encore April 1 - April 7, 2020

VOL. 36 / PUB. 39 • THE CAPE FEAR’S ALTERNATIVE VOICE FOR 35 YEARS • APRIL 1 - APRIL 7, 2020 • FREE

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HODGE PODGE Vol. 36 / Pub. 39 April 1-7, 2020

ENCOREPUB.COM encoredeals.com

MUSIC pg. 12 • By Shannon Rae Gentry Shannon talks to local singer-songwriter Sean Thomas Gerard, whose new single, “Jovie,” drops this week. Courtesy photo

word of the week CART-OGRAPHY (N) The art of mapping out a grocery store before shopping to ensure a distance of 6 feet between carts at all times.

“Barb is terrible at cart-ography—she keeps bumping into people in the wine aisle!”

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief:

Shea Carver >> shea@encorepub.com

Staff Editors:

Shannon Rae Gentry >> shannon@encorepub.com Jeff Oloizia >> jeffrey@encorepub.com

Art Director/Office Manager:

COVER Strange times call for stranger interactions.

As we hunker down in our new stay-at-home-order world, we can’t necessarily participate in things that once brought us sanity. Well, at least we can’t in person. Nowadays folks are turning to screens more than ever in order to participant in normal routines, like daily fitness classes or supporting local musicians’ live performances. We have a rundown of ways you can still get the best out of community throughout the pages of encore this week: from tuning in to Sean Thomas Gerard’s single release (p. 12), to logging onto UNCW Presents ‘Best Seat in the House’ (pgs. 18-19), to even enjoying parts of the Azalea Festival from the comfort of your home (pgs. 20-21). Just flip on through, with a cocktail in hand (p. 28; don’t forget to tip your bartenders), and enjoy!

ATTN: BUSINESSES

ART pg. 16 • By Shea Carver Artist Cordelia Norris’ first solo show was canceled due to COVID-19, but that didn’t stop her from staging it online in her Etsy shop. Photo courtesy of Cordelia Norris

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Chief Contributors: Gwenyfar Rohler,

Anghus, Tom Tomorrow, Mark Basquill, Rosa Bianca, Rob Brezsny, John Wolfe, Joan C.W. Hoffmann

Interns: Lauren Sears, Darius Melton, Brooke Suddeth

SALES General Manager/Owner: John Hitt >> john@encorepub.com

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Megan Henry >> megan@encorepub.com John Hitt >> john@encorepub.com Shea Carver >> shea@encorepub.com Brian Venegas >> brian@encorepub.com Published weekly on Wednesday by HP Media; opinions of contributing writers are not the opinions of encore.

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ALSO INSIDE THIS WEEK P.O. Box 12430, Wilmington, N.C. 28405 encorepub.com • (910) 791-0688

DRINKS pg. 28 • By Joan C.W. Hoffmann Bartenders from manna, Rx and more Wilmington hot spots share cocktail recipes for self-isolating. Photo via Unsplash

Live Local, pgs. 4-5 • News, pg. 6 • Cranky Foreigner, pg. 9 • Op-ed, pg. 10 • News of the Weird, pg. 11 • Music, pg. 12 Film, pg. 15 • Art, pg. 16 • Gallery Guide, pg. 17 • Virtual Living, pgs. 18-19 • Prettiest Petals of the Pandemic, pgs. 20-21 Dining, pgs. 22-29 • Crossword, pg. 30 • Extra, pgs. 31-33 • Fact or Fiction, pg. 34

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SUPPORT LOCAL

Stock

Gwenyfar talks supporting local businesses during the COVID-19 crisis

photo

“B

etween the intense mood swings, exhaustion, compulsion to clean and impending sense of dread, I would say I pretty much feel like I did when I was pregnant.”

This has become my answer to the question, “How are you?”

I don’t think anything I just described is exclusive to me right now. It’s profound how in a mere 56 hours our worlds shifted due to the virus outbreak, altering American life as we know it.

Like many small business owners, I am running a daily gauntlet that includes shock, awe, fear, frustration, gratitude, joy, tears—the whole range of human emotions. Not to mention, isolation can feel overwhelming.

My bookstore is usually humming with activity and life. My staff are a mishmash of parents, college students and young adults with multiple jobs, and we all have creative projects. Usually, there are myriad guests at the loft and the bed and breakfast that cycle through our lives. Right now, it’s very quiet.

Hell, I miss complaining about the Azalea Festival, which normally would be taking place right now [Ed. note: See

pages 20-21 for the virtual experience festival staff have put together for 2020.]

There are two things I have learned are the best antidotes when I feel depressed or unhappy: to learn something new or help someone else. So my days begin with a cup of coffee with Jock and the dogs, then an email or a phone call to someone I care about, a check-in to see how they are doing. I know I can’t really wave a magic wand and make it all go away, but I can reach out and chat with those I care about. More importantly, I get a chance to share how much I love them.

Did I mention isolation can feel overwhelming? Perhaps one of the silver linings to this whole thing is how many people I have gotten a chance to reconnect with, to chat with.

We lead increasingly busy lives. Juggling multiple aspects of my business to try and keep payroll rolling means I socialize less and less these days. If anything, this has given me a chance to hear voices from friends and loved ones I haven’t spoken to in months.

As the day progresses, and I hit each

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BY GWEN YF

AR ROHL ER

new snag, once I work through it—whether it is trying to figure out the paperwork the staff needs for unemployment or mining the next step in a loan request, or going through the triage of bill-paying— it’s time for another phone call or email to see how someone else is doing.

Another thing that has historically made me feel better is learning something new. I like learning new skills; I like having an increased sense of confidence as I start to grasp a new concept.

Of course, part of this goes back to the way we each see ourselves. I am keenly aware I lack charm, grace, beauty and a host of other fine qualities, but I could usually excel as a kid intellectually. I could teach myself pretty much anything from a book, and was happiest when I could show that off. (Yep, totally did not have the social grace to understand no one likes a braggart; it took a lot longer to learn that lesson than it should have.)

But, now, I have embarked on a learning curve for which I have no hope of ever ex-

RIDE ON Spring has still sprung at Two Wheeler Dealer, where they’re helping customers social distance on two wheels.

Courtesy of Austin Fenwick, Two Wheeler Dealer

celling: I am trying to learn to use social media. I am making an epic fool of myself in the process. (So much for feeling better. Sigh.)

Anyone who actually knows me or spends any time with me knows I really embrace my Luddite status. I have regarded social media as a scourge upon humanity, but I must admit, in this time of isolation, I am starting to see the potential for connecting with people and there is value in that.

Nearly nine years ago, my friend Mandy took a day to help create a Facebook

page for the bookstore and give me a crash course on how to do a post. I tried not to cry. As soon as I could figure out how to make someone else an administrator, I handed it off to the staff at the bookstore. Now the staff are at home and I have to figure out how to do this. And Instagram. I can conjugate verbs, build a spread sheet, and settle an estate with the clerk of court, but Instagram and Facebook might be my Waterloo.

Jock chuckled one day at me and murmured, “Faint heart ne’er won the day fair lady.”

“Great. Call my courage into question and now I really have to do this.”

In the midst of everything, Matt Keen of Gravity Records, a man I always have respected and admired, is rapidly becoming one of my heroes. Now, Matt and his record store (staff and patrons) are far more media and social-media savvy than I will ever be. Matt flipped the switch on this situation pretty quickly, and went to curbside pick-up and drop-off delivery and mailing out phone orders early on. He’s figured out how to keep the staff on for as long as possible. When I called last week, he chuckled into the phone commenting he didn’t even hear it ring; he was so busy wiping it down with alcohol he was startled to hear my voice from the receiver.

Matt talked me through some basics of Instagram, and we chatted about the precautions he is taking for the health of the patrons and the staff. He’s been heading over to Good Shepherd Kitchen to volunteer, too. Just then his attention was called away to deal with a pressing matter in the record store. As we hung up, I could only marvel at the wonder that is Matt Keen and how lucky we are to have him in our community.

My next-door neighbor at home is Jacob Motsinger—of the brothers Jake and Ben Motsinger who own Memory

Lane Comics. Watching Jacob head into work everyday to maintain store hours and keep life rolling at the comic-book shop is inspiring. They are limiting the number of people in the store, and offering curbside pickup. Even more inspiring, they have migrated to an online point-ofsale system that has made their inventory searchable online. They are going to get through this; I couldn’t be more proud by their determination and dedication.

Across town, my cousin, Austin, works at Two Wheeler Dealer, and is facing a similar but not identical scenario. Every morning starts with him wiping down all the surfaces of the store with cleaner— that’s for the staff. Currently, customers are not coming in the building. The sales staff will meet them at the door, talk through what they might be looking for, and then wheel out potential bikes for them to consider. Folks needing to drop off a bike for a mechanic to look at will be met with a, “May I take your name and number, then call you with an estimate?”

I was surprised Two Wheeler was open, let alone doing business. I mean, race season is pretty much on hold. Well, apparently, spring fever has hit and bicycle transportation is more social distancing-friendly than airplanes, buses or even car-pooling. So there you go. (Make sure, dear readers, if you head over, to ask for Gwenyfar’s favorite cousin, Austin.)

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FREE FREE FREE! Like many distilleries around the country, End of Days Distillery is making hand sanitizer and giving it out to the public.

Courtesy End of Days

SANITIZED

BY DARIUS MELTON

E

nd of Days Distillery (EOD) was less than two months removed from their grand opening on February 1 when they found out they’d have to close their doors due to COVID-19. While small businesses across the country wondered if they would ever recover from this sudden shutdown, citizens reacted by hoarding. Toilet paper, Clorox wipes, Lysol and hand sanitizer became in-demand commodities. Today, these items are still largely out of stock. EOD honed on their entrepreneurial spirit, finding a new way to lend a helping (sanitized) hand to their community: They started making hand sanitizer.

“We found a company to buy 1- and 2-ounce bottles with spritzers [from], put a label on it, and opened it up to the public: first come, first serve, free hand sanitizer,” explains Shane Faulkner, who coowns End of Days with his wife, Beth.

As longtime Wilmingtonians, Shane and Beth continue to offer their premium craft spirits to the public to-go; they’ve perfected ancient recipes for rum, gin and vodka. However, the high-octane alcohol

DETAILS END OF DAYS DISTILLERY Free hand sanitizer 1815 Castle Street • 910-399-1133 Wed.-Sat., 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Mon.-Tues. by appointment

they proof for sanitizer has become the real gold during the days of a pandemic.

End of Days’ process for making sanitizer isn’t too dissimilar to that of their vodka—at least not at first. They proof the alcohol—essentially ethanol—to 70% alcohol by volume rather than 40%. Their recipe also uses reverse osmosis-filtered water and tea tree oils (in lieu of the now hard-to-find aloe vera gel that most DIY

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recipes use), which both aid skin ailments and also deter buyers from drinking the sanitizer.

1-ounce bottles of sanitizer are free for everyone, and no other purchase of their spirits is required. End of Days also sells 2- and 4-ounce pumps, and 1-ounce bottles in bulk to large corporations and at a discount to healthcare providers. The distillery is fully stocked because they are in full production, but just to keep supplies in check, Faulkner requests those who already have bottles of sanitizer bring theirs in for refills as needed.

“We started to provide 1-gallon jugs of hand sanitizer to the healthcare industry, to first responders,” Faulkner says.

“To the police department, for instance, we gave 30 bottles just for their personal use.” They did the same for firefighters, and have started showing love to local nonprofits in need as well.

AID

End of Days Distillery offers handmade spirits and free hand sanitizer the grains and malt, then bringing it to the distillery for EOD to extract the alcohol by distillation.

It’s not just Wilmington’s brewing scene coming together to help, either.

Tama Tea donated 500 bottles with lids, while Todd Platzer and Reid McEwan from ZeroCares.com offered the distillery 15,000 1-ounce containers with spritzers at a discount.

Some organizations have asked the distillery to provide 55-gallon drums or 5-gallon buckets worth of santizer. It’s not something EOD can provide without closing themselves off to other groups in need. “We’re not allowing anyone to take Though End of Days is the face of this massive amounts or quantities,” Faulkner project in the Cape Fear—distilling the alclarifies. cohol, combining the ingredients, bottling Though EOD is working hard to support it, and providing it at their storefront—the Wilmingtonians, they are only able to aid people of Wilmington have all banded tothe community at large with help from gether to ensure those who need support can get it. others.

“If we provide sanitizers, Wilmington will continue to respond to and support the distillery in the days to come,” Faulkner tells. “That’s just what Wilmington does. We’ve made friends with brewers and throughout the community, and the response has been overwhelming. Just knowing you can do a little bit for the community is awesome. It’s a good feelFront Street Brewery, Wrightsville Beach ing, and that’s what we should be doing Brewery and Wilmington Brewing Compa- as humans, anyway.” ny have all pitched in to help, fermenting “We contacted many of the [local] brewers . . . to provide a very high-alcohol content beer we can take into our facility and start to distill the alcohol off of,” Faulkner describes. “So, if they can get me the beer, then we can have a massive supply coming in to give out to the public, to nonprofits, to first responders, healthcare facilities.”

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SPACE CADET Reflecting on journalist and satirist H.L. Mencken, the Cranky Foreigner wonders if America didn’t get exactly the leader it deserved.

Photo via Unsplash

SINKING

BY THE CRANKY FOREIGNER

S

cene 1: 2017—The Oval Office: The president sits at his desk.

General Kelly passes the open door.

DT: Kelly! Get in here.

KELLY: Sir?

DT: I was watching Nickelodeon last night. I think we need a Space Force.

KELLY: Well, with all due respect, I think the Air Force deals with stuff that comes from the general direction of space.

DT: Yeah, I know, and the Army ... wait, tell me again?

KELLY: They do the dusty, dirty stuff, sir.

DT: And the Navy ... whatever is left: wet stuff, right? Anyway, I want a Space Force, and I want the office right here in the West Wing. I want to be able to stick my head in the door and use that old Buck Rogers line, “Make it so.” I loved it when he said that.

KELLY: We’re a bit short of office space, sir.

DT: What’s in that office near the women’s washroom. Empty that out.

KELLY: That’s the Pandemic Response Coordinating Team.

DT: Do we have a pandemic going on right now?

KELLY: We’ll have one sooner or later.

The idea is— DT: Forget it. Rudy said they look like spies for George Soros. Kick ‘em out. And I told Ivanka she could design the uniforms.

She’s thinking camouflage—not that sissy spandex most aliens wear. And Jared likes matching camo ray guns. Make it so.

The strange thing, in these weird times, is that bit of dialogue isn’t so unbelievable.

But, in the interest of journalistic integrity, and to set the record straight, Trump got rid of the pandemic team because he thought it was an “Obama thing.” Actually, George Dubya set it up after H1N1 and SARS, and Obama beefed it up after Ebola.

Still, despite his stupid move to eliminate the pandemic team—and every other stupid move along the way—Trump gives himself 10 out of 10 for effective leadership. The American people, applying all their considerable critical thinking skills, give him a more reasonable 60% approval rating.

