Proteus Festival Brings Ambitious Local Arts Showcase to Virginia Beach
By Ron Wray Zeiders American Dream Theater, the vision of local businessman Michael Zeiders, extends its ambitious dreams for Virginia Beach once again with its Proteus Festival 2019 at its showcase venue in Virginia Beach Town Center on October 8-13. Proteus,...
BLACK AMERICANS: WE ARE THE ANSWER(S) FOR WHAT DEBILITATES US
“If it is to be, it is up to me (us). (Dr. William Johnsen, Among Others) “We must realize that our future lies chiefly in our hands. We know that neither institution nor friends can make a race stand unless it has strength in its own foundation; that races like...
Norfolk City Council Approves Railyard Development
By Cindy Mackey The Railyard at Lambert’s Point has been approved by Norfolk City Council and the Norfolk Planning Commission with the support of the Lambert’s Point Civic League. The adaptive re-use development by Meredith Construction is now on track to bring an...
Burning Down The House
By Tench Phillips, Naro Cinema I looked down upon a sea of green that spread out below me in every direction as far as my eyes could see. It wasn’t water we were flying over, it was a tightly-knit canopy of trees covering the Amazon basin. I had flown out of...
Error Messages
By Tom Robotham It is remarkable how easily and insensibly we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ourselves. ~ Henry David Thoreau. For years now, I’ve started my days with the same morning routine: After resisting the urge to stay in bed...
Game Day
By Tom Robotham I wanna grow up to be a politician, and take over this beautiful land. – Roger McGuinn. If you want to understand politics in the age of 24/7 “news” media, look no further than CNN’s “coverage” on July 30, 2019. “It’s game day!” one...
OVERCOMING RACE AND RACISM IN TODAY’S AMERICA: IT IS WHAT IT IS
BY JOHN L HORTON “Those who live with us are our brothers (and sisters), and they share with us the same short movement of life, that they seek – as we do – nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and...
Teamwork Drives 100 Years of Success for Hoffman
(Katherine Hines is President of Hoffman Beverage Company) By Jeff Maisey Teamwork. If you spend any time on the floor within Hoffman Beverage Company’s sprawling warehouse on South Military Highway in Chesapeake you’ll see it in action. Ask the guy driving a...
Criminal Justice Reform Now
(Michael Britt being hosted as a special guest at the home of Senior Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas for a discussion on Criminal Justice Reform in Virginia.) By Michael Muhammad Imagine reaching the three-and-a-half-year mark of your current probation and...
NORFOLK-HAMPTON ROADS: WAYS AND MEANS TO ACHIEVE ITS FULL POTENTIAL
BY John L. Horton “Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you will miss them.” (s) William Arthur Ward, American Writer (1921-1994) In the past several weeks, there has been much conversation and editorializing about how to bring...
LOCAL MUSIC: New Releases Reviewed
Demons “Ravage” (Single) (Spartan Records) In advance of the April 30 national release of Demon’s full-length album “Privation,” the Norfolk-based quartet unveiled “Ravage” as a lead-off single. As the song title implies, “Ravage” is an unrelenting assault on the...
Two Times Four for the Brentano Quartet
By Montague Gammon III The elegance of chamber music brings a socially distanced relief from the arts starvation of the COVID ravaged world when the Brentano Quartet performs at the Virginia Arts Festival’s new Bank Street Stage and at the Sandler Center. Since...
MUSIC: The Ballad of Duane & Nakia
(Nakia Madry-Smith and Duane Smith) By Jeff Maisey There are probably 100 different ways I could tell the story of Duane Smith and Nakia Madry-Smith. The dynamic duo have shared a young life of love and adventure through music and education. Sitting with the...
VA OPERA: From Norfolk State to National Stages
(Norfolk State University alumna Symone Harcum stars in the upcoming Virginia Opera/Virginia Arts Festival co-production of Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti ) By Montague Gammon III The Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Opera outdoor co-production of Leonard...
THEATER PREVIEW: Giving Voice to August Wilson
(The late August Wilson) By Jerome Langston “Of course everybody knows that one and two-person shows are the easiest way back, with social distancing and safety...” says Anthony Stockard, NSU Theatre Company’s producing Artistic Director, regarding the decision to...
ART: Spanish Influence
(Mary Cassatt, Offering the Panal to the Bullfighter, 1873, oil on canvas, On loan from Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute) By Betsy DiJulio Though most of us aren’t going much of anywhere right now, you can take the Grand Tour to Spain by way of Norfolk...
Live at Last: Virginia Symphony Brings Bach Back
(Violinist and guest conductor Cho-Liang Lin) By Montague Gammon III Bach’s Brandenbug concertos are like embraces from the Mona Lisa. Some are spritely and flirtatious, some dignified, languorous and tender, some passionate, but all are sublime and wonderful. Each...
ART: Rosenbaum’s Folkloric Journey on Display
(Art Rosenbaum, Howard Finster with Couple and Fire) By Betsy DiJulio Art and Margo Rosenbaum have spent their careers and marriage traveling across different media and modes through various states of space and time. Trained and active in painting, they have, for over...
ART: Orchid Fascination
(Jennifer Angus, Floriography) By Jeff Maisey Flower lovers will no doubt rejoice when experiencing Orchids: Attraction & Deception, the second temporary exhibition presented by the Barry Art Museum at Old Dominion University. “The work included in this...
Art and Food Pair to Nourish at MOCA
(Richard Nickel, “Pea Pod Family,” 2020, Ceramic and low fire glaze, 46 x19 x15 inches, Courtesy of the artist) By Jeff Maisey Since the beginning of the pandemic, visual art museums and galleries as well as the food and beverage cultures of Hampton Roads have...
BREW NEWS: On the Beer Town
By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones This month we are inspired by Sam Martinette, whose articles in the Virginian Pilot’s Compass kept us informed about goings-on in the local restaurant and drinking establishment scene for many years, back in the day. So, here we...
Barley’s Angels Coastal VA Turns 3
By Elizabeth Erschens Warning: If you adhere to following the social hashtags #prim, #proper, or #sensibilities that are easily offended, you will want to trash this magazine….or hand it to that open-minded vixen, two seats down the bar, enjoying that craft...
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...
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