This Week in NFK: Crime Down, Jobs Up, VT Out, Mocktails In, & YES Fest is On

Every item at Tuesday’s City Council meeting passed with unanimous approval. Rip it. 

Crime in Norfolk has fallen by 24%, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. Rip it. 

After concerns that the upcoming NFK2050 long-term city plan would be too downtown-centric, City Council created a 28-member committee to advise the process. Rip it. 

The Resilience Coordination Working Group issued its report to state legislators detailing several hurdles to more effective resilience policies. Rip it.

Norfolk saw an average of 750 911 calls per day in 2023, despite an ongoing staffing shortage. Rip it. 

ODU’s “Life in Hampton Roads” survey results say that housing affordability, childcare affordability, and quality healthcare are the biggest concerns of the region's residents. Rip it. 

Seeing a 15% increase in the price of a 2-bedroom apartment last year, For Kids, a local non-profit is fielding thousands of requests for housing assistance. Rip it. 

YIMBY Hampton Roads is hosting an event this month for those interested in political action to address the ongoing housing shortage. Rip it. 

The new HRBT Tunnel is has been bored halfway across the harbor. Rip it. 

New General Assembly representatives for Norfolk were sworn in on Wednesday as the legislative session kicks off. Rip it. 

“Skill Games,” the slot machine-like games frequently seen in convenience stores and bars, may make a comeback this year with new legislation sponsored by Hampton Roads legislators. Rip it. 

$40,000 in funds are headed for improving zoo habitats thanks to the sale of a two-year-old giraffe named Michanga. Rip it. 

Virginia Tech foot ball is expected to pull out of the series with ODU and not travel to Norfolk this fall. Rip it.

20+ bands across nearly as many genres come to ODU’s campus this weekend. It’s YES Fest, brought to you by LAVA Presents. (NFK Currents Original) Rip it. 

The Chrysler Museum of Art has earned a three-year $840,000 grant from the Art Bridges Foundation to expand access to the arts. Rip it. 

Festevents dropped the lineup for the 41st Annual Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival at Town Point Park. Rip it. 

Next week at the Naro, catch the flashback flick “Escape From New York,” a John Carpenter film. Rip it. 

The Hermitage Museum is bringing back its series “Live From The Music Room” later this month with Truetone Honeys performing. Rip it. 

Little Theater of Norfolk is currently performing a thrilling who-dunn-it. Rip it. 

Two new exhibits open at Gordon Art Galleries this week. Rip it. 

Currently on Display:
Charles Atlas: Selected Videos 1987–2015 at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Jaime Guerrero: Dendrolatry at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
“Foreign Bodies” by Rowena Finn at Offsite Gallery. Rip it.
The Dawn is Ours: Amanda Gorman Textiles from South Africa at Barry Art Museum. (Opens 1/16). Rip it.
Paintings from the Porch: Works by Jake McCord at Gordon Art Galleries. Rip it.
Concrete Ocean: Works by Leigh Merrill at Gordon Art Galleries. Rip it. 
Aubrey Schilke Artworks at The Gallery At Elation. Rip it. 

January 17th is the deadline for the upcoming 757 Angels round of investments into local startups. Rip it. 

757 Startup Studios welcomed 31 new startups in its latest cohort in Downtown Norfolk. Rip it. 

757 Build Weekend, a one weekend hackathon, comes to Norfolk in February. Rip it. 

Truck turn times at the Port of Virginia have gotten as low as 32 minutes, while industry averages can reach 75 minutes. Rip it. 

Small businesses in Downtown Norfolk are hopeful for a rush of business with Restaurant Week kicking off this weekend. Rip it. 

Kuumba Studios is the latest shop to open in Norfolk’s Selden Market. Rip it. 

Three large retail buildings on Military Highway sold for $3.3 Million. Rip it. 

Kitchenfinity, a new restaurant in town, is giving back to the Marine Corps community services. Rip it. 

A local candle company has a new partnership with a the Pharrell-led non-profit organization, YELLOW. Rip it. 

