#local conventions

Concinnity is a yearly anime, ttrpg, video game, and general nerddom convention located in Milwaukee School of Engineering's Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall.

This year's convention is happening Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 10am - 10pm.

I’m trying to get into the habit of going to more smaller maker markets and conventions. Here’s my haul from a local and pin show.

I’ve been pondering aesthetics and identity recently— not in a way where I’m in distress about it, but in the way that one has occasional periods of self reflection. While several of my creative friends and acquaintances have hit their midlife witchy phase, I believe I’m maturing into a midlife vapourwave-chaotic phase. This phase has probably been around the early 2010s although I’ve recently gotten more at ease with the cultural gendering of the aesthetics. I own a pink shirt for the first time in my life, for example.

February 24-25 - Komiket @ Centris Elements, QC March 10 - Sticker Con Mnl @ Bayanihan Center May 12-13 - Fan Fes Mnl 2018 @ SMX,  SM Aura May 19-20 - Komiket South @ SM Southmall

These were the following events I was fortunate to be a part of for the 1st half of 2018!!! ♥

who all is going to nekocon this year? pre-registry was opened up on the website early & i pre-ordered not thinking about if i had any friends going 😔

im looking to make new friends when i go because the year i went i made about one or two while i was with a group of people & my phone ended up breaking when i went (my phone isn't gonna break this time because i put internal pockets in my cosplay's this year! 😂

if you're going, just dm me & maybe we can be friend's before the convention 😸

COMMUNITY EVENTS/FESTIVALS

Now thru Jan 25 - Downtown Norfolk Restaurant Week, Don’t miss delicious dining and tasty savings from participating Downtown restaurants. Get a 3-course dinner for $20, $30 or $40 at the area’s most eclectic array of restaurants. Look for lunch specials, too. For restaurants, menus and parking, go to DowntownNorfolk.org. Reservations recommended.http://www.downtownnorfolk.org/enjoy/events/restaurant_week

Now-Feb 2 - Oceanfront Ice Park, Rudee Loop, Virginia Beach. Ice skate at the Oceanfront to holiday tunes and a sea breeze. The Ice Park will provide a full array of events and activities highlighted by special demonstrations and a holiday themed carnival area for the kids! Admission to the Ice Park is $12 for individuals and $45 for families (up to 5 people) and includes rental skates and unlimited skating for the evening. Skating is open to everyone age 4 and up! Military discount tickets are available at all local base Information, Ticket & Tour Offices (ITT).

Now-Sun, Mar 29 - Winter Orchid Display 2015, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd., Norfolk. Don’t miss the opportunity to see beautiful blooming orchids in the Norfolk Botanical Garden Tropical House. Many of the orchids provided by the Tidewater Orchid Society, and Old Dominion University Arthur and Phyllis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory and Research Greenhouse. This winter exhibit is FREE with regular Garden admission.

Thu, Jan 22 - Opening Reception: What a Relief! TCC Visual Arts Center, 6:00 pm, corner of High & Court Streets, Portsmouth. A revival of letterpress and relief print making will be presented in this exhibition. Featuring work by Hatch Show Print (Nashville, TN), the program will include a variety of historic and contemporary prints that are recognized by their distinctive textural and colorful details. A gallery talk will precede the opening reception. For more information please call 757-822-1888

Fri, Jan 23 - CHKD David Wright Vegas Night Gala 2015, Virginia Beach Convention center, 7:00 pm, 1000 19th St., Virginia Beach. New York Mets All-Star third baseman David Wright, a native of Hampton Roads, has supported CHKD for nearly a decade and in the past five years has hosted David Wright Vegas Night at the Virginia Beach Convention Center each January to raise funds for the hospital. The Odds are in Your Favor to Help the Kids The evening includes cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert with a live/silent auction and casino gaming including craps, roulette, blackjack, horse racing and poker. Attire is “Vegas casual.” (757) 668-7070 / Email: [email protected] /http://www.chkd.org/Support-Us/Fundraising-Events/Featured-Fundraising/David-Wright-Vegas-Night/

Fri-Sun, Jan 23-25 - Tidewater Recreational Vehicle Show, Virginia Beach Convention center, Fri 12 - 9:00 pm, Sat 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, 1000 19th St., Virginia Beach. See exhibits of all new 2015 RVs ranging from Class A motorhomes to lightweight, easy-to-pull tent trailers, fifth-wheels, travel trailers and truck campers, RV and camper accessories, financing options campgrounds and travel destinations. In addition to RVs, the show offers a wide variety of products and services. You will find RV accessories, resorts and travel destinations, vacation destinations and products to make your life easier. The 2015 Tidewater RV Show is a great place to visit for anyone who is interested in traveling and the outdoor lifestyle. (757) 573-6552 / Email: [email protected] /http://www.tidewatervarvshow.com/

Sat, Jan 24 - Schock & Shivers 5K & Cold Water Challenge Course, Oak Grove Lake Park, 10:00 am, 409 Byron Street, Chesapeake. The course for this race is a 1.5 mile crushed gravel loop that circles the man-made lake at Oak Grove Lake Park. The 5K race is followed by a quick dip in Oak Grove Lake. Those who complete both the 5k run and the dip will receive a finisher medal. All participants will receive a Schock & Shivers T-shirt. Contact: Brian Woolever at [email protected] / See website for entry fees -http://leumarketing.wix.com/schockandshivers5k