Trump’s form of leadership looks like offering help to his best bosom buddy, Kim, over in North Korea, while telling U.S. governors to fight among themselves to see which one of their overburdened healthcare systems gets much-needed ventilators. Trump’s leadership style comes in the form of telling citizens they can get a coronavirus tests with a nod from their doctors, nevermind the fact he’s never talked to medical professionals about the lack of tests in the U.S. Fear not, though, he will get those Target and Walmart parking lots up and running as testing sites soon enough (still waiting). At the very least, during one of his press conferences, he can pass on unwarranted medical advice about the chloroquine miracle cure ... then a few days later refuse to take responsibility for the couple who ate chloroquine algae-killing tablets normally used in their fish pond.

SHIP

all odds, written off by many, Washington took the helm and steered his followers toward a noble cause—or, to be more exact, New Jersey. We, on the other hand, find ourselves in a heavily mortgaged lifeboat in serious need of repair, with no idea where to set our compass.

The Cranky Foreigner on our great leader

As for our leader, I leave it to H.L. Mencken, who explained almost 100 years ago how we were bound to eventually get the captain we now have. “As democracy is perfected,” he wrote, “the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of

the people. We move toward a lofty ideal.

On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

I hope the White House remembers to send flowers for their funerals.

It has been a long road that got us where we are now: decades of believing TV entertainer pundits who pretend to know everything. Who wants boring experts when we can get talking heads with great hair? We’ve been enthralled by proselytizing “Christian” con artists who know all too well science is the biggest obstacle to overcome in getting their second private jet. We have endlessly re-elected politicians who realize a well-informed population would mean the death knell of their careers. No surprise, really. We are a nation that thinks World Wrestling Entertainment is real, after all.

It would be great if this pandemic became a George Washington-crossing-the-Delaware moment. After a brutal winter, against encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 9

NATIONAL

BY MARK BASQUILL

“O

h, that’s right, he doesn’t know he works for the government,” a Facebook friend commented nearly two weeks into this COVID-19 containment. My friend previously lambasted the Center for Disease Control, citing “typical government ineptitude.” He expressed gratitude that a “real strong CEO” is in charge of managing our nation’s response.

“Once this shifts to the private sector, solutions will start happening.”

These are times I’m grateful for social distancing.

BEDROCK Weighing civil service over capitalism during isolation

long is it gonna take these stupid scientists to find a cure, anyway?”

“Next caller, please.”

“Doc, I was in Europe after Chernobyl. All that radiation in the air. I’m scared to go outside.”

“You can’t catch COVID from the eveThat evening I went for a run, sent an actual greeting card through the U.S. Postal Service, ning breeze. Unless a shelter-in-place and enjoyed Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake occurs, go for a walk, get some sun, and from The Harp—a local restaurant providing don’t slobber on anyone. Next caller!” takeout orders.

“I’m sick of watching all the negaThe next morning I drove to work and med- tive Nancy hate and American losers on itated on the much-maligned public sector. TV. That malaria drug works fine. Why Public sector and civil service have been fod- doesn’t that idiot Dr. Fauci stop throwing der for late-night comedy since Her Majesty’s shade on the president?”

Civil Service Commission was set up in 1855, “Because you can’t out-Tweet a virus; long before there was late-night comedy. Even that’s not the way science works. Looks so, as recently as 1940, American author John like it’s time for a short break, and for Dr. B. Gunther called the British civil service “the in- to wash his hands and take a slow, calmcorruptible spinal column of England.” ing breath.”

In the generations of post-World War II A little public service announcement might America, we’ve let our capitalist bellies grow help, too. fat and our civil-service spinal column deteDr. Anthony Fauci is a scientist with 50 riorate. Unless one’s a Marine or Navy SEAL, years expertise in infectious diseases—all in public sector workers get little love. the public sector. If it wasn’t for COVID-19, Nearly 40 years ago Reagan said, “Gov- most of us wouldn’t even care who he is. ernment is not the solution to our problems. Dr. Fauci currently heads the National InstiGovernment is the problem.” Reagan wor- tute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The shipers school me that Reagan wasn’t “really” building he works in doesn’t have “bigly” gold anti-government; he “really” wanted to rein in letters proclaiming “FAUCI TOWER.” Nor will excess spending and over-reliance on public any future scientist ever do their seminal solutions to personal problems. Maybe so, research at the Fauci Casino and Center for but post-Reagan generations used his quot- Disease Control. able mantra to eviscerate the public sector.

The CDC, National Institute of Health, Food Clearly, financial speculators and casino CEOs motivated to maximize personal profit in an and Drug Administration, Federal Aviation unfettered market will find solutions to long- Administration, NASA, National Weather Serterm collective problems, ranging from major vice, public research universities and colleges are institutions that serve the public good. No climate change to tiny strands of RNA. one at the above agencies is looking to maxI pulled into the parking lot at work, and imize quarterly profit. No president owns any waited for my coworkers to ask COVID-19 above agencies. The public institutions and screening questions and let me in the pub- civil servants that work there are part of the lic-sector healthcare facility. In a typical bedrock on which entrepreneurs and specmonth, I spend my time helping people get ulators build their fortunes, and small busihealthier and stay calm. Lately, calm has ness owners build their lives. They are part of been hard to cultivate. I’ve spent my days the nation’s spine, not its bloated belly. helping people contain coronavirus anxiety “We’re out of time for today. Please, supvia telephone or telemedicine. port local businesses if you are able. Re“This is W-W-M-B, your full-service pub- member ‘social distancing’ does not mean lic-sector healthcare facility. Next caller!” ‘emotional isolation.’ Until next time, reach “Doc, no offense, but you scientists don’t out to those you care about. Chest out. Spine know anything! This plague is God’s will. How straight. We got this, Wilmington!”

10 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

store. WZTV reported Metro Police later picked him up and charged him with theft of merchandise and driving on a suspended license. [WZTV, 3/12/2020]

LESSON LEARNED

LEAD STORY Police in Pinellas County, Florida, responded to the Clearwater Mall late on March 22, where witnesses had reported a woman screaming in a parked car. According to an arrest affidavit, the officers discovered the woman and Robert Janisch, 21, “wrestling with each other” in their birthday suits. The couple told police that after they had intercourse, the woman went to urinate outside the car, using a napkin to wipe herself, which she then accidentally threw on Janisch, prompting an argument. The affidavit stated the argument escalated to the point that Janisch choked his girlfriend, but he contended the marks on her neck occurred earlier at the beach. WFLA reported Janisch was arrested for domestic battery. [WFLA, 3/26/2020]

SIGNS OF THE APOCALYPSE Steward Gatt, also known as Stewy the Snake Catcher, was summoned to a yard in Ardeer, Victoria, Australia, in mid-March, where he bagged up a female tiger snake in order to relocate it in the wild. But when Gatt opened the bag a short time later, he discovered the snake had given birth to several offspring -- one of which had two heads. According to United Press International, Gatt took the snakes to Direct Vet Services and had them checked over. The usual one-headed babies were fine, but the two-headed specimen had to be euthanized; “... these animals are not generally viable so it was euthanized on humane grounds,” the clinic posted on its Facebook page. Mom and babies were returned to the wild according to plan. [United Press International, 3/20/2020]

OOPS Vicar Simon Beach, 61, of St. Budeaux Parish Church in Plymouth, England, was uncomfortable enough as he launched into his first virtual church service on March 22,

calling it “surreal.” But as he leaned into the camera to deliver the final portion of his sermon, he looked to his left and calmly deadpanned, “Oh dear, I’ve just caught fire.” Beach had leaned a bit too close to one of several nearby candles and ignited his sleeve. “I just felt my arm getting a bit hot,” he told Metro News. The flame damaged his sweater and shirt, but did not burn his skin. Beach was teased a bit by fellow vicars, who razzed him for being “on fire for Jesus.” “People have laughed and laughed, really,” Beach said. [Metro News, 3/22/2020]

CRAFTING DURING CORONAVIRUS Steve Walton of Shotley Bridge, England, took a bad spill in 2018 and, after a series of surgeries, had to have the lower part of his leg amputated in January. He was scheduled to be fitted with a prosthetic leg in mid-March, but his appointment was delayed because of the coronavirus crisis.

That was when his wife, Atchari, went to work, making a leg for him using a bucket, fiberglass resin and wood. The first attempt kept falling off (“It was more akin to something Long John Silver would wear,” Walton said), but Ms. Walton refined her project using a moon boot, and it worked.

“My wife is very practical. She can turn her hand to anything,” Walton told the BBC. “I am not going to use this regularly, but it will be good for getting around the house for the next three to six months. There are people far worse off than me at the minute.” [BBC, 3/24/2020]

Taiwan has strictly cracked down on its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, using GPS on phones to monitor the movement of those in quarantine. One man got a particularly costly lesson when he violated the quarantine to go clubbing, AFP reported. The unnamed man, who was required to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from Southeast Asia, was charged $1 million Taiwanese (about $33,000 US) after he was found at a Taipei nightclub on March 22. Authorities deemed his night out “malicious,” and the New Taipei mayor, Hou Yu-ih, warned, “I will not be soft-handed.” [AFP, 3/23/2020]

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS In Richfield, Wisconsin, neighbors Eric Trzcinski and Trevor Reinke have missed sharing a beer while they are socially isolating. So Trzcinski came up with a novel idea: He’s a car guy, and happened to have a spare exhaust tip that was the perfect size to hold a bottle of beer. Using zip ties, he strapped the tip to a remote control car, then dropped a bottle of Corona (yes, on purpose) into the pipe. He called Reinke,

told him to start videotaping, and Reinke caught the little delivery as it zoomed across a busy street and up his driveway, delivering the cold brew into his hands.

Trzcinski’s Facebook post featuring the video racked up more than 5 million views, he told FOX6 News on March 24.

[FOX6 News, 3/24/2020]

NOT FUNNY Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity’s Supermarket in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, had “a very challenging day” on March 25. A woman who claimed she had the coronavirus, later identified by police as Margaret Chirko, “came into the store and proceeded to purposely cough on our fresh produce, and a small section of our bakery, meat case and grocery,” he wrote on Facebook. While the staff “did the best they could to get the woman out of the store as fast as possible,” he said, the health department had to help disinfect the store, and the “twisted prank” resulted in the loss of $35,000 worth of food. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office has charged Chirko with threatening to use weapons of mass destruction and making terroristic threats. It is not known whether the woman has COVID-19. [The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/26/2020]

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THE JOY OF ‘JOVIE’ Sean Thomas Gerard penned a new single inspired by and named for his daughter, Jovie.

Photo by Shannon Kelly Photography

RAY OF

BY SHANNON RAE GENTRY

F

or the last couple of weeks, encore (like everyone else in ILM) has gotten used to seeing the words “postponed” and “canceled” due to COVID-19. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the arts and entertainment community, especially for musicians who rely on shows and festivals for exposure and a paycheck. Among them is Sean Thomas Gerard of Onward, Soldiers, who books shows for downtown live music spot Bourgie Nights.

“Having to cancel shows with bands that I love, people I love, has been really tough,” he says. “I know how hard it is to make a living playing music and how much work goes into planning a tour. It’s people like musicians, service industry workers and small businesses who are getting hit the hardest here. . . . If you’re that person that has been waiting to support your favorite band(s), the time is now.”

Folks have been tipping local artists via Venmo and PayPal during livestreams on social media. Others have continued to buy merch or music online. Fans will be able to support Gerard this Wednesday when he drops his latest single, “Jovie,” named for his baby girl, on his Bandcamp site. He’ll perform “Jovie” live on Instagram and Facebook (@seathomasgerard) Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m. Streaming from his home studio, Gerard’s roughly 30-minute set will feature a handful of other new tunes he’s collected.

Gerard took the time to tell us more about his latest work. encore: Though it’s obvious who “Jovie” is about, tell us more about how this song came to you.

Sean Thomas Gerard (STG): This song was a lot different than the rest. When my wife and I found out we were having a girl, and after we decided on her name, I started humming this tune in my head. First, it was just the hook, then I gradually added to it over time. I knew I wanted to write her a song, but I’ve never been good at forcing it.

Songs usually come to me like a flood, but this one I took my time with. About a week

DETAILS

a bit of free time during her naps. So I’ve been taking a little time every day to record.

I was getting close to finishing this song before the pandemic, so I feel like this is an appropriate time to share something positive and uplifting.

SEAN THOMAS GERARD

I have a few more songs I’m working on and tons that need to be recorded. I’m going to see how these next few take shape before I decide to either release them as singles or compile them into an album.

‘Jovie’ single release on April 1 Livestream on IG and FB @seathomasgerard Saturday, April 4, 1 p.m. seanthomasgerard.bandcamp.com before Jovie was born, I started writing the lyrics down in my notebook and ended up finishing it the day before she was born. That night, I sat down and played the song for her and Heather. It was the last song my daughter heard in the womb and the first song she heard on this Earth. I remember playing it for her when we came home from the hospital, and her eyes lit up. I knew she knew it. I’m releasing this song on April 1, which will be exactly 9 months since she was born. So there’s really a lot of love and intent that has gone into it. To see her jumping and dancing when I play it for her now, it’s everything. e: Tell us about the name Jovie.

STG: We wanted to tie in a family name somehow, so it started with Heather’s late Uncle Joe. He was a family favorite on her dad’s side. We landed on Jovie one day, which is the nickname for Jovial, and it just seemed like a perfect fit. She’s a beaming ray of light and happiness (as I’m sure everyone’s child is to them), so it’s very fitting. e: Is this single part of a larger solo album or project to come? Do you have anything else going in the studio at the moment?

STG: This song is going to be part of a collection of songs to come; whether they are singles, an EP or LP is to be determined.

I started working from home a few months ago to take care of the baby and have found

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e: With coronavirus, social distancing and the stay-at-home order, how is all this impacting you and your family right now? Is everyone safe and healthy?

STG: We’re doing good so far. My work is closed for the foreseeable future, but fortunately my wife works from home and her company is still up and running. As far as my day-to-day goes, it’s relatively the same— cooking, play time, naps, reading books, taking walks when it’s nice out. But not having that human interaction at work, at shows, with friends, or being around live music has been hard. We’re in a better situation than a lot of people I know, so I feel extremely lucky and fortunate, but very sad for those who are hurting right now. e: Obviously, all of this has been a swift blow to ILM’s music community—or local and touring artists who were slated to come here. What’s your outlook?

STG: Having [Bourgie Nights] closed for possibly months hurts everyone: the business itself, bartenders, bouncers, promoters, musicians, booking agencies, labels. I hope when this is all over, people support these endeavors more than ever because we’re all going to need it to get back on our feet. e: Is there a bright side for local artists?

STG: If I can take anything from this experience, it is this: Now is the time to create, to work on your craft, to make art. If anything positive for the arts can come out of this, it’s all the records, paintings, books, sculptures, poems, films, etc., that will be born out of all this downtime. e: Does more livestreaming mean more

LIGHT Sean Thomas Gerard talks latest single and accompanying April 4 livestream exposure for some artists who wouldn’t otherwise utilize this platform?

STG: Livestreaming is great for exposure.

There’s a lot of people sitting at home right now wanting to be entertained. The amount of livestreaming I’ve seen on social media over the last couple weeks is incredible. I hope it’s going to help keep artists afloat while their tour schedules have been completely depleted, but I don’t see how it could be anywhere as lucrative as touring. It’s taking people out of their comfort zones and encouraging them to do something new, to write more, to learn new songs, and at the same time it also continues to remind everyone their livelihood is at risk, and they need a little extra support from their fans. e: What can folks expect from your session on April 4? Comfy at home in your PJs? STG: I’m going to take a proper shower, shave my beard, and put on some real clothes for the first time in weeks. Maybe...

