vol.
25 / pub 43 / FREE / ApRil 28 - MAy 4, 2010
www.encorepub.com
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com
frEELY. LITERALLY. & " # & " %!
% & & !$ ! & ! & ! " !$ '
FREE
After $50 mail-in rebate that comes as a Visa Debit Card. Requires new 2-yr. agmt. and 3-mo. Mobile Internet Plan. $30 act. fee may apply.
' ()*+
ÂŽ
get one free when you buy one
for $2995 After $70 mail-in rebates that come as Visa Debit Cards. Requires new 2-yr. agmts. and Smartphone Plans. $30 act. fees may apply.
# $" & $ # % " #
! Things we want you to know: New two-year agreement (subject to early termination fee) and credit approval required. A $30 activation fee may apply. Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee applies; this is not a tax or government-required charge. Additional fees, taxes, terms, conditions and coverage areas apply and vary by plan, service and phone. Use of service constitutes acceptance of the terms of our Customer Service Agreement. See store for details or visit uscellular.com. Promotional Phone subject to change. U.S. Cellular Visa Debit Card issued by MetaBank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Allow 10–12 weeks for processing. Card does not have cash access and can be used at any merchant location that accepts Visa Debit Cards. Card valid for 120 days after issued. Mobile Internet Plans start at $14.95 per month. Smartphone Plans start at $24.95 per month. Application and data network usage charges may apply when accessing applications. BOGO: Buy one handset and get a second handset for free. Mail-in rebate and activation required on each handset. Free Incoming Calls are not deducted from package minutes and are available only when receiving calls in your calling area. Kansas Customers: In areas in which U.S. Cellular receives support from the Federal Universal Service Fund, all reasonable requests for service must be met. Unresolved questions concerning services availability can be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. BlackBerry, RIM, Research In Motion, SureType and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. Used under license from Research In Motion Limited. Limited-time offer. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. Mobile Broadband on 3G Network only available with select handsets. Users can expect an average download speed of 768Kbps and an average upload speed of 200Kbps. Š2010 U.S. Cellular.
encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
hodge podge
contents vol. 25 / pub 42 / April 28 - MAy 5, 2010
www.encorepub.com
What’s inside this week
EAT. DRINK. INDULGE! pgs. 24-29 Elijah’s (featured left) is only one of many Wilmington Restaurant Week participants for the 2010 spring event! It is the most indulgent week, where folks can scour local restaurants for deals that can’t be beat. Siena offers dinner for two for a mere $40! Caprice Bistro will be churning out the finest in counrty French for only $25 for a three-course meal. Flaming Amy’s will offer lunch or dinner for two for only $22! It’s a steal of a week for dining out, thanks to the 31 restaurants who have participated in the springtime feast. So, cash in, readers, as it won’t be back until October! Just clip a pass and present it at one of the participating restaurants to redeem the offer.
concert tickets
Want to see the best in music at Myrtle Beach’s House of Blues? Wilmington’s Soapbox Laundro Lounge? Or UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium? Visit, www.encorepub. com, to enter one of our many concert contests, and try for a chance to score tickets to area shows!
late-night funnies
“To give you an idea how popular President Obama is around the world—he’s probably the most popular leader in the world. This is amazing: They opened a nightclub in China named after President Obama. It will be an Obama-themed nightclub. Here’s the amazing thing—hasn’t even opened yet and already $12 trillion in debt.”—Jay Leno “Here is a story that is kind of perplexing: 221 years ago, George Washington went to the library here in New York, took out some books, never returned them. 221 years of overdue library fines. I tell you something, ladies and gentlemen, if you want to blame
this economic crisis on a president, what about that guy?”—David Letterman “Vice President Biden appeared on ‘The View.’ They were trying to set the Guinness Record for most Botox on one couch. And they did, so congratulations.” —Jimmy Kimmel “Today the U.S. Treasury released its new $100 bill. It’s the most high-tech piece of currency the world has ever seen—until Apple comes out with the ‘$100 bill Nano.’”—Craig Ferguson
penguin wednesdays
Wanna know what’s in encore for the week each Wednesday it’s published? Listen to Shea Carver on the Penguin 106.7, with Glenn every Wednesday morning at 9:15. They’ll keep you informed first on what’s happening in the Port City—followed by great music, too.
living it up locally
Stay tuned! We have a great summer
EDITORIAL: Editor-in-ChiEf: Shea Carver
pRODucTIOn AnD ADvERTIsIng:
intErns: Sarah Boggs
AdvErtising sAlEs:
ChiEf Contributors: Adrian Varnam, Anghus Houvouras, Carolyna Shelton, MJ Pendleton, Claude Limoges, Jay Schiller, Lauren Hodges, Tiffanie Gabrielse, Tom Tomorrow, Chuck Shepherd, Chirstina Dore, The Cranky Foreigner and Lisa Hunyh
John Hitt: Downtown, Carolina Beach
Art dirECtor Sue Cothran
Kris Beasley: Wrightsville Beach, N. Wilmington Shea Carver: Midtown, Monkey Junction Promotions mAnAgEr: John Hitt distribution: Reggie Brew, John Hitt
encore is published weekly, on Wednesday, by Wilmington Media. Opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of encore.
CORRESpOndEnCE: p.O. Box 12430, Wilmington, n.C. 28405 email@encorepub.com • www.encorepub.com phone: (910) 791-0688 • Fax: (910) 791-9177
contest coming up, allowing readers an opportunity to win a staycation in downtown Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach or Ocean Isle! Check out our upcoming May editions for more information. Local businesses who wish to sponsor Living It Up Locally should contact John Hitt or Kris Beasley at (910) 791-0688 for more information!
e-news
Want encore delivered to your inbox every Tuesday—one day before the magazine officially hits the stands? Well, go our Web site and sign up: www.encorepub.com. Not only will you get the weekly arts and entertainment news first, you’ll also be able to sign up for our contests, flip through our virtual ‘zine and be oh-so tech savvy in the 21st century.
upcoming
Mother’s Day, featuring our Mother’s Day essay contest winners, on May 5th; Spring and Summer Fashion on May 12th; as well as Memorial Day at the end of the month. Wanna be included in any of these editions? Call Shea at (910) 791-0688, ext 1004.
kidzink
KIDZink will be printed in next week’s encore exchange. Anyone wanting to submit their child’s/classroom’s art work, writings, poetry, photography, etc., should e-mail shea@encorepub.com by Thursday, April 29th, at the very latest!
internships
We are closed for fall internships; however, any student wanting to participate for summer should call or e-mail editor Shea Carver asap; positions going quickly!
news & views................. 4-9 4 live local campaign: Gwenyfar ponders the good and the bad of the NC sales tax, and how it affects our quality-of-life amenities, like museums and libraries. 6 creative open house: Shea Carver talks new marketing in a shaky real-estate market with The Property Shop team, Kathy Webb and Tony Harrington. 9 news of the weird: Chuck Shepherd reports on news of the strange and odd.
artsy smartsy ................. 10-23 10 theater: MJ Pendleton previews Opera House Theatre Company’s ‘Five Guys Named Moe.’
12-14 film: Tiffanie Gabrielse takes a reader challenge and reviews Nicholas Sparks’ The Last Song; Anghus falls in love with Kick Ass and previews the upcoming Cape Fear Independent Film Festival. 16 art: Lauren Hodges talks Recycle of Life, the latest show at Parallelogram, which hangs through April 30th. 17 gallery guide: Find out what exhibitions are hanging in our local art galleries. 18 film: Anghus gets a nice surpirise from Dreamworks Pixar flick How to Train Your Dragon. 19 music: Adrian Varnam gets the scoop on Rio Bravo, one of Wilmington’s newest and most-talkedabout bands on the scene. 20-23 soundboard: See what bands and performers are playing in venues all over town.
encore exchange........... 1x-24x 2x paw jam: Shea Carver interviews Paw Jam coordinator Donna Best-Klingel about the 2010 event, taking place this weekend at Battleship Park. 3x-22x classifieds: Let our classifieds help you sell or buy a home or a car. Crossword on page 12. 23x pet of the week: Find out what animals need adopting and other breeds for sale.
grub & guzzle ................. 24-31 24-29 wilmington restaurant week: Shea Carver unfolds every menu for encore’s most indulgent springtime event, taking place April 28th - May 5th. 30-31 dining guide: Need a few suggestions on where to eat? Flip through encore’s dining guide, and read about our featured restaurant of the week.
extra! extra! ................... 32-39 32 books: Tiffanie Gabrielse reveals encore book club’s next read, All Will Be Revealed. 33 free comic book day: Anghus previews a day of all-things super hero, thanks to Fanboy Comics’ Free Comic Book Day. 32-39 calendar/’toons/corkboard: Find out where to go and what to do about town with encore’s calendar; check out Tom Tommorow and encore’s annual ‘toons winner, Jay Schiller; read the latest saucy corkboard ads.
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com
below Live Local. Live Small.
6 Real Estate Open House
9 News of the Weird
Live Local. Live Small. Libraries, museums and other establishments that enhance our quality of life
T
by: Gwenyfar Rohler
he Live Local Campaign was born from a realization that the conversation regarding our economy was failing to address one fundamental problem: The choices we make about our money dictate our own sustainability. If we choose to spend money in bigbox stores that funnel money to China, and not invest in our community, we are not providing for our future. If we choose to spend money on the Internet, not only are we sending our money out of state, but, by not paying sales tax, we are depleting the resources our local government has to provide us with the services we have come to relief upon. There is a lot of talk right now about the proposed sales tax increase. Obviously, the major contributor is the short fall in our county budget, due to the property valuation crisis. (Though we still have money for Titan?) I have to wonder: If people continue to send their money out of state via Internet shopping, is it going to make any difference? If we fail to invest in our community through our spending habits, does it matter how much we raise sales tax? I serve on Wilmington’s Library Advisory Board, and I first started ruminating on this cognitive disconnect a little over a year ago, during one of our meetings. The board sat in a meeting with one of our assistant county mangers during budget-request time, when each county agency submits its budget request for the coming year. Now by the time it gets to us, the library director and the county manager’s office have already gone 10 rounds trying to hammer out what they realistically think the
Hampstead Arts
county commissioners are going to approve. Still, it is a fascinating and frustrating process to observe. The pool of sales tax collected by merchants is turned into the NC Department of Revenue. The state remits back the portions designated to each county. In the last few years, the actual pool of sales tax revenue has been declining, and the reason cited is the increase in online shopping. We have two members of the board who listened to all this and went on to brag at great length about the number of books they purchase online at the great behemoth, beginning with an “A” and ending with a .com. Now, as many know, I am a bookseller with (until January 12th) a real brick-and-mortar store that collected and remitted sales tax. Even if they had been spending their money at one of the big-box stores, here, instead of investing in our community by supporting one of the marvelous independent stores in the area, they would have been paying into the sales-tax coffers and thereby contributing to the pool of money available for the library board. Yet, there we were, talking about this ever-shrinking pool of available funds, and they are bragging about circumventing it—completely missing the relationship between the two. Jock and I spent two months living in Memphis, Tennessee, a couple years ago. Memphis’ current sales tax rate is 9.25 percent. We were constantly told by people that they drove to Arkansas to buy any major ticket items, like appliances, because the tax rate was lower. Even as tourists—the group most likely to
!
New Class
parent & child pOtterY
handbuilding & sculpture Sat. mornings 11am-1pm
Memberships • Classes
aFter schOOl actiVities
SUMMER ARTS CAMP, Fun exploring with CLAY. JUNE 14-18, JULY 12-16 & 26-30, AUGUST 9-13, REGISTER NOW
Visit cwilmington.com for Class Schedules!
spend money on non-essential items—we were mush more than circumspect in our spending than we would normally be (of course, in most parts of Africa, sales tax is a purely theoretical concept). It is amazing to think of the vast quantities of money leaving Memphis because of this. Wilmington and New Hanover County truly serve as a beacon for our surrounding areas. Much of the growth in North Brunswick County can be credited to its proximity to Wilmington, and they have lower property taxes. Yes, there has been growth in the shopping available in Brunswick County, around the new developments, but the museums and the libraries are decades behind the offerings currently available here. Part of these benefits we receive from our taxes include not only law enforcement and a fire brigade but also the wonderful quality of life services, like the libraries and the museum. I tend to think of the library and the museum as curiosities for our elected officials. Given the financial commitment it takes to get elected to office, we are not electing impoverished people. We do not elect people who cannot afford home Internet service. But among the many services available at our library is Internet access, for people who cannot afford a computer or home Internet. When folks apply for almost any entry-level job, whether at a grocery store or fast food chain, the application is online. One must be able to get access to the application in order to fill it out. I somehow doubt that any of the county commissioners live without the finical resources to access the Internet. Should
COLLAGE with Miss Ann 3:30-5pm, Weds. KIDS ON WHEELS Pottery with Miss Desi, Elementary students, 3:30-5pm, Weds. Middle School Students, 4-5:30pm, Thurs. pOtterY With anne Adults Wed. nights Nights 6-8pm
FUN! FUN! FUN!