Sat, Jan 24 - E-cycling Event: Green-up While you Clean-up, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 717 General Booth Boulevard, Virginia Beach. Virginia Aquarium – East Parking Lot: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, in partnership with Public Works, TFC Recycling and Goodwill Industries, will offer its semi-annual E-cycling event. This is your opportunity to recycle personal electronic items and household hazardous waste. For more info contact Linda Minner [email protected], (757) 385-8595

Sat, Jan 24 - American Girl Program: “Meet Saige”, Riddick’s Folly House Museum, 10:00 am, 11:30am, 1:00 pm & 2:30 pm, 510 North Main Street, Suffolk. Free-Reservations encouraged. Meet “Saige,” the 2013 Girl of the Year. Saige Copeland™ loves the arts and her horses. But when both of her passions are threatened, she turns to her creative side. With imaginative solutions, she proves that one girl can make a difference. Program includes stories, crafts and light refreshments. There will be 4 sittings: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm. Space is limited and reservations are required. Donations welcome. Ages 5 and up are welcome. Call for reservations at 757.934.0822. www.riddicksfolly.org

Sat, Jan 24 - Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s Annual Art Show & Sale, Open from January 24-February 1, Sat 10 am-4 pm; Sun 1-4pm; Mon-Fri 8:30 am-3:30 pm, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, 3373 Pruden Blvd., Suffolk. Free and open to the public. This year marks the 29th anniversary of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s Art Show & Sale, benefitting the Academy’s Fine Arts Program. Each year the show draws crowds throughout Hampton Roads and is a showcase for new and established artists. NSA boasts a wonderful diversity of media from over 150 artists, making the show one of the largest in the Hampton Roads area. The Art Show & Sale includes paintings and multimedia works of art, with prices ranging from $10 to $7,000. While the works of art beautifully adorn the school hallways, teachers also use the Art Show & Sale as an opportunity to incorporate the art and artists’ display into their curriculum. 757.539.8789 / www.nsacademy.org

Sat, Jan 24 - 7th Annual My Time Women’s Show, Hampton Roads Convention Center, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, 1610 Coliseum Drive, Hampton. The Daily Press is pleased to present the 7th Annual MyTime Women’s Show! This event is a great opportunity to browse for local products and services that match your wants and needs. The show will feature health, fashion, beauty, home décor, art, family life, work-life balance, food, and more! Tickets are $7 $7 in advance online; $5 in advance at The Mole Hole; $8 at the door (Children 12 and under are free) 757-315-1610 / http://www.mytimeshow.com

Sat, Jan 24 - 2nd Annual Health & Fitness Expo, Chesapeake Wingate by Wyndham, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 817 Greenbrier Circle, Chesapeake. Join us for our 2nd Annual Health & Fitness Expo. We bring all walks of life of Health & Fitness together under one roof for a fun filled day of Fitness demos, games, prizes and priceless information from the top Fitness gurus in the Hampton Roads. With over $1,000 valued in raffle prizes, fun demos for the attendees to participate in and priceless information from the top Health & Fitness Professionals in the area, the Health & Fitness Expo is the ideal forum for all health seekers! Admission: $10.00 Contact: Norris Coburn (757) 309-7577, or get your tickets now online at Bossbodyonline.com or Eventbrite.com

Sat, Jan 24 - New Courthouse Open House, Norfolk Consolidated Courthouse, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, corner of St. Pauls Boulevard and City Hall, Norfolk. Take a tour of Norfolk's latest public facility. The building will house Circuit and General District. Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will move in during the next phase. The courthouse will also feature a new digitalized records library dating back to 1682. This state-of-the-art courts facility is a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) 'green building.'

Sat, Jan 24 - "Voices for Kids (CASA) " Gala at the Smithfield Center, 7 - 10:00 pm, 220 N. Church Street in downtown Smithfield. Voices for Kids Gala fundraiser offers heavy hors d’oeuvres & cocktails, with music by The Rhondels. The event will also include a live and silent auction. Tickets are $75.00 per couple and $40.00 per individual. Black Tie optional. For further information call 757.357.2170.

Sat/Sun, Jan 24/25 - Showmasters/C&E Gunshow, Scope Arena, Sat 9:00 am, Sun 10:00 am, 201 East Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk. C&E Gun Shows is dedicated to producing the most professional, safest and ethical gun shows in the country. C&E strives to provide their patrons with the best available selection of firearms, ammo, knives and related merchandise, and their dealers with the largest crowds of qualified buyers anywhere.

Sun, Jan 25 - Float-a-Rama, Princess Anne Recreation Center, 1 - 4:00 pm, 1400 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach. Join us in the pool for a day of huge, fun floats! Enjoy Claw Daddy, Splat!, Sky Totter and Space Mountain. Membership or day pass needed, but no additional cost. Open to all ages, but those age 9 & under must be directly supervised by someone age 16 or older.​​ info - [email protected] / (757) 385-5950.

Sun, Jan 25 - MacArthur's 135th Birthday Celebration, MacArthur Memorial, 1:30 pm, MacArthur Square, Norfolk. Join the staff of the MacArthur Memorial as we commemorate the 135th anniversary of General MacArthur’s birth. The Memorial will mark this anniversary with cake and a screening of the film MacArthur (1977) in the MacArthur Memorial Visitor Center Theatre on January 25th. The film will be accompanied by a short presentation by Archivist Jim Zobel about the film’s historical accuracy as well as Gregory Peck’s visit to the Memorial in the 1970s to research the role of “MacArthur.” Free and open to the public! 441-2965

Mon, Jan 26 - Hampton University Founder's Day, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, Hampton University. General Samuel Armstrong founded Hampton University 145 years ago. Each year, HU’s President Dr. William R. Harvey and other members of the HU community attend a commemorative wreath-placing ceremony at Armstrong’s gravesite, a ceremony featuring a keynote speaker and an awards presentation. Includes performance by the Hampton University choir. 757-727-5402

