This Week in NFK: Growth, Campaign Finance, Mockingbird, Debundling, Mocktails, Bad Movies, and more.

The region is growing slower than other parts of Virginia, while the total number of people aged 20-34 has declined around .5%. Rip it. 

$700K is coming to ODU for green infrastructure and nature-based designs to address flooding in five Southside neighborhoods. Rip it. 

Tunnel tolls are officially higher as the new year kicks off with new rates. Rip it. 

Urgent Care facilities in the area have seen an increased patient volumes in the past week, with particularly high levels of respiratory illnesses. Rip it. 

The City’s public health office is looking for residents to complete this survey on community health. Rip it. 

A new report from Virginia Tech says that sinking land may endanger more than half of East Coast infrastructure. Rip it. 

Norfolk-based naval ships were involved in stopping attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea this week. Rip it. 

A push for more restrictive campaign finance laws is coming to Richmond again, after several failed past attempts. Rip it. 

Beaches east of 21st Street Bay will be closed for three months for sand replenishment. Rip it. 

$5 million in federal funds are being delivered to Virginia schools. Rip it. 

The ERT needs volunteers for a litter pickup and beautification later this month. Rip it. 

To Kill a Mockingbird is set to run for two weekends at Chrysler Hall. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 

Commonwealth Comedy’s sold out show “Live From Norfolk” returns to Generic Theater on January 20th. Rip it. 

Try your hand at ceramics and throw down some clay at d’Art Center on third Fridays. Rip it. 

Check out the brand new Visual Arts School at the Hermitage with a Get Well Soon Meditation. Rip it. 

Virginia Opera is bringing the Virginia premiere of “Sanctuary Road,” a production inspired by the Underground Railroad to the region soon. Rip it. 

Gospel is coming to the Virginia Symphony next month. Rip it. 

Later this month “Dial M for Muder” comes to the Wells Theater. Rip it. 

Auditions are opening up for Virginia Stage Company and NSU Theatre’s rendition of “The Three Musketeers.” Rip it. 

Coming soon to Gordon Art Galleries: Concrete Ocean. 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.
Aubrey Schilke Artworks at The Gallery At Elation. Rip it. 

By debundling larger City contracts, more minority-owned businesses have won contracts with the City. Rip it. 

Eleanor’s Bookstore has made the move to structure the company as a co-op. Rip it. 

A warning to small food businesses in Norfolk, you’re social media posts will be held against you by state regulators. Rip it. 

RISE is preparing to launch another innovation challenge and they want your input. Rip it. 

There’s a new boss in Virginia’s cannabis industry, but sales are still limited to medicinal uses. Rip it. 

Researchers from the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at ODU have been awarded a $1.15 million DOE grant to enhance the College’s modeling and simulation undergraduate program. Rip it. 

Technology developed in the region is going to the moon, as apart of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service set to launch on January 8th. Rip it. 

Local retailers say the holidays were a mixed bag, with some seeing increased sales, while others were down. Rip it. 

Applications for the third round of facade grants from the City of Norfolk open on January 15th. Rip it. 

Regional Economic Stats. Labor Stats.

Grab a cocktail while supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates at Town Point Club on January 10th. Rip it. 

YELLOW is back with another community conversation at Assembly this week. Rip it. 

Next Weekend, YES Fest lands at ODU with Butcher Brown, Horse Jumper of Love, Demons, Sunny “& Gabe, and more. Rip it. 

Are you a boss at Wii Bowling? Well, there’s a whole league to show off your skills coming to OV Beach Tavern. Rip it. 

It might be cold, but Farmer’s Markets aren’t gone yet. Afterglow Brewing is hosting a winter market. Rip it. 

RNB Block Party is back at Scope on February 17th with an 8 DJ lineup. Rip it. 

FRIDAY:
Norfolk Run Club Meetup at Yorgo’s. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
First Fridays Sunrise Yoga at the Elizabeth River Project. 6:30 am. Rip it. 
Writers Coffee Breaks with The Muse at Cafe Stella. 10:00 am. Rip it. 
KinderSTEM at Mary D Pretlow Library. 10:30 am. Rip it
Common Threads: a Knitting and Crochet Club at Mary D Pretlow Library. 10:30 am. Rip it
Amy Kaus performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Bad Movie Night: "The Monolith Monsters" (1957) at ODU Planetarium. 6:30 pm. Rip it.
Fixity performs live at Elation. 6:30 pm. Rip it 
January Open Build Night at 757 Makerspace. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Zine workshop at 757 Makerspace. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Old World v New World Blind Tasting at Vino Culture. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Admirals vs. Indy Fuel at Norfolk Scope. 7:05 pm. Rip it
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble at Chrysler Hall. 7:30 pm. Rip it
DJ CrshOvrRd & DJ Astral Eyes perform live at Goth Night at 37th & Zen. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Durag Daf spins live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Matthew O’Donnel performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
Vince Kornegay performs live at Tap It Local. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Snackbar Jones performs live at Mona Lisa’s. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
James Ford performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Pajama Party: Improv Comedy at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it. 

