Veer Magazine: July 15, 2022

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101 Things To Do This Summer in Hampton Roads John Koehler’s solo art show makes our list www.VEERmag.com

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This Old Man

By Tom Robotham

Well, it’s official: I’m an old man.

I could have claimed that status last year, when I turned 65—the age at which one traditionally earns the title of senior citizen. But this year, I passed a more significant milestone: a week before my birthday last month, I received my first Social Security check.

Having spent the last 15 years eking out a living as an adjunct instructor and freelance writer, I’m grateful for this financial cushion.

Still, receiving the first installment of my “oldman money,” as a friend of mine calls it, was a stark reminder that I’m rapidly becoming irrelevant in the eyes of society.

If that sounds too harsh, consider this: Five years ago, when my financial position was especially precarious, I posted my resume on one of those job-clearing-house websites. A few days later I got a call from a recruiter who told me she had several positions that might interest me.

“Before we get started,” she said, “I just need to ask a few questions. First of all, what year did you graduate from high school?”

I frowned, not only because that information was on my resume but because the question struck me as impertinent. Nevertheless, I answered: “1974.”

“I’m sorry,” she said after a long pause.

“I asked what year you graduated from high school.”

I repeated my answer.

There was another long pause—then a click.

She’d hung up.

I could only surmise that my answer had boggled her mind: Did they even have high schools in those days? Wasn’t that when people quit school after 8th grade to drive a wagon on the family farm?

It was the most blatant display of ageism I’d encountered, but it certainly wasn’t the first.

Five years before that incident, when I was 56, I told a friend, who’s a few years older than I am, that I’d decided to go back to school to get a second graduate degree.

“School?!” he said. “Aren’t you a little old for that? You should be thinking about retirement.”

I laughed, then echoed Duke Ellington’s response after journalist Nat Hentoff asked him if he planned to retire anytime soon.

“Retire to what?” Ellington said. “Music is my life.”

I feel the same way about my work. Modest as it is, it gives my life meaning and shapes my sense of identity. I firmly believe that if I won the lottery and suddenly had millions in the bank, I wouldn’t change my life in any fundamental way.

Nevertheless, the aforementioned mile-

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stone does have me thinking about how much time I have left in this earthly realm.

The short answer, of course, is, who knows.

As time goes by, I grow increasingly aware that I might have no time left at all—regardless of my age. This harsh reality was reinforced a couple of years ago after a 30-something friend—supremely healthy by all appearances—suddenly dropped dead of an aneurism.

And good health, of course, is no guarantee of longevity. It’s not wise to dwell on such things, but it’s worth remembering every so often that at any moment, our lives might be cut short in an accident—or by gunfire, as we’ve been grimly reminded lately.

Then again, there are many 66-year-olds who probably have another 30 or even 40 years ahead of them. My ex-father-in law was born in 1915, when the average life expectancy was 54.5 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As it turned out, he died just two years ago, at the age of 105.

I’m hesitant to go so far as to say, “age is just a number.” But it does seem to me that we tend to put too much emphasis on it, with associated expectations like those of my friend who scoffed at the notion of my going back to school in my 50s.

This sense was underscored for me, not only by my friend’s remark but by the attitudes of a lot of other people. After I got divorced, at 51, I made a lot of new friends—most of whom were younger, some by 20 years or more.

When people my age got wind of this, most were skeptical. And when I started dating a much younger woman, many were downright judgmental.

“What could you possibly have to talk about?” one friend said. “The Kardashians?”

I encountered this sort of reverse ageism a lot—the notion among many Baby Boomers that people in their 20s and 30s are just “kids.”

In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, I met many younger people—men and women—who felt like true soul mates. Just the other day, in fact, I spent an hour-and-a-half on the phone with a friend who’s exactly 30 years younger than I am. Over the course of the conversation, we talked about politics, writing, music and the absurdities of life, which at one point had us both laughing so hard we could barely breathe. Our age difference is utterly irrelevant.

Big age differences are perhaps more significant in romantic relationships, not so much because of the numbers—and certainly not because of any built-in difference in interests and sensibilities—but because of each person’s long-term aspirations. In particular, if one person in the relationship wants kids and the other doesn’t, it’s just not going to work. As the father of two grown children, I have no desire to become a new parent again.

But that conflict doesn’t always arise. A close friend of mine is just a year younger than I am and is married to a woman—also my friend—who’s 25 years his junior. They now have two young children and are as happy as any couple I’ve ever known. I know several other people in the same category, including a woman—now in her mid-70s—who’s been living happily with a man more than 20 years younger for at least two decades.

The go-to assumption is that such relationships are doomed to end in sadness because the older person will die when the younger is still middle-aged. Whenever I hear that objection, though, I’m reminded of the marriage between poets Donald Hall and Jane Kenyon.

Hall was nearly two decades older—but as it turned out, he long outlived Kenyon, who died of cancer at 48.

All of these stories serve as reminders that perhaps age is just a number after all.

The fact remains that for every single one of us of any age, each day is a gift not to be taken lightly. Yeah, I know that sounds like something you’d find on one of those insipid motivational posters, but can you really argue with it?

At the same time, I try to have faith that I have some years ahead of me—a thought that leads me to ponder how I want to make the most of them. The simple answer is that I want to continue striving to be better—a better father and friend; a better human in encounters with strangers, and a better teacher and writer.

I’m not big on “bucket lists” because that implies just checking boxes. Beyond the aforementioned goals, I simply want to experience the riches of life as best I can: to savor the gorgeous hues of the cityscape during a twilight stroll in Paris; to feel the exhilaration of cantering through the autumn air on horseback in the Blue Ridge Mountains; to once again walk down the dark stairs of the Village Vanguard and hear a mind-blowing sax solo by some up and coming jazz player; to marvel at the graceful beauty of a well-turned double play at Citi Field; to experience the bliss I’ve felt a thousand times before while sitting on Ocracoke Beach and gazing at the horizon—and most of all to connect with other people, through authentic conversation.

With all that in mind, I return to my opening statement. Am I old?

I’m glad the government thinks so. But the truth is, I still feel young enough to do everything that I would like to do, personally and professionally. (Well, OK, maybe playing third base for the Mets is out of the question.)

Sooner or later, if I live long enough, physical limitations will make some things impossible.

For now, though, I continue to dwell, as Emily Dickenson put it, in possibility.

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Jeff Maisey

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tom Robotham, Diane Catanzaro, Chris Jones, Jerome Langston, Marisa Marsey, Jim Morrison, Montague Gammon III, and Jim Roberts

CONTRIBUTING designERS Brenda Mihalko, Giorgio Valentini Cover Artwork by Walt Taylor Veer is published by Veer Magazine, Inc. on the 15th of each month and is free of charge. Veer may be distributed by authorized distributors only.

Veer assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily of Veer Magazine.

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THE ANSWER IS BLOWING IN THE WIND: A group of environmental activists share a fun moment with their hand-fans promoting wind energy.

Why We Started WINDSdays

By Joel Rubin

When you are a public relations professional, you yearn for clients as large and established as Dominion Energy. You want to be successful for them, conveying messages honestly and on as many platforms as possible. I had no idea, however, when I contacted a longtime acquaintance with the utility that it would lead to the most creative assignment of my 31 years in business.

I called Dominion because it struck me that their plan to construct 176 wind turbines starting 27 miles off Virginia Beach, where I have lived for most of the past 45 years, would be a game changer for our area’s economy and culture. Most new commerce can easily dismiss our cul-de-sac at the end of I-64. “Your airport is too small.” “Your roads are too congested.” “You don’t have a major league team or even a Crate and Barrel. Heck you even lost Nordstroms.”

But not this time. While it’s true we’re not on many prospect lists for national headquarters (let’s face it, Norfolk Southern just split for Atlanta, and our bid for Amazon was a real Hail Mary), you cannot find a better spot for companies requiring access to port facilities and people who can weld, build, and otherwise work with their hands and brains, on land or the water. Before and since World War II, Hampton Roads has primarily catered to two principal maritime conglomerates, the U.S. Navy and commercial shipping.

We build aircraft carriers and submarines, repair those and many other combatant ships, empty and fill the largest container ves-

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sels (and coal colliers) in the world and train people to do all this essential work for the nation. I wish we had an iconic bridge around here but eschewing them for tunnels means nothing is too tall for our harbors. Sometimes we are down on our region, but I don’t know what America would do without us. We are first in war and up there in peace. Trucks and railroads move cargo from here around the nation. My hunch is that much of the foreignmade goods that populate store shelves east of the Mississippi today arrived on a boat in Norfolk or Portsmouth.

And speaking of Portsmouth, the Virginia Port Authority had an empty 287-acre terminal there that it wisely decided to make available to offshore wind companies, once Dominion decided to lease 113,000 acres of ocean for the country’s largest wind-farm.

Why wouldn’t the supply chain beat a path to our shore, to fashion the football field size blades and other turbine components?

But are we ready for this? Will we have enough graduating high school students, career switchers and exiting military to fill the jobs? Will we support the transmission facilities to take the power from the former Camp Pendleton to Fentress Field in Chesapeake?

Will ODU, other colleges and our secondary schools beef up their academic programs to “own” this new field of study, leading to scholarly research, conferences, and innovations?

If we meet these challenges, Hampton Roads can become the Big Apple of renewable energy, a field with no limits on opportunity.

That’s why I conceived “WINDSdays,” secured URL and set out to own a day of the week. We must build a culture around the power of wind, green environment and clean energy. Our vision was to spread the word through events, like our recent YNot WINDSday at the Sandler Center, through friends with followings and of course, communications, my stock in trade. Our weekly It’s WINDSday newsletter highlights our allies and why, as our fans say, the Wind is Blowing our Way. We are nothing if not innovative. In April for instance, with the help of sponsors, we transported 45 local high school welders on luxury buses to Portsmouth Marine Terminal to see the site of Siemens Gamesa’s future blade finishing plant and to hear educators and business leaders tell them that the region in which they reside should be their home for a lifetime. We will do that again for 60 more of these skilled superstars in the fall.

For this initiative, we collaborate with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. For others, we affiliate with the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Economic Development Alliance; the Virginia Maritime Association, the VPA, the Virginia Arts Festival, Norfolk Sister Cities; non-profits like Lynnhaven River Now and companies, many in the hospitality space. Our volunteer WINDSday Warriors rode the Godspeed in Norfolk’s Parade of Sail, had drinks with the Chesapeake Alliance and visited the Newport News Yard District, to demonstrate that wind energy is a regional enterprise, worthy of everyone’s attention. Yes, Virginia Beach, which will earn quite a bit of positive branding for having a mammoth set of clean energy generating wind towers off its coast, is home base for us, but we have touched nearly every city here along with Harrisonburg and Blacksburg through the engineering schools at JMU and VA Tech.

You cannot see the future right now, but in 2023, a mammoth American-made commercial vessel, the Texas-built Charybdis, arrives that will convey the turbine pieces out to windfarms starting in mid-2024. As we speak, new companies to Coastal Virginia are setting up shop, and we at WINDSdays are acquainting our audiences with these comehere’s as well as existing entities that post our partner stickers on their doors and websites and extol the value of clean energy and what it means for our edge of the nation.

At WINDSdays, we say that “opportunity is knocking on our shore.” Let’s embrace it.

Joel Rubin is President of Rubin Communications Group and director of the WINDSdays campaign. To become involved, visit www. windsdays.com or email season@windsdays. com and like WINDSdays on Facebook.

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How To Help The Elizabeth River Project is offering annual memberships for $35 until the end of August, which it is promoting as “Do Something Beautiful Month.”

In addition to helping fund ERP’s restoration efforts, new members will get a “Do Something Beautiful” T-shirt and window decal, discount pricing on ERP programs and events, newsletters and project updates, and other benefits.

