This Week in NFK: MiniFest, Hexagonal, Comedy, PoetFest, Meltdown, and more.

by | Apr 14, 2023

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Community. 

The Norfolk NAACP and other citizens called for the termination of the City Manager at this week’s Council meeting following the unusual Police Chief hiring process. Rip it.

City Council voted to accept $1 million in funding for a real-time surveillance center for the Norfolk Police Department. Rip it.

Check out the temporary casino site plan that popped on an industry publication. Rip it.

The City of Norfolk has been selected to participate in the CityStart initiative with a focus on racial wealth equity with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. Rip it.

City Council delayed a vote on a resolution asking the Army Corp to reevaluate the storm risk management plan’s impact on southside neighborhoods. Rip it.

Natural disasters in Virginia are expected to increase by 140% over the next two decades. Rip it.

School districts across the state continue to face problems finding bus drivers. Rip it.

HUD is giving Norfolk and Newport News $15 million for public housing in Tidewater Gardens. Rip it.

Rep. Scott secured 850,000 for workforce development funding in the latest Omnibus Appropriations Act. Rip it.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to make protesting outside the residence of a judge illegal failed to make it past the General Assembly yesterday. Rip it.

The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) is opening its Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Tax Credit Program waitlist for a limited time. Rip it.

ODU to host The Virginia Science and Engineering Fair. Rip it.

The Norfolk VA Chapter of the Links in Friendship, Connected in Service (LINKS) will award three Virginia college students with scholarship money. Rip it.

Norfolk man wins $1 million dollars from a scratch-off ticket. Rip it.

Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center announced a mobile pantry for pets in need. Rip it.

Norfolk Botanical Garden’s bonsai collection is out of storage and ready for visitors. Rip it.

Norfolk’s Keyshawn Davis extended his perfect score to 8 victories this week. Rip it.

Culture.

Feign King finds his footing and joins the lineup at Lava MiniFest on Saturday. (NFK Currents Original). Rip it.

Acid Dad stops at Smartmouth’s Warehouse on their national tour later this month. 
Rip it.

Romantic Meltdown is ready to heat up the Chrysler with the Symphony. Rip it.

Warm weather means monthly art tours are back in the NEON District. Rip it.

Hexagonal by CAN lands at Assembly later this month. Rip it.

The Coastal Plein Air Art Festival will have its last festival later this month. Rip it.

Antwan “Big Boi” Patton from the legendary hip-hop duo Outkast, is coming to the NorVa in Norfolk. Rip it.

The 2023 Harborfest music lineup was announced. Rip it.

The Boathouse music venue would have turned 40 this year. Rip it.

A Dedication is being held for a new sculpture honoring The Norfolk 17 and The Lost Class of 1959. Rip it.

Taste of India: From Fabrics to Fashion coming to Chartway Arena. Rip it.

Naro Minded is back with Police Story on April 27th. Rip it.

Smartmouth hosts a SITW Pregame with Norf MSN, Gemz 757, Marv P, Andre Love, and more. Rip it.

Khi Infinite dropped a new single: “Lights Please,” featuring Pusha T and Chase B. Rip it.

Currently on Display:
The Sloane Collection at The Hermitage. Rip it.
Ninth Annual Wearable Arts Exhibition at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Facing Ourselves: Mike Disfarmer and the American Portrait at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Barbara Earl Thomas: The Illuminated Body at the Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Sam Bartlett: Low Stakes, Plywood Cutouts & Everyday Comix at Gordon Art Galleries. Rip it.
PERSPECTIVES: Modern and Contemporary Glass at the Barry Art Museum. Rip it.
The Great Exhibition: Bébés at the Barry Art Museum. Rip it.
“Blue Musings” by Hanna Kirby at Offsite Gallery. Rip it.

Commerce.

Norfolk Wood Shop is crafting its place on Colley Ave. (NFK Currents Podcast) Rip it.

Unemployment in the region is dropping below the national average. Rip it.

ODU’s Strome College of Business trained City of Norfolk employees on the agile methodology. Rip it.

Barrel 17 is possibly opening a new location on 21st Street. Rip it

Mercy O, a boutique atelier, is opening in the Palace Shops on 21st Street. Rip it.

Ghost kitchens, which do business only via delivery apps, are concerning state regulators by being “invisible” to health departments. Rip it.

Jon Elliot opened Creoteric, a new commercial real estate firm in Norfolk. Rip it.

The Hampton Roads Business Roundtable and Reinvent Hampton Roads have merged to form the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable. Rip it.

Construction on the Military Highway Bridge Rehabilitation Project begins next week. Rip it.

Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital was among the top three nursing facilities in Virginia, according to Newsweek. Rip it.

