Virginia Beach & Hampton Roads 2023

Restaurants

FIREBREW Bar & Grill

Relaxed tavern with a warm vibe offering American fare, self-serve wine stations & patio seating.

1253 Nimmo Pkwy Suite 117, Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Phone: (757) 689-2800 | Web: fire-brew.com

The Barking Dog

4330 Kecoughtan Rd, Hampton, VA 23669

Low-key waterside joint serving hot dogs & sausages, plus burgers, sandwiches & fried seafood.

Phone: (757) 325-8352 | Web: hampton.thebarkingdogvatogo.com

Le Yaca Virginia Beach

À la carte & tasting menu options in a white tablecloth dining room, with light wood interior.

701 First Colonial Rd Suite 107, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Phone: (757) 500-4773 | Web: leyacawilliamsburg.com

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Venture Kitchen & Bar

Brick-oven pizza & tapas pair with cocktails & craft beer at this contemporary American kitchen.

9 E Queens Wy E, Hampton, VA

Tautog’s Restaurant

Popular local seafood eatery set in a cozy Victorian cottage near the beach, with porch seating.

205 23rd St, Virginia Beach, VA

Park Lane Tavern

American pub food served in a stylish setting with wood decor inspired by the taverns of London.

4200 Kilgore Ave, Hampton, VA

Whiskey Kitchen

Rustic, warehouselike pub with locally sourced comfort food, regional brews & whiskey cocktails.

2149 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA

Tommy’s Restaurant

Casual diner serving American comfort food for breakfast & lunch in old-school digs.

3406 W Mercury Blvd, Hampton, VA

Terrapin Restaurant

Sleek, refined venue with a bar & outdoor seating offering locally sourced New American cuisine. Pinewood Square, 3102 Holly Rd, #514, Virginia Beach, VA

Mission BBQ

Casual chain featuring BBQ & classic sides, plus memorabilia honoring soldiers & first responders.

2035 Von Schilling Drive, Hampton, VA

Hot Tuna

Seafood-focused eatery with an eclectic menu & lively bar scene fueled by DJs & colorful cocktails.

2817 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA

Smitty’s Better Burger

Circa-1956 burger joint with drive-up service makes foot-long franks & other American classics.

1313 N King St, Hampton, VA

EVENTS

Jun 23

Hampton Roads Pride

Hampton Roads Pride unites the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) and allied communities in support of inclusion, dignity and equality of ALL PEOPLE. Full details at hamptonroadspride.org.

Jun 24

Pridefest Boat Parade

Pride Boat Parade continues to be a highlight of PrideFest. We are proud to host the only Pride Boat Parade in the country celebrating our connections with the 300 year maritime history of our port cities.Learn more at hamptonroadspride.org.

Jul 22-23

Virginia Beach Carnival

A cultural experience that combines the various elements of Carnival with the Seaside Atmosphere of Virginia Beach over a summer weekend in July. The annual event features one stage and three signature events, Early Morning J’ouvert, Rep Your Flag Fete and a costumed Parade & Concert and brings visitors and participants from across the globe, all who come to celebrate the West Indian Culture. Get your tickets at eventbrite.com.

Aug 19

Virginia Beach Wing Festival

Virginia Beach’s largest one-day food festival is here to celebrate deliciousness! Join us on Saturday, August 19th for the annual VB Wing Fest featuring great live music, tons of wing vendors, contests and more! Tickets start at $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Kids in strollers free! Find us on Facebook for details.

Sep 9

FreedomFest

Admission includes beer, wine, food and entry. Also featuring live bands, live firearms auctions, mix drink tickets available and Virginia Beach’s only

EVENTS

public Navy Seal capabilities demos. For more into, visit vbfh.org.

Oct 7

7 Cities Blues Festival

The Blues Is Alright Tour returns to Chrysler Hall. The Blues is musical storytelling filled with stark emotion and a revolving reality check. It’s authentically raw; transforming tragedy, adversity and heartache into a visceral and cathartic experience. This special night of emotive lyrics and guitar-driven accompaniment features performances by King George, Calvin Richardson, Pokey Bear, Lenny Williams, Ronnie Bell and Theodis Ealey. Visit virginia.org for details.

Nov 23

Donut Fest Virginia Beach

Donut Fest curates our favorite donuts and guests can simply enjoy a Sunday Funday while sampling donuts, enjoying beer, coffee and more with a funfilled tasty event! We need your help to name your city’s Favorite Donut too. Complete details at allevents.in.

Dec 2

Holiday Yule Log Bonfire and Holiday Market

For one afternoon, Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront is transformed into a festive outdoor wonderland highlighted by a towering Yule Log Bonfire and also featuring a local artisans market, Christmas caroling, hot chocolate and whiskey tastings, and a visit from the Big Man himself! The event is free (including Santa visits) and open to the public. Details at eventbrite.com.

Jan 13 2024

Smithfield VA B.O.B. Fest

Enjoy the best winter party in Coastal Virginia! Rock out to The Deloreans in 65,000 sq. ft. of heated party tents! There is nothing quite like THE BOB FEST. Tickets include all-you-can-eat oysters (steamed or raw), BBQ & Brunswick Stew. Drinks are all pay-as-you-go and include: Bloody

EATING THE PSYCHOLOGY

Control weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

Control

weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

ConsumptionSome of us more than others realize that what we eat can effect how we feel such as eating too little or too much. We should be able to enjoy what we eat but also feel better when we do.

Eating healthy is a challenging task that many of us

strive to achieve but often fall short.

Influences -

Cultural, social, family, and economical factors may be a direct influence linked to our food and eating behaviors.