Oil painting,10am - 2pm 14663 Hwy. 17 North (at the intersection of Hwy. 210 & Hwy.17)
OPEN: Tues.-Fri., 10am-4pm,Sat. 10am-1pm • 910-270-3003
encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
Remember to recycle or compost your encore!
someone choose to home school her children, the library and Cape Fear Museum provide resources to successfully meet the curriculum. The North Carolina History Room, directed by Beverly Tetterton, is a tourist attraction. Every year people travel here to do historic and genealogic research, using the materials she has painstakingly curated for over 20 years. All of those people who come here for history and family insight need a place to stay and a sandwich to eat. The question has been asked: How would it affect the museum to only be open weekends? What if a library branch was closed entirely? Well, the museum is primarily an educational institution that serves school groups all week long. Maybe it isn’t impotent for our school-aged children to learn about the history of our area, and its important role in birth and preservation of our nation. Maybe we don’t want them to understand why our ecosystem between the river and the sea is special and important. Loose a library branch? Is it the one within four miles of our homes? Well, guess what? All New Hanover residents live within four miles of one of five library branches. It’s convenient, as it should be—especially when someone needs a tutor for a child. Yes, New Hanover County Library subscribes to a homework tutor service, staffed by teachers, who help students struggling with their homework. That’s right—and it is free to every library card holder. So the next time a 15-year-old needs help with chemistry homework—if her branch is still open—than the student can have a real teacher walk her through advanced chemical equations, for free. When, yet, another piece of my car dies, Jock logs onto the entire Chiltin’s Manual Archive for every car built since WWII—now available to New Hanover County Library card holders via their Web site). He’ll find the perfect diagrams and instructions to rebuild a car from scratch—or change the spark plugs, whichever is called for. I know my quality of life is greatly enhanced by the library, the museum and a host of other “non-essential” quality-of-life services that our sales taxes goes to funding. But, to be honest, I am not certain if I vote for a sales-tax increase that I trust my neighbors to vote for our community by investing in it with their spending habits. Without one, the other is a moot point.
The most delicious week of spring is April 28th - May 5th! Some of the Port City’s finest restaurants will offer awe-inspiring prix-fixe meals, prepared especially for this week. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Catch Blue Plate De Lara Mediterranean Cuisine The Melting Pot Aubriana’s Verandah Cafe at the Holiday Inn-Wrightsville Beach
Katy’s Great Eats Yo Sake Flaming Amy’s
Flaming Amy’s Bowl East inside the Blockade Runner Hotel
Caprice Bistro Hieronymus Port City Chop House South Beach Grill Banks Channel Pub & Grille Flat Eddies Henry’s Eddie Romanelli’s Leland Location
Carolina Ale House Cape Fear Seafood Company Fat Tony’s Jamaica’s Comfort Zone Mixto Pilot House Elijah’s Priddy Boys The Little Dipper Siena Trattoria Wrightsville Grille
Sponsored by:
How it works: First, peruse the menus at WilmingtonRestaurantWeek.com and narrow down
your choices for the week’s lunches and/or dinners. Then, cut out this pass, which is required to take advantage of the offer and only good during Wilmington Restaurant Week. Finally, grab your friends, hire a babysitter, feed the dog and start enjoying a delectable week of meals.
Sign up to receive email updates
Good only April 28th - May 5th, 2010 at participating restaurants* *Not valid with any other offers
Sponsored by:
XXX 8JMNJOHUPO3FTUBVSBOU8FFL DPN encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com
Reinventing the Open House: The Property Shop throws a bon-bon party this Saturday
T
he words “real estate crisis” are alltoo familiar to many of us nowadays. Credit, buyer confidence, a property’s worth—they’re topics that have made realtors and brokers restructure their selling approach. In fact, the market has forced many in the business to reinvent the business of real estate itself. “Just because the times have changed, and the market’s shifting, doesn’t mean we sit around and take it,” Kathy Webb of The Property Shop, a small real estate agency, told encore last week. “We move, change and shift with it all.” The Property Shop is a good example of a company who doesn’t just roll with the punches. First of all, they’re small—really small—as in only two people are part of the group: Webb has been in the business for five years, and Tony Harrington reaches 15 years of experience. A state-certified realestate appraiser and broker, Harrington feels his expertise on all fronts helps take The Property Shop to the next level. “Our clients get an additional amount of comfort when either selling or purchasing real estate, as we can pull from the knowledge of both hats,” he assured. Webb, also the owner of local gourmet shop Pine Valley Market, and Harrington aren’t only realizing the benefit of wearing multiple hats in their field, but they’re also thinking outside of the box. “Maybe it’s better to call it ‘niche marketing,’” Webb corrected. Aside from having an impenetrable “can do” attitude, Webb says The Property Shop “goes against the larger firms in a more David and Goliath fashion. . . . We know they have bigger marketing budgets, but we feel we can still win by offering the personalized, creative touch.” Being focused on attention to detail and personalized service, The Property Shop owners are stepping into real estate of the 21st century. Here, “open house” means more than sticking a sign in the yard, attaching a few balloons, and offering free punch to those who walk through the property. “Open houses in general do not work well,” Harrington stated frankly. “We can have open houses every weekend and, yet, typically will not attract a buyer. You will have neighbors or people driving by that are curious and stop in, but not usually a serious person ready and looking to buy. Our goal is to take an open house to the next level: Create an event. Create a vibe.” When they landed the listing on Renovah Circle, in Wilmington’s prominent Forest Hills neighborhood, it was a perfect fit for launching something that would create
by: Shea Carver
Bring Your Bon Bon The Property Shop Open House 328 East Renovah Ciricle May 1st, 4-6pm
a buzz. While the house itself certainly will find a buyer whose tastes are architecturally refined and artistically captivated, Webb and Harrington felt the approach of selling should be as intensely imaginative as the owners of the home: Jonnie Sexton and Xris Kessler. Sexton and Kessler have lived on Renovah since 2005. However, their local roots grow strong, having been Wilmingtonians practically since birth, despite moving to and from the West Coast, traveling the world and working projects. Their travels are mandated by Sexton’s career as an audiologist and founder of The CARE Project, as well as for Kessler’s art shows, which continue sweeping the nation. With an aesthetic that is modern, hip and something to be admired, their 1956, tri-level space simply astounds most visitors. “It is a true example of split-level contemporary living from that era,” Sexton revealed. “The main living space is large, open and flowing. The house has 3900 square feet and is described by many as ‘gallery like.’” Pictures of the space, taken by local photographer Chris Lang, show Kessler’s art work hung on the walls everso-perfectly, color popping at every turn, and clean lines making every visitor feel regal—even pampered—by such an enveloping space. “It’s supposedly the first house in the area to be built with steel beams throughout the roof structure,” Sexton noted, also comparing it to the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright. “Also, it was supposedly designed by Wright’s protégé, and there certainly is a strong presence of the FLW features. The original structure had a lot of built-in furniture in all rooms; all but one piece has been torn out with previous renovations.” The creation of the home beckons fanciful celebration in its turnover to new owners. Thus, Harrington and Webb decided a different, lively approach was best suited for the occasion, also known as “Bring Your Bon
encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
OPEN (ART)HOUSE: Check out what’s for sale from The Property Shop: the beauty of design and art at 328 East Renovah Circle, located in Forest Hills. Stop by their Bring Your Bon Bon open house this Saturday, May 1st to check out the digs.
Bon.” The open house will feel like an art opening, where champagne will be poured, courtesy of Pine Valley Market, and bon bons will be served from South ‘n’ France (a company ran by friends of Sexton and Kessler, who just so happen to live in the same house on Orange Street that the home sellers once resided years ago). Art, architecture and design will be mulled over, if not completely admired. “Tony and Kathy like to do things differently, and their energy is so very positive,” Sexton noted of his appeal to the real-estate team. Not at all unfamiliar with the exultant side of life, he reminded, “Anyone who has
attended a Xris Kessler art opening [think the ‘Grey Gardens’ series two years ago] will know how we like to do things! Life is to be enjoyed to the fullest, and art can embrace any and all!” Opening their 328 East Renovah Circle home isn’t only something they must do to move on to their next stages in life—Sexton and Kessler are moving back to San Francisco so Kessler can pursue a pop-art series based on the film Barbarella. The previous Under Currant owners (a restaurant once located where Caprice Bistro now rests) are having one final hoorah for a community they have come to adore and will continue to do so throughout their lives. “We have lived in some very odd places and loved each and every one of them,” Sexton noted, “but this house offered an opportunity for us to take something special and make it our own.” To say they’ll miss it may be an understatement, but the memories for someone else to cherish awaits. With its open and bright layout, along with a private pool, amazing landscape and walls adorned with the work of Kessler (whose art is also available for purchase), open houses just became a little more hip in Wilmington. “We want to get to know the community, and let Wilmington know there is a boutique real estate and appraisal firm that does pay attention to detail and to our clients,” Harrington assured. “After all, you have to stand out in a crowd!”
LASIK from $999
*
Spring Into Summer With New Vision To schedule a complimentary evaluation call 910-762-4440
scOtt W. tUnis MD Facs
1994 s. 17th st. | Wilmington, nc 28401 www.scottwtunismd.com *$999
per eye for standard Myopic ablation offer valid for procedures performed April - May 2010 Ot h e r r e s t r i c t i O n s a p p ly Join us on Facebook
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com
encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
d r i e w e h t f o s w e n Chuck Shepherd digs up the strangest of the strange in world news
LEAD STORY Blair Fowler, 16, delights her frenzied fans as a “haul queen,” inspirationally “shopping for glory” by smartly tearing through stores and then displaying and expertly describing her purchases on Internet videos. A March Times of London dispatch from Los Angeles noted Fowler’s acclaim “for her ability to deliver a high-pitched 10-minute lecture on the merits of skinny versus low-riding jeans, apparently without drawing breath.” According to The Times, at least 100,000 “haul” videos are available on YouTube, mostly from “amateurs.” Fowler’s videos, though, have been viewed 75 million times by “haul” wannabes (mostly teenage girls). Leading Economic Indicators American companies continue trying to outsource work overseas, no matter how increasingly improbable the project. The Chronicle of Higher Education in April reported on the University of Houston business school’s contract to have student papers uploaded to “teaching assistants” (mostly residing in India, Singapore and Malaysia), who read them, mark them up and offer constructive advice. UH professor Lori Whisenant, who initiated the university’s contract with the firm EduMetry, said she is generally pleased with the results. Recycled Components: Swiss clockmaker Artya announced in March the creation of a wristwatch set in fossilized dinosaur feces (with a strap made with skin from an American cane toad). Designer Yvan Arpa told the Associated Press the watch would sell for about $12,000. The spa Ten Thousand Waves near Santa Fe, N.M., is only the latest U.S. facility to offer as a “signature” treatment the “Japanese Nightingale Facial,” supposedly used for centuries by Japanese geisha for skin rejuvenation. Nightingale droppings are dried and sanitized, then spiced with oils and used as a face scrubber. Recession-Proof Markets: Jimmy Choo stores in New York City quickly sold out recently of their new, blinking, women’s shoes with five-inch heels, which light up with every step taken, at $2,495 a pair (although the unrechargeable battery dies after about 100 uses). A Georgia Tech advertising researcher, writing in the current Hastings Center Report, found that college women seeking to donate their eggs for in vitro fertilization could expect to make on average $2,350 more than someone just like them except who had SAT scores 100 points lower. Stimuli: A North Carolina research organization in March, picking the state’s 10 worst destinations for federal stimulus grants, included two ongoing projects at
Wake Forest University: long-term cocaineaddiction in monkeys, and the potential benefits of yoga on menopausal hot flashes. The Florida Legislature, sensing a need to jumpstart business in the faltering yacht industry, reduced the sales tax. Rather than tax the entire selling price, tax would be levied on only the first $300,000 (for example, giving a beleaguered yacht buyer a $42,000 cut on the overall price of a $1 million boat). Bailing Out AIG (update): In 2006, the about-to-fail AIG wrote a $15 million life insurance policy on the nearly impecunious Suzy Tomlinson (then 72), wildly inflating her net worth, with her 32-year-old “social companion” as beneficiary. Two years later, Ms. Tomlinson drowned, fully dressed, in her bathtub following a night of partying, and the last person to see her alive was that $15 million man himself. Authorities in Indianapolis called the death an “accident,” but AIG thinks it was gamed by the companion, an investment consultant. According to an April Wall Street Journal report, this is but one of 100 or so challenges to “stranger originated” life insurance policies sold in the go-go years in which investors sought creative ways to bet on “derivatives” like “stranger” life insurance. Abnormal Science Child-Bearing, Explained: Virginia state legislator Bob Marshall, speaking in February in opposition to state funding for Planned Parenthood, said the organization is partly responsible for the number of disabled children in America. According to the Old Testament, he said, being forced to bear a disabled child is punishment for the mother’s having earlier aborted her first-born. “(W)hen you abort the first-born ... nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children.” Said Marshall, the organization ought to call itself “Planned Barrenhood.” When stroke victims recover, they have sometimes acquired bizarre obsessions, like one by David Stopher of North Tynesdale, England, who found himself unable to say no to salespeople. According to a March Daily Mail report, the biggest beneficiary of Stopher’s condition has been the wireless telephone network (known as 3), whose marketers had signed Stopher up for six different phones and plans at the same time (and paid all on time until his brothers stepped in to persuade 3 to restructure the account). Heather Has Two Mommies and a Daddy: Scientists at Britain’s Newcastle University announced in April that they had grown human embryos free of certain serious genetic diseases by first merging DNA from two fertilized eggs to eliminate the potential deadly marker(s). The resulting child would have
over 99 percent of the DNA of the mother and father (i.e., all except the unhealthy markers). One scientist compared the procedure to “changing the battery on a laptop” (which leaves the data files intact). Intelligent Evolution: Researchers from Royal Roads University in Canada reported last year that the large, carnivorous pitcher plants of Borneo prefer to eat insects and spiders, but where those are in short supply, as in the Philippines highlands, the pitchers have grown to a size accommodating an alternative source of the nitrogen they need. The pitchers have “learned” that if they produce copious amounts of nectar, it will attract the tiny-mouse-sized tree shrew to harvest it, and the shrews, trapped inside the plant, will leave droppings directly on the spot most advantageous for the pitcher to consume them. Said professor Charles Clarke, discovery of the arrangement “totally blew us away.”
