Community.

Norfolk Currents launched Citizen Club this week to bring you more of what you love from us. (NFK Currents Original) Rip it.

Plum Point Park is a mysteriously named gem of a park, and you can help keep it beautiful. (NFK Currents Orginal). Rip it.

Residents from Norfolk’s southside neighborhoods feel left out of the Army Corp plan to mitigate Norfolk’s flooding. Rip it.

There are three finalists for Norfolk’s police chief. Residents can read their interview answers and submit their own questions and feedback. Rip it.

The Norfolk School Board delayed their vote on the 2023-24 operating budget of $498 million with compensation increases and new security equipment. Rip it. (View the budget presentation here.)

HRT is hosting public meetings to discuss the future of light rail in Norfolk four times over the month of March. Rip it.

The City of Norfolk’s Eviction Prevention Program will resume taking requests on April 1st, with assistance maximums halved from their previous amounts. Rip it.

The City of Norfolk revealed improvements to the Cedar Grove parking lot ahead of the cruise season, including lined spots, new lights, and cameras. Rip it.

City Council got a presentation from a consulting group on addressing housing affordability in Norfolk. Rip it.

Local school boards are raising the alarm about pandemic-induced learning loss, causing some students to lose as much as two years of instruction time. Rip it.

Military families have a new program available to them to help fill developmental gaps in children caused by permanent station changes. Rip it.

Tidewater Workers Assembly members protested Norfolk Southern’s handling of coal dust in Lambert’s Point amidst the company’s crisis in Ohio and ongoing air quality studies in Norfolk. Rip it.

Organizers with New Virginia Majority are asking the City of Norfolk for police call towers in Young Terrace and Calvert Square. Rip it.

A car damaged by a City of Norfolk trash truck is exposing the questionable use of an arcane sovereign immunity law. Rip it.

ODU’s Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced the launch of the Resilient and Adaptable Communities Partnership Wednesday with $1.5 million in funding. Rip it.

Four major healthcare groups are urging the approval of new restrictions on hemp-derived THC products in Virginia. Rip it.

As EVs become more popular, Virginia firefighters will be required to complete training on extinguishing electric car fires, which are “very stubborn.” Rip it.

Small modular nuclear reactors, which could significantly reduce greenhouse emissions in Virginia, have been under lots of debate in Richmond. Rip it.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott is sponsoring a bill to start a new Workforce Pell Grant to help pay for education programs that lead to good jobs but not degrees. Rip it.

The Elizabeth River got an unexpected donation of 2.5 million gallons of sewage last Friday. Rip it.

NSU was defeated by Howard in the MEAC Men’s Basketball Championship game at Scope last weekend. Rip it.

Culture.

Something in the Water dropped the festival’s musical lineup with an apparent alien theme. Rip it.

KODO, an exhilarating traditional Japanese drum performance, comes to Chrysler Hall this weekend. Rip it.

Virginia Stage Company performs the delightful Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous at the Wells Theater all weekend. Rip it.

Everett Johnson’s fashion brand S3KTION8, inspired by Young Park, is set to be featured in several major films this year, and his team has been nominated for Emmy and Grammy awards. Rip it.

Istoria and 757 Collective are hosting a fundamentals of photography workshop on April 2nd. Rip it.

Lori Pratico is bringing a rad installation to d’Art Center’s vault. Rip it.

The Contemporary Arts Foundation hosts Conversations in Art at Assembly on the 22nd. Rip it.

Mamalarky, Pet Name, & Shormey come to Smartmouth’s Warehouse this Tuesday. Rip it.

Bato, No Uniform, Payload, and Homemade Speed rock Norfolk Taphouse. Rip it.

Tyler Donavan dropped Kabigon, a new single. Rip it.

Shelly’s (formerly known as DRAM) is back with 3’s Company. Rip it.

Currently on Display:
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.
Match Prints by Mike Watts Design at The Gallery at Elation. Rip it.
Timeless Art in a Changing World at Gallery 21. Rip it.
“Blue Musings” by Hanna Kirby at Offsite Gallery. Rip it.

Commerce.