It will be roughly a half-hour set. It’ll be just me and my guitar, no effects or bells and whistles. Just the songs played the way they were written. [I] hope a few folks tune in and catch me flub a chord or two. e: Anything else you’d like to add?

STG: I’d like to show some love to my friend Bob Russell for playing the pedal steel on this track. He did a beautiful job.

This is the first project I’ve collaborated on with my longtime music student Brett Ennis. I’ve been teaching him for seven years now, and I figured it was time to have him help me with my own music. He helped me with engineering and programming, along with mixing notes.

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KIDS WILL BE KIDS Pete Davidson as Zeke and Griffin Gluck as Mo are two pals who fuck off a lot in ‘Big Time Adolescence.’

Photo courtesy American High

CHASING

BY ANGHUS

C

OVID-19 has temporarily shuttered the cinematic experience. For the first time in my life, I can’t go to the movies. It’s a surreal time for film lovers. There’s an added level of “what the fuck”ness when you have a gig that involves seeing a movie every week for 15 years. Fortunately, the entertainment industry has provided many options for watching new movies via myriad streaming services.

Before I dive into this week’s review, I want to share a few options for homebased entertainment ahead of these long days of isolation we’re facing. We’re all aware of paid services, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Hulu, but for folks who are looking at cutting back, there are a few “free” streaming services, including Tubi, IMDB TV, and YouTube (where, yes, you can find legal full-length movies). Tubi (online at Tubitv.com, or via the app store) has a lot of quality classics like “Night of the Living Dead,” “Bull Durham,” “Road to Perdition,” “Grizzly Man” and “Memento,” in addition to modern fare like “The Founder” and “Train to Busan.”

The cinematic purist in me scoffs at the idea of having to endure advertisements during a movie, but my pragmatic realist side realizes people might need entertainment options during tight economic times.

In lieu of a trip to the cinema, I sat down on my couch to watch a movie that premiered on Hulu last week: the coming-ofage comedy “Big Time Adolescence.” Mo (Griffin Gluck) is a typical teenager with an atypical social circle, characterized by a 23-year stoner named Zeke (Pete Davidson). Their friendship started after Zeke dated Mo’s sister and has continued for six years after the couple broke up. It’s both a blessing and a curse. Thanks to his friendship with kids no longer in high school, Mo doesn’t really care about daily teenage melodrama. He and Zeke spend their time drinking, listening to music and

DETAILS BIG TIME ADOLESCENCE Rated R, 1 hr 31 mins

but extremely sympathetic. Pete Davidson’s Zeke is the highlight of the film. He’s a thoughtless, perpetually stoned id, chasing good feelings and positive vibes. There is no consideration of consequence and no interest in pleasing anyone other than himself. He’s both the best thing that happened to Mo and the worst—a best friend who would do anything for Mo, and a bad influence that leads him down an unproductive path of self-destruction. Kudos to Davidson, who shows a previously unseen range as he transitions from stand-up to the screen.

GOOD

VIBES Pete Davidson shows great range in latest Hulu flick

Directed by Jason Orley Starring Griffin Gluck, Pete Davidson, Emily Arlook, Michael Devine finding idiotic ways to enjoy life.

Mo’s father (the great John Cryer) is less than thrilled with Mo’s circle of friends. His son is spending every waking moment with Zeke and losing interest in hanging out with his family and participating in extracurricular activities. Things get more complicated for Mo when a school acquaintance convinces him to use his connections to get liquor for a party. Zeke sees an opportunity and loads up Mo with medical marijuana to sell, and a booming business opportunity is born.

For the first time in his life, Mo isn’t invisible to his classmates. Suddenly, he’s the life of the party; everybody knows his name and lines up to get whatever Zeke can get his hands on. Mo is now popular, more confident, and has worked up the courage to talk to the girl he’s been crushing on. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, with a plot that involves being a teenage drug pusher, a lot.

I enjoyed “Big Time Adolescence.” Writer/director Jason Orley packs the film with equal helpings of heart and humor. He allows his characters to be deeply flawed encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 15

THE GREAT

PAUSE Local artist moves exhibit online, talks about developing meaningful projects

I

n the summer of 2018, local artist Cordelia Norris was traveling through the Atlanta airport with her 6-monthold son in tow. News programs looped the current administration’s decision to separate illegal migrant children from their families at the U.S. southern border. “[They] were held in execrable, horribly abusive conditions,” Norris recalls. Those images embedded in her brain and moved her soul. It was then the idea for “Hatchlings” was born.

“It struck me like a lightning bolt,” she continues. “The subject of the coloring book, nesting birds and their young, alludes to the beauty and sanctity of family, and love between parents and their young.”

The artist devised a coloring book that would include her own illustrations, as well as 25 or 30 contributors she secured through the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the illustration department at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she received her MFA. Norris curated and organized the selections after collaborating with co-authors to make the book informative and educational with every depiction. More so, 25% of proceeds benefit the Young Center, which provides social and legal services to migrant children.

The artist has a clear passion for activism, specifically environmental conservatism and the natural world. She volunteers with or hosts fundraisers for numerous organizations, like the NC Coastal Federation and NC Audubon. Reared on the Gulf Coast of Florida, in a waterfront home raised on stilts, Norris’ fascination with the shore’s numerous wildlife and landscape came inherently, as did her curiosity in art.

“I was a creative and rambunctious child, and created elaborate Valentine mobiles, as well as cards, paintings of my neighbors’ houses, and songbooks with misinterpreted lyrics of Christmas carols,” she remembers. Norris constantly drew and wrote through school, and ended up with college

DETAILS WILD CAPE FEAR New works by Cordelia Norris 30% proceeds go to Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County etsy.com/shop/LocalLoveBoutique degrees in art history, interdisciplinary studio art, graphic design and illustration.

After a brief year as a city slicker in DC, working for a federal agency as a graphic designer, she moved to Wilmington in 2017.

Reconnecting with nature was a necessity.

“It became my lifelong ambition to leave the gray, the concrete, the long commutes, and return to the coast,” she says. “We’d visited multiple times since 2009, and just loved the combination of a historic riverfront town and some of the nicest beaches north of Florida.”

During her first year as a Carolinian, she showcased a body of work at the now-shuttered Expo 216. The “Plastic Ocean Exhibit” highlighted the threat our world’s most precious bodies of water faced with plastic pollution and featured multiple artist’s works. “[My piece,] ‘Hybrid Ocean,’ imagined the consequences of transforming life in the ocean with consumer plastics,” Norris explains, “the evolution of strange, synthetic hybrids.”

While Norris has participated in group shows and nonprofit silent auctions in town, on March 27 she was supposed to launch her first local solo exhibit, “Wild Cape Fear,”

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BY SHEA CARVER NATURE INSPIRES

She points to black skimmer chicks and adults, and common tern chicks that came directly from her field work with local environmental organizations. As a bird steward for NC Audubon, she spent Saturday evenings last summer behind her scope at the south end of Wrightsville Beach.

“It was like being in a nature documentary and was one of the most awe-inspiring experiences of my adult life,” she tells. “I’d been watching a pair of common tern siblings for some time before catching a sweet moment when the very tips of their beaks Photo courtesy of the artist met. They were waiting for one of their parents to return with fish from the inlet, and I think they were checking in with each other at Aces Gallery, run by the Arts Council of to see if either had food to share.”

Wilmington and New Hanover County. GovAlso in the Etsy shop is her second colernor Cooper’s executive order to social distance and close businesses to stop the oring book, “All Along the Atlantic,” showspread of COVID-19 went into action. Thus casing flora and fauna of the North AtlanAces closed until further notice, and under tic. Earlier this month it was released at the mandate to avoid gatherings of more Wrightsville Beach Brewery as a fundraiser than 10 people, the arts council canceled for the NC Coastal Federation. “It’s inspired its Fourth Friday Gallery Night. Rather than by my desire to learn more about diverse give in to loss, Norris launched the show on coastal ecologies,” she tells. “The organic her Etsy shop, Local Love Boutique, with forms and mathematical relationships expressed throughout the natural world are 30% of sales benefiting the council. an ongoing inspiration. The more time you “Arts organizations, typically underfund- spend observing a place or a species, the ed at the best of times, often suffer in times more you understand and appreciate it.” of crisis, but their work is vital to our comNorris hopes the power of wonder emmunity,” Norris tells. “It’s important to me anating from “Wild Cape Fear” eventually the show is able continue in a way that benefits the arts council. . . . I think it’s a way for will see its way to the walls of Aces Gallery. us to stay connected with work that helps Until then, she will develop and expand her lift us up and sees us through new terrain.” knowledge, despite having to cancel numerous volunteer opportunities, conferHer show consists of more than a dozen ences and events. new paintings. Norris spent a year taking “I’m continuing the good habits I develphotos and studying the natural world of southeastern NC as inspiration. From the oped while working on this exhibit: paintmarshes to the swamps, the barrier islands ing every Sunday, watching tutorials by exand ocean, to maritime forests, each stroke perts, reading about technique, and reading and brush holds her love for and hope of a lot of books by naturalists,” she says. “I’d like to grow as a naturalist, and be better at protection for our natural world. capturing the light at different times of day.

“Most of the paintings highlight iconic This strange season, this ‘Great Pause,’ is species, like loggerhead sea turtles, black really the time for developing meaningful skimmers, great blue herons, and oysters,” projects. Without that sense of mission she explains. “It also explores the relation- and urgency, it’s very easy to be distracted ship between our dramatic skies above and or uneasy.” the water below.”

‘Black Skimmer,’ watercolor, 18-inches-by24-inches, is one of many pieces in Cordelia Norris’ ‘Wild Cape Fear’ exhibit, viewable on her Etsy site, Local Love Boutique.

GALLERY art exposure!

22527 Highway 17N Hampstead, NC (910) 803-0302 • (910) 330-4077 Tues. - Sat. 10am - 5pm (or by appt.) www.artexposure50.com

ArtExposure will be hosting “Metal and Fiber, a show featuring the metal work of Vicki Thatcher and the Fiber work of Jan Lewis. The show will run until the end of August. Check outartexposure50.com for upcoming events and classes!

ART IN BLOOM GALLERY

210 Princess St. • (484) 885-3037 Temporarily closed or call for appt. aibgallery.com

Art in Bloom Gallery is temporarily closed except for appointments until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. View and purchase art via our website at https://aibgallery.com/product-category/group-exhibit/. Free delivery or shipping provided.

On view: “New Art by Helen Lewis, Debra Bucci & Naomi Jones with Photographer, Brian Peterson,” through April 19.

The group art exhibit showcases original art in a variety of mediums. “Ancient Practice: Encaustic Art by Helen Lewis” is a new body of work investigating new directions with an ancient practice fusing pigment and beeswax on wooden panels.

The group art exhibit showcases original art in a variety of media. “Ancient Practice: Encaustic Art by Helen Lewis” is a new body of work investigating new directions with an ancient practice fusing pigment and beeswax on wooden panels.

ART IN BLOOM SATELLITE VENUES www.aibgallery.com

In addition to our gallery at 210 Princess Street, Art in Bloom Gallery partners with local businesses to exhibit original art in other locations. Current exhibits include: “The Ways of Wax: Works

by Liz Hosier,” through May 4 at Platypus & Gnome Restaurant, 9 South Front Street. View and purchase the art via our website at https://aibgallery.com/artist/ liz-hosier/. Free delivery or shipping provided. The exhibit features new paintings

GUIDE

by celebrates the versatility of beeswax as a primary medium, with works in oil with cold wax, encaustics (an ancient hot wax painting technique), and encaustic monotypes (a printmaking technique with encaustic pigment). At this time, the restaurant is closed for in-house dining.

Take out and limited delivery are available, but may change depending on guidance from NC and New Hanover County Emergency Management Teams. Call the restaurant at 910-769-9300 for info.

NEW ELEMENTS GALLERY

271 N. Front St. • (919) 343-8997.

Tues. - Sat. 11am - 6pm (or by appt.) newelementsgallery.com

“Juncture,” featuring art by BF Reed and jewelry by Aja Butler-Burns, is a conceptual exhibition combining Reed’s geometric shapes and organic offerings, and Butler-Burns jewelry that uses geometric crystals and organic metal shapes to create connections that elevate consciousness and brings us closer to nature.

New Elements is temporarily closed until further notice per the COVID-19 pandemic.

WILMA DANIELS GALLERY

200 Hanover St. (bottom level, parking deck) Mon.-Fri., noon-5pm http://cfcc.edu/danielsgallery

At this time CFCC and the Wilma Daniels Gallery is closed and will reopen once the COVID-19 pandemic passes and we are clear to get business back to normal.

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DISCOVER NEW MUSIC AT 98.3 THE PENGUIN

Please stay safe and follow guidelines.

We will get by, we will survive!

SPECIALTY SHOWS: THE EVENING EXPERIMENT WITH ERIC MILLER, WEDNESDAYS 7-9PM THE FRIDAY NIGHT PANIC JAM FRIDAYS AT 8PM ACOUSTIC CAFE SATURDAYS FROM 7-9AM ETOWN SATURDAYS AT 9AM PUTUMAYO WORLD MUSIC HOUR SUNDAYS AT 8AM

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SCREEN TIME

Virtual offerings come fast and furious in our new ‘Black Mirror’ life

W

ho else is tired of the words “social distancing,” “isolation,” “self-quarantine” and “the new normal”? Everyone? Yeah, me, too. Still, at a time when very little interaction is taking place faceto-face, we have to find ways to adapt and overcome, reconnect and maintain some sense of normalcy.

Small things that used to bother us likely are falling to the wayside as the bigger picture becomes clearer each passing day under the restrictions of COVID-19. I’m hearing more from family and friends, who often do a once-a-day, every-few-days check-in. Folks are using FaceTime and Zoom more than ever, making arguments over household screen time a worry of yesteryear. Heck, even at encore we suspended print production for the first time in 35 years, by going all-digital until this pandemic passes and small, local businesses who carry our free paper can open again. It just seems fitting as we’re entering level one of our new “Black Mirror” life.

During this time, many people are turning up their imaginations and immersing in more thoughtful creativity—making art, producing music, writing, and even livestreaming their projects. (Don’t believe us? Check out the wave of virtual poetry readings, educational tours, theatre productions, art exhibits, and concerts to go online in the past week.). A slew of (sometimes free) classes are coming hard and fast by the minute via distance learning, too.

As part of this ever-evolving paradigm, we have culled a list of virtual offerings for readers to consider indulging upon in

coming days—something more inspiring than merely binging the latest Netflix show, or scrubbing floors and countertops for the upteenth time. A tidy life is all well and good, but the free spirit within us all can still be inspired, entertained and unleashed even if from behind a screen.

A

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S

UNCW Presents Best Seat in the House uncw.edu/arts/bestseat.html When the university announced it was closing for the semester and going to full distance learning for students, it meant numerous arts performances had to be canceled, too. Kenan Auditorium, the Cultural Arts Building, and UNCW’s other halls and event spaces, normally rife with springtime concerts, readings, theatre productions, movies and more, wouldn’t be filled with the chatter of people and excitement of new works.