Recent reports of racial disparities in mortgage loan lending at Navy Federal Credit Union bring attention to ongoing bias at mortgage lenders. Rip it. 

Rite Aid is closing at least 17 stores in the 757. Rip it. 

ODU is tapping in to additional revenue streams by opening up fitness facilities to the public (with membership). Rip it. 

Biscuit Belly, a brunch restaurant, is the latest business to join the Lambert’s Point Railyard development. Rip it. 

5 new maritime-related grant opportunities just dropped, with over $1 billion in available funds. Rip it. 

A temporary deactivation of local Coast Guard facilities could have ripple effects on the regional economy. Rip it. 

The Hampton Roads Association of Commercial Realtors will host a 2024 Economic Forecast presentation next week. Rip it. 

Breeze Airways announced new nonstop service to San Diego, with fares as low as $129. Rip it. 

Initial unemployment claims in the region were down 31% in December compared to December 2022. Rip it. 

January 30th: “The Rent Is Too Damn Pie,” a free pizza social for folks interested in housing policy in the 757. Rip it. 

The Norfolk Kickback returns with a packed house of local innovators, creators, and more. Rip it. 

January is jam-packed with music at Elation Brewing. Rip it. 

Restaurant Week kicks off this Saturday in Downtown Norfolk. Rip it.

Making rough and tough resolutions? Consider joining Norfolk Storm, our local women’s rugby team. Rip it.

Sky’s The Limit is running a special deal for folks ready to dive into a 2024 full of yoga. Rip it. 

Friday:
Norfolk Run Club Friday Meetup at Yorgo’s. 6:00 am. Rip it. 
Art Matters: Eyes of the Storm at Chrysler Museum. 10:30 am. Rip it.
The Boys in the Boat at Naro Cinema. 2:30 pm & 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
ODU Gym Open House - Open to the Public. 4:00 pm. Rip it. 
Family Movie Night at Kroc Center. 5:30 pm. Rip it. 
Universal Combat Center Grand Opening. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Swing Hard Golf Simulator at Smartmouth Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Jacob Vanko performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Wine Dark Sea performs live at Elation. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
Carlin Field performs live at Gershwins. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Open Mic at Maison Soleil. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
The Muse Neighborhood Jam at Muse Writers Center. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
The Holdovers at Naro Cinema. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Red Stapler Duo performs live at OV Beach Taver. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Tales from the Campfire at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Jon Phenomenon performs live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Breaking Benjamin: Unplugged at the Norva. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
But Why Bump Off Barnaby at Little Theater of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Mossy Moran performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
Vince Kornegay Trio performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 

SATURDAY:
Dry January Support Group at Vessel Coffee. 6:00 am. Rip it. 
Weekend Long Run with Ocean View Run Club. 7:15 am. Rip it. 
Send It Saturday Morning Group Ride with East Coast Cycles. 8:00 am. Rip it.
Fairy & Gnome Winter Homes at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 10:00am. Rip it. 
KrocFit ‘24 Health & Wellness Expo at Kroc Center. 10:00 am. Rip it.
American Cornhole League Regional at Harbor Club. 10:00 am. Rip it. 
Live Life Fresh Boom Box Bike Ride at Freshtopia. 10:30 am. Rip it. 
Peace & Pints: Bhav Brigade Yoga at Smartmouth Beer. 11:00 am. Rip it
Big Forest Fire performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Second Saturdays Art Pop-Up at Chrysler Museum. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Disney Lorcana League at Atlantis Games & Comics. 12:00 pm. Rip it
Ballet Virginia “Cinderella” Auditions. 1:30 pm. Rip it. 
Shen Yun performed live at Chrysler Hall. 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm. Rip it
Dry January Mocktail Crawl in Chelsea Business District. 3:00 pm. Rip it. 
Steve Gudasz performs live at Gershwins. 5:00 pm. Rip it.
YES FEST 2024 at Old Dominion University. 5:00 pm. Rip it
757 Comic and Cartoon Creators at The Muse Writers Center. 5:30 pm. Rip it. 
AEW Collision makes its Virginia Debut at Chartway Arena. 5:00 pm. Rip it
Macrame Art Party at Elation Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it
Frank Sings Frank at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
The Brightsmiths perform live at Elation Brewing. 6:30 pm. Rip it
Loose Roots, Fuzzcoat, & Ward’s Pocket at Norfolk Taphouse. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Preacher Lawson performs live at at Attucks Theatre. 8:00 pm. Rip it
But Why Bump Off Barnaby: A Mystery Farce at Little Theatre of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Umphrey's McGee performs live at The NorVA. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Jack Thomas performs live at Gershwins. 8:00  pm. Rip it. 
Billy Crystal Fingers spins live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
The Unusual Suspects: An Improvised Murder Mystery at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it
Mossy Moran performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
DJ Sdot performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Second Saturday Stand-Up-Grad Show at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it

