This November a fishing tournament will return to Hatteras Island's Avon Fishing Pier for the first time in five years. Koru Village has joined forces with sponsor Pabst Brewing Company to host the First Annual PBR Classic Red & Blue Fishing Tournament running Friday, November 7 through Sunday, November 9. The around-the-clock tournament, a fundraising initiative with the goal of rebuilding the lost "T" at the end of the pier, will focus on red drum and blue fish with cash prizes awarded to the top three winners in each tournament category. Participation is limited to the first 63 people to enter. The entry fee is $90/person or $60/person for annual pier pass holders. Entries can be made in person at the Avon Pier or through the pier's website. Tournament events include a welcome party at the pier house on Friday, an awards lunch at Pangea Tavern on Sunday and a raffle to raise money for the T-Fund. For more information contact Avon Pier manager Keith Matthews at (252) 995-5480 or visit the Avon Pier's website. So...November 7-9. Mark your calendars now. Be a part of restoring history!
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum just past the ferry docks has really pumped up its programming in recent months. One you may want to check out is Salty Dawgs: History and the Hatteras Island Ecology Part 1, presented by ecology expert Dave Kelmer. During the session Kelmer will discuss the features of historic Hatteras Island ecology and explain how changes to the environment made by European settlers have led to the Hatteras Island we experience today. Admission is free. For more information call (252) 986-2995 or email {encode="maryellen.riddle@ncdcr.gov" title="maryellen.riddle@ncdcr.gov"}.
Try A Little Participation
An argument can easily be made that too much of modern life is based on being a spectator of the lives and activities of others, especially the nouveau celebrities who populate much of what passes for "reality" TV. But here on the Outer Banks there exists a wealth of participatory opportunities, everything from learning to surf (no matter what your age) to reeling in your own dinner to pretending you're a pirate (no matter what your age).
Studio 12 in Avon is one of several Outer Banks galleries providing diverse opportunities for folks of all ages to dive into something new. In the mood for good clean fun? Why not get the little ones involved in Soap Sculpting for Kids held Thursday, August 28 at 10 a.m. During this hands-on class Outer Banks soap-maker Christina Deneka of Hollow Daze Surf Designs teaches kids age 3 and older how natural soap is made while showing them how to make their own soap sculptures. As art materials go, it's hard to find something more economical than soap, so this is an activity that can be easily transferred to the homefront when the vacation is over. Pre-registration is required, and the class fee is $20/person.
In keeping with the clean theme, at 11 a.m. Thursday anyone age 8 and older can take part in Bath and Body Basics, also taught by Hollow Daze's Christina Deneka, where you'll learn about natural bath and body ingredients and how to create your own products including castile soap, facial scrub, moisturizer, deodorant and more. Plus, you'll take away a bar of Hollow Daze castile soap and a solid lotion made during the class. The class is $28, and pre-registration is required.
Kids may have gotten used to "make your own (insert random food item here)" meal kits at home, but those pale in comparison to being able to create your own pizza and having it baked by pizza restaurant professionals using their own industrial-sized pizza oven. On Tuesdays (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) bring the kids to Tomato Patch Pizzeria in Corolla and let them create their own perfect pizzas using top-quality ingredients. Meanwhile, the adults can take advantage of the $5 margaritas!
Up in Corolla artists of all ages can Paint A Mustang (well, of course, not a REAL mustang!), taking home their own creative keepsake while contributing to the protection of Corolla's wild horses. The Corolla Wild Horse Museum provides the paint, brushes, smocks and wooden horse cutouts in various sizes. And you bring the talent and vision! The next session is Thursday, August 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Wild Horse Museum at 1129 Corolla Village Road. Your next opportunities to put your creativity to use for this great cause come on Tuesday, September 2 and Thursday, September 4 at the same time each day. The price falls within a range of $5-$35 depending on the size of the "mustang" you select to paint. Please note that this is a weather-dependent activity. All proceeds benefit the care and protection of the wild horses. For more information call (252) 453-8002, or visit the Wild Horse Museum website.
Entertainment
The Outer Banks has always had a certain magic. But, for the next couple of Wednesday nights you can combine that ol' OBX spell with some FREE onstage magic at Amazing Stanley's Magic Show at Sea Ranch Resort's Beachside Bistro in Kill Devil Hills at 7 p.m. Numerous photo opportunities will be available both during and after the 45-minute show, not to mention a surprise appearance or two, so don't forget your camera! During the show children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
A special offer accompanies the magic show: All guests to Sea Ranch Beachside Bistro will receive a 25% discount on dinner if seated between 4:40 and 6:30 p.m.
If you're older than 16 and prefer laughs to mysteries you'll want to check out the Comedy Club of the Outer Banks at the Currituck Club in Corolla tonight, Wednesday, August 27 at 7 p.m. where comedian Al Ducharme will bring the funny along with special guest Bernadette Pauly. Ducharme's film credits include Next Stop Wonderland and Original Sin and his TV credits include Comics Unleashed w/Byron Allen, NBC's Today Show, Inside Edition and Comedy.TV. His first comedy DVD, Spineless and Loving It, is available in stores, and his popular CD, Manchild, is available on iTunes. Performing regularly in major Manhattan comedy clubs (among them Caroline's and The Comic Strip Live), Ducharme also frequently performs at colleges and corporate events and has toured internationally. Tickets are $21/advance, $26 at the door. The Currituck Club is located at 620 Currituck Clubhouse Drive in Corolla.
World Music in Nags Head
A number of big name acts have played their way through the Outer Banks this summer and the Pittsburgh, Pa.-based band Rusted Root are the latest to bring their hit sounds to one of our stages, this time Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern in Nags Head on Thursday, August 28 (hey, that's tomorrow, folks) at 9 p.m. Known for their unique fusion of acoustic, rock, world and other styles of music Rusted Root gets people dancing with a strong percussion section that draws from African, Latin American and Native American influences. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the show, and you must be 21 or older to enter.
It's Good To Be Local
Aqua Restaurant is bringing back its Locals Appreciation Nights this Fall on Thursdays. Beginning at 5 p.m. locals are honored with a 20% discount on dinner (alcohol excluded). If you live on the Outer Banks and haven't sampled Aqua's delicious dinner menu recently, this is the perfect opportunity to taste what you've been missing!
This week you still have a chance to win a couples surf lesson from Island Revolution and a restaurant tour from Outer Banks Restaurant Tours!
For more information about Island Revolution check out their website.
For more information about Outer Banks Restaurant Tours check out their website.
Last Week's Winner
Congratulations to Daniel Dzemyan!!!
You won a pottery class for two from Kinnakeet Clay & a $35 gift certificate to the Atlantic Coast Cafe!
For more information about Kinnakeet Clay check out their website.
For more information about Atlantic Coast Cafe 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.
