Norfolk City Council unanimously approved a $352 million FY27 capital improvement plan that funds Chrysler Hall renovations, the new Maury High School, flood protection, and road work — and, after weeks of pressure from the Equity for the East Side Coalition, restores $1 million to develop a new recreation center and library at the old Poplar Hall Elementary site. Rip it.
Norfolk Public Schools laid out Phase 2 of its closure-and-consolidation plan at meetings this week at Granby and Tarrallton elementaries — both slated to close after the 2026-27 school year, along with P.B. Young and Ghent School, drawing audible frustration from some families. Rip it.
Norfolk converted a former eighth-floor cell block in the City Jail into a full medical clinic — six exam rooms, telehealth and mental health space, and two dialysis machines that make it the only jail in Hampton Roads with on-site dialysis — for about $1.5 million, with full operations expected by summer. Rip it.
Norfolk's 15th Bike Month coincides with the rollout of the Granby Street protected bike lanes, where concrete barriers sit low enough for EMS and fire trucks to roll over but tall enough to keep regular drivers in the travel lane. Rip it.
A Sunday-night "street takeover" at Redgate Avenue and Greenway Court drew a crowd of about 75 to West Ghent, with video capturing donuts, fireworks, and a masked man wielding an apparent flamethrower; Norfolk police have asked the public to help identify those involved, and Chief Mark Talbot called the conduct "idiotic" and "life-threatening." Rip it.
Nearly a year into Norfolk's LED streetlight pause, the city and Dominion Energy are workshopping new fixture options with residents fed up with brightness, glare, and light intrusion — with no resumption timeline yet announced. Rip it.
The USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group returned to Naval Station Norfolk after 326 days at sea — the longest post-Vietnam carrier deployment in modern U.S. history — and received the Presidential Unit Citation from Defense Secretary Hegseth for operations spanning the 4th, 5th, and 6th Fleets. Rip it.
Among the Ford's returning crew was Sage, the first service dog ever assigned to a Navy aircraft carrier, who pulled the full 11-month deployment alongside the sailors she supports. Rip it.
A new state law adds Virginia to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, letting teachers licensed in member states obtain an equivalent Virginia credential — a tool that could help districts like Norfolk Public Schools, which entered this school year with a 10.7% teacher vacancy rate. Rip it.
Gov. Spanberger vetoed the cannabis retail bill, saying as-passed it lacked the enforcement structure, timeline, and resources to crack down on the illicit market, pushing any legal adult-use marketplace into 2027 at the earliest — five years after Virginia legalized possession. Rip it.
Spanberger also vetoed HB 483 and SB 271, which would have created a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, arguing similar panels in other states have proven costly and ineffective; she offered amendments calling for a reference-pricing study, but the General Assembly sent the original bills back. Rip it.
Spanberger also vetoed SB 378 and HB 1263, which would have allowed Virginia's roughly 500,000 public employees to collectively bargain over wages and working conditions, drawing accusations from unions including AFSCME and the IAFF that she broke a campaign promise. Rip it.
Spanberger signed a package of Dominion-backed energy bills that directs the State Corporation Commission to keep residential customers from subsidizing data center costs and extends Virginia's underground-power-line program through 2033 at up to $900,000 per mile. Rip it.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to pull $193 million from construction funds to cover storm-response costs and lawmaker-mandated employee bonuses, after VDOT logged about $418 million in emergency-response spending this fiscal year. Rip it.
NOAA scientists in the Chesapeake Bay are three years into a study tracking how red drum and striped bass — two of the Bay's signature trophy fish — are responding to warming waters, marine heatwaves, and extreme weather, with this winter's cold-snap fish kills underscoring the stakes. Rip it.
Sentara nurses turned a stroke-awareness lesson into costumes and coffee chats around Norfolk this week, using the BE-FAST acronym to teach neighbors how to spot a stroke and act on it. Rip it.
Old Dominion University handed diplomas to the Class of 2026 at commencement, sending another wave of graduates from Hampton Boulevard out into Hampton Roads and beyond. Rip it.
Norfolk State's Student Government Association, led by SGA President A'kiera Grant, convinced the Board of Visitors to cut the on-campus housing deposit from $300 to $200 after surveying classmates and presenting the case to university leadership. Rip it.
Lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis returned to Norfolk for a Friday weigh-in hiccup and a Saturday-night statement, taking a unanimous decision over Nahir Albright at Scope while brothers Kelvin and Keon also won — three-for-three on the Davis card. Rip it.
Norfolk State's men's track and field team won its fifth consecutive MEAC Outdoor Championship, extending one of the conference's most durable dynasties. Rip it.
ODU baseball clinched a Sun Belt Tournament berth with a big-fifth-inning win over JMU in the Royal Rivalry, then bowed out in Montgomery, falling big in its single-elimination game in Alabama. Rip it.
The Norfolk Tides split a road series with the Charlotte Knights — Jackson Holliday's ninth-inning, go-ahead homer rescued the opener before Charlotte answered with a shutout and a blowout to even things up. Rip it.
USA Today readers named Norfolk Botanical Garden's Butterfly House the best in America for the second year in a row. Rip it.