There are numerous other ways to get engaged with ERP, including the River Star Home program, which currently has more than 6,500 participants.

To sign up, visit elizabethriver.org and click on “Get Involved.”

A rendering of its Knitting Mill Creek boardwalk.

Doing Something Beautiful Elizabeth River Project begins expansion on North Colley

By Jim Roberts The Elizabeth River Project has spent 30 years transforming its namesake waterway.

Now it’s preparing to transform Norfolk’s North Colley business corridor and adjacent Knitting Mill Creek.

The environmental nonprofit, which recently outgrew its Portsmouth headquarters, bought the parcel of land at 4610 Colley Ave. in Norfolk and will move there in 2023. (For reference: The spot is five blocks south of Elation Brewing Company.)

The original plan was to restore the native wetlands and redevelop the cinder block building previously occupied by the American Legion.

Then the brainstorming began.

Sam Bowling, an architect and project manager at Work Program Architects in Norfolk, watched first-hand as ERP and its board of directors collaborated with the city government, academia, nearby civic leagues and other stakeholders.

“Those initial meetings transitioned from: ‘Hey, let’s renovate and repaint this whole building,’” Bowling said, “to: ‘We’re going to be building a flagship of sustainability and resilience on this really iconic site.’”

The plan now includes a three-story, 6,500 square foot “resilience laboratory”

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that will also serve as ERP’s new headquarters and an educational space.

“We wanted to deliberately ‘hold’ that corner,” Bowling said, “and make an urban gesture and acknowledge that we see Colley Avenue as this up-and-coming, rich vein of culture—specifically, culture that is coalescing around this kind of eco-mindedness. … So this is maybe the capstone or the anchor to that whole corridor.”

The living shoreline will feature a research dock and a circular, see-through boardwalk over Knitting Mill Creek.

“You’ll be able to look through it, and it’ll let light through,” Bowling said. “It serves the purpose of helping to make sure the full line of plants—the ecosystems down there—aren’t as heavily impacted, but also you can physically look down past your feet and see directly into this zone.”

Bowling said working with ERP has been “wildly inspiring.”

“It was a dream project that I haven’t really had the experience of doing before,” he said.

“It was a lot of new systems to learn about and a lot of best practices that, as architects, you’ve always known about … and finally getting a client say we want to do all of it.”

The construction project coincides with

ERP’s first rebrand since it was founded 30 years ago.

Davis Ad Agency in Virginia Beach led the effort, developing a marketing campaign around a simple call to action: “Do Something Beautiful.”

Davis also reimagined ERP’s brown pelican logo. (The once endangered water bird is synonymous with the health of the Elizabeth River—so much so that ERP released three rehabilitated pelicans at its Colley Avenue ground-breaking in May.) The new logo is a monochrome silhouette of a pelican whose wings look like an outstretched hand.

Todd Aftel, the creative director at Davis who designed the logo, said he was inspired by ripples of water while on a photo shoot on the Elizabeth River.

“It was just one of those a ha moments, really,” he said. “It was just like, ‘Let’s see if this works.’ And it came together. … It was pretty much to show the relationship between nature and people—hands on the river, being able to be involved. Together, they create something beautiful.”

Aftel said he’s proud to have created the logo and to see it starting to pop up all over Hampton Roads, but he’s more excited

about the results of the overall campaign.

“We have 700 new members we’re trying to get,” he said. “I think that’s really the rewarding aspect of it—knowing that it’s making a difference, it’s connecting with people, and we’re doing our job right.”

Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, ERP’s founder and executive director, is in a similar state of mind: proud of the work the organization has done—and continues to do—but concerned that it’s “a bit too much under the radar.”

“We just need to get to a new level of visibility and participation,” she said.

“We just completed the silent phase of our biggest capital campaign ever,” she added. “With it, we ought to take full advantage of all these big investments and new infrastructure. The possibility for a much larger presence and engagement … it’s just all part of a whole new phase—a new day.”

It may be a challenge, but Jackson is used to it.

“When we first got started,” she said, “people said the river was dead. It was kind of a joke to talk about cleaning it up. There was great skepticism. Today, we don’t hear that. I think we just need a better vehicle for people to get on board. They’re ready to get on board. They see the dolphins and the otters and the sea horses. It’s a great feeling to know that your home river is coming back to life.”

For more information about the Elizabeth River Project, visit elizabethriver.org or search for ERP on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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news&views arts

William & Mary art history students gained hands-on experience curating the exhibition. Photo courtesy of Melissa Parris

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Curatorial Project is a Hit with Students Staff Report

Most university fine arts graduates will likely develop careers in visual arts education as a compliment to their ability to showcase work as a painter, illustrator, sculptor, or photographer.

Some will enter the more competitive museum and gallery curatorial field, an area of expertise that is driven by experience as well as having an eye for presenting exhibited artwork where lighting, background wall colors, flow of work, spacing, and informational postings are key to making an impact and telling a story.

Gaining such valuable insight for students isn’t as common an opportunity as you might think. But for a recent group of students at the College of William & Mary, an exercise in group curating featuring the figurative graphic works of Leonard Baskin was a remarkable occurrence at the school’s Muscarelle Museum of Art. The students—working closely with faculty— were tasked with exhibiting the figurative graphic works of Leonard Baskin. The exhibition, titled The Human Frame: Prints by Leonard Baskin, is on view through September 25 in the Muscarelle’s Sheridan Gallery. Students researched, wrote text and documented the museum’s growing collection of the artist’s body of work.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to get experience in a museum itself and outside of the classroom,” Ivana Genov (Class of ’23) told the school’s online news website. “Presenting at the Muscarelle is a great way for students to get familiar with the workings and environment of a museum and better understand the curatorial process. Additionally, the museum staff seems delighted to have us, (is) genuinely excited about our exhibit and conveys complete confidence in our abilities to curate a great show.”

The Curatorial Project is a now a required course for art history majors at William & Mary.

Norfolk Forum 90th Season

For its 90th season, Norfolk Forum will present a diverse series featuring travel guru Rick Steves (September 7), NPR/Fox News political analyst Mara Liasson (October 25), iconic Black publisher Linda Johnson Rice (January 25), and former British Prime Minister David Cameron (May 3). All speakers will be at Chrysler Hall.

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The Norfolk Forum is a nonprofit community organization that was founded in 1933 and is the nation’s oldest publicly-subscribed speakers’ forum.

American Theatre 35th Season

After a full two-year hiatus, a full season of programming is on slate for the American Theatre in Hampton.

Among the highlights for its 35th season: Singer Melissa Manchester (February 25), big band greats Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (December 17), jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater (February 11), and Vegas singer/entertainer Frankie Moreno.

“It’s been a long intermission, and we’re enthusiastic to welcome audiences back for this anniversary season,” said Hampton Arts Artistic Director Richard M. Parison, Jr. “From Grammy-winning musical acts, bold theatrical productions, and family-friendly holiday fun to curated exhibitions from some of the most recognized visual artists in the region, this season is all about storytelling in its many forms.”

Chrysler Museum News

The Chrysler Museum of Art recently launched the public phase of a $50 million capital campaign, announcing gifts and commitments totaling over $42 million.

The campaign will improve accessibility to the permanent collection, increase learning through art, and sustain the financial strength of the Museum. The priorities for the campaign include the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio, the creation of the Goode Works on Paper Study Center, and the establishment of endowments for school programs, technology and interactive media, and exhibitions. The funding from this campaign will also help ensure that the Museum remains one of the few art museums with free admission.

“Reflecting on the last 50 years of the Chrysler Museum of Art, we are ecstatic to see how our collection and program offerings have evolved, and we’ve only just begun,” said Erik H. Neil, The Macon and Joan Brock Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art.

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feature

6 Walk around Virginia Beach’s ViBe District and Norfolk’s NEON District—both designated arts districts—and enjoy the many murals on the sides of building while visiting bakeries, restaurants and galleries.

7 Go surfing at the Oceanfront between 1st and 5th Street. We have the Atlantic Ocean at our doorstep. Get in it!

9 Veer Recommended: We dine out a lot and have some favorite local spots we’re willing to share: The Coach House on North Colley Avenue, Voila International Cuisine, 1608 Crafthouse, Syd’s Fish Cafe, The Green Onion, Fellini’s, Luna Maya, Crudo Nudo, Fuller’s Raw Bar, Kismet, The Bier Garden, Rajput, Coastal Grill, Fat Canary, and LUCE. There are others, but these will get you started. See you there.

10 A whimsical dining experience at Syd’s Fish Pig Cafe in downtown Norfolk is a MUST.

101 Things to Do This Summer in Coastal Virginia

By Staff

Three and six years ago we published lists of 101 Things to Do in Hampton Roads Before You Die. The feature story was wellreceived by readers, and many continue to share their favorites.

Month after month, this list continues to be a top 20 most-read post on our website.

This time around, we’re making a slight twist to the mix list and billing it as our 101 Things to Do This Summer in Hampton Roads.

Coming out of the pandemic, our staff felt not only do we need to remind locals and educate tourists about our many scenic gems and outdoor natural beauty, but we need to steer folks towards cool things happing in the 757, from concert experiences to the places we ourselves like to dine.

The original idea came to me a few years ago when I took some friends sailing on the American Rover schooner. Everyone knew about the Rover, but most had never been onboard.

A common remark was, “Wow, this is great. I can’t believe I’ve never done this before.”

I suspect many of us can think of some-

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miss the Sunflower Music Festival August 28. Plus the NATO Tower is open for treetop level views.

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thing we’ve often considered but somehow never found the time to do.

With that in mind, here’s our 101 things list.

Enjoy—and get out and about this summer.

As summer closes out, take the rare opportunity to see Kyiv City Ballet perform “Swan Lake” at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts September 19-22. This Ukrainian ballet troupe has not returned home since the Russian invasion began.

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Experience a Symphony By The Sea concert on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 31st Street Park. This series is presented by the Neptune Festival. Virginia Symphony Orchestra performs July 28, August 18 and September 8. Symphonicity plays August 11 & 25.

Hike, bike or take a tram ride to the remote False Cape State Park, with several beach and forested trails, with possible sightings of wild ponies, fox, deer, feral pigs, and wildfowl. Plus Back Bay Wildlife Refuge with wetlands trails, an interpretive center, wildfowl viewing, and access to False Cape.

2 Walk, bike, or take a tram or boat through Norfolk Botanical Gardens, one of the true gems of Southside with 155 acres of trails and water, and walkways though 52 themed gardens, including azaleas, rhododendron, a nationally recognized camellia garden, and an abundance of flowers and trees, some which hold state records. Plus the Butterfly Garden is a must and don’t

5 Whimsical dining experience: If you’d not yet dined at Syd’s Fish Pig Cafe—go.

Reserve a table in advance. Owner/Chef Sydney Meers let his mind wander and the result is a dining space unlike any in Hampton Roads. Plus an ingenious menu and wine selection from this local legend.

Check out some local actors when the Little Theatre of Norfolk presents “Pippin: The Musical” August 5-28.

11 Visit historic Smithfield, VA, with fine restaurants, lovely shops, an attractive, historic main street, and many side streets filled with elegant homes

12 Hike the 5-mile Noland Trail in Newport News through forest, along lakes, over bridges, hill and dale for a great urban workout in the woods

13 Visit the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, one of the world’s finest nautical museums, featuring the recovered turret of the famous Civil War-era Monitor, famous participant in the first battle of ironclad ships.

14 The NorVa has been named one of the best indoor concert venues in America. Got see why when these fine artists headline: Howard Jones (July 20), Chvrches (August 1), Rise Against (August 8), or Beres Hammond (August 24)

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TRDance’s Summer Ensemble Concert August 13-14

15 Attend the 7th Annual Coastal Craft Beer Festival August 27 at 31st Street Park on the Boardwalk. Presented by the Neptune Festival, taste an array of beers to the music of Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos.

