Good Morning Virginia Beach!

If the past few days have felt a little different, you’re not imagining it. We’re finally seeing the shift toward spring. Temperatures have climbed into the 70s and even touched around 80°F this week, a big jump from the colder stretches we had just a couple weeks ago.

In this week’s newsletter, we’re sharing:

• Waves returning to the Oceanfront
• A colorful spring experience
• An opportunity to help shape the future of the arts in our region
• A new business opening with a fun grand-opening giveaway
• And a roundup of local events happening around town

Let’s get into it!

— Kim Checcio

Big news out of the local surf world: WRV president LG Shaw III has been named to the Board of Directors of the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Shaw is as homegrown as it gets. His father, Hall of Famer Les Shaw, helped build Wave Riding Vehicles into one of the most influential surf retailers and board companies in the country after purchasing the brand in the early 1970s. LG carried that torch, spending nearly a decade running WRV's Oahu location before returning home to lead the company as president.

His impact goes well beyond the shop too. Shaw helped form the ViBe Creative District, created The Alley, and brought WRV on as the official retail partner of Atlantic Park Surf.

"I hope to bring my experience and passion to the Hall of Fame to help it reach a wider and more youthful audience in new and creative ways," said Shaw.

Congrats, LG! Virginia Beach is proud. 🤙🌊

🔗 Learn more about the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame

Atlantic Park’s surf lagoon has been drained for more than a month for scheduled maintenance and is expected to reopen March 14, weather permitting, with additional wave options.

The lagoon’s 3.5 million gallons of water were drained on January 26 as part of an annual maintenance process that will typically occur each winter and last about 3–5 weeks. This year’s timeline ran longer due to extreme cold. Maintenance included adjustments to the large sealed joints between the lagoon’s concrete slabs. According to operators, the work was cosmetic rather than structural.

The surf lagoon uses a Wavegarden wave generator capable of producing up to 1,000 waves per hour and more than 20 different wave types, ranging from 1 to 6 feet. Surf sessions run 55 minutes, with pricing between $90 and $161 depending on skill level and season.

Since opening, the attraction has drawn visitors from 45 states and more than 30 countries, highlighting its growing global reach.

🔗 Read the full story

A colorful spring experience is coming to Washington, D.C. on March 15th, and it’s worth the short drive. For the first time ever, Tulip Day Washington will transform the National Mall into a massive garden filled with 150,000 blooming tulips. Visitors will be able to walk through the display and even pick their own bouquet to take home.

The one-day event is part of a global celebration of tulip season and is expected to draw huge crowds. The vibrant installation will even feature a special tulip design honoring America’s 250th birthday, making it one of the most unique floral displays the capital has seen. Best of all, admission is free (with a ticket), making it an easy spring outing for locals looking for something different.

🔗 Learn how to experience D.C.’s massive tulip-picking event

Virginia MOCA has opened applications for Generation MOCA, its volunteer leadership group that helps expand the museum’s reach across Hampton Roads. If you’ve been looking for a way to get involved with the arts community locally, there are a few key dates to know.

Highlights

📅 Applications are now open for Generation MOCA
⏳ Application deadline: March 16
🎯 Open to Hampton Roads leaders ages 21–40
🐲 Monster Drawing Rally returns August 14, 2026

🔗 See the application details and how to apply

To celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 customers in line will receive gift cards ranging from $5 to $500, adding a little extra excitement for early shoppers. Grocery Outlet is famous for its “treasure hunt” shopping experience, where customers can discover unexpected deals on name-brand groceries, wine, and specialty items.

If you run a business, you know how quickly credit card processing fees add up. We’ve partnered with a local payment processing company that specializes in reviewing merchant accounts and identifying ways businesses can reduce those fees.

Their team works with businesses across Hampton Roads through Northern VA and often finds significant savings in existing processing setups, sometimes averaging around $7,000 per year. They also offer a “Meet or Beat” guarantee. If they review your current processing and can’t save you money, they’ll pay you $500 for your time.

For many business owners, it’s simply a matter of having someone take a quick look at their current setup to see if improvements can be made.

If you’re curious whether your business could be saving money on credit card processing, reply to this email and we’ll connect you with the team for a quick review.

If you missed it, we’re doing something pretty amazing to highlight and connect women entrepreneurs in Virginia Beach. There’s still time, but you have to act fast.

The deadline is Monday and spots are limited. What’s happening?

🎉 March 19th - Our Celebration Event (Headshots, Photo Ops, Giveaways, and more!)
📸 May - Get featured in our local Women-Owned Business Directory, in our digital guide, and our print magazines that go into the mailboxes of over 5,000 homes in 20 neighborhoods.

🔗 Click Here: Before the Deadline To Be a Part of Our Collective