Though UNCW Presents had to cancel their final performances of the season, including 9 Horses bluegrass show and Ballet Folklorico, last week they launched Best Seat in the House. The virtual program features artists who have visited Kenan Auditorium over the years; it also offers workshops, tours, concerts and more.

For instance, Teal Tunes will focus on local music normally heard on the bustling campus throughout the week. Hosted

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While normally dealing with copyright infringement laws that prohibit free viewings of many famed stage shows, publishers in the new age of coronavirus have taken mercy on the arts-deprived masses. National Theatre in London will stream cinema-quality recorded productions from their archives on their YouTube channel for free every Thursday at 2 p.m.

EST. A Q&A session with the cast will follow, plus the production will be available for free one week after its air date if you happen to miss Thursday’s showing.

BY SHE A CARV ER

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC Teal Tunes is part of Best Seat in the House, arts programming curated by UNCW Presents and Campus Life, which will feature The Jared Show—a mix of live tunes and fun games—on April 7 at 8 p.m. on Campus Life’s Facebook page.

Courtesy photo

by Campus Life, Teal Tunes will be livestreamed on the Campus Life Facebook page Tuesdays at 8 p.m. The lineup includes: March 31, Justin Cody Fox; April 7, The Jared Show; April 14, Stray Local; April 21, Striking Copper; April 28, Jacob Dixon.

UNCW Presents also curated numerous links folks can access while hunkered down at home. This list features content like comedy sketches from The Second City, music from Jazzmeia Horn, work from Ragamala Dance Company, David Sedaris’s sardonic humor, and others who have been a part of past seasons.

The full lineup is available at uncw.edu/ arts/bestseat.html.

National Theatre London nationaltheatre.org.uk Royal Opera House roh.org.uk

The program kicks off April 2 with James Corden in Richard Bean’s “One Man, Two Guvnors”; April 9, Sally Cookson’s adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”; April 16, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” adapted by Bryony Lavery; and April 23, Tamsin Grieg in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

The Royal Opera House also has scheduled free streams of famed operas and ballets, ready to launch on their Facebook and YouTube channels. Folks can access the shows anytime, such as March 27’s “Peter and the Wolf” from The Royal Ballet.

The rest of the schedule follows: April 3, 2 p.m., The Royal Opera’s “Acis and Galatea; April 10, 2 p.m., The Royal Opera’s “Così fan tutte”; April 17, 2 p.m., The Royal Ballet’s “The Metamorphosis”; April 24, 2 p.m., Royal Opera’s “Gloriana”; May 1, 2 p.m., The Royal Ballet’s “The Winter’s Tale.”

Free How-To Art Illustrations Maya Murano YouTube

Maya Murano is a local teaching artist at SOLA Wilmington. The pre-school, afterschool and summer camp programs are well-known for their dedication to arts, music and educational playtime. Though the school is currently closed, Murano is teaching virtual how-to art classes for free!

So far, she has posted four kids’ drawing

lessons, and even invited her 4-year-old daughter, Jilly, to join her to show how easy it is. The simple shapes and sweet asides (“I want to switch them and color!” Jilly exclaims with excitement while making a squirrel) that take place during instruction are pure joy to watch. Together they prove how easy it can be to learn how to draw a dolphin, koala and even a family of ducks.

Marano will post more videos in coming days at youtube.com/channel/UCy6efG0JUyUijo0tCk3HXGQ. Bookmark it!

type in which class they want, and Terra Sol will respond with instructions on how to participate..

In Balance Pilates pilatesinbalance.com For 18 years, Carrie Pages has been the name to know when it comes to the best pilates workout in ILM. Pages reopened her boutique studio, In Balance Pilates (at 39th and Oleander behind Whole Foods Market), last summer after renovating it in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Her personal and group classes on top-of-theline equipment have helped many clients improve endurance, balance, core stabilization, strength and flexibility. Now, she’s shifting in the time of crisis once again by taking her classes to the Zoom platform.

INHALE, EXHALE Avery Ferebee teaches Breath + Alignment as part of Terra Sol’s online classes.

Other virtual arts programs, covered in last week’s edition, include Wilson Center and Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County’s Ghostlight Series, promoting local musicians via live performances and paying them with public contributions. encore also covered #ConnectWithCAM, which focuses on Cameron Art Museum moving all of their programming, from tours to classes to educational opportunities, online.

Photo courtesy of Terra Sol

Though clients won’t have access to the equipment, the workout will remain just as challenging. Pages’ mat classes are $15 each and are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. She’s also offering multiple-class packages and a new client special, along with memberships.

E X P L O R E Cape Fear Museum capefearmuseum.com/programs

Local gyms

Now that school is officially held at home statewide, kids are missing out on the fun extra stuff that also comes with school—like field trips, for one. Cape Fear Museum’s virtual programs can help supplement extra learning opportunities with a little fun. They have posted a variety of topics for a variety of ages; space and astronomy, for example, links to videos posted by NASA. They also post activities to pair with instruction, like creating a constellation or a dipper finder.

and maritime forests. Donations to tour the lighthouse and Smith Island Museum of History help preservation projects, and though these places are closed for real-time tours currently, the folks overseeing their preservation are still hosting virtual tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and offering free The museum has posted interactive history lessons. Oftentimes, kid-friendly prompts, too, like a nature walk and ob- activities accompany the programs as servation, complete with questions to ask well. They can be accessed on the Old the kids as you walk your neighborhood, Baldy Foundation’s YouTube channel and or an ants-go-marching singalong. They Facebook page. also host live story times with Ms. Jorey For more information about the museum on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. (April 1, “I Hear and lighthouse, check out oldbaldy.org. a Pickle”; April 8, “Friendship”; April 15, “Weather”; April 22, “Music Makers”) and Virtual Wine Tasting do Little Explorers with Ms. Pepper on Soif de Vin on Zoom Fridays, 10 a.m. (April 3, Dynamic DinoThough we may not be able to travel to saurs; April 10, Wild About Animals; April 17, My Place in Space; April 24, Amazing a vineyard currently to explore the grapes, or even to our favorite wine shop for inAdaptations). house tastings, the folks at Soif de Vin are More can be found by heading to capebringing the intimacy of their shop to our fearmuseum.com/programs. homes. Every Friday they’ll welcome differOld Baldy Lighthouse and Smith ent wine reps to talk about chosen flavors as participants sip and, most importantly, Island Museum make their pours as heavy as they wish!

Old Baldy Foundation YouTube

Bald Head Island may be closed to all nonresidents currently, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn about the historic markers peppering the remote island, a mere 30 minutes south of Wilmington. Old Baldy Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina, with 108 steps, five landings, and a ship’s ladder leading to its breathtaking view of the island’s wetlands

Friday, April 3, will feature two wines: Steven Vincent Cabernet from Napa and Kysela Pere et fils Pinet from Southern France. The total price is around $40 for the wines, which folks can pick up at their store in Monkey Junction. Soif also offers delivery service. Just call them at 910338-4027 or email info@soifdevin.com to get on the tasting list (go ahead and down-

load the Zoom app to your device and Soif will provide instructions on how to join).

F I T N E S S Terra Sol Sanctuary terra-sol-sanctuary.square.site Now that fitness studios are closed by Governor Cooper’s mandate, making time to take a breath, rebalance your chi and gain clarity and energy through physical exertion must be done from the comfort of home. It can be a challenging time for many, who must channel their will power harder than ever, but the folks at Terra Sol are making it easier.

Anyone who has bought a class package from them can convert them to their distance classes. Drop-in rates are $12.

Currently, they’re offering: Mondays: 9 a.m. Power Flow, 12:30 p.m.

Beginner’s Yoga and 6 p.m. Flow Tuesdays: 9 a.m. Yogalicious, 12:30 p.m.

Stretch + Destress and 6 p.m. Flow Thursdays: 9 a.m. Align + Shine, 12:30 p.m. Pranayama (by donation only), 6 p.m.

Flow, 7:30 p.m. Mindful Resilience Fridays: 9 a.m. Flow, 12:30 p.m. Begin Saturdays: 9 a.m. Gentle, 12:30 p.m.

Breath + Alignment and 4:30 p.m. Flow Sundays: 9 a.m. Flow Level 2 and 12:30 p.m. Flow Folks can sign onto their website and

Myriad options abound from wellknown gyms opening online classes for free because of the COVID-19 shutdown.

Among them is 02 Fitness, which has instructors from their numerous facilities posting free videos on the 02 Facebook page. Most times, a Spotify playlist accompanies the workout for maximum motivation. Workouts need minimal props, if any (a chair, a set of dumb bells, or heavy books if you don’t have weights, resistance bands, etc.), and the options vary from beginner to pro, legs to upper body, and all things in between.

Planet Fitness is stopping membership dues for the time being until all COVID-19 shelters-in-place are lifted and gyms can open again. In the meantime, they’ve posted free videos, a.k.a. United We Move, for everyone to access on their YouTube channel. Most clock in around 20 minutes, and there are full cardio workouts and family workouts, plus dance-themed ones to break away from boring regular routines. They also have celebrities show up, like Jerry O’Connell (who works out at home), or sessions with Biggest Loser trainer Erica Lugo.

YMCA is offering Stay Fit at Home virtual classes, too. They have plenty of fitness videos at YMCA360.org, including mini bootcamp videos, challenge rounds, barre and yoga classes, plus a section dedicated to active older adults. Also, they’ve teamed up with Les Mills so members can access more than 100 videos offered in both Spanish and English. There are martial arts, dance, strength training, and their BODYCOMBAT series available at watch.lesmillsondemand.com/at-homeworkouts.

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Prettiest Petals of the Pandemic

CONTES

L

T WINNE R: EMIL Y KRUE GER

ast week staff editor Jeff Oloizia made the comment in a group text that when his girlfriend brought home a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store, it really lightened his mood for the rest of the day. His reaction speaks volumes to the simplicity of beauty that often can brighten even our darkest hours.

Hope Cox: Personal yard

Bria Nicole Perez: Airlie Gardens

As we shuffle through the next four weeks during our statewide stay-at-home order, some days are sure to feel heavier than normal. Uncertainties will continue to arise.

However, it won’t stop spring from blooming around us in full force. Now’s the time to enjoy every walk outside and appreciate the pre-

Bonnie Callahan: Personal yard

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• PHOT O

TAKEN IN HER PE RSONA

cious petals and magestic buds in our yards or from afar in our neighborhoods, or even through pictures shared by friends. Basking in spring’s colorwheel can be uplifting to the soul—or as Buddha once said, “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”

We asked readers on Facebook last week to share their “Prettiest Petals of the Pandemic,” in attempt to bring nothing more than joyful content to this week’s edition—in what usually would be our Azalea Festival edition.

Catherine Ferguson: Juniper Level Botanical Gardens

L YARD

We had more than 50 people comment with photos, which encore staff judged on a blind rank-voting scale. Emily Krueger’s purple and white tulip came out on top, and as a result Kruenger will receive a gardening supply basket from Farmer’s Supply and a $25 gift certificate from Lewis Farms Nursery.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram or Facebook, @encorepub.com for chances to win local prizes through mopre upcoming photo contests. Next up: Our pet cover contest!

Gabriella de Souza: NHC Arboretum

SPRING’S Steph Muccia-Hart: aunt’s house

Jennifer Saengsuwarn: Personal yard

Kim Blanchard: Personal yard

Gabriella de Souza: Gallardia UNCW

Stephanie Denning: Smith Creek Park

Amy Finelli: Personal yard

L

VIRTUAL CELEBRATION

ast year, when the Azalea Festival committee announced its springtime concerts to ring in the glory of Wilmington’s official blooms, locals cheered. The North Carolina newgrass of The Avett Brothers’ and the uplifting vibes of Michael Franti and Spearhead seemed the perfect music elixir for enjoying the outdoors and warmer temperatures once again. Then COVID-19 took over our lives at the beginning of March. Suddenly, the pops of color peeking through the green foliage across the county drooped in collective sadness: For the first time in seven decades, the Azalea Festival was canceled—which also meant a loss of $51 million for our local economy.

While the concerts have been thankfully rescheduled (Franti on October 16 and Avetts on October 17), the committee decided, rather than forego the festival altogether, they would adapt as best as possible virtually—a “vestival,” if you will. Though we can’t necessarily leave our homes and head downtown to the street fair or parade, festival planners— usually helped by more than 1,000 volunteers annually—hope everyone can spread the love and joy, and showcase everything great about our hometown. All virtual events are listed on the Azalea Festival’s Facebook page and encourage interactive participation.

April 1, 3-4 p.m. The Azalea Festival Queen’s Coronation normally would take place, with her arrival along the Cape Fear River. Instead the festival celebrates all past queens and asks for folks to check out their event page “Virtual #NCAF Queen’s Coronation “ to tag and showcase the royalty in their own families or community—someone who shows grace, patience, kindness, leadership, perseverance, and fairness.

April 3, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The garden party brings out the best springtime duds and suds! While we can’t enjoy day-drinking under the 100-year-old live oak at Airlie Gardens, we can enjoy the blooms in our backyards, dressed in our best hats, sipping juleps—or straight whiskey at this rate—and share photos of our family’s own garden party celebrations on the “Virtual #NCAF Garden Party event page.

Steph Muccia-Hart: mother’s house

Catherine Ferguson: Juniper Level Botanical Gardens

April 3, 5 p.m. Every year the festival hosts a youth art show and contest among 300 statewide public, private, and home-schooled elementary, middle school, and high school

Azalea Festival 2020 may be canceled, but it’s still hosting interactive events via Facebook students. Though we can’t celebrate in person, the committee is hosting a live Facebook “Virtual #NCAF Youth Art Gallery Opening.”

April 4, 9:30 a.m. Despite the COVID-19 rain coming down hard on our parade this year, the 2019 parade will stream at the “Virtual #NCAF Parade” Facebook event page, showcasing the best of community organizations, queens and princesses, local businesses, students and more!

April 4, noon-5 p.m. The children’s area of the street fair is always fun for families. If the kids are looking for fun virtual activities, they can be found at “Virtual #NCAF Street Fair Children’s Area.”

April 4, noon-5 p.m. The multicultural stage at the street fair brings together all ethnicities to celebrate their cultures across Wilmington. Livestreams of performances from local groups can be enjoyed at “Virtual #NCAF Multicultural Stage” all day on Saturday.

April 4, noon-5 p.m. Who knew it would take a shutdown for the Azalea Festival to turns its efforts more toward local vendors and businesses over out-of-town travelers peddling their food and wares? They’re asking folks to order art, handmade items, food, music, books and whatnot from local businesses instead. Browse local websites for your favorite offerings, or reach out and order a gift certificate from a spa or salon to look forward to once our community is up and running at full force again. Tag the businesses you support at “Virtual #NCAF Street Fair Vendor Showcase.”