16 Take a Norfolk Naval Base bus tour and see the ships, carriers, and subs on the world’s largest naval base. Also, see it from the water on an Elizabeth River boat tour on the Victory Rover.

17 Bike the Elizabeth River Trail south to north mostly along or near Norfolk’s waterfront from Harbor Park through many lovely coastal neighborhoods as well as Old Dominion University’s campus all the way to Lochhaven and Norfolk International Terminals.

18 Check out the Gas Light Hotel’s restaurant and bar. Visit the adjoining glass art gallery from the Perry Family’s personal collection.

19 Bike or walk and dine on Duke of Gloucester Street and make a point to seek-out and tour the backyard gardens of historic Williamsburg. Many of the lovely gardens and side alleys and streets are open to visitors (except as noted as a private residence). It’s a living history museum in our backyard.

20 Visit the combined museum and visitor center facilities at both historic Jamestown

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and Yorktown’s battlefield, with many great forest, beach and shoreline trails for biking and walking, as well as archaeological digs often in progress at Jamestown.

21 Bike, walk, drive or run the beautiful 13½- mile Colonial Parkway along the York and James Rivers from Yorktown to Jamestown (or the reverse), a scenic drive that is a true area treasure.

22 Visit the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk for one of the country’s finest mid-size museums with more than 30,000 items in its care, featuring a world-class glass collection and well-trained, helpful guides rather than guards. Prints from MC Escher are on view through August 28.

23 Visit the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach, with the best of ever-changing modern, contemporary art exhibits from talents around the world.

Maya Lin’s “A Study of Water” is getting national press. See it through September 4.

24 Bike the three-mile Virginia Beach Boardwalk. We recommend early mornings (to avoid crowds) on the designated bike trail.

25 How many people know that Newport News Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the eastern United States? It’s got everything a park should have, including two golf courses, fishing, lakes, Civil War

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(continued from page 18) fortifications, campground, mountain biking and hiking trails, and more.

26 Attend TRDance’s Summer Ensemble Concert August 13-14 at its Benjack Studio Theater in Norfolk. This is local contemporary dance at its finest.

30 Speaking of movies, the Naro Expanded Cinema is an art deco jewel and a longtime beloved gem in the heart of Ghent. From blockbusters to independent films, throwback flicks from yesteryear to special events, this is a one-of-a-kind experience.

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27 Take a sail on the Elizabeth River on the four-masted American Rover docked at Norfolk’s Waterside marina. Help raise the sails once under way.

28 Visit Norfolk’s Nauticus with interactive nautical attractions, an aquarium, films, and access to tours of the USS Wisconsin, the enormous battleship at the adjacent dock. While there, visit the free Hampton Roads Naval Museum. Enroll your young would-be sailors in the after-school Sail Nauticus program or have them learn to build a rowing skiff at the Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop.

29 Forget the tolls! Get over there and bike or walk Portsmouth’s historic and beautiful Old Town and be charmed by the many portstyle homes that will remind you of a miniCharleston. Walk High Street and discover many fine restaurants and shops, plus the Virginia Children’s Museum, a must-see for the little ones. The Bier Garden features over 400 beers; the Commodore Theater has the largest movie screen anywhere.

Truly get away and disappear into 40 miles of biking and hiking trails in First Landing State Park from the Shore Drive north entrance in Virginia Beach; across the street is the park’s Bay beach and campground. At the south entrance of the park at the end of 64th Street at what’s called the Narrows on Broad Bay, rent a kayak, paddle-board, jet ski, or a motorboat or just enjoy the beach there.

32 Downtown Norfolk Restaurant Week is July 17-24. Get a taste and deal at participating restaurants including Codex, Freemason Abbey, 456 Fish, Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 219 Bistro, Monastery, Leone’s and Grilled Cheese Bistro.

33 Visit the Great Bridge Locks Park and watch barges and boats get a lift or a drop in the canal lock there. The American Revolution’s little-known but significant Battle of Great Bridge was fought in the area.

34 Relax on the historic Elizabeth River at Town Point Park during the 39th Annual Virginia Waterfront Jazz Festival on August 26-27. Performers include Pieces of a Dream, Tower of Power, and Brian Culbertson.

35 Visit five historic James River plantations along scenic Route 5, including Westover, Shirley, and Berkeley.

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Fort Eustis. If it has wheels or a track and a motor, you will see it here, with an example or an exhibit of every vehicle that moved the U.S. Army from place to place in war and peace.

38 Visit Fort Story for a two-fer: see the First Landing Cross at the spot where the English explorers and first Jamestown settlers allegedly first set foot on the beach of the New World in 1607. Then climb the steps of the Cape Henry Lighthouse, the country’s first, dating from 1792.

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Go natural, fresh, and organic and visit an area Farmers Market, including the Virginia Beach Farmers Market on Princess Anne Road and the Old Beach Farm Market Saturday’s at Croc’s.

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Rent jet skis, take a scenic boat ride, go head-boat or deep-sea fishing, whalewatching, or parasailing, all out in the ocean, from one of the many rental concessions at the Beach’s Rudee Inlet.

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Take in a concert at Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion in Portsmouth. Key upcoming headliners include Kehlani (July 29), Iration & Atmosphere (July 31), ZZ Top (August 2). Halestorm (August 12), and Buddy Guy/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd (August 21).

Visit the MacArthur Memorial where WWII hero General Douglas MacArthur is buried. See his famous corncob pipe, hat and car along with many other artifacts from the war.

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Visit the War Memorial Museum in Newport News with an outstanding collection of personal artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms, posters and much more, tracing military history from 1775 to the present.

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Visit the U.S. Transportation Museum at

“In Good Keeping in 2022” on July 26 (5:30 PM) at Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. This is a feature-length documentary film showcasing 18 artists from across the state who are working to sustain the cultural traditions of Virginia.

Go old school during Funk Fest at 24th Street on the Oceanfront. Enjoy the sounds of Midnight Star, Rose Royce and more on August 26-27. Free admission.

House Concert to benefit Hope House Foundation: Rick Mapp will host in his backyard (126 e. Severn Road in Norfolk).

The $35 ticket gets you BBQ, beer/wine, and live music from Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos and Big Forest Fire. Come meet some locals.

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Have a hard cider at Sly Clyde’s in the Phoebus section of Hampton.

Symphony By The Sea will feature Virginia Symphony Orchestra on July 28 at 31st Street park at the Oceanfront. Free admission.

Watch the Virginia Beach screening of

46 Take a ride on a Lime Green Scooter through the streets of downtown Norfolk.

47 Enjoy a day at one of the area’s first-class theme parks like Busch Gardens, Water Country, and Virginia Beach’s Ocean Breeze waterpark.

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ON VIEW APRIL 15 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 To learn more, visit muscarelle.org!

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Visit the Virginia Aquarium at the Beach for everything you would want to see in an aquarium, including sea-critter touch tanks, otter and seal pools, an IMAX Theater, a walking trail, the multi-level Adventure Park, and much more.

Tour the recently restored historic Cavalier Hotel at the Oceanfront. Be sure to pull-up via the driveway to valet-park and checkout the indoor pool. Sample awardwinning spirits downstairs at Tarnished Truth Distillery and enjoy the ambience of the Hunt Room and Raleigh Room.

49 Eat your heart out, Smithsonian! We also have a terrific Air and Space Museum in downtown Hampton. A special treat are the popular flight simulator rides.

50 Watch a glass-blowing demo at the Chrysler Glass Studio, already considered a big contributor to Norfolk’s growing reputation as one of the nation’s top destinations for world-class glass art and artists. And right across the street from the Chrysler is the d’Art Center, with more than 20 artists in residence in their studios. You can visit, chat, and watch them work and buy their creations right on the spot.

54 Walk the fort walls behind the moat at Fort Monroe, one of the country’s newest National Monuments and a true area treasure. While there, bike or tour the grounds of the historic fort, visit the Casement Museum where Jefferson Davis was imprisoned after the Civil War and see Robert E. Lee’s home.

You can have a beach party also while at Fort Monroe over at the Beach Club with its fine beach and huge pool and restaurant. Avoid a cover charge and take your boat there and beach it and enjoy the facilities. The Fort is commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans to the New World. It happened at Fort Monroe.

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51 Hampton Roads is fast becoming a craft beer-lovers paradise. Visit a brewery tasting room or take a brew tour of several craft breweries in the area. Over 30 to chose from.

52 Break the standard American grub habit and make a point to try one of the many ethnic restaurants in the area for new taste experiences. We’ve got South and Central American, Eastern and Western European, and Near, Far and Middle Eastern, etc. Don’t be scared to try that little place with the strange sounding name in the little strip shopping center—you might get a really exciting taste surprise!

Attend the Beach Ambassadors’ Battle of the Beers for its 10th Anniversary at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. All the regional breweries will be pouring September 24.

56 Take in a show at the region’s largest venue: Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater @ Virginia Beach. Upcoming headliners include Dave Matthews Band (July 23), Jason Aldean (July 30), Wiz Khalifa (August 13), Keith Urban (August 14), Sting (August 31), and Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival (September 11).

John Koehler’s “Dreaming of Dogs & Moon” is part of his debut solo art show. Google Koehler Publishing to see his work.

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Go to a Tides baseball game, drink beer and eat hot dogs while cheering for our home team at Norfolk’s Harbor Park.

Paddle and hike the woods and waters of Chesapeake’s Northwest River Park.

58 Say bye to summer at the historic Wells Theatre when Virginia Stage Company presents “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” beginning September 14.

Get a taste of Music City during Nashfest (September 17) at Town Point Park with hot chicken, hard drinks, and country music from Eric Paslay, Peytan Porter, Tracie Lynn, and Cody Christian Band.

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Go mountain biking on several trails or rent a kayak to explore the waterways at the York River State Park.

Dine at night on the rooftop of Leone’s Italian restaurant, Orion’s Roof on the ocean, or Grain.

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Grab a laugh when local funny folks Push Comedy Theater celebrate their 10th anniversary by presenting tan all female cast in “Panties in a Twist” August 12-13 at The NorVa.

Go fishing. Try deep sea fishing by chartering a boat or cast your line off the pier.

61 You are not local until you’ve had a barbecue sandwich with cole slaw and a side of baked beans at the iconic Pierce’s Pitt BarB-Que in Williamsburg. Additional smoked meats and BBQ must-visit options include Redwood Smoke Shack, 1608 Craft House, Beach Bully BBQ, Whitner’s Pit-Smoked Barbecue, Smokin’ Joe’s, and Smoke BBQ Restaurant & Bar.

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Lime Green Scooters have been a hit with 20-somethings.

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See on the ground, in the hanger and in the air one of the world’s largest collections of World War I and II classic airplanes at Virginia Beach’s first-class Military Aviation Museum.

67 Go to an opening day college football game at Old Dominion, Hampton and Norfolk State Universities or the College of William and Mary.

68 See African-American, Native American, and Pacific and Asian art and artifacts at the Hampton University Museum on the lovely and historic campus. It is the oldest African-American museum in the nation with over 9,000 objects in its collection.

69 Local Theater: First Colonial High School English teacher Zack Kattwinkel is playing

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THE REVIEWS ARE IN:

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(continued from page 22) William Shakespeare in the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach production of the hilarious musical comedy “Something Rotten” July 15 through August 7. His experience teaching Shakespeare gives him a unique perspective to portraying the sexy rockstar version of Shakespeare in the show.

70 Camp locally overnight under the water oak trees at First Landing State Park and take a swim on the Bay beach there before returning to your campsite for the evening’s cookout.

71 The Hampton Museum hosts a monthly Front Porch Music Series concert, and on Wednesday, July 20 bluegrass great Bill Jenkins & The Virginia Mountain Boys will be jammin’ from 6-8 PM.

