Things to Do in Newport News

Peninsula Fine Arts Center isn't a passive art museum where guests stare silently at paintings and statues. Instead, the center uses rotating exhibitions of paintings, photographs, and pottery to inspire visitors to create their own artwork. To that end, the exhibiting artists often teach in the center's Studio Art School. Classes range from single-day workshops to 10-week sessions, during which instructors might teach small groups to paint with watercolors or change out a flat pottery wheel. The instructors keep their schedule balanced, leading classes that suit all ages and skill levels. Other classes, such as Little Helping Hands Adventure in Clay, let kids and adults create artwork together.

Kids don't need to sign up for classes to try out their art skills, however. In the Hands On for Kids interactive gallery, young patrons draw on a chalkboard wall, build with blocks, and complete various projects inspired by the exhibitions.

ArtInspired pools together various forms of art to spark creativity and help members make positive lifestyle changes. In one part of the facility, visitors wade through the depths of their imagination during educational programs, including in graphics, photography, marketing and design. To burn off stored up energy, those same visitors may want to slide into their workout gear and partake in ArtInspired's collection of dance-based fitness classes. Those classes–which steer away from typical group fitness routines–include Zumba, Bollywood dance, and hip-hop, amongst others.

From its four locations around Hampton Roads, Cinema Cafe combines old-fashioned American cuisine with first- and second-run films. The multisensory experience has garnered the movie houses a total of 11 gold medals in the Virginia-Pilot's Best of Hampton Roads 2012 awards. Thanks to a roaming wait staff, diners can place their orders mid-film and enjoy them right in the theater, a practice that discourages pizza scalpers from stalking customers in the lobby.

At Bethel Battlefield, guests of all skill levels negotiate a range of exciting, obstacle-spattered fields. At the start of matches, players lead daring charges through dense vegetation on the woodsball course or overtake a wall on an urban field as they cover an opponent in a wild spray that forges an abstract modernist painting. For a quick adrenaline boost, strategically placed tubes line the grassy hyperball field, making ideal conditions for fast-paced warfare. A field-paint-only facility, Bethel's onsite pro shop stocks bags of paintballs and equipment from brands such as Tippmann, Bob Long, and Luxe. Committed to a safe experience, Bethel Battlefield starts new players off with a safety training and requires full-face goggles with ear protection to be worn at all times. In addition to general public play, the facility welcomes birthday parties, group outings, and other private events.

Hampton Ballroom, which first opened its floors 20 years ago, houses a team of instructors passionate about helping students become well versed in a wide variety of dances. The expert teachers lead group classes to get feet sashaying to styles such as salsa, foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha, and tango, and also offer one-on-one private lessons. Wall-to-wall mirrors flank the wood-floor studios, allowing participants to keep an eye on their moves and to scope out any vampires in disguise.

Comics such as late-night TV regular Bobby Collins aren't the only ones penciled in on Cozzy's packed schedule. In addition to weekend standup sets, the tavern hosts weekly Texas Hold'em tournaments, karaoke, open mic nights, and private events. Full brunch, lunch, and dinner menus slake appetites with a wide range of pub grub, from salmon cakes benedict to blackened ahi tuna bites. Cozzy's also books comics and DJs for outside events.