Newport News Tourism Development Office Fountain Plaza Two 700 Town Center Drive Suite 320 Newport News, VA 23606 757-926-1400 Toll Free 888-493-7386 Fax 757-926-1441 www.newport-news.org WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AUGUST 7 - 13, 2015 PERFORMING ARTS “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC – THE MANDATORY TOUR Ferguson Center for the Arts August 8; 8 p.m. With more than 12 million albums sold, three Grammys to his name and one of only three performers in history to have registered a Top 40 single in each of the last four decades, “Weird Al” Yankovic is back on the road with The Mandatory World Tour. Fresh off the release of his 14th studio album, Mandatory Fun (the first ever comedy album to debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200), Weird Al takes no prisoners with parodies of some of the biggest hits from 2014 such as Pharrell Williams’ Happy (Tacky), Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines (Word Crimes), Lorde’s Royals (Foil), Iggy Azalea’s Fancy (Handy) and Imagine Dragons’ Radioactive (Inactive). Irreverent. Hilarious. And it’s Mandatory! 1 Avenue of the Arts, 757-594-8752, www.fergusoncenter.org. PETER FRAMPTON & CHEAP TRICK Ferguson Center for the Arts August 11; 7:30 p.m. Time-tested rockers Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick co-headline this concert for the ages in the fittingly, acoustically superb, Ferguson Center for the Arts concert hall! 1 Avenue of the Arts, 757-594-8752, www.fergusoncenter.org. SPECIAL EVENTS AT NEWPORT NEWS ATTRACTIONS FRIDAY NIGHT ADVENTURES: OH DEER! Newport News Park August 7; 8 p.m. Meet a park naturalist and discover facts about some of the park’s natural and historical features. 13560 Jefferson Avenue, 757-886-7916, www.nnparks.com. CAMPIN’ KIDS: JUNIOR RANGERS NEWPORT NEWS PARK August 8; 4 p.m. Meet at the Campsite Activity Building for a variety of fun afternoon activities lead by a park naturalist. 13560 Jefferson Avenue, 757-888-3333, www.nnparks.com. DISCOVERY HOUR Newport News Park August 8; 11 a.m. Discover special facts about the wildlife living in our area, enjoy fun activities in the park and meet new friends while learning about our natural environment. Most programs will begin at the Discover Center and may include crafts, games or a nature walk for the whole family. 13560 Jefferson Avenue, 757-886-7916, www.nnparks.com. HAYRIDES Newport News Park August 8; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy park interpretation and discussion on this 40 minute ride through the campground and bikeway. Complimentary tickets are available at the Campsite Office 30 minutes prior to each ride. Space is limited. All participants must be present to receive a ticket. 13560 Jefferson Avenue, 757-888-3333, www.nnparks.com. SECOND SATURDAYS: COFFEE DAYS The Mariners’ Museum August 8 On the second Saturday of the month, from March to August, the museum is hosting coffee- related art workshops for families at The Mariners’ Museum. Work with a local art expert to create beautiful artworks from coffee. Workshops last about 45 minutes, and start at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. Local coffee roasters will provide tastings of their coffee and will be on hand to answer all your coffee questions. 100 Museum Drive, 757-596-2222, www.marinersmuseum.org. STAR PARTY / LASER LIGHT SHOWS Virginia Living Museum August 8 Free observing begins at sunset at the Virginia Living Museum. Rock on to music from great ‘80s bands in “Laser Retro” at 6:30 p.m. Take a tour of the current night sky in “Virginia Skies” at 7:30 p.m. “Laser Country” at 8:30 p.m. features some of the brightest stars of country music. The sixties are back, and they are as psychedelic as ever with “Laser Doors” at 10 p.m. Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” is at 11:30 p.m. All shows $6. The Wild Side Café is open 6 to 9 p.m. 524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, 757-595-1400, www.thevlm.org. VIRGINIA IS FOR….FROGS Virginia Living Museum August 8; 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 2015 is officially Virginia's Year of the Frog - so help celebrate at the Virginia Living Museum. Representatives from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will have displays about Virginia frogs, their habitats and their survival challenges. The learning and fun will continue with take-home crafts and activities. Activities 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, talk with Clyde Peeling's Reptiland Zookeeper Rachel Rathmell in the Frogs exhibit and meet some new frogs. Included in museum admission. 