May-July 2022 Boulevard

The essential source of things to do for locals & visitors

Go Outside and Play Log off, shut down and experience summer

MAY-JUL

2022

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

R

contents

may–jul 2022 FEATURES:

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The Unsung Heroes Entrepreneurs are the backbone of this region

Art and the Outdoors

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Two very unique cultural areas in Norfolk and Virginia Beach

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NEON District ViBe District

Summer’s Here, So Get Outside

VIBE CREATIVE DISTRICT

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A photo essay of ways to enjoy the outdoors in our region

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Shopping: The New Normal

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DEPARTMENTS:

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From the Publisher

RICK BLANTON

How COVID-19 changed retail and consumer behavior

Get Outside and Play

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What’s Biting In-season fish to reel in

8

Viewpoint

30

The future of news is on screens, and community media can be a part of it

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Calendar of Events What’s happening in May, June, July

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Day Trip

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Destination: False Cape State Park

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34

Boulevard’s Last Call

ON THE COVER There is no better time than summer to be outdoors, taking advantage of all that the water, trails, communities and parks have to offer. [ PHOTO by Clay LeConey ]

TIM MOSSHOLDER

Where was this photo taken? [Contest]

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from the publisher Get Outside and Play! For those of you of a certain age, this ubiquitous parental order might have often been uttered by whatever adults happened to be close by in an effort to rid the house of any potential future lazy lay-abouts. Everyone knows that getting up off your duff builds character. In all neighborhoods across this great land, you could hear the same words bellowed through the house, targeting the usual suspects. As nostalgic as it might be, we thought there was no better theme to weave through this issue of Boulevard. After the recent phases of the worst pandemic since 1908, we don’t need to be told—or coaxed—in 2022 to go outside and play. We’ve waited for this opportunity through the many months when the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. For a moment, think about how much time you spent outside last week. Really “outside.” Walking from the car into the grocery store or the office doesn’t count. Now think about how much time you spent indoors—on the internet or playing video games or watching TV. If you’re like many other people, you spent more time inside four walls than outside in fresh air. Kids spent two fewer hours per week on sports and outdoor activities in the early 2000s than kids did in the early 1980s. The stats are even worse for 2022. Sedentary activities are more popular. A majority of people report spending most of their free time watching TV (85%) playing computer games (81%) or immersed in social media. This can result in obesity, greater stress, higher rates of illness and less joy in being alive. In the last issue, we published articles on health, wellness, mindfulness and innovative solutions or activities to enhance your inner self. For May we challenge everyone to increase your outside time by engaging in activities you enjoy that get the heart pumping and brain engaged in different ways. Take a long walk tomorrow morning or this evening, listen to the birds, stop and smell flowers, watch the bees and butterflies, talk to neighbors, plant some vegetables, study the clouds, breathe deeply and hold in the sweet air. You’ll be glad you did.

BERRY BRUNK

SUSIE BRUNK

President/Publisher

General Manager

757.340.3625 berry@blvdmedia.io

360.333.7162 susie@blvdmedia.io

BERRY BRUNK

President | Publisher berry@blvdmedia.io

JULIE FANNING Chief Creative Officer julie@blvdmedia.io

JILL DOCZI Managing Editor jill@blvdmedia.io

RICK BLANTON Photography Editor rick@blvdmedia.io

JOHN CADELL Senior Photographer john@blvdmedia.io

CONTRIBUTORS DYLON SHEFFER Multimedia Design dylon@blvdmedia.io

GRACE HOBSON Writer

ALEX MARJANOVIC Writer

SUSIE BRUNK General Manager susie@blvdmedia.io

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

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blvdmedia.io © 2022 | Vol 3, 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.

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

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757.422.6464 ilgiardino.com

HAPPY HOUR • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Established 1985

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Award-winning dishes and famous “blackboard specials”

www.coastalgrill.com FINE DINING • PRIVATE PARTIES & EVENTS

Fresh-caught seafood, traditional fare and seasonal ingredients

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

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

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

Having fair winds most of the time, fishing in the Chesapeake Bay always provides adventure. This body of water has so many species available to target all year long. From spot fish all the way to trophy drum and cobia, you’ll always find something to catch. So get out there and chase dinner. Until next time, tight lines. ~Jeff Moore

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 ABOVE: Jeff Moore holds a cobia he reeled in using eel bait on a 40-pound test line.

JULY 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

ABOVE: George Kotarides shows off the cobia he caught also using eel bait and a 40-pound test line. RIGHT: (L-R) Richard Christy, Jeff Moore and Pat Cunninham with the spadefish they caught in the bay.

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.

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viewpoint The Future of News Is on Screens, and Community Media Can Be a Part of It The last battle of the War of 1812, the seizure of Fort Bowyer, in what is now Alabama, by the British, happened more than a month after the Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812. (The larger and more well-remembered Battle of New Orleans also ended before U.S. President James Madison ratified the same already-signed treaty.) In the 17th century, the battle of Prague continued nearly a week after the Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years’ War in Europe. Multiple Japanese soldiers serving in World War II, perhaps most famously 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda in the Philippines, refused to surrender their combat posts in the South Pacific until as late as the 1970s. We can say what we like about the relative merits of printed newspapers and magazines versus their digital counterparts, but the proverbial writing is on the wall. Each day, a greater proportion of the billions of words read by people across the world are read from a screen rather than a page—and that trajectory will never reverse. Perhaps you are someone who enjoys the convenience of reading the New York Times on your iPad. Perhaps you are someone who insists on nothing less than the sensory experience of paper in your hands and the smell of ink as you catch up on current events. Perhaps your preferences and tolerances vis-à-vis the format of your media depend on the context, with some topics and settings well suited for screen reading and others seeming to call out for the timeless appeal of the printed word. But for media consumers, producers and advertisers to eschew the rise of digital distribution is to fight a battle long over. There are arguments for and against all media formats. Famed media scholar Neil Postman spent much of his celebrated (albeit contentious) academic career lamenting the rise of television, in part because he believed the printed word was fundamentally better suited for comprehensive mental processing and understanding of phenomena and partly because he was concerned about the commercial structure of television advertising. He

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[ by james d. ivory, ph.d. ]

Healthy local media remain vital to the vibrancy of communities’ culture and business, but continue to be ever more threatened by the economics of the media landscape.

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VIEWPOINT

had similar concerns about the burgeoning use of the internet in the final decades of his life. But while there is room to lament aspects of the continued rise and dominance of digital media distribution, there is much to like. Digital publication allows relatively small organizations to share news and viewpoints with a broad audience without the scale of production needed to make physical print runs feasible. Digitally distributed news stories can integrate investigative journalistic writing seamlessly with citizen-submitted video. And advertisers can get a much more precise sense of how many members of their communities their messages are reaching. This flexibility becomes all the more valuable in a time where a worrying number of news organizations are seeing their

budgets stanched as they pass between corporate owners. Healthy local media remain vital to the vibrancy of communities’ culture and business, but continue to be ever more threatened by the economics of the media landscape. News and opinion on screens is not simply an inevitability we must accept; these days, its effectiveness of digital distribution at community level may ensure the viability of local media. I have always loved a good book, spent many a morning before school soaking up the newspaper after my parents, and even beavered through the better part of an archaic World Book encyclopedia my parents snatched from a school library sale as a child. As a career academic at Virginia Tech, I have spent no small portion of my hours on Earth dwarfed by university library bookshelves. But

just as horse-drawn carriages have faded from city streets and fewer and fewer households grab a sack of raw flour from the larder to start cooking supper, our media landscape has changed whether we like it or not. As a believer in the vital role of community media, I hope that we see our local news sources, advertisers and readers embrace digital editions of the community media that help tie our neighbors together. James D. Ivory, Ph.D., is a professor and director of research and outreach in the School of Communication at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA. He holds a Doctorate of communication, a Master of Arts in communication and a Bachelor of Science in journalism. His research and teaching interests deal primarily with social dimensions of media technologies.

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

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by Jim Carroll They exist everywhere but they still remain unseen or unrecognized. They get lumped into categories like “momand-pop,” “lifestyle” or “hobbyist,” yet each one operates as an individual in his or her own right. You rarely acknowledge or appreciate them until you really need them and then, they might still remain unfound. What or who are these ephemeral entities? They are the small businesses and the owners who own and operate them throughout the 18 cities and counties of the Hampton Roads region.

