May–July 2021 Boulevard by boulevardmedia

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Cracking One Open All hands on deck: Time to celebrate MAY-JUL

2021

EVENTS • FOOD & DRINK • SHOPPING • RECREATION • HEALTH & WELLNESS • REAL ESTATE

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contents

may-jul 2021

ALLIED COMMAND TRANSFORMATION

FEATURES: General André Lanata

Q&A with supreme allied commander of NATO Allied Command Transformation

Soft-shell Journey, from Bay to Plate

Reflections on crabbing as a decades-old family affair

Game On: Reboot

A tale of two sports venues, emerging from restrictions

RICK BLANTON

DEPARTMENTS:

What’s Biting

In-season fish to reel in

Your Two Cents

Reader feedback to Boulevard

Notable Potables

Summertime, and the drinking’s easy

Calendar of Events

What’s happening in May through July, and a new family farm stand debuts

Viewpoint: Darius Davenport

Clear evidence for regional high-speed connectivity

Tidewater Temptations

Boulevard team picks of locally sourced items you can’t live without

Day Trip

Destination: Assateague and Chincoteague

Boulevard’s Last Call

Where was this photo taken? [Contest]

The Boulevard team dedicates this issue to the extended Brunk family, whose history of hard work and creativity have made it possible.

16 30

COURTESY OF CRENSHAW, WARE & MARTIN

Time to Come Out of Our Shells STEVEN GOLDBURG

From the Publisher

JILL DOCZI

26 ON THE COVER Tidewater Crab Feast Instructions 101: Find a shady spot, spread old newspapers on the tables, add your assortment of tools, catch a mess of crabs, invite 100 of your closest friends who bring side dishes and full coolers. Sit elbow to elbow— social distancing be damned. Crack crab and drink beer. Wipe your face with the back of your hand. Revel in how good life is. [ PHOTO by Gerry Brunk ]

boulevard | may-jul 2021

from the publisher Time to Come Out of Our Shells The return of shared experiences and group gatherings The first four months of 2021 have slipped away quietly while many of us waited to get our vaccinations so we could resume some semblance of our pre-2020 lives with a bit of relief and comfort knowing that after the second shot we could venture forth with a measure of confidence. May Day, too, has recently come and gone, but let’s reflect on that day not in the nautical sense, or as a function of the labor movement, but as the ancient European tradition of celebration it once was. English historian Ronald Hutton of the 20th century concurs with Swedish scholar of the 19th century, Carl Wilhelm Von Sydow (father of the infamous Max), who stated that maypoles were erected “simply” as “signs that the happy season of warmth and comfort had returned.” Their shape allowed for the village folk to hang garlands from them and frolic around the pole. Maypoles were first seen—at least in the British Isles—between A.D. 1350 and 1400 within the context of medieval Christian European culture. In 1588, at Holy Trinity Church in Exeter, villagers gathered around the ‘summer rod’ for feasting and drinking. Geoffrey Chaucer mentions them in some of his writings. And what about the pre-Revolution colony of Virginia? Local leaders understood “making merry” with the maypole was good for the community. How did the pole and merry-making occur in the early Virginia colony? Well, no one is entirely sure. During the early years of starvation, pestilence, sorrow and death, from 1607 to 1614, merry-making was not big on the list of events. It sounds a little like 2020.

BERRY BRUNK

President | Publisher berry@blvdmedia.io

JULIE FANNING Chief Creative Officer julie@blvdmedia.io

JILL DOCZI Managing Editor jill@blvdmedia.io

PATRICK EVANS-HYLTON Food & Drink Editor patrick@blvdmedia.io

RICK BLANTON Photography Editor rick@blvdmedia.io

JOHN CADELL Senior Photographer john@blvdmedia.io

CONTRIBUTORS DYLON SHEFFER Multimedia Design dylon@blvdmedia.io

AINSLEY JOHN DARLING Publications Assistant

SUSIE BRUNK General Manager susie@blvdmedia.io

ADVERTISING For advertising inquiries, please contact Berry Brunk 757.340.3625 berry@blvdmedia.io

Visit our website

blvdmedia.io DIANE BRUNK, AKA: MOM

© 2021 | Vol 2, No. 2 Boulevard is published quarterly (February, May, August, November) by Blvd. Media, LLC 4001-117 Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite 181 Virginia Beach, VA 23452 All rights reserved. blvdmedia757

Many of us haven’t had a chance to spend much time with family over the past year. Recently Susie and I were finally able to visit with my parents in the house—instead of in the driveway!

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

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Thank You

for your continued support!

You want to connect and celebrate – to see long-missed friends, celebrate a milestone with colleagues, or have a full-blown birthday celebration. There’s no better place to do that than over a shared meal at a local restaurant. We’re ready.

For the latest restaurant and safety updates, visit our website at www.dineinvb.com

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Since we are now emerging from our own period of pestilence, I’d like to think that in 2021 for all of us here in Tidewater, the proverbial “happy season of warmth and comfort” has returned and that we will all gather together with friends and family “feasting and drinking” and not necessarily in that order—with a maypole being optional. Now is the time to make merry with our family and friends whom we’ve isolated ourselves from for too long. It’s time to renew our patriotism and love of country, and remember those who did not survive. Make your gatherings throughout the year more meaningful, create lasting memories from truly shared experiences, relish in the opening of colleges and schools and open seating at your favorite bars and clubs. If we become more mindful of each moment, we will appreciate these small things in ways far larger than we would have, had the pandemic not opened our eyes to all that we have, and how easy it is to lose what we might have taken for granted. In this issue, we continue our standard lineup of featured content. Here’s a teaser of what you’ll find on the following pages. 7—What’s Biting This comprehensive list of what’s biting tells you not only “what” but “where” to fish. 8—Your Two Cents We like to hear what our readers like and dislike about Boulevard. Tell us what we’re doing right and wrong—it helps inform us on how we can improve. 10—NATO Supreme Allied Commander The highest-ranking NATO officer stationed in Tidewater reflects on his time here as he prepares to return to France. 16—Soft Shell Crabs Why do they cost so much and how did they get on your

plate? Learn about the process and a family who have crabbed and shed for six generations. 23—Notable Potables Learn about drinks of historical relevance to Virginia and meet Patrick Evans-Hylton. 26—Calendar As more events open up, check out what’s happening— including a highlight of the new Cullipher Farm. 30—Sports Read our tale of two sports venues, in separate cities, and how they’re emerging from restrictions. 38—Viewpoint Darius Davenport, Esq. comments on why broadband connectivity is needed to bridge the digital divide. 40—Tidewater Temptations Dads, grads, grooms, moms and brides—what to buy for our favorite people. We scouted it all out and share our Boulevard favorites. 45—Day Trip: Chincoteague & Assateague These islands have so much to experience, but we narrowed it down a few things to see and do. 48—Last Call Who won our Last Call contest? Meet the winner and take your chance at winning it this issue.

BERRY BRUNK

SUSIE BRUNK

President/Publisher

General Manager

757.340.3625 berry@blvdmedia.io

360.333.7162 susie@blvdmedia.io

coming in the next issue

Since we’ve all spent so much time in our homes over the past year, Boulevard will explore the topic of real estate, specifically interior and exterior home renovation projects, home purchasing challenges and how to make the most of where you live. 6

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

During May, June and July you’ll typically reel in these catches:

MAY Offshore Yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, flounder Chesapeake Bay Black drum, red drum, tautog, flounder, bluefish Lynnhaven River Spot, croaker, flounder, puppy drum, speckled trout, bluefish

JUNE Offshore Dolphin fish, golden tilefish, flounder, amberjack, trigger fish, wahoo Chesapeake Bay Black drum, red drum, sheepshead, spadefish, cobia, Spanish mackerel, flounder Lynnhaven River Spot, croaker, flounder, bluefish, speckled trout, puppy, drum, roundheads, skates

JULY

MIKE TAYLOR

Offshore Yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, blue marlin, white marlin, snowy grouper, wahoo, dolphin fish, sailfish, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish Chesapeake Bay Cobia, red drum, sheepshead, spadefish, flounder, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel

John Abbott reels in one of many catches at Assateague Island’s National Seashore.

GERRY BRUNK

You don’t need a fancy rig or a long cruise offshore to pull in a few keepers. Some good bait and patience usually do the trick, whether you’re in the western branch, surf casting or hanging over the side of the pier on 14th Street or in Ocean View.

Lynnhaven River Spot, croaker, speckled trout, puppy drum, flounder, bluefish, roundhead, skates We would like to publish your photos, information, prize catches and catches of note in our What’s Biting segment. Send us your favorite amateur photos with a description and the photographer’s name.

boulevard | may-jul 2021

your two cents Reader commentary via email, social media, text and even snailmail As a Williamsburg resident, I’m quite familiar with the touristy pamphlets, brochures and books available. The recent debut of Boulevard magazine is a welcome change—particularly the latest issue, as it’s filled with not only the necessary information regarding Williamsburg and the surrounding areas, but it’s a beautiful, informative, well thought-out and welcome publication! Betsie Jans Williamsburg, VA It was a pleasure to meet you this afternoon and I really enjoyed learning more about Boulevard. I’m impressed by your enthusiasm and clear expertise in meeting the need for a local curator of events and topics. I can’t want to see the next issue! Kim P. Yager, associate director of communications, Norfolk Academy Norfolk, VA I saw the magazine and it looks great. Thank you so much for including us! Diana Burke, executive director, Virginia Beach Hotel Association Virginia Beach, VA Yes! Beautiful!!! Love the cover and Jill’s articles are so well written. It is chock full of great information. Love the intro photo and Tangier article, too. Great job! You are well on your way! The challenge will be topping this issue. Joyce Hill Reston, VA Reading the article about Tangier brought back many memories. I was in charge of the Coast Guard station in Crisfield, MD, from 1964 to 1969. We worked a lot with the Tangier watermen. Concerning the oyster floats in the article: Many years later,

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

after I had retired from the Coast Guard, I was working doing oil spill response training for Tangier Island Oil Co. and A & N Electric Co-op. One day we were running from Onancock to Tangier. As we got close, you could tell that a large amount of oyster floats had broken loose. The people from A & N said that they had broken loose from ice and wind. Most of the floats ended up down the bay near Cape Charles, VA, and were later recovered, but the oysters had washed out of the floats. Peter A. Brunk, USCG CW04 (ret.) captain Nantucket Lightship–USCG Station Woods Hole, MA; captain, USCGC Sledge, USCG Base Portsmouth, VA; USCG Atlantic Strike Team Portsmouth, VA We were quite surprised that the jewelry items you featured from our gallery in the editorial section called Tidewater Temptations did not include the name of the artist. We thought this was a serious omission of important information, and as soon as I saw it I didn’t even look at the rest of the issue. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The above Two Cents comment is not a direct quote but an accurate paraphrasing of the conversation with Amy Kitchin, Virginia Beach --DEAR READER, PLEASE NOTE: The February–April issue of Boulevard featured some items from Stravitz Gallery in our Tidewater Temptations column. We would like to credit the artist, Lynn Harrisberger, for

