🌊NFK Weekly Edition: Housing Commission, Debates, Economic Contraction, Hackensaw Boys, FYI, & more.

Norfolk City Council passed a resolution to establish the Mayor’s Housing Commission, a new advisory body charged with conducting a comprehensive study of Norfolk’s housing needs. Rip it.

Candidates for Commonwealth’s Attorney debated in an Ocean View forum this week. Rip it.

West Ghent Civic League hosts a forum for candidates for Commonwealth’s Attorney on Tuesday. Rip it. 

The state of Virginia has placed a historical marker at Attucks Theater recognizing it as the “Apollo of the South.” Rip it.

Virginia's U.S. Attorney has announced the creation of a task force focused on investigating illegal debanking practices. Rip it.

TFC Recycling will now be able to accept clean and dry paper cups, paper bags, paper containers, drink carriers, and food and beverage cartons for recycling. Rip it. 

The former Spirit of Mount Vernon was christened as the new Spirit of Norfolk this week. Rip it.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads is offering its free "757 Sober Ride" service for Cinco De Mayo. Rip it.

NSU's School of Business is launching an introductory course on gaming management as casino operations join the local economy. Rip it. 

ODU engineering students are helping a local kindergartner with custom prosthetics. Rip it. 

The military is updating the way it handles drones flying over US bases after a drone incursion at a local military base. Rip it.

The USNS Robert E. Simanek (T-ESB 7), the Navy’s newest ship, is the first expeditionary sea base variant of the Expeditionary Transfer Dock platform and arrives in Norfolk this week. Rip it. 

The Norfolk-based USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) lost a F/A-18E Super Hornet (est. cost $70 million) and a tow tractor Monday. Rip it.  

The Norfolk Department of Public Health is warning the community about a rise in syphilis with a new campaign. Rip it. 

Doctors are reporting strokes in patients as young as 8 around Hampton Roads. Rip it. 

For the second consecutive season, the Norfolk Admirals are moving on in the ECHL playoffs facing the Trois-Rivières Lions in the North Division Finals. Rip it.

The Minnesota Lynx have signed Norfolk State’s Diamond Johnson to a training camp contract. Rip it. 

The Hackensaw Boys are bringing their bluegrass and “holler music” to the Annex to celebrate 20 years of jamming it up. Rip it. 

More than 12,000 students went to see the Virginia International Tattoo at Scope Arena last week. Rip it. 

Carrie Brockwell, a Virginia native and rising star in the country music scene, is returning home for a special performance at Norfolk’s Granby Theater on Wednesday, May 14. Rip it. 

The Virginia Symphony has announced their 2025-2026 season lineup with Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Beethoven, and the music of Harry Potter. Rip it.

Currently on Display:
Oaxaca Central: Contemporary Mexican Printmaking at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Greta Pratt: Jamestown is Sinking at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Framing the Expanded Field: Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty at Chrysler Museum.  Rip it.
Joyce J. Scott: Messages at Chrysler Museum.  Rip it.
Out Of The Box: a Barbie Doll Retrospective at Barry Art Museum. Rip it. 
Carved Couture: 18th-Century British Wooden Fashion Dolls at Barry Art Museum. Rip it. 
Andy Harris - Little Flowers that Follow Me Everywhere at d’Art Center. Rip it.
Flourish: A Juried National Exhibition of Floral & Botanical Artworks at d’Art Center. Rip it.
The CAN Collection at Assembly. Rip it. 
MAMA-Girl! At Gordon Art Galleries. Rip it.
Perry Glass Art Collection at Glass Light. Rip it.
Kimberly McKinnis‘ “Pattern, Play, Repeat” at Offsite Gallery. Rip it. 
Watercolors by H. Anderson at The Gallery At Elation. Rip it

University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center forecasts that the Virginia economy will contract in 2025 and lose about 30,000 jobs. Rip it. 

Dominion Energy's Q1 earnings surged 46.5% to $646M, beating Wall Street's expectations. Rip it.

Newport News Shipbuilding will help build two additional Virginia-class submarines for the U.S. Navy. Rip it.

The Norfolk Airport Authority has appointed Melinda Montgomery as the new Vice President and COO. Rip it. 

JetBlue had its inaugural flight from Norfolk International Airport this week, as the new air service starts up. Rip it.

The commonwealth’s average pay rate for educators remains stagnant compared to other states, according to the latest salary report published by the National Education Association. Rip it.

Old Dominion University held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for its new $184 million biological sciences building, which will be its biggest capital construction project ever. Rip it.

Amid a decline in overall enrollment at ODU, the campus is seeing an increase in “adult learners,” who enroll in their late 20s or later. Rip it. 

ODU has introduced its own AI Chatbot, called Monarch Mind. Rip it. 

The price of tuition at ODU is going up 3% this year. Rip it. 

Regional Economic Stats.

Cousinz Festival announced Jeezy, T-Pain and Lil Kim as headliners for the August 31st event in Norfolk. Rip it.

The Spring Wine Fest is Sunday. Don’t forget to pack a picnic. Rip it. 

Downtown Norfolk Council has announced a lineup of events through the summer that includes free ice cream, happy hours, networking, and more. Rip it.

