Bring on Spring

By Molly Harrison | Monday, March 15, 2010
Celebrate the arrival of spring at The Elizabethan Gardens

Just when we thought Mother Nature was going to let a St. Patrick's Day Parade slip by in the sun ... Not! Sunday was a beautiful day until the parade started and the weather turned south. But what would an Outer Banks St. Patrick's Day parade be without cold wind and a misty drizzle? Just not the same. Thanks to Kelly's and everyone who participated in the Longest Parade Ever for SO MUCH FUN...

Needless to say, everyone here is ready for SPRING! Hang on 'til Saturday and you're there, people. * But is anybody else going to miss the days inside, all hunkered down and warm and cozy while the wind whistles between your door cracks? No? Well, I didn't think so...

I'm celebrating Spring at one of my favorite Outer Banks places - The Elizabethan Gardens. I've got the kids all pumped up about a walk there on the first day of Spring. * Besides the walk, a bonus is that Jeff Lewis is displaying his awesome nature photography at the Gardens this month. Jeff, who is the gardens manager, is also a birder extraordinaire and naturalist, and his photos reflect his patience in observing nature and wildlife and his expertise with a camera. Jeff's photography will be on display through the end of March. Don't miss it...

Another good reason to go to The Elizabethan Gardens this week is the Open Green House celebration. On Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. the Gardens is inviting people to its two new greenhouses. Admission is free, and there will be a ribbon cutting, refreshments and a naming contest for the new greenhouses...

If Spring is here, it must mean bathing-suit season is around the corner. * Uh oh, did you just finish off a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints, too? * Find fitness inspiration at the Outer Banks Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Flight Middle School. * Another idea is to sign up for a race, for which you will have to train and thereby burn off said Thin Mints. * Sign up now for The Inaugural First Flight 5K on April 17 or the Flying Pirate Half Marathon on April 18. There's an online coupon for $10 off until March 21 at www.obxmarathon.org * The Whalehead Club's got something new in the race world: The Pedal-Foot-Paddle, a 7-mile bike ride through Corolla, followed by a 3-mile run on the beach, wrapped up with a 2-mile kayak paddle on the sound. It sounds great, except it's on a Wednesday (April 7, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.). I'll be working, but I hope you can go. Register early and get a discount at www.whaleheadclub.org...

Local yoga studios are honoring the spring equinox with lots of yogic inspiration. * On Saturday, the Ashtanga Yoga Center in Nags Head is hosting group meditation and chanting and restorative yoga starting at 2 p.m. Plus there's a Past Life Regression Workshop at 7 p.m. * Also on Saturday, in Avon Spa Koru is offering a two-hour Spring Yoga Workshop for re-energizing, relaxing, releasing and reflecting from 1 to 3 p.m....

The ocean has tossed up some mighty fine sea glass this winter * If you've been hardy enough to be out there collecting, take your booty to the Sea Glass Workshop at the Dare County Arts Council in Manteo on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Sea Glass Artist Pem Bryant will talk history of glass, dating your pieces, ascertaining its value (Wha?), the conditioning process, colors and rarity, and tips and tricks of sea glass hunters. * Isn't this astounding? I mean, I'm as big a sea glass freak as the next person, but technically, sea glass is trash. It's a manmade substance that is littered into nature - yet we collect it and add value to it * It's bound to be a fun workshop so call 473-5888...

And, finally, we should all go out this weekend. Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern is kicking off spring with Richmond's Carbon Leaf on Friday night at 10 p.m. Their music is like Celtic-y bluegrass-y rock and it's always a very fun show. They fill the place so get there early. * Outer Banks Brewing Station has '80s night this Saturday, and if you wear your parachute pants you get in for free...

OK, gotta go. * Keep checking the site all week as businesses and organizations on the Outer Banks are adding new stuff here every day. I'll be back with a new blog of Outer Banks snippets and events next Tuesday. And if you've got a business or organization that wants to get the word out about something - a sale, a special, an event or a fund-raiser - click on Get Involved just on the right column of this page...

Please put your 2 cents in. If you'd like to contribute or add your voice to this blog, you can do that below. Keep in mind that the blog comments are moderated so that this site is only putting positive vibes into cyberspace * We'd really love to hear from you...

About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.