We visit a different location each month. Pre-registration required.
Age for pArticipAnts: 12 And up. (persons under 18 must be with parent/guardian) Cost: (for each trip) $20 using our canoes $10 using your own
pAddling club – blAck river Monday, May 3 • 8am to 2pm (9 am to 12 pm on water) Meet at Halyburton park (4099 s. 17th street) this is a 3-4 mile paddle on the black river, beginning and ending at Hunts bluff landing.
pAddling club – greenfield lAke Monday, June 7 • 9am to 12pm Meet at greenfield boat House @ 8:45 am. this is a 2-3 mile paddle on greenfield lake in Wilmington.
pAddling club – WAccAMAW river (pirway section) Monday, July 26 • 8 am to 2 pm Meet at Halyburton park (4099 s. 17th street)
Read News of the Weird daily at www.WeirdUniverse.net. Send your Weird News to WeirdNews@earthlink.net or P.O. Box 18737, Tampa Florida, 33679.
For more information, call 341-0836 or ttY Relay 711
Cinco de Mayo Celebration! Live Mariachi Band $5 Lunch Menu $5 Bar Menu All Day Buckets of Corona - $10 Dos Equis Specials And Much Much More!!
21-47 South Water Street Downtown Wilmington 399-45012
n!!
Come Join the Fu
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com
below Theater
12-14 Film
16-17 Art
19-23 Music
Moe Fun! Opera House Theatre Company presents ‘Five Guys Names Moe’
“F
ive Guys Named Moe,” with book by Clarke Peters, is a tribute to Louis Jordan, one of the greatest musical talents of the 20th century. Jordan began his career in big-band, swing and jazz of the 1930s, but later led smaller bands, which specialized in jump blues—the combination of jazz, blues and boogie-woogie. He played the saxophone, piano and clarinet, wrote and co-wrote many songs that are considered 20th-century classics, and performed duets with singers like Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. He was also a comedic actor whose sense of humor is apparent in many of his songs. He acted in films and soundies—promotional film clips like music videos, which were played on audiovisual jukeboxes.
by: MJ Pendleton
Five Guys Named Moe Scottish Rite Temple April 28th - May 2nd, 7th-9th, 8pm Sunday matinees, 3pm Tickets: $18-$20 • (910) 343-3664 During most of his career, radio was segregated, but Jordan had several early crossover hits. The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame describes him as “the father of rhythm and blues” and “the grandfather of rock ‘n roll,” but he apparently once remarked that rock ‘n’ roll was simply rhythm and blues, only played by white performers. Besides showcasing Jordan’s wonderful music and lyrics, “Five Guys Named Moe” has a character-driven story line. “Nomax comes home after his girlfriend breaks up with him because he’s not a good man,” Terrill Williams, who will play Big Moe, in Opera House’s upcoming performance, explained. “He talks to his conscience about what he did wrong and what he needs to do differently—like an internal dialogue.” “Each Moe is one part of his head,” Keith Welborn, who will play Little Moe, added. “We show Nomax who he really is, because he has lost himself.” The girlfriend, who doesn’t appear on stage with the all-male cast, “really embodies every woman,” Colby Lewis, also know as the “4 Eyed Moe” in the play, said. “It’s
about all types of relationships.” “Nomax had someone good, and he messed up,” Tre Cotton (Eat Moe) added. “All men struggle with female problems; we let the audience decide who she is.” “You can create her in your own mind,” Tracy Byrd (No Moe) suggested. This production is an audience-participation show, in the sense of “breaking the fourth wall,” Williams explained. “We let the audience be part of the experience.” “In the beginning, the audience will be watching the show; in the end the audience will be in the show,” Welborn said. “We’re teaching the audience, not just Nomax.” Jeff Phillips, who has starred in many Opera House productions, is playing Nomax. Though the story may seem like an over analysis of a broken heart, the show is predominantly “high energy vocals, which are upbeat and happy,” according to Williams. The Moes seem exceptionally pleased with themselves and each other, so the pleasure will obviously extend to the audience. They are also fun and funny, seemingly having a fantastic time together. When Williams started softly singing one of the numbers, the other four Moes stopped cutting up and joined him in perfect harmony. According to Lou Criscuolo, artistic director of Opera House, Ray Kennedy, who is co-artistic director, chose to direct the entire production, including the music and choreography. Kennedy never disappoints.
LE! A S F O BEST s again! thank NEW SPRING ARRIVALS WEEKLY $50 OFF 20% OFF w/completes
WRV Surfboards Skate Sale
starting at $50 5740 Oleander Drive. Wilmington • 392-4501
Hwy 421 & Winner Ave. Carolina Beach & Hwy 210, Surf City
www.bertsurfshop.com
10 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
Promoting all the cool things there are to do in historic downtown Wilmington. Do It Til Midnight At the Brewery! Enjoy the FULL MenuTil Midnight Every Night At the Brewery!
5 Lunches $ 99 6 Dinners
$ 99
joan@cresentmoonnc.com
9 N. Front St. 'SPOU4USFFU#SFXFSZ DPN 910-251-1935 Kids Menu Avail
in the Cotton Exchange Downtown Wilmington
Now accepting new or like new rock-related and hippie clothes, books and accessories. Recycle your stuff for cash or store credit Open Mon-Fri 10-6ish, Sunday 12-5ish • FREE PARKING
Become a Facebook Fan of
“Do It Downtown�
and enter to win prizes. www.facebook.com/DoItDowntown
5 LIVE THEATRES 5 COOL MUSEUMS 20 GALLERIES THE RIVERWALK 100 SHOPS CARRIAGE RIDES FUN TOURS 50 RESTAURANTS 12 CHURCHES FOLLOW US: www.facebook.com/DoItDowntown
Parking is FREE for the 1st hour MondayFriday and ALL DAY up til 9pm on Weekends in city covered parking decks! encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 11
Another Predictable Premise: Sparks lost his spark way before The Last Song
I
have heard, seen and read some exceptionally ridiculous things in my 29 years; however, there is not one absurdity that I have encountered that takes the cake quite like a recent e-mail from an encore reader, insisting I find one cliché and bathetic Nicholas Sparks masterpiece to admire. Don’t get me wrong, I love our devoted readers and appreciate every ounce of feedback. Yet, asking me to find a piece of work, written by a man whom on record stated he views himself a greater novelist than the prolific Cormac McCarthy is like the pointless task of comparing myself to a six-foot, single and illiterate woman. Alas, I have never been one to decline a challenge. In fact, I return the dare. Should any reader find a piece of work written by Sparks that I find myself enjoying, dinner will be my treat. That proposed, it’s important I reveal I’ve never considered myself a high-brow of movies. Still, after watching The Last Song, amongst American Eagle’s best-walking billboards, I found my cranial ridge sloping like the shoulders of a bartender during Marine
by: Tiffanie Gabrielse
The Last Song Starring Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Kelly Preston and Liam Hemsworth
H
1/2
HH H H
Week in Boston. Based on the novel of the same title by Sparks, who also wrote the screenplay, I found The Last Song to be an intergalactic hackneyed masterpiece, similar to the numerous Coach purses clutched by the teen queens surrounding me. Onscreen, Miley Cyrus plays Ronnie, a promising piano-playing prodigy who turned into the world’s most pathetic troubled teenager. Unfortunately, she sufferers in over-dramatized angst following the divorce of her parents, played by Greg Kinnear and Kelly Preston. Shipped far from New York City with her sociable little brother, played by Bobby Coleman, she reads a sincere letter written by her overly kind dad, and is sentenced to spend an insufferable summer at his exquisite beach home in Geor-
“You’ll Love it at Lovey’s” Featuring a variety of Organic & Natural Products
LANDFALL CENTER
BREAKING BARRIERS: The Last Song’s only success is breaking Miley Cyrus from her Disney juggernaut, Hannah Montana.
gia. Here, she must bravely come to terms with the pressure of getting accepted into our country’s most respected art school, Julliard. Soon, she meets Will, portrayed by Liam Hemsworth, who despite tons of baggage of his own, undoubtedly sweeps her off her feet with a dozen sea turtles, a ruined milkshake, some seashells, a permanent marker and a quoted line from, Tolstoy, of whom everyone learned in 10th grade literature class. In all honesty, there’s no need to bore my dear readers any further with an insanely detailed critique about this film. Quite simply: Those who are familiar with just one of Spark’s novels, or film adaptations, will not be surprised to learn that the premise of The Last Song is predictable. Throughout the entire film, I kept asking myself, Where have I seen this melodramatic
1319 Military Cutoff Rd., Suite H
509-0331
ALL SOLGAR PRODUCTS
0''
“At Solgar - Quality isn’t a word we use casually It’s a way of Life”
12 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
106.7
Tune is Wednesday mornings during the 9 o’clock hour as Shea Carver talks all things encore with Glenn on The Morning Chill
stereotypical romantic crap before? Where have I heard the letter reading voiceovers before? Is this déjà vu? Then it slapped me. The Last Song is Dear John, with only a few subtle character changes. I ultimately paid to see the same movie twice! Hemsworth, the wealthy, volleyball-playing, college-bound dope, replaces the guitar-playing college-bound snot, Amanda Seyfried. Cyrus, the defying musical prodigy, separated from her dad, replaces the rebellious, war-addicted soldier separated from his father, Channing Tatum. And, unsurprisingly, both films depict a character living with a deadly, yet beautifully uplifting disease. Well-played, Sparks. You skillfully tricked me into wasting money for the second time. Contributing to the aforementioned similarities, The Last Song also dotes on a few wet-and-wild water scenes that focuses the camera on rock-hard bodies. Sparks intentionally and consistently recycles his work, often insulting the intelligence of his viewers each time, possibly thinking we will never catch on. Sadly, he’s right. Most haven’t. Directed by Julie Anne Robinson, The Last Song features one-dimensional characters, portrayed by very capable actors and silly dramatic revelations. The only dramatic uneasiness that exists stems from anticipating when our antagonist is going to die, all so our protagonist can come to terms with life. A contrived, sensationalized teen flick, intended for maturing Hannah Montana admirers, The Last Song does nothing but solidify Cyrus’ attempt to move away from her Disney juggernaut. In the end, I can’t help but wonder: When will women be provided with a story that does more than overuse an eastern seaboard sunset between two dumbly gazing lovers? Is this too much to ask, Mr. Sparks?
‘A’ for a B-Movie:
reel to reel
Kick Ass provides crazy characters, insane action
“W
hat makes a ‘B Movie’ a ‘B Movie?’” Someone asked me this question the other day—and it’s a great one, especially considering how often I reference the letter “B” in my reviews. The only form of media that may use it more is “Sesame Street.” A “B movie” usually refers to films that may lack the polish and caliber of a mainstream Hollywood studio film. If a major blockbuster was an A movie, a low-rent chop-socky action film was considered a “B movie.” Or, to make it clearer: If it was 1990, and a movie starred Mel Gibson, it was probably an “A movie.” If it starred Jean Claude Van Damme, then “B movie.” A “B movie” is often intentionally less cerebral. It doesn’t have to be dumb, but its intentions are pure unadulterated entertainment. “B movies” are about putting it all out there on the screen: broad, splattered paint strokes onto a canvas. Subtlety, nuance ... these are not enemies of the “B movie.” The appeal of a “B movie,” for me, is the inherent honesty of the creative vision: entertain, ivigorate, hold nothing back; be bold, fearless, and possess an innate ability to not take it all too seriously. Kick Ass excels in all categories. Kick Ass is just about a perfect film—not “perfect” in the traditional sense. There will be no awards handed out, nor will anyone look back in 20 years and marvel at how the genre had been redefined. But, as a wildly violent and fearless satire of the comic-book movie, it is brilliant. It’s an ugly, brutal film. Director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) throws dignity out the window and churns out two hours of raw obscenity. And God bless him for it. Kick Ass tells the story of Dave, a highschooler who is socially awkward, and gravitates toward comic books and the fantasy world that comes along with them. He spends his time talking comic books with his equally awkward friends and pining over a girl that is way out of his league. One day a thought crosses his mind: “Why hasn’t anyone ever tried to be a superhero?” Soon, the thought consumes him. He’s unable to think about anything else. And, before we know it, he’s putting on a scuba suit and taking to the streets looking to right wrongs. This goes as poorly as one might imagine. After trying to stop a car robbery, he’s stabbed and left for dead. His recovery process leaves him full of metal pins and plates, with a side of nerve damage for good
by: Anghus
Kick Ass Starring Nickolas Cage, Christopher MintzPlasse, Lyndsy Fonseca
H HH H H
BOLD, FEARLESS AND ENTERTAINING: Kick Ass excels in all categories of the B-movie checklist. Best of all, it doesn’t takes Aitself too seriously.