Amtrak ridership in Norfolk grew by 160.1% from Jan 2022 to Jan 2023, going from 12,007 riders to 31,226 riders. It had the most riders of any Virginia route. Rip it. 

Norfolk International reported its busiest February in history, with a 13.5% jump from last February. Rip it. 

Get a peek of how the Business Compliance Unit operates across the city. Rip it. 

Water bills are rising faster than inflation in the region, in part because of a federally-mandated program to pump water back into underground aquifers. Rip it. 

The SCC, the regulators for Virginia’s energy utilities, will see some major overhauls this year on the back of new legislation. Rip it. 

Norfolk-based WB Marketing’s parent company has acquired a majority interest in Virginia Beach-based marketing and communications firm Meridian Group and will merge the two into one agency. Rip it. 

A federal bill to retire 11 U.S. Navy vessels could have economic impacts on the region, with around 1,500 sailors being impacted. Rip it. 

Advance Integrated Technologies (AIT) is investing $500,000 in its local location and hiring at least 70 additional people. Rip it. 

Sentara Leigh is investing $6 million to expand their Maternity center as they hit over 3,000 babies annually. Rip it. 

Sentara opened a community care center inside the Union Missions Ministries shelter and has reduced EMS calls by 80%. Rip it. 

The recent MEAC tournament at Scope brought thousands of visitors to Norfolk businesses. Rip it. 

Business owners who sell CBD and Hemp products say they may have to close in the wake of new legislation. Rip it. 

TowneBank leaders assured costumes that the bank was safe as regional banks across the country handled the fallout of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failures. Rip it. 

The pet photography studio in MacArthur Center is closing as it chose not to renew its lease. Rip it. 

The Elizabeth River Project’s new headquarters is progressing nicely. Rip it. 

The region’s residential real estate market continues to cool off, even as seasonal trends show an uptick from January. Rip it. 

NSU was ranked as the Number 1 “Military Friendly” small public university by G.I Jobs Magazine. Rip it. 

SVT Robotics is working to show NPS students what it is like working in STEM. Rip it.
Regional Economic Stats. Port Stats. Labor Stats.

Crowds.

SheFest at Smartmouth on Saturday features an All-Womxn-Owned vendor market and six bands. Rip it.

Ocean View Beach Tavern is taking over the whole back alley for a St. Patrick’s Day parade party. Rip it.

Nauticus is hosting a 21+ After Dark video gaming event with DJ Joe Fu on the 23rd. Rip it.

Festevents dropped the Ocean View Beach Park summer lineup. Rip it.

LAVA MiniFest is back at Toast with 9+ bands next month. Rip it. 

FRIDAY:
Norfolk Run Club Friday Meetup at Yorgo’s Bageldashery. 6:00 am. Rip it
St. Patrick’s Day at Cova Brewing. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Val Little performs live at Grace O’Malley’s 2023. 11:30 am. Rip it
St. Patrick’s Day at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 11:30 am. Rip it
13th St. Patty’s Day Anniversary Weekend Celebration at O’Connor Brewing Co. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Don Bunch performs live at Grace O’Malley’s 2023. 4:30 pm. Rip it
The OV Beach Tavern St. Paddy’s Day Weekend 2023. 6:00 pm. Rip it
Family Twilight Trek at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 6:00 pm. Rip it
Rosewood Hollow performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Left to Rust performs live at Cova Brewing Company. 6:00 pm. Rip it
Sound Advice performs live at Sunset Grill. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Admirals v Wheeling Nailers at Norfolk Scope. 7:05 pm. Rip it
Champions Of Magic performing live at TCC Roper Theater. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous at the Wells Theatre. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
The English Beat performs live at The NorVA. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Shamrocks & Shenanigans: S!CK!CK at Waterside District. 8:00 pm. Rip it
War of The Worlds performed live at Little Theater of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
The JAM! With Lemon Pepper & Sazon at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Rhythm Live! at Harrison Opera House. 8:30 pm. Rip it
Glasgow Kiss performs live at Grace O’Malley’s 2023. 8:30 pm. Rip it
Friday Night Karaoke at TNT Sports Tavern. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
Harold Night: Norfolk’s Best Improv Comedy Teams at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it