Send us your thoughts digitally (and don’t forget to follow, like and subscribe while you’re there!) or mail to: Blvd. Media, LLC, 4001-117 Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite 181, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

her beautiful jewelry. To learn more about her fine art please visit www.LynnHarrisberger.com Greetings and congrats on the new edition of the magazine! I hope you and family are safe. Robert E. Denton, Jr., Ph.D., W. Thomas Rice chair department of marketing, Pamplin College of Business professor and director, School of Communication College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences Blacksburg, VA I spent a long weekend in Virginia Beach recently and saw the Feb-Mar-Apr issue of Boulevard at the hotel. I’ve got a background in publishing and have to say the content is well written and beautifully done. Thoroughly enjoyed the issue, from the piece on Elbert Watson and his extensive career in dance to the feature on Tangier Island Oyster Company’s investment into the future of aquaculture. The CommuneXCROP piece—educating the next generation of culinary professionals—was also inspiring. I look forward to catching future issues. Also: We saw the ad for Aldo’s Ristorante, and went there for dinner. Delicious. Keep up the good work. Kim Jones Fairfax, VA Regarding the Tangier Island Oyster Company piece: Nice article! Looks like a cool mag. Clay Caperton Richmond, VA

blvdmedia.io/letters-to-the-editor hello@blvdmedia.io blvdmedia757 360.333.7161

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General André Lanata Reflecting on strong alliances, challenges, support: Three years of experience As General André Lanata, supreme allied commander of NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and member of the French Air Force, prepares to leave his post and his temporary home in the U.S. for the past three years, he took the time out of his busy schedule to reflect with Boulevard about his accomplishments, his time spent here and the strong NATO alliance we share based right here in Norfolk. We found his own words so compelling that we chose to leave the piece in question-and-answer format. ACT is one of only two NATO commands on the North American Continent, both of which are located here in Norfolk. What does this mean to you; why do you think Norfolk is the home for NATO in North America? What does this say about the community here? “Above all, it is a beautiful symbol. These two commands embody the Transatlantic Alliance and reinforce the bond between our continents. It was moreover after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 that Article 5 of the Treaty was applied for the first time. It represents the cornerstone of the alliance, which enshrines collective defense and implies that

an attack against a NATO member is considered an attack directed against all allies. It is also an asset when it comes to interacting with American power, whether political, military or technological and industrial— especially to build the adaptations mentioned above. Norfolk and the entire Hampton Roads area are incredibly unique. Operating in this area gives us the opportunity to work alongside some of the largest U.S. military bases and commands in the entire United States. I could also say the proximity to Washington D.C. is important, or that staying on the East Coast allows us to travel easily to Europe, but I truly think NATO calls Hampton Roads home because of the incredible community we have built here. NATO has been in the area since 1952, and our success rests entirely upon the cohesion we maintain among our 30 member nations. All of this is embodied by an international community of NATO military and civilian families here, and they feel at home from day one. The hospitality and openness of the people of Hampton Roads are irreplaceable, so much so that when looking to open a second command in the United States, NATO opened Joint Forces Command

[ by rochelle rieger ] PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALLIED COMMAND TRANSFORMATION

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

right here in Norfolk. I will be eternally grateful to the local community for warmly embracing me, my family, and our entire NATO community. I am confident this hospitality will continue for as long as NATO calls Hampton Roads home in North America.” I understand you are a Fighter Pilot in the French Air Force. Many people in the area are familiar with the jobs and rankings of our regional military officers. How does yours compare or differ? What was it like moving up the ranks in the French Air Force? “Like any of the U.S. pilots you see here in Hampton Roads, I have obviously spent a lot of time in the planes. I went through various training and requirements to become a French fighter pilot, very similar to the system here for aviators. I have a lot of experience working with U.S. officers since my first days as a pilot in a combat unit. I have always recognized in them the level of commitment and professionalism that our nations share. The qualities acquired and developed through our education programs always appear as a source of pride and optimism for our next generations.” Now, can you describe your job as Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation? How did your experience in the French Air Force best prepare you for this particular leadership position? “My mission is to propose and implement, in

the face of a constantly evolving and unpredictable geostrategic environment, the necessary and essential military capabilities to face the challenges of tomorrow and thereby guarantee the security and prosperity of more than 1 million citizens. My previous position in the French Air Force, as a pilot in general, but also as chief of the French Air Force, has undoubtedly helped me to manage such an amazing command here within ACT. Leading a command composed of military and civilian personnel coming from 30 nationalities requires rigor, ability to adapt and to embrace 30 different cultures. It is not always easy, and confidence is probably one of the key elements to success. Today, I am particularly proud to be their ambassador during these three years.” When you found out you were selected to be the next Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, what were you most excited about as you planned to arrive here? What were you most concerned about? “I was simply most excited to visit the USA! I was ready to discover this country and culture. Beyond that, it was an honor to take this command, and the associated responsibilities in order to succeed in proposing the adaptations required by our security environment, ensuring that nations can continue to guarantee the same level of security and contribute to stability.” Was this your first time living in the United States? Have you lived in any other countries in your military career? boulevard | may-jul 2021

“My first time here was actually around 30 years ago, when I participated in a Red Flag exercise in Nevada, alongside my U.S. Air Force colleagues. This allowed me to enrich my experience as a pilot in an incomparable training environment. My numerous operational missions have taken me to the Middle East, Africa, Iraq and Turkey. I also commanded three years in Djibouti in this very important geostrategic place in Africa.” Did you move here with family? Did you all come together at once, or did you lead the way? “I moved here with my wife, Christine, and my youngest daughter, who stayed with us one year before returning to France to study. Our five children are grown now, but they happily visit us from time to time. Christine’s dream was to discover the USA and I am particularly happy to contribute to realizing this dream.” Was your wife excited or concerned about the new assignment? “She was extremely excited. She enjoyed a lot in the Hampton Roads community and particularly appreciated the daily support provided to all families of ACT staff. She was invested a lot in the NATO community, but also in the local community to promote the values and cultures of our 30 nations.”

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When you finally arrived in Hampton Roads, what things were completely different than you ever expected about our area, or about living in the United States? “One of the first things I noticed when arriving here was that we needed to speak American, not just English. Everywhere is a little different, and it was interesting to hear and learn some Americanisms. Also, I have never lived this close to the ocean before–it has been great as I like to fish.”

and capabilities remained. It was and still is challenging to maintain our interactions with our counterparts, partner nations, industries and we have to adapt our way we work. Frankly, the worst part of the past year was not seeing physically people, and particularly my staff and their supportive families as often as normal. I enjoy connecting with them and fostering our international NATO community—we are diverse and represent many nations here in Hampton Roads.”

At the time you arrived, what were the key things you hoped to accomplish at ACT? As you look back, are those the same goals you would set if you were starting over again? “My biggest goal, and what I mentioned when I took command three years ago, still rings true today: We must move forward together as an alliance, and propose the necessary adaptations that allow us to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. I’ll also emphasize that I don’t do all the work at ACT; if I knew about the war of tomorrow, it would suit me very much. What history tells us is that the wars to come are not like those of the past. Our environment is indeed in full change, we are facing unprecedented technological changes and unstable geostrategic balances. Predicting the future is a delicate task but thinking about this future is easier. I have the pleasure of leading one of the most innovative and forward-leaning staffs in all of NATO. Together, ACT has developed some of the most novel tools, doctrines, concepts and capabilities to ensure NATO remains a viable, valuable alliance for decades to come. We look forward 10 to 20 years down the road and methodically predict what the Alliance needs to do to move forward together, and do

it effectively. I wouldn’t change that goal one bit.” What was your biggest challenge regarding your job over the past three years? “Considering we look to develop and innovate the alliance and its tools, I think the challenge lies in the unknown. We don’t know what the world will look like in 20 years, so how can we be sure the steps we take are going to be effective in a decade or two? It’s a challenge, but my staff meets that challenge head-on by researching and studying current situations to best predict how we will need to respond in the future.” What changed about your job as the pandemic hit? “I would say everything changed, yet nothing changed. This past year presented incredibly unique challenges for everyone, no matter what military command you were at, or even what job you had in the civilian sector. Around the globe, we all had to adapt to new working environments or situations, yet figure out how to carry on effectively with our missions. Our job at ACT didn’t stop because of the pandemic. While we certainly had to make some changes at the headquarters, we ensured our main mission to develop NATO warfighting doctrine

What was your favorite part of the job overall? “I will never cease to be amazed by the human spirit and mind. Those on the ACT staff are some of the brightest, most creative people I have ever met. They come here from all over the world to ensure our alliance moves in the right direction. They come here with the greatest of intentions to not only better our warfighting ability, but subsequently better protect and preserve our nations, communities, families and shared democratic beliefs. They also love and support the local community here in Hampton Roads. I could not have had an easier job the last three years simply because my staff worked so hard. It has been a true pleasure to champion their work across the alliance and in the community here.” What kinds of regional activities and trips did you partake in while here? Did you discover any favorites? “Fishing and diving. More seriously the opportunity to discover and better understand your beautiful country. I will not name any particular place so as not to offend anyone. But I really liked the many places I got to visit.” What are some of your favorite things about living in the Norfolk/ Virginia Beach area? What will you miss? “The most important thing that I boulevard | may-jul 2021

The North Atlantic Council confirmed General André Lanata as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation on June 7, 2018. He joined the French Air Force Academy in 1981 and qualified as a fighter pilot in 1984. Throughout his career, he acquired extensive experience both as a fighter pilot and as an operational commander. Starting his career in a reconnaissance fighter squadron in Strasbourg Air Force Base, he became a flight commander in 1990 and chief of operations in 1992. Responsible for reconnaissance programs at the Air Staff between 1993 and 1995, he then joined the Joint War College in Paris. He served as the commanding officer of the 2/3 Fighter Squadron “Champagne,” at Nancy Air Force Base. As a staff officer, he has served in both plans and policy, at air and joint levels. Assigned in 2000 at the FAF headquarters in the Plans-Programs division, he joined the Joint Staff in 2002 as the Operational Coherence officer in charge of the preparation of joint forces and force protection. As commander of the Air Force Base 188 in Djibouti between 2004 and 2006, he was at the same time the commander of all French Air Forces in Djibouti. He joined the Air Staff in 2006 as deputy and then chief of Plans. Assigned to the Secretariat for the National Defence and Security, he worked as the deputy director for international and strategic affairs from 2008 to 2011. As deputy chief of operations at the Joint Staff in 2011, he particularly worked on the financing of French operations, bilateral or multilateral agreements such as the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) concept, while directing at the same time the transformation of the organization. He was the chief of Plans at the Joint Staff since 2013, more specifically in charge of all military programs, financial planning and arms control. He became chief of staff of the Air Force in September 2015, which strengthened his relationships with Air Chiefs through the alliance and partner nations. In this capacity, he implemented an ambitious transformation plan for the French Air Force. General André LANATA was awarded the rank of “Grand Officier” in the French Legion of Honour order and “Commandeur” in the National Merit Order. He has flown 146 combat missions in six different theatres of operations and more than 3300 flying hours, mostly on Mirage F1CR and Mirage 2000D. He earned two war crosses—one with palm—and the Cross of Military Valour. He and his wife Christine—whom he married in 1990—have five children. He enjoys scuba diving and classical music.

will probably miss is the people that I have met here. I discover incredible people, proud of their country, their nation. I will always remember the legendary Hampton Roads’ hospitality.”

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

Can you give us some words of advice for anyone coming from your country, or any NATO nation, to an assignment here? “Open your mind/live openly and meet people.”