measure. Undeterred, Dave returns to the streets as his alter ego: Kick Ass. His only power is the ability to get the crap beat out of him. On one fateful night, he steps in to save a guy from getting beaten to death. A video clip hits YouTube, and within days Kick Ass is an internet phenomenon. It’s a ludicrous concept, one that is never given any degree of seriousness. Dave is a well-intentioned goof. The fact that he dresses up like a green and yellow gimp, and tries to fight crime, using a Web site to promote himself, is treated with the freakish lunacy it deserves. Soon, Dave meets two other aspiring “super heroes,” Big Daddy (Nic Cage) and Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz). After watching them slaughter a room full of drug dealers, he discovers he’s in way over his head. This is a problem, since the local mob-boss stereotype believes Kick Ass is the one trying to take down his operation. So, the high-school kid, who wanted to be a superhero just to try and get laid, is now being hunted down by the mob. Kick Ass works because it is fearless. This is a film where scenes move at a frenet-
this week in film ic pace. The movie is darkly comic and ridiculously violent. Watching a 12-year-old girl go on a sword-wielding, blood-spilling murder spree one moment, and then listening to Nic Cage channel Adam West, is just surreal. In fact, Hit Girl is the subject that most people
The Back Up Plan
Regal Mayfaire Cinemas 900 Town Center Drive • (910) 256-0556 Call for times • $6.50 - $9.50
(pictured) Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) is well aware that her biological clock is ticking, but she just can’t find the type of guy with whome she’d want to settle down and start a family. Eventually, she makes the decision to become a single mother. The very same day that Zoe follows through on her plan, she meets Stan (Alex O’Loughlin), a single charmer whom she thinks would make a great father. While at first Zoe struggles to hide her condition from Stan, before long there’s no denying the truth. Whirlwing romance and lots of funnies ensue thereafter. PG-13; 1:38 min.
will be talking about—a tween killer with a mouth like a merchant marine. She is pretty much the most controversial aspect of Kick Ass. There are those who will recoil at the The Losers grotesque behavior she displays. 111 Cinema Drive • (910) 815-0266 I had a feeling the audience didn’t com- Call for times • $6 - $9 pletely get it. There were moments in the Director Sylvain White adapts the Vertigo film’s action-packed conclusion that were comic about a team of mercenaries who wage so intentionally ludicrous, a send up of war on the CIA after they’re double-crossed the over-the-top style of comic-book mov- in the field and left to die. Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Jensen (Chris Evans), Roque (Idris ies. When an enemy got taken out with a Elba), Pooch (Columbus Short), and Cougar bazooka—the rocket that carried his body (Óscar Jaenada) were on a black-ops mission soared through the New York skyline and in the Bolivian jungle when rogue CIA agent exploded into a fireball—I was practically Max (Jason Patric) hung them out to dry. After beside myself laughing. But I didn’t hear beating the odds and surviving their ordeal, the anyone else. Maybe it didn’t tickle their team decides to strike back against Max even fancy. Perhaps there are those who weren’t if it means sacrificing their own lives to do so. quite on the same page. But for me Kick PG-13; 1:38 min. Ass is the reason I go to the movies. Fuck WE Fest Film Submissions! Avatar and all this CG nonsense. Give me a The Wilmington Exchange Festival XIV (We movie crammed with crazy characters, awe- Fest) is currently accepting film submissions some action and a ridiculous premise. Give for this years event. The deadline is May 1st for all submissions; festival takes place May me ugly. Give me brutal. Give me sadistic. Matthew Vaughn has made a great lit- 27th-31st at the Soapbox, 3pm daily. All entries tle piece of pulp. Put it next to Inglorious must be in .mov or .avi format on a DATA dvd Basterds, Snatch, Shaun of the Dead or or HARDDRIVE. Mail to: 4905 Brenton Ct, ILM NC 28412. any number of films that combine great filmmaking, great action, and an almost obsessive desire to entertain. In the immortal All AreA movie listings And pArAgrAph synopses words of Spaced‘s Daisy Steiner: “This is cAn be found At encorepub.com. the good shit.” encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 13
Deanne Karnes, owner
stop in and see Film Festival Turns 10: why everyone CFIFF welcomes world premiers, shorts and local flicks is chosing us by: Anghus W to buy, sell, 10th annual Cape Fear Independent Film Festival consign their jewelry and precious metals
Sell local, and get caSh for gold Use what yoU have, to get what yoU want Precious Gems values our customers and pays cash for gold, at top-dollar prices! Sell and consign with us, where quick, professional service is at your convenience—always! We have over 100 years of jewelry experience you can TRUST!
Bring your gold in for a free evaluation No appointment necessary! 3030 MARKET STREET • 910-815-3455
Mon - Sat 10-6, Closed Sundays
14 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
ilmington has its fair share of festivals. From celebrating azaleas to the Cape Fear River, music to film, we keep our community connected through events and especially art. What separates the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival’s annual event from others is a more brick-and-mortar approach to the Wilmington film scene. Here, local talent mingles with aspiring filmmakers, allowing emerging creative types to use the event as a doorway to the world of independent film. This year the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival celebrates 10 years of bringing local filmmakers together with top-talent from around the country. It gives many the annual opportunity to get to know the many diverse voices behind Wilmington’s film scene. Cape Fear Independent Film Network, based in Wilmington, NC, was founded in 2001 for the purpose of enabling the free-and-open exchange of information and resources between filmmakers. It also seeks to bring exposure for the works of these filmmakers to the local community and beyond. The first annual Sometime In October Festival set aside a weekend to celebrate the fact that big budgets don’t always mean better movies. Today, the festival, even under a new namesake, still strives to celebrate the uncelebrated. “There are so many great films out there that are never seen because they aren’t part of the machine,” festival director Jenn Mullins, who is in her third year of helming the event, says. “We want the independents to have a place to showcase their work and, ultimately, to make [filmmaking] a career.” “We want our filmmakers to succeed,” Mullins continues, “and I feel that the best way to succeed is to arm yourself with as much knowledge and understanding as possible.” Perhaps that is why such an emphasis is placed on panel discussions and workshops at the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival. This year’s panels are taking shape, as actors are invited out for a Business of Acting panel, where casting directors, acting coaches and working actors answer audience questions about everything from the transition to SAG to the actor’s workday. A Business of the Busi-
April 29th - May 2nd
Brown Coat Theater and Pub, 16 Taps, Opera Room and Lumina Theater Tickets: $10 - $50 www.cfifn.org
ness panel features working producers and entertainment attorneys, who will help keep producers on track from pre-production through distribution. “It’s going to be great this year,” Mullins ensures. “We’re working hard to make each year better than the last.” The festival will once again feature some familiar faces as hosts. Wilmington mainstay Nick Searcy (Justified, Cast Away) and newcomer Ravi Patel (Fox’s “Nirvana”) share hosting duties, bringing experience and a multi-generational perspective to the event. The festival will also span a number of local venues, including the Brown Coat Theater and Pub (111 Grace Street), 16 Taps (127 Princess Street), Lumina Theatre (in UNCW Fisher Center) and The Opera Room (119 Grace Street). The main attraction will not disappoint either. The film selections include eight features, including two world premieres, an awards ceremony, a “trailer park” and over 50 short films. Among the lineup, a fascinatingly named Eat Me: A Zombie Musical, as well as Cape Fear Originals, Horror Shorts, Explosive Shorts, and other categories of intrigue. Once again the festival does a great job of weaving genre films into the lineup, including regional selections. The feature films include the dramatic Lovelorn, the foreboding Forbidden Woods, and a follow-up showing of the much talked about Half Empty from local filmmakers Troy Carlton and Marcus Mizelle. There’s lots to see, and more importantly lots to do at this year’s CFIFN Festival. For a full schedule, be sure to check out www. cfifn.org. Tickets are $10 a film block or $50 for all access throughout the weekend.
This week is the most delicious week of spring www.WilmingtonRestaurantWeek.com
Wine Sampler Presents:
Flight Night
A night of perfect pairings, similar to a wine dinner but more casual and economical
Wednesday, May 12th, 5:30pm - ‘til Bento Box Sushi Bar and Asian Grill • The Forum
$30 • RSVP at Bento Box 910-509-0774 www.thewinesampler.com
o c n Ci o y a de M DAY S E N D E THIS W INE IN /NLY $ s T H IG N ID PM -
$2 TACOS
BE EF , C H IC K EN O R BA JA FI SH Choose from:
41 s t St r e e t
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-8pm ANDERSON SQUARE 4107-i Oleander Dr. 796-WINE/9463 www.thewinesampler.com
(Soft or Hard Shell)
♌ Oleander Drive
RIGHT ON RITAS!
$3 Margaritas (16oz)
♌ $6 Meg aRitas (45oz) ♌ Choose from: ,=?MD9J G J *GE=?J9F9L=
PLUS LO CO TEQUILA SPECIAL S!
the bar t a %
0 0 ' & & '3 TGI Friday’s It’s ! m p -7 5 m o r f r Happy Hou MONDAY - Sloppy Joes and Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 Margaritas, $3.75 Select Import Bottles TUESDAY - Hot Dogs & Chili with Tortilla Chips $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 LIT’s, $3.75 Select Import Bottles
this week. 4126 Oleander Dr. (910) 792-9700
WEDNESDAY - Chicken Fajitas & Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 Margaritas, $3.75 Select Import Bottles THURSDAY - Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo & Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 LIT’s, $3.75 Select Import Bottles FRIDAY - Buffalo Wings & Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 Cosmo’s, $3.75 Select Import Bottles -JNJUFE 5JNF 0GGFS Available in the Bar Area Only with purchase of a beverage. Drink Specials are all day. Must be 21 to participate. Please drink responsibly.
Thirsty Thursday 4.29 - Trivia Night Friday Night 4.30 - The Design Saturday 5.1 - Jack Jack 180 &9F<>9DD =FL=J c 'ADAL9JQ MLG>> ,< c O O O O A D < O A F ? ; 9 > = ; G E encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 15
Counting Sheep: Recycled art movement hangs at Parallelogram
L
ocal artist and musician Benjamin Simon Belmont moved to Portland, Oregon, last summer. Though the move was temporary, his unique talent instantly found a permanent home in the city’s vibrant arts scene. Belmont’s oddly constructed sheep characters, made mostly from recycled and found art objects, immediately caught the eye of Portland residents, who immediately pointed him in the direction of an outlet for his twisted brand of artistic humor. “I had four different strangers at four different times come up to me, when I was living in Portland and working art markets, tell me that my art belonged in Cannibal,” Belmont says, referencing the self-named “darkest art gallery in Portland.” His introduction to the space was small and polite but evidently made a big impression. “I made the gallery owner, Pamela, an art gift,” he remembers. “Immediately after receiving it, she asked me to be a featured artist in her Christmas exhibit.” The cleverly ironic message in the sheep is to “be your own person.” The small statues are attention-getting, yet unassuming and de-
by: Lauren Hodges
Recycle of Life Hanging through April 30th 523 S. 3rd Street (910) 987-8446 www.paralellogram.com signed to produce more than a few giggles. Belmont also points out that they symbolize innocence in their simplicity and playful demeanors, while acting as his mood indicators at the time of conception. “All of them are different characters,” he says. “You can see how I am feeling in my life when making these assemblage pieces, just by looking at the expressions I have put on their faces.” Yet, some of the sheep have migrated back to Wilmington—to Belmont’s hometown. This month Wilmington residents are getting a chance to view the sheep characters at Parallelogram’s April exhibit, a nature-inspired show. Belmont and his girlfriend, Hope Henderson—
BARNYARD SPECTACLE: Benjamin Belmont’s sheep often reflect the artist’s mood at the time of creation, and they’re showing at Parallelogram.
who are also the members and creators of the band My Wonderful Machine—created an environment around the sheep, along with a collection of paintings and other like-assembled characters, like bug-eyed raccoons. Henderson’s sculptures join the sheep and other creations on the walls, lending an imaginary feel to
the space with Aesop Fable-inspired critters. The couple’s shared attraction to animals inspired Paralellogram’s owner John Gray to suggest a farm-animal theme. The idea was immediately put into action, all with Earth Day (April 22nd) in mind. The bigger-thanever recycled art movement was highlighted as a feature of the show, named “Recycle of Life.” Hay was hung from the ceiling, and objects, like bottle caps, wire golf balls (frequently used as creature eyes), found wood, and other materials contributed to the sculpture. A barn mural was painted on the back wall, and several events were scheduled during the month. A private party for the couple’s friends and family kicked off the show. A kids’ event and a closing party, featuring a ventroliquist DJ named “Dallas Orbison” (also a creation of Belmont’s) rounded out the schedule. But even those who missed the fun can still see the artwork, as Recycle of Life will remain at Parallelogram until April 30th. For more information about the art or the artists, visit Counted Sheep Productions on Facebook.
