🌊This Week in NFK: Light Rail, MDMA, RISE, Surf Co, Lemoncello, Birria, and More.

HRT has narrowed potential Chesapeake light rail expansion options to just four, with all options connecting to Norfolk. Rip it. 

Four Norfolk Public Libraries are extending their hours on Mondays. Rip it. 

NOAA is predicting less days with high tide flooding in the region this year; projecting 11- 15 compared to last years 23. Rip it. 

New underground equipment, a extensometer to be exact, will measure land subsidence in the region. Rip it. 

Sentara is expected to double the number of new physicians it takes on each year and establish new residency programs. Rip it. 

The Virginia Lottery generated $934 million in FY 2024 for state coffers, with the money earmarked for education spending. Rip it. 

A new system has been implemented for randomized delivery of rare liquor at Virginia ABC stores. Rip it. 

Senator Kaine is pushing for the FDA to reconsider the status of MDMA so that it may be available to veteran use in PTSD treatment. Rip it. 

Between 2020 and 2023, the number of ER visits for vaping-related issues in Virginia more than doubled. Rip it. 

Christopher Newport University and Tidewater Community College signed an agreement Tuesday that will make it easier for community college students to transfer to CNU for a four-year degree. Rip it. 

The Norfolk Sports Club awarded several honors to locals this week for their work in supporting ODU athletics. Rip it. 

The Little Theatre of Norfolk is performing “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]” starting this weekend. Rip it. 

Va Stage Company is introducing the “Tazewell Lounge Series” with Jimmy Masters Trio. Rip it. 

LAVA MiniFest returns to Toast with another stacked lineup of bands on August 31st. Rip it. 

A special 100 piece exhibit from the 100-year old Lorraine Fink n display August 15 - September 30th at Barry Arts Museum. Rip it. 

The Hermitage Museum is hosting a night of yacht rock, and you could be the captain. Rip it. 

The Hurrah Players are bringing Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella to life; auditions open this week. Rip it. 

Currently on Display:
“Assemble” CAN Group Exhibition at Assembly. Rip it.
Hampton Boyer: Colors of Us at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Fantastic Creatures of the Venetian Lagoon at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
“I Am Copying Nobody” at Chrysler Museum. Rip it.
Do You See Me Now by Jackie Merritt at Offsite Gallery. Rip it.
Flowing and Flying: A National Juried Exhibition of Artworks Featuring Waterscapes and Waterbirds at D’Art Center. Rip it.
Message in a Bottle: Picturing Maritime Culture in Hampton Roads at Barry Art Museum. Rip it.
Martha Chase: Progressive Kindness at Barry Art Museum. Rip it.
Perry Glass Art Collection at Glass Light. Rip it.
The Artists of d'Art Center on display at The Gallery At Elation. Rip it
“An American Abroad” at Hermitage Museum & Gardens. Rip it.

757 Build Fridays returns to Assembly on August 16th for a dedicated day to build tech projects. Rip it. 

Downtown Norfolk Council recently awarded grants to Jim White Fitness, Details on Granby, Prince Books and Three Ships Coffee to enhance their exteriors and boost the attractiveness of the neighborhood. Rip it. 

The Virginia Port Authority on Tuesday announced the completion of the $83 million expansion of the central railyard at Norfolk International Terminals. Rip it. 

New analysis from the Virginia Tourism Corporation says that tourism spending in Virginia is up around 10% year over year. Rip it. 

A startup supported by RISE, a Norfolk nonprofit, has developed cheaper and stronger cement from dredged materials. Rip it. 

The electricity that Dominion Energy purchases when it can’t generate enough will increase price, though there is little impact expected to consumers. Rip it. 

The only medical marijuana retailer in Hampton Roads, Cannabist, has been sold to an Illinois company for $90 million. Rip it. 

California-based surf brand Catch Surf has leased 15,000 square feet of industrial space in Norfolk. Rip it. 