72 SoNo Zine Fest: Enjoy live music, scenic vistas under the Jordan Bridge, free zine/ art workshops, and food trucks at the SoNo ZineFest in Elizabeth River City Park on Saturday, August 20 from 12-5. This is being produced by Chesapeake Public Library.

73 Vroom…go see a car race at Langley Speedway in Hampton. It’s a fun night for the family as several classes/levels of cars race around the track.

74 Party like it 1776? Walk back in time through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg and enjoy lunch or dinner at Shields Tavern, Josiah Chowning’s Tavern or by candlelight at the King’s Arms Tavern or Christina Campbell’s Tavern. Tell ‘em George Washington sent you.

75 Take a self-guided walking tour of the historic homes along Norfolk’s Freemason Street; then, from there, walk north across the Ghent Footbridge and stroll among the venerable mansions of Mowbray Arch..

76 Enjoy a tasting flight at Mermaid & Williamsburg Wineries. Try a local cider at Sly Clyde’s and Back Bay’s Farmhouse.

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77 GOLF! That new multi-level golf driving range with the huge threatening-looking net next to I-264; Sleepy Hole golf course/ park; the ODU 9-holer; many top-notch Beach golf courses; etc etc.

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Pull your vehicle up to the car port at Doumar’s and order a BBQ, limeade and ice cream as patrons have done for over 60 years.

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Take the family to the Virginia Zoo and observe lions, tigers, giraffes, zebra and a world of reptiles. Also be sure to check out the Zoo Grooves concerts on July 23 and August 20.

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Fly a kite from the top of Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach.

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Go see a local band performing at the Taphouse Grill Ghent, The Vanguard Brewpub, BBQ by Froggies, Scandals Live, or Big Woody’s in Great Bridge.

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Chrysler Hall is Norfolk’s gem of a performing arts center. Noteworthy performances this summer include the legendary Frankie Valli & The Four seasons (July 31), Gladys Knight (August 14), and the Broadway classic “Wicked” (September 14-25).

83 Though Virginia Opera is not in season during summer its Harrison Opera House will play host to legendary smooth jazz pianist Bob James on July 23 as part of the Church Street Jazz Series.

84 Walk the Labyrinth at the Edgar Cayce ARE Center.

85 Have drinks on the Ocean View Pier at sunset.

86 Purchase fish right off the boat next

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(continued from page 24) to Dockside Restaurant near the Lesner Bridge.

87 Step way back in time at Norfolk’s French Bakery. This unique deli opened nearly 100 years ago. Order the orange donuts and get the hot pastrami on rye sandwich. Dine inside for character and characters.

88 Watch the stars or a laser show at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.

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The 757 region has several performing arts centers and the charming Ferguson Center for the Arts has two live performances of note this summer worthy of your attention: Weird Al Yankovic (August 9) and crooner Johnny Mathis (September 9).

Drag Show, anybody? Be sure to checkout the schedule at 37th & Zen in Norfolk.

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Stroll the grounds and enter the historic Hermitage Museum & Gardens in Norfolk.

91 Drive across the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel to Cape Charles and back.

92 Seafood on the Water: Just over the Lesner Bridge on Shore Drive are a cluster of seafood restaurants right on the inlet.

Watch the pleasure and working boats motor past at Bubba’s Seafood Restaurant & Crabhouse, Dockside, Chick’s Oyster Bar, and The Back Deck. Another nearby scenic dining option is The Porch on Long Creek.

93 The neighborhood gay bar: MJ’s Tavern in the Riverview section is home to Norfolk’s popular restaurant and bar where everyone’s invited as long as you are LGBTQ friendly.

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Zack Kattwinkel plays William Shakespeare in the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach production of the hilarious musical comedy “Something Rotten.”

Sit in on an open mic night and play a song of your own—even if you make it up on the spot. Suggestions include Stuft, South Beach Grill, Abbey Road, Winston’s Cafe and Stellar Wine Co.

98 Attend a church service at Christ & St. Luke’s.

99 Introducing John Koehler (pictured on front cover), a gifted, lifelong artist, illustrator, author, former ad man and 1991 Boomerang World Champ. The Virginia Beach artist is exhibiting his first solo show, “Works by John Koehler since 2018,” at Koehler Publishing & Artworks on Shore Drive. The show features 75 vibrant digital paintings created on an Apple iPad Pro during a period in which John says he was “on fire with a drive to create.”

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Stroll down Mellen Street in Phoebus, a historic main street with exciting new restaurants, bars, Sly Clyde’s Cidery, the American Theatre, a used bookstore and numerous antique stores.

Challenge yourself on the ropes course at the Virginia Aquarium’s six-level Adventure Park with 15 trails, 21 zip lines, and almost 200 challenge bridges.

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The 2nd Annual Beerlympics will be held July 30 at St. George Brewing Company in Hampton. This could get strange and you’re invited to participate. Form a 4-person team and call 757-865-7781 to register.

Go to a locally-owned coffee shop, have a cup of java and a conversation with someone you don’t know. Leave your laptop, cell phone and tablet at home. Consider it Digital Detox.

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The perfect dining or drinking spot in the heart of Ghent!

Happy Hour Every Day Noon - 7pm Tuesdays - 50% Off Wine Bottles Wednesdays - All You Can Eat Mussels Saturdays & Sundays - Brunch - 10:30am - 3pm 1603 Colley Avenue, Norfolk 757-963-1200 • www.greenonionghent.com

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art review

Hermitage Museum visitors view the full array of artwork created by contemporary creator Roberto Lugo. Photo by CPix Aperture.

A 360-Degree View of Lugo

By Betsy DiJulio

If 19th century Worcester Royal Porcelain and contemporary north Philadelphia graffiti engaged in a romantic time warp tryst, the pottery of Roberto Lugo might well be the result.

Lugo, a native of Kensington in north Philadelphia, has gained a national reputation for his mashups of traditional European and Asian ceramic forms—teapots and cups, urns, ginger jars, and the like—with Hip Hop-inspired surface decoration featuring hand-painted portraits of people of color—trailblazers, family members, and himself most often rendered in black-andwhite—graffiti, and classical patterns and motifs hand-painted in vivid hues.

Sociologists have long understood how “magic” operates in visual language, especially in advertising; that is, by merely placing objects and images in contiguous relationships with one another, the qualities of one are “magically” transferred to the other.

Think: celebrity status conferred upon perfume or automobiles when either is placed side-by-side with the visage of, say, Catherine Deneuve or Matthew McConaughey.

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Contemporary artists, like Lugo, have adopt- www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB24yj1xqCc). ed this kind of juxtaposition in myriad forms Beginning, “Somebody once told me I would making it one of the most recognizable post- die before I be somethin’, more likely to fry before I free somethin’, more likely to sigh modern principles of design.

Lugo, a Puerto Rican-American potter, before I see somethin’,” Lugo’s moving testimony to an audience of 5,000 traces painter, spoken word poet, social his unlikely trajectory from activist, and educator is after a disadvantaged youth in something quite simple—and Roberto Lugo: Pottery the self-described ghetto deeply vexing—through with Purpose to husband, father, and his art: tolerance, underThrough October 3 professor, out to change standing, equality, and Hermitage Museum, Norfolk minds—and the world— justice. His ceramic din757.423.2052 one ceramic pot at a time. nerware invites us to thehermitagemuseum.org A widely-exhibited gather around the table and prestigious awardto break bread together, winning associate professor not so much setting aside our of art at the Tyler School of Art differences as embracing them, while simultaneously celebrating and Architecture at Temple Uniour common humanity, leaving our biased versity, Lugo got his start at a community assumptions about each other at the door. college in Florida followed by a BFA from For a taste of his gift with the spoken word the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA and his crusading passion for his causes, you from Penn State University. His ceramic might watch his address to the 2015 National wares are the antithesis of Royal Worcester Council on Education in Ceramic Arts Confer- porcelain emblazoned with images of white ence entitled Emerging Artist: Where the Wu power and prestige. In Lugo’s work, royal Tang Clan Meets Worcester Porcelain (https:// personages are supplanted by images of

Barack Obama and black and brown celebrities alongside those of Sojourner Truth, other historical figures and social activists, and victims of racial discrimination.

One of the truths to which Lugo’s work speaks is belonging. Through his hybrid images, with their jarring incongruities of ornate luxury items and street sensibility, he raises questions about inclusion and exclusion as other prominent contemporary artists are doing, each in their own way, from Kehinde Wiley and Titus Kaphar of the US to Barbara Walker of the UK, to name but a few.

When viewing his, or any, works of art, context matters. Where we see works of art can have as much to say about the work as the work itself. Previously, Lugo has exhibited his pottery and paintings alongside historical works of art form permanent collections of the institutions where he has been invited to show, creating what curators like to call “conversations.”

Likewise, at the Hermitage Museum, Carrie Spencer, Curator of Contemporary Art and Education, who is herself a ceramicist, felt that embedding Lugo’s work into the Hermitage’s collection of, especially, Asian art and artifacts would throw into fine relief the layers of complexity Lugo intends to highlight. Almost by definition, art collections belong to the privileged and Lugo seeks to insert underrepresented individuals, especially racial minorities, into the canon of art history.

For Pottery with a Purpose, Spencer offers a 360-degree view of Lugo that includes his pottery, but also his figurative sculpture, flat and graphic paintings coated with resin to mimic the surface of glazefired ceramics, collaborations, and other highly formal and beautiful realistic paintings with exceptional tonal relationships and illusions of three-dimensional form.

Hampton Roads-based artist, Aimee Bruce, created saturated tone-on-tone painted walls as foils for some of the ceramic work, nodding in the direction of both traditional wall coverings and street murals.

At the exhibition opening, a visitor who shares Lugo’s Puerto Rican heritage admired aloud one of the paintings on view.

Lugo gifted it to him on the spot. A master of word plays—talk back vs. talk black or in justice vs. injustice—Lugo’s actions seem to speak as loudly as his powerful language, whether verbal or visual.

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CURRENT EXHIBITION

“FOCAL LOCAL”

OPENING AUGUST 5TH

“ENDANGERED”

CREATE SOMETHING WONDERFUL THIS SUMMER. TAKE A CLASS AT THE VB ART CENTER!

Visit: artcentervb.org/classes or scan this QR code.

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ARTSCALENDAR

4 to Explore Compiled by Staff

ROUND’TOWN Mia Guile: Little Did I Know July 16 through August 20 Opening Reception: July 16, 5-8 PM Gallery 21 (Norfolk) Guile describes her painting style as Abstract Expressionism. Her use of bold colors and strong, textured brush strokes create larger-than-life, evocative images. “I am fascinated by the psychology of human behavior, and I have always been in awe of color.” explains Guile. “The works featured in Little Did I Know will explore the psychology of color and its impact on feelings.”

Active in the local art community, Guile serves on the Executive Board of ViBe’s Friends of the Creative District in Virginia Beach.

She is a member of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, and the Virginia Beach Public Art Committee. Guile has served as a Docent at Virginia MOCA, and judge for numerous juried shows, including the Scholastic Awards, a prestigious national competition for teens. Guile’s art has been featured in numerous galleries throughout the area, including a recent solo exhibit at the Sandler Center Art Gallery.

Guile plans to donate a portion of her sales at Gallery 21 to a local organization, Tidewater Ukrainian School, which is raising funds to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine.

Focal Local Through July 31 The Artists Gallery @ Virginia Beach Arts Center A fascination with our local landmarks is part of the psyche of tourists and residents alike.

The exhibition explores our famous scenes and secret gems through paint, photography, sculpture and more. Pictured here is the Pungo Crab Shack by Sandra Snider.