What are your plans for the near future? “I will soon be leaving ACT and the French Air Force. Until then, I will pursue my mission while proposing to nations necessary adaptations to face and maintain our security. However, I do not intend to immediately stop all professional activity. It is important for me to continue to make my contribution to people and society. I am convinced that the expertise of the military brings added value that should be exploited in the ‘civilian world.’ I am starting my retraining process to transition to civilian life, and at this stage, nothing has been decided.” In the last three years, how have you seen ACT evolve and deliver better, more-strategic options for the alliance to better NATO’s Military Instrument of Power? What do you think the greatest accomplishment of the command has been under your tenure as SACT? “It is difficult to reconcile these three intensive years and highlight only one element of the numerous achievements that ACT has delivered. We have been extremely methodical when developing NATO’s Military Instrument of Power. We enforced lead warfare development to ensure the Alliance MIoP remains fit for purpose. My command focused on implementing new operational domains, like space or cyber; on the use of defense against emerging and disruptive technologies; on innovation; on interoperability and on paving the way for NATO’s future transformational efforts. Most recently, my staff produced the NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept (NWCC). Over two years of research has shown that future alliance success demands a different way of thinking, organizing and acting. We must think ahead; organize across all domains; and proactively exploit alliance strengths, rather than carry

forward traditional approaches, structures and processes. This is necessary to ensure NATO can successfully shape the future environment, contest adversary attempts to undermine our political and military strategic objectives and fight, if necessary. The NWCC provides a “North Star” for warfighting and military adaptation to increasingly complex challenges. This concept is a new, strategic way to project how the alliance will proactively build better options and flexibility against future threats. ACT is fit to address all challenges.” The last year has been difficult to say the least—what has it meant for you to be the leader of so many allied personnel and their families living away from home during the global pandemic? “I can imagine it’s been difficult for families to be away from home, away from familiarity and family, during this time. I firmly believe our people are our greatest asset, and our families are just as important a part of NATO as our military and civilian personnel. Our families embody ideals we cherish: strength, loyalty and commitment. They are standing beside those who stand behind their flags, giving their all and making tremendous sacrifices. They are shouldering the burdens of countless moves and stressful deployments. They constantly support us, especially as we move commands or face unknowns like a global pandemic. Along with my deputy commander and chief of staff, we have been extremely vigilant of our personnel and families during this incredibly uncertain time. While we cannot connect much in person, we have tried to maintain the link as closely as possible. I have found our social media use, virtual discussions and forums and open lines of communication to be incredibly

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important. Keeping our personnel and their families informed on changes here in the United States, as well as their home nations, along with keeping everyone healthy and safe, have all been my top priorities. We have a job to do at ACT, but we cannot do it without our team and the support of our families here. It is difficult to be away from home in general, but this year has been even harder. The best thing we can do is support one another, and foster a good sense of community.” As you depart, what do you hope the future holds for ACT, and for NATO as a whole? “As I depart, I hope to leave ACT and NATO with the same sentiment I started the job with: Move forward together. It is clear today that

emerging challenges require even more cooperation and cohesion. Today, no country, however powerful, is able to face alone the challenges confronting us. We are a historic alliance of 30 nations and we are most successful when we leverage all our talents and strengths, when we work hand-in-hand to meet any challenges or help one another. We truly are stronger together, and I know this sentiment will remain true even after my departure.” Lt. Cmdr. Rochelle Rieger, APR+M, is a U.S. Navy public affairs officer currently serving at NATO Allied Command Transformation.

boulevard | may-jul 2021

[ by judy brunk ]

Soft-shell Journey, From Bay to Plate

Do you ever wonder why your soft-shell crab dinner costs so much, whether you sit down to enjoy a meal at an expensive restaurant or just at a small diner? There’s a lot more to producing your meal than just a great chef or a fast-food cook preparing a sandwich. Beginning early in the spring, as the water warms and the peas and strawberries begin to blossom, the crabs emerge from hibernation in the muddy water bottom and seek a safe spot to avoid predators while waiting to shed their smaller shells and grow larger ones. Meanwhile, over the winter, a waterman has busied himself mending old crab pots, rigging some new ones, and getting his boat ready to start the season. The cost of your dinner starts when he begins to buy new equipment and supplies for the season. A fully rigged crab pot costs about $30 to $35 each and he fishes between 100 and 500 pots, depending on his license and size of boat. Each pot needs a steel frame on the bottom to keep it in place, a zinc bar to slow the rusting away of the wire mesh of the pots, a buoy, paint, cull rings for undersized crabs and small fish to escape, hooks and bungee rope to hold it closed. Each buoy holds the marking of the waterman’s license number. The boat, if used over the winter for oystering or catching fish or whelk (colloquially called “conchs” on Virginia’s Eastern Shore), needs to have the gear removed and stored and then must be re-rigged for crabbing. Most watermen have a pot puller and culling table. The pot puller costs several hundred dollars initially and requires a couple hundred or so dollars a year in maintenance because of wear and saltwater that “eats” such things. By mid-March, the season begins for catching hard-shell crabs, but the legal start of the peeler

Photos courtesy of Judy Brunk’s personal collection unless otherwise noted

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RICK BLANTON

Setting pots on the water as the sun rises

Stepping out: a crab molting out of its shell

crab season begins in April. By then the waterman has usually caught enough hard-shell crabs to pay for the expense to begin the soft-shell crab season. Male and female crabs seek each other out at this time. The female “she” crabs will shed their shells, releasing their former pyramid-shaped bottom shell and developing the U.S.-Capitol-domeshaped bottom shell of a mature female or “sook.” Only then will she mate with the male “jimmy” crab that has waited and protected her from other males and many possible predators. Eels, fish, other crabs, seagulls, herons, raccoons and human seafood lovers consider soft-shell crabs a delicacy. Watermen, probably the biggest predator, have many different ways to catch them including crab pots, dip nets, scrapes, trotlines, traps and sometimes they get caught in gill nets of fishermen. Crabbers will set the peeler pots mostly in the shallow waters of the creeks. They have a smaller mesh size but need the same rigging as the hard crab pots. They place large, male “jimmy” crabs in some of the peeler pots to entice the females. The male and female peeler crabs crawl into the pots for protection to shed or “molt.” They don’t eat in the shedding stage to ease in getting out of their shells. Females only shed until mature. They’re microscopic at first and then they keep shedding until they hit maturity. The males will keep growing as long as they live, but they’ll shed less often as they get bigger—only once or twice a year. The season starts with more males, but overall mostly females get caught. During this final soft period is the only time in her life a female mates and, if not caught by man or other hungry predators, after mating she will grow a sponge-like cluster of millions of eggs and will boulevard | may-jul 2021

lay them periodically as long as she lives. At first, the “sponge” will appear yellow, turn orange, then brown and finally black before she lays her eggs. Before mating, those caught by waterman will be put in a tray called a float with a couple hundred or so other peelers, both male and female, to await the last molting of their hard shells. My fun begins when they arrive at the crab house. As the wife of the waterman, and a landlubber from Indiana, it’s my job to cull the peelers and put them in floats according to the color of their back fins. It starts with a very faint white ring that goes all the way around the paddle fin. First, they’ll turn a pale green, then dark green, then pink, then red. Then the crab is ready to shed—it could be an hour or a day, but it’s ready. Each crab gets looked at one at a time. They have to be separated because the green ones will eat or maim the red ones. The male peeler crabs in the floats will hold off turning red if a female is in the float and will protect her in hopes of mating. If several males are in there they do a mating dance to vie for her and will fight for

her if she chooses the other crab to be her mate. The water is pumped up from the creek to the floats in the crab house and back to the creek for continuous change of water. Crabs need the oxygen in the water to survive. It requires $200-plus a month in electric bills but the water is free. Did I mention the cost of oilskins, boots, lots of gloves, baskets, dip nets, ice, gas for boats and trucks and several bushels of bait a day at $25 a bushel? About every three days, the crabs require culling and relocation again. Meanwhile, more arrive every day and those that have shed leave for market. The process can go from April through October for those willing to endure the hours, getting up a couple of times every night to remove the soft crabs from water before they turn hard, as they will if left in the water too long. The warmer the weather and water, the sooner they turn hard again. Also, as the hot, humid days of July and August arrive, the oxygen level in the water depletes and the crabs don’t survive

From Diner to Fine Dining Soft-shell crabs can be found in 5-star restaurants as well as from food trucks, and the variety of ways to prepare these delicacies has infinite possibilities.

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as well in the floats. The more soft crabs that hit the market, the lower the price gets and it becomes less profitable. Fewer crabs available mean more profit to the waterman, the buyer, the wholesaler and retail restaurant or seafood market. The price of your dinner rises and falls with these changes. When we have enough to fill a box for shipping, about nine dozen jumbo-sized (5-5 1/2 inches from tip to tip of back shell), we pack them in wax-coated boxes with three trays each containing three dozen crabs. Each box costs $12 and $12 more in freight to ship by truck to New York, Philadelphia or other wholesale markets, mostly to the north and the large wholesalers ship all over the country and also ship overseas as soft-shell crabs are a delicacy everywhere. The crabs ship live and are packed to survive live to their destination. During the summer months when the eelgrass is found still green floating on the water surface or has turned brown and washed up on the beach, the watermen gather as much as possible and dry it in the sun to use as packing material with a bed of grass in each tray, three dozen crabs and a sheet of waterproof parchment paper covered with a layer of grass. It keeps them from getting too warm or cold during transit. The grass is about the only cost-free item other than water in the process, but still, the labor of collecting it and the

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storing of it has unseen costs. If we retrieve enough in the summer, we store some for the following season. This year with rising fuel costs, pretty much everything else will cost more too. Fortunately most crab lovers like soft-shell crabs enough to enjoy them, whatever the cost. By the time soft-shell crabs land on someone’s dinner plate, they have helped support many families from all sorts of businesses. The many different pieces of equipment and supply companies, box companies, freight companies and drivers, ice companies, fuel suppliers, electric companies, the restaurant and employees, etc. It’s a wonder they don’t cost more. Born and raised in Indiana, Judy Brunk joined the Navy after graduating from high school and became a photographer, married a career Navy man and moved from coast to coast. She has lived on Virginia’s Eastern Shore for 45 years and worked with soft-shell crabs for 40 years. While working in the crab house she takes many photos of crabs and makes greeting cards and framed pictures to sell as a small hobby business in addition to sales of her book about crabs “Catch Me if You Can.”

Minding and mending the pots is a rigorous chore best left to the pros—especially if you have the maximum number allowed. Superstitious watermen think certain colored pots yield a higher catch.

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Generations of Brunks Have Been Watermen To most watermen, it’s a labor of love and family tradition, as it is in our family of five generations. For the Brunk family, it began in the mid-1920s around Curtis Bay, MD. Paul Brunk, whose family emigrated from Prussia (now Germany) in the late 1880s, worked in the shipyard during WWI. After the war, things slowed down and he took to fishing and crabbing for a living. His two sons, Albert (Al) and Paul (Tootie), worked with him. When they grew up, married and each of them had a son, Peter and David. Two new watermen spent summers on the water with their dads learning to swim and fetch soft crabs from the floats by swimming or rowing a boat out to them. By the mid-1940s, the boys caught crabs on trotlines and with dip nets. It was a lot of fun for young boys and became a lifelong love of working on the water. As the daughters came along, they too enjoyed the water and helped with the soft crabs. As they grew, Peter and David also fished gill nets with their dads and grandfather. They pulled the nets by hand and it was a physically hard job, especially at night during winter. They have fond memories of those times but hadn’t enjoyed getting up from a warm bed to go fishing in icy waters. They both preferred crabbing. In 1947, their grandfather had a heart attack while pulling nets by himself and died. It just wasn’t the same without him and by the ‘50s they all left the water and took other jobs. Al went to work in the local grocery store, restaurant and bar in the neighborhood. Tootie bought a gas station. In 1954, Pete joined the U.S. Coast Guard and Dave joined the U.S. Navy at 17 years old. They still crabbed at every opportunity and the families always enjoyed a good crab feast whether it was soft crabs or steamed hard ones. Pete even crabbed from the decks of the Coast Guard vessels as he plied the waters of Chesapeake Bay and the whole crew had a crab feast. When their military careers were over, they still crabbed while doing other jobs on land. Pete now lives on the water in Portsmouth, VA, and keeps a float tied to his dock, shedding crabs every season for his own use as well as his crab-loving friends, and to this day donates hard crabs every year for charity auctions in Portsmouth. Dave and I moved our family to the Eastern Shore of Virginia after leaving the military and he became a building contractor. With a few crab floats alongside the dock, he caught crabs on a trotline on his 38-foot, round-stern boat. We sold some, ate some and had crab feasts when friends and family came to visit. Not long after Pete, Dave’s cousin, retired from the Coast Guard in the early 80s, and we had the crab house built, he came in and stayed a while to crab with Dave and help out in the shedding process. During that time he and Dave caught a very unique jimmy

1 Far left: Paul and Anna Brunk, the first generation of family watermen. At left, the second generation: Al and Tootie Brunk

