Powerful Thanks, Frank Stick, Live Music and Chocolate

By Michael Lay | Wednesday, January 22, 2014

I was in mid-sentence Tuesday night when the writing of this blog was interrupted by a power outage. Pop, zip, crackle and the room went dark save for the battery-fed glow of my laptop. With the north wind whistling around the windows, an icy rain/snow mixture pelting down and a level of darkness we moderns only experience during power outages, I assumed it would be hours, possibly sunrise, before we saw the return of electricity. But thanks to the dedication of men and women working for Dominion Power, Tideland Electrical Cooperative and Cape Hatteras Electrical Cooperative, we Outer Bankers seldom suffer without power for long, and this instance was no exception. A brief 45 minutes or so later and the lights were back on and I was once again busily typing away. It is worth noting that it is usually under the most unpleasant and difficult conditions that we lose power. When we do, it is someone who, like the rest of us, would rather be safe, dry and warm, who answers the call of duty to face the challenging and dangerous conditions and restore the power on which we depend. To those brave and dedicated folks, thank you!

Live Music

The Outer Banks Forum can always be relied upon to deliver a quality dose of big city culture to the small town Outer Banks - past offerings have included ballets, big bands and opera performances - and they continue to meet their own high standards with this Saturday's performance by the Horszowski Trio, founded in 2011 and already hailed by the New Yorker magazine as "destined for great things." The mesmerizing trio will perform selections from their extensive repertoire Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills. The trio is composed of Jesse Mills (two-time Grammy-nominated violinist), Raman Ramakrishnan (founding cellist of the prize-winning Daedalus Quartet), and pianist Rieko Aizawa (last pupil of legendary pianist Mieczyslaw Horszowski). Tickets are $25/person. For more information visit the Forum's website.

Pianist Chris "Catdaddy" Palestrant" and guitarist Adam "Deacon Blues" Nixon bring Blues: A Duo Performance of Americana on Guitar and Piano to Whalehead in Corolla on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 2-4 p.m. Performing on acoustic and electric guitars and down-home blues harp, Deacon Blues channels the soul of guitar legends from Muddy Waters to Stevie Ray Vaughan, while Catdaddy Palestrant keeps the pace with his high-energy play on keyboards and melodica. The concert will be held in the library and seating is limited, so get your tickets soon! The performance will run approximately 1½ hours with a brief intermission. Tickets are $20/person and can be purchased online and at the door. Refreshments will be available on the front porch during intermission. For more information call (252) 453-9040 ext. 228.

Be sure to check OuterBanksThisWeek.com for other musical performances throughout the Outer Banks in the coming week. You'll be surprised by the amount and variety of live music you'll find, often being played only a short distance from your own front door.

An Educational Bargain

Registration continues for the 5th Annual After Dark at All Saints educational programming. The After Dark program features a variety of classes (more than 70 in all!) for all ages and interests, ranging from cooking how-tos, crafts and hobbies to flowers and plants, health and fitness, and general interest topics from artisanal cheeses to dog training to history and foreign languages. All proceeds go to benefit local charities. Most classes will be held Monday, Feb. 3 through Thursday, Feb. 27. However, an early class entitled Task and Team Approach to Memory Care targeted toward those suffering memory loss, their caregivers and friends, will be held at All Saints Monday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Base prices are $20/per class for adults and $10/per class for students younger than 18. Some classes may require additional fees for supplies or other educational materials. A complete course listing and registration form are available at the All Saints website. Registration forms can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the All Saints Episcopal Church office at 40 Pintail Trail in Southern Shores. For more information call (252) 261-6674 or e-mail {encode="allsaints@allsaints-eastcarolina.org" title="allsaints@allsaints-eastcarolina.org"}.

Growing Readers

Studies routinely show that one of the best indicators of future educational accomplishment is the early development of reading skills. Thursday, Jan. 23 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. the Hatteras Library does its part to promote reading with its Growing Readers Story Time program for children aged 3 to 5. The free educational fun will include stories, finger plays and songs. Another session of the program will be held Thursday, Jan. 30 at the same time. For more information call the Hatteras Library at (252) 986-2385. The Hatteras Library is located at 57690 NC Highway 12 in Hatteras Village.

Warmth By Way of Chocolate

This time of year we warm our outer selves by adding layers, swathing our necks in scarves or inching closer to the fire. We warm our interiors with cocoa, coffee, hot soups and hearty stews. But sometimes what you really want is to be warm in a way that transcends pure heat. And that's a job for chocolate! And perhaps a glass or three of wine.  Chocolate Craving workshop This Saturday, Jan. 25 come to The Elizabethan Gardens' Chocolate Craving workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and treat yourself to delicious chocolate candy samples while receiving hands-on chocolate candy-making training from experienced instructors. Learn to make your own sumptuous chocolate candies from scratch, including peanut butter cups, turtles, million-dollar nuggets and nut clusters. Each participant will take home a dozen of each candy variety, so bring containers for your creations. Arrive dressed for candy making and decorating. Class size is limited to 10. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call (252) 473-3234 or visit The Gardens' website. Admission is $50/members; $60/non-members. Pre-registration is required.

Warm Your Spirit With Art

Another way to beat the chill is to gather together with fellow art lovers and view some hot art at the 36th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. The free exhibit, which showcases a variety of local art including sculpture, painting, drawing, fiber art, pottery and mixed media, begins with an opening reception Saturday, Jan. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. and runs through Feb. 22. The show, named after famed magazine illustrator and Outer Banks advocate Frank Stick, is the longest running visual art exhibition in the county. Dare County Arts Council members and Dare County residents are eligible to enter works in the show. For more information call (252) 473-5558 or visit the Arts Council website.

Make An Impact At Your YMCA

The Outer Banks YMCA is undertaking a planning process to evaluate community needs and how best to respond to the community with programs, services and facilities...and they want your input! A series of focus groups will meet to discuss existing programs and community interests on the following dates: Monday, Jan. 27 at 11:30 a.m. (Aquatics/Water Exercise); Monday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. (Sports); Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. (Group Exercise); Thursday, Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. (Aquatics/Swim Team); Monday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. (Family). Participation is free. For more information call Katherine Burgus at (252) 449-8897.

Get Your Taste of the Beach Tickets Now!

Tickets are currently on sale for 2014 Taste of the Beach events and must be purchased for each individual event you wish to attend. Visit the event website for a complete list of events and to purchase tickets.

 

Outer Banks This Week Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week you have a chance to win a one night-stay at the Hilton Garden Inn & $50 gift certificate to Ocean Boulevard!

For more information about Hilton Garden Inn, check out their website.

For more information about Kitty Hawk Kites check out their website.

 

 

Last Week's Winner

 

Congratulations to Kathy Rich!!!

You won a two-night stay at Days Inn Oceanfront and a hang gliding lesson from Kitty Hawk Kites!

Outer Banks This Week Giveaway Winner










 

For more information about Days Inn Oceanfront, check out their website.

For more information about Kitty Hawk Kites check out their website.

About the Author Michael Lay
Michael Lay is a local graphic designer, artist, photographer and writer. He lives in picturesque downtown Manteo, NC, and is the manservant of two beautiful and willful feline princesses, Sophie and Sassy. You can contact Michael at mike.lay@oneboat.com.