Heather Beardsley: This Will Be for Thousands Of Years

Artists Who Teach

Through January 1 Barry Art Museum

July 16 through August 27 Reception & Awards Ceremony: July 23, 3-5 PM Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center

In an intimate pop-up exhibition titled “This Will Be for Thousands Of Years,” Virginia Beach native Heather Beardsley presents work from her series “Strange Plants,” inspired by a trip to Chernobyl, where she witnessed nature’s reclamation of the abandoned and toxic site. Vintage photos and postcards from Eastern Europe are hand-embroidered with increasingly wild foliage, often forgoing or engulfing any humans populating the images.

“There is an inherent tension in these pierced and stitched works on paper, especially as we consider whether any of the images from Ukraine still exist today, and what might be destroyed next,” said Brett Day Windham, guest curator.

ARTSCALENDAR 30

JULY 2022

Artists Who Teach is an annual juried exhibition that presents the artwork of talented visual arts educators throughout Coastal Virginia. Artwork in all media is represented by current educators of local schools, colleges, art centers and institutions. Pictured is Mark Miltz’s “Katie.”

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32

stage musicaltheater

Hurrah Players’ Descendants A Family Show in Many Ways

By Montague Gammon III

It’s families to the fore when Hurrah Players’ multi-generational cast of Disney’s Descendants: The Musical hits the Wells Theatre stage July 22-24. It’s not just the characters, but some cast members as well, who live up to the title’s parent and offspring connection. There are three mother-daughter pairs in the cast.

Descendants spins off the most popular series of movies in Disney history, a set of four (so far) Disney Channel Original Movies that put the teen-aged kids of notorious Disney villains in the company of their counterparts from the heroic side of Disney stories. It covers the events in the first two flicks, Descendants from 2015 and Descendants 2, from 2017.

Maleficent, the witch who put the Sleeping in Sleeping Beauty’s name, has a daughter named Mal, whose first lines in the play are “They say I’m trouble, they say I’m bad, they say I’m evil, that makes me glad.”

The daughter of Evil Queen (Wicked Queen, Queen Grimhilde) from Disney’s first full length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, goes by the moniker of Evie. Her philosophy is, “Just be pretty, do not be smart. It doesn’t matter what’s on the inside, men don’t want a woman who thinks,” said Descendants director and Hurrah Players founder and Artistic Director Hugh Copeland.

Aladdin villain Jafar’s son is Jay, a thief. The dognapping Cruella de Vil, of 101 Dalmatians infamy, has a son named Carlos. He’s afraid of dogs.

Magically imprisoned on The Isle of the Lost where they cannot make use of their magic, the villainous parents and their malevolent progeny see a chance to escape when an invitation to the Disney characters’ prep school comes from 16 year old Ben, son of the married Beast and Belle and the heir to his father’s island kingdom of Auradon.

The headmistress of Auradon Prep is Fairy Godmother, who is, Copeland said “all sunshine and butterflies.” Her magic wand would have the power to free the various villains from their incarceration, so Maleficent tells her daughter to steal it ”so she can wreak all kinds of havoc,” in Copeland’s words.

The four teens from Isle of the Lost find that their classmates are Godmother’s daughter Jane, along with Chad, whose parents are Cinderella and Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty’s daughter Audrey, and Doug, whose

july 2022

Disney’s Descendants: The Musical The Hurrah Players in partnership with Virginia Stage Company Book by Nick Blaemire Musical adaptation, vocal and incidental arrangement by Madeline Smith Orchestrations by and music produced by Matthew Smith Directed by Hugh Copeland Wells Theatre hurrahplayers.com 757-627-5437 dad is dwarf Dopey. Snow White herself, now an Auradon journalist, is in the mix also.

Candice Heidelberg-Denison plays Cruella De Vil; her daughter is cast as Mal. Queen Belle is played by Bettina Selby; daughter Kendall Selby is Snow White. Chloe Swenson plays Jane, daughter of Fairy Godmother, which is the role that her real mom, the show’s musical director Dianna Swenson plays.

Through 40-some hit songs, plenty of lively

dances and crowd and chorus scenes, by means of young romance and parent-child conflicts, Ben’s experiment in treating apparently inherent evil with determined and natural goodness plays out until the show reaches its conclusion, which is, in the words of that young king-to-be, “We are all capable of good and bad, no matter where we come from.”

In the real world, coming from Hurrah Players has been a step toward stardom. The star of TV’s The Flash series, Grant Gustin, is an Hurrah alumnus. Another alum, Emmy Raver-Lampman, has a thriving stage and TV career that has included an ensemble part in the original Broadway Hamilton and the featured role of Angelica in the show’s first national tour. Adrienne Warren, who was America’s first Black Annie, in the Hurrah Players production of the show of that title, went on to play another title role in Broadway’s Tina. That performance garnered Warren her second Tony Award; the first was for her role in Shuffle Along.

So Hurrah’s Descendants: The Musical is not only show for, and about, and even in part by families, but also a chance to see performers who could be stars of stage and screen in just a few years.

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34

music promotion

Jay Lang on location for the Sundown Concer t Series in Hampton.

Jay Lang Talks Bob James

By Jeff Maisey

Focused on producing the best sounding tracks Mixing, recording, live recording, voice-overs, band recording, movie sound design, and commericials – we can help you with almost anything in Hampton Roads, VA. 757-825-2441 | www.BlackLabelMultiMedia.com

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If you hear of a major jazz concert coming to town chances are Jay Lang has something to do with it. After all, Jay knows jazz.

Today, Lang is the station manager/GM at Hampton University’s Smooth 88.1 WHOV-FM, president/founder of HJ Lang Foundation (a 501c3 music and arts charity), and CEO/president of Blue Pyramid Productions. Under the expansive Blue Pyramid umbrella he engages in everything from voice-over talent, commercial radio production, artist and event management, entertainment consulting, and concert promotion.

It is as a talent buyer and concert promoter that Jay Lang established the Church Street Jazz Series in Norfolk. The current season finale concludes July 23 with legendary smooth jazz pianist Bob James performing at Harrison Opera House.

Through the years, Lang has maintained personal friendships with the jazz recording artists he brings to Hampton Roads, Bob James included.

“When you say Bob James you have to put him in that same school of living legends as Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones,” explained Lang. “(Bob) is a good personal friend. He’s 81, but plays like he’s 25. This will be the fourth time we’ve played Bob.” Bob James was discovered by producer Quincy Jones in 1962 and got him a record deal with Mercury Records for his debut album, “Bold Conceptions.” James, as a solo jazz artist, re-emerged in 1974 as arguably the originator of smooth jazz with an album titled “One.” The record was highlighted by the track “Nautilus,” which is one of the most sampled bits of music by hip hop artists.

James composed the theme song, “Angela,” for the TV sitcom “Taxi.” It appeared as the first track on his enormously popular sixth album, “Touchdown.” Among the musicians appearing on that album were Randy Brecker, Earl Klugh,

David Sanborn, and Gary King.

Multi-Grammy winner Bob James founded the group jazz greats Fourplay in 1991.

For Jay Lang, booking Bob James and having him as a friend is something he could never imaged earlier in life.

“I played his music in high school band,” said Lang. “I would never have thought this legend we were all built up to learn from in music theory (class) would end up being a close person friend. How beautiful is that?”

The Church Street Jazz Series was born out of a celebration concert for the 10th Anniversary of reopening of the historic Attucks Theatre in Norfolk. Lang brought in Lonnie Liston Smith for that show.

Norfolk’s Seven Venues organization, which oversees management of its cultural facilities, reached out to Lang to program jazz at the Attucks to bring life to the theater.

This was of high interest to Lang as he approached the city of Hampton with a similar concept but was turned down at the time.

Hampton has new leadership and Jay Lang is presenting The Sundown Concert Series in front of the Maritime Center on the marina and Mill Point Park. On tap are Jason Jackson (July 16/ Maritime Center) and Julian Vaughn (Mill Point) When Jay Lang brings musical acts to local venues he also insists on bringing an artist’s regular supporting cast of players, rather than hire locals, no matter how good, to fill in.

“It’s because they don’t have to tell the drummer, ‘Hey, I’m feeling good so we’re going to take this to the third level,’” explained Lang. “He can just turn and bob his head, and the drummer already knows because that’s his friend; they practice together. There’s a chemistry.”

Lang notes it costs more for the full package from a promoter’s stance, but it’s worth the money and the integrity of the series to present the performer in the best possible light.

“To me, that’s the real concert,” he said.

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july 2022

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music rock

REO Brings Power Ballad Hits

By Jeff Maisey

Like a booster rocket, the age of the power wanted to hear them, so we went over to this ballad thrusted REO Speedwagon from its 1971 little alleyway to Crystal Studios to record a launchpad as a straight-up rock band into the demo of them,” Hall said, “and we ended up likrealm of the stars. ing the demos better than the studio versions.

From 1977 to 1989, REO Speedwagon released So that’s what ‘Hi Infidelity’ is: a bunch of demos nine consecutive albums all certified Platinum with some overdubs on them.” or higher. Today, REO Speedwagon has sold more Those slightly enhanced demos were obvithan 40 million albums around the globe. ously to the liking of radio stations and fans.

After six initial studio albums, REO Speed- And for REO Speedwagon, a magical decision for wagon’s commercial breakthrough arrived in what they believed would be just another album 1978 with the release of the album, “You Can of songs they were happy with.

Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish.” Two key “We didn’t think we were writing this gigansingles—“Time for Me to Fly” and “Roll with the tic album,” said Hall, “we were trying to do the Changes”—from the LP gained airplay on FM best job we could with the songs we had.” stations nationwide. “Time for me to Fly” In commercial radio, power ballads became For Bruce Hall, who had joined the group popular in the late 1970s. Shock rocker as a bassist the year before, the timAlice Cooper once explained the ing turned out to be perfect. pressure he was under to record REO “Up until that point REO a ballad when he released Speedwagon Speedwagon was just an open“Only Women Bleed.” The ing act for bands that were w/Styx & Loverboy outcome was Cooper’s worst nationally known,” said Hall. nightmare—it became a hit August 5 “The idea of getting more and the record executives Veterans United Home Loads radio play was on the minds wanted more.

Amphitheater @ Virginia of the songwriters, which at Was this the same scenario Beach that time it was Kevin (Cronin) for REO Speedwagon? and Gary (Richrath).”

“Well, yes,” said Bruce Hall.

At the end of 1980, REO Speed“When we first started recording wagon released its epic album “Hi Inthe album the guy from Epic Records fidelity.” The record spent 15 weeks as the #1 said, ‘I don’t hear any hits.’ He was wrong on album on the Billboard chart and was the big- that one.” gest selling album of 1981. In fact, “Hi Infidelity” “Gary Richrath was a rocker,” Hall continsold more than 10 million copies powered by the ued. “I don’t remember REO doing too many slow radio success of power ballads “Keep On Loving songs before ‘Hi Infidelity.’ By Gary laying down You” and “Take It On The Run,” both of which that big guitar on Kevin’s ballad was him trying became #1 singles on the charts. to rock it. So he accidentally kind of stumbled When REO Speedwagon prepared to go in upon of thing.” the studio and record what would become its As a full-on rock band, REO Speedwagon enlandmark album, there was no sense that this joyed a small but loyal male audience. The power would be their career defining moment. ballads, however, gained a legion of young wom“Kevin, Gary and myself were just writing en fans beginning with “Keep On Loving You.” songs to make a good album,” Hall said. “We “You’re absolutely right about that,” said were just making another record, not doing Hall. “In fact, a lot of guys tell us they played anything different.” that song the first time they got laid.”

The band was recording the songs at Crystal For the next few years REO Speedwagon Studios in Los Angeles and Kendrun Recorders continued to score hit records with “Keep the in Burbank.

Fire Burning,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “One “We had this batch of songs and we just Lonely Night,” and “In My Dreams.”

july 2022

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music local Jonah Ross “These Days” (Self-Release) Jonah Ross, the lead singer and guitar player of Court Street Company, will unveil a new three-song EP as a solo recording artist.