Perfectly Frank, Pittie Dog Grill, and other local restaurants are being affected by the Boar’s Head meat recall. Rip it. 

Mode5 was ranked by Chanel Futures as #29 in the world for “Best Managed IT Services Provider.” Rip it. 

757 Accelerate has announced a new cohort of seven startups building the future in Downtown Norfolk. Rip it. 

Applications are open for the Norfolk State University Incubator Program that runs for 12 weeks this fall. Rip it. 

Regional Economic Stats. Labor Stats.

Next weekend the Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival kicks off with Rebecca Jade on Friday night. Rip it.

The Virginia Honey Bee Festival is making a buzz at Norfolk Botanical Garden next weekend. Rip it. 

Free lawn concerts at the Harrison Opera House start up later this month on Wednesdays. Rip it.

FRIDAY AUG 09:
Family Twilight Trek at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. 7:30 am. Rip it.
Know Your Ecosystems at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Rope Making at Nauticus. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Write Stuff Backpack Distribution at Kroc Center Hampton Roads. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
PC Guitar Duo performs live at COVA. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Travis Colby performs live at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
OV Salsa Night at Ocean View Beach Park. 6:00 PM. Rip it.
The Sand Tones perform live at Rip Rap Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
SALT performs live at Ocean View Fishing Pier. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Brian Schulz performs live at Afterglow. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Christian Alan Hansen performs live at Elation Brewing. 6:30 PM. Rip it.
Spinning Wheels Wine Release Party & Tasting at Eleanor’s. 6:30 pm.
Rip it.
Norfolk Tides Vs. Durham Bulls At Norfolk Tides. 6:35 Pm. Ript It.
Brothers Presents Carlton Baker. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Phenom performs live at Waterside District. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
The Muse Neighborhood Jam at The Muse Writers Center. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Friday Night Magic: Draft at Atlantis Games & Comics  7:30 pm. Rip it.
Vaudeville At The Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Lucky Daye at The NorVA. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
U-Nite Message in a Bottle - Summer Film Series - White Squall at Barry Art Museum. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] at Little Theatre of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
FREE Improv Comedy Show at Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse. 8:00 PM. Rip it.
DJ K.WARD spins live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Lucky Daye at The NorVA. 8:00 PM. Rip it.
Glasgow Kiss plays at Grace O'Malley's. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
DJ Mista Nice performs live at Waterside District. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Billy Joe Daniel performs live at Tap It Local. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Napoleon Dynamite Flashback! at Naro Cinema. 9:15 pm. Rip it.
DJ GPP performs live at Baxters. 9:30 pm. Rip it. 
Tales From The Campfire At Push Comedy Theater. 10:00 pm. Rip It.

SATURDAY AUG 10:
Getem Services Big Blue 5K at ODU. 8:00 am. Rip it. 
East Beach Farmers Market at Bay Oaks Park. 9:00 am. Rip it.
ERT Olympics at Jeff Robertson Park. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Virginia Children's Chorus Auditions for 2024-2025 at Virginia Children's Chorus. 9:00 am. Rip it.
Norfolk Kayaks Nature & Eco Tour at Elizabeth River Project. 9:00 am. Rip it. 
Unity in the Community: Back 2 School Celebration at Norfolk Scope. 10:00 am. Rip it.
Big Forest Fire performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it. 
Peace & Pints: Bhav Brigade Yoga at Smartmouth Brewery. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Reiki Healing Session at OV Yoga. 12:00 pm. Rip it. 
Reality to the Abstract Workshop at d'Art Center. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Totally Tubular 90s Day at Elation. 12:00 pm. Rip it.
Wells Summer Movie Matinee: Featuring ENCANTO Sing-A-Long at Wells Theater. 2:00 pm. Rip it. 
Chelsea Walking Tour with the ERT. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
AIC's The Sound of Music at Norfolk Masonic Temple. 5:00 PM. Rip it.
Rave + Bingo at The Granby Theater. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Michael Clark Band performs live at Maker’s Craft Brewery. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Dan Rosnato performs live at Ocean View Fishing Pier. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Ernest Whitehead performs live at Varia. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Allegra Duchaine performs live at Afterglow. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
JAG Trio performs live at Elation. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
Norfolk Tides vs. Durham Bulls at Harbor Park. 6:35 pm. Rip it.
Grant Austin Taylor performs live at The Ghent. 7:00 pm. Rip it.
Cultivated Mind performs live at Chicho’s Backstage. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] at Little Theatre of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
The Unusual Suspects: An Improvised Murder Mystery at Push Comedy. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
Muscadine Bloodline at The NorVA. 8:00 PM. Rip it.
Micky Slicks & Rylo spin live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Glasgow Kiss plays at Grace O'Malley's. 8:30 pm. Rip it.
Aaron Fulcher performs live at Grain. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
DJ SDOT performs live at Tap It Local. 9:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Saint James performs live at Waterside District. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 
Floral Fantasies: A Bawdy Botanical Revue at The Venue on 35th.  9:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ PonFetti performs live at Baxters. 9:30 pm. Rip it. 

