Smithfield Ham Town + Oceanfront Lawsuit + Mother’s Day Weekend in Tidewater

In this week’s Tidewater Talk, I dive into Virginia Beach’s ongoing public safety saga, including the new $10 million lawsuit filed by two people arrested during the Oceanfront curfew—one a resident walking home, the other an independent journalist challenging the idea of “press credentials.” We revisit last year’s carnival cancellation and note this year’s advance notice due to security constraints. I also spotlight Virginia Beach Parks & Rec’s new Fit Pop initiative launching at Red Wing Park, plus a full local weather run-down: warm temps with midweek showers and thunderstorms, cooling by late week, and a sunny Mother’s Day before rain chances return Sunday evening. For our Strange and Odd of Tidewater, I explore Smithfield’s charmingly quirky identity—painted pig statues, a museum-hosted century-old ham with its own “HamCam,” and a town that proudly leans into its history. We wrap with Tidewater Tips for Mother’s Day outings—from brunch options to a Botanical Garden walk-and-talk—and pose our question for next week: Where’s the best place to take your mom (and how was it)?