524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, 757-595-1400, www.thevlm.org. ART + WORDS POETRY NIGHT Peninsula Fine Arts Center August 13; 6 p.m. PFAC's monthly celebration of spoken word welcomes Nicole Emmelhaiz, a poet and assistant professor at Christopher Newport University. Poets are invited to share original or favorite poems during the open mic portion of the evening. Art + Words is offered on the second Thursday of every month. 101 Museum Drive, 757-596-8175, www.pfac-va.org. MARITIME MONDAYS: SAIL AWAY The Mariners’ Museum August 10; 10 a.m. Fun for Children! Join us Monday mornings for engaging, learning activities for children. This week explore one place to another with transportation on the water! 100 Museum Drive, 757-596-2222, www.marinersmuseum.org. 25 MICS SPOKEN WORD Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center August 11; 7 p.m. Join us on the second Tuesday of each month for an open mic night hosted by Nina Brewton. 2410 Wickham Avenue, 757-247-8950, www.downinggross.org. VIRGINIA HEALTH SERVICES SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT PORT WARWICK: Port Warwick August 12; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy the summer night air on Styron Square listening to the area’s best music. The concerts are free and all are welcome! Bring your own lawn chairs (no tents), blankets, food and drink – beer and wine allowed, or enjoy the music from one of Port Warwick’s restaurant patios. Loftis Boulevard, 757-223-0284, www.liveonthesquare.org FARMERS MARKET City Center at Oyster Point August 13; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a selection of locally grown fruits, vegetables, seafood, plants, herbs, baked goods, free range chickens, pork, bison, bath products, fresh bread and dog treats. Dairy products: cheese, goat's cheese, milk, bath products, fresh bread and eggs. Mariners Row Market Stage, 757-873-2020, www.citycenteratoysterpoint.com. THURSDAYS BY THE LAKE: AUDIO SAUCE The Mariners’ Museum August 13; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bring a blanket or favorite chair and enjoy live music by some of the area’s hottest bands on the banks of Lake Maury. 100 Museum Drive, 757-596-2222, www.marinersmuseum.org. SUMMER THURSDAYS Virginia Living Museum Continuing through August 27 Enjoy extended hours Thursdays June 25 through Aug. 27 at the Virginia Living Museum. The outdoor trail, gardens and playground areas will stay open until 7:30 p.m. and the Wild Side Café will stay open until 7:45 p.m. Additional planetarium shows will be available at 4:30 p.m.“Noisy Neighbors: A Frog Story” and 5:30 p.m. “The Pluto Show” ($4 plus admission). A new specialty tour, “Every Animal Has a Story,” is offered at 5 p.m. ($12 plus admission). Tour participants walk the outdoor trail at the end of the day with senior animal care staff and learn why and how our animals ended up with a new life at the living museum. Evening hours are supported by EVB. 524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, 757-595-1900, www.thevlm.org. AMAZING ANIMALS LIVE Virginia Living Museum Continuing through September 7 Make your summertime visit to the Virginia Living Museum even wilder by attending a live animal program. Meet and greet a selection of nature’s most fascinating wild creatures – some native to Virginia, some not. Learn about how and what they eat, how they protect themselves, how they interact with their habitats – and more. Presented at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Wason Education Center. Included in museum admission. 524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, 757-595-1900, www.thevlm.org. COFFEE: THE WORLD IN YOUR CUP The Mariners’ Museum Continuing through September 7 Coffee is the world’s most popular beverage behind water. But the story of this common commodity has a complex history that is not well-known. That is, until you visit The Mariners’ Museum. From the plant to your mug, explore the world’s most popular beverage shipped by sea. Guests can see the evolution of coffee, from its origins in Ethiopia, to the hand-picked coffee berries in Costa Rica, all the way to roasting centers across the globe. Try to tug a 125-pound coffee sack, smell the unique coffee aroma we all know and love, and discover how coffee affects cultures, economies and habitats around the world. 100 Museum Drive, 757-596-2222, www.marinersmuseum.org. FROGS: A CHORUS OF COLORS Virginia Living Museum Continuing through September 7 Explore TOAD-ally cool creatures and get eyeball to eyeball with live frogs from around the world! View more than 70 live frogs from across the globe, complete with their noisy croaks, yaps, chirps, whoops, snores and whistles, all housed in detailed habitats with rock ledges, live plants and waterfalls. Interactive games and displays help visitors of all ages have fun while exploring frogs’ biology and natural history, the roles they play in human cultures, their importance to ecosystems and the perils they face in a changing environment.