The Pilot Almanac 2009

Sure, you can wallow in the mixture of joy and bitterness that a year like 2008 has brought, but we're forward-thinkers. We'd rather dwell on things to look forward to in 2009. Here are a few:

NEWS

Obama's inauguration President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in Jan. 20. If you plan to head to Washington, keep an eye out for locals. Hampton University' s marching band was chosen to play in the inauguration parade.

Go digital All signals are going digital Feb. 17. Get your TV ready.

Total eclipse Call your travel agent and book a ticket to Asia. The sun will go dark over there for about six minutes and 30 seconds July 22 during a total eclipse. An eclipse this long won't happen again until 2132.

New, improved Town Point Park The Norfolk park is scheduled to reopen July 4th weekend for Harborfest. The park closed in October for an $11.5 million face-lift that includes new pedestrian walkways, improved lawn seating and better stages (www.festeventsva.org).

Pain of light-rail progress Construction on the new light-rail line ramps up, moving into downtown Norfolk and the area near Norfolk State University.

Better library Kirn Memorial Library will be torn down and replaced by a new Norfolk Main Library in the Seaboard building at the corner of Plume and Atlantic streets. The Seaboard facility will be fully operational in January or February, while renovation and expansion work is under way.

Trader Joe's comes to the Beach No more driving to Newport News to get good prices on specialty cheeses and those addictive cat cookies. The gourmet grocer will open in the Hilltop area in the spring.

SPORTS

Tampa gets the big game Super Bowl XLIII is set for Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium. It's too early to chat about the teams, but we can tell you that Bruce Springsteen snagged the halftime spot.

O's-Nats play Harbor Park T he Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals will play their second exhibition game April 3 in Norfolk. Check www.norfolktides.com to find out when the tickets go on sale.

ODU kicks off its football season The Monarchs - and their marching band - will debut Sept. 5 with a home game against Chowan University.

TRENDS

 New cars A '60s-style Chevrolet Camaro will be available next spring. Ford unveils a new Mustang around the same time.

THEATER

 Massive Resistance onstage Virginia Stage Company Artistic Director Chris Hanna goes back 50 years to segregated schools in Norfolk with "Line in the Sand." His show examining that time - when local schools closed to avoid racial integration - opens Feb. 24 at Wells Theatre, Norfolk. Tickets: $10-$42.50.

CONCERTS

Bike to Lynyrd Skynyrd Party into 2009 with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bayside Harley-Davidson at WinterFest '09. Your bike gets you special parking. Jan. 2 at Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk. Tickets: $36-$56.

Lil Wayne, Keyshia Cole and more Head out to Hampton Coliseum to see Lil Wayne's face tattoos in person. The rapper will be at the Coliseum Jan. 3 with Keyshia Cole, T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes and Keri Hilson. Tickets: $37.75 to $77.75.

Phish's comeback show Hampton is the lucky spot for Phish's only reunion concerts, which sold out in less than 15 minutes. If you can snag a ticket - originally priced at $49.50 - the shows are March 6-8.

COMEDY

Robin Williams plays the Ted The actor and comedian has a new routine on the road. See "Weapons of Self-Destruction" on March 14 at Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk. Tickets: $66-$87.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Go Bam! With Emeril Culinary superstar Emeril Lagasse will whip up a few specialities at the Virginia Culinary Expo. April 19 at Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk. Tickets: $52-$127.

ART

"Art of Glass 2" This encore presentation builds on a 1999 series of exhibitions that helped make this region a hot spot for glass. Lino Tagliapietra, considered by many to be the world's top glass blower, has a solo show at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk on April 8. At least a dozen other venues will have shows in the spring, too. The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia in Virginia Beach will host another great Italian glass artist, Dante Marioni.

HOT ALBUMS

Heather Headley, the R&B artist who climbed the charts with "In My Mind" and "He Is," will drop her gospel debut, "Audience of One," on Jan. 13.

Franz Ferdinand, the Glasgow rockers, unleashes a new sound on "Tonight," Jan. 27.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's latest release, "Working on a Dream," will be out Jan. 27.

The Fray, the Denver modern rock band, goes self-titled for its latest, Feb. 3.

Chris Cornell's latest, "Scream," was produced by Norfolk's Timbaland, Feb. 3.

Lily Allen, the outspoken British songstress, unveils her sophomore project, "It's Not Me, It's You, " Feb. 10.

M. Ward isn't going solo on "Hold Time." Lucinda Williams, Jason Lytle, Zooey Deschanel join him this time, Feb. 17.

Morrissey hasn't done too badly since leaving The Smiths. His latest solo release, "Years of Refusal," is out Feb. 17.

Busta Rhymes' single, "Arab Money," didn't go over with everyone. Some thought it was racist. Can't wait to see what folks say about the rest of "Back on My B.S.," March 10.

The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy called "Hazards of Love" a "rock opera" in an interview with Rolling Stone, March 24.

HOT MOVIES

"Not Easily Broken" Mega church preacher T.D. Jakes brings another novel to the screen with the story of a married couple forced to face their differences after a car accident. Morris Chesnut and Taraji P. Henson star, January.

"Notorious" The Notorious B.I.G., known by fans as Biggie, was shot and killed during the height of his career. This film tells the Brooklyn rapper's story, January.

"Hannah Montana: The Movie" Here's one for the kids. The Cyrus family, Miley and dad Billy Ray, star in this adaptation of the TV series, April.

"Star Trek XI" There's a new James T. Kirk. Chris Pine will portray the captain in this spring release, May.

"The A-Team" Remember the '80s hit TV show starring Mr. T.? John Singleton is set to direct, June.

"The Fast and the Furious 4" Time for more action from Vin Diesel. No word on seeing Tyrese Gibson, June.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" The first adaptation of the '80s action adventure was a huge success. Optimus Prime gears up for round two, June.

The Virginian-Pilot and wire services contributed to this report.

DeAnne Bradley, (757) 222-3897,

deanne.bradley@link757.com