Region’s History Entrepreneurs and small business owners alike have many traits in common but passion and drive for success rise above all others. Some call this visionary, others might disagree. In his book, “The Economic History of Virginia” Paul A. Levengood, Ph.D., of the Virginia Historical Society, provides a spectacular overview of our commonwealth’s economy, warts and all. When you look at our region’s economic history, you find that the first European people who came to Virginia in 1607 with goals to succeed as entrepreneurs. These intrepid individuals sought to make their fortune in this new world. The Virginia Corporation (venture capital) funded them with the goal of developing products from the abundant raw materials available in the new world. The realization soon set in that their original assumptions and plans were faulty, so they looked for other opportunities on which to capitalize. Winter set in and half of the original team died. The settlers fought off attacks from indigenous tribes who viewed them as interlopers. Starvation set in and of the 500 colonists alive in autumn, fewer than one-fifth survived. All appeared lost, but a set of fortuitous circumstances occurred with the introduction of captured tobacco plants which, when planted here in 1614, thrived. Thus the settlement recovered and rapidly grew. Entrepreneurship in our country started here in Hampton Roads on the banks of the James River.

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The

Unsung

MANNY BECERRA

Heroes

Entrepreneurs are the backbone of this region

THGUSSTAVO SANTANA

ELLE HUGHES

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Some Small Businesses May Grow

When viewed individually, small business owners per se, do not generate significant economic impact by themselves. Group them together, however, and you see an entirely different picture. A recent study by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy shows that our region, and beyond, falls within four Congressional districts. Small business owners account for 93% of all businesses in these districts. More than 56,000 businesses employ over 516,000 individuals and pay out nearly $21 billion a year in hourly wages and salaries—a noteworthy amount. More important than monetary impact, small businesses provide many of the goods and services that allow us to enjoy a fantastic quality of life on a daily basis.

What do Ford Motor Company, Facebook, Apple, Under Armour, Tesla and a whole host of other amazingly successful companies all have in common? They all began as small businesses. When you look at their respective stories, you will see a common thread—a visionary had a dream of changing the current status quo and, despite opposition and in some cases, total derision from the people around them, went on to succeed. Henry Ford was a watchmaker who tinkered with his internal combustion engine and married it to a chassis. Facebook began in a college dorm room at Harvard. Steve Jobs wanted to put a computer on the desk of every person in the world. Look at Apple today and how it has become an essential part of our commerce and lives. Kevin Plank started Under Armour in 1996 while working out of his grandmother’s

Even Pillars Require Foundations Hampton Roads’ economy rests on three major pillars: the port and its global inbound and outbound shipping of raw materials and finished goods; the military with soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen, along with their families, living throughout the region; and finally, tourism which, given our location and natural resources and infrastructure, make the region a year-round destination for tourists and locals alike. These three tremendous economic engines rely on the myriad of small and mediumsized businesses providing the goods and services that they need in order to operate successfully. Without smaller businesses, the region’s economy would falter and, perhaps eventually, fail. Thus, it could be said that our economic pillars rest on the foundation created by these small business owners and their endeavors.

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basement. He drove around with his product jammed into his car. One cannot write enough words about Elon Musk and Tesla, and the other ventures both worldly and in outer space that have come about due to his work in achieving his vision. FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google) companies are noted for surpassing $1 trillion in market capitalization but, like all the others, they started out small.

Customers, Competition and Cash Flow

JOHN CADELL

Hampton Roads Statistics

All too often, people looking in from the outside see the success but fail to appreciate the challenges and the hard work the small business owners overcame. Not only do small business owners have to possess the skills to deliver their goods or services, they also have to be constantly on the guard, protecting their businesses from both external and internal challenges and threats. Doing anything less invites disaster. They have to assemble a knowledgeable and robust management team and completely engage with them. They have to stay informed on the changes in their industry. They have to do their best to monitor and manage the

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RICK BLANTON

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 daily risks or cyber threats. Cash flow, costs, expenses and profit margins are something they have to manage daily. Sound fiscal and operational management is the order of the day. Sometimes it feels as if there aren’t enough hours in the day.

Doing What They Love and Succeeding: Hampton Roads has many examples of highly successful small businesses that have grown and thrived. Several companies headquartered in Virginia Beach represent this category. Tony DiSilvestro and his wife, Cyndi, started the first location of Ynot Italian restaurant in 1993 [1], putting their name and reputations out for all to see. When Tony’s brother joined the project, the memories of cooking alongside their grandparents solidified the message that this business was not a food business, but rather a family undertaking. This core belief has impacted the region as the

business grew from the first store and expanded to now seven locations in three cities. Ynot Italian has become a regionally recognized brand, one committed to excellence, family and community. Another company with local beginnings, Beach Commercial Finance, dba Beach Commercial, was founded and managed by a former commercial banker, Jeff Richardson, and a seasoned team of trusted advisors. Established during the credit crunch of September 1991, the company’s goal for the past 30 years has been to quickly provide local companies with cash flow help they need to grow and weather tough times. By capitalizing on his experience in commercial lending, Jeff has helped hundreds of local companies succeed in both good and tough times. Beach Commercial also donates 10% of its profits to help local charities involved with both special needs and at-risk children.

Jeff Werby, a serial entrepreneur, heads three distinctly different entrepreneurial ventures: 1701 CoWorking Space, Port and Starboard and Fathom Coffee. Located in the ViBe Creative District of Virginia Beach, 1701 Co-Working Space acted as a launch pad for several successful start-up small businesses. Port and Starboard specializes in business and salesforce support where technology meets business practices. Fathom Coffee [2] is a small gourmet coffee roasting company and shop located on Baltic Avenue. This venture is near-and-dear to Jeff as he shares his extensive knowledge and experience of the coffee trade. In each of the above cases, the founders recognized a need in the marketplace and then worked to fulfill that need.

Entrepreneurship/Small Business Ownership Is Not For Everyone Danny Meyer, a 28-times James boulevard | may-jul 2022

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Beard award winner and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, has opened quite a few restaurants in his career. His best-selling book “Setting the Table” is a must-read for anyone considering a career in this industry. In this book, a quote resonated with me throughout my time with the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads. I would like to paraphrase his words: Entrepreneurs and small business owners are like surfers. Surfing is an arduous sport. No one pursues it involuntarily. The same can be said about entrepreneurs and small business owners. No one forces you to become a surfer but, if you choose to do it, there is no point in wasting energy in trying to tame the ocean of its waves. Waves are like mistakes. You can always count on the fact that there will be another wave, so your choice is to get back on the surfboard and anticipate it or allow the wave to push you ashore. The degree to which you ride it with better form than the next guy is how you improve and distinguish yourself. Two things that each of the companies mentioned in this article benefited from were timing and a bit of luck. The next time you get the chance to speak talk with a small business owner, tell them how much you appreciate what they do on a daily basis. Better yet, buy something from them—you will certainly make their day and, who knows, perhaps contribute that spark needed to grow the business. For the past 25 years, Jim Carroll has served as the vice president for small business for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and the executive director for the Small Business Development Center of Hampton, Inc.

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NEON

ViBe

Art and the Outdoors very city in the region supports the arts in some manner with museums, shows, contests, festivals, public displays, etc. Norfolk and Virginia Beach, however, have dedicated arts districts condensing a quantity of creativity in designated areas accessible to the public. Get outdoors and soak up some inspiration in the ViBe and NEON districts this season. And as you walk along the way you might might find a trendy coffee shop, bistro or bakery that also deserves a visit. boulevard | may-jul 2022

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by Alex Marjanovich

NEON District

NEON

Norfolk neonnfk.com

PHOTOS: Downtown Norfolk Council

Urban Culture and Creativity Thrive Virginia weather delivered some cruel conditions this past winter. But with warmer temps settled in and individuals looking to find new activities to engage in, you won’t find a more creative outdoor option than the New Energy of Norfolk, or NEON, District. Moored by the Chrysler Museum of Arts and the Harrison Opera House, NEON has become a vibrant celebration of the creative mind and spirit of the city. “NEON was an idea that was percolating through Norfolk for some time,” said Rachel McCall, director of strategic initiatives at Downtown Norfolk Council. “The city wanted an arts and culture neighborhood for many years throughout the eighties and nineties, and during the early 2010s, there was a lot of community engagement and grassroots stakeholders who wanted to start a district.” boulevard | may-jul 2022

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The city of Norfolk officially opened and incorporated the district in 2014. The downtown neighborhoods had zone changes that allowed for a variety. The Downtown Norfolk Council began managing the district after that, with various events to further the progression of the area. One of the hallmarks, the two-day NEON Arts Festival, garners around 4,000 to 5,000 visitors yearly and is entering its seventh iteration. “The big institutions bookended either side of the district,” said McCall. “It is nice to have two strong organizations anchoring us while we have filled in a lot of public art, murals, small community-led projects, along with a public gathering space in the middle of NEON.” The NEON District spans several blocks, with a wide variety of free art and mural exhibitions for public viewing. Over time, businesses began to open, offering a wide variety of activities for visitors to enjoy while