Magazine Jukebox won the Chamber’s “Top to Watch” award and the Tech Tribunes’ #2 Top Tech designation. Rip it.

March saw a 30% increase in residential housing sales compared to February. Rip it.

Regional Economic Stats.Port StatsLabor Stats.

Naughty By Norfolk Black Koozie

Naughty By Norfolk Paper Bag Koozie

Crowds.

Join DJ Canrock at Harbor Park before every Friday game this season. Rip it.

LAVA MiniFest takes over Toast with nine indie acts this weekend. Rip It

Reaver Beach is planning a banger 2nd Anniversary for its Norfolk brewery. Rip it

The 70th Annual Norfolk NATO Festival International Parade marches downtown on April 22nd. Rip It

Quit Whining! Wine Fest will be back at Town Point on May 6th. Rip It

Norfolk’s massive Harborfest is back and better than ever on June 9th. Rip it.

FRIDAY:
Norfolk Run Club Friday Meetup at Yorgo’s Bageldashery. 6:00 am. Rip it
Norfolk Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale at The Hermitage. 10:00 am. Rip it.
ODU Jazz Open Clinic at Diehn School. 10:00 am. Rip it. 
ODU Jazz Choir Open Rehearsal at Chandler Hall. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
March of the Machine Prerelease Friday 3:00pm. Rip it
Ghent Farmers Market Grand Opening at Blair Middle. 4:00pm. Rip it
Petition Writing at Aries Apothecary. 6:00 pm. Rip it
Facing the Gallows – The Last Walk at Elmwood Cemetery. 6:00 pm. Rip it
Learn To Sail at Nauticus. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Poet Fest 757 at the Venue on 35th. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Cody Browning performs live at Benchtop Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Cecilee performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
TomKat performs live at Ocean View Fishing Pier. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Family Twilight Trek at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 6:30 pm. Rip it
Nadia Koz Trio performs live at Elation Brewing. 6:30 pm. Rip it
Class with Kiera: Wines of Washington State at Vino Culture. 7:00 pm. Rip it
Student Theater: “Into The Woods” at Norfolk Collegiate. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Philadelphia Ballet: Swan Lake at Chrysler Hall. 7:30 pm. Rip it
Conor Malone performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
ANGEL on EROS Special Encore at TRDance Center. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Tales from the Campfire at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it
imprOV: NFK’s Night of Comedy in Oceanview at Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Henry V performed live at Virginia Stage Company. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Friday Night Magic: Commander at Atlantis Games & Comics. 8:00 pm. Rip it
DAPZAM performs live at Hermitage Museum and Gardens. 6:15 pm. Rip it
TA Gatling performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Teacher’s Pet – Improv Comedy Show at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it
Rock N Roll High School *Naro Night Owls* at Naro Cinema. 11:00 pm. Rip it

SATURDAY:
Weekend Long Run at Ocean View Run Club. 7:15 am. Rip it
Grand Opening East Beach Farmers Market. 8:00 am. Rip it
Send It Saturday Morning Group Ride at East Coast Bicycles. 8:00 am. Rip it
Weyanoke Monthly Nature Walk. 8:00 am. Rip it
Cleanup at Stockley Gardens Park. 9:00 am Rip It
Special Waste Collection Event at Norview High School. 9:00 am. Rip it
Goat Yoga at COVA. 9:00 am. Rip it
Hot Girl Walk departing from Stockley Gardens. 10:00 am. Rip it
Battleship Wisconsin’s 79th Birthday at Nauticus. 10:00 am. Rip it
Forest Lawn Tree Tour at Forest Lawn Cemetery 10:00 am. Rip it
Spring Work Day at The Plot. 10:00 am. Rip it
Slover Chess Club at Slover Library. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Live Life Fresh Boom Box Bike Ride at Freshtopia. 10:30 am. Rip it
Flow and Flight at Sky’s The Limit Yoga Co. 10:45 am. Rip it
Lil Roar Cat Rescue Adoption Event at PetSmart. 11:00 am Rip it
ODU Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. 12:00 pm Rip it
2023 Jay Ducote Jambalaya Tour Stop at O’Connor Brewing. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Mercury in Retrograde Prep at Kindred Spirit. 12:30 pm. Rip it
Drag Bingo at MJ’s Tavern. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Art in Motion: Free Art Demo at d’Art Center. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Freelife hosts Sober Singles Social at Cova Brewing. 1:00 pm. Rip it. 
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th & Zen. 1:00 pm. 
Rip it
Pucker Up! Sour Festival at Smartmouth Beer. 2:00 pm. Rip it
I Love the 90’s Bash Bar Crawl at Waterside District. 3:00 pm. Rip it
LAVA MiniFest at Toast. 4:00 pm. Rip it
Adult Night at The Virginia Zoo. 4:00 pm. Rip it
Michael Clark Band performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 5:30 pm. Rip it
Nate Sacks performs live at Benchtop Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Cottage Core Earring Making at Aries Apothecary. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Saturday Night Yugioh at Atlantis Games & Comics. 6:30 pm. Rip it
Fixity performs live at Elation Brewing. 6:30 pm. Rip it
Philadelphia Ballet: Swan Lake at Chrysler Hall. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Henry V performed live at Virginia Stage Company. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
Orville Peck at The NorVA. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Pushing Dragons: Improvised DND Adventure at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Conor Malone performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
JAG Duo performs at Grain 9:00 pm. Rip It

