Norfolk, Va

Big Bands on the Bay Season Finale!

Features music by Terry Chesson Orchestra

Enjoy a relaxing evening of live Big Band music and dance while wtaching the sunset. Bring your chairs, blankets, water, non-alc beverages, munchies, etc to share. Bring street shoes for a concrete dance floor or grass.

Mini Swing Lessons are available from Swing Virginia - just ask, they usually sit to the right of the grass by the stairs.

PARKING: Plenty of space in the Farm Fresh parking lot across the street.

Contributed by Kimberley Cuachon-Haugh

What do you get when you mix the 20^th year of Joanne Foletta with the VSO, producer Aaron Fornstein and a new executive director Eric Borenstein?

An exciting kick off to the 2010/2011 season and the first ever VSO Unplugged event, that’s what. The historical Granby Theater welcomed symphony enthusiasts for an evening hosted by Joanne Foletta who opened us up to the much anticipated performances that the VSO will be presenting.

To begin the evening, violin power couple, concert master Vaun Armstrong and assistant concert master Amanda Armstrong dueted Béla Bartók’s “Transylvania Dance”. Vaun Armstrong will be performing Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto as part of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony, conducted by Foletta.

The evening’s more laid back atmosphere lent the chance for us to see VSO musicians in a new light; strap-on electric violin included for an awesome rendition of Eric Clapton’s “Crossroads” and a demonstration of circular breathing, a technique mastered by Virginia Beach native Joe Burgstaller, who had the audience inhaling, breath holding, and wondering “how does he do that? Burgstaller on standard trumpet, flugelhorn and piccolo trumpet delivered the exotic sounds that will round out VSO’s 20^th season. At times it seemed as though Burgstaller’s fingers were separate entities of their own.

Mezzo soprano Sarah Williams dazzled us with her charm and voice giving us a taste of the Pop Series to come with a snippet from Broadway Divas. What can be assumed from Williams’ captivating performance of My Fair Lady’s “Could Have Danced All Night” and Funny Girl’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade” is an exciting and energy filled show that will prompt fond memories.

As the evening wound down, Robert Theis commanded the theater with two preludes from Gershwin tantalizing us for his classic and pop series that will celebrate Gershwin. He received an enormous applause which forced him to return to the spotlight for a second bow.

The night was a smart and clever approach to entice symphony enthusiasts and VSO supporters alike. It brought forth a more personal and memorable connection with the audience who will most likely take more than a second glance whenever anything is mentioned about the VSO in future. An entertaining auction that contained prizes such as an evening with Joanne Foletta and her husband at their home which fetched for $700 shows the VSO’s eagerness to captivate and keep the interests of their symphony community. All In all, the VSO get’s it! The high collared, pinky lifting stigma of the symphony must be broken, and was at this unplugged engagement, especially if it wishes to fills seats and maintain support from the community.

FREE MOVIE TICKETS FOR PREMIER SCREENING OF THE TOWN

Regal MacArthur in Norfolk on Tuesday, September 14

There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year. And most of the professionals live in a one-square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown.

One of them is Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), but he is not cut from the same cloth as his fellow thieves. Unlike them, Doug had a chance at success, a chance to escape following in his father's criminal footsteps. Instead, he became the leader of a crew of ruthless bank robbers, who pride themselves on taking what they want and getting out clean. The only family Doug has are his partners in crime, especially Jem (Jeremy Renner), who, despite his dangerous, hair-trigger temper, is the closest thing Doug ever had to a brother. However, everything changed on the gang's last job when Jem briefly took a hostage: bank manager Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall). When they discover she lives in Charlestown, Jem gets nervous and wants to check out what she might have seen. Knowing what Jem is capable of, Doug takes charge. He seeks out Claire, who has no idea that their encounter is not by chance or that this charming stranger is one of the men who terrorized her only days before.

As his relationship with Claire deepens into a passionate romance, Doug wants out of this life and the town. But with the Feds, led by Agent Frawley (Jon Hamm), closing in and Jem questioning his loyalty, Doug realizes that getting out will not be easy and, worse, may put Claire in the line of fire. Any choices he once had have boiled down to one: betray his friends or lose the woman he loves.
Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck ("Good Will Hunting," "Gone Baby Gone") directed and stars in "The Town," a dramatic thriller about robbers and cops, friendship and betrayal, love and hope, and escaping a past that has no future.

The film also stars Rebecca Hall ("Vicky Christina Barcelona"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Oscar® nominee Jeremy Renner ("The Hurt Locker"), Blake Lively ("The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," TV's "Gossip Girl"), Titus Welliver ("Gone Baby Gone"), Oscar® nominee Pete Postlethwaite ("In the Name of the Father," "Inception"), and Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper ("Adaptation").
Rated "R" for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.

Please use the following link and code to attend free.

For your complimentary tickets to a special advance screening of THE TOWN in Norfolk on Tuesday, September 14 log onto www.gofobo.com/rsvp and input the following code: INPASSSMF8 to download your tickets.

As a reminder, screening tickets do not guarantee admittance. Seating is first come, first served.

THE TOWN
Promo Screening
Tuesday, September 14
7:30 pm
Regal MacArthur
Norfolk, VA

THE TOWN - In Theaters Friday, September 17th.