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exploring the district. One can engage in various activities, from getting tattoos at the Commonwealth Tattoo Parlor, snagging pastries at La Brioche Bakery, and even purchasing firearms at Bob’s Gun Store. NEON offers a wide selection that appeals to crowds from every walk of life in the Hampton Roads area. For a smaller arts district, it carries a lot of flair. “In comparison to larger arts districts like in Miami or New York, NEON is really walkable and accessible,” said McCall. “You can see 30 to 40 artworks just within two

or three blocks. You can park once, take a self-guided tour and see a lot of incredible pieces. It’s a surprising caliber of art you can see.” In the middle of the district lies The Plot, an outdoor space with many uses. It contains a stage and stadium seating, making it an accessible and multi-faceted area. During the height of the pandemic, Norfolk activated certain parks for public gatherings. With live performances and open gatherings, the district’s open space enabled public events that helped boost small businesses

that call NEON home. It is a testimony to the community and helping the institutions that provide for visitors during a time of need. Recently, art tours begin at The Plot and the location hosts yoga sessions on select Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Started this past April, NEON began guided art tours throughout the district that will continue on throughout 2022. Join tour guide and local history buff Joshua Weinstein of Norfolk Tour Company for an afternoon in the NEON District on a free walking tour. Each tour provides an in-depth and up-close look at the neighborhood’s extensive public art collection, featuring murals, sculpture, temporary artwork and neon signs (details below). Anyone hoping to dig a little deeper into NEON may join the tours for free. Wear comfortable shoes, invite your friends—you can even bring along your dog. “Right now, we are focused on residential growth in NEON,” said McCall. “We’ve had a couple of vacant parcels within our district boundaries, so instead of reaching out and adding more blocks to the district, we are trying to do more development. We want to save the historic buildings and need more residents to make it more active. NEON might take up less space than art districts in other cities, but it rivals them with its originality and range of options. The average visitor has a wide selection of activities to choose from, ranging from arts to eats. The district provides a perfect getaway for individuals to get back outdoors and enjoy something original and beautiful. NEON ART TOUR—The Plot 776 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 June 11, 2022 : 2-3 p.m. July 8, 2022 : 7-8 p.m. Alex Marjanovich is a junior at Virginia Tech majoring in multimedia journalism and minoring in Russian.

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by Grace Hobson

ViBe Creative District

ViBe

Virginia Beach vibecreativedistrict.org

PHOTOS: Rick Blanton [Unless otherwise noted]

Business & Art Meet at the Beach Having everything from outdoor murals, sculpture installations and even creative crosswalks, the ViBe Creative District near the Virginia Beach oceanfront provides the perfect place to get outside this upcoming summer. The ViBe District has a simple mission: “To promote, support, connect and inspire the arts and creative industries to boost our local economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.” This is exactly what the ViBe Ceative District has done since Laura Wood Habr partnered with co-founder Andrew Fine in 2011 to reinvigorate the once historic area. “The seed for the ViBe District came from the Old Beach Farmers Market, which happened in my family’s restaurant parking lot; I saw these small businesses, farmers and vendors were successful and needed a place boulevard | may-jul 2022

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businesses in the district donated to go,” Habr said. “I selfishly wanted wall space to host the artwork, which them to hang around because completely transformed the area. This creatives—we like to be with each other, and I wanted to provide a place festival has continued annually each spring. where we could be together.” But murals in the ViBe Creative The Old Beach Farmers Market District don’t just exist on walls; a was established in 2008, just one year prior to Virginia legislature voting collection of community fence murals occur throughout the area. Beginning in favor of arts districts. In 2015, the in 2015 as a welcome to the Virginia IRS recognized the ViBe District as Beach mayor, council members, a nonprofit with the ability to accept the Office of Cultural Affairs and the tax-deductible contributions. community came together to paint “I think art means business, and localities and cities need to recognize over 55 plywood murals on the ViBe’s 18th Street Parklet. This project the strength that art contributes to has continued to expand into other our tax base—to invest in art,” Habr areas of the district, including the said. “We have sustainable funding Mediterranean Avenue Parklet and to support what the government and Butterfly Garden. the private sector can’t do; we—as Currently, the ViBe Creative the nonprofit sector—have a great District website features a self-guided partnership with the city and the citizens. We want to see a real VIBE CREATIVE DISTRICT commitment to investing in the art community, and we’ll deliver on our commitment, mission and vision.” The vision of the ViBe District is, and always has been, “To create and revive economic vibrancy in our neighborhood with a remarkable local vibe.” Habr has seen this vision come to life in a multitude of ways. In 2018, the ViBe District held the first ViBe Mural Festival, which featured 10 artists painting 10 murals over the course of 10 days. Private

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tour open to the public through Google Maps. In addition, the ViBe District has recently partnered with the Virginia Beach Sports Center on a 1.5-mile path going through the district that features scannable stickers and QR codes that will educate visitors about the art they pass along the way. On top of the many murals you can find, the ViBe District features sculpture installations created by local artists. This project resulted from a partnership between the ViBe District and the city of Virginia Beach as a part of a Neighborhood Identifier Artwork Program that showcases new pieces twice a year. There is not a piece of the ViBe District that is left untouched or absent from art. The district features

multiple stretches of sidewalk art, creative crosswalks and even 50 standard, gray parking meters that depict doodles from 10 local artists. This project, finished in 2020, was one of the 19th Street Infrastructure Improvements completed by the city of Virginia Beach. Another component of that project is the 19th Street Intersection Paver Artworks. Designed to last at least 20 years, and expected to last up to 30, the four paved artwork installations are located at the intersection of 19th Street and Parks Avenue, Cypress Avenue, Mediterranean Avenue and Baltic Avenue in the ViBe District. The four local artists chosen to participate in the project were selected because of their history and artistic impact in the area. “There’s artwork on the sidewalks, on the road, on the walls and we do temporarily installed sculptures—there’s literally art in all directions,” said Kate Pittman, executive director of the ViBe District. “The beautiful part about what we do is our nonprofit works with the city of Virginia Beach on projects, but also with the private businesses that are here; in addition to having that beautiful outdoor space, you can pop in and out of dozens of locally owned, small, creative businesses, and it becomes just this really fun outing. It’s great for people of all ages—you can walk up and down just one street, or you can spend two hours and go around the whole neighborhood.” Every piece of art that is installed in the ViBe District is a part of the larger goals originally set when the ViBe was established. These goals are to: 1. Establish a creative industries district in the city of Virginia Beach, which will serve as a vibrant center for the arts, culture and technology and is environmentally friendly. 2. Enhance a sense of discovery for visitors and residents by revitalizing the area and making this uniquely ours.

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doughboyspizza.com 3. Encourage the arts and artists as well as technical and creative resources to help them flourish and cross-pollinate. 4. Support and expand the industry and creativity of those who live and work in the district. 5. Stimulate commerce and enhance the quality of life for citizens of Virginia Beach and the district. 6. Foster rising real estate values by helping the district become a place where people want to be. 7. Assist in creating resources to help artists and artisans become established within the district. What has brought these goals to fruition, and what is ultimately at the heart of the ViBe Creative District, are the people. “I see the ViBe district as a reflection of the people of Virginia Beach. We’re working with hundreds of local artists to create new opportunities for them to be paid and work in their hometown,” Pittman said.

“It’s becoming more and more diverse in terms of the artwork content, and it’s just a fun, great place to be. We like to say that we represent what’s best about Virginia Beach—this is where people can grow a small business and send their kids to school, and where they can enjoy life and the beautification efforts that are happening here. It’s really this little microcosm, in this great big city, and it represents what’s happening locally.” Since its establishment in 2015, the ViBe District has welcomed over 50 new or expanding small businesses, hundreds of new public artworks for the community, over $200,000 paid out in artists’ stipends and over $1 million in nonprofit funds that support the ViBe’s vision and mission. Grace Hobson is a junior attending Virginia Tech and studying multimedia journalism.

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COURTESY NORFOLK FESTEVENTS

MAY—JULY

events May 14 Clay Jenkinson as Thomas Jefferson Newport News | Ferguson Center for the Arts Humanities scholar and writer Clay Jenkinson brings Jefferson to life in his portrayal of the third president with such authenticity that the audience may forget that Mr. Jefferson is not actually standing in front of them. The program will focus on Jefferson’s life and accomplishments, but the audience will have the opportunity to ask Mr. Jefferson questions as well on any subject, an experience that will give everyone a new appreciation of history and our Founding Fathers in a truly inspirational, educational and entertaining way. TIME: 8 p.m. COST: $30 - $60

www.fergusoncenter.org

May 14–15 Tidewater Comicon Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach Convention Center Tidewater Comicon returns with special celebrity guests, comic book creators, voice actors and much more for the comic book fan. TIME: Saturday 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. COST: $25 and up; Under 10 free

www.tidewatercomicon.com

May 19 38th Annual Chesapeake Jubilee Chesapeake | Chesapeake City Park With 38 years under our belt, the Chesapeake Jubilee is more than a carnival, it’s a family tradition experienced by more than 35,000 patrons annually. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an amazing community event while gaining exposure for your brand, band or business. Don’t miss our Annual Fireworks Extravaganza produced by the world famous Zambelli Fireworks. In addition to great music and food, Amusements of America will be on site with thrilling rides and game. Bring the kids out for what is sure to be a memorable occasion.

