Since becoming the publisher of AltDaily, I haven’t had the time to write like I did when I was on editorial.

Which is unfortunate because there’s so much going on behind the scenes that I’m excited about and would love to share with you, our readers. So at the very least, I’m going to start writing these Publisher’s Letters and hope they stick. In them, I’ll give you a rundown of important upcoming events, news about development over here at AltDaily and AltMarketing, announcements from our sponsors, and really any little thing that crosses my jumbled up mind. So…

Tonight and Tomorrow Night

Tonight from 5:30 to 8 pm: Norfology Nights at O’Connor Brewing Co.

Norfology is all about celebrating the things that are great about Norfolk. In this case we get to celebrate: 1 Our local beer. 2 A neighborhood with a lot of potential. 3 Local food and arts establishments. 4 A killer local dj. And 5 each other.

Number 5 is very important because it is also what Norfology is all about: connections. The most awesome thing about the way we do projects here at AltDaily, for instance, is that it is all collaborative. We love to partner up with people who can help make things happen better than if it were just us, and to do that, we have to know people.

What better way to meet great people with ideas and talent than over tumblers full of Great Dismal and plates full of BBQ sandwiches?

*An important note regarding the above invitation: It’s $5 for a complimentary cup, which is awesomely emblazoned with the O’Connor and Norfology logos–and with that you get a tour, tastings, BBQ sandwiches from Belmont House of Smoke, etc. (I know it sounds like almost the same thing, but we want to do right by ABC, and of course we don’t want anyone leaving there drunk and trying to drive.)

Zombieland and Zombie Prom

At Colley Cantina, appetizers will be half off and the drink of the night is the “blood thinner.” This portion of the night is key, IMHO, because if you’re planning to tear it up at Tap after the show as I certainly do, you’ll definitely want to carb up on some pork sliders, seafood quesadillas, fried avocados, and other deliciousness to prep. (And if the “blood thinner” ain’t your thing, O’Connor’s Great Dismal and Stone’s Vertical Epic are both newly on tap, and good as HELL.)

The movie starts at 9 pm at NARO Cinema. Naturally, we’ll be giving awards for best costumes. I’ll tell you right now, people have been bringing it when it comes to the costumes at our NARO events. So if you’ve got your eye on the prize, then by all means, go all out.  Plus, keep an eye out for twinkies–that sweet treat that Woody Harrelson has so difficult a time getting his hands on in the film will also get you a special prize.

Then, immediately after the movie lets out (don’t worry this is a very short one compared to Pulp Fiction), head over to Tap House for Zombie Prom. Think Carrie meets “Thriller” meets Zombiepocalypse. Local professional recording artist Chris E Barb will perform as Undead Michael Jackson. And you can even get your picture taken under a black balloon arch as if you were really at your prom, except, you know, dead.

Other stuff we’re excited about

1 Saturday morning we (the AltDaily team and lots of our friends) will be curing our hangovers with some Yorgo’s bagels and coffee, then caravaning up to DC for Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity. I wrote a piece about Jon Stewart’s appearance in Norfolk last year or so (click here to read), so I’m pretty stoked to head up there for this. Unlike the Pilot, who recently endorsed Scott Rigell for the 2nd Congressional District seat, AltDaily does not intend to officially endorse any candidate. Although I would like to personally say–not as the publisher of AltDaily but as Hannah Serrano, the citizen–that Glenn Nye is an emblem of real sanity round these parts, and if you’re not voting for him, it’s likely you and I can never be true, intimate friends. Just want to put that out there.

2 If you don’t plan to head up to Washington for said event, you should definitely consider doing the cemetery run. We have got some of the most beautiful cemeteries here in Norfolk. They’re links to our history, our cultural past–and unfortunately, we don’t get to enjoy them much. This is a great way to do that and also benefit their preservation.

Here’s a little blurb about West Point Cemetery, one of the cemeteries where the run takes place:

West Point Cemetery, located in the western part of Elmwood Cemetery, was established in 1874 as a cemetery for African-American citizens.

In the 1880s, Norfolk’s first African-American City Councilman, James E. Fuller, arranged a portion of West Point to be reserved for the burial of Black Union soldiers. He played an integral part in raising funds to erect the monument and statue that pays tribute to the fallen soldiers.

James Carney, another Norfolk native, sits atop the statue. He was one of the first 18 African-Americans to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his participation in the July 18, 1863 assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston, South Carolina.

3 One of our sponsors, the Virginia Stage Company, just kicked off The New Pink this week. Here’s a little intro:

When the “new economy” wipes out their retirement funds, a desperate middle-class couple comes up with a wild plan to live out their golden years in comfort. A series of crazy mishaps combined with smart banter add up to a timely new comedy by VSC’s Artistic Director Chris Hanna.

4 And another of our major sponsors, the Discovery Music Series, is well underway three shows in. Next up for them is Super Chikan and The Fighting Cocks, performing next Friday, November 5.

James “Super Chikan” Johnson is a blues musician, artist and guitar maker based in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is the nephew of fellow blues musician Big Jack Johnson.

With that, a little shout-out to Scott Warren, Event/Booking Manager at Seven Venues, who is responsible for bringing this awesome series and many other brilliant performances to Norfolk and specifically the Attucks Theatre. In fact, we owe it to Scott that we are able to produce The Rise Up at the Attucks this winter. (Find out more about that event here.) Scott is leaving to become the General Managerof the 15,000-seat Wolstein Center on the campus of Cleveland State University. And though we’re very happy for him, it’s a huge loss for us, and he will be sorely missed.

And one last major thing of note

People are sometimes critical of us for sometimes become critical of Hampton Roads. The truth is we can be ambivalent about this place–as are most people here who are our age and impatient to be in a place that’s “happening.”

Last week proved to me that this place can put itself on the map. Survive Norfolk was one of the coolest, funnest, most epic events I have had the privilege to be a part of. You can read everything about it all over this site (not to mention on USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, and Austin News).

There was a moment when I stood up on the ledge of the church entrance, where the picture below was taken. And looking out across the thousands and thousands of people that were there simply because a cool event was happening in their city–I haven’t felt that sense of overwhelming pride, excitement and joy since the Obama rallies, where I felt like I was truly a part of history. Survive Norfolk was a major moment in our local history.

After last week, I will never again say, “It doesn’t feel like Norfolk,” when something is really cool or reminiscent of a bigger city. I’ll say, “Yeah, this is Norfolk.”