly as Sheepish, my Miniature Sheepadoodle, sniffs out squirrels. So when I heard...
Big Ugly Wins 2023 Golden Tap Award
Big Ugly Brewing won the 2023 Golden Tap Award in a region-wide competition where the tally was picked by readers and our committee of judges — including Diane Catanzaro, Chris Jones, Brian Koski, and Jen McDonald — provided expert analysis. The 757 region craft...
VEER’s Golden Tap Awards & The Key to Lager Town
By Jeremy Bender Who is the best brewery in Hampton Roads this year? What are the finest IPAs, stouts, lagers, sours and pilsners? On Tuesday, December 5, VEER Magazine will present its 2023 Golden Tap Awards at Elation Brewing in Norfolk beginning at 6 PM. The...
Stuff Their Stockings…And Yourself
(FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Brian Brinson’s popular Lizard Café is the perfect lunch combo with Prince Books in downtown Norfolk.) By Marisa Marsey Time for the holidays. Yay! Time for holiday shopping. Ugh! I love pretty much any festive tradition (more mistletoe, please)...
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