Community.
Captain Janet Days makes history this Friday as she assumes the duties as Naval Station Norfolk’s 51st commanding officer. Rip it.
FEMA’s rollout of new flood insurance rates determined by a “black box algorithm” is making it difficult for homeowners to account for future costs. Rip it.
The regional transportation planning body is hosting public open houses on new infrastructure to connect Norfolk to the peninsula, including a 564 connector. Rip it.
After 5 years, the I-264 I-64 interchange construction is complete. Rip it.
Military Circle Mall is officially closed after 52 years of service to the area. Rip it.
A Department of Education miscalculation is expected to leave school districts in the region with millions in budget shortfalls. Rip it.
The Youngkin administration has asked the General Assembly to provide funds to cover the Department of Education error with budget amendments. Rip it.
Virginians have 60 days to weigh in on whether the Commonwealth should stay in the RGGI, which has paid out over $523 million to the state so far. Rip it.
Congressman Bobby Scott, who represents Norfolk, is pushing for the passage of the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.” Rip it.
A book detailing massive resistance by Andrew Heidelberg, one of the Norfolk 17, was released this month. Rip it.
Republicans in the House of Delegates defeated a bill that would have reigned in Virginia’s lax campaign finance laws. Rip it.
A bill sponsored by Del. Angelia Williams-Graves that would give police the power to seize illegally ridden ATVs and dirt bikes made it out of committee and heads for a vote in the General Assembly. Rip it.
Despite well-publicized failings of the unemployment system during the pandemic, a plan to overhaul the appeals process did not get much support. Rip it.
The state may limit the retention of license plate reader data to one month. NPD announced the rollout of license plate readers just weeks ago. Rip it.
The final beam of the Elizabeth River Project’s new Resilience Lab was laid this week off Colley Ave. Rip it.
George Homewood, Norfolk’s Planning Director, is abruptly no longer working for the City after violating the American Planners Association ethics code. Rip it.
The community lost a leader this week when Charles Kirtland passed away. His role in the LGBTQ community was immense, and he will be missed by many. Rip it.
Culture.
An EVMS ensemble cast of students and faculty presents The Vagina Monologues next week. Rip it.
A locally produced film explores how movies have taught us how to pray. Rip it.
Dozens of bands are set to play at YES FEST, a collaboration between ODU and LAVA Presents. Rip it.
ODU writers and game designers are coming together to put storytelling and digital design together. Rip it.
What the heck is a crankie? Find out at Sam Bartlett: Low Stakes, Plywood Cutouts & Everyday Comix. Rip it.
A $10,000 open call to artists for a mural and performance event project in Norfolk closes on Feb 22. Rip it.
ODU is hosting its first-ever Short-Film Fest on February 17th. Rip it.
Norfolk’s Original Indie Comix Expo returns this Saturday with a massive lineup of creators. Don’t miss the collectible glasses too. Rip it.
Assembly’s new residency program is looking for changemakers who have demonstrated impact and have important missions. Rip it.
To See a World in a Grain of Sand at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
The Great Exhibition: Bébés at the Barry Art Museum. Rip it.
Commerce.
New population data published by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service show that most cities in the region have declined in population since 2020, with Norfolk losing 2,167 people. Rip it.
MacArthur Mall is up for sale as part of loan default proceedings. It was last purchased at $181.3 million. Rip it.
Metronet, a competing internet provider to Cox Communications, is now available in the first neighborhoods in Norfolk, with more to come. Rip it.
Cordish Cos, the parent company of Waterside District, is a part of a push for casino development in Fairfax County. Rip it.
Applications to 757 Startup Studios are now open. Accepted founders can get 6 months of free office space, 25 weeks of programming, and more. Rip it.
Martin’s Cafeteria, where longtime business Martin’s Soul Food took over the former K&W Cafeteria, is now permanently closed. Rip it.
Harrison’s Moving stepped up to help REACH, a local non-profit, move from its Military Circle home. Rip it.
Strome Center for Entrepreneurship has released the lineup for its speaker series. Rip it.
The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity opens applications for the Scaling For Growth” program this March. Rip it.
Hotel revenue per available room was up 9.4% last year. Rip it.