Wed, Jan 28 - Carrot Tree's Literary High Tea at the Watermen's Museum, 3 - 5:00 pm, 309 Water Street, Yorktown. Enjoy Carrot Tree's delightful high tea featuring; Silk Sachet Teas; Scones & Biscuits; Petite Quiche; Tea Sandwiches; Dessert Plates, and more. Our guest, Bill O'Donovan, Lecturer, History of the Naval Weapons Station. Reservations recommended. Seating is limited. Call for pricing and more information. 757-988-1999

Fri, Jan 30 - Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art New Exhibits Opening, 6 - 8:00 pm, 4000 Parks Avenue, Virginia Beach. Celebrate the opening of MOCA’s new exhibitions including: "Becoming an Artist" Documentary film; Annual juried exhibition, New Waves 2015; Ryan McGinness: Studio Visit; and Selections from the AIGA SHRED Skateboard Art Show. Enjoy live music by Jonny Cardigan and fine fare from Cuisine & Company, East Beach Catering, Mission BBQ, and Yummy Goodness Catering, plus a cash bar. MOCA members and one guest FREE. All other guests $10. MOCA Memberships can be purchased at the event. call 757-425-0000 x310 to reach visitor services.

Fri, Jan 30 thru Sat, Feb 7 - 3rd Annual Restaurant Week in Genuine Smithfield. Participating restaurants will offer reduced prices on their lunch and dinner menus. Each menu will also feature a “healthy choice selection” to celebrate Smithfield-On-The-Move’s “Order Healthy Project.” Visit your favorite participating restaurants to take advantage of these special menu options at this great special price! For further information call 757.357.5182.

Fri-Sun, Jan 30-Feb 1 - Virginia Flower and Garden Expo 2015, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Fri/Sat 10:00 am - 7:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, 1000 19th St, Virginia Beach. Produced by the Virginia Horticultural Foundation and Pilot Targeted Media, the Expo promotes horticultural education for everyone from professionals to the weekend enthusiast. This is the one time each year when Hampton Roads residents can get information on virtually every aspect related to flowers and gardening, at a single climate-controlled location. Experts and knowledgeable professionals will be there to discuss plants, plans, products and practices. More than a hundred vendors, exhibitors and displayers provide guests countless ideas and products they can use. http://www.vafgs.org/ or [email protected]

Sat, Jan 31 - Cookie Classic - Trefoil Trek 5K & Samoa Stroll 1 Miler, Bells Mill Park, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 424 Albemarle Drive, Chesapeake. Join the Girl Scouts and get a jump start on Cookie Season at the inaugural Cookie Classic. The Trefoil Trek is a 5K starting at 9 AM, followed by the Samoa Stroll kid's 1 Miler at 10 AM. This event is open to the public. Registered participants will receive a T-Shirt. 5K finishers will receive a custom medal, 1 Milers will receive a fun patch. Prizes will be awarded for: Best Costume, Best Spirit, and Largest Team. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cookie-classic-trefoil-trek-5k-samoa-stroll-1-miler-general-registration-tickets-14396916565?team_reg_type=individual

Sat, Jan 31 - First Annual ACHI Magazine NFDC (National Fashion Designer Competition), Virginia Beach Convention Center, 6 - 10:00 pm, 1000 19th St., Virginia Beach. Admission: ADULT $55 VIP, $35 general admission MILITARY $5 off with military ID Children under 4 free. The 1st Annual ACHI Magazine National Fashion Designer Competition will be held on January 31, 2015 in the beautiful Virginia Beach, VA. This national competition will bring together designers from across the country. Winners will receive $10,000 in cash and prizes.

Sat, Jan 31 - The Instruments of Art Celebration and Auction, Decorum Furniture, 7 - 10:00 pm, 301 West 21st Street, Norfolk. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tidewater Arts Outreach, bringing its healing power of the arts to people who are isolated from society. Live jazz, tapas, and one-of-a-kind silent auction and live auction items featuring 40 musical instruments, transformed by local artists into creative, imaginative works of art. $45 in advance; $55 at door. http://tidewaterartsoutreach.org/

Sat/Sun, Jan 31/Feb 1 - Mid-Atlantic Power League Volleyball Tournament, Hampton Roads Convention center, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, 1610 Coliseum Drive, Hampton. MAPL is a power league for elite junior girls' volleyball teams along the mid-Atlantic coast. MAPL provides high level interregional competition for some of the very best volleyball athletes across the country. By combining multiple age groups, and using a power pool tournament structure, teams have quality matches from start to finish of each event.

Sat/Sun, Jan 31/Feb 1 - Southeastern Guns & Knives Show, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Sat 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, 1000 19th St., Virginia Beach. Founded in 1982 by “Doc” Mendelson, SGK Shows carry on the uniquely American tradition of Gun Shows. Catering to dealers and public alike, SGK currently produces gun shows on the East Coast. For the public, we strive to bring the best assortment of firearms and related products together for home defense, collecting, and sport shooting.