From top to bottom: [1] Dave and Judy made a great team at their shedding operation on the Eastern Shore. [2] Dave fries up a batch of soft crabs for a traditional Eastern Shore breakfast. [3] Tools of the trade: slickers, nets and licenses. [4] The fourth and fifth generation deck hands, Walter and John, are dressed and ready for a hard day of work on the water.

peeler with a pearly pink shell on his back. He was so unique that he inspired me to write a book about him titled “Catch Me If You Can.” Dave and Pete had never seen a crab act like Pinky, as I named him, did. Dave and Pete each had two sons. Pete’s boys both finished high school and went on to college, graduating with honors. The oldest one, Berry, is the publisher of this publication and the other son, Gerry, is a managing director of an investment company in Boston. Dave and I had two sons, Russell and John, who were 5 and 6 years old when we first came to the Eastern Shore. Our daughter was 8. The boys immediately took to the water and all three taught themselves to swim in Nassawadox creek in front of our home. By the time the boys were 10 and 11, they had caught their share of soft crabs with dip nets around the shoreline of the creek. Their uncle got them large plastic rowboats for Christmas. The boats were sturdy enough for two adults. Once they mastered the rowing process, they ventured all over the creek. Russell and John both definitely had water in their genes. My husband, Dave, decided they needed a better boat and when they reached 12 and 13 years of age, he had a wooden skiff built for them and put a 4½ HP motor on it. On weekends they would go on the creek to the commercial dock where watermen unloaded their fish and crab catches of the day to sell to the wholesale buyers. Soon they were helping unload and the men paid them a few dollars. They thought they were rich. They came home all excited and said when school was out for the summer they were going to do that every day—and they did. By the following year, they crabbed on the boats along with the watermen. When they reached 16 years old, they both quit school and worked the water full time, and learned all they could about crabbing. The watermen, who only sold hard crabs would have to return the peelers to the water because they were mostly too small to keep for hard crabs, found it profitable to sell them to us. My husband, Dave, built a few floats along the bulkhead in the yard and we bought peelers as well as catching some ourselves. Dave bought a load of peeler pots and caught crabs along with the other watermen. Being a landlubber from Indiana, I knew nothing about crabs and wanted nothing to do with them, let alone eat them, until we had been married over 10 years and moved to the Eastern Shore. They fascinated me in the floats, however, and I gradually began to work with the soft crabs only because they could not pinch. The more I handled them, the more I enjoyed It. It became necessary for me to learn to cull them and it didn’t take long for Dave to teach me how to read the signs on the paddle fins and I became the “Crab Lady” who received, counted, culled and ran the financial part of the business. We bought from a dozen or so other watermen and filled the floats nearly every day. The outdoor floats were fine in good weather but after too many northeaster storms with thunder, lightning and hard downpours, we moved into an enclosed crab house. Dave built a nice big building with 28 shedding tanks, 4x10 feet each. He installed a walk-in cooler to keep them in until shipping time, Sunday through Thursday. By the early 1980s, both our boys had saved enough money to buy their own boats and crabbing gear so they became our best suppliers and we all worked in the crab house because that was the most enjoyable, relaxing and tiring job we were ever fortunate enough to do to earn a living. The fifth generation, our grandson Walter, is still at it getting his crab pots and boat ready for this season. By the time you read this story, he will be getting them to market. Walter has a 2½-year-old son. Maybe he will become generation six in a long line of Brunk family watermen.

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notable potables Summertime, and the Drinking’s Easy

THE DRINK

THE DETAILS

Made-Good Punch

Ginger Simple Syrup Ingredients

John Redwood operated perhaps the first tavern in Norfolk once the town was incorporated, establishing Redwood’s Ordinary in 1693. Redwood and his family had been involved in the sugar/molasses/rum trade in Barbados when he received a grant for Lot 47 in downtown Norfolk. Supplementing a menu of what food he gathered himself or procured from area farmers and watermen were a number of imbibes. Among the offerings was “Punch, if made good” at 16 pence per quart, as regulated by the Norfolk County court. Punches, in general, were very popular in colonial Virginia. They were boozy, and they were ubiquitous in the colony. “Punch was the gentleman’s drink,” said master of historic foodways at Colonial Williamsburg Frank Clark. “It was used as a social lubricant and to finalize business deals.” We don’t know what John Redwood crafted, but our punch recipe is inspired by punches of the time and uses guidelines provided by Clark. Rum would continue to be the drink of the New World for about a century, until whiskey became America’s drink. According to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, by 1770 there were more than 140 rum distilleries making about 4.8 million gallons annually across the American colonies. Make up a big bowl of punch, let guests serve themselves and raise a glass in the sweet Virginia breeze.

• 1 cup sugar

[ by patrick evans-hylton ] Boulevard’s new food editor’s very Virginia cocktail list for summer

JILL DOCZI

As coastal Virginia moves outdoors, imbibes lighten up. Icy drinks clink in glasses while friends gather—socially distanced of course—out on patios under milky twilight skies. Stars and fireflies illuminate the parties where well-crafted cocktails are passed around and life is good. Hosting a good cocktail party, even impromptu, is a touchstone of our region’s overall sense of hospitality, stretching back some 400 years to when Virginia was just a fledgling colony. After all, bourbon’s kissing cousin was first crafted here in 1620, and there are more than 80 distilleries today across the state. Here are four drinks for the season, all with ties to the commonwealth, and a splash of history behind them. The text and formulas come from my upcoming book, tentatively titled, “Virginia Distilled: Four Hundred Years of Drinking in the Old Dominion.”

• 1 cup water • 1 3-inch piece fresh ginger Cocktail Ingredients • 2 cups spiced rum • 1 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice • 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice • 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice • 1 cup ginger simple syrup • sparkling water • freshly grated nutmeg

THE METHOD Make the simple syrup. Peel the skin from the piece of ginger and slice into thin disks. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat add the ginger, sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Strain and add to a sealable glass jar and refrigerate until use, up to 1 month. Make the cocktail. In a punch bowl, add rum, lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice and ginger simple syrup. Serve half a cup of punch, top with sparkling water and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. Yields 12-16 cocktails

THE DISTILLERIES Be a locapour; make your cocktail with one of these recommended Virginia spirits:

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Four Farthing Spiced Rum Chesapeake Bay Distillery www.ChesapeakeBayDistillery.com Note: I crafted this rum in collaboration with Chesapeake Bay Distillery based on historic documents and ingredients found on ship manifests that call port in Norfolk in the 17th and 18th centuries. Four-Port Rum or 151 High Proof Rum Virago Spirits www.ViragoSpirits.com

JILL DOCZI

Golden Rum or Platinum Rum Vitae Spirits www.VitaeSpirits.com

north and stopped here on their way south. Like the made-good punch, the bourbon slush is a batch cocktail, which allows you to prepare in advance and enjoy more time with your guests.

THE DETAILS Ingredients • 4 cups bourbon • 4 cups lemonade • 4 cups sweet ice tea • 1 cup ginger ale

THE METHOD Combine the bourbon, lemonade and tea in a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish. Freeze overnight. Remove the frozen mixture from the freezer 30 minutes before serving. Break up the mixture slightly and transfer to a punch bowl. Add the ginger ale. Stir until a slushy consistency is reached and serve immediately. Makes 12-16 cocktails

THE DISTILLERIES Be a locapour; make your cocktail with one of these recommended Virginia spirits: Triple Deuce Whiskey Blue Sky Distillery www.BlueSkyDistillery.com

THE DRINK

Bourbon Slush Distilled spirits, especially whiskey, have a long tradition in Virginia. In 1620, Berkeley Plantation colonist George Thorpe distilled what he said was a “good drinke of Indian corne,” akin to moonshine and a precursor to bourbon. Upon retiring as president in 1797, George Washington started a commercial distilling operation—the only Founding Father to do so. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association has restored the distillery and an adjacent gristmill, located about three miles from the estate. Virginians have always loved their punch, and this modern one is a crowd-pleaser. It puts local spirits to good use and satisfies the southern palate for boozy, sugary drinks with equal parts bourbon, lemonade and sweet ice tea. A slush such as this would not have been served during Thorpe’s time, nor Washington’s. Year-round ice availability to coastal Virginia wouldn’t come until the early 1800s when sawdust-insulated ships made their way from frozen ponds

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JULIE FANNING

NOTABLE POTABLES

Straight Bourbon or Sweeter Creations Maple Syrup Cask Bourbon Ironclad Distillery www.IroncladDistillery.com Reservoir Bourbon Whiskey Reservoir Distillery ReservoirDistillery.com

THE DRINK

A Most Marvelous Mint Julep The mint julep is a most marvelous American cocktail, and among the first notations of a mint julep was from a report by a traveler in a 1787 issue of American Museum, a magazine of the time. There he wrote, “The Virginian rises in the morning, about six o’clock. He then drinks a julap, made of rum, water and sugar, but very strong.” It’s not surprising that it was made of rum, as this was about the time rum still had favoritism, although the new nation’s palate was quickly turning towards whiskey. What’s probably the most surprising thing is to think of a julep as a pre-breakfast drink.

It cemented its place in Virginia history at a resort at White Sulphur Springs, simply referred to by the name of the town and healing waters where it was located. It later was known as The White, and later still The Old White. That part of Virginia became West Virginia when the state split in 1863 and today the resort is called The Greenbrier. Fame was later brought by John Dabney, born a slave and a culinary force to be reckoned with. A successful 19th-century caterer and bartender to the Virginia elite, he was noted near-and-far for his mint juleps. While at the Exchange Hotel in Richmond, The Times on January 23, 1901, reports “…it was here that the [Edward, Prince of Wales, later King of England] first made the acquaintance of a mint julep, and in this connection it is a matter of record that John Dabney, the barkeeper at the Exchange, received for this mint julep five five-dollar gold pieces.” My recipe below is adapted from the 1906 “The New Lucile Cook Book,” in which Gen. Dabney H. Maury of Richmond related John Dabney’s mint julep recipe just a few years after the bartender’s passing, seemingly from the lips of the master himself.

THE DETAILS Ingredients • 6-8 fresh mint leaves • 1-1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar • 3 ounces Virginia bourbon • confectioner’s sugar • mint sprigs • pineapple wedge

THE METHOD In a chilled julep or other pewter or silver cup, or in a mule or other copper mug,

NOTABLE POTABLES

THE DISTILLERIES Be a locapour; make your cocktail with one of these recommended Virginia spirits: Bourbon Whiskey (any year) or Vanilla Bean-Infused Whiskey A. Smith Bowman Distillery ASmithBowman.com Rabble Rouser Rye Whiskey Catoctin Creek Distillery www.CatoctinCreekDistilling.com

JULIE FANNING

Peachwood American Single Malt Whiskey Copper Fox Distillery www.CopperFoxDistillery.com

the venerable Waterman’s Surfside Grille, located at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. “A man named Jimmy Grant wanted to buy a boat from me to take to Venezuela to run a charter operation,” said Waterman’s owner, Mike Standing. “He sat at Waterman’s outside bar and had a few drinks.” It turns out that Grant was not only a renowned captain, but also a connoisseur of good eats and drinks. When Standing joined him, he said, “You should have an orange crush on your cocktail menu.” Standing said they did, to which Jimmy told him it sucked. After a sip, Standing agreed. “He said it needs to be fresh, and explained how his friend in Ocean City does it right,” said Standing. Standing, his wife Mariah and Jimmy headed to Ocean City to Harbourside Bar and Grill to meet with the owner over, well, several crushes. The owner shared the recipe, which Standing adapted to his own. Today that variation is sold at Waterman’s, Chix on 7th Street and the Shack. Each year there’s even the annual Crushfest in celebration of the cocktail. And while Waterman’s serves up their fair share of them to folks looking for mixed drink mecca, but the truth is, you can find them at just about any watering hole in these parts. And you can find them made with just about any fruit, too, including blueberry, grapefruit, mango, pineapple and strawberry. But we don’t like to mess with tradition, so it’s orange crushes for us, best enjoyed outdoors when there’s a salt-kissed bay or seaside breeze filling our senses and urging us to have just one more, just one more.