April 4, 7:30-10:30 p.m. The Patron’s Party is thrown annually to celebrate those who help make the festival happen. On the “Virtual #NCAF Street Fair Vendor Showcase” event page, folks can tag businesses and people who support the festival and also showcase pictures of their own house parties. —Shea Carver

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DINING

GUIDE

Bluewa ter Wa terfron t Grill 4

AMERICAN

Marina St. • ww w.bluew aterdinin g.com • Courtes y photo

BLUEWATER WATERFRONT GRILL

Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of sailing ships and the Intracoastal Waterway while dining at this popular casual American restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. Lunch and dinner are served daily. Favorites include jumbo lump crab cakes, succulent seafood lasagna, crispy coconut shrimp and an incredible Caribbean fudge pie. Dine inside or at their award-winning outdoor patio and bar, which is the location for their lively Waterfront Music Series every Sunday April - October. Large parties welcome. Private event space available. BluewaterDining.com.

4 Marina Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC. (910) 256-8500.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Fri 11a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sat & Sun 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Waterfront dining ■ MUSIC: Music every Sunday in Summer ■ WEBSITE: bluewaterdining.com

shellfish to pastas, sandwiches, and Certified Angus Beef selections. We offer half-priced oysters from 4-6 every Wednesday & live music with our Sunday Brunch from 11-3.

Whether you are just looking for a great meal & incredible scenery, or a large event space for hundreds of people, Elijah’s is the place to be.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11:30-10:00; Friday and Saturday 11:30-11:00 ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ILM; kids menu

PINE VALLEY MARKET

Pine Valley Market has reigned supreme in servicing the Wilmington community for years,

securing encore’s Best-Of awards in catering, gourmet shop and butcher. Now, Kathy Webb and Christi Ferretti are expanding their talents into serving lunch in-house, so folks can enjoy their hearty, homemade meals in the quaint and cozy ambiance of the market. Using the freshest ingredients of highest quality, diners can enjoy the best Philly Cheesesteak in Wilmington, along with numerous other sandwich varieties, from their Angus burger to classic Reuben, Italian sub to a grown-up banana and

peanut butter sandwich that will take all diners back to childhood. Served among a soup du jour and salads, there is something for all palates.

Take advantage of their take-home frozen meals for nights that are too hectic to cook, and don’t forget to pick up a great bottle of wine to go with it. 3520 S. College Road, (910) 350-FOOD. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Fri. 10

PLEASE, CALL AHEAD TO MAKE SURE RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN

ELIJAH’S

Since 1984, Elijah’s has been Wilmington, NC’s outdoor dining destination. We feature expansive indoor and outdoor waterfront dining, with panoramic views of riverfront sunsets. As a Casual American Grill and Oyster Bar, Elijah’s offers everything from fresh local seafood and

22 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

DURING THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN. SOME MAY BE DOING DELIVERY AND/OR TAKEOUT ONLY.

a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sun. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: South Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Daily specials and take-home frozen meals ■ WEBSITE: pinevalleymarket.com

THE TROLLY STOP

Trolly Stop Grill and Catering is a four store franchise in North Carolina. Trolly Stop Hot Dogs opened in Wrightsville Beach in 1976. That store name has never changed. Since the Wrightsville Beach store, the newer stores sell hotdogs, hamburgers, beef and chicken cheese steaks, fries, hand dipped ice cream, milk shakes, floats and more.

Our types of dogs are: Southern (Trolly Dog, beef and pork), Northern (all beef), Smoke Sausage (pork), Fat Free (turkey), Veggie (soy). Voted Best Hot Dog in Wilmington for decades.

Check our website trollystophotdogs.com for hours of operations, specific store offerings and telephone numbers, or contact Rick Coombs, 910-297-8416, rtrollystop@aol.com We offer catering serving 25-1000 people.

Franchises available.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ LOCATIONS: Wilmington, Fountain Dr. (910) 452-3952, Wrightsville Beach (910) 2563921, Southport (910) 457-7017, Boone, NC (828) 265-2658, Chapel Hill, NC (919) 240-4206 ■ WEBSITE: trollystophotdogs.com

ASIAN INDOCHINE RESTAURANT

If you’re ready to experience the wonders of the Orient without having to leave Wilmington, join us at Indochine for a truly unique experience. Indochine brings the flavors of the Far East to the Port City, combining the best of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine in an atmosphere that will transport you and your taste buds. Relax in our elegantly decorated dining room, complete with antique Asian decor as well as contemporary artwork and music. Our diverse, friendly and efficient staff will serve you beautifully presented dishes full of enticing aromas and flavors.

Be sure to try such signature items as the spicy and savory Roasted Duck with Red Curry, or the beautifully presented and delicious Shrimp and Scallops in a Nest. Be sure to save room for our world famous desert, the banana egg roll! We take pride in using only the freshest ingredients, and our extensive menu suits any taste. After dinner, enjoy specialty drinks by the koi pond in our Asian garden. Located at 7 Wayne Drive (beside the Ivy Cottage), (910) 251-9229.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tues.- Fri. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. for lunch.

Mon.- Sun. 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. for dinner.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: indochinewilmington.com

NIKKI’S FRESH GOURMET

For more than a decade, Nikki’s downtown has served diners the best in sushi. With freshly crafted ingredients making up their rolls, sushi and sashimi, a taste of innovation comes with every order. Daily they offer specialty rolls specific to the Front Street location, such as the My Yoshi, K-Town and Crunchy Eel rolls. But for less adventurous diners looking for options beyond sushi, Nikki’s serves an array of sandwiches, wraps and gyros, too. They also make it a point to host all dietary needs, omnivores, carnivores and herbivores alike. They have burgers and cheesesteaks, as well as falafal pitas and

veggie wraps, as well as an extensive Japanese fare menu, such as bento boxes and tempura platters. Daily dessert and drink special are also on order. Check out their website and Facebook for more information. 16 S. Front St. (910) 7719151.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Thurs., 11am 10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 12pm10pm. Last call on food 15 minutes before closing.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: nikkissushibar.com

OKAMI JAPANESE HIBACHI STEAK HOUSE

We have reinvented “Hibachi cuisine.” Okami Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse is like no other. Our highly skilled chefs cook an incredible dinner while entertaining you on the way.

Our portions are large, our drinks are less expensive, and our staff is loads of fun. We are committed to using quality ingredients and seasoning with guaranteed freshness. Our goal is to utilize all resources, domestically and internationally, to ensure we serve only the finest food products. We believe good, healthy food aids vital functions for well-being, both physically and mentally. Our menu consists of a wide range of steak, seafood, and chicken for the specially designed “Teppan Grill.” We also serve tastebud-tingling Japanese sushi, hand rolls, sashimi, tempura dishes, and noodle entrees. This offers our guests a complete Japanese dining experience. Our all-you-can-eat sushie menu and daily specials can be found at okamisteakhouse.com! 614 S College Rd. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Thurs., 11am 2:30pm / 4-10pm; Fri., 11am-2:30pm / 4pm-11pm; Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 11am9:30pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: okamisteakhouse.com

nightly from 5-7, until 8 on Mondays, and also 10-Midnight on Fri/Sat. Tuesday LOCALS NIGHT- 20% Dinner Entrees. Wednesday 80S NIGHT - 80smusic and menu prices. Sundays are the best dealdowntown - Specialty Sushi and Entrees are BuyOne, Get One $10 Off and 1/2 price Wine Bottles.Nightly Drink Specials.

Gluten-Free Menu upon request. Complimentary Birthday Dessert.

■ WEBSITE: yosake.com. @yosakeilm on Twitter & Instagram. Like us on Facebook.

BAGELS ROUND BAGELS

Round Bagels and Donuts features 17 varieties of New York-style bagels, baked fresh daily on site in a steam bagel oven. Round offers a wide variety of breakfast and lunch bagel sandwiches, grilled and fresh to order. Round also offers fresh-made donuts daily! Stop by Monday Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., and on Sunday, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Homemade bagels, cream

cheeses, donuts, sandwiches, coffee and more ■ WEBSITE: roundbagelsanddonuts.com

FONDUE THE LITTLE DIPPER

Wilmington’s favorite fondue restaurant!

The Little Dipper specializes in unique fondue dishes with a global variety of cheeses, meats,

seafood, vegetables, chocolates and fine wines. The warm and intimate dining room is a great place to enjoy a four-course meal, or indulge in appetizers and desserts outside on the back deck or in the bar while watching luminescent jellyfish. Reservations are appreciated for parties of any size. Located at the corner of Front and Orange in Downtown Wilmington. 138 South Front Street. (910) 251-0433.

■ SERVING DINNER: 5pm Tue-Sun; open daily from Memorial Day through October ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING Sunday half-price wine bottles; Monday beer and wine flights on special; Tuesday Local’s Night $11/person cheese and chocolate; Wednesday Ladies Night; Thursday $27 4-course prix fixe; Friday “Date Night” $85/couple for 3 courses and a bottle of wine.

■ MUSIC: Tuesdays & Thursdays, MayOct., 7– 9 p.m. (weather permitting) ■ WEBSITE: www.littledipperfondue.com

IRISH THE HARP

Experience the finest traditional Irish family recipes and popular favorites served in a casual yet elegant traditional pub atmosphere.

The Harp, 1423 S. 3rd St., proudly uses the freshest ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible, to bring you and yours the most delicious Irish fare! We have a fully stocked bar featuring favorite Irish beers and whiskies. We are open every day for both American and Irish breakfast, served to noon weekdays

Join The n Rebellio Today

SZECHUAN 132

Craving expertly prepared Chinese food in an elegant atmosphere? Szechuan 132 Chinese Restaurant is your destination! Szechuan 132 has earned the reputation as one of the finest contemporary Chinese restaurants in the Port City. Tastefully decorated with an elegant atmosphere, with an exceptional ingenious menu has deemed Szechuan 132 the best Chinese restaurant for years, hands down. 419 South College Road (in University Landing), (910) 799-1426.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Lunch specials ■ WEBSITE: szechuan132.com

YOSAKE DOWNTOWN SUSHI LOUNGE

Lively atmosphere in a modern setting, Yosake is the delicious Downtown spot for date night, socializing with friends, or any large dinner party. Home to the never-disappointing Shanghai Firecracker Shrimp! In addition to sushi, we offer a full Pan Asian menu including curries, noodle dishes, and the ever-popular Crispy Salmon or mouth-watering Kobe Burger. Inspired features change weekly showcasing our commitment to local farms. Full bar including a comprehensive sake list, signature cocktails, and Asian Import Bottles. 33 S. Front St., 2nd Floor (910) 7633172.

■ SERVING DINNER: 7 nights a week, 5pm; Sun-Wed. ‘til 10pm, Thurs ‘til 11pm, Fri-Sat, ‘til Midnight.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: 1/2 Price Sushi/Appetizer Menu

CURBSIDE AND DELIVERY! CHECK OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS FOR UPDATES ON MENU AND HOURS

• American comfort food, with a Southern twist • Handpicked bourbons and whiskeys • House-made barrel-aged cocktails • Excellent wine selection • 34 beers on draft Mon. 4pm-12am • Tues.-Thurs. 11:30am-12am Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-1am • Sun. 11:30am-12am

15 S. Front St. 910-399-1162 www.rebellionnc.com

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and 2 p.m. weekends. Regular menu to 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends. Join us for trivia at 8:30 on Thursdays and live music on Fridays – call ahead for schedule (910) 763-1607.

Located just beside Greenfield Lake and Park at the south end of downtown Wilmington, The Harp is a lovely Irish pub committed to bringing traditional Irish flavor, tradition and hospitality to the Cape Fear area ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenfield Lake/DowntownSouth ■ FEATURING: Homemade soups, desserts and breads, free open wifi, new enlarged patio area, and big screen TVs at the bar featuring major soccer matches worldwide.

■ WEBSITE: harpwilmington.com

SLAINTE IRISH PUB

Slainte Irish Pub in Monkey Junction has traditional pub fare with an Irish flair. We have a large selection of Irish whiskey, and over 23 different beers on draft, and 40 different craft beers in bottles. They have a large well lit outdoor patio with a full bar also. Come have some fun! They currently do not take reservations, but promise to take care of you when you get here!

5607 Carolina Beach Rd. #100, (910) 399-3980 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 11:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: South Wilmington, Monkey Junction ■ FEATURING: Irish grub, whiskeys, beer, wine, fun.

■ WEBSITE: facebook.com/slaintemj

ITALIAN ANTONIO’S

Serving fresh, homemade Italian fare in midtown and south Wilmington, Antonio’s Pizza and Pasta is a family-owned restaurant which serves New York style pizza and pasta. From daily specials during lunch and dinner to a friendly waitstaff ensuring a top-notch experience, whether dining in, taking out or getting delivery, to generous portions, the Antonio’s experience is an unforgettable one. Serving subs, salads, pizza by the slice or pie, pasta, and more, dine-in, take-out and delivery! 3501 Oleander Dr., #2, and 5120 S. College Rd. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sun., open at 11:30 a.m.)

■ NEIGHBORHOOD DELIVERY OFFERED: Monkey Junction and near Independence Mall ■ WEBSITE: antoniospizzaandpasta.com

THE ITALIAN BISTRO

The Italian Bistro is a family-owned, fullservice Italian restaurant and pizzeria located in Porters Neck. They offer a wide variety of N.Y. style thin-crust pizza and homemade Italian dishes seven days a week!

The Italian Bistro strives to bring customers a variety of homemade items made with the freshest, local ingredients. Every pizza and entrée is made to order and served with a smile from our amazing staff.

Their warm, inviting, atmosphere is perfect for “date night” or “family night.” Let them show you why “fresh, homemade and local” is part of

everything they do. 8211 Market St. (910) 6867774

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Thurs.,

11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sun brunch, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Porters Neck ■ WEBSITE: italianbistronc.com

SLICE OF LIFE

“Slice” has become a home away from home for tourists and locals alike. Our menu includes salads, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, homemade soups, subs and, of course, pizza.

We only serve the freshest and highest-quality ingredients in all of our food, and our dough is made daily with purified water. Voted “Best Pizza” and “Best Late Night Eatery.”All ABC permits.

Visit us downtown at 125 Market Street, (910) 251-9444, in Wrightsville Beach at 1437 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 101, (910) 256-2229 and in Pine Valley on the corner of 17th and College Road, (910) 799-1399.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m., 7 days/week, 365 days/year.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, Downtown and Wilmington South.

■ FEATURING: Largest tequila selection in town!

■ WEBSITE: grabslice.com

MEXICAN ZOCALO

Zocalo Street Food and Tequila brings a modern version of cooking traditional Mexican street food through perfected recipes, with excellent presentation. Zócalo was the main ceremonial center for the Aztecs, and presently, it is the main square in central Mexico City. It bridges old school tradition with a twist of innovative cooking. Zocalo also has weekly events, such as their margarita and food tasting every Monday, 5-8 p.m., and a live taco station every Tuesday , 5-8 p.m. Live Latin music Is showcased every other Saturday and Sunday brunch begins at 10 a.m.

Be sure to try Zocalo’s wide selection of the best tequilas! Owned and operated locally, locations are in Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC. Take out and delivery available through most apps.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER AND BRUNCH: Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m - 10 p.m.; Sunday brunch, 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; closes 9 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Pointe at Barclay ■ WEBSITE: zocalostreetfood.com

SANDWICHES J. MICHAEL’S PHILLY DELI

The Philly Deli celebrated their 38th anniversary in August 2017. Thier first store was located in Hanover Center—the oldest shopping center in Wilmington. Since, two more Philly Delis have been added: one at Porters Neck and one at Monkey Junction.