LOCAL THEATER/CONCERTS

Now thru Jan 31 - "Run For Your Wife", presented by The Williamsburg Players, Thu-Sat 8:00 pm, Sat 2:00 pm, 200 Hubbard Lane, Williamsburg. Written by Ray Cooney. Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Directed by Carole Meyer. A taxi driver gets away with having two wives in different areas of London because of his irregular working schedule. Complication is piled upon complication as the cabby tries to keep his double life from exploding! This superb example of the British farce had audiences rolling in the aisles in London and New York! Cost: Adults $20, Students/Children $12

Now thru Feb 1 - "Seminar" by Theresa Rebeck, presented by Little Theatre of Norfolk, Runs Fri/Sat 8:00 pm, Sun 2:30 pm from Jan 9-Feb 1, 801 Claremont Avenue, Norfolk. Four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this biting Broadway comedy. **Contains strong language and adult situations**

Now thru Feb 8 - "The Rainmaker" by N. Richard Nash, presented by The Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, Fri/Sat 8:00 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, 550 Barberton Drive, Virginia Beach. Directed by Carolyn Collings. At the time of a paralyzing drought in the West we discover a girl whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her potential future as an old maid as they are about their dying cattle. The brothers try every possible scheme to marry her off, but without success. Nor is there any sign of relief from the dry heat, when suddenly from out of nowhere appears a picaresque, sweet-talking man with quite the sales pitch. Claiming to be a “rainmaker,” the man promises to bring rain, for $100. It’s a silly idea, but the rainmaker is so refreshing and persistent and optimistic, that the family finally consents. Meanwhile the rainmaker also turns his magic on the girl, and persuades her that she has a very real beauty of her own. She believes it, just as her father believes the fellow can actually bring rain. Rain does come, and so does love.

Now thru Feb 8 - “The Other Place”, presented by The Virginia Stage Company, Tue 7:00 pm, Wed-Sat 8:00 pm, Sat 4:00 pm, Sun 2:00 pm, The Wells Theatre, 108 East Tazewell Street, Norfolk. Nothing is as it seems in this fast-paced psychological thriller that leaves audiences wishing they had a pause button and notepad. Often, it’s what we don’t know or understand that plagues us the most.

Wed, Jan 21 - Front Porch Music Series: JD Silvia Band, Hampton History Museum, 6 - 8:00 pm, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton. Experience an evening of eclectic blues, blues based rock, funky stuff, pop, jazz and even a shot of country. You’ll hear blues-inspired interpretations of everything from Jimi Hendrix to Miles Davis to Buffalo Springfield to Cream to Muddy Waters—maybe even a take on a Funkadelic tune and other surprises! The concert is held in the museum’s Great Hall. Beer and wine will be available for purchase from La Bodega Hampton in the lobby. There is plenty of free parking in the garage across the street. For more information call 757-727-1610.

Thu, Jan 22 - Thursday Film Series: 'The Black Book', Williamsburg Library Theatre, 2:00 pm, 515 Scotland Street, Williamsburg. In the aftermath of Revolutionary leader Robespierre’s ruthless and brutal rise to dictator of France, true patriot Charles D’Aubigny assumes the disguise of his country’s most feared torturer, ‘The Butcher of Strasbourg’, in the hopes of infiltrating Robespierre’s circle. Political moderates have tasked D’Aubigny with locating a black book, a personal diary of the Terror, containing information that can inspire the overthrow of Robespierre.

Thu, Jan 22 - Out of the Box Music Series: 'Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos', Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 6:00 pm, Miller Studio Theatre, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. A new Sandler Center emerging artist series, Out of the Box takes place 6:00 – 9:00pm every Thursday from January 15 – March 5, 2015. The event is in collaboration with Paul Shugrue from Out of the Box on 89.5 WHRV. This series is free and open to the public and will feature live music from the region’s best acts. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Two time International Blues Challenge Finalists, Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos blend old school blues with a modern rock sound. Muddy Water flows into second line funk with fuzzy guitar riffs on Chicago’s south side. 2014 kicked off with VEER Magazines “Best Blues” award and continues with a full length album and festival performances booked across the country.

Thu, Jan 22 - Spring Lecture Series: 'Fakes, Forgeries, and the Art of Deception', with Colette Loll, The Mariners' Museum/USS Monitor Center, 7:00 pm, 100 Museum Dr., Newport News. Fakes and forgeries were once the dirty little secret of the art world, and no gallery, museum or auction house has ever been entirely free from the embarrassment of a costly error of misattribution or faulty provenance. Today, forgery scandals and the bungling of authentication are making big news, spurring a growing public interest in deciphering these costly mistakes. A recent flurry of books, conferences and exhibitions dedicated to fakes, forgeries, mistakes, and misattributions is evidence that the age-old art of forgery has never intrigued the public more than it does today.

Thu, Jan 22 - Hampton’s Greatest Generation At War: 'Our Story, Our Time', Hampton History Museum, 7 - 8:00 pm, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton. This program will feature the stories of three men who became part of America’s greatest generation as WWII heroes. Hamptonian Winston Barnes served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, having two ships sunk beneath him; Jim Ashley served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and had the misfortune of being shot down over Austria and captured by the Germans; Lennie Yarrington enlisted in the Army and landed at Utah Beach during the invasion of Normandy, a few days after D-Day in June 1942. You will have an opportunity to hear the stories of men who made history, fighting on both land and sea.

Thu, Jan 22 - Cabin Fever Concert: 'Planet Full of Blues', Riverwalk Landing, 7 - 8:30 pm, Freight Shed, 331 Water Street, Yorktown. Wipe the winter blues away with a free concert in the Freight Shed at Riverwalk Landing in historic Yorktown. Local musicians engage and interact with the audience during this unique experience. Limited seating, no tickets or reservations, first come-first served.

Thu, Jan 22 - Phoebus Film Club Series: Art and Craft: 'What’s it Take to Catch a Fake', The American Theater, 7:30 pm, 125 E Mellen St, Hampton. This award-winning documentary starts out as a cat-and-mouse art caper, rooted in questions of authorship and authenticity—but what emerges is an intimate story of obsession and the universal need for community, appreciation, and purpose.