TIME: Thursday, 6–10 p.m. Amusements of America Rides and Games Thursday, 4:30–7 p.m. Kiwanis Club of Chesapeake Shrimp Fest Friday, 5–10 p.m. Amusements of America Rides and Games Saturday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Amusements of America Rides and Games Saturday, 9 p.m. Fireworks Sunday, Noon–6 p.m. Amusements of America Rides and Games COST: Varies

chesapeakejubilee.org

may-jul 2022 | boulevard

festevents.org

May 20–22 Beach Music Cruise-In

May 20–22 Bayou Bon Vivant: Cajun Music, Food & Art Celebration Norfolk | Town Point Park Indulge in the flavors of New Orleans at the Bayou Bon Vivant, a three-day celebration of the tastes, tunes and traditions of the Crescent City. From juicy handfuls of crawfish to world-renowned N’awlins jazz musicians, the Bayou Bon Vivant captures the vibrant spirit of Louisiana and transforms it into a weekend-long party. A wide-ranging and fun experience for the entire family, the Bayou Bon Vivant also features an Arts Market featuring 30+ New Orleans crafters,

Check out our website and social media for even more events happening: blvdmedia.io

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crocodile and reptile exhibits, mouthwatering Cajun dishes such as beignets, gumbo, etouffees and jambalaya. TIME: Friday: Noon–2 p.m. (Free & Open to the public) 2–10 p.m. (Ticketed) Saturday: Noon–10 p.m. Sunday: Noon–6 p.m. COST: Single-day admission advanced: $10; Day-of admission: $15

Virginia Beach | On the beach at 30th Street Beach Music Weekend features bands on the beach with dancing under the stars for a jam-packed blast from the past. The top Beach Music bands from up and down the East Coast descend on the Virginia Beach oceanfront in a nostalgic salute to the “good old days” of hot tunes and cool times. A three-day series of ticketed concerts is presented on a stage built right on the beach at 30th Street. Evening concerts on Friday give way to a full day of entertainment on Saturday and more daytime concerts on Sunday. The festival atmosphere is enhanced with a fantastic food and beverage menu available for purchase. Beer and wine, as well as nonalcoholic beverages including smoothies and soft drinks, go along with great festival food served in tents on the sand. Boardwalk sponsors and vendors overlook the beach, luring visitors from the boardwalk into the fun and sun at Beach Music Cruise-In.

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

events TN, Broadway Street Country Artist Concert Series. TIME: Varies COST: Varies

beacheventsvb.com

The Goode Project: A Symphonic Celebration of Water

www.patrioticfestival.com

June 4 Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

May 24

Virginia Symphony Orchestra Eric Jacobsen, music director and conductor The Hampton Roads region is defined by its waterways, from the Atlantic Ocean and its inlets to the rivers and streams that wind through our communities and our history. This moving concert celebrates the literal and figurative power of water in our lives, with beloved works from the classical repertoire and spoken word and poetry readings that mark water’s place in our memory and imagination, our past and future. Co-presented with Virginia Symphony Orchestra, this production is made possible through a generous gift from the Susan Goode Performance Fund. TIME: 7:30 p.m. COST: $10–$75

Ina Garten: Author of the Barefoot Contessa Books & Television Host Norfolk | Chrysler Hall The celebrated specialty food store maven and bestselling author was once a nuclear budget analyst at President Carter’s White House. Ina Garten’s first book, “The Barefoot Contessa,” published in 1999, became one of the best-selling cookbooks of the year. Garten has published 12 phenomenally successful cookbooks and her Emmywinning cooking show, Barefoot Contessa, receives some of the highest ratings on Food Network. Her latest cookbook is “Modern Comfort Food” and she will share an insider’s view of her world and the pleasures of good food and friends. TIME: 7:30 p.m. COST: $75

www.vafest.org

thenorfolkforum.org

June 4–5

May 27–29

Blackbeard Pirate Festival

Patriotic Festival

Hampton | Mill Point Park

Norfolk | Downtown Waterfront and Scope Arena

Blackbeard Pirate Festival is a two-day family friendly event with living history and sea battles, children’s activities, food trucks and retail vendors. Beer available. TIME: Saturday: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday: Noon–6 p.m. COST: Free admission; Purchase prices vary

Oceanfront Concert Series Virginia Beach | 17th Street Park Stage National recording artists you know and love take to the oceanfront park stages for a salute to all things music. You’re sure to find something to satisfy your musical palette at this series of free musical performances as we bring the talent of nationally recognized artists to the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Whether you’re sunning on the beach, dining at one of our resort’s fine restaurants or spread out in the park under the stars enjoying the tunes, there’s no better time to be at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Allowed: beach chairs, beach blanket/ towel, small cooler, food and drink. June 8: J.J. Grey & Mofro June 15: Carbon Leaf June 22: Everclear with special guests Fastball and The Nixons June 28: Michael Franti & Spearhead TIME: 7:30 p.m. COST: Free

beacheventsvb.com

June 10–11 43rd Annual Seawall Music Festival Portsmouth | High Street Landing Two days of great food, local and national entertainment, as well as a Saturday night fireworks show. TIME: Friday: 6–11 p.m. Tidewater Drive, Better By Tuesday, The Original Rhondels Saturday: 2–6 p.m. Children’s activities including face painting, bounce houses, games Saturday 2–10 p.m. Peoples Choice Band, Hotcakes, Champagne Band, Soul Intent, 2nd Wynd, Michael Clark Band COST: Free to attend; purchases vary

portsvaevents.com

hampton.gov COURTESY BLACKBEARD PIRATE FESTIVAL

Patriotic Festival announces The Festival’s move to the vibrant Norfolk waterfront Memorial Day Weekend. TOWN POINT PARK—Military Zone featuring Navy and military assets such as Navy Jet Fly Overs, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marines, Military Mobile Tours and Ceremonies and Reenlistments. Town Point Park will also feature our corporate sponsorship displays including the Monster Energy Freestyle MX Tour. Three afternoon concerts by The Wailers, Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket will enhance our three-day weekend. NORFOLK SCOPE ARENA—Concert Zone for Friday evening: America’s most popular artists will perform at the Patriotic Festival including John Pardi. WATERSIDE DRIVE CONCERT ZONE—The Norfolk Waterfront Waterside Drive Concert Zone concept was the request of Morgan Wallen & Kane Brown’s agent for Morgan and Kane to perform open-air, and is the same concept as the successful Nashville,

June 8, 15, 22, 28

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

June 10–12 Harborfest Norfolk | Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront America’s largest, longest-running, free maritime festival, the iconic Norfolk Harborfest® enters its 46th year in 2022. For three memorable days along the downtown Norfolk waterfront, Harborfest celebrates all of the elements that make Norfolk and Hampton Roads a historic maritime and Naval community. On both land and sea, thrilling activities and live music take center stage, including the annual Parade of Sail featuring international tall ships, one of the largest fireworks shows on the East Coast, a mesmerizing drone show, interactive

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TIME: Friday: 7:30–10:30 p.m., The Swingin’ Medallions Saturday: Noon–3 p.m., Main Event; 3:30–7 p.m., The Tams; 7:30–10:30 p.m., Chairmen of the Board featuring Ken Knox Sunday: Noon–3 p.m., Bill Deal’s Original Rhondels; 3:30–6 p.m. The Embers featuring Craig Woolard COST: 3-day festival pass: $20 in advance / $25 week of; Single-day ticket: $10

family games and activities, Navy exhibits and demonstrations, artisan foods and beverages, national and regional live entertainment and much more. TIME: Friday: Noon–11 p.m. (Parade of Sail, Noon) Saturday: Noon–11 p.m. (Fireworks, 9:30pm) Sunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. COST: Free

festevents.org

June 11–12 KayaXpedition Chesapeake | Oak Grove Lake Park The annual KayaXpedition, a kayaking and canoeing event, is back in Chesapeake this year with something for everyone: music, food trucks, outdoor outfitter vendors and kayak and canoe rentals. Bring your own kayak/canoe/SUP or rent a kayak/canoe from Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Age and Chaperone Requirements: All youth age 17 or younger must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) and be able to swim. Youth age 12-17 may paddle in a separate boat but must be accompanied by an adult chaperone in another boat. Required ratio of youth participants to adult chaperones will be one-to-one—one adult chaperone for each youth participant. Youth age 11 years or younger must paddle in the same boat with an adult. Pre-registration required with completed waiver form. Please check back for registration dates. No trailers allowed. Inflatable kayaks and SUPs are allowed; however, staff have the right to deny access if vessels are not rigid in design or are not property inflated. Multi-layered construction of vessels is preferred. One on-site parking spot provided for each reservation. TIME: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. COST: $5–$10 Walk-up Kayak and Canoe Rentals—30 minute sessions; $5 per person, cash only Bring Your Own Kayak, Canoe or SUP —1.5 hour sessions; $10 per vessel

www.cityofchesapeake.net

June 11 NEON Art Tours Norfolk | The Plot at Granby Street & Olney Road Join tour guide and local history buff Joshua Weinstein of Norfolk Tour Company for an afternoon 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. 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

