A Fight for History in Hobson
Mary Hill was born and raised in Hobson, Virginia, the seventh generation descended from the deep roots of a powerful Hobson community. She is currently making history as one of only a few Black waterwomen, supporting herself and her elderly mother while managing 2,000 acres of oyster beds located primarily in tributaries to the Chesapeake [...]
Sights and Songs of the Season
Pictured above: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater From mandolin concertos to freedom songs, new work is popping up in Coastal Virginia along with the azaleas. Virginia Arts Festival Perry Artistic Director Robert W. Cross says that the festival’s 26th season is marked by boundary breaking artistry. “We’ve co-commissioned new works in dance and music that [...]
The World is Our Oyster
Pictured above: Big Island Oysters from the York River, served at Waypoint Seafood and Grill in Williamsburg (Photo by Jacqui Renager Performance Foodservice Virginia) SEE ALSO: Dine & Brine Our ultimate local dining guide for oysters Strawberry Mignonette Recipe from Chef Chris Boehme and First Landing Seafood Touristy T-shirts and wild pony stickers may suffice as [...]
Dine & Brine: Oyster Dining Guide
Pictured above: The famed Oysters Rockafeller at Rockafeller's Restaurant at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront (Photo by Leona Baker) MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Surf Rider Restaurant: A traditional, family-friendly favorite, Surf Rider has been a local, home-style seafood staple for four decades, now with six locations. Dive into their famous fried oyster dinner or an oyster po’boy [...]
Vintage Style at Old Kings Road
Constructed between 1650 and 1735, The King’s Highway along the East Coast of the United States was built by order of King Charles II of England to connect the American colonies—from Boston, Massachusetts to Charleston, South Carolina. The road was often called the Old Kings Highway or Old Kings Road, and parts of it still [...]
Game on at Rivers Casino
At a media hard hat tour of Portsmouth’s new Rivers Casino back in December, more than 1,400 slot machines sat unplugged on a darkened gaming floor as the distinctive banging and buzzing of equipment being used by building crews to put the feverish final touches on the facility filled the air. Fast forward to the [...]
Tally-Ho at the Princess Anne Hunt
Photos by Christopher Smith courtesy of Princess Anne Hunt Charles City is unreasonably warm for November. Just after daybreak, distinguished guests descend upon the sprawling green lawn of Sherwood Forest Plantation, many with horses in tow. Riders straighten their Melton coats, adjust their steads’ braided manes and gather for the Blessing of the Hounds. Only [...]
Fighting Jamesons Ready to Rock
High-energy modern Irish rockers and locals’ favorite The Fighting Jamesons will be greening it up in style on and around St. Patty’s Day this year, playing a series of events in the region and in Richmond. “This upcoming string of shows is particularly special because we decided to spend this March tending back to our roots [...]
Zinnia Opens at Chrysler Museum
The restaurant located inside the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk has a new name, new look, new menu and even expanded outdoor seating perfect for al fresco dining in Mary’s Garden—a beautiful, sun-dappled courtyard well known to many museum guests. Zinnia is the name of this freshly renovated cafe and special events venue, formerly [...]
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame at 50
From DeAngelo Hall, who went from the Virginia Tech football roster to 14 seasons in the NFL, to Hampton’s own two-time Olympic gold medal sprinter Francena McCorory, the 50th induction of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, taking place in Virginia Beach on April 22, promises to be a star-studded affair. Since its first class [...]
Pretty Oyster Plates Aplenty
Photo above: Collector's items Oyster plates from Little England Mercantile. Dating to the Victorian era, when oysters on the half shell became a popular delicacy for affluent hosts in Europe and beyond, decorative oyster plates—both modern and antique—have become sought-after collectors’ items, some fetching price tags in the thousands of dollars. But did you know [...]
Hampton’s Teetotalers and Moonshiners
While most of us are familiar with the rise and fall of Prohibition in the United States, which began following the passage of the 18th Amendment outlawing alcohol between 1920 and 1933, a new exhibit at the Hampton History Museum offers a fascinating exploration of its effects on one local community. “Rich with artifacts, this [...]
First Landing to Grand Canyon
A custom-fitted backpack wasn’t the 35th anniversary gift Betsy Hardy, owner of Hardy’s the Art of Jewelry, had in mind. Nor were five days with that pack on her back her idea of an anniversary trip. And while the anniversary dinner was reconstituted “astronaut food,” a power bar and a toast of treated creek water, [...]
Going Mod on the Coast
In 2006, when Jonathan Langman visited NYC to see his aunt Donna Langman, a costume designer on Broadway, and her artist husband, he couldn’t have known that this branch of the family tree would bear the seeds of a passion project that would become his livelihood. In that fourth-story walk-up apartment with its 2,500 square [...]
Historic Garden Week in Full Bloom
The Garden Club of Virginia is thrilled to announce the return of its 90th Annual Historic Garden Week. From Saturday, April 15 to Saturday, April 22, home and garden lovers are invited to take an intimate look into the state’s most prominent gardens and residences. This year’s eight-day showcase features 29 unique tours and over [...]
Coastal Remodel in Pelican Dunes
Though it may be hard to imagine now, Patty Wirth’s charming coastal modern cottage perched high up on a dune was once firmly grounded in the ’80s. The home’s transformation is the story of a retired NAVY commander and practicing nurse anesthetist who wanted a kitchen more conducive to the dinner parties she loves to [...]
Strawberry Mignonette
Recipe By Chef Chris Boehme The first settlers arrived in First Landing State Park and they discovered the Lynnhaven oyster. The Queen of England gave them the name of Lynnhaven Fancies™ and she had them served with fresh strawberries, just as the Native Americans were found eating them in the first recorded American meal. This [...]
Coffee Talk in Merchants Square
From their signature espressos to an invitingly floral lavender mint café latte, illy Caffè in Williamsburg’s Merchants Square has taken the local caffeine fix up an octave. If you’ve ever finished off a meal of classic French comfort food at the beloved Blue Talon Bistro—just around the corner—with a fresh-brewed cup of coffee, you’ve had [...]
Spring Stays
5 Yorktown Weekend Getaways That Will Satisfy Many Types of Visitors This Season Yorktown, a destination just a short distance away that caters to all sorts of travelers, blossoms in the spring season. Warmer weather allows guests to fully explore water activities, world-class attractions and a full schedule of outdoor events. If you haven’t made [...]