Naughty By Norfolk Champion Hoodie
Naughty By Norfolk Paper Bag Koozie
Crowds.
Brick by Brick Lego Shipbuilding comes to Half Moone Cruise Terminal on Saturday. May the best bricklayer win. Rip it.
Lift Every Voice, a celebration of Black women composers, lights up the Goode Fine and Performing arts center this Saturday and Sunday. Rip it.
Social Cycling NFK is hosting a bike swap at the Veil on January 28th. Rip it.
Commonwealth Comedy brings improv to OV later this month. Rip it.
FRIDAY:
Norfolk Run Club Friday Meetup. 6:00 am. Rip it.
Classical Conversations at The Chrysler Museum. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Writers Coffee Break with The Muse at Cafe Stella. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Moon Tide Food Truck Popup at Assembly. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Tanya Bhasin School Board Member Office Hours at Blocker Family Y. 11:30 am. Rip it.
Mass Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic at The Wave. 4:00 pm. Rip it
Steve Link performs live at Cova Brewing. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Full Moon in Leo Moon Circle at Kindred Spirit. 6:00 pm. Rip it
Amy Kaus performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
TBMA Bluegrass Jam at Roosevelt Area Civic League. 7:00 pm. Rip it
Joe Gosman performs live at Grain. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Soil Series Part II: Limestone Vineyards at Vino Culture. 7:00 pm. Rip it
Kendall Street Company performs live at Chicho’s Pizza Backstage. 7:00 pm. Rip it
Open Build Night at 757 Makerspace. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Admirals v Trois Riviéres Lions at Norfolk Scope. 7:05 pm. Rip it
RuPaul’s Drag Race Episode 6 Viewing Party at The Wave. 7:30 pm. Rip it
Va Stage Co performs The 39 Steps at Attucks Theater. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Phyrexia: All Will Be One Prerelease at Atlantis Games & Comics. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Love Me Tinder at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Friday Night Magic: Commander at Atlantis Games & Comics. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Iola’s Letter performed live at Little Theatre of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Demons, Prayer Group, Copperhead, Wandcarver perform live at Norfolk Taphouse. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
Mossy performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
Friday Night Karaoke at TNT Sports Tavern. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
Sketchmageddon! The Ultimate Sketch Comedy Competition at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it
SATURDAY:
Weekend Long Run at Ocean View Run Club. 7:15 am. Rip it
Send It Saturday Morning Group Ride at East Coast Bicycles. 8:00 am. Rip it.
Winter Garden Clean Up at Downtown Community Garden. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Creative Connections with Va. MOCA & Work Program Architects at Assembly. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Hot Glass Heart Class at Chrysler Museum Glass Studio. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Brick by Brick Lego Shipbuilding at Half Moone Cruise Terminal. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Galentine’s Day Drag Brunch at Waterside District. 10:00 am & 1:30 pm. Rip it
Intro Rolled Fondant Cake Class Wine & Cake Hobbies. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Live Life Fresh Boom Box Bike Ride at Freshtopia. 10:30 am. Rip it.
Black Business Brunch Expo at Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Winter Psychic Fair 2023 at Kindred Spirit. 11:00 am. Rip it.
BigForestFire performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it.
DIY Seaglass Valentine’s Day Card Workshop at Nauticus. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Yugioh TCG Premiere Event: Photon Hypernova at Atlantis Games & Comics. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
2nd Annual Febtoberfest at COVA. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
NOICE 2023! Norfolk’s Original Indie Comix Expo at Smartmouth Beer. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Vince Kornegay performs live at COVA Brewing Company. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th & Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Celtic Slow Session at 1331 Armistead Bridge Rd. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
The Essence of Heart & Soul Festival at Slover Library. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Va Stage Co performs The 39 Steps at Attucks Theater. 3:00 pm & 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Yoga + Wine Tasting with Vino Culture at Sky’s The Limit Yoga Co. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Chris Ride performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Beth Turner performs live at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Admirals v Trois Riviéres Lions at Norfolk Scope. 6:05 pm. Rip it
Love is in the Air Comedy Show w/ Natalie Cuomo & Dan Lamorte at The Granby Theater. 6:30 pm. Rip it.
Saturday Night Yugioh at Atlantis Games & Comics. 6:30 pm. Rip it.