Thu, Jan 22 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony, Crosswalk Community Church, 8:00 pm, 7575 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg. Mendelssohn’s popular “Scottish” Symphony inspired by the beauty of the countryside is paired with the haunting and deeply expressive melodies of Bruch’s rich and seductive Violin Concerto No. 1. JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Tamas Kocsis, violin - CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD, Irish Rhapsody No.1, op.78; BRUCH, Concerto for Violin No. 1; MENDELSSOHN, Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

Fri/Sat, Jan 23/24 - Johnny Mathis, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 8:00 pm, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News. One of North America’s most popular entertainers, the legendary Johnny Mathis returns to the Concert Hall stage to perform your favorites in his trademark velvety voice. Known for his smooth vocal skills, celebrated ballads and hits such as “Chances Are,” “The Twelfth of Never,” “It’s Not For Me To Say,” “Misty” and “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late,” Mathis has sold millions of records worldwide and is one of only five recording artists to have Top 40 hits spanning each decade since 1955.

Fri Jan 23 thru Feb 1 - She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, Regent University, Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 2:30 & 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, Thu 7:30 pm, , Studio Theater, 1000 Regent University Dr (off Centerville), Virginia Beach. Mayhem ensues in one of the greatest English comedies of all time when a young aristocrat mistakes his would-be bride for the local barmaid. The New York Times calls it "...a comedy of its time, for all time."

Sat, Jan 24 - The Hidden Power of Motivation - Ignite Day: Charles Clark, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 1:00 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. The Hidden Power of Motivation by 6th Fastest Man in the World, Charles Clark. This event will be unforgettable, life changing, and ideal for what you should expect in your personal and business endeavors. Live music, celebrities, entrepreneurs and one unforgettable event! Free with the students 10-16 years olds. Special guests appearance by Miss Alabama, Molly Franks, Huffington Post writer, Vanessa Cunningham, and 6th Fastest Man in the World, Charles Clark.

Sat, Jan 24 - The Simon Family JCC’s 22nd Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film: Cupcakes, TCC Roper Performing Arts Center, 7:00 pm, 340 Granby Street, Norfolk. When a group of best friends in Tel Aviv gather to watch ‘UniverSong’, they are less than impressed by the official Israeli entry. Believing that they can do better, they spontaneously create and record their own song on a mobile phone. Little do they know, their performance is seen by the ‘UniverSong’ judges and soon they are reluctantly thrown into the spotlight as Israel’s next official entry. With a soundtrack provided by Babydaddy from Scissor Sisters, this hilarious comedy is a refreshing ode to music and friendship.

Sat, Jan 24 - Tidewater Bluegrass Music Assoc. Monthly Bluegrass Concert, Hickory Ruritan Club, 7:00 pm, 2752 South Battlefield Boulevard, Chesapeake. The TBMA monthly concert held at the Hickory Ruritan Club features some of the best in local and regional bluegrass talent. January’s concert features music by Coastline Bluegrass. Donations are accepted at the door to cover the cost of the bands and rental. Admission: Donations at the Door

Sat, Jan 24 - Bria Kelly & The Bria Kelly Band, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 8:00 pm, 110 West Finney Avenue, Suffolk. $25. Bria Kelly was a semi-finalist on Season 7 of America’s Got Talent and Season 6 of The Voice! The Bria Kelly Band consists of Bria Kelly (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Logan Flurry (Vocals & Piano), Taylor Gomer (Percussion), and Andrew Ballard (Bass). The band has been said to be a “different type of teenage band.” With musical influences such as Bonnie Raitt and John Mayer, to country stylings of Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood, this band puts on a show that you definitely don’t want to miss! 757.923.2900 / www.SuffolkCenter.org

Sat, Jan 24 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony, Regent University, 8:00 pm, off Centerville Tnpk & Indian River Rd, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach. Mendelssohn’s popular “Scottish” Symphony inspired by the beauty of the countryside is paired with the haunting and deeply expressive melodies of Bruch’s rich and seductive Violin Concerto No. 1. JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Tamas Kocsis, violin - CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD, Irish Rhapsody No.1, op.78; BRUCH, Concerto for Violin No. 1; MENDELSSOHN, Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

Sat, Jan 24 - The Fuzz Band, The American Theater, 8:00 pm, 125 E Mellen St, Hampton. 2014 Veer Music Award winners for Best R&B, The Fuzz Band, whose sound is a fusion of Urban & Rock music, met and formed while attending Hampton University. Originally created as the house band for Fuzzy Wednesday, Virginia’s longest running open mic, the band soon began collaborating on original music and developing their own sound. Performing first at local venues and colleges, the band soon released Without Boundaries, followed by Collision, Change, and a Change of the Guards. Several years, albums, and three USO tours later, the band can count Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, Africa, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, and England as second homes where they experienced bombings, medical emergencies involving IVs, and pseudo kidnapping & ransom scenarios all in the name of music.

Sat, Jan 24 - Williamsburg Symphonia Cabaret & Cocktails Pops Concert, Williamsburg Lodge, 8:00 pm, 310 South England Street, Williamsburg. The Williamsburg Symphonia, Williamsburg’s own professional orchestra conducted by Janna Hymes, presents Cabaret & Cocktails - a Pops concert featuring favorite songs of the ’20s to the ’50s, with guest artists Harris Simon, Liz Montgomery, Bobby Jasinski and Tempy Barbru. the lobby cash bar (no credit cards) opens at 7:00 p.m., the doors open at 7:15, and the performance begins at 8:00. Seating at tables of 10 - $60 & $75 each or theater seating - $25 or $45 each. Purchase tickets online at www.TIX.com or by calling 1-800-595-4TIX (4849) until Jan. 20; Jan. 21-24, call 757-229-9857 for tickets. For more information: visit www.williamsburgsymphonia.org or [email protected].