Ross made a slash when his kickoff single “Close to Me” received airplay on Paul Shugrue’s “Out of the Box” program. Interestingly, the track’s hooky opening power-chord punch is reminiscent of another local band from the early 2000s—Lucky Town’s “Simple.”

Must be in the water, but, of course, there’s more to the song.

“Close to Me,” inspired by Ross’ late mother, explores about as much music territory as an indie-pop song can in the span of 3:20. You’ll find yourself clicking the “repeat” Botton.

Where “Face to Face” mirrors the melancholy soft rock of the 1970s, “Out of Touch” shuffles with a little country swing overlaid with Ross’ eerily late ’60s pop voice.

These are the days. — Jeff Maisey Allen Hudson & The Halfmoons “Summer Lovers” (Self-Release) Court Street Company guitarist Allen Hudson steps out with his namesake side-project comprised of members of Paper Aliens and the Fox & The Bear duo for this new single, “Summer Lovers.”

The jangly track comes across as equal parts shoe-gaze and The Strokes. The tune has a memorable lead vocal melody and backing vocals.

Expect to hear more from Hudson and company.

— Jeff Maisey Chris Brydge Quintet “Sun Song” (Self-Release) For his latest full-length album, acoustic bass extraordinaire and composer Chris Brydge delivers an absolutely masterful collection of serious jazz.

Having accomplished players is an added benefit with Justin Kauflin (piano and Fender Rhodes), Taylor Barnett (trumpet and flugelhorn), Alan Parker (guitar), and Emre Kartari (drums) sitting in with Brydge.

The record opens with the lengthy title track where each musicians has an opportunity to shine on a more traditional jazz direction.

“Helene’s Way” is dynamically upbeat, even a tad poppy by jazz standards. With Barnett’s horn leading the way sonic flashbacks of Chuck Mangione might illuminate the imagination. Definitely a piece with crossover appeal.

On “Eclipse,” pianist Justin Kauflin gives his instrument plenty of sustain for an a dramatically dirgy opening for what is a slow grooving piece. A lava lamp dripping color in a dimly lit room would be an appropriate visual here with guest vocalist Liz Terrell is full sultry moodiness.

“Melancholia” is pure atmospheric. “Cinque per Velia” another instrumental showcase and brilliant playing by all.

The sun shines for the Chris Brydge Quintet. — Jeff Maisey

(continued on page 40)

july 2022

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(continued from page 38)

Liz & Brydge “The Beginning Sessions” (Self-Release) As the album cover artworks suggests, these two dynamic jazz artists have been keeping the midnight oil burning late into the night this year.

Earlier this year, vocalist Liz Terrell released her solo debut to critical acclaim. Her significant other also put the finishing touches on a new album “Sun Song.”

The three-song EP “The Beginning Sessions” finds the romantic duo in a more avant garde frame of mode. “Lonely Woman” opens the studio recording in a minimalist mood with Brydge exploring the fretboard of his upright bass with Liz joining in a dramatic storytelling style.

The duo rely on bass and vocals only on each track, and its’ hard to imagine any additional instrumentation.

“My Foolish Heart” finds its rhythm in Brydge’s playing and Liz keeps melodic pace. For “You Don’t Know What Love Is” the twosome find a common space between the chaotic and the somberness to match the lyrical prose. — Jeff Maisey Infinte Flava “Get After It” (Self-Release) If you like the funky, R&B flavors of crossover-style smooth jazz you’ll love this new track from Hampton-based Infinite Flava.

The quintet lets it rip with blaring saxophone and a big-time groove that just won’t quit.

“Get After It” sounds like something right out of the 1980s. And they literally do “get after it.”

Get dancin’. — Jeff Maisey Roberta Lea “Sweet Baby Ray (Jared Farrell Remix)” (Heaven Lea Records) Early this year we presented the Veer Music Award for Song of the Year to Roberta Lea for “Sweet Baby Ray.” As an interesting alternative version, Jared Farrell has given the tune a whole different vibe in this new remixed version.

Where the original was pure pop in the mode of Adele, the altered track gives it an electronica groove with new keyboard injections, scratches and beats.

As a club version, we think it’s a fun way to appeal to a different listening audience, but it’s still hard to beat the original recipe on this one. — Jeff Maisey

july 2022

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VIRGINIA’S HISTORIC SEAPORT®

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GIGGUIDE Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion 7/29 - Kehlani 7/31 - Iration X Atmosphere 8/2 - ZZ Top 8/12 - Halestorm

Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater @ Virginia Beach 7/15 - Dierks Bentley 7/16 - Chris Brown & Lil’ Baby 7/22 - Kidz Bop Live 7/23 - Dave Matthews Band 7/30 - Jason Aldean 8/5 - REO Speedwagon/ Styx/Loverboy 8/13 - Wiz Khalifa/Logic 8/14 - Keith Urban

The NorVa 7/20 - Howard Jones w/ Midge Ure 7/23 - August Burns Red 7/30 - Mewithoutyou 7/31 - State Champs 9/1 - Chvrches 8/8 - Rise Against

Harrison Opera House 7/23 - Bob James

Elevation 27 7/16 - Dead Letter Office 7/20 - Tinsley Ellis 7/21 - Montana of 300 7/22 - Red Not Chili Peppers 7/23 - Will Overman w/ Bennett Walker Wales 7/28 - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus 7/29 - The 502s 8/2 - Drive-By Truckers 8/3 - Drivin’ N Cryin’ 8/6 - Jimmie’s Chicken Shack

Zoo Grooves

High Street Landing/Olde Towne Portsmouth 7/21 - BrassWind 7/28 - TFC Band 8/4 - Breadwine & Blooze Band 8/11 - Better By Tuesday 8/18 - Power Play Band 8/25 - J & The Band 9/1 - Revelation 9/8 - Hot Cakes

@Virginia Zoo 7/23 - Kendall Street Company w/Paper Aliens 8/20 - Fireside Collective w/ Palmyra

First Fridays Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center Courtyard 8/5 - Blue Cowbell 9/2 - The Wampler Brothers

Sunsets on the River

Ben Phelps Project performs August 6 at The Vanguard Brewpub in Hampton

Live on the Lawn @TASTE Bayville Farms Location 7/15 - Bennett Walker Wales 7/22 - The Framers 7/29 - Matt Holloman 8/5 - Eric Staab 8/12 - Lewis McGehee 8/19 - Brackish Water Jamboree 8/26 - Snackbar Jones 9/2 - Tiki Bar Band

Virginia Beach Oceanfront Concert Series 7/20 - The Movement (24th Street Stage) 7/27 - WAR (17th Street Stage) 8/10 - Blanco Brown (17th Street Stage)

Good Vibes 7/15 - Car Pools 7/23 - Hotel California

Sunset Thursdays

New Realm Summer Concert Series New Realm Brewing Company 7/14 - Who’s Bad: Michael

Jackson Experience 7/21 - Alana Springsteen 7/28 - Neal Francis 8/4 - Rehab 8/11 - Artikal Sound System 8/18 - Iya Terra/Mike Love 8/25 - Frank Ray

Music on the Lawn Series New Realm Brewing Company 7/20 - The Deloreans 7/27 - Moer 8/3 - Wonderland 8/10 - Rocky 7 8/17 - Tiki Bar Band 8/24 - Deja 8/31 - Lionsbridge

Jay Lang’s The Sundown Concert Series (Smooth Jazz) 7/16 - Jason Jackson (The Dock/Hampton Maritime Center) 8/20 - Julian Vaughn (Mill Point Park)

Downtown Hampton Live!

7/15 - Michael Clark Band (Mill Point Park) 7/16 - Jason Jackson (Maritime Center) 7/22 - Slapnation (Mill Point Park) 7/23 - Tiki Bar Band (Maritime Center) 7/29 - Lions Bridge (Mill Point Park) 7/30 - Second Rodeo (Maritime Center) 8/5 - The Fuzz Band (Mill Point Park) 8/6 - Trevor Daniel & The Reef (Maritime Center) 8/12 - Brasswind (Mill Point Park) 8/13 - Paul Urban (Maritime Center) 8/19 - Good Shot Judy (Mill Point Park) 8/20 - 21& Up (Maritime Center) 8/26 - Mike Mickxer (Mill Point Park) 8/27 - Bam Bam Betty (Maritime Center)

Hermitage Museum & Gardens 7/28 - Paper Aliens 8/11 - Ladada/Fusion Groove Band

YNOT Wednesdays Sandler Center Front Plaza 7/20 - The Gentlemen & Their Lady 7/27 - BJ Griffin Band 8/3 - Guava Jam 8/10 - The Deloreans 8/17 - The Fuzz Band 8/24 - Buck Shot 8/31 - Party Fins

Neptune Festival’s Symphony By The Sea 31st Street Park @ Oceanfront 7/14 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra 7/28 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra 8/11 - Symphonicity 8/18 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra 8/25 - Symphonicity 9/8 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Miller Jazz Series @Sandler Center (indoors) 7/21 - Jazz Meets The Beatles 8/18 - After Bebop 9/22 - Music of Burt Bacharach

Summer Breeze Series On Lawn of Museums of Colonial Williamsburg 7/20 - Slapnation 7/27 - Party Fins 8/3 - Grateful Dawgs 8/10 - USAF Heritage of America Band 8/17 - Lionsbridge 8/24 - USAF Heritage of America Band 8/31 - Bobby Black Hat Walters

Summer Concert Series at Port Warwick 7/20 - Bobby Black Hat Walters 7/27 - Tidewater Drive Band 8/3 - Celeste Kellogg 8/10 - Jesse Chong Band 8/17 - Forte Jazz Band 8/24 - Runnin’ Shine 8/31 - Right On

Suffolk TGIF @Constant’s Wharf Park 7/15 - Tumbao Salsero 7/22 - The Deloreans

Suffolk TGIF @Bennett’s Creek Park 7/29 - Buck Shot 8/5 - The Deloreans 8/12 - WOAH 8/19 - Rocky 7

GIGGUIDE 42

JULY 2022

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Big Bands on the Bay @Ocean View Park 7/17 - Khedive Notables Dance Band 7/24 - Southside Little Big Band 7/31 - Khedive Notables Dance Band 8/7 - Glen Boswick & The Sounds of Swing 8/14 - The Top Hats Orchestra

Big Pink/Victorian Station 7/21 - Open Mic w/Sandy & Ollie

Brothers Norfolk (Jazz Series) 7/21 - RaJazz Trio 8/4 - RaJazz Trio

The Vanguard Distillery & Brewpub 7/16 - Iron Lion 7/22 - Nashville Nights Band 7/23 - Bay River Band 7/29 - Take The Cake 7/30 - The Deloreans 7/31 - Goats in a Boat 8/5 - Steve Forss 8/6 - Ben Phelps Project 8/12 - Troy Breslow

Hank’s Filling Station 8/6 - Jan & Zane w/Snackbar Jones

Abbey Road 7/21 - Fixity 7/28-29 - Fixity

COVA Brewing Company 7/15 - Nick Franzitta 7/21 - Open Mic w/David Jones 7/28 - Open Mic w/David Jones

8/4 - Open Mic w/David Jones

The Bunker

7/27-31 - Don Bunch 8/2-6 - Beth Patterson 8/9-13 - Donal O’Shaughnessy

7/16 - Arise Roots 7/17 - The Stews 8/5 - The Toasters/Jackmove

Makers Craft Brewery

Scandals Live

7/17 - Red Stapler 8/5 - Amy Kaus

7/15 - Gemini Syndrome 7/17 - Jerk 7/22 - Goal Keeper w/Long Sleeves, Calling All Captains 7/29 - Lylvc w/Magg Dylan 7/30 - Yett Cleaver w/ Divided/Embrace The Oblivion 8/5 - Cody Christian (album release) 8/6 - Hey Johnny Park 8/7 - Dinosaurs in Paris 8/12 - Rootstters

