This past Monday we recognized the service and sacrifice of the nation's veterans. As part of that recognition the Dare County Arts Council and Don and Catherine Bryan Cultural Arts Series, in partnership with the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council, has brought together North Carolina's Poet Laureate, Joseph Bathanti, and local favorites Molasses Creek and Jonny Waters & Company for a series of concerts, readings and writing workshops from Friday, Nov. 15 through Sunday, Nov. 17. Things get started Friday Nov. 15 with the Carolina Veterans Concert held in Roanoke Island Festival Park's indoor theater from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $12/advance via BrownPaperTickets.com and $18/door ($15/veterans).
The centerpiece of the weekend's events is a two-day writing workshop led by Ron Capps in which instructors of the Veterans Writing Project, a non-profit foundation that teaches combat veterans to express their military experiences through writing, will lead 25-50 veterans through a program of intensive writing instruction. Held Saturday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese, instructors will help veterans create moving and therapeutic literary works based on their experience of war. Pre-registration is required. For more information visit the DCAC website or call (252) 473-5558.
Timeout For Parents
People of all ages have fantasies. But parents of children aged 1 to 5 typically have fantasies that would seem mundane to the rest of us. A nap...oh, the luxury...what would you give for a nap? Or just a half-hour to finish that two-page magazine article you've been chipping away at, sentence after interrupted sentence, all week long? Imagine the decadence of shopping for groceries...all...by...yourself! Yeah? I thought so. Check in with the YMCA and make that fantasy a reality with their Parents Morning Out program this Friday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Let the YMCA's child care staff entertain the children with fun and educational activities while you do...whatever you want. Participation in the Parents Morning Out program is $10, and the program is for YMCA members only. But, when you really think about it, a few uninterrupted hours for yourself may provide all the justification necessary for that YMCA membership you've been putting off.
Shop Now, Celebrate Later
Ready or not, the holiday shopping season is now in full swing. Get a jump on things this Saturday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Outer Banks Entrepreneurs Holiday Bazaar at Duck Woods Country Club in Southern Shores. Featuring 66 female artists, crafters and direct sales vendors, the family-friendly bazaar will also include raffle prizes drawn throughout the day and guest speaker Kiki Ramsey delivering her "Get Courageous" message for the holidays. For more information, contact Kim Twiddy at {encode="KIM182@aol.com" title="KIM182@aol.com"}.
Art students at Cape Hatteras Secondary School have teamed with Kinnakeet Clay Studio and Sandcastles Gallery to present a festive community evening of Creativity, Color, Collaboration and Clay, all in time for the holidays! From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 stop by the Kinnakeet Clay Studio and Showroom in Avon and peruse students' work as well as that of professional local artists and fine crafters. Enjoy appetizers, refreshments and live music while choosing one-of-a-kind gifts. Take a chance on the "Handmade in Hatteras" raffle or choose a "Screaming Lady" T-shirt designed by the late local artist Glenn Dodenhoff. Event proceeds will help purchase much needed pottery supplies and equipment for the Cape Hatteras school's art department and help fund Hatteras food pantries and Hatteras Island Meals. For more information or to purchase raffle tickets, contact Kinnakeet Clay Studio at (252) 995-0101 or email {encode="studio@kinnakeetclay.com" title="studio@kinnakeetclay.com"}.
How Sweet It Is
The holiday social season is just around the corner and that means parties. And parties mean agonizing over what to bring for the party table. But there's no need to worry. Sign up for The Elizabethan Gardens' The Art of Candy Making class and learn to create deliciously sugary homemade confections that'll make you the toast of the holiday season! The hands-on workshop runs Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is $45/Members and Friends; $55/non-Members. For more information or to register call (252) 473-3234 or visit the Gardens' website.
A Day at the Fair
The folks down in Hatteras definitely know how to have a good time and this Saturday at 1 p.m. they are putting on their 3rd Annual Hatteras Island Community Fair at Cape Hatteras Secondary School in Buxton. Just take a leisurely drive down from the northern beach communities or a ferry ride from Ocracoke and you'll find yourself enjoying a day of carnival rides, vendor booths, games, good food and a variety of entertainment. In the event of extreme weather, the Fair will be held on Sunday, November 17.
Travel by Taste
Years ago in the Bahamas I encountered what, to that point in my life, was one of the best meals I'd ever eaten. From the kitchen came the main dish, a platter of six or seven different varieties of crabs, all perfectly prepared. Delicious! But the highlight of the meal was the accompanying seafood broth. It was divine! How could something so apparently simple be so flavorful? In Asia, too, they are masters at making seemingly simple soups and broths that pack a punch of satisfying flavor. Take your taste buds on an adventure this Thursday evening, one that requires only a short trip to Outer Banks Brewing Station for Pho Night. Pho is a Vietnamese street food favorite, a comfort food classic consisting of a spiced broth to which rice noodles, fresh greens, vegetables and other ingredients such as beef, chicken or tofu are added. Pair your pho with dim sum, a selection of appetizers such as spring rolls or stuffed wontons, and you'll have a perfectly palate-pleasing Asian meal only a few miles from home.
Cheese School
For most Americans, parmesan cheese is the powdery stuff in the glass shaker found in the middle of every pizza parlor table. Thankfully, Trio offers an introduction to the real thing in Saturday night's Parmigiano Reggiano Academy. I promote this event with great reluctance, as seating is limited to 24 people and at a price of only $10/person I'm likely costing myself a seat at this table of deliciousness. Sigh.... Anyway, beginning at 6 p.m. you'll be guided through a tasting of three different ages of Parmigiano - 14-18months, 24 months and 36 months - each paired with select wines to complement the unique characteristics of each cheese. Participants will take home a parmesan cheese knife, a copy of The Seasons of Parmigiano-Reggiano full of recipes and tips for enjoying Parmigiano and more! Call (252) 261-0277 to make reservations.
A Howling Good Time
Want to hear the call of the wild without getting too far from home? If so, you've got two last chances this Fall to join one of the Fish and Wildlife Service's free wolf howlings - Saturday, Nov. 16 or Saturday, Dec. 7 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. each day. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge staff and volunteers take you where the wild things are. A short presentation provides essential information about the endangered red wolf followed by a journey to the heart of the refuge to listen for the haunting sounds of the refuge's red wolves. Participants should meet at the Creef Cut Parking Area and Wildlife Trail off U.S. Highway 64. The program will occur except during lightning, heavy wind or rain, or impassable road conditions. No registration is required. For more information visit the website or call (252) 216-9464.
This week you have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Ocean Annie's Craft Gallery & a $35 gift certificate to Trio!
For more information about Ocean Annie's Craft Gallery, check out their website.
For more information about Trio check out their website.
Last Week's Winner
Congratulations to Kara Stonebraker!!!
You won a $35 gift certificate to Kinnakeet Clay & a $35 gift certificate to Gidget's Pizza & Pasta!
For more information about Kinnakeet Clay, check out their website.
For more information about Gidget's Pizza & Pasta 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.