THE DETAILS Ingredients

THE DRINK

Orange Crush If coastal Virginia had an official summer cocktail, no doubt it would be the orange crush. Forget syrupy sweet, fizzy sodas of the same name you remember from your childhood. These adult imbibes are a skillful blend of orange vodka, triple sec, freshsqueezed orange juice and a splash of lemon-lime soda all served in big, frosty glass packed full of ice. With its wild popularity, it’s hard to believe the drink is less than 20 years old, but the orange crush’s coastal Virginia history dates back to just 2002. A chance meeting with a cocktailswigging sea captain brought it first to

• 4 ounces fresh-squeezed orange juice • 2 ounces vodka • 1 ounce orange flavored liqueur, such as Grand Marnier • lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite

THE DISTILLERIES Be a locapour; make your cocktail with one of these recommended Virginia spirits. Note, none make an orangeflavored vodka like used at Waterman’s, but you can add an extra splash of orange liqueur if you wish. Caiseal Vodka Caiseal Beer & Spirits www.Caiseal.com Spirits of the Blue Ridge Vodka Chesapeake Bay Distillery www.ChesapeakeBayDistillery.com Cirrus Vodka Cirrus Vodka CirrusVodka.com For more information about “Virginia Distilled: Four Hundred Years of Drinking in the Old Dominion,” including updates on its release, sign up for the free newsletter at www.VirginiaDistilled.com.

GEORGE CULLIVER

add mint leaves, sugar and a splash of water and muddle. Pack the cup/mug with crushed or shaved ice and pour on bourbon. Sprinkle a very generous amount of confectioner’s sugar and press multiple sprigs of fresh mint into the ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge. Serve with an ecologically friendly straw.

Patrick Evans-Hylton is Boulevard’s new food & drink editor. The Johnson & Wales-trained chef and award-winning food journalist has covered tasty trends in Virginia and beyond since 1995. He is also a noted food historian. Follow him at VirginiaEatsAndDrinks.com.

THE METHOD In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add orange juice, vodka, orange liqueur and shake. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice and top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with an orange slice. Note: Make it a lighter version by using lemon-lime seltzer water in place of the soda. Yields 1 cocktail

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MAY—JULY

events Now through May 16 First Course Virginia MOCA exhibit Virginia Beach | Virginia MOCA Satellite Gallery, Towne Pavilion II 600 22nd St. As both a primer and an expansion upon the exhibit “Nourish,” launched in February 2021 at Virginia MOCA, the exhibit “First Course” is on display now through May 16, 2021 at the museum’s satellite gallery. Just a short walk from the museum at 600 22nd St., Towne Pavilion II, the permanent gallery is a partnership between Virginia MOCA and the Runnymede Corporation that has over 80 combined feet of wall space spanning the lobby and hallways of the first floor. The “First Course” exhibit features twelve artist and local food expert pairings exploring the possibilities at the intersection of food and art. While the art pieces are vastly different in medium and theme, they all center on thoughtful collaboration and discussions to find new connections and insight into foodrelated issues. TIME: Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. COST: Admission is free. Art purchases vary.

VirginiaMOCA.org www.cbf.org

Now through July 11 Clear As Crystal Norfolk | Chrysler Museum of Art Colorless Glass from the Chrysler Museum explores the allure of colorless glass by showcasing contemporary artworks and historical objects from within the museum’s permanent collection that are made exclusively with colorless glass. The works on view reveal the wide array of techniques that artists have used to capitalize on the aesthetic and intellectual opportunities offered by clear, colorless glass. TIME: Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. COST: Free

chrysler.org

May 14 Historic Houses: A Downtown Norfolk Walking Tour Norfolk | Willoughby-Baylor House 601 East Freemason St. This free walking tour will focus on the strip of historic homes that still line Freemason Street in downtown. Starting with the Willoughby Baylor House, we will move west, stopping by the Moses Myers House, the Hunter House Victoria Museum and the Taylor-Whittle House. Freemason Street is

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older than this country, and the families that built these houses also helped build the city. With this tour, we will take a step back in time to discuss these families, their lives in the early 1800s, and how these stately mansions have survived until today. TIME: 6:30–7:30 p.m. COST: Free

www.downtownnorfolk.org/explore/ calendar/event/historic-houses-adowntown-norfolk-walking-tour

May 28, June 25, July 23 NEON Art District Walking Tour Norfolk | The Plot public garden Granby Street and Olney Road Join tour guide and local history buff Joshua Weinstein of Norfolk Tour Company for an evening in the NEON District that combines a free walking tour of the neighborhood’s public art with local businesses and events to bring you the best NEON has to offer in arts, culture and entertainment. The tour begins at The Plot, located at the corner of Granby Street and Olney Road. Free and open to anyone hoping to dig a little deeper into NEON. NEON District public parking is available on the street, at the Plot’s parking lot, Chrysler Museum and the Harrison Opera House lot. Bring comfortable shoes, bring your friends—you can even bring your dog. TIME: May 6:30 p.m., June 7 p.m., July 6:30 p.m. COST: Free

facebook.com/neonnfk/ www.downtownnorfolk.org/explore/ calendar/event/neon-art-tours

May 28–May 30 Memorial Day Weekend Oceanfront Concert Series Virginia Beach | 17th Street Park and 24th Street Park at the oceanfront Enjoy the cool sounds of summer as the season of sun and fun kicks off on Memorial Day Weekend. Free concerts at both parks feature local and regional bands representing different genres and musical stylings. TIME: 7 p.m. May 28 to 11 p.m. May 30 COST: Free

liveonatlantic.com/festivals/ memorial-day-weekend-oceanfrontconcert-series

Check blvdmedia.io and social media for even more events

June 3–6 Virginia International Tattoo Norfolk | Old Dominion University’s Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium For the 2021 edition of the Tattoo, we will take the very best from our plans for the 2020 Tattoo—including our Salute to the Greatest Generation—and will combine it with our 2021 plans. The result will be a once-in-a-generation Virginia International Tattoo, with an exceptional international cast, extraordinary Celtic performers, inspiring U.S. military groups and an emotional and unifying celebration of our World War II Veterans. TIME: Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. COST: $20-$100

www.vafest.org/tattoo

June 5, July 3 Skywatch Chesapeake | Northwest River Park Free public Skywatch for everyone. Star and planet watching will begin around sunset. For those who would like some help with new telescopes or just want to learn how telescopes work, we will hold an informal afternoon “Telescope 101” pre-event beginning about 60 minutes before sunset (scheduled start time). Please feel free to come out early with your new telescope and let us help you learn how to use it. NOTE: After passing through the first gate, please park outside the large gate posts and then walk over to the telescopes. Please do not drive all the way down to the telescope area. Signs show where to park. The event is weather dependent so please call the park at 757-421-7151 to confirm event. PLEASE USE FLASHLIGHTS WITH RED LENS/COVERS ONLY. TIME: 8 p.m.–midnight Eastern COST: Free

nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/event-list. cfm?Club_ID=1591

June 8–13 Broadway in Norfolk Presents: Jersey Boys Norfolk | Chrysler Hall They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard, and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. Go

!! Details as of press time; confirm information with venue before you attend events. !!

events

www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/jersey-boys

July 2–July 3 Fourth of July Oceanfront Concert Series Virginia Beach | 17th Street Park and 24th Street Park at the oceanfront The Fourth of July weekend bursts on the scene with the sights and sounds of summer. Free concerts at both parks feature local and regional bands representing different genres and musical stylings. Continue the fun wit our Stars and Stripes Celebration on July 4, culminating in a fireworks display over the water. TIME: 7 p.m. May 28 to 11 p.m. May 30 COST: Free

liveonatlantic.com/festivals/4th-julyoceanfront-concert-series

Judges will score the drawings according to criteria such as composition, use of color, adherence to theme and creativity. TIME: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. COST: Free

liveonatlantic.com/festivals/ chalk-walk

www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/anastasia

July 13–18

Every First Friday

Broadway in Norfolk Presents: CATS

ViBe’s First Friday Art in the Dark Mural Tour

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

Virginia Beach | Chesapeake Bay Distillery

CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America. Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater—”Memory.” Winner of seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Sunset Boulevard), original scenic and costume design by John Napier (Les Misérables), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (Aladdin), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (Phantom) and direction by Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables) make this production a new CATS for a new generation. TIME: Varies by performance COST: TBA

www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/cats GÜNTHER SCHNEIDER

July 27–August 1 Broadway in Norfolk Presents: Anastasia Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

July 10 Chalk the Walk ARTsplosion Festival Virginia Beach | Between 13th and 17th Streets on Virginia Beach Boardwalk The Chalk the Walk ARTsplosion takes over the Virginia Beach Boardwalk as professional, amateur and youth artists gather to turn the boardwalk into a canvas of color. At Chalk the Walk, 200 competitors will draw 4’x4’ chalk drawings for three blocks along the boardwalk, judged and on display between 15th and 17th Streets.

Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) with direction by Tony Award® winner Darko Tresnjak. TIME: Varies by performance COST: TBA

Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical ANASTASIA is on a journey to Norfolk at last! From the Tony Award®-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, this dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. ANASTASIA features a book by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush new score by

!! Details as of press time; confirm information with venue before you attend events. !!

Bring your flashlight and friends or pup. Starting at the LOVE sign at 18th Street and Cypress Avenue (free parking on Baltic Avenue and 18th Street before 8pm) and touring over one mile of art along 17th, 18th and 19th streets and popping in to businesses hosting featured artists events. We’ll add a little light to your outfit for safety too with glow in the dark accessories. Please register in advance with the number of people in your group. LIMITED TO 10 PEOPLE. PLEASE WEAR A MASK AND KEEP SIX FEET APART. Make plans to stay late for dinner and drinks at one of our #culinaryarts partners. TIME: 6–7:30pm COST: Free to attend, though donations to the ViBe Creative District are welcome.

vibecreativedistrict.org

Every Second Saturday ViBe Second Saturday Mural Tour Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach Public Library, Cypress Avenue and 17th Street Tour the ViBe District murals leaving from the LOVE SIGN next to the Virginia Beach Public Library. This tour covers approximately one mile of art. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a camera. Children and dogs are welcome. Free parking is available along 18th Street behind the library.Free on street parking along 18th Street. PLEASE WEAR A MASK AND KEEP SIX FEET APART; LIMITED TO 10 PEOPLE. Support from the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission and Virginia Commission for the Arts provides this tour free to the public. We welcome donations to support the ViBe Creative District nonprofit and year-round programming in the arts district. TIME: 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. COST: Free to attend, though donations to the ViBe Creative District are welcome.

vibecreativedistrict.org

boulevard | may-jul 2021

MAY—JULY

behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Grammy Award®-winning, truelife musical phenomenon, JERSEY BOYS. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s just too good to be true. (Contains authentic “profane Jersey language” and recommended for ages 12+. TIME: Varies by performance COST: TBA