The Philly Deli started out by importing all of their steak meat and hoagie rolls straight from Amoroso Baking Company, located on 55th Street in downtown Philadelphia! It’s a practice they maintain to this day.

We also have a great collection of salads to choose from, including the classic chef’s salad, chicken salad, and tuna salad, all made fresh every day in our three Wilmington, NC restaurants. 8232 Market St., 3501 Oleander Dr.,

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609 Piner Rd.

■ OPEN: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday -Thursday,11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Friday Saturday.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Porters Neck, North and South Wilmington, ■ WEBSITE: https://phillydeli.com

SEAFOOD CAPE FEAR SEAFOOD COMPANY

Founded in 2008 by Evans and Nikki Trawick, Cape Fear Seafood Company has become a local hotspot for the freshest, tastiest seafood in the area. With it’s growing popularity, the restaurant has expanded from its flagship eatery in Monkey Junction to locations in Porters Neck and Waterford in Leland. “We are a dedicated group of individuals working together as a team to serve spectacular food, wine and spirits in a relaxed and casual setting,” restaurateur Evans Trawick says. “At CFSC every dish is prepared with attention to detail, quality ingredients and excellent flavors. Our staff strives to accommodate guests with a sense of urgency and an abundance of southern hospitality.” Cape Fear Seafood Company has been recognized by encore magazine for best seafood in 2015, as well as by Wilmington Magazine in 2015 and 2016, and Star News from 2013 through 2016.

Monkey Junction: 5226 S. College Road Suite 5, 910-799-7077. Porter’s Neck: 140 Hays Lane #140, 910-681-1140. Waterford: 143 Poole Rd., Leland, NC 28451 ■ SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER: 11:30am4pm daily; Mon.-Thurs.., 4pm-9pm; Fri.-Sat., 4pm 10pm; Sun., 4pm-8:30pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, north Wilmington and Leland ■ WESBITE: capefearseafoodcompany.com

CATCH

Serving the Best Seafood in South Eastern North Carolina. Wilmington’s Native Son, 2011 James Beard Award Nominee, 2013 Best of Wilmington “Best Chef” winner, Chef Keith Rhodes explores the Cape Fear Coast for the best it has to offer. We feature Wild Caught & Sustainably raised Seafood. Organic and locally sourced produce & herbs provide the perfect compliment to our fresh Catch. Consecutively Voted Wilmington’s Best Chef 2008, 09 & 2010.

Dubbed “Modern Seafood Cuisine” we offer an array Fresh Seafood & Steaks, including our Signature NC Sweet Potato Salad. Appetizers include our Mouth watering “Fire Cracker” Shrimp, Crispy Cajun Fried NC Oysters & Blue Crab Claw Scampi, & Seafood Ceviche to name a few. Larger Plates include, Charleston Crab Cakes, Flounder Escovitch & Miso Salmon. Custom Entree request gladly accommodated for our Guest.

(Vegetarian, Vegan & Allergies) Hand-crafted seasonal desserts. Full ABC Permits. 6623 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405, 910-7993847.

■ SERVING DINNER: Mon.-Sat. 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Acclaimed Wine List ■ WEBSITE: catchwilmington.com

DOCK STREET OYSTER BAR

Voted Best Oysters for over 10 years by encore readers, you know what you can find at Dock Street Oyster Bar. But we have a lot more

• Wings • Salads • Sandwiches • Seafood • • Steaks • Ribs • Chicken • Pasta •

CURBSIDE SERVICE AVAILABLE

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than oysters! Featuring a full menu of seafood, pasta, and chicken dishes from $4.95-$25.95, there’s something for everyone at Dock Street.

You’ll have a great time eating in our “Bohemian-Chic” atmosphere, where you’ll feel just as comfort able in flip flops as you would in a business suit. Located at 12 Dock St in downtown Wilmington. Open lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. (910) 762-2827.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days a week.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Fresh daily steamed oysters.

■ WEBSITE: dockstreetoysterbar.net

Come in and check out the Shack’s daily lunch, dinner, and drink specials. It’s a Good Shuckin’ Time!

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Carolina Beach Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-2am; Sun: Noon2am, Historic Wilmington: Sun-Thurs: 11am10pm; Fri-Sat:11am-Midnight.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Carolina Beach/Downtown ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials. Like us on Facebook!

■ WEBSITE: TheShuckinShack.com

MICHAEL’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

SOUTHERN

Established in 1998, Michael’s Seafood Restaurant is locally owned and operated by Shelly McGowan and managed by her team of culinary professionals. Michael’s aspires to bring you the highest quality and freshest fin fish, shell fish, mollusks, beef, pork, poultry and produce. Our menu consists of mainly locally grown and made from scratch items. We count on our local fishermen and farmers to supply us with seasonal, North Carolina favorites on a daily basis. Adorned walls include awards such as 3 time gold medalist at the International Seafood Chowder Cook-Off, Entrepreneur of the Year, Restaurant of the Year and Encores readers’ choice in Best Seafood to name a few. 1206 N. Lake Park Blvd. (910) 458-7761 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days 11 am – 9 pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Carolina Beach ■ FEATURING: Award-winning chowder, local se food and more!

■ WEBSITE: MikesCfood.com

THE PILOT HOUSE

We’re not just hot dogs!

$5 Meal Deals

Offering philly cheesesteaks, burgers, grilled cheeses, frank ’n’ beans and more!

Offering hot dog cart service for catering, 60 or more!

Drop-off catering offered!

We ha Impos ve the s Burgeible r

WILMINGTON 4502 Fountain Dr Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 452-3952

11am to 6:30pm, 7 days a week

26 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

The Pilot House Restaurant is Wilmington’s premier seafood and steak house with a touch of the South. We specialize in local seafood and produce. Featuring the only Downtown bar that faces the river and opening our doors in 1978, The Pilot House is the oldest restaurant in the Downtown area. We offer stunning riverfront views in a newly-renovated relaxed, casual setting inside or on one of our two outdoor decks. Join us for $5.00 select appetizers Sunday-Thursday and live music every Friday and Saturday nigh on our umbrella deck. Large parties welcome. Private event space available.

910-343-0200. 2 Ann Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm and Sunday Brunch,. 11am-3pm. Kids menu ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Riverfront Downtown Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Fresh local seafood specialties, Riverfront Dining, free on-site parking ■ MUSIC: Outside Every Friday and Saturday ■ WEBSITE: pilothouserest.com

SHUCKIN’ SHACK

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar has two locations in the Port City area. The original Shack is located in Carolina Beach at 6A N. Lake Park Blvd.

(910-458-7380) and our second location is at 109 Market Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington (910-833-8622). The Shack is the place you want to be to catch your favorite sports team on 7 TV’s carrying all major sports packages. A variety of fresh seafood is available daily including oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and crab legs. Shuckin’ Shack has expanded its menu now offering fish tacos, crab cake sliders, fried oyster po-boys, fresh salads, and more.

CASEY’S BUFFET

In Wilmington, everyone knows where to go for solid country cooking. That place is Casey’s Buffet, winner of encore’s Best Country Cookin’/ Soul Food and Buffet categories. “Every day we are open, somebody tells us it tastes just like their grandma’s or mama’s cooking,” co-owner Gena Casey says. Gena and her husband Larry run the show at the Oleander Drive restaurant where people are urged to enjoy all food indigenous to the South: fried chicken, barbecue, catfish, mac‘n’cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken‘n’dumplings, biscuits and homemade banana puddin’ are among a few of many other delectable items. 5559 Oleander Drive.

(910) 798-2913.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Mon. & Tues.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Pig’s feet and chitterlings.

■ WEBSITE: caseysbuffet.com

RX RESTAURANT & BAR

Located in downtown Wilmington, Rx Restaurant and Bar is here to feed your soul, serving up Southern cuisine made with ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. The Rx chef is committed to bringing fresh food to your table, so the menu changes daily based on what he finds locally. Rx drinks are as unique as the food—and just what the doctor ordered. Join us for a dining experience you will never forget! 421 Castle St.; 910 399-3080.

■ SERVING BRUNCH & DINNER: Tues-Thurs, 5-10pm; Fri-Sat, 5-10:30pm; Sun., 10am-3pm and 5-9pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: rxwilmington.com

TAPAS/WINE BAR THE FORTUNATE GLASS WINE BAR

Under new ownership! Tom Noonan invites you to enjoy his remodeled space, featuring a new sound system and new bar, in a warm, relaxed environment. Taste 40 craft beers, over 400 wines by the bottle, a wide selection of cheese and charcuterie, with gourmet small plates and desserts to go! And don’t miss their weekly wine tastings, every Tuesday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

SERVING DINNER & LATE NIGHT: Mon., Closed; Tues.-Thurs., 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.; Fri., 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. - 2 a.m.; Sun., 4 - 10 p.m.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown, 29 S Front St. WEBSITE: fortunateglass.com

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103 N Lake Park Blvd #B Carolina Beach, NC (910) 458-5226 elcazadormex.com encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 27

IT’S 5 0’CLOCK SOMEWHERE From Virgin Marys to ‘Quartantine sours,’ Wilmington’s finest share cocktail recipes to spice up your next social distancing happy hour.

Photo via Unsplash

QUARANTINIS FOR EVERYONE

BY JOAN C.W. HOFFMANN

I

can’t be the only person hurting for my favorite bartenders right now.

Pouring a beer for myself doesn’t taste the same, much less mixing my own cocktail. My current go-to is Mother Earth or Sutler’s gin with whatever fizzy water is in the fridge and a lime.

I’m a bartender by trade, yes, but beer is really the name of my game. I just don’t have the patience for cocktails. There are plenty of brilliant, out-of-work bartenders (mixologists, if you prefer) in Wilmington who allowed me to pick their brains for great quarantini recipes.

But good advice ain’t cheap, and it certainly isn’t free. So I’m including their Venmo information so they can be compensated for their expertise. If you take a whack at one of these creations and you enjoy it, tell the bartender with your dollars! Enjoy, wash your hands, and please stay inside!

PINPOINT RESTAURANT: Blood Orange Margarita Bartender and bar manager Nathanial Fabian recommends making PinPoint’s house marg during quarantine. The ingredients are easily found at the grocery and ABC stores, and it’s delightfully refreshing for the end of a work-from-home day, or as a perfect punctuation to afternoon yard work. He made sure to mention this is the house recipe, and all tips received will go to all staff. ‘ Venmo:@Nathanial-Fabian.

1.5 oz tequila .75 oz fresh lime .75 oz blood orange juice .75 agave nectar (or simple syrup) Shake hard and pour with ice. Salt the rim if desired, add some chili powder to your salt for an extra kick!

PANACEA BREWING COMPANY:

Fire Cider Virgin Mary Panacea is known for its delicious, healthful elixirs, and their quarantini is no exception. Owner Robin Hill advises, “Alcohol lowers immune function, but if you want to add vodka, please, feel free.”

Check out Panacea’s Facebook page for daily updates on food specials, and kombucha and beer offerings.

Panacea’s staff can be tipped on Venmo: @panaceabrewingco.

Makes 1 pitcher Heart of celery (3 innermost stalks and leaves) 2 tsp horseradish 1 shallot Dash Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp celery salt 1 tsp kosher salt 12 dashes of Tabasco or 3 dashes of Panacea Hot Sauce Juice of 2 limes Blend in a high speed blender.

Add 48 oz tomato juice Add 3 oz Fire Cider Mix on low, garnish and serve

spirits or some merch, available at the distillery and online at eoddistillery.com.

1 Pack of Emergen-C (any flavor will do) 4 oz of water 2 oz of vodka Squeeze of honey Pinch of nutmeg Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice (a pint glass will work if you don’t have a shaker). Shake/stir, strain, pour and enjoy!

Here’s to better days ahead!

DOCKSIDE: Cucumber-Lemon Quarantini Dockside is best known for its waterfront views, frozen concoctions, and bangin’ Bloody Marys. But Lilli MacKay, employee of seven years and bartender of two, has an affinity for the restaurant’s cucumber gin fizz. Here’s how she makes it at home. R Venmo: @Lillian-MacKay. Start with 2 cucumber slices and 2 smaller lemon wedges in a glass Add sugar or simple syrup to taste (not too much or it won’t be as refreshing) Muddle (if you don’t have a muddler you can you the backside of a wooden spoon)

END OF DAYS DISTILLERY: Quarantini

Add as much vodka or gin as you would like (I recommend Tito’s vodka and Hendrick’s gin)

EOD is the newest kid on Wilmington’s proverbial booze block (they’re also giving away free hand sanitizer, right now; page 6), nestled at the edge of the Cargo District at 19th and Castle. The distillery offers vodka, gin and white rum.

Shake with ice; strain, if preferred. Pour into a martini or wine glass, and top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with cucumber slice and lemon wedge.

Owner Shane Faulkner took the classic approach for his quarantini, but strongly suggests at-home mixologists try it with EOD’s Port of Entry Vodka, available at ABC stores and the distillery. In lieu of Venmo tips, Faulkner urges folks to buy a bottle of

28 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

MANNA: Quarantine Sour Beverage director Fred Flynn may be best known about town for his silky smooth voice and mad guitar prowess, but he also makes a mean cocktail. Flynn has

ILM’s best bartenders share top-notch recipes been working at Billy Mellon’s manna for over a year now, fine-tuning his cocktail game. His recipe for a Quarantine Sour is sure to please.

Venmo: @Fredflynn33.

Egg white 1.5 oz whiskey of choice (I use Elijah Craig small batch bourbon) 1.5 oz lime juice 1.5 oz lemon juice 0.75 oz simple syrup (1 part sugar 1 part water) Dry shake egg white for 20-30 second, then add ice and all ingredients, shake vigorously. Pour in a coupe or rocks glass and garnish with orange and cherry.

RX RESTAURANT: Rx Cure Rx boasts a seasonal farm-to-table menu, a hyper-local beer list, and a creatively curated wine situation. All of that is considered when the bartenders fabricate their cocktails, like the one below. For an extra fancy beverage, at-home mixologists can try pickling their own cucumbers.

Venmo: Chelsea Reed @chelzzzix3 Hannah Dierling @Hannah-Dierling.

Fill shaker tin with ice Add: 2 oz vodka (we like to use NC-distilled Social House) 1 oz pickle juice (either sweet or garlic dill) Pinch of black pepper Hard shake and strain into martini glass. Garnish with pickles

BEER FOR LUNCH Wrightsville Beach Brewery has begun selling groceries as a way to keep its kitchen staff employed during the COVID-19 crisis.

Courtesy photo

ADAPT AND

BY JEFF OLOIZIA

R

unning a restaurant or bar can be trying, even in the best of times. Doing so during a pandemic can feel almost impossible.

“It’s amazing how vulnerable restaurants truly were without even knowing it,” says Dean Neff, former PinPoint chef and owner of the forthcoming downtown seafood restaurant Seabird. Neff is one of hundreds of Wilmington small business owners left scrambling right now. Already, social distancing and a statewide stay-athome order have made it difficult for local bars and restaurants to cope with the dramatic downturn in business. Still, a few intrepid entrepreneurs have found creative ways to keep their staffs paid during uncertain times.

