Celebrating the Power of Wind, Clean Energy and a Green Environment

If you’ll “go anywhere” for great pizza, home grown bourbon and beer, then you must take the measure of The Yard.

We did on November 2 and put our own stamp on a new arts and restaurant district that is fast earning its place alongside Neon, ViBe, Olde Towne and others in our region that are making downtown life more interesting.

The occasion that brought us to 23^rd and West Avenue was the dedication of Fluidity, a kinetic wind sculpture created by United Kingdom artist Will Carr. With us were reps from four other cities (Hampton, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach), happy to meet the city manager of Newport News (Cindy Rohlf) and Vice Mayor (Saundra Nelson Cherry), listen to the music of WINDSday’s official show band, Peninsula-based Brasswind, toss an axe or a cornhole bag, buy some food truck grub or take a seat at one of four eating/drinking/grooming establishments, all of which now sport our partner stickers.

There is a Benny’s in more than thirty locations in six states (one in Wyoming), but more than half are in Virginia, including in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Newport News.

There is a real Benidito, but although each of his restaurants features his signature monster 28” pie and the “Virginia Slice” ($5 and highly splitable), they all have different last names.

The one in Newport News is called Benny Cantiere’s, perfect since Cantiere means dockyard in Italian, and there are plenty of piers, ships, sailors and longshoremen around. 

More restaurants are coming to The Yard, but for now, Benny’s alone is worth the trip. 

Steve King, not the writer, owned the building behind City Hall and had a bright idea.

Let’s turn it into a distillery, name it after the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac (Ironclads) that took place nearby in 1862 and create tasty batches of smooth bourbon whiskey that uses Virginia grains and is “accessible in flavor and price, while being of the highest quality of production.”

You can buy Ironclad in ABC Stores, but only here can you enjoy an Aw Shucks or other intriguing cocktails and meet Steve, his son Owen the distiller and daughter Kara who works the bar, register and communications channels. 

And guess what? Ironclad Distillery is totally solar powered, making it as sustainable as it is friendly and fun. 

Mike Reppert was a NN shipyard engineer with some waiter experience when he and two fellow “beer nerd friends,” David Lamb and Brandon Samuels, decided in 2020 to lease space in the Yard District.

Coastal Fermentory was born. The fermenting takes place right in the building, and the results are all they serve. On tap on 11/2 were such concoctions as Eight and Gate, Chill Vibes, Bros Before Lederhosen, Denial and Error, and Unicorn Grave with Mango along with more lights, darks and IPA’s.

The business survived the pandemic and is now “fermanently” part of the Yard, awaiting more attractions including a small amphitheater along the river that will bring even more trade. And whether you live east or west of the tunnel or north or south of the JRB, the welcome mat is out. 

There are actually two barbershops at the Yard. We met up with Misty Castro who has worked at both and just opened the second, Castro’s, named for her family that has cut men’s hair for five generations.



Misty has lived in Mexico, New Mexico and Texas. Her son’s Air Force assignment brought her to the Peninsula, and she’s here to stay. Shave and a trim? The leather chair awaits.  

Since 1981, the talented volunteer musicians of Symphonicity have entertained local audiences.

This year, the strings, brass, reed and percussion players are presenting “Earth, Wind & Fire,” a multi-part Masterworks series of concerts featuring local soloists and singers.

There will also be an environmental message weaved into some of the shows (November 13, March 5 and April 2), all at the Sandler Center.

But Symphonicity has really earned “Official Symphony of the WINDSdays Campaign” status for an ingenious pops event on April 30, also at Sandler. That evening our buddies at Brasswind will front the orchestra, paying tribute to the music of Chicago and the real Earth, Wind & Fire. That’s Curtis Brown and his band’s specialty.

Go to symphonicity.org to subscribe, and thank you to Conductor Daniel Boothe, director Lynette Andrews and their musicians and board for helping us tell the renewable energy story.

WINDSdays Official Concert Band, Tidewater Winds, has a fund raiser tonight (11/9) at another WINDSday Partner, Wasserhund Brewing, in Chesapeake, 510 Belaire Ave. 30% of taproom revenue will be donated back to Tidewater Winds in support of their music education programs.

And on Thursday 11/17 at 5:30pm, you and your Schwinn should be at 2^nd and Atlantic for a preview, bikes-only ride along the boardwalk in advance of the Friday evening opening of the annual BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach.



Pedal to 24^th Street to experience a special wind energy powered display outside the Surf and Rescue Museum, courtesy of the VA Beach Environmental Studies program and Beach Events.