However, a more serious influence such as stress, boredom and anxiety can play a larger role as many of us eat as a coping mechanism. Although it can

sometimes help bring relief and ease feelings, it often leads to regret and build more negativity. Avoiding the problem with food will often create another problem with self-image when suffering from weight gain or other negative affects caused by unhealthy eating.

Weight ManagementHere are tips to help you manage your weight.

For starters, never skip a meal. By skipping a meal, you’re allowing yourself to become

hungry later which can result in reckless binge eating. Be sure to plan your meals ahead of time and limit night time snacking. This will allow you to always be one step ahead

of your weight by creating a routine. If you’re getting a craving between meals, try to exercise or find another way to distract yourself from food.

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Eating Diary - This is a great tool to keep track of your eating habits. Record what food you eat and when you eat it. Also take note of how you feel after eating and if you were doing anything while eating such as using your phone or watching TV.

By recording your habits, you will be able to pinpoint which foods and activities to avoid. The diary can also assist you when you’re working with a dietitian to help you make the best decisions.

Renovations

to increase home value

Personalization: We all want to make our home unique to our own character. However, when it comes time to sell, buyers want to envision themselves in the home, which can be difficult if the entire home is personalized to you. Avoid any personalization that is difficult to undo and stick to a nice universal outlook that speaks to everyone.

Landscaping: Just like with personalizing, it’s best to keep it simple. Some home buyers may love how elaborate your landscaping may look, but most of the time they’re considering the cost of upkeep or the difficulty of maintaining that look. A clean lawn with curb appeal is the best first impression to give to potential buyers.

Closet Space: Some of us are minimalist and can do with a larger room by sacrificing closet space, but most potential buyers value the importance of storage. Remember, buyers want to see themselves living in the home, and a lack of closet space might send them looking elsewhere.

Bold Paint: Freshly painted rooms are a great way to brighten up your home. There’s nothing wrong with bringing a little color into your home but keep in mind that buyers may not favor the same colors you do. Stick to keeping the colors subtle with small accents and focus more on neutral tones to appeal to potential buyers.

Trendy Designs: Barn doors and patterned tiles may look great to some buyers, but avoid trendy designs that might be outdated when you decide to sell. No matter how tempting the latest home design trend may be, the classic look is always the safest bet.

DIY Projects: Projects that you build yourself are great, but only when they’re done professionally. This is important to potential buyers so make sure if you’re going to do your own home project, that you do it exceptionally well. This also applies to repairs, quick cover ups will only get you so far. These sort of projects can either increase or decrease the value of your home so make sure you know what you’re doing before proceeding.

Long-Term Necessities: When it comes to renovations, keep in mind that not every buyer needs a built in office desk, or a workshop, or anything that may seem like a great idea to you. Tread carefully when adding permanent fixtures, not all buyers have the same vision as you when it comes to changes made. Make sure your room structures allow the flexibility for potential buyers to make their own changes.

LGBT LIFE CENTER

LGBT Life Center is a trusted leader that empowers the LGBTQ communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities, and providing transformative education and advocacy. Web: lgbtlifecenter.org

HAMPTON ROADS PRIDE

Hampton Roads Pride unites the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and allied communities in support of inclusion, dignity and equality of all people. Web: hamptonroadspride.org

HAMPTON ROADS LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Our mission is to empower and support LGBT and allied member businesses and professionals and provide our community an inclusive and welcoming environment to live, work, and grow. Web: hrbor.org

PFLAG NORFOLK / HAMPTON ROADS

PFLAG is the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families. Web: www.pflaghr.com

GENDER SPECTRUM

Gender Spectrum works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens. Web: genderspectrum.org

HAMPTON ROADS LGBTQ LIAISON

The Hampton Police Division’s LGBTQ liaison addresses the needs of the lesbian, gay, transgender and questioning community and connects that community with the police and other members of law enforcement. Web: hampton.gov/3298/LGBTQ-Liaison

THE SILVER RAINBOW

The Silver Rainbow of Hampton Roads aims to improve the lives of older LGBTQ adults in coastal Virginia via advocacy, social events, support and lifelong learning. Membership is free and open to interested persons of any age, sexual orientation or gender expression. Web: facebook.com/groups/silverrainbow757

EVENTS

Mary’s, Speciality Vodka Drinks, Wine, Beer, Water/Sodas. Learn more at smithfieldvaevents.com.

Mar 15-17 2024

Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend

Find your pot of gold at the 52nd Annual Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend. This St. Paddy’s Day tradition will take place in Virginia Beach. There is a race distance for every goal: Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K, and challenges. No matter the distance, you’ll experience the best of Coastal Virginia on our flat, fast, and scenic course before you cross the finish line overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The celebration continues after the race at our finish line celebration on the beach with Yuengling beer, Irish stew, and music. Details at hakuapp.com.

Apr 18-21

Virginia Arts Festival

Enjoy live performing arts, theater, dance, music, and more in Southeastern, VA, with Virginia Arts Festival. Full line up at vafest.org.

May 29 2024

Strawberry Festival

The Pungo Strawberry Festival is an annual 2 day affair that involves arts, crafts, dance, music, drinks and strawberries! Visit eventseeker.com for details.

May 3 2024

The Mariners’ Craft Beer Festival

he festival will feature over 50 craft beers in the unique setting of The Mariners’ Museum’s outdoor courtyards. The ticket includes craft beer tastings, a souvenir tasting glass, live music, beer talks by brewery representatives, and the day’s admission to The Mariners’ Museum! Complete details at marinersmuseum.org.