JAMES BEARD QUALITY IN YOUR DINING ROOM The coronavirus crisis was only a couple weeks old when chef Dean Neff, a 2019 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast, posted the following plea to Instagram: “I want to do your dishes!!!”

With his new restaurant, Seabird, still several months away from opening, Neff was looking for ways to help the South Front District bakery owned by his fiancé (and former PinPoint pastry chef) Lydia Clopton.

COVID-19 forced Clopton to lay off the entire Love, Lydia staff earlier this month.

Afterward, she and Neff sat down to discuss how they could both save their businesses and keep Clopton’s workers afloat.

“It does not feel good to stand up in front of people and say, ‘Hey, we’re closing and we don’t know what to tell you,’” Neff says. “We knew [about the] slim margins on restaurants, and especially on bakeries, and we were going to make sure we were doing everything we could to let people know that we weren’t going to disappear. We were going be available and do everything we could

to support them.”

They decided on an auction, which started March 23. Supporters bid on Facebook for Neff to come to their home and cook a four-course dinner with wine for up to six people. (As stated on Instagram, he’d also do the dishes.) Proceeds from the auction would be distributed among the eight Love, Lydia staffers. Bidding started at $750 and ended Sunday night. The winning bid was $1,750, from Suzie and Nick Trivisonno.

Neff and Clopton were sure to include a stipulation that payment be made within 48 hours of the auction closing, so relief could be provided to staff as quickly as possible.

“We figured if [a bill] passed that was going to provide some assistance, it was going to take a little bit of time to kind of get to everyone,” Neff adds.

It’s a novel solution and one that brings the chef joy. “I’ve done a lot of these dinners in people’s homes, and it’s always so much fun,” he says. The Trivisonnos will get to choose the menu, as well as how much interaction they have with Neff while the meal is being prepared During a fundraiser in Charleston earlier this year, the dinner party spent the entire evening in the kitchen hanging out with Neff and his staff. Neff says it only heightened the experience. “If they’re into it, I’m all about that.”

GROCERIES WITH YOUR GROWLER

as bread, fresh produce and beans. There’s also a selection of “immunity boosters,” such as fresh peeled garlic and elderberry syrup, and the brewery’s usual selection of six-packs and growlers of beer. (They also sell wine.)

The brewery has been posting its inventory on Instagram and Facebook each morning. Orders must be emailed to grocery@ wbbeer.com at a time specified on social media, and are typically available for pickup the following afternoon.

The approach has allowed Watkins to continue to pay a large portion of his staff, many of whom have been with him since the brewery opened in 2017. He says the overall kitchen volume is down 75 percent, but at this point, every little bit helps.

“I’m really proud of them,” Watkins says of his staff. “Everybody has done a great job keeping a positive attitude. We’ve always said everybody in this building has to wear multiple hats, but that’s especially true right now.”

Watkins says all customers can rest assured the brewery is taking necessary precautions during their takeout/curbside pickups. For the past two weeks, he has been taking each employee’s temperature the moment they walk in the building. In addition, workers wear masks and use a fresh pair of gloves for each customer.

“As a brewery, we’re in the business of sanitation—same goes for the kitchen,” Watkins says.

SURVIVE In uncertain times, restaurants find creative ways to pay their staffs

vice worker who has signed up to receive tips through CashApp or Venmo. As of last Thursday, more than 300 people had signed up in the greater Wilmington area.

HELP IS ON THE WAY Wilmington restaurants may be left largely to fend for themselves, but in New York City, hospitality executives have launched a “dining bonds” initiative to help restaurants ravaged by coronavirus. The concept is simple: Diners can purchase a $100 “bond” for $75 that can be cashed in for full value after its redemption date. (The money, however, is nonrefundable should the restaurant be forced to close permanently.)

Locally, encore launched its own initiative that pays out businesses, the majority of which are restaurants, half of everything that sells on encoreDEALS.com in cash.

The other half can be used as ad credit when the business is up and running again at full speed. The DEALS platform sells halfpriced gift certificates to locals, so they also save a buck. As of press, the magazine has paid $2,000 to local businesses who participated in this relief program.

Wrightsville Beach Brewery owner Jud Watkins never thought he’d be selling groceries out of his brewery. That’s just what he and his staff have been doing since the coronavirus took away a large portion of their business. “We’re basically reinventing the business by the day,” Watkins says. “The mentality is adapt and survive.”

TIPPING MADE EASY

Groceries being sold by the brewery include items its kitchen would typically stock, like fresh mozzarella and North Carolina jumbo lump crab, as well as essentials­, such

First launched in Tennessee, the site has expanded to over 200 cities across the country, including Wilmington. When users click their city, it randomly selects a serencore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 29

For every service industry worker receiving assistance from his or her employer, there are many more who aren’t so lucky.

The website serviceindustry.tips allows users to tip unemployed service workers with the click of a button.

Neff encourages people to continue to think creatively about the current crisis, especially when it comes to continuing our culinary output. “I don’t think anyone wants to have to imagine a landscape in the United States without independent restaurants.”

CROSSWORD

THANK YOU WILMINGTON! Great Burgers and Hand-cut Fries

Established 1990

Voted “Best Burger” and “Best Fries” 6 Locations in the Cape Fear

WWW.PTSGRILLE.COM 30 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

COMMUNITY IN ACTION Cheney Brothers truck delivered to Good Shepherd Center a load of supplies donated by CastleBranch.

Courtesy photo

TAKING

BY BROOKE SUDDETH

H

ousing, feeding and providing basic necessities for people in need has been the Good Shepherd Center’s mission since 1983. What started as a soup kitchen has matured into a multi-faceted organization, committed to staying open throughout the COVID-19 health crisis, despite facing new challenges, such as an influx of patrons needing assistance.

sis, our staff have been rolling up their sleeves and working outside their usual roles to ensure services are delivered,” Knight discloses. “The virtual lack of volunteers does pose a challenge to be sure, but we’re also trying to be very careful about how many new people come through our doors, in an attempt to keep everyone healthy. We are primarily calling on established volunteers but as their availability changes, that may change as well.”

“Our nightly numbers have increased from 60 homeless adults and children to 80-90,” says Good Shepherd’s executive director Katrina Knight. “That’s a real challenge on a ‘normal’ day, given the range of our guests’ special needs.

We think we can meet the needs of about 100 folks, so we are watching the numbers closely.”

Even though the center is adapting operations, they remain committed to transitioning folks from staying in the shelter to moving into their own homes.

Case managers and housing specialists Deniell Faison and Joe Byrnes actively work toward helping people secure and retain stable housing.

Despite the shelter pushing capacity, Good Shepherd continues to serve those most exposed to coronavirus.

Folks who face homelessness are most vulnerable during a public health crisis.

“Having a safe place to go, a place to access resources, like food, clothing, mail, our on-site medical clinic, and information is of even greater importance at this time,” Knight says. “Our homeless guests, especially, already experience stress and anxiety as a result of their housing crisis, and now [there’s the] added uncertainty and worry everyone is feeling in the face of a growing pandemic.”

Due to safety concerns, Good Shepherd Center has asked its established volunteers over 60 years old, those with pre-existing health conditions, and those who have traveled to high-risk areas to stay home and refrain from assisting at the center. Thankfully, many regular volunteers do not fall into those categories. Still, Good Shepherd is experiencing a shortage of help.

“As they always do in times of cri-

“They are working miracles that also help folks achieve social distance successfully,” Knight reveals. “While most of our attention has turned to the immediate crisis at hand, we’ve still moved more than 10 homeless guests back to housing in the last two weeks. It speaks volumes about the creativity of our staff and their focus on housing placements, even for the most challenged of our homeless neighbors—and even in the face of so much distraction.”

The 60 residents of Good Shepherd Center’s two housing developments, the Sgt. Eugene Ashley Center and SECU Lakeside Reserve, are following current self-isolation and social distancing mandates. Good Shepherd delivers food and other supportive items as needed.

Ensuring the health of its guests, Good Shepherd maintains a close relationship with the New Hanover County Health Department to offer guidance to the center’s professionals in their on-site medical clinic. Having recently received a $150,000 grant from Cape Fear Memorial Foundation for general and mental-health intervention, Good

Shepherd is monitoring guests developing flu-like symptoms. They then assist these guests in being tested for flu and care for them separately from other clients until they have recovered from their diagnosis of flu, pneumonia, bronchitis or another condition. Keeping the center healthy amid this pandemic is the top priority right now.

“Our nurse has been hugely helpful in reinforcing our educational efforts to the shelter group around the importance of frequent hand-washing and other preventative measures,” Knight says.

“Though we attempted to begin stocking up on needed supplies a few weeks back, we will certainly need more masks and hand sanitizer.”

Part of Good Shepherd’s operations is to administer food to both center patrons and the general public. A hot breakfast, lunch and dinner are being served daily to homeless guests staying at Good Shepherd. Lunches are still free and open to the public, but have been converted to a to-go option outside the building, available 11 a.m. to noon, Monday – Friday.

“A number of low-income elderly and persons with disabilities rely on us for those meals, and every day they have expressed appreciation for our efforts to continue serving them, albeit a little differently than usual,” Knight says. “As everyone says, the situation is dynamic, but we are hoping to continue for as long as we are able.”

In order for Good Shepherd to continue their essential services, they need support. Unfortunately, they have had to postpone spring fundraisers, like the popular Empty Bowls. Still, they remain optimistic about holding previously scheduled events in the summer and

SHELTER

Good Shepherd Center rallies around our most vulnerable neighbors during pandemic fall, once the community is up and running again.

“Our team is working very hard to make sure there are no interruptions in service or operations, but without those fundraisers in this fiscal year, it certainly will have an impact on our budget,” Knight discloses. “We have to devote all of our attention and energy to service delivery right now, but it’s true—monetary gifts are in great need at this time.”

Donating money and items from their wish list is the greatest way the community can help right now. Wish list items include coffee, Kleenex, cough drops, Gatorade, bottled water, hand sanitizer, rice, pasta, soup, number 10 cans of fruits and vegetables, pancake mix and syrup, grits, snacks, sugar, milk, sliced bread, sliced cheese and deli meat and fresh produce.

“We are grateful to be remembered at a time when everyone is facing so much in their own lives,” Knight says.

“Whether it’s a hurricane or virus or other crisis, the Cape Fear community rallies around Good Shepherd and our neighbors in need, and we could not appreciate that more.”

Anyone who needs emergency shelter or other services should reach out by calling 910-763-4424, ext. 102.

encorepub.com

encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 31

READY TO TEACH New Hanover County Schools are going online at least until May15. Teachers like Adriana Poveromo (below) and Annie Lovoy (next page) are prepping for the change with students and parents.

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels

BY SHANNON RAE GENTRY

D

ue to the governor’s current stay-at-home order, New Hanover County Schools announced on March 29 they will remain closed to the public through May 15. The closure includes all schools and facilities, except by appointment or at the discretion of a school’s principal. Learning continuity planning and training for teachers has been underway since March 24, and teachers are expected to launch their online courses on April 1 (NHCS’s spring break, from April 6-13, remains unchanged).

Forest Hills Global Elementary 5thgrade teachers Adriana Poveromo (science) and Annie Lovoy (math, homeroom reading and writing) have more than two decades of experience between them.

Through hurricanes and unexpected school closings, they’ve learned to adapt to new schedules and act accordingly.

However, both concur they have never experienced anything quite like the whirlwind caused by COVID-19.

“Initially, I was concerned about the logistics of how to implement distance learning at an elementary-level,” Lovoy admits. “Like any other challenge we face as educators, I am trying to tackle it head on with perseverance because that is what my students need from me: my very best for their education.”

Moving to fully online instruction for Poveromo wasn’t a tectonic shift, per se.

She would often use technology in her science classes for supplemental instruction at least two or three times a week. “I have been using Google Classroom and other Google Apps for Education in order for students to complete formative and informative assessments,” she explains.

“So I feel I was prepared for this shift.”

Forest Hills will use Google Classroom as its learning management system (LMS) from here on out. They will begin testing the use of Google Meet and Zoom this week, too. Students can access assignments and teachers can individualize in-

struction with additional online apps or Dojo messenger, and/or Google Form to programs that can be imported into Google discover who has access to them to comClassroom. plete their online learning from home. A “This provides continuity across grade vast majority of our student population relevels for parents who have multiple chil- sponded. Those in need of a device will be dren in our school,” Lovoy adds. “Our prin- offered to check out one iPad per housecipal [Boni Hall] has been very support- hold that will be distributed at our school ive of ideas we have expressed wanting starting March 30. to try, and has given us the autonomy to NHCS Technology Department has been make our own decisions on how to deliver working extremely hard to make this traninstruction. . . . Content and the course- sition work for all, and they deserve a lot work will be the same as it has been, but of credit. NHCS is sending out weekly upwe know some students have support at dates to parents through our automated home and others don’t. It allows us to re- messaging system, Connect 5, as things ally think through the lesson a lot more [in change and develop. terms of] being equitable to all students.”

AP: Sometimes we have phone numbers encore picked Poveromo’s and Lovoy’s that do not work, homes that lack internet brains on how NHC parents and guardians or a device, and lack of resources or supcan navigate major changes in their chil- port at home. This has posed a challenge, dren’s education, with additional resourc- but as a school, we have been able to use es to help them at home. our resources in order to connect with our encore (e): Tell us how families have re- families. We keep them informed on our sponded to these drastic changes thus far. social media, class websites and Class Dojo.

Adriana Poveromo (AP): We have been e: Does a student’s grade level/age ulmaking sure that we are creating resources and tutorials for parents [so] they un- timately impact how involved the parent derstand the shift into virtual learning. needs to be at home?

We have been calling families, in order to AP: Grade levels will be impacted by this. make sure they have internet and a device Coming from the elementary level, I feel at home. If not, we are using different av- it is much more difficult for our students. enues and problem-solving to make sure Kindergartners need support from teachall students are able to access the content. ers in order to help them log in to their apOur families have been very patient and plications that they have access to . . . as understanding. They have been reaching well as being taught how to use the tools out with questions and making sure they associated with these resources . . . As a are knowledgeable on the Learning Man- teacher at a Title I school, I think about agement System we are using in order to every scenario that could occur when my make sure that they can assist their stu- students are at home, and I tailor my lesdents at home. sons and activities to meet the needs of all Annie Lovoy (AL): Some are concerned of my learners. about grading policies, promotion and reAL: I’ve spoken to a few middle-school tention. However, what schools and dis- and high-school teachers and the transitricts are focusing on right now is making tion for their online learning has been simsure learning still occurs in some form. pler due to students’ ability to easily utilize e: Are there communication barriers, technology independently at that age. such as access to computers, tablets, etc.? e: What resources do you find most AL: We have contacted every student helpful for parents trying to help their kids household either by email, phone, Class at home right now?

32 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

LOG ON NHCS teachers talk new strategy as they navigate online learning

AL: I would suggest first utilizing any resource their child’s teacher provides.

Keep in constant contact with your child’s teacher for help . . . Also, most programs, applications, and online resources provide videos/tutorials on their websites, too.

There are unlimited online resources, such as Khan Academy on YouTube that gives math instruction by video. Many online platforms are providing premium services for free. . . . Reputable education publications, such as Time for Kids, Ranger Rick, Scholastic, and Curriculum Associates are offering free online magazines and resources on their home pages.