You don’t have to be a mom to get pampered on Mother’s Day HOURS: Tues - Thurs.: 9:30am-6:00pm Fri.: 9:00am-5:00pm • Sat.: 9:00am-3:00pm Closed Sunday and Monday Additional hours available by appointment ONLY
108-A2 North Kerr Office Park • 910-790-9799 (One block off Market St., behind Whitey’s Restaurant)
16 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
Pamper that special lady in your life!! Spa Manicure Spa Pedicure 30 Minute Massage Shampoo, Cut and Hollywood Hairstyle
99
$
Artfuel.inc
1701 Wrightsville Ave 910 343 5233 Mon-Sat, 12-9pm; Sunday, 1-6pm www.artfuelinc.com www.myspace.com/artfuel_inc Artfuel.inc is located at the corner of Wrightsville Ave and 17th street. Housed in an old gas station, we offer resident artists working in studios alongside a gallery space used to exhibit other artists work. We hope to connect artists with each other and offer many styles of work to fuel the public’s interest. Currently, Artfuel, Inc. will showcase We’re Up & Running Again, April 24, 7pm. Artists Include: Nicolle Nicolle, Michelle Connolly and Eli Thompson. The show will hang for eight weeks!
Crescent Moon
332 Nutt St, The Cotton Exchange (910) 762-4207 Mon.-Sat., 10am-5:30pm; Sun., 12-4pm www.crescentmoonnc.com Crescent Moon is introducing new stained glass artist, Gerri Insinga, from West Hempstead, NY. Gerri was a frequent visitor to Crescent Moon while visiting their second home in Wilmington, NC. During one of those visits we learned of her stained glass and painted glass art that she has been hand-crafting for thirty years. When she brought us some samples, we immediately knew that she would be a welcome addition to our glass gallery. Her picture frames are perfectly soldered and then with delicate brush strokes she paints floral and other themed designs to embellish them just right. Look for other one of a kind kaleidoscopes and accessory boxes to be showcased soon by Gerri. Just In Time for Mother’s Day! Henrietta Glass Mom’s Little Vase is back on display and ready for Mom to put those cherished hand-picked flowers in. Hand blown, measuring 3 inches tall they will fit perfectly on your desk or kitchen counter and they are colorful! Crescent Moon is located in The Cotton Exchange where parking is free while shopping or dining. Follow us on twitter as CrescentMoonNC or become a fan on our Facebook page!
Hampstead Art Gallery
14712 Hwy. 17 N. • (910) 270-5180 Mon.-Sat. 11am-5pm, or by appt. Hampstead, NC “Beautiful; lots of variety.” “Love the place.” “Beautiful art work.” “Very nice.” “Art rocks your socks, and you know that.” These are just what a few customers had to say about Hampstead Art Gallery. Come and tell us what you think. Affordable prices on prints and originals. Local artists with various styles and taste are just excited about having the opportunity to share their work with all art lovers. Our artists offer different sizes from what we have on display and low rates on commissioned work. Owner Charles Turner invites all artists and art lovers to just hang out in our new Artist Lounge any time. Look for our upcoming Expos and Open House. Hampstead Art Gallery is located in Hampstead on the corner of Factory Road next to CVS Pharmacy.
New Elements Gallery
216 N. Front St. • (919) 343-8997 Tues-Sat: 11am-5:30pm or by appointment www.newelementsgallery.com “Across Time,” featuring the works of Wilmington artists Fritzi Huber and Dina Wilde-Ramsing, combines clay and fiber to give us contemporary interpretations of the past. The archeological/anthropological nature of Wilde-Ramsing’s sculptures are juxtaposed with Huber’s handmade paper, the deckled edges a reminder of ancient remnants, such as a shard or piece of fresco wall. Acknowledged as one of Wilmington’s premier art and craft galleries, New Elements offers a wide variety of work by regional and nationally recognized artists. Located in historic downtown Wilmington since 1985, New Elements Gallery features original paintings and prints, as well as sculpture, contemporary craft, jewelry, and custom framing. New Elements Gallery is proud to represent those artists that consistently produce high quality work, and takes pride in the solid relationships that are established between artist and gallery. We exhibit work by various gallery artists on a rotational basis March through November, often gaining much attention from area press. Visitors worldwide make a point of returning to
enjoy this distinctive collection of fine art and craft, and are frequently impressed by the sheer volume of work available at New Elements, much of which is featured on the gallery’s website. New Elements Gallery also offers art consultation services and is committed to helping you find the unique piece of art that represents your style best.
pattersonbehn art gallery
511 1/2 Castle Street • (910) 251-8886 Tues.-Sat. 11am-5pm • (Winter: closed Monday) www.pattersonbehn.com pattersonbehn will be featuring the work of Michelle Connolly. Michelle is a remarkably, prolific artist who has managed to stay connected to her inner child by channeling it through her artwork. Though so much of her work comes from her personal memories and her very active imagination- there is also a strong sense of depth and maturity to many of her pieces. The gallery also carries works by Bob Bryden, Virginia Wright-Frierson, Rachel Kastner, Pam Toll, and Katherine Webb, as well as a large selection of works on paper in numerous media.
Sunset River Marketplace
gallery through April 24th is titled “Pastel Sisters Show All.” Participating artists are: Nancy Guiry, Brenda Goff, Liz Roberts, Mary Grace Cain, Sue Ruopp, Barbara Riggi Evarts, Sandy Petit and Linda Young. Artist reception: Saturday, March 27th, 3-6pm; public welcome.
Wilmington Art Association Gallery
616B Castle St. (910) 343-4370 www.wilmington-art.org The Wilmington Art Association wishes to thank all of you who visited our annual juried Spring Art Show and Sale last week-end during the Azalea Festival. Again, it was a successful event with over 350 entries from local artists. Please stop by and visit the Wilmington Art Gallery at 616-B Castle St. where our featured artist, Nancy Jernigan, who is visually impaired, has a colorful show titled “Blind Sited.” Our special event for April is fittingly called “Flowers.”
8BOOB CF PO UIF HBMMFSZ QBHF
10283 Beach Dr., SW (NC 179) (910) 575-5999 Tues- Sat. 10am-5pm Closed Mon. in winter sunsetrivermarketplace.com myspace.comsunsetrivermarketplace This eclectic, spacious gallery, located in the historic fishing village of Calabash, N.C., features fine arts and crafts by some of North and South Carolina’s most creative, successful artists. Almost every genre is represented here—oil, pastel and watercolor, clay and glass art, fiber art, turned wood, metal works, artisan-crafted jewelry and more. Classes, workshops, pottery studio, custom framing, Creative Exchange lecture series and Coffee With the Author series are also offered on-site. Pastel artist Jane Staszak conducts a weekly class at Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, N.C. The dynamic instruction and exchange of ideas has resulted in a closely knit group who have dubbed themselves the “Pastel Sisters” and their group show, which runs at the
Call Shea Carver by Thursday, noon, at (910) 791-0688, ext 1004, to inquire about being included.
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 17
SUNDAY, MAY 2
Jagermeister Music Tour: Kornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ballroom Blitz ft.
2 CENTS & SOULS HARBOR presented by WKZQ
(ADV) $ 42.00 / (DOS) $ 45.50
TUESDAY, MAY 4
HIM
Plus special guests WE ARE THE
FALLEN, DOMMIN & DRIVE A (ADV) $ 25.00 / (DOS) $ 28.00
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH w/ DROWNING POOL &
LACUNA COIL
(ADV) $ 23.00 / (DOS) $ 26.00
61$0.*/( 4)084 05/07 05/12 05/14 05/15 06/10 06/11 06/15 06/19 08/09 09/03
COLT FORD ZOZO â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Tribute to Led Zepplinâ&#x20AC;? THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND TRAVIS TRITT w/Blackberry Smoke THE DISCO BISCUITS DROPKICK MURPHYS GWAR w/ Dirge Within and Mobile Death Camp EDWIN MC CAIN LAMB OF GOD w/ Hatebreed & 3 Inches of Blood TEARS FOR FEARS
FOR TICKETS: Livenation.com or Charge By Phone 877-598-8698
18 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
**
Working for a Living: Rio Bravo takes the lead in ‘hottest new Wilmington band’
E
very few months or so, there seems to be a new band or two that begins bubbling out of our local music scene, becoming the topic of conversation. Maybe it’s because of a string or two of successful shows that attract just the right crowds. Maybe it’s that their music seems unique, or intelligent, or catchy enough that it doesn’t leave our ears. Or maybe it’s just the classic word-of-mouth that puts their name in the forefront of people’s minds when they think about the “next best thing.” For band Rio Bravo, it’s all three. Over the past year, Rio Bravo has worked to become the topic du jour, immersing themselves in the small, but remarkably vibrant scene and carving out their place in its current landscape. Playing melodic riffs that crescendo and release against vocals gruff in emotion, the four-piece is making a mark with their own brand of modern rock, sometimes tinged with pop sensibilities. For those lucky enough to have followed their rise, it’s safe to say their best and brightest days are still to come. Recently, encore spoke with bassist Ed Sumpter as the band prepares for this Friday night’s show at the Soapbox. encore: Tell me about your band: how you guys got together, how long you’ve been playing, and some of your influences. Ed Sumpter: We have all been playing music with each other, and with other projects and bands in Wilmington, for several years, but we started playing together in Rio Bravo in January ‘09. We are all influenced by lots of different artists, in many different genres. Specifically, the ones that influence our writing range from Radiohead to Muse, Grizzly Bear to Paramore to Manchester Orchestra, Kings of Leon, Mute Math and The Avett Brothers. e: How have you navigated a career on the Wilmington music scene and built a following? What are your impressions thus far?
Newly remodeled with authentic Indian decor
by: Adrian Varnam
Rio Bravo with Like Trains and Taxis, and D&D Sluggers Friday, April 30th • 8pm Soapbox • 255 N. Front Street Admission: FREE ES: We have been working on our local following for the past year, trying to play in town a lot . . . and we have really been using the Internet to reach people: Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. We also have been able to, sometimes by chance, get on some really cool bills, like [our recent gig with] The Love Language. There wasn’t a whole lot of space for us [on the music scene] when we first started, but, recently, we have been gaining some popularity and more of a following. The scene has changed a little bit. People have really started to latch on to the “indie” kind of movement, and I think Wilmington is becoming a lot more diverse than what it used to be—even a year or two ago. e: Take me through the process of making music in Rio Bravo. How do you guys write, construct songs and put together projects? ES: Every song is different in its construction, really. We all have our own strengths, but there is no real clear-cut way in which we write every song. Most of the time Micah [Kolk] (vocals, rhythm guitar) writes the outline and comes to us with it, and we work on piecing it together and arranging it. Bryan [Davis] writes a lot of the catchy hooks and lead guitar work, and we all work on the rhythm section stuff along with Christian [Black] (drums). We all have control of the dynamics and arrangement of each song, [regardless] if we ever play or use the song in our live show.
HOT TOPIC: Rio Bravo are the new sonic talk of the town, playing this Friday at Soapbox for a free—yes, free—show!
e: How do you see yourselves as artists? Where are you going, where have you been, and what’s the future of Rio Bravo? ES: We have all been on the scene, playing with other bands, on other records, etc. For Rio
in the future, we have a tour starting in May, as well as other shows this summer. We are also talking about a fall tour and even plans for the rest of the year. The most exciting thing, though, is we are recording our first album, to come out sometime this summer. We are really excited about this project and think it is going to be a real success. This is what we want to do: We want to make Rio something that we can do for a living.
Try our Expanded Lunch Buffet from 11:30am-2:30pm Including Lamb, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Curries, and Vegetables only $799
Vegetarian • Non Vegetarian • Seafood • Tandoori
Join us for Happy Hour Mon.-Thurs. 5-6:30 Bring in this ad for 20% Off your Entire Meal
4610 Maple Avenue, Wilmington, NC, 28403 910-799-2089
OPEN: Monday-Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm; 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm Saturday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm; 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm • Sunday 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 19
soundboard
a preview of tunes all over town this week
tom rhoDes
karaoke with BoB clayton
DJ P. Funk —Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl; (910) 509-1551 Jeremy norris —Sunset Cafe, 5500 Market St.; 791-1900 oPen mic w/ sean GerarD (9Pm) —Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 Jim ashley’s oPen mic —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,910-763-1607 James Jarvis & FrienDs (7Pm-8Pm) —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St. ,910-763-1607 DJBe karaoke —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-3838 karaoke w/ DJ Biker roB —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 oPen mic niGht with Gary allen —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 Jive turkey —Mellow Mushroom, 4311 Oleander Drive;
—Black Horn Bar, 15 Carolina Beach Avenue
—Midtown Seafood, 4106 Oleander Dr.;
N.; 458-5255
792-6880
GoGGlez Pizano
oPen mic niGht —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 DJ —High Tide Lounge, 1800 Carolina Beach Ave., Carolina Bch; 458-0807 DJ Juice —The Rhino Club, 125 Market St.; 762-2206 karaoke —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 the Fustics —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341
452-3773
—Aubriana’s; 115 S. Front St., (910) 763-7773
—Dead Dog Saloon, 760 Coastal Grand, Myrtle Beach, SC; 843-839-3647 5th weDnesDay BanD —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 763-3737 Piano show —Rum Runners, 21 N. Front St.; 815-3846 country DJ/karaoke —Coconut Jacks; 5027 Market St, 202-8288 eric anD carey B. —El Zarrape Cantina, 103 Lake Park Blvd.; 458-5255 nutt house imProv —Nutt Street Comedy Room, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 BiBis ellison anD tim Black
Coconut Jacks (formerly the Yellow Rose Saloon) Wednesday Country DJ/ Karaoke 8pm
wed 4.28
rock idol karaoke thurs 4.29
team trivia with
dj richtermeister
Thursday Country Line Dancing Lessons at 7:30, followed by a country DJ
Friday
fri 4.30
North Tower Band (Beach Music), 9pm
sat 5.1
Saturday
the design live music with
jack jack 180
Live Country w/ Southern Riders
Sunday Country DJ/Open Mic/Karaoke
Photo... Scott Sain of Plane jane
,ANDFALL #ENTER s 1331 Military Cutoff Rd
910-256-3838 wildwingcafe.com
DAILY DRINK SPECIALS Located behind Old Chicago Pizza 5027 Market St.