SATURDAY:
Kegs & Eggs at Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse. 8:00 am. Rip it
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
Seating Area Construction at Downtown Norfolk Community Garden. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Monthly Nature Walk at Weyanoke Nature Sanctuary. 9:00 am. Rip it.
4th Annual APP-A-THON at Norfolk State. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Plum Point Park Beautification Day. 10:00 am. Rip it
End OV the Rainbow at Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse. 10:00 am. Rip it
56th Annual Norfolk Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Ocean View. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Intro to Meditation at Slover Library. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Women-Owned Business Brunch Expo at Tucker Memorial Library. 11:00 am. Rip it
BigForestFire Solo performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it
St. Patrick’s Day Parade After Party at Ocean View Fishing Pier. 11:00 am. Rip it
Maker’s Anniversary Party Weekend. 11:30 am. Rip it
Live Life Fresh Boom Box Bike Ride at Freshtopia. 10:30 am. Rip it
Spring Fling Equinox Celebration at Velvet Witch. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
St. Patrick’s Day at COVA: Party after OV Parade. 12:00 pm. Rip it
ED Talk: The Metaphysics of Videogames and the Good Life at Nauticus. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Scotch & Rye – Post-Parade Party for St. Patrick’s Day! at Waterside District. 12:00 pm. Rip it
St. Paddy’s Celebration at Benchtop Brewing Company. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Suspect Band performs live at 1st View VFW. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Art in Motion: Free Art Demos at d’Art Center. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Runnin’ Shine performs live at Cova Brewing. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Plastic Eddie performs live at Club 60 in OV. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th & Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Red Stapler Duo at Ocean View Fishing Pier. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Project Flow Rider Group Ride and Charity Event at Smartmouth Beer. 2:00 pm. Rip it
SheFest at Smartmouth Beer. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Champions Of Magic performing live at TCC Roper Theater. 2:00 & 7:30 pm. Rip it.
A Girl Noticed Workshop with Lori Pratico at d’Art Center. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
James Ford Experience performs live at Mona Lisa’s. 2:30 pm. Rip it.
March Muscle Car Madness at Doumar’s. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous at the Wells Theatre. 3:00 pm & 7:30 pm. Rip it.
An Evening in Red, Celebrating the Women Clergy of Norfolk at the Kroc Center. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Introduction to Tarot at Mystic Moon of Norfolk. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Yoga & Candle Making at Sky’s The Limit Yoga Co. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Calamity Jane performs live at Cova Brewing. 4:00 pm. Rip it.
Willow Bellevue Book Launch at The Muse Writers Center. 4:30 pm. Rip it.
The Irish Drinking Band at O’Connor Brewing Co. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
The Bay Rats perform live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
Band of Consenting Adults performs live at Bold Mariner. 5:30 pm. Rip it.
Murder Mystery Dinner at The Granby Theater. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Neon Glow Party Kids Night Out at Outside the Lines Art Studio. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Steve Link performs live at Ocean View Fishing Pier. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Admirals v Wheeling Nailers at Norfolk Scope. 6:05 pm. Rip it.
Allegra Duchaine performs live at Elation Brewing. 6:30 pm. Rip it.
Saturday Night Yugioh at Atlantis Comics & Games. 6:30 pm. Rip it.
Swing Dancing at Coalescence Coffee. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Aaron Lewis 2023 Acoustic Tour at Chartway Arena. 7:30 pm. Rip it
Pushing Dragons: An Improvised Dungeons and Dragons Adventure at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
War of The Worlds performed live at Little Theater of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Generic Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Randall Goosby performs live at the Attucks Theatre. 8:30 pm. Rip it
Glasgow Kiss performs live at Grace O’Malley’s 2023. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
Gerald & Marc perform live at East Beach Bar and Grill. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 at Waterside District. 10:00 pm. Rip it
Pushing Dragons After Party at Push Comedy Theater. 10:30 pm. Rip it.

SUNDAY:
American Cornhole Org Regional at Waterside District. 9:00 am. Rip it.