A 54-foot, five-story ladder display is on its way to Scope — see the Pilot for the story behind why. Rip it. (Editor: I couldn't confirm what this display is for via web search — flagging for review before publish.)
The Chrysler Museum's Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina — pairing two giants of mid-century abstract sculpture — closes May 31, with Beyond the Mountains: Danny Lyon's Photography in Haiti closing May 17. Rip it.
Local Ashley Anne talks coming home for her slot in this year's Patriotic Festival lineup. Rip it.
T.I., Keyshia Cole, The-Dream, and Plies will headline the third annual Cousinz Festival at Norfolk Scope Grounds on September 5, with general ticket sales opening May 1. Rip it.
All summer, the Naro Cinema is screening kids movies at daytime hours. Rip it.
Currently on Display:
Imperial Colors: Chinese Glass at the Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Rafael Soldi: Soft Boy at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Flourish: d’Art’s Annual Juried National Exhibition of Floral and Botanical Artworks at d’Art Center. Rip it.
On Point!: A National Exhibit Featuring Contemporary Embroidery at d’Art Center. Rip it.
The CAN Collection at Assembly. Rip it.
Perry Glass Art Collection at Glass Light. Rip it.
Dark Subjects, Bright Hues by Surreally Real on display at The Gallery At Elation. Rip it.
Fairwinds Landing, a 111-acre redevelopment at Lambert’s Point, plans to submit a revised application to the federal government that removes any mention of wind energy. Rip it.
Nauticus hosted an interactive maritime job fest on the downtown waterfront, giving job-seekers hands-on demos and direct conversations with shipyards, the port, and the Navy's civilian workforce. Rip it.
The Hampton Roads Regional Black Chamber of Commerce convened candidates and elected officials in Norfolk for its "Inside Politics Forum," with a focus on economic development priorities heading into the next election cycle. Rip it.
Dominion Energy announced a $67 billion all-stock merger with Florida-based NextEra Energy that would create the country's largest regulated electric utility — about 110 gigawatts serving roughly 10 million customers across four states — with a proposed $2.25 billion bill credit, 79% of it earmarked for Virginia customers. Rip it.
ODU strategic communication senior Leah Hallwirth pitched number-shaped chicken nuggets in a New Product Planning course, and Perdue ran with it: the "Six Seven Chicken Nuggets" are now Perdue's fastest product launch ever, on shelves in 3,000 Walmart stores nationwide, with Hallwirth pocketing a $5,000 check on her way to graduation. Rip it.
Virginia revenues surged in April even as the state lost jobs, landing more than $850 million ahead of forecast. Rip it.
Armed Forces Brewing Company owner Alan Beal filed a $50 million defamation suit against several locals, alleging a "coordinated" campaign of social media activity, vendor outreach, and pressure on partners forced the brewery to close over the company's anti-LGBTQ and misogynistic marketing. Rip it.
Cruise Norfolk welcomed Holland America's Volendam to the downtown waterfront with a Market Day event marking the ship's stop on its 13-night itinerary. Rip it.
Amtrak refreshed its onboard menu on trains running out of Norfolk and Newport News. Rip it.
Norfolk-based building materials and construction products company Titan America has purchased Pennsylvania-based cement manufacturer and aggregates producer Keystone Cement. Rip it.
Patriotic Festival 2026 brings three nights of country music to Scope Arena this weekend: Zach Top (Fri), Brooks & Dunn (Sat), Red Clay Strays (Sun). Rip it.
Grilled Out, the backyard ban festival with plenty of glizzies is back at Toast & Perro Blanco next month. Rip it.
Fri May 22
Norfolk Run Club Meetup at Yorgo's Bageldashery. 6:00 am. Rip it.
Sunrise Yoga + Coffee On The River at The Pagoda. 6:30 am. Rip it.
2026 Trail Beautification Days on the ERT at Elizabeth River Trail. 8:30 am. Rip it.
BH4NC 4-Man Best Ball Golf Classic Tournament at Ocean View Golf Course. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Rob De Music performs live at Benchtop Brewing Company. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Flooding Forum at Ryan Resilience Lab. 5:30 pm. Rip it.
The B.Michelle Band performs live at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Star Wars vs Star Trek at Maker's Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Nick Franzitta performs live at Afterglow Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Patriotic Festival: Zach Top at Norfolk Scope. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Art Rowe performs live at Vfw Post 4809. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Jimmy Masters & John Toomey perform live at Cafe Stella. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Vaudeville at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Goth Night at 37th & Zen. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Shagwuf / Bangzz / False Cape / Honey Pack at The Taphouse Grill. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Goth Night at 37th & Zen. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Sing to Me at Baxters on Granby at Baxters on Granby. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
Pat Garvey plays at Grace O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
Cody Stageberg performs live at Tap It Local. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Hutch performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Sharp performs live at Baxters. 9:30 pm. Rip it.
Beenie Man at The NorVA. 9:30 pm. Rip it.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun at Chichos Granby at Chichos Granby. 10:00 pm. Rip it.