202-8288
20 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
courtesy oF artist
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28
THURSDAY, APRIL 29
ALAMANTRA = Indie-Eclectic-Organic-Electric-Psychedelic-Bluesy-Progressive-Melodic-Introspective-Southern-Jam-Rock. Hear it all, Saturday, at The Juggling Gypsy.
DJ Don’t stoP —Slick and Reds, 2501 S. College Rd.; 798-5355 FrieD lot —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc., 910-256-0115
GRAND UNION PUB 1125 Military Cutoff Road
117 Grace St. Downtown 910-763-3456
(910) 256-9133
46/%": Reggae ON SUNDaY @ 7:30 $5.55 Fish Tacos, $3 Caribbean Beers, $3 Well Rum Drinks
Downtown Wilmington’s Authentic Hookah Spot
LIVE BELLY DANCING Every Friday and Saturday 10pm - 12am
All-natural homemade fruit tobacco TRY ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE MIXES www.arabiannightshookahcafe.com
.0/%": $7.77 Fish & Chips, $3 English Beers 56&4%": 50¢ Wings, $2 Domestic Bottles, $2.50 Well Vodka Drinks
WEEKLY EVENTS TUESDAYS &WEDNESDAYS
NUTTHOUSE IMPROV
$5 COVER $1 FRONT STREET BREWERY BEERS!
THURSDAYS
NUTT STREET OPEN MIC ALL SHOWS 8:00 DOORS 9:00 SHOW CALL 251-7881 FOR MORE INFO
8&%/&4%": $3 Guinness, $4 Irish Car Bombs $6 Corned Beer or Turkey Reubens 5)634%": $3 pints '3*%": $2.50 Mexican Beers, $3 Margaritas $5 Nachos and Quesadillas 4"563%": $3.50 Well Drinks, $4 Bombs, $15 Domestic 6-pack, $3 Select Draft -*7& .64*$ '3* 4"5 4-23 FUSTICS 4-24 TRaVIS ShalloW 4-25 STEhl DUBB 4-30 MaChINE GUN
LIVE MUSIC
FRI. APR. 28
jesse stockton
SAT. APR 29
daniel parish
FRIDAY & SAT acoustic live music on the outdoor back deck SUNDAY 1/2 price wine list TUESDAY Twosome Tuesday - 10% off entrees for two $5 Wine Feature WEDNESDAY Ladies Night - cheese and chocolate, $8/lady THURSDAY $25 four-course menu, $2.50 drafts and $6 martinis FRIDAY 70’s night - good vibes and great prices 138 South Front Street Downtown Wilmington
910.251.0433
Acoustic Duo (7-10), Brett Johnson’s JAm (10-?) —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 top 40 DJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 Live music —Romanelli’s, Leland; 383-1885 DJ icon —Mansion on Market; 6317 Market St., 395-5028 DJ compose —Port City Pub, 121 Grace St.; 251-3791 GuitArist perry smith —Caffe Phoenix, 9 S Front St.; 343-1395
“sorry not my proBLem” (perFor-
DJ ceD
mAnce)
—The Rhino Club, 125 Market St.; 762-2206
—Cameron Art Museum; 3201 South 17th St., 395-5999 pALe riDer
DJ richtermeister
—Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2776 BAD shit, the GoAt AnD the occAsionAL others, monKeyKniFeFiGht —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 Jim QuicK & the coAstLine BAnD —Carolina Lounge, 5001A Market St.; 791-7595 hip hop symphony w/ sLim DeLuxe —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616
—Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-3838 FAmiLy KArAoKe —Alfie’s, 2528 Castle Hayne Rd.; 251-5707 tom rhoDes —Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St.; 251-1935 nutt street open mic —Nutt Street Comedy Room, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 cLAssy KArAoKe with mAnDy cLAyton
roBBie Berry
12 DeGrees (8-11) —Buffalo Wild Wings, Monkey Junction;
Beach; 256-2776
—Southpaw Sports Bar, 123 Princess St.;338-1886 DJ —Black Horn Bar, 15 Carolina Beach Avenue N.; 458-5255 Live music —Henry’s, 2806 Independence Blvd.; 793-2929 DJ —Level 5/City Stage, 21 N. Front St.; 342-0872 DJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301
Live music
DJ icon
the vinyL sounD
—Wrightsville Grille, 6766 Wrightsville Ave.;
—Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832
—Goat and Compass, 710 N. 4th St.;
509-9839
KArAoKe KonG —Slick and Reds, 2501 S. College Rd.;
772-1400
JAmes JArvis & FrienDs (7pm-8pm) —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,
798-5355
910-763-1607
LAtino niGht with DJ
DJ ceD
—Carolina Lounge, 5001A Market St.; 791-7595
friDAY, APriL 30 meLvin AnD sAyer —El Zarrape Cantina, 103 Lake Park Blvd.; 458-5255 piAno show —Rum Runners, 21 N. Front St.; 815-3846 Live BeLLy DAncinG —Arabian Nights, 117 Grace St.; 763-3456 DJ (hip-hop/DAnce) —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville
392-7224 Jeremy norris —Firebelly Lounge, 265 N. Front St.; 763-0141 FuLL Dish —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc., 910-256-0115 LynDsey Bennett —Little Dipper, 138 S. Front St.; 251-0433
the pAuL GrimshAw BAnD
—Remedies, Market Street; 392-8001
—Dead Dog Saloon, 760 Coastal Grand, Myrtle
KArAoKe
Beach, SC; 843-839-3647
—Yosake Sushi Lounge, 31 S. Front St.;
BiBis AnD BLAcK
763-3172
—Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street;
FireDAnce & Drums @ DArK
Live music
—Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.;
DJ
—Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.;
DJ stretch
362-9666 couuntry DJ —Coconut Jacks; 5027 Market St., 202-8288
—The Rhino Club, 125 Market St.; 762-2206
763-2223
—Yosake Sushi Lounge, 31 S. Front St.;
763-3737
—Trebenzio’s, 141 N. Front St.; 815-3301
KArAoKe w/ BoB cLAyton
wes sAyer
763-3172
BenJy tempLeton
JAmes JArvis & FrienDs (7pm-8pm)
—Midtown Seafood, 4106 Oleander Dr.;
—Firebelly Lounge, 265 N. Front St.; 763-0141
KArAoKe w/ BoB cLAyton
—Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street;
792-6880
362-9666
Johnnie Acoustic
—Midtown Seafood, 4106 Oleander Dr.;
LiQuiD pLAtinum
—The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,
KArAoKe w/ DJ steve
792-6880
roB west
—Dead Dog Saloon, 760 Coastal Grand,
910-763-1607
—Flat Eddie’s; 5400 Oleander Dr., 799-7000
—The Toolbox, 2325 Burnette Blvd.; 343-6988
DJ
—Murphy’s Irish Pub; off I-40 @ exit 385 (at the
Myrtle Beach, SC; 843-839-3647
rALph Justice
sinGer/sonGwriter showcAse w/
DJ mit psytrAnce
—The Toolbox, 2325 Burnette Blvd.; 343-6988
Mad Boar Restaurant), 285-8888
mortAL mAn w/ chAmpion oF the
—Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.;
Koostic thAnG!
—Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.;
DJ scooter Fresh
shAne AnD trAvis
sun, preDecessor
689-7219
—Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133
763-2223
—Rox, 208 Market St.; 343-0402
—Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133
—16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616
KArAoKe KonG —Orton Pool Room, 133 North Front St.; 343-8878 open mic w/ GAry ALLen —Brass Pelican; 2112 N. New River Dr., Surf City, NC 328-4373
visit our website www.ruckerJohns.com for daily specials, music & upcoming events
FREE FOOD at the bar during Happy Hour 5-7pm MONDAY Sloppy Joes and Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 Margaritas, $3.75 Select Imports TUESDAY Hot Dogs & Chili w/ Tortilla Chips $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 LIT’s, $3.75 Select Imports WEDNESDAY Chicken Fajitas & Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 Margaritas, $3.75 Select Imports THURSDAY Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo & Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 LIT’s, $3.75 Select Imports FRIDAY Buffalo Wings & Salad $2 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 Cosmo’s, $3.75 Select Imports Restrictions apply, see store for details
4126 Oleander Dr. (910) 792-9700
monday All Pizzas $5 in the bar after 5pm 22oz Domestic Draft $200 tuesday Live Jazz in the Bar Half Price Bottles of Wine Absolut Dream $5 • Pacifico $2.50 22oz Yendgling Draft $2 wednesday Corona\Corona Light $250 Margarita\Peach Margaritas $4 10 oz domestic draft $1 thursday Gran Martinis $7 • Red Stripe $250 friday Cosmos $4 • 007 $350 Harps bottles $250 saturday Baybreeze\Seabreeze $4 22oz Blue Moon Draft $3 Select domestic bottles $150
1/2 priced select apppetizers m-f 4-7pm MONDAY $10 Bud/Light Buckets $4 Jack Daniels • $3 Capt. Morgan TUESDAY $1 Tacos 4-7pm • $3 sauza $15 margarita pitchers $3 Mexican Beers $5 Top Shelf Tequila • $7 Patron WEDNESDAY $3 Pints (10 Drafts) $5 Jager Bombs • $2 wells THURSDAY Mug Night $2 Domestic Drafts w/HK MUG $5 Bombers • $4 Jim Beam $3 pinnacle flavored vodkas $3.50 MicroBrews FRIDAY $3 Select Draft $4 Fire Fly Shooters $5 Red Bull Vodka SATURDAY $2.50 Miller Lt or Yuengling Draft $8 Pitcher • $3 Kamikaze $4 Well Drinks SUNDAY $2.50 Bud/Light Draft $8 Pitcher • $5 Crown Royal $4 Bloody Mary
sunday Domestic Draft Pints $150 Bloody Marys $4 White Russians $4
CATCH ALL THE ACTION WITH MLB EXTRA INNINGS ON 10 HDTVs and HD big screen Your Team - Every Game, Every DAY
5564 Carolina Beach Rd 452-1212
118 Princess St • (910)763-4133
A SAmpling of SpECiAlS noW AVAilABlE AT BoTH loCATionS! SundAy Any pitcher and a large pizza $20 mondAy All craft beer pints $3 TuESdAy Two for Tuesday Two slices and any pint for $7.00. WEdnESdAy pint of the week: $2.50 THurSdAy All-you-can-eat pizza buffet for only $6. Two Wilmington locations near unCW 250 racine drive • 910-452-9000
nectAr —Duck & Dive, 114 Dock Street, 399-2866 mAchine Gun —Grand Union Pub, 1125 Military Cutoff; 910-256-9133 the DesiGn —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-3838
Weekly SpecialS
.0/%": $2.50 Budweiser Draft $4.00 Well Liquor FROM 4 UNTIL CLOSE $.50 Wings Buffalo, BBQ, or Teriyaki 56&4%": $2.50 Miller Lite Draft, $4.00 Hurricanes FROM 4 UNTIL CLOSE $6 Buffalo Shrimp or Chicken Tenders 8&%/&4%": $2.50 Yuengling Draft, $2.50 Domestic Bottles FROM 4 UNTIL CLOSE $2 Sliders 5)634%": $3.00 Coronas, $4.00 Margaritas FROM 4 UNTIL CLOSE $5 Cajun Shrimp or Fish Tacos '3*%": $3.00 Select Pint 4"563%": $5.50 Cosmos, Dirty Martinis or Apple Martinis 46/%": $5 Bloody Marys Half Priced Appetizers After 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
downtown 131 n. front St • 910-343-8881
See all the specials at www.fatpub.com encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 21
Blivet, Dane Britt
BillionaireS
live muSiC
ten BeloW, Dane Britt
Sunday, May 2
—Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.;
—The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088
—Murphy’s Irish Pub; off I-40 @ exit 385 (at the
—Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.;
tHe aim WaS Song
KaraoKe
689-7219
Mad Boar Restaurant), 285-8888
689-7219
—Holy Grounds Coffee House, 2841 Carolina
KaraoKe
—Sunset Cafe, 5500 Market St.; 791-1900
raDiant SoulS
tHe StoneWallS (10:30am-12:30Pm)
—The Blend; 5226 S. College Rd. Unit 8,
Beach Rd.; 791-7366
—Griff’s Tavern @ George St.; 6320 Market
SuSan Savia (10am-2Pm)
799-8899
ten BeloW
—Riverfront Farmers’ Market; Water St.