Flatiron Crossroads (Gloucester) 7/23 - Soul Providers 8/6 - Cats Down Under The Stars

Big Ugly Brewing Company 7/24 - The Blue Mile 7/30 - Vince Kornegay Acoustic Trio 8/5 - Red Stapler

Froggies 7/15 - Rob White Band 7/16 - Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos 7/17 - Lassiter & The Weeds 7/21 - Love Cats 7/22 - Plastic Eddie 7/23 - The Gold Sauce 7/24 - Almost Famous 4ever 7/28 - Intangible Cats 7/29 - Tommy V Band 7/30 - Jason Cale Band

Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub 7/15-16 - Pat Garvey 7/19-23 - Mossy Moran

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Hilton Tavern 7/15 - Thru w/ Therapy 7/16 - Jim Masters 7/19 - Rusty Ancel 7/20 - Brian Bleakley 7/21 - Karl Werne 7/22 - The Virginia Shellphish Coalition 7/23 - Tribeca 7/26 - Troy Beslow 7/27 - Nick Caffacus 7/28 - Second Wind 7/29 - Rich Ridolfino 7/30 - The Bill Miles Band 8/2 - Henry Jones 8/3 - Alex Woodland 8/4 - Karl Werne 8/5 - Lana Puckett and Kim Person 8/6 - Rusty Ancel 8/9 - Troy Breslow 8/10 - Bob Wilson

Open Mic Nights Mondays - South Beach Grill Mondays - Tap It Local Tuesdays - Abbey Road w/ Doyle & Dunn Tuesdays - STUFT Open Jam Tuesdays - Winston’s Cafe w/ Joey Wood Tuesdays - Froggies Tuesdays - 501 North Wednesdays - Sunset Grill Wednesdays - Capstan Bar Brewing Co. Wednesdays - Stellar Wine Co. Wednesdays - BLVD Bistro Thursdays - Blue Ribbon BBQ Thursdays - Poppa’s Pub

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Wanna be listed?

Send band schedule to jeffmaisey@yahoo.com

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DRINK local

13 Beers of Summer Compiled by Staff

Local craft breweries have their outdoor patios and green spaces open with tents, chairs and sometime picnic tables for friends and family to enjoy this summer.

Locals and tourists alike turn out for fun conversation, community gatherings, and to taste the latest seasonal specialities and tried-n-true favorites served-up by the brew team.

Check these out for starters:

German-style pilsner. 5/1% ABV.

Benchtop Brewing Company Scaramouce Foeder-aged Czech Style Pilsner brewed with Magnum and Saaz hops and fermented with German lager yeast. 4.8% ABV.

Commonwealth Brewing Company Purppsmoke Gose Here’s a unique blend of flavors featuring blackberries, plums and vanilla beans for a soft, fruity sour, and then given a dose of smoked malt and aged in oak barrels.

Smoked beers are a new trend so you must give them one a try.

Billsburg Brewery Radler The low alcohol brew recently won the People’s Choice Award during St. George Brewing’s Lawnmower Beer Festival. Enjoy it on draft at the brewery overlooking the marina at Jamestown.

New Realm Brewing Company Beach Bounty Lime Lager Surf’s up and so is the lager with its nice, mild citrus taste to make this an easy drinking beer ideal for a Virginia summer.

COVA Brewing Company East Beach Blonde On August 6, COVA Brewing Company will unveil the winning design for its canned East Beach Blonde, part of its rebranding campaign. Fans of the brewery weighed-in by voting online. It’s an excellent summertime beer. And for our one vote, here’s the can design we selected. Can’t wait to see which design is the winner. Either way, the liquid inside sure is a big winner with us.

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Bold Mariner Brewing Company Lucky Cat Japanese Pilsner These dogs (pictured) are looking pretty hard at this canned Lucky Cat. This highly refreshing pilsner is great for hot, steamy afternoons in the shade. 5.6 ABV. Elation Brewing Larchmont Lager There’s a reason this flagship is so popular with the North Colley neighbors—it’s so damned smooth. Larchmont Lager is a

Precarious Beer Project Let It Loose DIPA According to the brew team: “We wanted to brew a beer and just see what happens. No plan at all, just going to let it loose! Threw some Azacca and Idaho 7 hops in there and lit some firecrackers.”

At 8% ABV, this is a solid sundown option on the beach or poolside.

Young Veterans Brewing Company Tino Pils Italian Pilsner The deliciously dangerous Italian Pilsner with a touch of Tarantino spaghetti western (check out the label) for your drinking pleasure.

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(continued from page 44)

The St. George Brewing Company Honey Meade Lager If you are new to the region and want to try an award-winning local beer, grab St. George’s Honey Meade Lager. It’s made with honey harvested right on the brewery grounds.

O’Connor Brewing Company Lite Beer Tastes great, less filling. Lite beer from Miller? No, silly, it’s a new lager from O’Connor that allows you to drink more without overwhelming your belly. 4.3% ABV. Alewerks Brewing Company 2022 Black Forest Okay, we’ll admit this is not a poolside beer when the temps hit 90 degrees, but the artistry that goes into this select, newly released Imperial Chocolate Stout makes it a must-have.

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As described by the brewery: “This year’s blend was a mix of year-aged and 6-month aged barrels. It’s a very balanced year for the ‘22 Black Forest as flavors all harmoniously layer on top of one another. Oak and wood notes play well with dark malt and cocoa aromatics. Sweet and sour cherries add pops of acidity to balance out the richness of the dessert-inspired recipe.”

Available in the taproom exclusively, and these will go quickly. 9.5% ABV.

Big Ugly Brewing Death By Pirate: Scurvy If you are visiting this region be warned pirates once roamed these coastal waters.

Paying homage, Big Ugly adds to its Death

By Pirate series with Scurvy, a hardy Imperial Stout aged in apple brandy/rum barrels sourced from Outer Banks Distilling. 10.2% ABV. Nice touch with the gold wax seal over the bottle cap. Best consumed during an evening thunderstorm. Argh.

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food&drink

news

Mermaid On The Move

By Jeff Maisey

Early next year, Mermaid Winery, which opened in 2012 as Virginia’s first designated Urban Winery, will move its original Ghent location to bustling downtown in the former Norfolk Taproom location at the corner of Main and Granby Street.

For founding owner Jennifer Eichert, who also operates the winery’s larger sister spot on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, the timing and climate of a booming downtown restaurant scene was irresistible.

“We have been in business for ten years and the idea for change started last year,” said Eichert. “The initial goal was to renovate the Norfolk location so we could expand the kitchen. Currently, the Norfolk location cannot match the food offerings at our Virginia Beach location due to the limitations of the kitchen’s size. We began talking to designers about the space planning and estimating the costs of the renovation. During this phase, a couple people suggested moving the Ghent location since the costs were adding up and the seating in the dining room was being reduced due to the expanded kitchen.

“When I was on Granby Street a while back, I happened to notice the For Lease sign on the former Norfolk Taproom,” she continued. “This National Historic Landmark (The Virginia Building) building is so special. It was originally a bank that opened in 1909 and the bones of this space are so interesting and you can feel the great energy.”

Mermaid is known for its wine club and offers a variety of in-house label products ranging from the sweet Pink Claw Dragonfruit and Strawberry wines to the Bordeaux-style Norfolk Express (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes), Siren’s White and Seaduxion Sparkling Rose.

Mermaid Winery in Ghent featured a warm an inviting interior design with two tasting bars, oak barrels, and seating within a flowery atmosphere.

The Ghent location also offered a large patio with comfy seating arrangements in the open air, something that may be missed, but Eichert

is planning on a solution.

“Yes, we are losing the outdoor seating in Ghent; however, we are currently working with the City of Norfolk on some outdoor seating options,” she said. “As part of the outdoor seating, we are also exploring ways to grow grapevines down there as well.”

The downtown space is stunningly beautiful on the inside with its high ceilings, warmly colored walls, and overall cozy appeal. Perfect for a romantic winery experience.

The highly visible downtown location is ideally positioned for Mermaid Winery to benefit tremendously from sidewalk foot traffic, the cluster of other quality dining establishments, post-festival revelers exiting Town Point Park, hotel and convention customers, cruise ship visitors, and luxury apartment dwellers.

“Ultimately the decision to move to Downtown was all about re-imagining Mermaid Winery,” Eichert said. “Mermaid Winery continues to evolve and we are excited to operate in this Neo Classical building. We believe that we will be part of the energy in downtown Norfolk.”

Local Breweries to Compete This year’s Virginia Craft Brewers Guild hosted Virginia Craft Beer Cup Awards ceremony will take place August 8 at Hardywood Park West Creek.

The annual statewide competition is highly competitive and Hampton Roads has been well represented in the past with Smartmouth Brewing Company’s Safety Dance pilsner and New Realm Brewing Company’s Euphonia each winning the coveted Best of Show Cup. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are presented in a certified-judged competition with more than 20 beer style categories.

Last year, Williamsburg-based Virginia Beer Company took home three medals.

july 2022

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food&drink

review

Tea is Just One Jewel in Prince Tea House’s Crown

By Marisa Marsey

When someone says tea house, what do you picture? A stiff upper-lipped British parlor, fine bone china, crustless watercress sandwiches and clotted cream?

Perhaps your thoughts race to a graceful geisha performing a centuries-old ritual or even further back to dynastic tea parties in the Forbidden City.

Whatever your answer, wings probably don’t spring to mind.

Yet at just-opened Prince Tea House, a franchise situated squarely in Virginia Beach’s Strand shopping plaza between Lidl and Christian Brothers Automotive, you can have it all—from a splendid tea replete with finger sandwiches, scones and delectable sweets to full-blown turkey sammies, fried squid tails, sweet potato fries and, yes, buffalo wings.

“It’s a mix of vibes and aesthetics,” says staffer John Botin. He points out seniors daintily sipping hot beverages while teens hang out with passion fruit slushes, mango smoothies and twister fries, grinning for Instagram shots in front of the decorative cherry blossoms. It’s a lovely setting for colleagues to socialize over lunch or for a first date (albeit a dry one, Prince serves enticing mocktails but no alcohol).

“In my free time, I come here,” admits Botin. The 19-year-old aims to work his way through the entire menu, no small feat given its near-Cheesecake Factory volume.

Scan the QR code for an astonishing array of teas, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, waffles and ice cream. “But I always seem to get the salted crispy chicken,” he says sheepishly. “I crave it. Then I smell the desserts being made…”

That might be skyscraper-high, impossibly striated green tea mille crepe cake, molten lava cake or fruit tarts. Potted plant milk teas (gussied up bobas among them) could qualify as meal-enders or afternoon pick-me-ups. Adorned with foam, mint sprigs and crushed Oreos, they’re reminiscent of playful dirt cakes in flower pots.

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The gluten-free can avail themselves of ube (purple yam) soufflé, tofu cheesecake, crème brûlée, and all the salads except for the crabmeat.

Tea House isn’t a misnomer, the requisite three-tiered stands abound (sandwiches on the bottom, scones midrange and confections such as macarons, eclairs and financiers on top), it’s just that the title undersells what Prince has to offer. Further confounding matters, the modern corporate office façade belies its elegant interior. You’ll feel you’ve been whisked off to an Asian-accented Paris or Vienna with French salon chairs, demi-circular banquettes and a relaxed, refined air. You needn’t dress up but if you feel like swapping those sweat pants for something spiffier, this could be your spot.

“It’s universal,” says Jason Jiang, whose wife Shirley Song owns this location, underscoring the multifaceted menu, influences from China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Europe and more, and the comfortable environment whatever your heritage. Seating 75, it’s available for semi-private events like bridal parties and baby showers with a screen to divide the room for groups of up to 50.