SATURDAY:
OV Run Club Long Run at Ocean View Diner. 7:30 am. Rip it. 
Send It Saturday Morning Group Ride at East Coast Cycles. 8:00 am. Rip it. 
Virginia Children's Chorus Auditions at Talbot Park Baptist Church. 9:00 am. Rip it
Plant Based Junk Food Popupat Benchtop Brewing. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Sky’s the Limit at Water’s Edge Winery. 10:00 am. Rip it. 
Live Life Fresh Boom Box Bike Ride at Freshtopia. 10:30 am. Rip it. 
BigForestFire performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Artist Mixer at d'Art Center. 11:00 am. Rip it
Ecstatic Dance and Breathwork Journey at Ocean View Yoga. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Author Signing: CJ Wright at Book Exchange Norfolk. 12:00 pm. Rip it. 
Disney Lorcana League at Atlantis Games & Comics. 12:00 pm. Rip it 
New Year Market at Benchtop Brewing. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Art Demonstration and conversation with Rowena Federico Finn at Offsite Gallery, MacArthur Center. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Weekly MTG Standard Tournament at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it
Holocaust Butterfly Remembrance Program at The Slover. 2:00 pm. Rip it 
Water Cleaning Basics at Aries Apothecary. 4:00 pm. Rip it. 
A Quick Sip with Kiera: Bubbles from Around The World class at Vino Culture. 5:30 pm. Rip it.
Dan Pellegrino performs live at Afterglow Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Norfolk Admirals vs. Indy Fuel at Norfolk Scope. 6:05 pm. Rip it
Gerald Albright performs live at Harrison Opera House. 7:30 pm. Rip it
Date Night Show at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Open Mic Night at District Apizza. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Les The DJ spins live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Matthew O’Donnel performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
Brian Pinardi performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
The Made-Up Movie at Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip it. 

SUNDAY:
Le March Du Soleil vintage pop-up at Equinox. 8:00 am. Rip it.
Yogi Winter School at Sky’s The Limit. 10:00 am. Rip it. 
Sky’s The Limit Yoga on Tap at Reaver Beach. 10:45 am. Rip it
Robbie Meade performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
New Year New Drag! Lipgloss & Lashes Drag Brunch. 12:30 pm. Rip it. 
Norfolk Admirals vs. Indy Fuel. 3:05 pm. Rip it
ODU Student Art League Closing Party at For All Handkind. 5:00 pm. Rip it. 
Matt Holloman performs live at Grain. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 

Coco Jam is popping up for a Caribbean brunch at General Public next Sunday. Rip it. 

Dry January is kicking off strong at Grandiflora with a massive menu of mocktails and alcohol free wine. Rip it. 

Ceremony, a pop-up N/A bar at Vessel, is whipping up Sazeracs and all your favorite cocktails. Rip it. 

What’s up doc? Honey roasted carrots with focaccia and citrus ricotta at Lomo in Riverview. Rip it. 

When it gets cold out, double up on the harissa at Mr. Shawarma. Rip it. 

Staff favorites are rolling out at Chelsea Bakehouse starting with “the Devin.” Rip it. 

If you’re thinking brunch, think The Bird. North Colley’s newest spot for chicken and waffles. Rip it. 

Want to learn to cook like the pros at Blanca? Well they’ve got cooking classes coming later this month. Rip it. 

Barrel 17 is one of Norfolk’s newest chow spots, taking the old Mermaid Winery spot. Rip it. 

Nothing says smooth like Cashmere hops. Smartmouth’s new cold-fermented IPA drops this weekend. Rip it. 

Dillas are back at Ghost Kitchen, don’t walk, run. Rip it. 

Food Truck Sightings:
Friday:
Nap Foods at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.\
Nacho Libre at Cova. Rip it.
Revery Food Truck at Reaver Beach. Rip it.
In Between The Bunz at Benchtop. Rip it.
Shawna’s Rich Eats at Afterglow. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.

Saturday:
Shawna’s Rich Eats at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Cova. Rip it.
Flippin Hangry at Reaver Beach. Rip it.
Vuture Food, Oh My Cod Vegan Seafood Co. at Benchtop. Rip it.
757 Laos Street Food at Afterglow. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.

Sunday:
Crop Circle at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.
Los Birria Bros, Big Belly at Cova. Rip it.
In Between the Bunz at Reaver Beach. Rip it.
Nap Food at Benchtop. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.