SUNDAY:
Intersectional Feminist Book Club at Eleanor’s. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Street Photography Meetup in Downtown Norfolk. 10:00am. Rip it. 
Robbie Meade performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Winter Market at Afterglow Brewing. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Vegan Health and Wellness Expo at Scope Arena. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Showgirls of the South Drag Brunch at 37th & Zen. 12:30 pm. Rip it.
Bhav Brigade Yoga at Sky's the Limit. 1:00 pm. Rip it
The Dead of Winter at Benchtop Brewing. 1:00 pm. Rip it. 
Kids Smores Days at Hank’s Filling Station. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
But Why Bump Off Barnaby: A Mystery Farce at Little Theatre of Norfolk. 2:30 pm. Rip it
Blues Jam at Cova Brewing. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Music Bingo at Reaver Beach NFK. 4:00 pm. Rip it
Barricade performs live at Willoughby By The Bay. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Tommy Douros performs live at Gershwins. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Va Symphony Orchestra: A Tribute to MLK Jr. at 2nd Calvary Baptist Church. 7:00 pm. Rip it
Hampton Roads Mutual Aid Meet-up at Eleanor’s. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Troy Breslow performs live at Grain. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
Shen Yun performed live at Chrysler Hall. 7:30 pm. Rip it

Coco Jam is hosting a special “Carbie Sundays” Caribbean brunch at the General Public this weekend. Rip it. 

Ramen Night at Stockpot is now Monday, with the same steamy warm broth. Rip it. 

The pasta at Blanca is looking beyond comforting. Rip it. 

Brunch has returned to Coach House on Colley Ave. Rip it. 

Swordfish has made its way to the Capo Capo restaurant week menu. Rip it. 

Omar’s doesn’t miss, especially on Restaurant Week, now featuring an incredible Bucatini pasta. Rip it. 

It’s not too early to think about Valentine’s Day. Why not make it vegan with Grandiflora? Rip it. 

Soft shells are back and on a bun at Our People’s Soulful Seafood. Rip it. 

Get your Reaver Beach beer now on Toast … errr.. Well beer jelly. Rip it. 

Elvis inspired the latest grilled cheese at GCB. Rip it. 

Food Truck Sightings:
Friday:
Nacho Libre at Cova. Rip it.
Revery Food Truck at Reaver Beach. Rip it.
Hades Wood Fired at Benchtop. Rip it.
Shawna’s Rich Eats at Afterglow. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
lil’za Pizzaria at The Veil. Rip it.
Bakehouse at Elation Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.

Saturday:
Shawna's Food Truck at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Cova. Rip it.
Flippin Hangry at Reaver Beach. Rip it.
Krazy Trompos at Benchtop. Rip it.
Winter Market at Afterglow. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
lil’za Pizzaria at The Veil. Rip it.
Bakehouse at Elation Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.

Sunday:
Los Birria Bros Taco Food Truck at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.
Los Birria Bros & Big Belly at Cova. Rip it.
In Between The Bunz at Reaver Beach. Rip it.
Sour Street Pizza at Benchtop. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
lil’za Pizzaria at The Veil. Rip it.
Bakehouse at Elation Brewing. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.