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SERGE VAN NECK

MAY—JULY

events and the Harrison Opera House lot. Bring comfortable shoes, bring your friends, you can even bring your dog. TIME: 2–3 p.m. COST: Free

neonnfk.com/schedule

June 18 Chalk the Walk Virginia Beach | On the boardwalk from 16th-18th Streets Chalk the Walk takes over the Virginia Beach boardwalk as artists and “wanna-be artists” gather to turn the boardwalk into an impromptu canvas of color. All participants must register by 12:30 p.m. to qualify for the competition. All 4-ft. x 4-ft. drawings must be completed by 3:30 p.m. to be eligible for prizes. Registration is free, and all participants should bring their own chalk. Judges will score the drawings according to criteria such as composition, use of color, adherence to theme and creativity. There will be three competitive divisions: Amateur, Professional and Youth. The Youth Division will be for ages 12–16. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded for each division. Winners will be announced at 4:45 p.m. on the boardwalk at 17th Street. Participants can register on site from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Capacity is limited. COST: Free TIME: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

beacheventsvb.com

July 3 Celebrate Freedom! Chesapeake | Chesapeake City Park Celebrate America’s birthday with the U.S. Fleet Forces Band, providing stirring patriotic sounds. Following the concert, fireworks by Pyrotecnico will illuminate the dark sky after sunset. Bring your own chairs or blanket. (tents, feather flags and oversized umbrellas are not permitted) TIME: (Times are approximate.) 7 p.m. gates open, roaming entertainment, food, vendors, U.S. Fleet Forces Band Concert 8:30 p.m. Tidewater Winds Concert Band 9:30 p.m. Fireworks (approximate time) COST: Free to attend. $5 on-site parking fee

www.cityofchesapeake.net

Check blvdmedia.io and social media for even more events

July 4 39th Annual 4th of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks Norfolk | Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront Leave the grilling to us on Independence Day and witness one of Hampton Roads’ most spectacular Fourth of July fireworks displays at Town Point Park along the downtown Norfolk waterfront. Relax on the lawn and enjoy an evening of all-American fare, including hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, seafood, cotton candy and much more, along with live musical entertainment from military brass bands. Cap off the night with a sensational fireworks show high above the Elizabeth River. TIME: 5–10 p.m.; fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. COST: Free

festevents.org

July 4 Fourth of July Stars in the Sky Newport News | Victory Landing Park Celebrate the birth of our nation with a public fireworks display. TIME: 7–10 p.m. COST: Free

www.newport-news.org

July 4 Independence Day Celebrations Yorktown | Historic Yorktown Celebrate where independence was won. Independence Day in Yorktown is a free, family friendly celebration featuring a full lineup of events leading up to the big fireworks finale. The morning starts at 8 a.m. with an 8K Run and 5K Walk (please check back for details

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

events

www.visityorktown.org

July 4

July 6, 13, 20, 27

Shaggin’ 4th of July Celebration

Oceanfront Concert Series

Portsmouth | High Street Landing A beach music party on the Fourth of July to show off your shag stepping. The Breadwine & Blooze Band will play beach music from 5–8 p.m. with a follow-up performance by the Tidewater Concert Band playing patriotic music from 8–9:30 p.m. TIME: 5–8 p.m. beach music; 8–9:30 p.m. patriotic music COST: Free to attend

portsvaevents.com

July 4 July Fourth Celebration

July 4

Virginia Beach | Mount Trashmore

Stars & Stripes Celebration

Celebrate with your friends and family at our annual July Fourth Celebration at Mount Trashmore Park Fireworks. TIME: Main Stage Performance by Vinyl Headlights 6–9:30 p.m.; Fireworks 9:30 pm. COST: Admission free; limited onsite parking is $10. Food and drinks available for purchase.

Virginia Beach | Oceanfront

www.​​​vbgov.org

Multiple live performances on oceanfront park stages and a fireworks display will attract thousands of visitors and residents of Virginia Beach to a “star-spangled” salute to this great country of ours. Live entertainment will offer something for everyone. TIME: Entertainment Schedule TBA; Fireworks 9:30 p.m COST: Free

Virginia Beach | 17th Street Park Stage National recording artists you know and love take to the oceanfront park stages for a salute to all things music. You’re sure to find something to satisfy your musical palette at this series of free musical performances as we bring the talent of nationally recognized artists to the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Whether you’re sunning on the beach, dining at one of our resort’s fine restaurants or spread out in the park under the stars enjoying the tunes, there’s no better time to be at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Allowed: beach chairs, beach blanket/ towel, small cooler, food and drink. June 6: Big Something with special guest Neighbor June 13: Yacht Rock Review June 20: TBA June 27: TBA TIME: 7:30 p.m. COST: Free

beacheventsvb.com

beacheventsvb.com

Airport Travel Limo Service Special Event Corporate Transportation

Trained & uniformed chauffeurs Free consultations Military discount Multi-vehicle discount (for one event)

757-857-4500 GoldstarrLimo.com Transporation service that you can rely on

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MAY—JULY

closer to the race) followed by a patriotic parade along Water and Main Streets. Throughout the day, you can lounge on the beach, jam to live music, visit local shops, and explore several museums. Evening activities include a bell-ringing ceremony, patriotic concert and an amazing fireworks display over the York River. Bring your flags; wear red, white and blue; and come together to celebrate America. TIME: 8 a.m.–10 p.m. COST: Free

JOHN CADELL

AMERICA’S PASTIME | Norfolk Tides host plenty of games scheduled through early fall. Enjoy a game and some traditional ballpark refreshments.

Summer’s Here, So Get

A mantra that encompasses this

JOHN CADELL

entire region during the warmer months: Get outside! From sedentary to very active, from land-based to water, from sporty to cultured, the area offers so many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. 30

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GO FLY A KITE | Virginia Beach Kitefest—but any beach or field on a windy day will do just fine

RICK BLANTON

JOHN CADELL

LIVE MUSIC ALFRESCO | Recent show: Jimmy Buffett RICK BLANTON

TALL SHIP TOURS | Enjoy the Parade of Sail at Norfolk’s Harborfest or book a tall ship excursion or tour from one of many in the region including the American Rover in Norfolk, The Schooner Alliance in Yorktown and the Tallship Unicorn in Portsmouth. Photo: BAE Guayas during Harborfest 2017 RICK BLANTON

RUN, FORREST, RUN! (OR WALK) | Old Dominion University Big Blue 5K, and plenty of other races to motivate you throughout the region.