Sun, Jan 25 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Babar the Elephant, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 3:00 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. The treasured children’s book character Babar the Elephant comes to life on the Sandler Center stage when the VSO performs Francis Poulenc’s playful music. Reminiscent of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, various instruments are used to illustrate Babar and the other characters in the story.

Sun, Jan 25 - Chesapeake Civic Chorus Winter Concert, St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4:00 pm, 437 Providence Road, Chesapeake. Admission: Free - Donations accepted. Chorus will perform a selection of sacred choral and classical compositions by the Masters. Contact: Geraldine Boone, email to: [email protected]

Sun, Jan 25 - The Simon Family JCC’s 22nd Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film: The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, TCC Roper Performing Arts Center, 5:30 pm, 340 Granby Street, Norfolk. Be sure to come at 5:30 to enjoy the reception which precedes the film, elegantly catered by TCC Culinary Arts Students. An Oscar nominated film, this is the annual selection of esteemed local critic Mal Vincent, who will be on hand to lead a lively discussion before the film. The younger son of a working-class Jewish family in Montreal, Duddy Kravitz yearns to make a name for himself in society. This film chronicles his short and dubious rise to power, as well as his changing relationships with family and friends. Along the way the film explores the themes of anti-Semitism and the responsibilities which come with adulthood.

Sun, Jan 25 - Scotty McCreery, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 7:00 pm, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News. Scotty McCreery recently released his second No. 1-debuting album with his sophomore release, “See You Tonight.” “See You Tonight’s” Top 10 title track marks McCreery’s third RIAA Gold-certified single as an artist and his first as a writer. On the album, McCreery continues to showcase his bass voice while perfectly blending contemporary and traditional country. McCreery has become one of country music’s hottest new stars with album sales approaching 2 million. His platinum-selling debut album, “Clear As Day,” made Billboard history by debuting No. 1 on the Top 200 chart — a first for a country artist on their first studio album.

Tue, Jan 27 - Chris Brown "Between The Sheets Tour" with Trey Songz and Tyga, Hampton Coliseum, 7:00 pm, 1000 Coliseum Dr., Hampton. Produced and promoted exclusively by Live Nation, the BETWEEN THE SHEETS TOUR will take the two entertainment heavyweights to 25 cities across North America, with special guest Tyga.

Thu, Jan 29 - Thursday Film Series: 'Rasputin and the Empress', Williamsburg Library Theatre, 2:00 pm, 515 Scotland Street, Williamsburg. Lionel Barrymore plays Rasputin, the Siberian monk with an uncanny influence over Czarina Romanoff (played by Ethel Barrymore) in this film about White Russia before the Revolution. John Barrymore appears as Prince Chegodieff.

Thu, Jan 29 - Out of the Box Music Series: Dustin Furlow, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 6:00 pm, Miller Studio Theatre, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. A new Sandler Center emerging artist series, Out of the Box takes place 6:00 – 9:00pm every Thursday from January 15 – March 5, 2015. The event is in collaboration with Paul Shugrue from Out of the Box on 89.5 WHRV. This series is free and open to the public and will feature live music from the region’s best acts. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Dustin's style of vocal technique and guitar-playing have evolved steadily throughout the past 2 years on the Hampton Roads music scene. His own songs carry a rhythmic yet "held-loosely" feel. Elements of finger-style guitar virtuoso Andy McKee can be heard in his music and well as the lyrical hooks and text-painting of Dave Matthews.

Thu, Jan 29 - Zap Mama & Antibalas, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 7:30 pm, 1 University Pl, Newport News. Zap Mama and Antibalas bring the Afrobeat world-music sound to the Ferguson Center in a concert like you’ve never heard or felt before! Known to her fans as Zap Mama, Marie Daulne began as the leader and founder of a female vocal polyphonic quintet that succeeded worldwide and has since evolved into a variety of configurations approaching Urban, Jazz, American Soul and Afro-Pop music styles. Using the organic tone of the human voice, Zap Mama has developed her sound for over 20 years, inspiring diverse audiences around the world.

Thu, Jan 29 - An Evening with Vince Gill & Lyle Lovett, Chrysler Hall, 8:00 pm, 201 East Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk. One of the most popular and most recorded singers of the past quarter-century, superstar Vince Gill has become the measure of excellence in country music. His vocal performances are spellbinding, his songwriting emotionally powerful and his guitar-playing world-class. Lyle Lovett is an American country singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date. Lovett has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album.

Fri, Jan 30 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Ode to Joy, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 8:00 pm, 1 University Pl, Newport News. Beethoven's ecstatic Ninth Symphony celebrates life and fellowship through the thrilling combination of orchestra and human voice. JoAnn Falletta leads the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, chorus and soloists in this magnificent masterpiece. The amazing conclusion and "Ode to Joy" will leave you breathless.