St., 793-2628
—Havana’s; 1 N. Lake Park Blvd. Carolina
Hot Water Wagon ft. Steve toDD
—Kefi, 2012 Eastwood Road; 256-3558
Downtown Wilmington, 538-6223
BlueS Jam
Beach, 458-2822
—Harbor Masters, 315 Canal Dr., Carolina Beach; 458-28200
nortH toWer BanD
freD flynn
—Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888
KaraoKe W/ DJ Battle
—Coconut Jacks; 5027 Market St., 202-8288
Will revo
—Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl;
tueSday, May4
tHe PeePSHoW CaBaret
neW DinaSourS
—Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500
—Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; 503-3040
—Francesco’s, 839 S. Kerr Ave.; 793-5656
(910) 509-1551 Country DJ, oPen miC, KaraoKe
ron & Woo
miKe anD leon
—Barbary Coast; 116 S. Front St., 762-8996
—Holiday Inn Resort (Gabby’s Lounge),
KaraoKe W/ DJ val
1706 N. Lumina Ave.; 256-2231
live muSiC —Henry’s, 2806 Independence Blvd.; 793-2929 inDy muSiC nigHt —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 KaraoKe —Yosake Sushi Lounge, 31 S. Front St.; 763-3172 reggae tueSDayS —Green Light Lounge; 21 N. Front St., Basement KaraoKe W/ BJ BiKer roB —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 Jeremy norriS —Griff’s Tavern @ George St.; 6320 Market St., 793-2628 DJ iCon —SideBar; 18 S. Front St., 763-1401 Dane Britt KaraoKe —Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.; 689-7219 DJ “mr lee”
DJ StretCH
Saturday, May 1
—Trebenzio’s, 141 N. Front St.; 815-3301
DJ iCon
DJ time
—Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832
—Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl;
DJ
(910) 509-1551
—Level 5/City Stage, 21 N. Front St.; 342-0872
rio Bravo, liKe trainS anD taxiS, D&D
live muSiC
SluggerS
—Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.;
—Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500
763-3737
WHatS gooD, CouP De graCe,
DJ
grounDS for HoPe, unHoly tongueS
—Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301
guitariSt Perry SmitH
—Reggie’s, 1415 S. 42nd St.
live Belly DanCing
—Caffe Phoenix, 9 S Front St.; 343-1395
WHite WizarD
—Arabian Nights, 117 Grace St.; 763-3456
maCHine gun
—Big D’s American Saloon; 6745-B Market St.
Piano SHoW
—Black Horn Bar, 15 Carolina Beach Avenue
—Grand Union Pub, 1125 Military Cutoff; 910-256-9133 ten feet tHiCK —Brass Pelican; 2112 N. New River Dr., Surf City, NC 328-4373 SoutHern riDerS —Coconut Jacks; 5027 Market St., 202-8288 eD torreS —Holiday Inn Resort (Gabby’s Lounge), 1706 N. Lumina Ave.; 256-2231 tom noonan anD Jane HouSeal —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666 t.o.m.D.(tHey’re only moStly DeaD) —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 Jeremy norriS —Little Dipper, 138 S. Front St.; 251-0433 alamantra (PiCtureD) —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 Carl neWton & tHe 5tH avenue BanD
mr WorxWell W/ Will WilliS & tHe
—Rum Runners, 21 N. Front St.; 815-3846
N.; 458-5255
—Kefi, 2012 Eastwood Road; 256-3558
—Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204
100 S. Front St. Downtown 251-1832 .0/%":
1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm
2 Budweiser • $225 Heineken $ 3 Gin & Tonic
$
56&4%":
1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm
2 White Wolf 2 Redstripe 3 Wells 35¢ Wings at 8pm
$
$ 50
$ 50
8&%/&4%":
1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm 2 Blue Moons 2 Corona/Corona Light 1/2 Priced Wine Bottles $ 50
$ 50
5)634%":
2 Domestic Bottles, $ 75 2 Import Bottles, $ 3 Rum and Coke
$
'3*%":
LIVE MUSIC IN THE COURTYARD 3 Landshark • $3 Kamikaze $ 5 Bombs
$
4"563%":
LIVE MUSIC IN THE COURTYARD Rooftop open by 6pm Dance floor open by 10pm 46/%":
5 Tommy Bahama Mojitos 2 Corona $350 Bloody Mary’s $ 3 Mimosas $
$ 75
DJ SCooter freSH —The Rhino Club, 125 Market St.; 762-2206 KaraoKe WitH BoB Clayton —Midtown Seafood, 4106 Oleander Dr.; 792-6880 iamHuman —Yosake Sushi Lounge, 31 S. Front St.; 763-3172 leigH ann’S BeaCH Party —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2776 DJ P. money —Rox, 208 Market St.; 343-0402
CHarlie anD roSe luCaS —Ocean Grill, 1211 S. Lake Blvd; 458-2000 BeaCH & SHag nigHt 5001 Market Street (attached to the Ramada Inn)
910-791-7595
Tuesday
Shag Night
Free Shag Lessons w/ Brad White Beginner 7:30 Intermediate 8:00 Dancing till 11:00 $5 cover $2 Domestics $3 Imports Thursday
Ladies Night
Free Line Dance Lessons with Barbara Braak @ 7:30 APRIL 29 @ 9pm JIM QuIck AnD the coAStLIne BAnD $2 Coors Light $5 Martini List $5 cover Friday
Salsa Night
Begins with Argentine Tango Lessons @ 7:30 $5 cover Salsa Lessons @ 9:30 & DJ Lalo Open till 2:30 $2 Tequila Shots $3 Corona saTurday Beach & Shag DJ 7:30 Salsa @ 11:00 till Close $2 Coors Light $3 Dos XX PrivaTe ParTy Booking 910 791-7595
22 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
—Carolina Lounge, 5001A Market St.; 791-7595
LIVE MUSIC
Verandah Cafe Terrace Thursdays - 7-10pm
SEA PANS STEEL dRuMS Gabby’s Lounge Fri., April 30
MIKE & LEON 7-10PM
DJ StretCH, live Jam WitH Benny Hill —Trebenzio’s, 141 N. Front St.; 815-3301 DJ —Ronnie’s Place, 6745-B Market St.; 228-8056 ClaSSy KaraoKe WitH manDy Clayton —Remedies, Market Street; 392-8001 roBBie Berry —Smileys Tavern, 723 N. 4th Street; 399-1669 KaraoKe W/ DJ val
— Coconut Jacks; 5027 Market St., 202-8288 Dale “fully automatiC SounD maCHine” DJS —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 763-3737 SunDay nigHt fever —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 galen on guitar (BrunCH) —Courtyard Marriott, 100 Charlotte Ave., Carolina Beach; (800) 321-2211 BlueS BrunCH —Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St.; 251-1935 Steve toDD & frienDS —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 groveSounD —Mellow Mushroom, 4311 Oleander Drive; 452-3773 DJ CeD —The Rhino Club, 125 Market St.; 762-2206 flutiSt niKKi WiSnioSKi —Caffe Phoenix, 9 S Front St.; 343-1395 DJ Big KaHuna —Rum Runners, 21 N. Front St.; 815-3846 ‘BeHinD tHe garage’ muSiC —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 DJBe KaraoKe —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 Jam WitH Benny Hill —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 marK roBertS & Breeze —Bluewater Grill, 4 Marina St.; 256-8500
DJ iCon —Mansion on Market; 6317 Market St., 395-5028 oPen miC nigHt —Duck & Dive, 114 Dock Street, 399-2866 oPen miC W/ Beau —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616
—Carolina Lounge, 5001A Market St.; 791-7595 KaraoKe Kong —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616 CaPe fear BlueS Jam —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 KaraoKe W/ DJ Be —Ultra Classics Pool and Bar, North Hampstead raDio HayeS anD eCHoPoint21 —Goat and Compass, 710 N. 4th St.; 772-1400 nutt HouSe imProv —Nutt Street Comedy Room, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 BiBiS elliSon anD tHe SPare CHange
Monday, May 3
BanD —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088
FORTCH
—Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500
oPen Create nigHt —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 763-3737 JameS JarviS & frienDS (7Pm-8Pm) —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St., 910-763-1607 oPen miC WitH viva —El Zarrape Cantina, 103 Lake Park Blvd.; 458-5255 oPen miC nigHt —Port City Pub, 121 Grace St.; 251-3791 DJ riCHtermeiSter —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.;
tHe neCeSSary BanD
7-10PM
256-3838
256-3838
—Dead Dog Saloon, 760 Coastal Grand, Myrtle
DJ time
toP 40 W/ DJ val
Beach, SC; 843-839-3647
—Trebenzio’s, 141 N. Front St.; 815-3301
—Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301
Sat., May 1
Ed TORRES 7-10PM
Fri., May 7
OVERTYME 7-10PM
Sat., May 8
wrightsville.sunspreeresorts.com 877-330-5050 • 910-256-2231
—Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 Will WilliS & tHe BillionaireS W/ JuStin Heter & frienDS —Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; (910) 503-3040 JaCK JaCK 180 —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-3838 HaJi P W/ DJ Battle, minDSome, aDDiCtive nature, Big HoP
live muSiC —Wrightsville Grille, 6766 Wrightsville Ave.; 509-9839 KaraoKe WitH BoB Clayton —Midtown Seafood, 4106 Oleander Dr.; 792-6880 JameS JarviS & frienDS (7Pm-8Pm) —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St., 910-763-1607 live aCouStiC —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.;
DJ P. funK —Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl; (910) 509-1551 JiM aSHley’S oPen Mic —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St., 910-763-1607 JereMy norriS —Sunset Cafe, 5500 Market St.; 791-1900 oPen Mic W/ Sean gerarD (9PM) —Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 BiBiS elliSon anD tiM BlacK —Aubriana’s; 115 S. Front St., 763-7773 JaMeS JarviS & frienDS (7PM-8PM) —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St., 910-763-1607 KaraoKe WitH BoB clayton —Midtown Seafood, 4106 Oleander Dr.; 792-6880 oPen Mic nigHt WitH gary allen —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 Piano SHoW —Rum Runners, 21 N. Front St.; 815-3846 KaraoKe W/ DJ BiKer roB —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 DJBe KaraoKe —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-3838
Scearce & Kettner —Rucker John’s, 5564 Carolina Beach Rd.; 452-1212 oPen JaM W/ Steve toDD —Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; (910) 503-3040
eric anD carey B. —El Zarrape Cantina, 103 Lake Park Blvd.; 458-5255 DJ Juice —The Rhino Club, 125 Market St.; 762-2206 roger DaviS, ron WilSon —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 763-3737
nutt HouSe iMProv —Nutt Street Comedy Room, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 oPen Mic nigHt —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223
DJ —High Tide Lounge, 1800 Carolina Beach Ave., Carolina Bch; 458-0807 KaraoKe —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 onWarD SolDierS —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341
Show Stoppers: Concerts around the region HOUSE OF BLUES
4640 HWy 17 S., Myrtle BeacH, Sc 843-272-3000 5/2: Gospel Brunch 5/2: Korn, 2 Cents , Souls Harbor 5/4: HIM 5/5: Five Finger Death Punch, Drowning Pool , Lacuna Coil
THE ORANGE PEEL
101 BiltMore avenue, aSHeville 828-225-5851 4/30: Telepath, Dubconscious & Axum
LINCOLN THEATRE 126 e. caBarruS St., raleigH 919-821-4111 4/28: Emmitt-Nershi Band 4/29: The Church 4/30: Rebel Son, Automag 5/1: Lotus, Givers 5/5: Honor Society, Just Kait, AshlynHuff
N. CHARLESTON COLESIUM
5001 coliSeuM Dr., cHarleSton, Sc 843-529-5000
4/30: Trey Songz, Monica 5/2: Mcdonald’s Choir Showcase, Marvin Sapp
TWC ARENA 333 eaSt traDe St. cHarlotte 704-522-6500 6/2: Carole King and James Taylor
ALABAMA THEATRE 4750 HWy 17 SoutH, n. Myrtle BeacH, Sc 843-272-1111 5/2: Eddie Miles
GREENSBORO COLISEUM 1921 WeSt lee St., greenSBoro 336-373-7400 4/30: Martina Mcbride, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan (rescheduled date)
All entertainment must be turned in to encore by noon every Thursday for consideration in the weekly entertainment calendar. Venues are responsible for notifying encore of any changes, removals or additions to their weekly schedules.