SUNDAY:
Yoga and Tai Chi at The Gym Downtown. 10:00 am. Rip it. 
Afrobeats Jubilant Flow at Get Welll Soon. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Slow-Mo Sunday Group Ride at Local Bike Shop NFK. 10:30 am. Rip it
Yoga on Tap with Sky’s The Limit at Reaver Beach NFK. 10:45 am. Rip it
Mimosas and Heels at Public House. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Goat Yoga at Benchtop Brewing. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Pup and a Pint at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 12:00 pm. Rip it
GamerBus Sundays At Nauticus. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Elated Market at Elation Brewing.12:00 pm. Rip it
Tidewater Classical Guitar Open Stage at Cova Brewing. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
MTG Modern Sunday at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it
March of the Machine Prerelease at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Dry Land performs live at Elation Brewing. 1:00 pm. Rip it 
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th & Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Norfolk Weekly Pokemon League at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Sunday Funday: Board Game Night at COVA. 1:00 pm. Rip it
GypSea Roots Artist Meet & Greet at Boush St. 2:00 pm. Rip it
Jazz at the Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library. 2:00 pm. Rip it
Young Lion performs live at Mona Lisa’s Reggae Deck. 2:00 pm. Rip it. 
Henry V performed live at Virginia Stage Company. 2:00 pm. Rip it. 
Philadelphia Ballet: Swan Lake at Chrysler Hall. 2:30 pm. Rip it.  
Sunday Supper & Wine Tasting at Press 626. 3:00 pm. Rip it. 
ODU Jazz Residency Free Concert at Chandler Hall. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Tying the Knot: Knot Magic For Handfastings at Aries Apothecary. 4:00 pm. Rip it
Art Rowe performs live at Sunset Grill. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Courtney LeBlanc Book Launch and Q&A at The Muse Writers Center. Rip it. 
The Nascar Jones Show at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it

Chow.

Grab a free taco every single day from Sanctuary when you’re a member of Citizen Club. Rip it. 

Razzo is bringing Italian heritage to an incredible historic firehouse. (NFK Currents Original) Rip it.

First peak at lunch from the Codex kitchen. Rip it. 

Espresso Tonics and warm sunny days are the perfect combo. Rip it.

$6 Chicken sandy with fries? Killer deal at Our Peoples. Rip it.

Ocean View Fishing Pier is serving up a nacho dog, and it’s barking up the right tree. Rip it.

Commune Provisions is serving up the Asparagus Tartine with a house-made Hollandaise. Rip it.

There’s no way to avoid being cheerful with the colorful spring cocktails from Stockpot. Rip it. 

 Come for the tacos, stay for the blueberry cheesecake parfait from Lolas. Rip it.

Easter pies from La Brioche are just what the bunny ordered. Rip it.

Get your eggs sunny side up with a sunny smile at Glass Light Hotel. Rip it.

Lamb Chops at Prime 255 are looking luscious. Rip it.

Food Truck Sightings:
Friday:
Weng’s Kitchen at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Boomerang Dishes at Maker’s Craft Brewery. Rip it.
Hades Wood Fired at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it.
Lil Aunties at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-Q at Bold Mariner Brewing. Rip it.
Bakehouse Pizza at Elation Brewing. Rip it.

Saturday:
Boomerang Dishes at Maker’s Craft Brewery. Rip it.
Team Fat Kid & Ghost Kitchen at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Moontide at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it.
757 Laos Street Food at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-Q at Bold Mariner Brewing. Rip it.
Bakehouse Pizza at Elation Brewing. Rip it.

Sunday:
Boomerang Dishes at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it.
Smokin’ J’s at Maker’s Craft Brewery. Rip it.
JMT Vegan Eats at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-Q at Bold Mariner Brewing. Rip it.
Bakehouse Pizza at Elation Brewing. Rip it.

The Ripcurrent.

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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.