Hampton Roads Is Changing.

Let’s Talk About It.

The homes, history, culture and questions shaping how we live in Hampton Roads.

The Uncle Nearest Saga Just Became a Real Estate Story…

By Brit Porter | Aug 6, 2026 | Comments Off on The Uncle Nearest Saga Just Became a Real Estate Story…
Historic photograph of Nathan “Nearest” Green with fellow distillery workers, illustrating the legacy behind the Uncle Nearest lawsuit.

The Uncle Nearest Saga Just Became a Real Estate Story What started as a whiskey company’s legal battle is now raising bigger questions about commercial lending, due diligence, and who is responsible when millions of dollars are on the line. Editor’s Note: This article discusses allegations made in active litigation. The claims referenced have not […]

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The Oldest Restaurant in Hampton Roads Is Still Here for a Reason

By Brit Porter | Jul 22, 2026 | Comments Off on The Oldest Restaurant in Hampton Roads Is Still Here for a Reason
A worker hand-rolls a waffle cone on the historic cone-making machine at Doumar’s, the oldest restaurant in Hampton Roads, in Norfolk, Virginia.

More Than a Restaurant The oldest restaurant in Hampton Roads isn’t just a place to grab a meal. It’s a reminder that some places become woven into the identity of an entire community. Some last a few years. A few last a few decades. Very few become part of a city’s identity. Doumar’s Cones and […]

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What Makes a House Smell Like Home?

By Brit Porter | Jul 20, 2026 | Comments Off on What Makes a House Smell Like Home?
Morning sunlight, fresh cotton towels, and rain drifting through an open window evoke the smell of home and the memories certain scents create.

What Makes a House Smell Like Home? Some people swear it’s fresh-baked cookies. Others say it’s coffee brewing before sunrise. For me, it’s much simpler. It’s the smell of fresh cotton towels and clean sheets straight from the dryer. That scent instantly makes a house feel peaceful. It doesn’t matter where I am. For just […]

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When Did We Start Working for the Grocery Store?

By Brit Porter | Jul 18, 2026 | Comments Off on When Did We Start Working for the Grocery Store?
Shoppers using self-checkout lanes while a single cashier assists customers in a modern grocery store.

When Did We Start Working for the Grocery Store? Or maybe the better question is… when did we start working everywhere? How Self-Checkout Changed the Way We Shop Anyone who knows me knows exactly how I feel about self-checkout. I avoid it whenever I can. Especially around 7:00 p.m., when everyone has just gotten off […]

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Why Do Complete Strangers Love Looking at Other People’s Houses?

By Brit Porter | Jul 17, 2026 | Comments Off on Why Do Complete Strangers Love Looking at Other People’s Houses?
A passerby pauses on a Hampton Roads sidewalk at dusk, looking toward a warmly lit home and wondering about the life unfolding inside.

Why Do Complete Strangers Love Looking at Other People’s Houses? Maybe houses have never been the destination. They’ve always been the doorway into someone else’s life. Zillow. Open houses. Historic home tours. Walking through beautiful neighborhoods on vacation. Slowing down to admire a century old home on your evening drive. For something so deeply personal, […]

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When Does a Criminal Record Stop Defining Someone’s Housing Future?

By Brit Porter | Jul 15, 2026 | Comments Off on When Does a Criminal Record Stop Defining Someone’s Housing Future?
Housing application and background screening documents on a leasing office desk representing criminal record and housing barriers.

When Does a Criminal Record Stop Defining Someone’s Housing Future? Virginia is sealing more criminal records. But changing what appears on paper does not automatically change what people believe. The connection between a criminal record and housing can become complicated long after a sentence ends. I have a client who can afford housing, yet a […]

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How Do You Know When a City Has Truly Grown Up?

By Brit Porter | Jul 14, 2026 | Comments Off on How Do You Know When a City Has Truly Grown Up?
International grocery store aisle filled with global foods and fresh produce.

What If Cultural Access Is Part of Hampton Roads Growth? Maybe growth is not only measured by what we build, but by how many people can find a piece of home here. When we talk about Hampton Roads growth, most people would probably point to new neighborhoods. New businesses. New jobs. A growing population. But […]

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Sunday Leisure: Why Is Everything Trying to Rush Us?

By Brit Porter | Jul 12, 2026 | Comments Off on Sunday Leisure: Why Is Everything Trying to Rush Us?
Quiet road passing a lavender field, reflecting the luxury of slowing down and noticing life’s moments.

Sunday Leisure: Why Is Everything Trying to Rush Us? When the ability to slow down becomes its own kind of luxury. It is Sunday. For many of us, the day that is supposed to be slower. And somehow, before we have even finished our coffee, something is already asking us to hurry. Only 2 left. […]

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When Did We Stop Waiting for the Mail?

By Brit Porter | Jul 11, 2026 | Comments Off on When Did We Stop Waiting for the Mail?
Older family members passing a bundle of handwritten letters across a wooden table in a sunlit home.

Hampton Roads Is Changing. Let’s Talk About It. The homes, history, culture and questions shaping how we live in Hampton Roads.

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Have We Outsourced Childhood? Why Does It Cost So Much to Let Kids Be Kids in Hampton Roads?

By Brit Porter | Jul 9, 2026 | 1 Comment
Older Craftsman bungalow with children’s bicycles, sidewalk chalk, and toys scattered throughout the yard, symbolizing childhood, neighborhood friendships, and community in Hampton Roads.

Have We Outsourced Childhood? Why Does It Cost So Much to Let Kids Be Kids in Hampton Roads? Hampton Roads offers more opportunities for young people than many realize. But in solving one problem, have we quietly changed what childhood looks like? Looking for free things to do with kids in Hampton Roads? You’ll find […]

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