Smoke Free Bars and Good Things to Do

By Molly Harrison | Sunday, January 10, 2010
Outer Banks fun.

The air is clear here on the Banks, and I'm not talking about the weather. N.C. has banned smoking (finally!) in restaurants and bars and it's safe to go out again. Remember those days when we'd come home reeking of smoke and have to wash our hair at 2 a.m. and air our clothes on the porch railing? Gone! Josh Stone Band doing some reggae at the Brewing Station on Friday sounds fun * The Wilder Brothers, as always, will be at Prime Only on Saturday * I've heard positive talk about the Christian folk singer Sarah Hart coming to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church on Sunday. Locals Kim Kalman, Bill Rea, Leslie Erickson and Shannah Nolbe are joining in...

Just registered for the Flying Pirate Half-Marathon on April 18 and the Outer Banks Half-Marathon on November 14 - register now to save some bucks on these events or any of the associated 5Ks, 8Ks, 10Ks and marathons. If you haven't heard, the Flying Pirate Half is being held on the first half of the full marathon course - and you know that's the only way I'm ever going to see the first half of the course ...

This weekend is pretty happening - for January on the Outer Banks we've got some solid choices. The 33rd Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show Opening Reception at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head should turn up the cream of the arts crop * If you see people all gussied up it's because the Outer Banks Hospital's annual gala - Flights of Fancy to Paris, the City of Light Gala - is this weekend. Tickets are sold out but you should plan on it for next year * Kelly's is hosting the Stews, Soups and Sweets Cook-off on Sunday, with proceeds benefiting the Outer Banks Community Foundation...

I'm stopping by the Dare County Arts Council Gallery to see Scott Stockdale's show. It ends this week, and then the Valentine's Show starts for Feb...

Wednesday is my birthday and all I want is a Black & Tan and some sushi at Tortuga's. Roll 'em up, y'all...

I've got young kids to entertain so we were stoked that the Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County is doing Block Fest again on Friday and Saturday. Think blocks, blocks and more blocks and 30 kids ages 5 and younger per session. Your nightmare? Maybe, but the kids love it. It's free but you've got to register - 441-0614.

All good stuff. Meanwhile, scientists are predicting that sea level is going to rise 4.5 feet by 2100 and parts of the Outer Banks will be just a memory by then. One more reason to enjoy the present moment...

Well, that tidies up the blog for this week, but I'll be back next Monday with more snippets and events from the Outer Banks. Check my Picks for Daytime Things, Going Out, Shopping & Sales, and Restaurant Specials this week here.

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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.