If you build it, they will come—to a new location at 772 Princess Anne Rd. in Virginia Beach. After six generations operating a business, a family learns to adapt and change as the local habits and customers do. They also figure out what works now and what doesn’t work for them anymore. Jane and Mike Cullipher (generation five), their son Jeb Cullipher (generation six) and their long-time, dedicated staff made some large and quick changes this season. Jane Cullipher noted over recent years that customers started not just buying vegetables or picking their own in bulk for home consumption, but making an experience of their farm and vegetable stand visits—an experience that now often includes social media photos, family portraits, group excursions, snacks and picnic lunches. Instead of a quick trip to buy some corn, people enjoyed the addition of canned goods, a large variety of vegetables, pickyour-own options and events. Their first and now largest event, a fall corn maze that began a decade ago, now occupies 11 acres and includes an intricate design, usually supporting a local business or a cause they support. It attracts roughly 9,000 people a year. Their spring pick-your-own strawberry patch behind the former farm stand sold over 9,000 pounds of fruit a season. This trend in farming, called agritourism, links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors to the farm location for entertainment, education and experience. Cullipher Farm provides all three in one place now. Previously, the only actual fields or orchards you could see from the old farm stand consisted of the pick-your-own strawberry patch. The rest of the growing operation took place disconnected on other farmland in the southern area of Virginia Beach. “It’s so much more enjoyable and less stressful to farm this way. You feel like you’re providing a meaningful experience for your customers,” said Mike Cullipher. Their staff jumped on board with no hesitation and followed the operation down the road, pitching in to make the final shift happen in a mere few months. Long-time manager Joseph Cicatko beamed when asked if happy with the idea. “I’m excited,” said Cicatko about the grand opening. “I have a great new work space and this concept brings all our operations to one location. I’m happy about the opportunity to grow.” Property jointly owned by the Culliphers has allowed the family to slowly plan for this future over the past few years. They planted peach, apple and fig saplings. They installed blueberry bushes, pumpkin patches and grape arbors. They planned more events as demand grew including wagon rides, a cotton maze, the corn maze, a sunflower maze and a farm-themed children’s play area. All of these spaces provide the backdrop for beautiful Instagram photos for families to remember or for tourists to share of their visit to the area. Ice cream sales, a bakery with fresh offerings, lines of jams and salad dressings round out a full farm experience. Most recently they’ve created the infrastructure to support the location by installing retention ponds, creating parking and driving areas, putting up more greenhouses, installing walk-in coolers and a new, large farm stand. The building will house their shiny new kitchen, prep areas, vegetable stand, coolers for fresh meats and dairy from other small farms, an ice cream stand and the bakery—all sheltered from the hot summer sun and sudden rainstorms. Additionally, customers coming to the actual fields will allow them to see how their food grows throughout the spring, summer and fall months. Many people have never seen how asparagus grows like straight sticks from the ground, or how grapes dangle from wires set along rows of stakes. Many children have never picked their own apple treat from a tree or filled a basket themselves with blueberries from a bush. They can see how retention ponds collect and store rainwater to hydrate the plants and how the beehives that dot the 250 acres provide a home for the pollinators necessary to grow fruit. They

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

JOSEPH CICATKO

FARM STANDS: Cullipher Farm

JILL DOCZI

MAY—JULY

events

can ask questions of the experienced staff. Before they leave, they can take photos, plenty of photos, of their full-immersion farm experience. NOTE: Photo policy listed on website. U-Pick schedule Blueberries (Late May/June) Peaches (June/July) Apples (August/September) Grapes (August/September) Pumpkins (September–October)

On-farm Harvest Schedule Spring: asparagus, greens, squash, cucumbers, broccoli, herbs Summer: sweet corn, snap beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, eggplant Fall: fall squash, greens, pumpkins, broccoli

(Additional produce available from other regional farms. The Culliphers have developed friendships with family farms from which they can source produce, when out of season here. This allows you to enjoy many of their staple items before and past our growing seasons.)

Farm Stand Virginia Beach | 772 Princess Anne Rd. Open Tuesdays through Sundays TIME: All days: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 757-721-7456

Facebook: Cullipher Farm cullipherfarm.com

!! Details as of press time; confirm information with venue before you attend events. !!

events Shore Drive Farm Market

CHESAPEAKE Seasonal, Every Saturday starting June 13

2947 Shore Dr. A variety of local vendors sell products each Saturday including produce, jewelry, prepared foods, jams, jellies, pickles, teas, meats, eggs and more. TIME: 9 a.m.–noon COST: Free to attend. Purchases vary.

The Farmers Market at City Park 900 City Park Dr. TIME: 8 a.m.–1 p.m. COST: Free to attend. Purchases vary.

Facebook: Shore Drive Farm Market

www.cityofchesapeake.net/ government/city-departments/ departments/agriculture-virginiacooperative-extension/farmersmarket.htm Facebook: The Farmers’ Market at City Park

Seasonal, Every Saturday Old Beach Farmers Market, Art & Eco Markets 19th Street and Cypress Avenue

HAMPTON Seasonal, Every Wednesday Buckroe Beach Farmers Market

TIME: 9 a.m.–noon COST: Free to attend. Purchases vary.

www.oldbeachfarmersmarket.com Instagram and Facebook: @oldbeachfarmersmarket

100 South 1st St.

NEWPORT NEWS Seasonal, Every Thursday starting May 6 City Center Farmers Market Oyster Point 703 Mariner Row TIME: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. COST: Free to attend. Purchases vary.

Email bmealey@sinclairstations.com Facebook: City Center Farmers Market Oyster Point

SUFFOLK Seasonal, Every Saturday Suffolk Farmers Market 524 North Main St.

Regular Outdoor Market TIME: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. COST: Free to attend. Purchases vary.

www.suffolkvafarmersmarket.com Facebook: Suffolk Va Farmers Market

TIME: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. COST: Free to attend. Purchases vary.

www.villageevents.org/ Facebook: Buckroe Beach Farmers Market

Our website has a comprehensive (and growing) list of farmers markets—blvdmedia.io/farmers-markets/

WE MISS YOU LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH

SEVENVENUES.COM

ATTUCKS THEATRE • CHRYSLER HALL • HARBOR PARK • HARRISON OPERA HOUSE • OPEN AIR EVENTS • SCOPE ARENA • WELLS THEATRE boulevard | may-jul 2021 29

MAY—JULY

VIRGINIA BEACH Year-round, Every Saturday

FARMERS MARKETS

STEVEN GOLDBURG / PROPERTY OF NORFOLK TIDES

SPORTS IN NORFOLK

Tides Baseball Sports have had quite a

The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and the smell of ballpark concessions mean summertime for generations of baseball fans. Sadly, Norfolk’s Harbor Park remained quiet and empty for the 2020 season. Joe Gregory, Tides general manager, recalls the day baseball shut down for him in the third week of March 2020. “I remember it was a Friday because I was supposed to go down for spring training with the Orioles in Sarasota, Florida,” said Gregory. “I remember calling and asking if I should cancel the flight. At that time we didn’t know we wouldn’t have a season, but even at that point we thought we’d start in July. We definitely didn’t grasp the seriousness of it or the long-lasting effects.” The shutdown affected more than just fans and players. It affected the whole organization from the top down and laterally. For Gregory, it meant less face time with Ken Young, Tides owner, because of travel restrictions. Over 50 percent of front office staff eventually experienced layoffs. The staff incomes and business bottom lines for field workers, concessions workers, ticket takers, the company that provides the bread, the beer vendor—all took a hit. “We’re a small business but we have a lot of reach,” said Gregory When we don’t have our home game and hundreds of thousands of people aren’t coming to games in a season, it ripples through the community.” Additionally, the Tides organization supports several nonprofits that it continued trying to aid during the past year. The Tides Youth Baseball Fund, a program established by the Tides in

year. Athletes, coaching staff,

fans, parents, facility staff and

vendors have suffered. Boulevard provides a snapshot of how

events of the year affected two

major sports groups and how they adapted, persevered and can’t wait to play again now. [ by jill doczi ]

boulevard | may-jul 2021

1990 as a way to raise money for youth baseball and softball programs in the region, assists with field renovations and helps local teams and leagues with travel expenses. The fund receives partial financing through scoreboard special announcements at Harbor Park throughout the season. Even with the decreased funding in 2020, they managed to renovate the Plaza Little League field. The program started years ago by Dave “Rosie” Rosenfield, who served as general manager of the Tidewater/Norfolk Tides for over 48 years and executive vice president and color commentator for Tides’ home games through 2016. Initially it helped local teams with travel expenses. It evolved to include the field renovations under Gregory. “That was one of the first programs I could hang my hat on,” said Gregory. “I feel like we do a good service to the community. It was more difficult this time. We didn’t have as many employees due to layoffs. We don’t have a renovation scheduled for this year.” The Tides also partnered with Mountaire Chicken to provide savings to their community through a driveup chicken sale in October. The organization also worked with the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore on this project, allowing customers to donate chicken sales to benefit the organization. The Tides organization attempted to keep up community involvement even though Harbor Park baseball went silent for an entire year. Good news has arrived for baseball fans, however. The Tides organization began staffing back up on March 1 and expects to have full staff again by the end of the season, which starts on May 4 with the home opener May 18, after a one-month delay. “Things will look different this season,” said Gregory. “Out of an abundance of caution, we’re not doing any on-field events. We kicked around doing concerts and fireworks later in the season, but there will be

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

IMAGES PROPERTY OF NORFOLK TIDES

fireworks. We will have no on-field promotions, no running out with the team—it will be just baseball right now. We must operate at 30 percent capacity, but we can’t even get to that logistically. We designate pods of spectators and there have to be 10 feet between each pod. Local and state interpretations of restrictions come into play. With social distancing, smaller crowds will be focused on baseball. We’re going to have to be more creative.” The teams and players face their own challenges to starting back up. The Tides, as a AAA team, feeds into the major league Baltimore Orioles team. A Norfolk Tides player could play in Norfolk today and move up to Baltimore tomorrow. Beneath the Tides in the organization, the affiliates are high-A Bowie Baysox of Prince George’s County, MD, the A+ Aberdeen Ironbirds of Aberdeen, MD, and the low-A Delmarva Shorebirds of Salisbury, MD. All needed to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations. On May 15, capacity will increase

to 50 percent with 6-foot distancing. Rooming and travel have players existing in pods to reduce transmission to a whole team if one pod becomes ill. The players who room together, travel on the same bus. They don’t eat in the clubhouses anymore as a team, they take food togo. Clubhouse contact and duration of time is discouraged and players are encouraged to shower at home. “The good thing is by the time May 18 comes, the majority will have the opportunity to have vaccinations,” said Gregory. “That will reduce the risk of an outbreak.” Overall, Tides fans have stuck with the team throughout the ordeal. “They were obviously disappointed because Tides has been around since the 60s, whether it was Frank D. Lawrence Stadium in Portsmouth, Met Park in Norfolk or Harbor Park in Norfolk, it’s been a big part of people’s summers. Overall they’ve been sympathetic, and the whole time they were supportive. We still even have people wanting merchandise. This morning I came in

and there was an order for 15 hats for a youth team from the other side of Cleveland. You think about the little things like that.” With all the turbulence and uncertainty of the past year, some positives have emerged from the struggle. Baseball will continue on and some closer bonds may have developed as a result. “I’d say that one of the good things that came out of this was the sense of comradery that came out of it,” said Gregory. “All the general managers of the Virginia Minor League teams regularly met via Zoom. We got to know each other and were able to help each other out. I feel like that’s going to go a long way in the future towards building genuine relationships.” Norfolk Tides Baseball Club at Harbor Park Stadium 150 Park Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510 757-622-2222 www.milb.com/norfolk

boulevard | may-jul 2021

DAVID MARK

TANIA VAN DEN BERGHEN

SPORTS IN VIRGINIA BEACH

No one understands the complexities of dealing with COVID-19 and sports venues like the staff of the new Virginia Beach Sports Center. They not only created a new way of operating during a global pandemic like other venues had to, they also opened a $68 million, state-of-theart facility, staffed it and continued to schedule events in compliance with state guidelines. “We opened on October 12, 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic,” says Amber Giancola, the facility’s general manager. “It was a slow opening. Obviously, with COVID, every event here had to change the way that it would typically operate. Both the number of athletes and the number of permitted spectators were limited.” The 120,000-square-foot sports center, a public/private partnership between the city of Virginia Beach and Eastern Sports Management, boasts 12 basketball or 24 volleyball courts, a track venue and 4,500seat fixed bleachers. The city plans to host indoor NCAA track and field competitions, wrestling, gymnastics, field hockey, cheerleading and futsal (a type of soccer played indoors). It expects to attract 41,000 athletes the