BACK IN THE SADDLE | Whether boardwalk or trails, get on your bike and ride

LIVING HISTORY | Go back in time and experience Colonial Williamsburg or any of the numerous historical features throughout the region JOHN CADELL

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JILL DOCZI

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER | Pick your own produce, visit local farm markets, plant a garden

RICK BLANTON

PADDLE BOARDING | Increasingly popular watersport blends surfing and kayaking—and gives a full-body workout

JOHN CADELL

RICK BLANTON

HANG TEN | Virginia Beach is home to the longestrunning surf contest in the world

‘YAK ATTACK | So many options to kayak in this area, whether with a rod & reel or simply for the journey

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER 32

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The New Normal by Kylie Ross Sibert itting in a coffee shop in Norfolk at 3 p.m. on a weekday, having a late working lunch with a colleague, I look around and find it hard to believe that the challenges and struggles over the last two years had ever transpired. Masks were nowhere to be found, social distancing certainly wasn’t a worry and of the 16 tables I counted, only one was empty. The atmosphere buzzed with chatter, laughter and upbeat music playing through the speakers. Are we back to normal? On the surface, everything looked like it was back to normal but is that actually the case? I think you’ll agree with me when I say a resounding no. Look at your own shopping behavior. Has it returned to how you shopped prior to the pandemic? Are you one of the 15% of U.S. consumers who tried grocery delivery for the first time during the COVID-19 crisis? Did you find it easy and safe—possibly even enjoyable? You’re not alone. The vast majority who tried it, agree with you. Forty percent even intend to continue getting their groceries delivered after the crisis.1

One of the most overused words during the pandemic: pivot Luckily for all of us, most retailers are innovators. At the beginning of the pandemic, making changes that provided tangible benefit to consumers became vital.2 It was a matter of 1

2

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McKinsey & Company, “Understanding and shaping consumer behavior in the next normal”, https://www. mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/understanding-and-shapingconsumer-behavior-in-the-next-normal Retail Alliance, “Retail Pulse August 2021 Report”, https://retailalliance.com/retail-pulse-survey-results-localretailers-remain-confident-despite-rising-covid-19-cases-supply-chain-issues-and-labor-shortages/

may-jul 2022 | boulevard

TARA CLARK

How COVID-19 changed retail and consumer behavior

Success for some, not for others The pandemic not only changed how we shopped but what we purchased. As consumers spent less on services such as travel and restaurants and goods such as apparel, spending shifted to retailers who sold building materials, grocery, home appliances, home accessories, gardening supplies, sporting goods, boats, leisure wear, furniture and office supplies, due to the nature of people spending more time at home and needing to either work from home or wanting to work on their home, as well as to fill their spare time. As a sidenote, it was of no surprise that apparel was one of the categories hardest hit. No longer did people need to buy clothes for work or dress up for events. People only needed a nice top or shirt to show over Zoom. No longer did the apparel industry hold the power to create trends and drive demand for new products. 3

Square, “Future of Retail Trend Report: 2022 Edition”, pdf

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KAROLINA GRABOWSKA

pivoting or closing (which many were forced to do). Unfortunately, numerous staff were laid off, but many business owners adapted their business models, using their staff in other functions, such as online ordering, delivery, curbside pickup, etc. Among those changes made, development of e-commerce stores occurred in a matter of weeks, introduction of fast casual dining when dining rooms closed (curbside pickup, buy online pickup in-store— BOPIS) and local delivery introduced (either store associates or third party delivery partners). In-store classes became online classes, and social media provided a much-needed communication, promotion and sales platform for retailers. With the desire for these services to continue3, many retailers have permanently added them to their operations.

With the shift to goods from services, to what extent have people started reverting back? Even though we’ve seen mobility increase and people getting out there and being more active, we haven’t seen a major shift back to services yet. Did you cook more at home than eat out during the pandemic? You’re not alone. People became more comfortable cooking at home and becoming better cooks (practice makes perfect, right?). Eating at home was also more cost-effective and easier to make healthier food choices.

Buyers are more knowledgeable than ever before There’s a reason for this. Buyers learned how to research. Just a decade ago, it was incredibly common for customers to walk into a store having only a vague idea of what products they were interested in buying. For example, a first-home buyer might walk into a home appliances store asking about which style of dishwasher works best in a townhouse. These days, a new homeowner has probably spent hours researching dishwashers online, looking at sizes, energy efficiency, customer reviews and price comparisons before even speaking to a salesperson.

The National Retail Federation expects online sales to grow between 11% and 13% in 2022. According to Google, 90% of consumers say they use multiple devices to complete everyday tasks, while 40% say they use their mobile device to conduct research prior to making a purchase. Although we know that digital commerce increasingly dominated retail sales prior to the pandemic, the pandemic accelerated this shift dramatically. In fact, the National Retail Federation

has released their forecast for 2022 with online sales expected to grow between 11% and 13%. But that does not mean they have quit shopping in brick-andmortar stores. Another study by Forbes Insights in conjunction with Synchrony Financial found that for more expensive items, 46% of customers prefer going to a physical location to actually make a purchase.

Differences in consumer behavior It is interesting to think about our economic trajectory prior to the pandemic. In 2019, we viewed the future of retail as experiential retail and discussed all of the things that retailers had to do to remain relevant to the consumer. This hasn’t changed, although it may have been heightened. It has created a new trajectory as it relates to the challenges and the opportunities for retailers and how they reach their consumers and how the consumer reacts to what retailers are doing. It will be interesting to see whether some of those pre-pandemic behaviors remain as we become post pandemic. We know that not everybody will return to the office and many organizations may not go back to five days a week in the office, changing the way that we live. As we spend more time at home, we put more pressure on our appliances, we increase the replacement cycle for those products, we spend more time furnishing our offices and buying computers, so it remains to be seen whether or not we are going to revert back to the consumer behavior we had ‘before.’

Calling all CHIEF EVERYTHING OFFICERS We’re open for your business Whether you’re a restaurant, retailer, or other small business, we’re here for you. Join our community and level up with education & training, enjoy one-on-one advisor support, and expand your marketing reach. retailalliance.com

their hourly wages to be equivalent to, or more than local retailers, along with offering incentives that local retailers cannot afford, retail across the board suffers from a labor shortage. Continuing financial difficulties remain a serious issue. Local retailers do not have the deep pockets of larger retailers and rely on regular cash flow to maintain operations. Without additional injection of financial assistance from the state or national level, financial difficulties will persist.

Does size matter?

Was inflation the straw that broke the camel’s back?

Are local retailers “rebounding” better than big box stores? No. There are prevalent issues across the board such as inflation, staffing shortages and supply chain delays. Local retailers usually offer more than minimum wage to their associates and with big boxes now increasing

That’s not all. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released data that shows inflation levels have risen to a new 40-year high of 7.9% in February, 2022. Simply put, the relationship between supply, demand and price broke due to the unprecedented (another popular pandemic word)

growth of demand in goods over the last couple of years (remember the shift from services to goods?). Incredible demand has put pressure on supply. Supply has increased but hasn’t increased fast enough. The impact of that equates to a rise in prices. Cars provide a good example of this. Most people know by now that manufacturers face a huge chip shortage. We didn’t sell more cars last year than the year before. We sold fewer new cars last year because of chip shortages and they couldn’t build enough new cars to fulfill demand, so this put pressure on used cars and drove prices up. Used auto sales went up 40% year over year. We see more money in the economy due to the stimulus money from the government ($3.5 trillion total), with $2.6 trillion more saved than normal due to not eating out, not needing to spend money on gas, boulevard | may-jul 2022

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and not going on vacations, to name a few causes. Employees also create part of the supply chain. With the struggle to find enough employees to fill jobs, wages increased. People made more money, which resulted in more money circulating in the economy and more demand on goods, causing an upward pressure on prices.

Consumers reaction to inflation There are many different consumer strategies during inflation and probably first and foremost is that people seek promotions, something we’ve seen for years. That will only increase in times when we have inflation like we do and historically, at times of high inflation, we see consumers changing their shopping habits to shop more in discount stores and dollar stores. Consumers also buy in bulk. People stock up and, at times, overshop on certain categories, but when prices go up, consumers want to lock in as much as they can at the current price and while it’s still in stock. This only exacerbates the situation, creating more shortages and driving up prices. Substitution is also common, due both to shortages and pricing. If you bought name brands, maybe you now choose more cost-effective products, such as private label. For some consumers it’s difficult because of their challenging budgets and they already buy products near the bottom of the tier. In this situation, consumers may switch away from some of the previously bought products or cut back on some of the services that they might normally have purchased and switch those into higher-priced goods.

Is there a “new normal?” We may see a slight return to normal during summer, with an increase in people going on vacations, eating out and commuting to work, possibly resulting in a natural shift back to services away from goods. This will

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take some pressure off the supply chain and potentially make it less costly to produce these goods to get them shipped into the country and therefore much less costly when they appear on our shelves. The bad news is that consumers have really felt the pinch at the grocery store and at the pump. They buy what they need, whereas during the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was more about buying what they wanted. Their shopping trips and purchases have become more thought-out and are often not in person, as gas prices curtail shopping outings.

Are people being driven online? Online shopping continually grows and gas prices and inflation push more people online. Gone are the days customers must come to you. Now they can go online, 24 hours a day, and get pretty much anything they need or want. That poses the question, do people want convenience more than the experience? Time has become more valuable, with people having more of a work/life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic and not willing

to go back to working 10-12 hour days. Consumers look for cheaper pricing, often including free shipping. Amazon has trained consumers to expect free shipping. They absorb a $7 billion loss (2017) even after incorporating Prime Membership income. Other big boxes like Walmart and Target have followed suit on qualified items or on a minimum spend or if you use their credit card. Even when smaller retailers adapt and introduce boxed deliveries or subscription models, they cannot afford to absorb the shipping costs, especially as supply chain issues have caused shipping costs to rise, inflation impacts cost of goods and minimum wage increasing overheads.

