How weird is it to keep having these spring-like days in February? December and February flip-flopped this year - we had 25-degree days in December but now we're having 70-degree days in February. * You don't hear me complaining, though. I loved seeing everyone barefoot on the beach last week, but I don't think we should pack those sweaters and coats away just yet...
No matter what the thermometer says, it's still the quiet season on the Outer Banks (though President's Day weekend did bring a little boom). Enjoy this time of 30,000 because the hundreds of thousands will be here in a few short months. * While it's still just us, we should be bonding with our fellow locals before everyone gets too busy again...
So what will we locals do together this week?
A couple of big parties are happening this weekend: Down in Hatteras Village it's the Waders and Pearls Oyster Roast on Saturday at the Hatteras Village Civic Center. They'll have oysters and other seafood, including fish fritters, prepared by the local experts. The locals will also stage a roast of Hatteras Island waterman "Tall Bill" VanDruten. Tickets ($10) are on sale at Nedo, Oden's Dock and Frisco Road and Gun, or by calling Lynne Foster at (252) 619-0136. Get your tickets as early in the week as you can so they can make arrangements for everyone. Guests should bring a donation for the Hatteras Island Food Pantry. And people really do wear pearls and fishing boots. This event benefits Day at the Docks...
Elizabeth R & Company has its annual Elizabeth Arrrgh... Pirates' Rendezvous fund-raiser on Saturday at Pamlico Jack's in Nags Head. Join them for a gourmet feast and bawdy, cabaret-style entertainment to raise funds for Elizabeth R productions. This is an early event - 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Call (252) 473-1061 to make a reservation...
Another party, this one in Southern Shores at Duck Woods Country Club on Saturday: Brindley Beach Vacations' Men Dancing for a Cure. For this one, guys raise money for Relay for Life and compete for the title of Mr. Relay by raising the most money. They should come to the party dressed in heels, wigs and lipstick. Women, maybe you could dress as men? Call (252) 261-2222...
Want to hit the bars this weekend? At Poor Richards in Manteo, see Chunky Monkey on Friday and Dr. Tom on Saturday. At Outer Banks Brewing Station, see The New Familiars on Friday and DJ Sho on Saturday. At Ocean Boulevard see Mojo Collins and Triple Vision on Friday. At Beach Road Grill, see Rubber Pants on Friday and Matt McGuire on Saturday. At Kelly's, see Quik Fix on both Friday and Saturday...
Love art? ARTspace Gallery in Southern Shores Crossing is hosting a Fabulous February Furniture Faire on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They'll have funky, eclectic painted furniture by local artists. Call them at (252) 261-ARTS for info. * Roanoke Island Festival Park's annual Priceless Pieces Quilt Show begins Sunday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. The quilt show features local and regional quilters and quilt owners displaying handcrafted quilts, and there's a quilt available for raffle (see our photo). Call (252) 475-1500 for details. * By the way, Roanoke Island Festival Park opens on Tuesday, March 1 for the 2011 season, though the Art Gallery and quilt show will be open on Monday...
Love history? Early next week the National Park Service is offering a program called Know Your Park: The Civil War on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. The presentation, by well-known Civil War historian and author Daniel Pullen, will be held at the Fessenden Center in Buxton and the Ocracoke Community Center. The Buxton program will be held on Monday (28th) at 7:30 p.m. and the Ocracoke event on Tuesday (March 1) at 7:30 p.m. The program is free. Did you know that the first hostile shots fired by the U.S. Navy at Southern-held territory on the oceanfront was at Hatteras in July of 1861? Did you know that the first true naval engagement was at Oregon Inlet in July of 1861? Learn about those and more at Pullen's presentation. * On Friday, the Kinnakeet History Potluck Dinner is being held at the Kinnakeet Civic Association. Bring a side dish or dessert to share and enjoy good stories of old KInnakeet. It's at 6 p.m. at the Avon Fire Station. Call (252) 995-5651...
Love little kids? The Children & Youth Partnership of Dare County is hosting the Block Play Extravaganza again on Friday and Saturday. I took my kids last year and this is really fun. You spend an hour and a half rotating through block stations, and the kids get to play with all sizes of blocks for an hour. Pre-registration is required. Call (252) 441-0614...
A couple of other things you might want to know about: The Q&A on Women's Heart Health Issues. It's the idea of Dave Parks of Duck, who recently lost his wife, Audrey, to a heart attack she might have avoided if Dave had paid closer attention to the signals. Parks's wish is to educate as many people as possible about the importance of observing the signals of heart attacks in women, which are different than those in men. It's at 7 p.m. on Monday (28th) at Holy Redeemer by the Sea in Kitty Hawk. Email ejbeckleyjr@yahoo.com to reserve a place. * And if you want to par-tay next weekend and support a good cause, get tickets to the Children@Play 1st Annual Mardi Gras Gala to benefit the Outer Banks Children's Museum. It's scheduled for March 4 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk. Call (252) 261-0290 for tickets...
Keep looking around the site for more fun stuff to do. And check out our new Outer Banks Deal of the Day on the Outer Banks This Week home page. You never know what good deal is going to show up there...
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.