Also, take advantage of “online virtual field trips” provided by organizations, such as

zoos and art museums (Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, National Parks and Smithsonian National Zoo are great).

together to make this the easiest and best experience possible for our students. I am so proud to call myself a teacher because of the support and sense of community I have felt during this time. This is a time where teachers are truly stepping up and shining in their profession, showcasing we are flexible and we are here for our students and families.

During this time, we are not introducing too many new resources because we don’t want to overwhelm families with new resources and have them not want to complete the work. At our school, we are using websites and apps we have been using in our classrooms so there is consistency with what they do at school and home.

Personally, I have been a nervous wreck because I am constantly going to bed each night thinking about what my students are doing at home. I am wanting to make sure they are all OK during this time. It is hum-

e: What have been some “lessons learned” so far in all of this?

bling to see I am not alone in these feelings and this is where I know that I am meant to be a teacher.

AL: I am happily overwhelmed by the sharing teachers are doing right now. I have found so many excellent resources and information on how to implement certain applications and programs. I am a member of many social media groups for teachers, and when schools began closing, teachers across the country started collaborating and sharing thoughts, ideas, and resources with one another. It has made me even prouder to be an educator.

AP: I have learned I need to think about what I would normally plan for a faceto-face lesson and cut it in half. I need to read through the lesson, and see what the overall end goal is for my students and just focus on that.

This has also been a time where I have learned more about my flexibility as a teacher and how making the connections at the beginning of the year are really playing a huge part in this process.

Teachers across the district need to be reminded to make these assignments and lessons a realistic expectation for your students and for yourself. During this time, use it as an opportunity to empower students, and create opportunities to allow them to get excited about their growth and development in school.

AL: One of the most important lessons I have learned is that anything can happen; situations can change rapidly. This is unchartered territory for everyone in the world. No one could have ever predicted such an event. You have to be willing to adapt and do so quickly; our students’ continued education is dependent upon being able to implement distance learning. Is it going to be perfect? No. Is it going to replicate and replace their usual form of education? No. However, all stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, support staff, administration and district office personnel) must try to make this transition as smooth as possible and know that it is a “work-in-progress” on everyone’s part. e: How might this impact standardized tests required of certain grades?

AL: Fortunately, with the disruption in education for all NC students, the Department of Public Instruction has applied for a waiver for standardized testing for this school year. The Department of Education has stated they will grant waivers for any state that requests it. At this time, teachers have not been officially told that standardized testing has been exempted for this school year.

I cannot see how any standardized test would be valid at this point. Our students are missing at least eight weeks of school, which is almost one-fourth

of our school year. While online learning is underway, it does not replace the value of face-to-face classroom instruction, in which our students are accustomed. Also, with so much decision-making dependent upon these test scores, I do not feel it is fair to the student or the teacher to assess students under these circumstances.

AP: During this time, I am not thinking about standardized tests, but how my students are doing. I am still meeting the standards that are addressed in my lessons, but I want my students to be able to have a chance to access the content and have exposure to the material I am giving them.

With standardized testing, I feel the state needs to be understanding because students don’t have access to the resources they normally would; it can limit their exposure to the content. At this time, we need to be thinking about the whole child and not the student as a test score. These students have had a major change in their normal routine, and to bring the added pressure of still having state testing is not in the best interest or equitable for all students.

As a teacher in a testing grade with three tested areas, I know the stress and pressures that can be put on you and your students to perform to the best of your ability, but during this time of uncertainty, we need to have the best interest of the child at the forefront before even thinking about giving them a standardized test, two weeks after they are supposed to return to school. e: How are teachers supporting each other right now?

AP: I can say the teaching community is at its strongest right now. We have all come together to discuss resources we are using, and we have been able to play off of others’ strengths in order to work

encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 33

“Reporter: Heard what?

BURNING

SENSATION

BY ANGHUS Chapter 6

V

incent Stain was a byproduct of the pop-culture maelstrom that Eddie Inferno had created. The blow back for a decade of decadence that saw every convention challenged and humanity’s understanding of the universe thrust into disarray. He spent the “Decade of Fire” (the term dubbed by unoriginal journalists for the Eddie Inferno era) as a disenfranchised dropout, desperate to find a place in a rapidly changing world, coming to terms with the concept that gods walked among men.

Vincent never saw Eddie as a god, but another distraction for people without purpose.

His early years were spent in relative obscurity, operating within the periphery of society. Vincent struggled with many of the basic components of humanity. At 9 years old, Vincent had a personal epiphany that the world was total bullshit, and everything being taught to him by parents, teachers and authority figures were nothing more than abstract methods of control. His anti-establishmentarian philosophies were not widely accepted by his fellow grade schoolers who taunted him mercilessly. The more aggressive children bullied young Vincent, while less ag-

“Ronald screams.

“Ronald Eustis: Yes. “Reporter: Had this ever happened before?

“Ronald Eustis: No—never. The body makes some interesting sounds when it’s burning. It’s not strange to hear a crackle or a pop or a sizzling sound like a piece of meat on a grill. But screaming?

No, I’d never heard that before.

gressive children quietly cheered them on.

For Vincent, Eddie Inferno was the poster-boy of compromise: “a prophet wasted on profit” he would one day say. At the time, no one cared about the opinions of a socially awkward, perpetually angry teenager without a major media platform showcasing his depressive inner thoughts. Even when he had something worth saying, there was no one who cared to listen. Vincent was familiar with rejection at a molecular level. He always felt as though he was society’s little bitch boy.

His troubled mind took him to disturbing places. He admitted, at his lowest point, he considered truly horrible acts to gain notoriety: lighting himself on fire during the Winter Olympics or becoming a food blogger. After realizing he lacked the skill set or the nerve to accomplish either goal, Vincent finally conceded this world would be better off without his presence. He had doubts he would be missed.

Vincent prepared for his final act, spending four days on a self-indulgent suicide note that would one day lay the groundwork for something substantial.

For now it was a poorly constructed, grammatically conflicted statement, containing an indoctrination of a world gone mad. As a final act of defiance, he signed the letter in his own blood. His dead body was discovered by the school janitor, in a space next to the dumpsters where, as he stated in his letter, “seemed fitting since all I’ve ever been is trash.”

His funeral was poorly attended,

34 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

The

“Reporter: Blood-curdling screams?

An Eddie Inferno Rock ‘n’ Roll Adventure

It was in the accepting arms of the disenfranchised that Vincent found some level of solace. The counterculture serving as a petri dish for the human fungi unable to take root in the real world. While the “cool kids” were rocking out to the Absent-Minded Gentlemen, Vincent was seeking out less polished and refined bands that spoke to his growing disdain for the world— useless sacks of fat and bone that waddled through their meaningless lives, blissfully ignoring pain and suffering happening around them.

Eustis:

“Reporter: Walk us through what happened next.

though his parents had sent a lovely wreath. Even in death, it seemed like precious few were interested in hanging out with Vincent Stain. His corpse was sent to the crematorium and plunged into scorching fires, to be reduced to a vase full of ashes that no one would ever claim. But that was not the end of Vincent Stain. *

*

*

*

*

The following is an account of Vincent Stain’s fiery rebirth as told by an employee of the Eustis Family Mortuary, Ronald Eustis who runs the crematorium.

“Ronald Eustis: I got to work, had my coffee and spent about 30 minutes talking to the landscaper about the renovation of the Memorial Garden before heading into the crematorium for my morning incineration and personal reflection time.

“Reporter: How many incinerations do you normally perform in a day?

“Ronald Eustis: Six—maybe eight on a busy day, like for a bus crash or a particularly harsh winter when suicide rates spike.

“Reporter: So tell us more about the morning you encountered Vincent.

“Ronald Eustis: Well, as I said, I started my morning routine. Primed up the gas lines, started warming up the furnace and got my first casket on the conveyor belt. That’s when I heard it.

“Ronald Eustis: The doors of the furnace flung open and out crawled a man, his skin ashen black, with flecks of red glowing underneath like a charcoal briquette. I’ve sent thousands of bodies into the furnace­—never saw one come back out.

“Reporter: And what did you do next?

“Ronald Eustis: I grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed him down. He stood up and walked out of the cloud of smoke. Then he looked at me and said, ‘Even hell doesn’t want me.’ Then he walked out the door and left.” *

*

*

*

*

The next reported sighting of “The Burning Man” came from a small diner outside of Topeka, KS. Local authorities were alerted to a man on fire at a popular greasy spoon, trying to order hashbrown casserole much to the dismay of the patrons and staff at The Pie Hole Eatery. After being denied service and politely asked to leave, the man walked over to a table and began picking up and eating French fries off a patron’s plate.

This appalling act prompted a call to the sheriff’s office and a standoff which lasted nearly 18 minutes.

Once it had been concluded “The Burning Man” had no intention of chipping in for the French fries he had eaten, Sheriff Richard Barely decided the use of force was the only inevitable solution. After giving the order to open fire, 85 bullets were discharged. While 83 of them struck the intended target, none did any damage. To Vincent’s surprise, not only had he survived a trip to the afterlife, but he had come back with abilities beyond those of mortal men.

Anghus is encore’s 2020 fact or fiction writer, featuring the serialized piece, “Burning Sensation.” Read the prologue and previous chapters at encorepub.com.

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) “If all the world’s a stage, where the hell is the teleprompter,” asks aphorist Sami Feiring. In my astrological opinion, you Aries are the least likely of all the signs to identify with that perspective. While everyone else might wish they could be better prepared for the nonstop improvisational tests of everyday life, most of you tend to prefer what I call the “naked spontaneity” approach. If you were indeed given the chance to use a teleprompter, you’d probably ignore it. Everything I just said is especially and intensely true for you right now.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20) When Nobel Prize-winning Norwegian author Knut Hamsun was 25 years old, a doctor told him that the tuberculosis he had contracted would kill him within three months. But in fact, Hamsun lived 67 more years, till the age of 92. I suspect there’s an equally erroneous prophecy or unwarranted expectation impacting your life right now. A certain process or phenomenon that seems to be nearing an end may in fact reinvent or resurrect itself, going on to last for quite some time. I suggest you clear away any misapprehensions you or others might have about it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) I invite you to remember what you were thinking and feeling around your birthday in 2019. Were there specific goals you hoped to accomplish between then and your birthday in 2020? Were there bad old habits you aimed to dissolve and good new habits you proposed to instigate? Was there a lingering wound you aspired to heal or a debilitating memory you longed to conquer? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to take inventory of your progress in projects like those. And if you find that you have achieved less than you had hoped, I trust you will dedicate yourself to playing catch-up in the weeks between now and your birthday. You may be amazed at how much ground you can cover.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) I can’t swim. Why? There was a good reason when I was a kid: I’m allergic to chlorine, and my mom wouldn’t let me take swimming lessons at the local chlorine-treated pool. Since then, the failure to learn is inexcusable, and I’m embarrassed about it. Is there an equivalent phenomenon in your life, my fellow Cancerian? The coming weeks might be an excellent time to meditate on how to correct the problem. Now excuse me while I head out to my solo self-administered swim lesson at Bass Lake, buoyed by the instructions I got from a Youtube video.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Is William Shakespeare the greatest author who ever lived? French philosopher Voltaire didn’t think so, calling him “an amiable barbarian.” Russian superstar author Leo Tolstoy claimed The Bard had “a complete absence of aesthetic feeling.” England’s

first Poet Laureate John Dryden called Shakespeare’s language “scarcely intelligible.” T. E. Lawrence, a.k.a Lawrence of Arabia, declared The Bard had a second-rate mind. Lord Byron said, “Shakespeare’s name stands too absurdly high and will go down.” His contemporary, the poet and playwright Ben Johnson, asserted that he “never had six lines together without a fault.” I offer these cheeky views to encourage you Leos to enjoy your own idol-toppling and authority-questioning activities in the coming weeks. You have license to be an irrepressible iconoclast.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Virgo-born Jack Ma is China’s richest person and one of the world’s most powerful businessmen. He co-founded Alibaba, the Chinese version of Amazon. com. He likes his employees to work hard, but also thinks they should cultivate a healthy balance between work and life. In his opinion, they should have sex six times a week, or 312 times a year. Some observers have suggested that’s too much—especially if you labor 12 hours a day, six days a week, as Jack Ma prefers—but it may not be excessive for you Virgos. The coming months could be a very erotic time. But please practice safe sex in every way imaginable.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

moment to get more practical about it. If you have fantasized about finding a new role that would allow you to express even more of your beauty and intelligence, you have arrived at a fertile phase to move to the next stage of that fantasy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) I suggest you make room in your life for a time of sacred rejuvenation. Here are activities you might try: Recall your favorite events of the past. Reconnect with your roots. Research your genetic heritage. Send prayers to your ancestors, and ask them to converse with you in your dreams. Have fun feeling what it must have been like when you were in your mother’s womb.

Get a phone consultation with a past life regression therapist who can help you recover scenes from your previous incarnations. Feel reverence and gratitude for traditions that are still meaningful to you. Reaffirm your core values—the principles that serve as your lodestar. And here’s the number one task I recommend: Find a place of refuge in your imagination and memories; use your power of visualization to create an inner sanctuary.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Are we just being poetic and fanciful when we say that wonder is a survival skill? Not according to the editors who assembled the collection of essays gathered in a book called *Wonder and Other Survival Skills*. They propose that a capacity to feel awe and reverence can help us to be vital and vigorous; that an appreciation for marvelous things makes us smart and resilient; that it’s in our selfish interests to develop a humble longing for sublime beauty and an attraction to sacred experiences. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to dive deep into these healing pleasures, dear Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) For decades, the city of Sacramento, California suffered from severe floods when the Sacramento and American Rivers overflowed their banks. Residents authorized a series of measures to prevent these disasters, culminating in the construction of a 59,000-acre floodplain that solved the problem. According to my analysis, the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to plan an equally systematic transformation.

It could address a big ongoing problem like Sacramento’s floods, or it could be a strategy for reorganizing and recreating your life so as to gloriously serve your long-term dreams.

How hard are you willing to work on your most important relationships? How might your life change for the better if you gave them your most potent resourcefulness and panache? The next eight weeks will be a favorable time for you to attend to these matters, Libra. During this fertile time, you will have unprecedented power to reinvigorate togetherness with imaginative innovations. I propose you undertake the following task: Treat your intimate alliances as creative art projects that warrant your supreme ingenuity.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) “I make mistakes,” confessed author Jean Kerr. “I’ll be the second to admit it.” She was making a joke, contrasting her tepid sense of responsibility with the humbler and more common version of the idiom, which is “I make mistakes; I’ll be the first to admit it.” In the coming weeks, I’ll be fine if you merely match her mild level of apology—just as long as you do indeed acknowledge some culpability in what has gone amiss or awry or off-kilter. One way or another, you need to be involved in atonement and correction—for your own sake.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) If you have been thinking of adopting a child or getting pregnant with a new child, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to enter a new phase of rumination about that possibility.

If you’ve been dreaming off and on about a big project that could activate your dormant creative powers and captivate your imagination for a long time to come, now would be a perfect

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36 encore | april 1 - april 7, 2020 | www.encorepub.com