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

JOHN CADELL

Virginia Beach Sports Center

first year, boosting the nearby hotel, restaurant and retail economies. They cater locally to those involved with wrestling, volleyball, basketball, track, dodgeball, pickleball, cornhole and more. Eastern Sports Management operates the facility and the city’s sports marketing team manages sales. Opening during a pandemic with mandated safety guidelines meant some quick pivoting, but the staff managed to get the job done. Most of the use to date has catered to local sports, however, that changed with the NHSCA Wrestling Senior National Championships in April. “We are still running every event with very limited spectators,” said Giancola. “Obviously we want our staff and guests to be as safe as possible. Presently, we can host functions at 30 percent capacity, but we’re running below that number most of the time.” Even though they face limitations, the facility has provided

a much-welcomed outlet for many people from all levels of competition. “Indoor track has been a huge hit during these COVID times because most of the other tracks were closed, especially in states around us with tighter restrictions. They were unable to operate in their markets, so this facility provided an opportunity to shift their events to this facility,” said Giancola. “Youth and adult basketball are very popular since we opened, even giving the timing. Athletes who were accustomed to playing consistently wanted to play but had nowhere to do so, and we found ways to safely offer them an outlet to stay active at a time where that need was critical.” The facility has also played a vital role for a class of athletes needing training times that affect their immediate futures, both for school and club sports. Some high school students counted on sports to make times for scholarships or consideration for college. Behind the scenes, the pandemic affected the organization through staffing and vendors. “One of our biggest hits has been food and beverage sales,” said Giancola. “Capacity restrictions meant fewer spectators, which meant fewer diners. While we would typically encourage people to stay with us all day, we now have to encourage our visitors to participate in their event and promptly leave the

MARKUS SPISKE

building so that we can make room for the next wave of athletes. Limited hours added to staffing uncertainty. Sometimes we needed a lot of staff. Sometimes we didn’t.” They plan to move forward as restrictions ease. Besides bringing in tournaments and championships, the facility hosts several programs to increase regional sports participation. The new Wave Basketball Club will provide boys and girls of all skill levels in grades 4-11 tools to build character, learn teamwork, and develop a lifelong love for the game of basketball. The program will host clinics, develop a travel team and produce a series of camps throughout the year. This includes the Devon Hall Summer Basketball Camp. Virginia Beach native and NBA player, Devon Hall, will teach future superstars in the Hampton Roads area. Hall provided a significant donation to Eastern Sports Management’s charitable arm, PlayOn. The organization will provide access to sports and recreation programs in underserved communities. A portion of registration fees for the summer camp benefits Hall’s The Long Hall youth basketball scholarship fund. “One of the big events we are cooking up at the end of May is called ‘Volley ‘n’ ViBe,’ and it will connect the arts district and our sports community,” said Giancola. “It looks to be shaping up to be a beneficial weekend for area businesses based on the anticipated participation and event foot traffic.” This brings home the goal of the partnership between the city and the complex. Sports visitors will have an increasingly positive economic impact as restrictions ease. “Recently there have been weekends that restaurants and hotels have been full because of the shoulder season and off-season sporting events hosted here,” said Giancola. Difficulties aside, the experience

“We have found ways to safely offer athletes an outlet to stay active at a time where that need was critical.” ~Amber Giancola has provided some lessons. “We have had a really great response from people being accepting of the guidelines because they just want to be here,” said Giancola. “The thing I hope sticks around is the appreciation. The parents are so appreciative. I hope that sticks. Things were taken for granted before and I hope this has given people perspective. Everyone as a whole has been very appreciative

and happy to be here. Whether they’re our elite athletes vying for a record or scholarship or they’re just recreational participants, we’re seeing they’re just happy to be out and being active with their friends and kids their own age.” Virginia Beach Sports Center 1045 19th St. Virginia Beach, VA 23451 vbsportscenter.com

boulevard | may-jul 2021

viewpoint Clear Evidence for Regional High-Speed Connectivity Imagine for a moment that, after a long week of work, it’s time for movie night at home. You have assembled your favorite snack foods, beverages and favorite movie-watching companion(s) and you are ready to relax and enjoy the show. However, when you push play or attempt to connect to your premium digital media streaming service your big screen displays the dreaded phrase, “no connection available.” Or maybe, winding down after a long day, you ask your home smart speaker to play your greatest hits playlist and it responds, “I am having trouble connecting to the internet.” In the personal entertainment context, the inability to connect to the internet becomes an irritant and inconvenience. However, trouble connecting to the internet in other areas of our personal and professional lives becomes not an inconvenience, but a serious problem. It was not always like this. We all remember when internet access used to be more of a luxury item. Back in the mid-to-late 1990s, I would have never imagined that the technology or internet speeds that we have today would ever exist in our homes to the point where not having an internet connection available or where having slow or unreliable broadband service would be a serious issue. The internet of the late 1990s has grown from a slow, loosely organized platform where it took you 30 minutes to check one or two emails with a few random websites into a multi-trillion-dollar global business, educational, news, healthcare and information portal. The fact is, few could have ever imagined how connection to the internet would change how we live, how we bank, how we learn, how we deliver healthcare, how we do business, connect with each other and so much more. So, when we consider our ability to connect to the fastest and most reliable broadband internet as a region, we can easily see that our ability to connect to high-speed broadband is not a mere inconvenience but a regional imperative for economic growth, resilience, equity, etc. We need to reframe the concept of broadband connectivity into a regional call to our local government and business leaders to craft solutions connecting every corner of our region with the fastest and cheapest highspeed broadband in the nation. We should leave no one out. The 2020 pandemic highlighted that in our technology driven society, connecting to high-speed broadband has provided a key element of economic resilience for greater Hampton Roads and our nation. When our offices and schools were forced to go dark, broadband became the key to our local resiliency that allowed our schools and businesses to quickly recover and light back up in our homes. However, for those who cannot connect, lack of connectivity is not just an irritant or mere inconvenience, but a reality of life that limits access, not only to entertainment, but to critical educational, business, healthcare and a myriad of other online resources. Those who have “no connection available” or have trouble connecting to the internet remain in educational and economic darkness.

Education Generally In March of 2020, school divisions, colleges and universities across Hampton Roads began the monumental undertaking of transitioning live, face-to-face

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

[ by Darius K. Davenport, Esq. ] Our ability to connect to high-speed broadband is not a mere inconvenience but a regional imperative for economic growth, resilience, equity, etc.

COURTESY OF CRENSHAW, WARE & MARTIN

VIEWPOINT

instruction into online learning platforms in order to provide a safe environment in which to deliver the required annual hours of instruction. Despite the unknowns of COVID-19 at that time, technology, delivered through high-speed broadband, provided an educational resiliency solution that allowed the learning process to continue. However, the lack of broadband access brought to the forefront new educational disparities for thousands of students throughout the region. Some students cannot afford broadband services. Other students simply cannot access broadband in their neighborhood or region. Nevertheless, the result remains the same whether K-12 or higher education—the lack of connectivity creates a barrier that the best online learning platform cannot overcome.

Business Generally The same broadband that lit up makeshift schools in our children’s bedrooms, lit up our businesses in our home offices. Businesses pivoted and met social distancing requirements by running our business machines from home. The lifeblood of that business resiliency was high-speed broadband that tied those business machines together and stitched back together the fabric of our corporate networks. The availability of high-speed broadband also fueled innovation. We discovered new lines of business and implemented new, more efficient ways of doing business. However, all businesses or employees could not realize the fullness of resiliency. Like with education, if you cannot afford high-speed broadband at home, you cannot work from

home. The same is true if the service is not even available or is unreliable in your community. Thus, we should be working to ensure that everyone in our region has connectivity to access for the sake of our collective economic resilience and growth.

The Rest of the World Generally The pandemic accelerated the global reliance on high-speed broadband. But it also highlighted its importance as a critical ubiquitous resiliency infrastructure like water or electricity. Healthcare now occurs through virtual doctor office visits, kiosks and even virtual hospitals where doctors can monitor patient vitals through video chats. Many more government services have become offered or administered online. Geographic employment

Award-winning dishes and famous “blackboard specials”

Fresh-caught seafood, traditional fare and seasonal ingredients

www.coastalgrill.com

1440 N. Great Neck Road Virginia Beach 757-496-3348

FINE DINING • PRIVATE PARTIES & EVENTS

boulevard | may-jul 2021

VIEWPOINT

barriers are being broken down because you no longer need to work in the same city or state as the main office if you can get online. Online personal and business shopping has not only supplemented, but in some ways exceeded, our traditional brickand-mortar commerce. From the economic development standpoint, businesses and industries of all types seek to make their homes in regions connected with the fastest available broadband services because speed provides the key to the future of local business, education and research.

Lessons We Should Be Learning As a community, we need to view high-speed broadband not just as a simple luxury, but as a critical economic engine for our collective

future. Businesses will look for new, well-connected high speed digital ports to connect them to the rest of the world. Not only will they look for those ports, but they will want to see if everyone in our community (urban, rural and all parts in between) has access to high-speed, affordable broadband. If the past shows any predictor of the future, our reliance on broadband will only increase over time. And if we have learned anything from the past year, we should know that we are more resilient as a region with connectivity to the critical infrastructure of highspeed broadband. It does not matter if we experience a pandemic or a snowstorm, we can keep educating, and growing our economy, if we have connectivity.

Darius K. Davenport is a partner and chairman of the Government and Public Sector and Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Practice Groups of Crenshaw, Ware & Martin (CWM). His practice focuses on data privacy laws and helping clients mitigate cyber risk. Davenport also provides a wide variety of legal services to political subdivisions and other governmental entities on matters relating to the governance and administration of public agencies to include procurement, economic development, ethics and freedom of information. As a member of CWM’s Commercial Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights Practice Group, Davenport also represents national and local banks, financial institutions, lending institutions and secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy situations.

MORE THAN 14,000 JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE LOCAL HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Go to the Virginia Beach Hotel Association website for a listing of vacancies: virginiabeachhotelassociation.com/find-a-virginiabeach-hotel-job

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

Do you need a unique gift for your favorite dads, grads or grooms? Do you want to find the sportiest of outdoor offerings to celebrate the warm weather and outdoor activities with mom or your bride? The Boulevard team scoured the region for some great ideas and have come back to you with our temptation picks for the season.

Norfolk Tides Fan Store [1] Norfolk Official Tides merchandise, from apparel and drinkware to locally sourced coffee tides.milbstore.com

HATS, BATS, APPAREL, DRINKWARE: Baseball season is back! Support the Tides by shopping in-store at the stadium or online.

West Marine [2] Virginia Beach Products for boaters, anglers, sailers and water enthusiasts www.westmarine.com

KAYAKS: Sit-in, Sit-on and fishing kayaks in a variety of pricepoints and skill levels YETI: Tumblers, mugs, bottles and coolers—all designed to keep your beverages the right temperature while you’re out on the water FISHFINDER: Plenty of options for freshwater and seawater anglers. Fishfinder and GPS combos as well as multifunction packages with radar and sonar options

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

Big Blue 1K/5K [3] Norfolk 8th Annual MSP Design Group run goes through the Old Dominion University (ODU) campus www.bigblue5k.com BIG BLUE 1K/5K: Presented by Bon Secours In Motion, the route takes participants around the ODU campus, finishing up on the 50-yard line at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Give the gift of health and sportsmanship, and celebrate together at a post-race tailgate party.

TAYCAN: An all-electric, powerful sedan with instantaneous power and pinpoint handling. Rear-wheel drive, many customization options 911 GT3 RS: Old-school, high-octane performance with 550 HP, manual transmission (of course!) and race car-inspired performance

Checkered Flag Porsche [4] Virginia Beach Family-owned Porsche dealership serving the area for more than five decades with a passion for driving and client satisfaction www.checkeredflagporsche.com

boulevard | may-jul 2021

Taylor’s Do it Center [5] Norfolk, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Poquoson Family-owned hardware, tools and home improvement store since 1927 taylorsdoit.com It’s time to get out and grill something! BIG GREEN EGG: The XLarge Egg is perfect for those with big families or frequent gatherings. With 452 square inches of total cooking area, it’s the second largest Egg and can grill/bake/smoke a lot of just about anything.