It’s not the end of storefronts That doesn’t mean people stopped shopping in person. Isolation with limited social interaction all through the pandemic have people looking for in-person/in-store experiences. As social creatures we want to be out and about to connect and be around other people.

Isolation with limited social interaction all through the pandemic have people looking for in-person/in-store experiences.

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If I want a pair of shoes, do I buy a range of sizes online (utilizing my money) not knowing if the sizing is right (we can be a 7 in one set of shoes and 8.5 in another), keep the one(s) that fit(s) or that I like, then send the rest back? Or do I want to go to a store and try them on, talk to the store associates, ask any questions, find the ones I like and feel good in, buying them right then and there? Warmer weather, implementation of vaccines and booster shots and declining cases of COVID-19 are positive signs for retailers and consumers. Retailers are organizing in-person events throughout summer and reintroducing events that they postponed during the pandemic. It is the perfect time for consumers to get back out, enjoy local events, watch your children play sports and support your local retailers and food establishments.

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Small-batch artisan soaps and body products made in Virginia without dyes, parabens, phthalates, detergents and other chemicals found in many consumer skincare items. Using responsibly cultivated, quality ingredients.

Local business owners have invested in their businesses. They care about your shopping experience and managing your expectations.

Don’t let your support lag Local business owners need our continued support. During the first year of the pandemic, citizens and communities got behind local businesses and supported them in any way they could through purchase of gift vouchers, curbside pickup, promotion on social media, etc. But as the pandemic dragged on, the pleas to “save my business” that helped many local stores and restaurants keep afloat, lost their relevance and buy-local fatigue set in. Understandably so, as rising gas prices, inflation, global economic uncertainty and other issues have started impacting those same people. Now everyone is in the same boat, and it is even more crucial for us all to help and support each other as these issues drag on. Local business owners have invested in their businesses. With their livelihood on the line, making boulevard | may-jul 2022

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Some of Hampton Roads store openings in 2021 and 2022 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Beach Gold Assay in Virginia Beach relocated and expanded—February 2021 Volcom opened in Lynnhaven Mall—February 2021 The Industrial Cottage in Norfolk expansion—March 2021 Philip Michael Fashion for Men relocated to Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach— April 2021 Philip Michael Fashion for Men relocated their store in Hampton—April 2021 Shark City Naturals opened their second location in Norfolk—April 2021 Mad Hatter Studio relocated from Norfolk to Virginia Beach and expanded space—May 2021 Divine Scentervention in Virginia Beach—May 2021 Mom & Me Boutique reopened in Virginia Beach under new ownership—June 2021 Queens Lingerie opened in Norfolk—May 2021 For All Handkind expanded their space and opened studios and gallery in Norfolk—July 2021 Fabric Shoppe opened in Suffolk—July 2021 Nuleeu Nutrition in Chesapeake—July 2021 Stark & Legum relocated and expanded in Norfolk—July 2021 Freedom Boat Club in Norfolk—August 2021 Allure Creperie & Café opened in Williamsburg—August 2021 Fresh Dawgs in Norfolk—August 2021 Ribbon cutting/grand opening for Yorktown Mercantile—September 2021 Village Studio Arts in Newport News—September 2021 Esprit Décor Bassett Benchmade Gallery grand opening in Chesapeake— September 2021 Wild Birds Unlimited in Chesapeake—October 2021 Grow Depot in Virginia Beach—October 2021 Nothing Bundt Cakes 3rd location in Virginia Beach—October 2021 Coastal Edge opened an additional location in Lynnhaven Mall—November 2021 ArtWorks by The Ability Center opened—November 2021 Benny’s opened in Virginia Beach—November 2021 Gelati Celesti opened second location in Virginia Beach—November 2021 Chili Hill Food Market opened in downtown Smithfield—November 2021 Granier European Bakery & Café opened in Virginia Beach—November 2021 The Chipper opened in Virginia Beach—November 2021 Soulivia’s Art + Soul opened in Chesapeake—December 2021 Good Vibes opened in Newport News—December 2021 Chicken Salad Chick opened in Hampton—December 2021 Lovisa opened in Lynnhaven Mall—December 2021 Fuddruckers opened in Virginia Beach—early 2022 My Local Tax Pro opened in Virginia Beach—January 2022 Matchsticks BBQ opened in Williamsburg—early 2022 Clean Eatz franchise owner Dylan Richmond opened second store in Chesapeake—early 2022 Heart Felt Touch Massage Therapy opened in Mathews—February 2022 Metal Supermarkets opened in Newport News—February 2022 Pale Horse Coffee opened a location in Chesapeake—March 2022 Taylor’s Do it Center opened their 12th location in Gloucester—March, 2022 Say Cheezz opened in Newport News—early 2022 Rooted Method opened expanded store—early 2022 Cure Coffeehouse opened their third location in Portsmouth—April 2022, with Newport News opening soon after Legal Sea Foods, Nando’s and Madewell coming to Virginia Beach Town Center Pedego Bikes Williamsburg opened—early 2022 Freedom Boat Club Hampton—May 2022

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sure they offer the best products and service to their customers becomes paramount. They care about your shopping experience and managing your expectations. Their responsiveness is second to none, you can talk to a person not a machine or waiting on hold for hours, they keep money in the community and they support local creators. You can also connect with the faces behind a business (and behind the masks). Knowing the area where you live, some of the same people you know, supporting youth sports teams and local charities, and selling products and services that fit the region, is something many of us overlook and do not appreciate. The local businesses in Hampton Roads make our neighborhoods, our cities and counties, and our region, unique.

The last word: evolve COVID-19 has created an unimaginable disruption of the retail industry, but it has also created a unique opportunity for the retail industry to evolve. Although an overused word during the pandemic, it perfectly describes how both retailers and consumers have adapted during the pandemic. And as I sit in this buzzing café, I know that although the future is not set in stone, there are signs of recovery and positivity that overshadow the doubts and uncertainty in my mind. Kylie Ross Sibert serves as the vice president of corporate communications at Retail Alliance, Hampton Roads’ retail merchants association. Her 30 years in the communications and marketing industry across multiple countries and continents has provided invaluable insight into consumers, cultures and both multinational and small local businesses. Television networks, newspaper and magazine publications seek her out for her expertise and industry knowledge. Kylie lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and family.

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day trip Destination: False Cape State Park While not easy to reach, this park’s charm begins with the journey there. It was named False Cape because ships often mistook it for Cape Henry, the cape leading to the Chesapeake Bay about 20 miles north. Many ships ran aground in the shallow waters thinking they were heading for a safe shipping channel. False Cape features guided kayak trips, primitive camping, interpretive programs, hiking and biking trails, and six miles of Atlantic Ocean beach. You can access the park only by foot, bicycle, tram or boat. The difficulty in reaching False Cape State Park provides its best draw—solitude. The road less traveled gives you a natural experience unrivaled in this highly developed area. Of all the state parks in Virginia, False Cape has the most unique set of entrance requirements. To even reach the 4,321-acre park, visitors must arrive by water or travel 4-5 miles through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, either on the East and West Dike Trails or along the Atlantic Ocean beach. For those who want to get to the park without using their own energy, a tram exists but you must make reservations. Arriving by water means docking in the park after coming through Back Bay. All four docking areas have the difficulty of strong currents and only those with experience should attempt those entry options. For a day trip, hikers and bikers can either park at the Little Island City Park and continue for one mile of road on wheel or foot to the wildlife refuge entrance or pay $5 to enter and park in the wildlife refuge parking lot. You can only go through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge paths April 1 through October 31.

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[ by jill doczi ] The best part of this park is the solitude. Take a walk on any part of the beach and you’ll be the only person leaving footprints for miles.