Slow-Mo Sunday Group Ride at Local Bike Shop NFK. 10:30 am. Rip it
Yoga on Tap at Reaver NFK. 10:45 am Rip it
Engage Norfolk 2023 at Scope Arena. 11:00 am. Rip it
Goat Yoga at Benchtop Brewing Company. 11:00 am. Rip it
Dustin Furlow Performs Live at Grain 11:00 am. Rip it
Elated Market at Elation Brewing. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Pokemon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Pre-release at Atlantis Games & Comics. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Meet the Maker: Greg La Follette at Vino Culture. 12:30 am. Rip it
Privateer Press Game Night at Atlantis Games & Comics. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Protection 101 Class at Kindred Spirit. 1:00 pm. Rip it
World Street Soccer Pickup Game at The Veil. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
MTG Modern Sunday at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Sunday Funday: Board Game Night at COVA. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch at 37th & Zen. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Weekly Pokemon League at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Illusions The Drag Queen Show at EZ Inn. 1:30 pm. Rip it.
Poetry Open Mic: Melodic Movement at Mudita Cafe. 1:30 pm. Rip it.
Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous at the Wells Theatre. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
Champions Of Magic performing live at TCC Roper Theater. 2:00 & 7:30 pm. Rip it.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Generic Theater. 2:30 pm. Rip it
War of The Worlds performed live at Little Theater of Norfolk. 2:30 pm. Rip it.
Patrick’s Well performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Ostara Celebration at Aries Apothecary. 5:30 pm. Rip it
Hot Girl Walk with City Girls Walk at Sarah Constant Beach. 5:30 pm. Rip it. 
NFK Cold Plunge at 28th Bay Street. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
KODO: One Earth Tour Tsuzumi at Chrysler Hall. 8:00 pm. Rip it
The Nascar Jones Show at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it

Chow.

Citizen Club members get $1 draft beers at Reaver Beach and $1 drip coffee at Cafe Mudita for the month of March. Rip it.

The Veil and Va Cheese Co teamed up for a unique cheese and beer tasting event this week. (NFK Currents Original). Rip it.

Get corned beef and cabbage sliders at Cafe Mudita this Saturday after the parade. Rip it.

Sour Street Pizza has moved to all-organic flour for its sour bread pizza dough. Rip it.

Blue Ribbon BBQ has “armadillo eggs” every Wednesday. Rip it.

Want to build your sensory palate for improved wine tasting? Crystal Palate has the perfect event for you. Rip it.

Bacon and quail eggs … in fondue. Only at Virginia Cheese Co. Rip it.

Yorgo’s is rolling out the green bagels this weekend. Rip it.

Blanca is showing off with the newest menu item: flounder with Carolina Gold rice, winter squash, and absinthe. Rip it.

Tortillas are always made in-house at Perro Blanca. Rip it.

El Deportista brings Norfolk Guatemalan fare for the whole fam. Rip it.

Green buns and shamrock shakes are showing up at Redwood Smoke this weekend. Rip it.

Press 626 has taken the humble shrimp and grits and elevated it to a whole new level. Rip it.

PB&J mead has landed at The Birch Bar. Rip it.

Taco Tuesday is back at Omar’s Carriage House. Rip it. 

Food Truck Sightings:
Friday:
Ghost Kitchen, Big Belly, & Boomerang Dishses at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Hot Boxx at Maker’s Craft Brewery. Rip it.
Hades Wood Fired at Reaver Beach NFK. 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:
Gavin’s and Shawna’s Rich Eats at Maker’s Craft Brewery. Rip it.
Cast Iron, Weng’s, Hangry’s, and Courtney’s Kitchen at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Boomerang Dishes at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it.
Pendulum Fine Meats at Benchtop Brewing. Rip it.
BussDown Boils & Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-Q at Bold Mariner Brewing. Rip it.
Bakehouse Pizza at Elation Brewing. Rip it.

Sunday:
Miami Fusion at Cova Brewing. Rip it.
Flippin’ Hangry at Reaver Beach NFK. Rip it.
Hot Boxx at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 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.

Catch a glimpse of the energy at YES Fest at ODU last weekend.