Kitchen Barn [6]

WEBER GENESIS II: The newest addition to the Weber line features the latest technologies and premium features. Exclusive GS4 grilling system, with 2 to 6 stainless steel burners.

BREVILLE BARISTA PRO ESPRESSO MACHINE: Get barista-quality espresso drinks— from bean to brew—quicker than ever, thanks to this machine’s three-second heat-up time. Featuring an intuitive LCD screen interface and built-in grinder, it delivers the perfect amount of coffee right before brewing, so you always get rich, full flavor,

Virginia Beach Providing supplies for novice and professional cooks since 1975 with the finest selection of cookware, cutlery, bakeware and just about any gadget you can imagine. www.kitchenbarnonline.com

COPPER COOKWARE: Serious cooks need de Buyer copper cookware. Copper heats and cools within seconds and its excellent conductivity ensures quick and even heat distribution. The new Prima Matera line is the only copper cookware that performs flawlessly on all cooktops, including induction. Handmade in France since 1830

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

Switching Gears Bicycle Shop [7] Virginia Beach Neighborhood bike shop specializing in new and used beach cruisers, comfort bikes and “adventure” bikes with rentals, repairs, maintenance and accessories also available www.facebook.com/SwitchingGearsBicycleShop/

BIKES & ACCESSORIES: Buy a bike (if you can find one during the current shortage of inventory in the area!) or spiff up your current ride with some cork handlebar tape, new hand grips, a drink holder, a basket or bag or a new comfy seat. And don’t forget the safety: A new helmet and small emergency tire inflator could save your day.

Pendulum Fine Meats [9] Norfolk A family owned butcher with a mission for quality, Pendulum sources only well-raised food with a sustainable and simple method of production from local farmers that they and/or their customers can visit. pendulummeats.com

8 RAINCOAT: Watercolor print reversible raincoat

Lowenthal Outerwear Boutique [8]

MEAT:

Tender and flavorful ribeyes—all aged 45-90 days—pair perfectly with one of the grills on the opposite page.

Virginia Beach This full-service fur retailer sells distinctive, luxury cloth, leather, rain outerwear and accessories—since 1955. lowenthals.com

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TENNIS, ANYONE? Ace your game: more than 35 tennis courts available. Tennis, fitness, dining and drinks—our world-class facility is here for you. 25 outdoor clay courts, 10 indoor courts, pickleball, tennis lessons and clinics, swimming pool and pro shop.

1950 Thomas Bishop Lane, Virginia Beach (757) 481-7545 www.vbtcc.com

Mangia bene You will always EAT WELL at Il Giardino. Generous portions of award-winning Italian cuisine, all made fresh in-house.

910 Atlantic Ave. Virginia Beach, VA 23451

757.422.6464 ilgiardino.com

HAPPY HOUR • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Established 1985

day trip Destination: Chincoteague & Assateague We took a day jaunt across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel from Virginia Beach to Chincoteague and Assateague. Heading north on U.S. Route 13 we passed through a variety of little towns—Nassawadox, Onancock, Exmore— each rural and rustic in their own way. If you’ve already worked up an appetite between home and the Virginia/ Maryland border, and you’d like to stop for a bite and a bit of shopping, Little Italy on Rogers Drive, just off Route 13 provides a great little place for Italian food or pizza and a few nearby shops have some interesting finds. We weren’t hungry quite yet, but we did check out the shopping options. Two doors down you’ll find The Smiling Dolphin, a frame shop that also has a nice selection of art supplies including oil, acrylic and watercolor paints and all materials you need to use them, drawing pencils, pastels, charcoals, markers, erasers and paper pads. Throughout the store they also have framed and unframed posters and prints and a small gallery with some original local artwork and a few gift items. Just around the corner on Railroad Street, Seaside Market & Garden Center has a wide variety of herbs and plants, unique glass hummingbird feeders, fun garden decor, colorful quilts and sometimes even a hard-to-find local variety of plant like Hog Island fig trees. Back on the road again we saw The Great Machipongo Clam Shack and couldn’t help but stop in for a quick, fried seafood sampler. The selection and price couldn’t be beaten with four soft-shell crabs, fries, hush puppies and coleslaw for $20. We also had a box of fried flounder, clam strips, shrimp, hush puppies and coleslaw for $9.95. We consumed both samplers at an outdoor picnic area with tables in a grove of pine trees. The clam shack also has live music, a bar, a seafood store and CBD oils. Approximately 90 miles north on U.S. Route 13 from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel you can turn right at the T’s-Corner stoplight onto VA Route 175/Chincoteague Road. Continue on VA Route 175/Chincoteague Road for

[ by jill doczi ] [ PHOTOS by Berry Brunk & Dylon Sheffer ]

Beyond the natural beauty on this gateway to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, you can discover some charming little shops and eateries.

boulevard | may-jul 2021

DAY TRIP

Decoys Decoys Decoys has carried hand-carved waterfowl from almost 100 different artisans for more than 30 years.

approximately six miles and you’ll see the NASA Wallops Flight Facility visitor center on your right, across from the main base. Landmarks include a road sign for the visitor center and large rocket exhibits on the grounds. Turn right into the parking lot. The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center offers a unique opportunity to explore the past, present and future of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. The center features exhibits about aeronautics, orbital and sub-orbital rockets, scientific balloons, current missions and the history of Wallops Flight Facility. In addition to exhibits, the visitor center also features an auditorium and an observation deck, as well as numerous free public programs, field trip opportunities, events and group tours of the facility. It also serves as the viewing site for rockets that launch from Wallops Island. The gift shop, open seasonally, offers models, patches, games, clothing and a variety of NASA souvenirs. The Wallops Visitor Center, grounds and launch viewing area continue to be closed at print time so call ahead for updates on re-opening. After you’ve had your science fix you can turn east down VA Route 175/Chincoteague Road again and head into downtown Chincoteague. Made famous by the “Misty of Chincoteague” book series by Marguerite Henry, the island town has plenty to see and do outside of the annual pony swim. Drive onto the Island and take your first right onto Main Street.

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

Chincoteague has a population of 2,941. Chincoteague remained a barrier island until the mid-1800s, when Assateague extended so far south that it shielded Chincoteague from the ocean. The Native American name for the island was Gigoteague and the current spelling wasn’t documented until 1943. In 1650 Daniel Jenifer became the first English landowner of 1,500 acres. In 1671, European settlers came to the island, and by 1672 there were large farms owned by Bishops, Bowdens, Jesters and Tarrs. By 1838, there were 36 houses on the island. In 1861, after the attack on Fort Sumter, the island voted 132-2 not to secede from the Union. When a major northeast storm called the Ash Wednesday Storm hit the island in 1962, it submerged the town under water, destroying almost all structures on neighboring Assateague Island, where development had just begun. Afterward most of Assateague Island became Assateague Island National Seashore in 1965, protecting it and it’s famous ponies from future development. A few blocks down Main Street you’ll see Decoys Decoys Decoys, which has an outstanding selection of bird decoys created by carvers and artisans near and far. In business for over 30, they have the largest

selection of hand-carved waterfowl on the East Coast. Representing over 99 different carvers, they have a wide selection of decoys from the very primitive to the very decorative as well as antique carvings. From there you can head back to VA Route 175/Chincoteague Road and turn right as it becomes Maddox Boulevard all the way out to where it becomes Beach Access Road to Assateague Island National Seashore. You can stop and explore multiple trails and the Tom’s Cove

Doesn’t get any fresher than this: John Abbott (LEFT) and Mike Taylor show off two black drum they reeled in that day.

DAY TRIP CHINCOTEAGUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Little Italy 10227 Rogers Dr. Nassawadox, VA 23413 Facebook: Little Italy Ristorante The Smiling Dolphin 10235 Rogers Dr. Nassawadox, VA 23413 www.smilingdolphinframeshop.com

The wildlife and views are what many people seek out on their trips to the Eastern Shore.

BELOW-Mr. Whippy has been serving up soft-served ice cream for 50 years.

Seaside Market & Garden Center 7401 Railroad Ave. Nassawadox, VA 23413 Facebook: Seaside Market & Garden Center The Great Machipongo Clam Shack 6468 Lankford Hwy. Nassawadox, VA 23413 www.greatclams.com NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center Building J20 VA Route 175/Chincoteague Road Wallops Island, VA 23337 www.nasa.gov/content/ nasa-wallops-visitor-center-2

ABOVE-Island Creamery is known for small-batch, locally sourced, frozen concoctions.

Visitor Center along this road, but we headed straight to the Atlantic Ocean where we found fishermen Mike Taylor and John Abbott catching some enormous red drum. Leaving the national seashore, you drive back through the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. If you take a left on the Woodland Trail Access Road and park in the lot, you can follow the the trail to the Woodland Trail Overlook where you just might view some of those famous wild ponies. Heading back out of Chincoteague on Maddox Boulevard you can stop for a snack at one of two spots, Island Creamery or Mr. Whippy. Island Creamery makes their ice cream in small batches with fresh cream and milk from local cows and locally grown fruits or goodies from their kitchen mixed together in their American-made

Decoys Decoys Decoys 4039 Main St. Chincoteague, VA 23336 Facebook: Decoys Decoys Decoys Mr. Whippy 6201 Maddox Blvd. Chincoteague, VA 23336 www.misterwhippy.com

Emery Thompson batch freezer. They boast 28 permanent flavors and 39 seasonal flavors. Mr. Whippy has more traditional sundaes, snowballs and milkshakes. On the way back to U.S. Route 13 you’ll find Ray’s Shanty. Captain Ray Twiford, a lifelong waterman, and his wife Laura opened Ray’s Shanty Restaurant in 1986. They became famous for their shrimp and seafood. The trip on the way home winds back through all those rural towns, each with their own Eastern Shore stories and personalities to explore on future day trips.

Island Creamery 6243 Maddox Blvd. Chincoteague, VA 23336 www.islandcreamery.net Ray’s Shanty 32157 Chincoteague Rd. New Church, VA 23415 raysshanty.com

Planning to take a road trip somewhere within a day’s drive? Tell us about the experience. Send in your piece (and any photos you take) for us to consider publishing in a future issue of Boulevard. Email: julie@blvdmedia.io boulevard | may-jul 2021

Photo Contest: Enter to Win DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN? “Last Call” highlights a location or an artifact in the Tidewater region every issue. Send us your guess via email or on the website as to where you think the photo was taken and identify what it is. Those who send correct guesses will have their names placed into a hat, with the winner randomly chosen. Please provide your email address/contact information with your submission in case you’re the lucky one. We will award a prize each issue. For this contest we will provide a $150 gift certificate at one of The Boulevard Team’s favorite restaurants. Of course, we’ll name the winner in the next issue and on social media so you can take advantage of all the appropriate bragging rights with your friends and family. Good luck everyone! Stay tuned for the August Last Call, where we up the ante on the prize.

Last issue’s winner:

Glen Bricker Williamsburg, VA Location: This rod and reel painting is part of a mural on the back of Best Value Hardware Store in the ViBe District in Virginia Beach.

may-jul 2021 | boulevard

[ PHOTO by Berry Brunk ]

blvdmedia.io/contact/ hello@blvdmedia.io

COLLINS SQUARE AT THALIA

Collins Square is located at 4001 Virginia Beach Boulevard at Thalia – just one mile east of Town Center “HOME OF THE FAMOUS CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAY”

CHRISTMAS PHOTOS: JOHN CADELL | johncadell@icloud.com

Welcomes

4001 VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD • JUST ONE MILE EAST OF TOWN CENTER

Keeping those in the know

since 1955. We look forward to many more years to come. Thank you for your patronage.

SINCE 1955 Virginia Beach | lowenthals.com