Lift Every Voice: Music of Black Women Composers at Goode Performing Arts Center. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Lisanne Lyons performs live at Attucks Theatre. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Va Stage Co performs The 39 Steps at Attucks Theater. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
MJ’s Eleventh Anniversary Party. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Date Night at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Chris Rock Ego Death World Tour 2023 at Chrysler Hall. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Mossy performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
OK performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
Crime Line w/ Mystery Girl perform live at Norfolk Taphouse. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
Saturday Night Karaoke at Pizza Chef. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
MonoMania! The Completely Crazy Improvised Play at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it
SUNDAY:
Hot Glass Heart Class at Chrysler Museum Glass Studio. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Yogi Winter School at Sky’s The Limit Yoga Co. 10:15 am. Rip it.
Slow-Mo Sunday Group Ride at Local Bike Shop NFK. 10:30 am. Rip it.
Yoga on Tap at Reaver Beach Norfolk. 10:45 am. Rip it.
Codex Brunch with Kobros. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Dustin Furlow performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Viewpoints with Deborah Wallace at ODU Goode Theater. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Musical Improv 201 at Push Comedy Theater. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Interscholastic Planetary Book Fair at The Veil. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Bumbling Beetz Urban Market at Benchtop Brewing. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Derek Smith performs live at Benchtop Brewing. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Pokemon Open Play at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
MTG Modern Sunday at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Derek Smith performs at Benchtop Brewing. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th & Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Living Succulent Driftwood Centerpiece Workshop at Reaver Beach Norfolk. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Black History Tour with The Urban League. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Va Stage Co performs The 39 Steps at Attucks Theater. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Tour de ORF Bike Ride departing from Smartmouth Beer. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
The Kick Ball & Awards Show at Baxter’s. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Lift Every Voice: Music of Black Women Composers at Royster Presbyterian Church. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Amy & Regina perform live at SunSet Grill. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Restorative Yoga + Hot Stone at Sky’s The Limit Yoga Co. 5:30 pm. Rip it.
Hollywood, Teach Us to Pray screening at The Naro Cinema. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Koffin Kats, Krank Daddies, Mr. Fang, & Tthe Darktones perform live at NFK Taphouse. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
G. Love & Special Sauce + Donavon Frankenreiter at The NorVA. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Rob White performs live at Grain. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Chris Rock Ego Death World Tour 2023 at Chrysler Hall. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Chow.
Crepes are coming with flavors inspired by your favorite Parisians at Cafe Genevieve. Rip it.
Willoughby Fish House is whipping up Cafe Du Monde coffee and beignets for Mardi Gras. Rip it.
Farro bowls, oat bowls, and big ol’ salads are on the way to Vessel as they work on their menu. Rip it.
Wine club for the coolest garden cats is back at Grandiflora Wine Garden. Rip it.
Looking for the perfect cheesy Valentine’s Day gift? Virginia Cheese Co has you covered. Rip it.
The coconut and vanilla heavy Hornswoggler dropped at The Veil this week. Rip it.
The latest tasty treat from Empowered Plant Cakes will leave you walking on Cloud 9. Rip it.
Barbacoa tacos with smoked jalapeno salsa are perfect weekend treats at Redwood Smoke. Rip it.
New brews coming soon: Afterglow is staffing up. A sign that their opening isn’t far off. Rip it.
Food Truck Sightings:
Friday:
Ghost Kitchen & Weng’s Kitchen at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it.
Hades Wood Fired at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it.
Bakehouse Pizza at Elation Brewing. Rip it.
Saturday:
Miami Fusion & Sour Street Pizza at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Kobro’s, O’s, & Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it.
Bakehouse Pizza at Elation Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-Q at Bold Mariner Brewing. Rip it.
Sunday:
The Bumbling Bee, Oh My Cod, and Sour Street Pizza at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it.
NFK Dad Hat
Norfolk Snapback
Paul Stetson Rice
Chelsea, NFK
Paul is the creator of NFKVA.com. He was born and raised in Norfolk, graduated from Virginia Tech, and narrowly avoided law school. Chat with him about economics, entrepreneurship, hip-hop, and hiking. When he's not working on five different projects, you'll catch him sharing a beer with friends at a local brewery.