[ PHOTOS by Jill Doczi ]

DAY TRIP

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1 During the winter months access only exists by walking or biking the beach or by boat. Good to note: While pets are permitted in False Cape State Park, they are not in the refuge, so unless arriving by boat, your pets cannot come along. Prepare for weather conditions, bring plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellent. Depending on the time of year, black flies and mosquitoes may bother you. Also, if hiking certain trails off the main trail, bring some leukotape, moleskin or band aids. The softer trails consist of sand, which can cause blisters. The trip through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge by path consists of 4-5 miles of a very flat gravel-and-dirt-packed road easily traversed by walking or biking [1]. Very little shade exists for this portion of the paths so you may need sunscreen and/or an umbrella during the warmer months. Also, no restroom facilities or discreet areas exist along this route. Both the East and West Dike Trails through the refuge

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have beautiful continuous marsh and waterfront views. Those who fish can take advantage of several locations throughout that area to stop and drop a line in. Birders will find this portion of the way into False Cape a phenomenal place to catch some great sightings [2]. Another option to get through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge portion of this adventure consists of a beach walk along the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll know you’ve reached False Cape State Park when the topography changes from scrubby marsh to maritime forest. Mostly pine and live oaks line the path. Keep an eye on the ground for wiggly friends [3] as the park has many copperheads and black snakes. Larger animals you might see include coyotes, bobcats, whitetail deer and raccoons. False Cape used to have a problem with feral hogs that have since been eradicated. The park is long and thin,

stretched between the North Carolina border and the southernmost part of Virginia Beach with Back Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. As one of the few remaining undeveloped areas on the Atlantic coast, it offers a glimpse of what our area looked like pre-resort and seaside communities. Depending on the trail you chose to come through the wildlife refuge, you have about seven miles if you want to continue straight from this point to the North Carolina boulevard | may-jul 2022

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DAY TRIP

border. This park has many other options though. You could take the Sandy Point Trail to the Tundra Swan Overlook on Back Bay or Widgeon Overlook. Taking a quick detour on the end of the trail leads past one of the first primitive camping areas [4] and to one of the four locations you can arrive by watercraft—the docks. This spot offers a wonderful place to enjoy a picnic or fish. From the end of the Sandy Point Trail, you can take the Barbour Hill Trail past the visitor center to the next primitive campsite and the path to the Atlantic Ocean [5]. The visitor center, open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers a small variety of snacks, ice cream, souvenirs, drinks and important items. The staff there can answer all your questions, from directions to inquiries about animals. The tram option will allow you to explore this area and then the Wash Woods area farther into the park. The center also has picnic tables and indoor bathrooms. Other bathroom facilities dotted throughout the campsites are primitive pit toilets (a step up from an outhouse, but still looks like one). The first two campsites mentioned, as well as the visitor center, have potable water so you can refill. The Sand Ridge Trail continues from here all the way to North Carolina and you can take side trips to the Wood Duck Overlook, the Gadwall Overlook, Pintail Overlook and the Bufflehead Overlook before reaching the final two primitive camping areas—one to the west on Back Bay with the second location to dock a watercraft and one camping area to the east on the Atlantic Ocean. The oceanside campsite sits near the former Life Saving Station that operated from 1874 to 1946. This also houses the site of the 1863 Maple Leaf Escape (see “False Cape History” sidebar on p. 46). Just a little farther down the trail you find the Wash Woods

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Environmental Education Center, which can be rented for overnight stays (up to 26 people) and educational events. The center offers a kitchen, restrooms, shower, meeting room, library, AV equipment and lab. The third area to arrive by boat is here as well. Nearby you’ll find the paths to the Wash Woods Church and Cemetery site where you can visit the remains of the church steeple and the former residents of the Wash Woods community at their final resting place. Traditionally local whelk shells cover gravesites both to designate the location due to shifting

sandy soil and in lieu of flowers to honor the graves [6]. Follow the path to the state line and the original 1727 Survey Monument designating the state lines. Although surveyed originally in 1727, the monument was probably erected after a resurvey in 1887. Nearby you’ll find the final location to arrive by boat from Back Bay, as well as visit a pollinator field. At this point, if you take the Ocean Pearl Trail southeast to the ocean, you might catch a glimpse of the ponies that run wild on the North Carolina side of the fence or the Clythia Shipwreck of 1894 out in the surf. False Cape offers astronomy programs, wildlife tours, birding hikes, night hikes, kayak tours and special group tours. The park also offers field boulevard | may-jul 2022

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DAY TRIP

False Cape History Originally the home to Native Americans, archaeological evidence dates back 5,000 years tying humans to the site. In the 1800s, False Cape gained a reputation as a shipping graveyard. “False Cape” resembled Cape Henry, situated 20 miles to the north. Captains mistakenly steered into shallow waters here. Survivors of such a shipwreck created the Wash Woods community. The villagers built the Methodist church and other structures from cypress wood that washed ashore from shipwrecks. In the 1850s, when thousands of people in nearby Norfolk and Portsmouth began dying during the Yellow Fever Epidemic, several families also relocated to this remote area as a safe space free from the disease. The community thrived for many years, at one point reaching a population of about 300. Residents made a living working as fishermen, farmers, hunting guides and lifesavers who patrolled the beach and manned lifeboats to rescue shipwrecked sailors. The community housed many homes, two lifesaving stations, a grocery store, two churches and a school. During the Civil War, about 70 Confederate officers thought that they were on their way to City Point, VA, to become part of Union prisoner exchange. After their arrival at Fort Norfolk, however, the prisoners learned of the suspension of exchanges and paroles. They would now receive transport on the ship, the Maple Leaf, to the Federal prison at Fort Delaware. Off the coast of Virginia, they overwhelmed their captors and came ashore near Wash Woods. With some local assistance, they fled across the Great Dismal Swamp. The False Cape Lifesaving Station established in 1875 closed in 1937, was reactivated during World War II and finally abandoned on 1946. Also nearby, after several nearby shipwrecks resulted in significant losses of lives, Congress responded by establishing Deal’s Island Station, a lifesaving station in North Carolina, near Wash Woods in 1877. The station was renamed Wash Woods for the nearby town in 1883, and in 1917 the original lifesaving station was replaced by a new, more modern, U.S. Coast Guard station that continued to be manned until 1950. It was restored and now houses a real estate company. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act signed in 1918 outlawed market hunting of waterfowl followed by the category 4 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane in1933 that caused a storm surge flooding the entire area, damaging many buildings including the Coast Guard Station. The topsoil from farm fields washed into Back Bay. The community was eventually abandoned in the 1930s with no way to live off the land. The site became the location of several waterfowl hunting clubs, one of which now houses the Wash Woods Environmental Education Center. In 1966, the General Assembly appropriated funds to match federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to acquire False Cape State Park. In 1980, the park opened with trails, boat docks and primitive camping.

trips and overnight experiences that focus on environmental education. Visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/stateparks/false-cape#park_trail_guide to view all parks’ events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs. The best part of this park is the solitude. Take a walk on any part of the beach and you’ll be the only person leaving footprints for miles. The main paths through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and through False Cape State Park may have more bikers, hikers and in certain spots, tram riders, but the side paths offer a quiet opportunity to explore untouched nature.

Tram Tours All tram tours require a reservation. Please call the park office at 757426-7128 to make your reservation. The tram for False Cape operates from April 1 through Oct. 31. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge partners with False Cape State Park throughout the year on the Blue Goose Wildlife Tram. During the trip, participants visit the refuge impoundment complex, as well as tour of the state park’s historic site of Wash Woods. Trips are four hours in length, leaving at 9 a.m. and returning at 1 p.m. and cost $8 per person. A one-mile, optional, hike to the Wash Woods cemetery and church steeple is included.

Fishing A valid Virginia saltwater or freshwater fishing license is required depending on where you fish in the park.

Drones and Other Aircraft Drones, other unmanned aerial vehicles, including remote control aircraft, and aircraft in general may not be flown in state parks pursuant to 4VAC5-30-400.

Hours The park is open sunrise through sunset daily. Please note that day guests must be out of the refuge

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False Cape offers astronomy programs, wildlife tours, birding hikes, night hikes, kayak tours and special group tours. The park also offers field trips and overnight experiences that focus on environmental education.

within 30 minutes of sunset. Guests may access the park by bike or watercraft. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Getting There From Interstate 64, exit on to Indian River Road East. Go 13 miles, then turn left onto Newbridge Road, then right onto Sandbridge Road. Next, turn right onto Sandpiper Road to Little Island City Park. Parking fees are required from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Day-use only parking also is available at Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. From First Landing State Park and oceanfront, turn east onto Shore Drive (Route 60); follow Pacific Avenue to General Booth Boulevard, then left on Princess Anne Road and then straight onto Sandbridge Road. Turn right onto Sandpiper Road to Little Island City Park. Parking fees are required from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Note: Groups of 10 or more are required to obtain a special-use permit from Back Bay Wildlife Refuge two weeks in advance of the trip. Join the Friends of False Cape State Park. The nonprofit citizen group

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 provides voluntary help to DCR for the preservation and conservation of the park. The group educates the community about park offerings and supplies funds, materials and labor for special projects. Its success depends on those who appreciate the outdoors and wish to preserve this special place. Members enjoy special friends-only events throughout the year. Learn more about the group by calling or emailing the park.

False Cape State Park 4001 Sandpiper Rd. Virginia Beach 757-426-7128 www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/ false-cape#general_information

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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!

[ PHOTO by Jill Doczi ]

blvdmedia.io/contact/ hello@blvdmedia.io

Last issue’s winner:

Jennifer Gray Hoboken, NJ Location: Lesner Bridge, Virginia Beach

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