Community. 

We have our first look at redistricting maps drawn by Virginia’s new bipartisan committee. Rip it.

SOL scores across the state plummeted last year giving us hard evidence that learning suffered tremendously during the pandemic. Rip it. 

Project Update: Naval Station Norfolk Transit expansion. Rip it.

Norfolk Botanical Garden is expanding with a ‘Garden of Tomorrow’ and includes the Brock Parking Garden, Brock Entry Pavilion, Perry Conservatory, and the Hall Water Education & Rowing Center. Rip it. 

NSU is participating in HBCUSports Battle of the Bands and needs your vote. Rip it. 

The Grey Muzzle Organization gave $10,000 to cover dental care for senior dogs at the Norfolk SPCA. Rip it. 

Vaccines for RSV is being tested at EVMs and they need clinical participants. Rip it. 

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore opened their third food hub at the Jordan-Newby Library. Rip it. 

Former Tides manager Ron Johnson will be inducted into the Tidewater Baseball Shrine. Rip it. 

Major improvements to Virginia Beach Blvd may disrupt traffic over the coming weeks. Rip it. 

Seven Ticonderoga class Aegis guided missile cruisers are on the budget chopping block which could have local ramifications. Rip it. 

100 families in Norfolk are receiving free internet for a year to help close the connectivity gap. Rip it.

Algae blooms caused by rain runoff are threatening local shellfish and fish populations. Rip it.

ODU’s starting quarterback is still a mystery headed into their game with Wake Friday. Rip it. 

The Ocean View Little League is requesting community help after nearly $7,000 of equipment was stolen. Rip it.  

Culture.

The Return LAVA MiniFest: The Jams Strike Back. Catch the full lineup of 10+ acts that will be at Toast on September 10th. The event is likely to sell out, get early bird tickets now. Rip it. 

This Wednesday at the Norva: Clutch. Rip it.

The Poet Laureate of Virginia is looking for young poets from the region. Rip it. 

NFK Night Vespers is back at Nomads with an even better lineup than before. Rip it.

Organizers, unfortunately, had to cancel the 2021 PrideFest due to rising covid cases. Rip it.

Matt Seso’s “Life and Limb” at Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Gallery includes 13 original works by neo-expressionist painter Jean-Michel Basquiat. Rip it. 

Al Doms, Young Crazy, and Babyface Ray headline ELD Fest: A Hip Hop Carnival at Maker’s Craft Brewery on Sept 19th. Rip it. 

Local-themed Sneakers designed by guardsman Kenny Jones go on sale this week. Rip it.

It’s Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Norfolk Public Library system has a ton of great resources available to you. Rip it. 

Currently on Display:
Going Places at Nauticus. Rip it. 
Washed Ashore at Norfolk Botanical Garden. Rip it.  
Work In Progress at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens. Rip it. 
Alma W. Thomas exhibit at Chrysler Museum. Rip it. 
Racial Inequality at Offsite Gallery. Rip it. 
Homegrown at CommuneXCrop in the NEON District. Rip it.
Life and Limb at Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Gallery. Rip it. 
Fence Street Gallery in the NEON District. Rip it.
Nature Homage at d’Art Center. Rip it. 
Edward Steichen: In Exaltation of Flowers at Chrysler Museum. Rip it. 

Commerce.

SVT Robotics was recognized as a 2021 Gartner® Hype Cycle Sample Vendor for Multirobot Orchestration. Rip it. 

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Hampton Roads, Sentara, and Optima are investing $100 million in affordable housing, small businesses, and more programs in a huge new joint effort. Rip it. 

Norfolk-based TechArk Solutions has been named to the Inc. 5000 list. Rip it. 

Captain Gavin Duff is the new Commanding Officer of the USS Harry S. Truman. Rip it. 

A regional school of public health is a step closer to reality with a new agreement between NSU, ODU, and EVMS. Rip it. 

Amazon is opening a new delivery station on Sewells Point Roads as well as other locations throughout Hampton Roads. Rip it. 

Chef Sydney Meers has landed a show on WHRO titled “Cowboy Syd’s Cooking with a Southern Flame.” Rip it. 

A Women’s Equality Forum hosted by Black BRAND this week aimed to help women get the resources they need to succeed. Rip it. 

Downtown Norfolk Council contracted Streetsense to study downtown retail strategies and identified 18 strategies to move forward with. Rip it. 

Sentara and Chesapeake Regional Medical Center are at odds over the future of hospital-owned insurance plans. Rip it. 

Ahead of full marijuana legalization in Virginia, Delta-8 stores are popping up across the state. Rip it.

Retail Alliance is seeing decreased business confidence ahead of the labor day weekend. Rip it. 

ODU was awarded two grants totaling nearly $1.8 million from the NSF and NSA for cybersecurity-focused work. Rip it. 