Fri, Jan 30 - Celtic Fiddle Festival, The American Theater, 8:00 pm, 125 E Mellen St, Hampton. Celtic Fiddle Festival marks twenty years of joyful, compelling, and powerful music with their sixth recording, Live in Brittany. Described as “three sensational fiddlers from three distinct Celtic traditions” by the Boston Herald, the group features Kevin Burke, a giant of Irish music; renowned fiddler Christian Lemaître (Kornog) from Brittany, France; and sensational young Quebecois musician André Brunet (De Temps Antan, La Bottine Souriante). Called “three of the finest folk violinists anywhere” by The Washington Post, Celtic Fiddle Festival celebrates the violin in all its globe-trotting variations. Along with acclaimed guitarist Nicolas Quemener from Brittany, the quartet combines their talents, musical traditions, and spontaneous humor for an evening of dazzling energy and subtle grace.

Fri, Jan 30 thru Feb 3 - "Salome", Harrison Opera House, Fri 8:00 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, Tue 7:30 pm, 160 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk. With a steamy combination of biblical themes, sexual tension and murder, Richard Strauss’ Salome surprised opera audiences when it appeared in 1905. Virginia Opera’s upcoming Salome, co-produced with Portland Opera in Oregon, is a premiere example of the lush musical sound of the early 20th century opera composition. Featuring the alluring Dance of the Seven Veils, today we are seized by the gripping final scene as Salome sinks to the murky depths of corruption.

Fri, Jan 30 thru Feb 15 - "boom", by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, presented by Double Dog/Generic Theater, Fri at 8:00 pm, Sun at 3:30 pm, beneath the Chrysler, 215 St. Paul's Blvd, Norfolk. A grad student’s online personal ad lures a journalism student to his subterranean research lab under the pretense of an evening of “no strings attached” sex. But when a major catastrophic event strikes the planet, their date takes on evolutionary significance and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. What about the fish in the tank? And who is that woman pulling levers and playing the timpani? An epic and intimate comedy that spans over billions of years and explores the influences of fate versus randomness in the course of one’s life, and life as we know it. Double Dog Theatre and Generic Theater present two wildly different plays with the same cast and production team. Enjoy ONE of these unique plays or see BOTH for a discount.

Fri, Jan 30 thru Feb 15 - "OR", by Liz Duffy Adams, presented by Double Dog/Generic Theater, Sat at 8:00 pm, Sun at 7:00 pm, beneath the Chrysler, 215 St. Paul's Blvd Norfolk. OR, takes place during one night in the life of Aphra Behn: poet, spy, and soon to be the first professional female playwright. Sprung from debtors’ prison after a disastrous overseas mission, Aphra is desperate to get out of the spy trade. She has a shot at a production if she can only finish her play by morning despite interruptions from sudden new love, actress Nell Gwynne; complicated royal love, King Charles II; and very dodgy ex-love, double-agent William Scott—who may be in on a plot to murder the king. Can Aphra resist Nell’s charms, save Charles’ life, win William a pardon, and launch her career, all in one night? Double Dog Theatre and Generic Theater present two wildly different plays with the same cast and production team. Enjoy ONE of these unique plays or see BOTH for a discount.

Sat, Jan 31 - Civil War 150 HistoryMobile, Fort Monroe Post Theater, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, 41 Tidball Rd., Hampton. The HistoryMobile recounts the Civil War, using immersive spaces and interactive exhibits to draw together stories from the viewpoints of those who experienced it. The exhibit is divided into four sections: Battlefront, Homefront, Journey to Freedom, and Loss-Gain-Legacy. The HistoryMobile presents the stories of real people and encourages visitors to imagine: “What Would You Do?”

Sat, Jan 31 - William's Adventure In Black History, The Williamsburg Players, 11:00 am, 200 Hubbard Lane, Williamsburg. A fast-paced adventure through the remarkable people and events that have shaped this part of American History. The show opens the door to 400 years of Black History in America. Nearly 20 historical figures and events unfold in this production, while audience volunteers join our actors on-stage to do everything from help Mae Jemison travel into space to encourage Rosa Parks to forever change America by not giving up her seat. For ages: Grade k - 5.

Sat, Jan 31 - Free Screening: "Lincoln", Fort Monroe Post Theater, 1:00 pm, 41 Tidball Rd., Hampton. To commemorate the Peace Conference of 1865 a free screening of Stephen Spielberg's Lincoln will be offered. A panel discussion of the film will follow. Reservations encouraged as seating is limited.

Sat, Jan 31 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Ode to Joy, Chrysler Hall, 8:00 pm, 201 East Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk. Beethoven's ecstatic Ninth Symphony celebrates life and fellowship through the thrilling combination of orchestra and human voice. JoAnn Falletta leads the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, chorus and soloists in this magnificent masterpiece. The amazing conclusion and "Ode to Joy" will leave you breathless.

Sun, Feb 1 - The Australian Bee Gees Show, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 2:00 pm, 1 University Pl, Newport News. The Australian Bee Gees Show is a multimedia theatrical concert experience that takes a nostalgic trip through the legacy the Bee Gees left behind while celebrating over four decades of the infectious music written by the Gibb brothers. The unsurpassed and state-of-the-art sound show celebrates one of the most influential and famous musical groups of all time with live camera images and vivid graphics that will get you dancin’ on your feet.

Sun, Feb 1 - Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Ode to Joy, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 2:30 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. Beethoven's ecstatic Ninth Symphony celebrates life and fellowship through the thrilling combination of orchestra and human voice. JoAnn Falletta leads the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, chorus and soloists in this magnificent masterpiece. The amazing conclusion and "Ode to Joy" will leave you breathless.

Sun, Feb 1 - First Sunday Evenings: "Gypsy Charm", A New Family Musical by Shari Graber, The American Theater, 8:00 pm, 125 E Mellen St, Hampton. Tapping into the current cultural hunger for the supernatural, this new musical is sure to delight young audiences and families as it follows a young girl who is in search of a way to remove an ancient Gypsy curse which threatens to end her life by a certain age.