Fri May 2
Norfolk Run Club Meetup at Yorgo's Bageldashery. 6:00 am. Rip it.
Garden Artists May Series at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Ghent Farmers Market at Blair Middle School. 4:00 pm Rip it.
Oh My Cod Vegan Seafood Popup at Benchtop Brewing. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Bike Night at the Virginia Zoo. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Opening of Edge Effect: Student Response Exhibit at Elizabeth River Project Ryan Resilience Lab. 5:30 pm. Rip it.
Italian Alpine Wine Dinner at Todd Jurichs. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Roc Solid Foundation Night for the Fight at Chartway Arena. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
First Fridays in Chelsea at Chelsea Business District. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Facing the Gallow, the Last Cow at Elmwood Cemetery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Eric Staab performs live at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Paul Urban performs live at Afterglow Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Annual Mother's Day Glass Sale at Chrysler Museum of Art. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Friday Night Live Music at COVA Brewing Company. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Art Rowe performs live at Willoughby Fish House. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Kiera's Current Obsession: Alsace at Vino Culture. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Tobias Cortez at Brother's. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Drum Circle at Mystic Moon of Norfolk. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Friday Co-Lab:Zyde- Collab at First Lutheran Church of Norfolk. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Chris Staples & Feign Kin / indie folk at Union Overall Co. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
TX2 with Dark Divine at The Annex. 7:45 pm. Rip it.
Evan Honer at The NorVA. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Girl-Prov at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Zack Fox (DJ Set) at The NorVA. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Goth Night at 37th & Zen. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Donal O'Shaughnessy performs live at Grace O'Malley's Irish Pub. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
DJ Hutch performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
Joe Heilman performs live at Tap It Local. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
The Comedy Sketchbook at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it.

Sat Apr 26
Ocean View Run Club Weekend Long Run. 7:15 am. Rip it.
Send It Saturday Morning Group Ride at East Coast Bicycles. 7:15 am. Rip it.
Step Up and Step Out for The Up Center 2025 at Harbor Park. 8:00 am. Rip it.
Neighborhood Yard Sale and Lemonade Stand at Larchmont-Edgewater neighborhood. 9:00 am. Rip it.
East Beach/EOV Farmers Market 2025 Grand Opening at Bay Oaks Park. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Storybook Tea Party at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Live Life Fresh Boom Box Bike Ride at Freshtopia. 10:30 am. Rip it.
LIVE GREEN NORFOLK: A Celebration of Community & Sustainability at Lafayette Park. 11:00 am. Rip it.
2025 Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival at Town Point Park. 11:00 am. Rip it.
DJ GPP performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Digital Art Portfolio Workshop - May at d'Art Center. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Fantastical Worlds: A Writing Group For Speculative Fiction at The Muse Writers Center. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Granby Street: A Downtown Norfolk Walking Tour in Downtown Norfolk. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
2025 Beltane Ritual at Mystic Moon. 4:30 pm. Rip it.
Crazy DJ Music Bingo at Hank's Filling Station. 4:30 pm. Rip it.
Patio party at Legrand. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Foster Beauty Fashion Show Spring 2025 at Virginia Zoo in Norfolk. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Kiera's Current Obsession: Alsace at Vino Culture. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
B.Michelle performs live at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
World Ballet Company: The Great Gatsby at Chrysler Hall. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Sapphic Saturday's Presents: Pop Princess at 37th and Zen. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Darren Kiely - Never Been Here Before World Tour at The Annex. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Matisyahu performs live at The NorVA. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Date Night at the Push Comedy Theater at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Bingo De Mayo! at The OV Beach Tavern. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Donal O'Shaughnessy Plays at Grace O'Malley's Irish Pub. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
DJ Aone performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Baby Brett performs live at Tap It Local. 9:00 pm. Rip it.

Sun Apr 27
DJ Hollywood performs live at Grain. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Slow and Steady Sunday Group Ride at Slow & Steady Bike Goods.. 10:30 am. Rip it.
Self Care Sunday at Sky’s the Limit Yoga Co.. 11:30 am. Rip it.
Floral Design 101: Learning the Basics at d'Art Center. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Board Game Sunday's at COVA Brewing Company. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Kiera's Current Obsession: Alsace at Vino Culture. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th and Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Rage Quit Game Tournament at Maker's Craft Brewery. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Tour de ORF at Smartmouth Beer. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Favorite Stories of Cedar Grove Cemetery Tour at Cedar Grove Cemetery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
John Moreland at Perry Pavilion. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Joe Gosman Band performs live at Grain. 7:30 pm. Rip it.

Blueberry Crumble Latte with real blueberries on top? Slow down Cova, we’re not ready. Rip it.

Classic diner meatloaf, courtesy of your favorite diner: D’egg. Rip it. 

This weather calls for spring-spiced reposado tequila, Drambuie, house grenadine, lime, and ginger beer. Wonder where I can get that. Rip it.

Your mom wants brunch at Glasslight, so do that for Mother’s Day. Rip it.

Grain now has tacos, specifically, of the chicken variety. Rip it. 

Socialize and taste wine with the Grandiflora folks. Rip it.

Boozie coffee flight featuring lucky charms, PB&J, and toasted almond, just rolled out at Hair of the Dog. Rip it.

What’s a shimeji mushroom? Idk but you can get it on toast with escargot at Ilo. Rip it.

First Sunday of the month means the Kobros Codex brunch is back in action. Rip it. 

Hot dogs at one of Norfolk’s best restaurants, this Saturday. Rip it.

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