From Muddy Tides to Jackalope Rides: Weather, Fort Norfolk, and Local Happenings

From Muddy Tides to Jackalope Rides: Weather, Fort Norfolk, and Local Happenings

This week on Tidewater Talk, Co and Brodie talk about a Virginia Beach cold case finally being solved more than 40 years later through advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy. They also dive into this week’s Strange and Odd of Tidewater featuring Fort Norfolk, a hidden Army fort along the Elizabeth River that dates back to George Washington’s original coastal defense system and somehow stayed under the radar for nearly 20 years of military life in Hampton Roads. Plus, storms and flooding give way to a nicer weekend forecast, Brodie learns an important lesson about kayaking at low tide, and the neighbors debate whether  Tidewater is underrated or “culturally irrelevant.” Also this week:  - The Jackalope Festival returns to Virginia Beach  - A gothic market comes to Chesapeake  - The HOPE Initiative opens spots for a youth innovation event

From Comic Con Cosplay to Lord Botetourt’s Lucky Foot

Good evening, neighbors! In this week’s Tidewater Talk, Brodie and Co beat the heat with a packed rundown of Coastal Virginia happenings. We chat through the sweltering temps and the upcoming weather swing, from mid-90s heat to a rain-filled Memorial Day weekend, plus the start of tropical season on June 1. Co recaps the vibrant scene at Tidewater Comic Con (from blinged-out Mario pens to full-on Avatar cosplay), and we touch on a major energy headline as Dominion sells a majority stake to NextEra Energy and what that could mean for reliability. Our Strange Tidewater Moment takes us to William & Mary’s Wren Yard, where students polish Lord Botetourt’s famously lucky foot, and where the statue’s modern bronze replacement has its own cheeky social media presence. We wrap with community notes and a listener question for next week: when do you know it’s time to turn the AC on for the season? Local tips and events include the Coastal Edge Steel Pier Classic Surf Competition and the Pungo Strawberry Festival, plus a quick shout on recent VBPD updates seeking witnesses in an ongoing public indecency investigation. As always, send your tips, story ideas, and community finds to tips@tidewatertalk.com and share the show if you found value today.

Norfolk Union Drama + Tidewater White Sauce + Your Tidewater Weekend

Good evening, neighbors! In episode 67 of Tidewater Talk, Co and Brodie kick things off with some real talk about presentation nerves and the reminder that most audiences are rooting for you. We dive into a wild local headline: the Norfolk Federation of Teachers leadership shake-up after an investigation into alleged misuse of funds. What happened, what it means for union members, and the bigger questions it raises. For this week’s Strange and Odd of Tidewater, we unravel the mystery of Hampton Roads’ famous (or infamous) Mexican restaurant white sauce, its surprising 1970s Norfolk origins, what’s actually in it, and why we still expect it even if we don’t love it. We round things out with a detailed local weather outlook for the week ahead and a slate of community tips and events across the region. On the neighborhood beat: we rode The Tide to a nearly-empty-but-still-open MacArthur Center, share a Tidewater Tip from Norfolk’s Grilled Cheese Bistro (don’t miss the tomato bisque), and spotlight upcoming happenings. The Virginia Beach Special Welcome Event at the Odundorf Central Library, the Rising Sun Powwow at Mount Trashmore celebrating the Nansemond Indian Nation, and Tidewater Comic Con at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Plus, we answer last week’s question with ideas for taking Mom out. Smithfield and its famed “ham cam,” Red Wing Park, Kiptopeke, and Captain George’s, and ask you this week: are you all-in on the white sauce or still suspicious? Email tips and thoughts to tips@tidewatertalk.com and we’ll feature your notes on a future show.

Smithfield Ham Town + Oceanfront Lawsuit + Mother’s Day Weekend in Tidewater

In this week’s Tidewater Talk, I dive into Virginia Beach’s ongoing public safety saga, including the new $10 million lawsuit filed by two people arrested during the Oceanfront curfew—one a resident walking home, the other an independent journalist challenging the idea of “press credentials.” We revisit last year’s carnival cancellation and note this year’s advance notice due to security constraints. I also spotlight Virginia Beach Parks & Rec’s new Fit Pop initiative launching at Red Wing Park, plus a full local weather run-down: warm temps with midweek showers and thunderstorms, cooling by late week, and a sunny Mother’s Day before rain chances return Sunday evening. For our Strange and Odd of Tidewater, I explore Smithfield’s charmingly quirky identity—painted pig statues, a museum-hosted century-old ham with its own “HamCam,” and a town that proudly leans into its history. We wrap with Tidewater Tips for Mother’s Day outings—from brunch options to a Botanical Garden walk-and-talk—and pose our question for next week: Where’s the best place to take your mom (and how was it)?

Virginia Beach Curfew Debate + Jet Noise Love + Warm Then Cool Week

This week on Tidewater Talk, we're talking about the latest developments at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, including business impacts from the curfew and what happens next. Then we switch it up with a Strange and Odd segment about why "Virginia is for Lovers" doesn't mean what you think, and what people in Tidewater actually love, from jet noise to boiled peanuts and everything in between. Plus, spring weather is trying to settle in with warmer days ahead, local events are picking up, and we've got a few Tidewater tips to check out this weekend.