Mon, Feb 2 - National Play Reading Series - First Reading and Reception, The Wells Theatre, 6:00 pm, 110 E. Tazwell Street, Norfolk. Virginia Stage Company (VSC) produces new Play Reading Series. Play Readings begin at 7:00pm, preceded by a Happy Hour and Artist/Playwright Meet and Greet at 6:00pm. Through a series of five play readings from February-May 2015 VSC seeks to empower the voices of contemporary playwrights that illuminate the postmillennial human condition and strengthen the local artistic community by producing thought provoking play readings reflective of the variety of experiences within our community and beyond.

Mon, Feb 2 - Reconstructing Williamsburg’s Revolutionary War Armoury - Port Hampton Lecture, Hampton History Museum, 7 - 8:00 pm, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton. Kenneth Schwartz, Master of the Anderson Blacksmith Shop and Public Armoury at Colonial Williamsburg, talks about the construction of the shop he works in. The Armoury was an enlargement of the blacksmith shop accomplished during the American Revolution, chiefly for weapons repair. In addition to the manufacturing of nails, axes, kettles, and other useful metal implements by the forty people employed there, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, gun stockers, tin plate workers, and others made and repaired muskets, swords, and bayonets.

Tue, Feb 3 - The Norfolk Forum presents: 'Ayaan Hirsi Ali', Chrysler Hall, 7:30 pm, 201 East Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk. Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1969. The daughter of a political opponent of the Somali dictatorship, Ayaan Hirsi Ali grew up in exile, moving from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia then Kenya. After earning her M.A. in political science, Ayaan worked as a researcher for the Wiardi Beckman Foundation in Amsterdam. She then served as an elected member of the Dutch parliament from 2003 to 2006. She is now a Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Ayaan is currently researching the relationship between the West and Islam. She has to live with round-the-clock security. Her willingness to speak out and her abandonment of the Muslim faith have made her a target for violence by Islamic extremists.

Tue, Feb 3 - The International Guitar Night, The American Theater, 7:30 pm, 125 E Mellen St, Hampton. The International Guitar Night (IGN) brings together the world’s foremost acoustic guitarists to perform their latest original compositions and exchange musical ideas in a public concert setting. Each tour, IGN founder Brian Gore invites a new cast of guitar luminaries to join him for special evenings of solos, duets and quartets that highlight the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar. For the 2015 North American tour, Brian Gore will be joined by classical innovator and fellow Californian Andrew York, Brazilian jazz master Diego Figueiredo and contemporary French-Canadian steel string icon Erik Mongrain.

Thu, Feb 5 - Thursday Film Series: 'George Washington Slept Here', Williamsburg Library Theatre, 2:00 pm, 515 Scotland Street, Williamsburg. A screen adaptation of the Broadway hit about a city-dwelling family that buys a Pennsylvania farmhouse.

Thu, Feb 5 - Walnut Street Theatre: A Life in the Theater by David Mamet, The American Theater, 7:30 pm, 125 E Mellen St, Hampton. The acclaimed Walnut Street Theatre company returns to The American Theatre with this funny and touching behind-the-scenes peek at the challenge of actors battling to share both the spotlight and a dressing room. A Life in the Theatre follows two actors in a repertory company - Robert, an older experienced performer and John, a newcomer. John at first welcomes Robert’s guidance, but soon overshadows his mentor. From rehearsals to reprisals, from ego trips to acting tips, the play gives a glimpse into the complex relationship that develops as the torch is passed from one generation to the next - a passing that wavers from love and mutual respect to impatience and resentment.

Thu, Feb 5 - On Screen/In Person: "Rebels With a Cause", Ferguson Center for the Arts, 7:00 pm, Music & Theatre Hall, 1 University Pl, Newport News. Directed by Nancy Kelly. Rebels With a Cause explores how a handful of politically savvy activists fought to protect San Francisco’s Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area from the threat of sprawl and over-development at a time when California was the nation’s fastest-growing state. Their efforts set new precedents for protecting open space and helped shape the environmental movement as we know it today.

Thu, Feb 5 - Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 7:30 pm, 1 University Pl, Newport News. Enrique Bátiz, Music Director and Chief Conductor; Irina Chistiakova, Piano Soloist. In 1971, the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México was founded to promote music as a means of union and identification among Mexicans. Scheduled Program: Manuel de Falla - Noches en los Jardines de España, Piano Soloist: Irina Chistiakova; Manuel Ponce - Piano concerto “Romantic”, Piano Soloist: Irina Christiakova; Intermission; Johannes Brahms - Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68.

Thu, Feb 5 - Cabin Fever Concert: 'Ron Fetner Trio', Riverwalk Landing, 7 - 8:30 pm, Freight Shed, 331 Water Street, Yorktown. Wipe the winter blues away with a free concert in the Freight Shed at Riverwalk Landing in historic Yorktown. Local musicians engage and interact with the audience during this unique experience. Limited seating, no tickets or reservations, first come-first served.

FARMERS’ MARKETS

While large conventions certainly have the ability to offer a wide variety of programming, dozens of guests, and huge artist alleys and dealer rooms, small conventions absolutely have their own charm and appeal.  Last weekend, I attended the 2nd Annual Eastern Shore Fan Convention in Princess Anne, Maryland along with Heather and Nate of Zhobot and Denis.  To be honest, we had no idea what to expect.  All of us were fully prepared to walk around the convention for a few hours, take pictures, and leave.  Instead, we were beyond pleasantly surprised.