Still, Jiang acknowledges that you can’t please everyone. Like the ladies who came to tea and asked why the tables weren’t draped in white linen. Despite that omission, there’s no dearth of niceties, be it the orchids centered on each table, custom-made tea cups, candle-lit bases to keep teapots warm, and LED lighting cycling through a rainbow of colors for a magical aura.

And no nicety is as imperative as attentive service. It thrives here thanks to Botin and his teammates. Thoughtfulness extends right down to the level of sweetness in your tea; you dictate your preference as a percentage. One hundred percent is average so those with a sweet tooth ask for more, those less-inclined dip under, akin to degree of spiciness options at many Asianinspired restaurants.

And, unlike other establishments serv-

Afternoon tea, anyone? Photo courtesy of Prince Tea House VB.

ing tea (rare as they are), it’s always teatime at Prince. So whether you subscribe to afternoon tea (a.k.a. low tea, so-called because it was taken amidst low tables and settees), prefer high tea (traditionally 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Britain at the dining—or high— table) or merely get peckish in-between, you can partake here.

Of course, it could take an hour just to choose among the green, black, white, fruit and sans-caffeine tea varieties. There are 30 in all, with Longjing, cherry blossom and jasmine green tea among the most popular.

The Prince Tea House concept launched several years ago in New York City, and this is one of 11 (and counting). Along with the founding locations scattered around New York’s boroughs, others are in Philadelphia

and New Jersey, making this the southernmost outpost to date. Virginia Beach’s early embrace of such a novel chain, coming on the heels of Barcelona-based Granier European Bakery & Café opening in Hilltop several months ago (the first in the U.S. except for a few in Florida), signals our area’s vibrant multiculturalism and well-traveled population with the resultant expanded palate.

East meets West at Prince Tea House.

You’ll want to meet—and eat—here, too.

3244 Holland Road, Suite 110, Virginia Beach. 757-301-8829. Open daily from noon to 10 p.m. Most items $5-11, tea for one $28/ tea for two $54/tea for three $78. Online ordering and takeout available. princeteahouse.com

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Check out the latest addition to the Phoebus dining experience!

Drexler's Wood Fired Grill

30 E Mellen Street, Hampton

Joining these other fabulous restaurants . . .

Stuft 24 North Mallory Street

El Diablo 6 E Mellen Street

Mango Mangeaux 33 E Mellen Street

Mama Rosa's 617 E Mercury Boulevard

FoxTail Wine Bar 15 E Mellen Street

Baker's Wife Bistro 1 E Mellen Street

1865 Brewing Company 9 S Mallory Street

Scratch Bakery 36 E Mellen Street

Fuller's Raw Bar 38 E Mellen Street

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A dining choice for every palate july 2022

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dINING vegan

Love Song Hits All the Right Plant-Based Notes

By Betsy DiJulio

ambiance. The restaurant interior boasts a bohemian-boho vibe with an industrial edge appointed with appealing art and infused with a cool soundtrack. Says Hill, “We’re all Nope, like alternative pop artist, Sara heavily into art and music. Though we like to Bareilles, lilts, “I’m not gonna write you a keep everything very simple, there is lots for love song ‘cause its make or breaking this.” your eyes and we’re always adding and updatWhy? Because Virginia Beach’s new-ish res- ing. It pairs with our food and beverage.”

In the back of the slim storefront, past taurant, Love Song, open since August 2021, has already made it, with word of mouth the convivial-but-nothing-crazy bar and and social media posts spreading the love. open kitchen, is a hip, minimalist space It would be so tempting to lapse into mu- that was, when the restaurant first opened, sic metaphors to describe this unique eat- a “full-on wine shop which is built into the ery—harmonious food and wine pairings, restaurant now.” But it will soon be its own servers who never miss a beat, etc.—but separate wine bar, a “much more casual spot for a drink and a couple of snacks.” this establishment deserves better.

The June evening my gardening gourmand Sheila’s and my experience, from greetfriend, Sheila Giolitti, and I visited was unsea- ings to farewells, felt warm and unforced, sonably mild for coastal Virginia, the fading friendly, but not in that “Hello, my name is daylight taking on that silvery blueish-pink so-and-so and I will be your server” kind of tone that feels wistful and nostalgic, but ripe way. Sommelier and general manager, Britwith promise, not unlike stepping into Love tany Herlig, who trains the front of house Song. So, though the dining room and bar staff—a quartet of bartenders and trio of beckoned, a casual picnic table on the front servers (sorry, I couldn’t help myself)— patio called out more insistently. clearly knows about more than just the exTucked into an up-and-coming neighbor- clusively biodynamic wines served here. The hood on Laskin Road between Arctic and Pa- team is serious about relaxed hospitality. cific, the area has yet to be named, but exudes They are also committed to fresh, wholeits own easy walking-biking-skateboarding some ingredients that are somehow elegant “I’m not gonna write you a love song ‘Cause you asked for it ‘Cause you need one…”

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and almost ephemeral in appearance but vibrant and intense in flavor. Food here looks and tastes lighter and brighter. Perhaps it is because “farming is the backbone of everything we do here,” according to Hill. I recently caught up with him between frequent menu changes to learn more about this rare pearl of the oceanfront dining scene.

Claiming that he and chef de cuisine, Jake Heller, are “simple cooks,” he emphasized that they “let the ingredients do the talking,” avoiding any one culinary direction. So, don’t be fooled by the small shareable plates: this is not a Spanish tapas spot.

But, similarly, don’t be fooled by the term “simple;” these dishes are deceptively so.

Says Hill, who settled here after a tenure at RVA’s storied Heritage and “hopping in and out of kitchens” around the country, “Our main focus is making sure we’re dealing with the local farms and local fisherman.” He and Keller write their manageable-sized menus according to what comes in, changing some four to five items every week. “This presents more of a challenge; we are always thinking and always on our toes.” It is also more enticing for diners.

Not a vegan restaurant by any stretch, I will nonetheless go back for a handful of

vegan-friendly offerings that are “clean and focused,” not unlike Hill’s description of their wines, for which I will also return.

Hyper-seasonal, a plant-based dish gracing the menu in May was sugar snap peas with ginger, ramp vinegar, basil mint, and benne seeds. Earlier in June, another was local roasted summer squash with mustard green kimchi, chili glaze, and peanuts.

On the evening we “pulled up,” as the staff likes to say, “I started with a bowl of warm, plump, oil-slicked olives, redolent of chili and citrus. I was so smitten with the flavors and aroma that I recreated the dish a couple of weekends later for company. For dinner, I chose the mushroom tartine, a rich umami affair of pungent, toothsome, soy-soaked mushrooms atop a perfectly crisped piece of toast.

Polka dots of pea puree over the top were a pretty pastel green, both whimsical and tasty, set off by the slightly peppery crunch of impossibly thin radish shingles. This and every dish that emerged from the kitchen looked as much like an abstract painting as dinner.

With many, if not most, businesses of all kinds decrying the near impossibility of maintaining their staffs, at Love Song, Hill reports little to no turnover. Instead, he declares, “Our team is almost entirely originals since Day 1.” It’s no wonder.

WANT TO GO? Love Song, Laskin Road, VA Beach, 757.491.3205 , lovesongva.com

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food shopping

Local customers hunt and gather fresh produce at Talbot Park Farmers Market in Norfolk.

Our Favorite Local Farmers Markets Compiled By Staff

Farmers Markets are back and thriving this summer.

In Hampton Roads, our region is surrounded by and comprised of various waterways and rural communities where farming is a way of life for some.

This is great news for city dwellers and the tens of thousands of suburbanites wanting healthy food to cook and prepare at home while connecting with the people in their community how actually harvest the strawberries and bake the breads.

Here are some of our favorite seasonal popup markets we highly recommend to you.

Williamsburg Farmers Market Saturdays, 8 AM - Noon 345 W. Duke of Gloucester Street/Parking Lot 4 Colonial Williamsburg Celebrating 20 years, this is arguably the best local farmers market. Find everything from organic produce, baked goods, jams, flowers, and meats to handmade soaps, fruit, cheeses and more.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Produced by:

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july 2022

Old Beach Farmers Market Saturdays, 9 AM to 12 PM 620 19th Street Virginia Beach Vibe Creative District (Food drive June 18 benefitting JCOC) A mix of local fresh vegetables, herbs, meats, berries, handmade baked goods, pasta, soups, coffee and more.

Kings Grant Farmers Market 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 4 - 7 PM Through September 873 Little Neck Rd VB (Food drive June 16 benefitting JCOC) A mix of local fresh vegetables, herbs, meats, jams, handmade baked goods and more.

Ghent Farmers Market 1st & 3rd Fridays, 4 - 7 PM

730 Spotswood Ave @ Blair Middle School (Food drive June 17 benefitting The Food Bank) A mix of local fresh vegetables, herbs, meats, handmade baked goods and more.

Talbot Park Farmers Market Wednesdays, 3 PM - 6:30 PM 6400 Newport Avenue, Norfolk Make your Hump Day dinner special by picking up fresh-that-day ingredients for a health meal at home. Everything you need from bison steaks to eggs, veggies, breads, wine, cheese, and sauces.

East Beach Farmers Market Saturdays, 9 AM - Noon 9680 Shore Drive, Norfolk Find everything from local seafood, doughnuts, eggs, bison, cheeses, honey, vegetables and more.

Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market Saturdays, 9 AM - 2 PM 400 High Street/Court Street A mix of local fresh vegetables, herbs, peanuts, meats, handmade baked goods and more.

Sunset Grill Farmers Market Saturdays, 9 AM - 2 PM 4027 Bowdens Ferry Road, Norfolk Fresh local seafood, fruits, plants, veggies and more.

Eggleston Farmers Market Tuesdays through Sundays, 9 AM - 7 PM 110 LaValette Ave., Norfolk A variety of produce and gourmet packaged foods.

City Center at Oyster Point Farmers Market Thursdays, 10 AM - 2 PM Through September 1 701 Mariners Row, Newport News Find locally harvested peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and peaches.

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Join the Join the Mermaid Wine Club to to expand wines expandyour your knowledge knowledge ofofwines and rewards! andreceive receive great great rewards!

v

Mermaid Wine Club Benefits: Discount on food, wine, and merchandise t 15%15% discount on food and merchandise t 20% discount on reorders of your wine of club your wines for the following month v 20% discount on reorders wine club wines following t Exclusive tastingsfor the the last Wednesday and month Thursday of every month Complimentary the last Wednesday of every month t 50%tastings off in-house bottles Tuesdays from 5 – 8 PM v Discounts on bottles Mondays from t 50% off in-house bottles during Happy Hour, Monday-Friday, 4:30 – 6:30 PM v Discounts on bottles on “Sunday Nights” t Exclusive invitations to tasting events v Exclusive invitations to tasting events t Opportunity to reserve an allocation of Mermaid Wines prior to release v Opportunity to reserve an allocation of to release t Swap out bottlesMermaid to double or Wines triple up onprior your favorite!

(Excluding Petit club) Mermaid Wine Club Packages:

RedClub&- White Club- Two - ($45 monthly) t MermaidvPetit ($30 monthly) bottles monthly, one red, one white.

2 bottles of red and 1 bottle of white t Mermaid Red & White Club - ($45 monthly) - Three bottles monthly, two red, one white t Mermaid Premium Club - ($75 monthly) - Twomonthly) high-end red bottles monthly v Premium Club - ($75

2 bottles of limited high-end red wines

The Palace Station, 330 W. 22nd Street, #106, Norfolk | 4401 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach www.MermaidWinery.com

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JULY 2022

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19-28 NESTLED WITHIN THE OCEANFRONT AREA IS VIRGINIA BEACH’S

Join us for the 5th Annual ViBe Mural Festival and watch as the streets come alive with 10 large scale murals painted by 10 artists in 10 days! july 2022

www.ViBeCreativeDistrict.org

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