February. The mere mention of the month can strike fear in the hearts of Outer Bankers. * I asked someone (not naming any names) how he was doing the other day and he replied, "It's almost February. But at least I've got my health." * No doubt we've known some brutally cold and windy Febs on these islands, but we can endure a mere 28 days (especially if they're going to be as mild as this first week of the month). We don't have to enter into the February Slump...
I learned the other day that schoolchildren, sadly, are most especially prone to the February Slump, but the affliction spans beyond schools into sports, the real estate market, business productivity and personal lives. By the way, February is when most people drop their New Year's resolutions and slip back into their old, established habits. * Don't let the February Slump happen to you!...
Exercise. Get a spray tan. Recommit to your resolutions. Catch and eat a striper. Beachcomb on a windy day. Get off the island for a weekend. Go out more. Do what it takes to unslump yourself. Below are many more ways to do it:
There's nothing like art and creativity to light a little fire in your soul, and Dare County Arts Council is providing the spark this month. * The Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, one of the area's largest conglomerate shows, is going on all month at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. Stop by to see all the art and plan to stay a while. There's a lot to see. * At the DCAC Gallery in Manteo, there are two shows this month. Outer Banks artist Lisa Godfrey is showing her paintings in the Front Gallery and popular Outer Banks artist Tracy Bell and her students are showing their works in the Vault Gallery. A double opening reception for both shows will be held Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., with libations, light fare and music. The galleries are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. * DCAC is also sponsoring a Sea Glass Workshop on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the DCAC Studio. Local sea glass artist Fran Peel will introduce the tools needed to wrap sea glass and teach various methods of producing sea glass jewelry and beach kitsch. * Call (252) 473-5558 to inquire about any of the DCAC shows or workshops...
Help spread the word about the Art for Healing workshops for cancer patients. The workshops, sponsored by the Outer Banks Hospital's Cancer Resource Center, help cancer patients use art as a unique and creative way to express emotions and heal. The first workshop, called Artful Journaling, will be led by artist Liz Corsa and writer Eve Turek, and it will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register, call Outer Banks Hospital's Cancer Resource Center at (252) 449-7350...
For crafty kids, Bells & Whistles at the Flower Field is hosting a series of art and craft workshops this spring. This week they're doing a Children's Valentine Workshop on Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. (Remember, Wednesday is a half-day in Dare County Schools). Kids will make their own Valentine's to share with their friends and family. It's for ages 5 and older and costs $25. This one is almost full, so they're doing another Valentine Workshop on Monday, February 7 at 3 p.m. Call (252) 441-9310...
Girls, here's a unique way to really mix up your winter: Audition for and perform in The Vagina Monologues. V-Day Roanoke Island, aka, The Vagina Monologues, is holding tryouts for the show this Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Dare County Airport Pavilion on Roanoke Island. The show will run March 30 and 31 and April 1 at Roanoke Island Festival Park...
If you want to learn something new, All Saints Episcopal Church in Kitty Hawk is once again hosting its After Dark at All Saints series of learning programs, which run for the first three weeks in February. They have dozens of programs, things like Chinese cooking, bridge, line dancing, French wine, flower arranging, dog training and much more with some of the local experts in these fields. Classes generally start at 7 p.m. and last a couple of hours. Cost is $20 per person, or $10 for kids. Proceeds benefit Food For Thought, Interfaith Community Outreach, Room at the Inn and the Community Clinic of Dare. See the website at www.allsaints-eastcarolina.org or call (252) 261-6674...
BYOT (trowel) on Saturday to The Elizabethan Gardens, which needs help planting bulbs - tulips, daffodils, crocus, anemones. Think how proud you'd be to see the fruits of your efforts in the gardens this spring. They need help starting at 9 a.m., but space is limited to 25 volunteers. Call (252) 473-3414 to sign up...
A few more tidbits: The Whalehead Club is hosting its Moonlight Legend, Lore and Ghost Tour on Saturday. Hear suspenseful stories of the northern Outer Banks and see the Whalehead Club at night. Bring a flashlight. Call (252) 453-9040. * The popular Really, Really Free Market is being held in Avon on Saturday. Participants share skills and bring useful or beautiful things to give away and/or trade. Call (252) 995-3855. * Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is hosting a Seal Monitoring Citizen Science Initiative on Saturday. You'll learn about seals, when and why they visit and how local volunteers can help protect them. It starts at 10 a.m. and it's free for ages 14 and older...
If you're entertaining children in the winter months, remember that the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island are open daily and not very crowded this time of year. And if you haven't taken the little ones to Children at Play children's museum in Kitty Hawk yet, now is a great time to go! Bowling and laser tag are also great ways to entertain the little ones...
FInally, t's time to register for the Outer Banks Running Club's Sweetheart 8K. It's taking place Saturday, Feb. 12 in Manteo, and sweethearts can register as a team to compete for a prize. Proceeds benefit the Mt. Olivet Food Pantry. See www.outerbanksrunningclub.org for information...
Keep looking around the site for things to do and check the Restaurant Specials and Shopping sections for some great winter deals. And make a comment below, if you'd like. We'd 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.