Regional Economic Stats. Port Stats. Labor Stats.

Crowds.

**Please note that listed times are start times, many events run several hours**
Friday: 
Sunrise Yoga + Coffee at the Pagoda with Skys The Limit Yoga Co. 6:30 am. Rip it. 
Ghent Farmer’s Market at Blair Middle. 4:00 pm. Rip it. 
Ax Throwing with Killin’ Pine at Reaver Beach NFK. 4:00 pm. Rip it. 
First Friday’s in Downtown Norfolk. 5:00 pm. Rip it. 
ODU Football Watch Party at Waterside. 5:00 pm. Rip it. 
TGIF Popup at Conscious Plant. Rip it. 
Silent Disco with Stonewall Sports at The Wave. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Inconvenient Murders of the Dearly Departed Tour of Elmwood Cemetery. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
Fox and the Bear perform live at Elation Brewing. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
Lava Presents Delirious George & Paper Aliens at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Amy Kaus performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewing. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Robbin King performs live at Varia. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Norfolk Tides vs. Charlotte Knights at Harbor Park. 7:05 pm. Rip it.
The Dumpster Dudes Improv Show at Push Comedy. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Vinnie Caruana performs live at The Taphouse Grill. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
RACE at the Generic Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Late Night Ladies Ride departing Smartmouth. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
Gabriel Donohue performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
Aaron Firestone performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Loud and PROUD at the Wave. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
The Made Up Movie live at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it. 
Steal The Sky performs live at Waterside District. 10:00 pm. Rip it.

Saturday: 
Saturday Morning Adventure Ride with Local Bike Shop. 8:00 am. Rip it. 
East Beach Farmers Market on Shore Drive. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Bike and Brunch with Starving Artist Cafe. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Live Fresh Boombox Ride with Freshtopia. 10:00 am. Rip it. 
Backyard Yoga with Bhav Brigade at Hank’s Filling Station. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Big Forest Fire performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Community Gentle Yoga at OV Beach Park. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Crafted Monthly Maker Market at Coalescence. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
YOUth Matter at LGBT Life Center. 2:00 pm. Rip it. 
CVBA 2nd Annual Brew Fest at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 2:00 pm. Rip it. 
LAVA Presents Supper Dopler, Camp Howard, and Slow Packer at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 5:00 pm. Rip it. 
Andrew Alli and Josh Small perform live at the Market on Monarch. 5:00 pm. Rip it. 
Beth Turner performs live at Varia. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Norfolk Tides vs. Charlotte Knights at Harbor Park. 7:05 pm. Rip it.
Date Night at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.  
RACE at Generic Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Silent Disco at Waterside District. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
RoyalFam Work Hard Play Harder party at 3016 E Princess Anne. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Gabriel Donohue performs live at Grace O’Malleys. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
LoCo BananaZ Day 2021 at Chicho’s Backstage. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
DJ Mista Nice performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 

Sunday:

Chow.

Codex on Granby Street is coming soon and their menu is looking fantastic. Rip it. 

Carmel Miso Craft Latte at Kobro’s to kick off the weekend. Rip it. 

The Grand Funk Inquisitor, a Long Funky foeder, is coming to Benchtop Brewing. Rip it. 

Retro Modern is a “New School West Coast IPA” coming to Smartmouth. Rip it. 

Chorizo’s Tacos de Trompo are carved fresh from the trompo. Rip it. 

Every Monday aLatte Cafe donates a ton of coffee and lemonades to the CHKD team and it’s the greatest. Rip it.

Hitting First Fridays in downtown? Hair of the Dog has handheld food options for munching on the go. Rip it.

Catch Pendelum Meats at Benchtop for Oktoberfest on 9/25. Rip it. 

The Willoughby Fish House is open and the seafood pairs great with the sunsets. Rip it. 

Zeke’s Bean and Bowl in the NEON got a little refresh. Rip it.

Food Truck Sightings:
Friday:
Chesapeake Concessions at Cova Brewing. Rip it. 
The Chicken Coop at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it. 
Gavin Dishes at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it. 
Virginia Diner at Maker’s Craft Brewery. Rip it. 
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it. 

Saturday:
Hangry’s at Cova Brewing. Rip it. 
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it. 
Locoto’s at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it. 
Pitt Count BBQ at Maker’s Craft Brewery. Rip it. 

Sunday:
Bear House Coffee Roasters at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it. 
Miami Fusion at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Shawna’s Rich Eats at Maker’s Craft Brewing. Rip it. 
Lolly’s Ice Cream and Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it.
Gavin Dishes at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it. 

The Ripcurrent.

The East Beach area in Ocean View is booming, take a look at how far its come since 1937.

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. Go Hokies!