Sat May 23
Morning Group Bicycle Ride at East Coast Bicycles. 7:00 am. Rip it.
Ocean View Run Club Weekend Long Run at TBA. 7:15 am. Rip it.
RBC Run at FR8 House Coffee. 8:30 am. Rip it.
2026 ERT Botanical Tours on the Elizabeth River Trail. 9:00 am. Rip it.
East Beach/EOV Farmers Market at Bay Oaks Park. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Youth Education Program: Jr Master Gardeners at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 10:00 am. Rip it.
CNC for Beginners: A Weekend Intensive at 757 Makerspace. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Live Life Fresh Boom Box Bike Ride at Freshtopia. 10:30 am. Rip it.
Toddler Yoga NFK at Sky's The Limit Yoga Co. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Grant Austin Taylor performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Space to Belong: Yoga Fundraiser for Colley Community Center at Colley Community Center. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Phenomenal Woman a Growing, Glowing and Healing Conference at Hilton Norfolk. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Lotus & Lantern Market at Pagoda Norfolk at Pagoda & Oriental Garden. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Market at Mrs. Pinkadot. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Memorial Day Weekend Beer Mile at Maker's Craft Brewery. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Mingle Smash Therapy: Break It & Let It Go at Wunderful Release Rage Room. 2:30 pm. Rip it.
Crazy DJ Music Bingo at Hank's Filling Station. 4:30 pm. Rip it.
American Legion Tidewater Comedy Show with Bobby Henline, Dewayne White, Slim, and Dennis Vee at American Legion Tidewater Post 327. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Anime Bazaar: LOOT DROP Market at Locals Marketplace. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Day shift 30+ Day Party at The Granby Theater. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Day Party & Open Mic at Granby Glow Bar. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Aaron goodvin meet and greet at The Banque. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Steven Barcynski Performing Live at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Patriotic Festival: Brooks & Dunn at Norfolk Scope Arena. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Karaoke Night at Benchtop Brewing Company. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
A Singer-Songwriters Showcase | An Evening with Karl Werne, Michael Lille, & Lewis McGehee at The Wells Theatre. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Pushing Dragons: An Improvised Dungeons and Dragons Adventure at Push Comedy Theater. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
A Night of Sonic Mayhem at The Taphouse Grill. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Pat Garvey plays at Grace O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
DJ Saint James performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Mixology performs live at Tap It Local. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Grizzly performs live at Baxters. 9:30 pm. Rip it.
DJ Fuego performs live at Chicho's Backstage. 10:00 pm. Rip it.
The Great American Bash at The Annex. 10:00 pm. Rip it.
IMPROVAGEDDON: The Deadly Rite of Spring VIII! at Push Comedy Theater. 10:30 pm. Rip it.
Sun May 24
Base Sun Up Run at Ocean View Beach Park. 6:45 am. Rip it.
Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse at Mudita Cafe & Bar. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Slow and Steady Sunday Group Ride at Slow & Steady Bike Goods. 10:30 am. Rip it.
Brian Sewell performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Vince Kornegay Performing Live At Grain at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it.
D&D One-Shot Adventures at Your Pie at Your Pie (Norfolk, VA - Ward's Corner). 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Vinyl DJ Brunch at Wasserhund Brewing at Wasserhund Brewing Company. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th and Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th and Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Derek Smith performs live at Afterglow Brewing at Afterglow Brewing. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Sammy Lee Music performs live at Benchtop Brewing at Benchtop Brewing Company. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Slow Down Sunday: Outdoor Yoga + Sound Healing at Plum Point Park. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Rock the Dock SZN 2: Ep 002 "Memorial Day" at Waterside District at Waterside District. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Traditional Irish Session at Grace O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
IRATION + TRIBAL SEEDS at The NorVA. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Patriotic Festival: The Red Clay Strays at Norfolk Scope Arena. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
2026 Patriotic Festival: Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos at Norfolk Scope. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
High Wire Act: Comedy without a Net! at Push Comedy Theater. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Miles Mulkey performs live at Grain. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Breakfast for dinner? Yeah, they’ve got it at 219 Bistro. Rip it.
Get your beverage infused with peach for that lil hit of summer at Afterglow Brewing. Rip it.
Bellarissa just dropped the hibiscus mule for all the N/A lovers out there. Rip it.
Benchtop & Movement is Medicine are brining back the I Used To Be An Athlete for the fourth year. Rip it.
Bacon kimchi bowl with a fried egg? Bonchon is definitely cooking in there. Rip it.
Why have duck one way, when you could have your duck two ways? Rip it.
Codex is growing the menu, adding some crudo to the mix. Rip it.
Lavendar lemonade is the best spring treat to pickup on the way to the beach. Rip it.
The slushis are flowing strong at Elation Brewing. Rip it.
Four Eleven just dropped a custom tonic with with bergamot, grapefruit, violet, and birch. Rip it.
Have you had a deconstructed cheesecake yet? Vanilla cheescake, lemon marinated blueberries, butter cookie crumble, but only at Lomo Pizza. Rip it.
Ron Swanson spotted in Norfolk! Rip it.