SUNDAY AUG 11:
Slow and Steady Sunday Ride at Slow & Steady Bikes and Goods. 10:30 AM. Rip it.
Antique Market at The Fanciful Fig. 11:00 AM. Rip it.
Robbie Mead performs live at Grain. 11:00 am. Rip it.
House Beats & Brunch at Toast. 11:00 am. Rip it.
Bhav at Sky’s The Limit at Sky's The Limit Yoga Co. 11:30 AM. Rip it.
UVA Club of Tidewater Book Club at Elation Brewing. 12:00 PM. Rip it.
MTG Modern Sunday - Norfolk at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Sunday Weekly Pokemon League - Norfolk at Atlantis Games & Comics. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revise] [again] at  Little Theatre of Norfolk. 2:30 pm. Rip it.
Dan Pellegrino performs live at Afterglow Brewing. 2:00 pm. Rip it.
AIC's The Sound of Music at Norfolk Masonic Temple. 3:00 PM. Rip it.
Connor Pittman performs live at Ocean View Fishing Pier. 3:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Tides vs. Durham Bulls at Harbor Park. 4:05 PM. Rip it.
Music Video Bingo at Afterglow. 5:00 pm. Rip it. 
New Show: The Push Book Club at Push Comedy Theater. 7:00 PM. Rip it.
Glen Boswick and the Sounds of Swing  at Ocean View Beach Park . 7:00 PM. Rip it.
Troy Breslow performs live at Grain. 7:00 pm.Rip it. 

House-made lemoncello is the star of the latest cocktail at Four Eleven. Rip it.

New at Union Taco: The Quesabirria. Rip it. 

The menu at Only You has seen a refresh and now includes pizza. Rip it. 

Half price bottles of wine at Streats every Wednesday. Rip it. 

Homegrown figs and whipped ricotta are making everyone swoon at Press 626. Rip it. 

Another famous Omar’s wine dinner comes to Freemason later this month. Rip it. 

Major Phillie is still innovating. Now there’s a birria cheesesteak. Rip it. 

La Brioche is making sandwiches with their authentic french baguettes. Rip it. 

Food Truck Sightings:
Friday:
Krazy Trompos at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.
Birria Bros & Ghost Kitchen at Cova. Rip it.
Moontide at Benchtop. Rip it.
Moontide at Afterglow. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.

Saturday:
Lit Auntie at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.
La Cocina Patina, Weng’s & Birria Bros at Cova. Rip it.
Va Dough Co at Benchtop. Rip it.
Sour Street Pizza at Afterglow. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.

Sunday:
Hades Wood Fired Pizza at Maker’s Craft. Rip it.
Moontide Sundries at Cova. Rip it.
Cups Up at Afterglow. Rip it.
Crop Circle Gourmet at Benchtop. Rip it.
Ghost Kitchen at Smartmouth. Rip it.
Bar-q at Bold Mariner. Rip it.