TWC PAVILION AT WALNUT CREEK 3801 rocK Quarry rD., raleigH 919-831-640 5/28: Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, and many more
courteSy of artiSt
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5
CARY’S BOOTH AMPHITHEATRE 8003 regency ParKWay, cary 919-462-2052
CAT’S CRADLE 300 e. Main St., carrBoro, nc 919-967-9053
AMOS’ SOUTHEND 1423 SoutH tryon St., cHarlotte 704-377-6874
4/28: Clipse, XV, Ninjasonik 4/29: Junior Brown, John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff 4/30: Kaki King, An Horse 5/1: Beach House, Washed Out 5/3: Dave Barnes, Ben Rector 5/4: The Aquabats, The Action Design, Koo Koo Kanga Roo 5/5: The Album Leaf, Sea Wolf
4/28: Porcupine Tree (Above)
4/30: Southend Comedy Cavalcade;
Bruce Bellile, Chesney Goodson, Steven Forrest, Kevin Alderman, Jonathan Dunn, Dave Neils 5/1: Ammas, Falling I Wake 5/2: Cage, Veins Iced Over 5/7: Charity Case, Throwdown Jones
4/30: My Morning Jacket, Preservation Hall Jazz Band 5/1: Cheap Trick (lt), Dave Mason, Georgia Satellites, Atlanta Rhythm Section
VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE 707 Pavilion BlvD., cHarlotte 704-549-5555 5/27: Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, and many more
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 23
below-29 Wilmington Restaurant Week
30-31 Dining Guide
Eat. Drink. Indulge! encore presents spring’s most indulgent event, Wilmington Restaurant Week
T
he most delicious week of spring arrives April 28th, wherein seven days of sheer indulgence will take place, thanks to encore’s original Wilmington Restaurant Week. More than 25 local eateries have culled a host of special menus, showcasing their finest eats for a price that can’t be beat! It’s a way for diners to enjoy Wilmington’s foodscape without breaking the bank, all the while supporting our local economy. From four-course fine dining, to casual lunches for two, in cuisines ranging from seafood to fondue, Latin American to Asian, steaks to vegetarian options, Wilmington Restaurant Week has every palate covered. Diners should remember to make reservations ahead of time to ensure a seating, and prix-fixe prices do not include tax or gratuity. Go to encore’s Restaurant Week’s Web site, WilmingtonRestaurantWeek.com, to print out the Wilmington Restaurant Week Pass, available on every participant’s menu page. Or flip over to page 5 or 29 and tear out the pass. Some restaurants require the pass for prix-fixe redemption, so bring it along. Now, for the reveal: Here is how our favorite restaurants are tempting our tastebuds this spring!
by: Shea Carver and Sarah Boggs
Wilmington Restaurant Week
April 28th - May 5th Prix-fixe offers vary by restaurant www.wilmingtonrestaurantweek.com steamed rice or cabbage. The fourth course can be chosen from apple streusel cheesecake, sweet potato cheesecake, passion fruit sorbet or mango sorbet. To kick dinner up a notch, go for the whole Jamaican Comfort Zone experience. Their three courses for $30 will serve a starter dish from one of the following: West End Sunset Shrimp, Ackee & Saltfish or Escoveitch Chicken Salad. Course two features red snapper, served steamed, or escoveitch- (like ceviche) or fricassée- (stewed) style; RedStripe chicken; plantain-stuffed Jerk pork; or Jerk/BBQ ribs. All come served with a choice of two sides, including steamed okra, confetti rice, steamed rice or cabbage. Dessert will not disappoint either! Try the Comfort Zone’s coconut gizzadas (a pinch-meround, Jamaican pastry), passion fruit or mango sorbet, or an ice creme punch. A $4 surcharge will be added to any shared Wilmington Restaurant Week plates.
Jamaica’s comfort Zone 417 S. College Rd. • (910) 399-2867 4-course lunch: $12/person 3-course dinner: $30 For the perfect late-in-the-week, need-a- WrigHtsville grille little-spice lunch or dinner eat spot, Jamaica’s 6766 Wrightsville Ave. • (910) 509-9839 Comfort Zone packs a punch of flavor sure to 3-course dinner: $16.99/person beat away those culinary blahs. Reasonable They’re known as a place that does “comprices and generous portions don’t hurt this mon things uncommonly well,” whether enCaribbean café’s chances of becoming one of joying a brew and a burger at their expanWilmington’s most popular eateries. Better yet, sive bar or a family meal in their dining area. they will certainly appeal to the foodies: Just try Wrightsville Grille opens seven days a week their curried goat and sautéed oxtails. at 11am, serving some of Wilmington’s most They’ve been open for over a year and cer- memorable crab cakes. tainly have a loyal fanbase. Wilmington RestauTheir Wilmington Restaurant Week threerant Week will bring more to the table, for sure, course dinner is one that will make anyone’s especially after one bite of their Jamaican Patty, wallet do a happy dance, and the quality of food served in a beef, chicken or vegetable variety. that comes along with it will impress. StartThis starts off the four-course lunch, followed by ing off the meal will be the choice of a shrimp their miniature curry vegetable rolls or a cup of salad—seasoned shrimp, served over mixed their homemade chicken, vegetable or mannish greens with papaya and mango, drizzled with an Oriental dressing—or a cup of soup, chosen (goat) water soup. Course three comes in the form of Jerk or from one of two of their daily specials (such as brownstew chicken, or curry steamed or Jerk chili, French onion, chicken noodle, etc.). The second course consists of a grilled 10vegetables. Entrées receive a choice of two sides, including a salad, plantains, confetti rice, ounce New York strip, served with a vegetable 24 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
of the day and choice of rice or potato. For seafood fans, opt for their teriyaki-glazed pineapple shrimp, served with stir-fried veggies, basmati rice and toasted almonds. For dessert they’ll be serving either their decadent chocolate dessert of the day or a slice of their fresh and cool key lime pie. Hieronymus seafooD restaurant anD oyster Bar 5033 Market St. • (910) 392-6313 4-course dinner: $25/person They’ve scored encore’s Best Seafood category many times before, not to mention they have served Wilmington diners for 31 years with culinary dedication. Their recipes don the freshest ingredients, some even picked straight from the family farm, and their seafood is purchased locally. Wilmington Restaurant Week at Hieronymus will do nothing shy of titillate the tastebuds, as their first course starts off with a choice of crab dip or calamari, followed by a garden or Caesar salad, or a cup of their famous She-Crab soup—something that is richly enamouring on the palate. The main course will be either blackened mahi, a seafood combo (grilled or fried, featuring a choice of two: shrimp flounder, oysters, scallops or clam strips) or stuffed chicken. To finish off the meal, diners can enjoy their homemade, insanely sinful strawberry shortcake or a slice of their Almond Hershey Delight.
fisH fooD: Jamaica’s Comfort Zone serves up colorful and tasteful food, straight from the Caribbean. Welcome them to their first Wilmington Restaurant Week, and enjoy fresh flavors prepared with ease.
siena trattoria 3315 Masonboro Loop Rd. • (910) 794-3002 4-course dinner for 2: $40 One of Wilmington’s coziest restaurants stays tucked away in suburbia, off of Masonboro Loop Road, among housing developments, schools and churches. It’s a perfect spot, really, to maintain a homey, family atmosphere, which proves welcoming to all appetites. Aside from serving some of Wilmington’s best pizza, Siena’s entrées do little to disappoint and a lot to tantalize, as they use fresh ingredients, especially from local farmers’ markets when in season. Wilmington Restaurant Week will offer a deal to duo diners who are looking to enjoy fresh, filling and familiar Italian for only $40 a couple. Their first course comes with a choice of one appetizer: calamari, inslata caprese (mozarella, basil and tomatoes) and broccoli rabe di salsiccia (sausage and broccoli rabe). A Siena salad will cleanse the palate, consisting of caramalized onions, roasted red peppers and shaved parmesan, while the third course will be hard to choose from: lamb stew, chicken or shrimp fettucini Alfredo, salmon Mediterraneo, lasagne, ravioli bolognese or risotto con mascarpone di pollo (chicken and mascarpone cheese in creamy risotto). The meal will be complete after choosing one dessert from their menu (go with the simply
spicy fiesta cheddar to the sultry spinach artichoke parmesan, as well as regular cheddar, a Wisconsin style blend and traditional Swiss. The second course is a palate-cleansing salad, with a choice of house, Caesar, spinachmushroom or California. Next comes the entrée, featuring their Signature Selection, with filet Mignon, white shrimp, teriyaki sirloin, chicken breast and cedar-plank salmon; the Chicken Trio, with chicken breast, Cajun chicken and garlic-chili chicken; or the Seafood Trio, with white shrimp, scallops, and cedar-plank salmon. Rounding out this indulgent feast is the coveted chocolate fondue dessert, served with chocolate-peanut butter or the sinful dark chocolate-white chocolate, Yin Yang.
DON’T SKIMP ON THE SHRIMP: Cape Fear Seafood Company knows seafood—so well, in fact, that Restaurant Weekers will score killer deals on items like shrimp and grits. Make a reservation now.
decadent tiramisu!) and a cup of coffee. VERaNDaH CafE 1706 N. Lumina Avenue (located inside the Holiday Inn Resort) 3-course lunch: $12/person Allow Wilmington Restaurant Week to feel like a culinary vacation by making reservations at Verandah Cafe in Wrightsville Beach, located inside the Holiday Inn Resort. The cafe has expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean, something sure to uplift the spirits during any lunch. Plus, their culinary craftsmanship comes through tenfold, as they treat every meal like a fine-dining experience. A three-course midday break here will transform any day from hum-drum into something special, starting off with a cup of their lobster bisque or a soup of the day. Their main entrée comes dressed as an arugula salad—made with peppery arugula, roasted pine nuts, cranberries, mushrooms, roasted red and yellow peppers, and bacon-wrapped scallops in a citrus vinaigrette. Or choose their six-ounce Angus filet, roasted in a coffee pasilla chile broth, served with risotto and a veggie of the day. Dessert will knock the “vacation” up a notch, thanks to Verandah’s banana cheesecake, served in a tortilla, or an individual mousse cup in chocolate, orange or lemon-cream flavors. It ends the meal perfectly. All meals are served with iced tea or soda, and coffee, as well as rolls with butter. YO SaKE 31 South Front St. • (910) 763-3172 4-course dinner: $25/person With a menu that touts Japanese-fusion food, Yo Sake appeals to the sushi-loving, vegetarian-loving and food-in-general-loving crowds. Their menu varies, offering the standards (pork eggrolls or sesame-encrusted tuna), the exotic (braised pork lettuce wraps or steamed edamame and pork dumplings), and oh-so-much sushi
(from standards to specialty rolls). They offer a chic atmosphere, complete with cosmopolitan anime art work, and a drink menu to simply love: sake, wine, beers and specialty drinks, like the Pomegranate Mojito. For only $25 per person, Yo Sake is offering up a four-course dinner during encore’s Restaurant Week, complete with appetizer, soup and salad, entrée, and dessert courses. Appetizers included range from sesame-seared tuna, to fresh steamed edamame, as well as firecracker shrimp and crispy tuna rolls. Miso soup, tomato-ginger bisque, or a local, organic vegetable soup provide the perfect second course. A house salad is also available for the waist-watchers of the bunch. Diners can choose their entrée accordingly: savory Pad Thai, with choice of protein; Fiery Beef, served with noodles or rice; a Caterpillar Roll; a Vegetable Tempura roll; Sashimi Sampler; panang curry, with choice of protein; pineapple-grilled chicken; grilled beef tenderloin; crispy salmon; or shrimp and pineapple fried rice. Lychee sorbet, toasted coconut ice cream, chocolate-banana wontons and mango cheesecake top off this decadent dinner. More than just a restaurant, Yo Sake has become a destination for the hip, the foodies and almost all Wilmingtonians. Restaurant Weekers need to mark it on their must-stop list. THE MElTINg POT 885 Town Center Dr. • (910) 256-1187 4-course dinner: $25/person Offering up traditional fondue fare, from cheesy indulgences to full-flavored dinner options, the Melting Pot is one of the South’s best places for anything from a chocolate fix to a fullon funky feast. Gather up your favorite dining pals and make sure to book a reservation early, because this pennies-on-the-dollar dining deal is a decadent treat that is sure to leave you melting for more. On the menu for this year’s Restaurant Week is a full four-course dinner for only $25 per person, which is an absolute steal for this typically pricey experience. The first course offers a cheese fondue, with choices ranging from the
MIxTO CONTEMPORaRY laTIN 21-47 S Water St. • (910) 399-4501 Lunch: Buy one, get one 1/2 off 4-course dinner: $30 A new restaurant located downtown Wilmington in the old Water Street location, Mixto proves to be just that: a mix of great food from Latin American countries, all wrapped up in the contemporary techniques of Chef Eric Gephart. Originally of Buoy 32 fame, Gephart is no newcomer to Wilmington Restaurant Week. Last fall he churned out a plethora of fine seafood dishes. This year he shows off a different side of his culinary studies, while drawing from his many years of owning and running restaurants. Mixto sates spicy, comforting and homey palates, which get teased by Gephart’s contemporary twist. His molé sauce offers endless depth of earthy flavors and hearty affection, and his dedication to using primarily local ingredients makes every dish all the more flavorful. During Restaurant Week, Mixto diners can enjoy a buy-one, get-one half-off lunch. Choices can be be made from any of their lunch selections. Try the panouchos for only $8—a crispy corn tortilla topped with blackbean puree, shredded chicken, lettuce, guacamole, Mexican cheese and salsa fresca, served with rice or beans. Or taste Yolanda’s Tamales, for only $7.50, featuring a traditional corn-based dough, wrapped in a husk of corn or plantain-steamed, served with rice or beans, and a choice of cheese, pork and red chili, or chicken and green chili. During dinner the price remains humble, too, for such fine-quality dining. A mere $30 offers a four-course meal, including an alcoholic beverage. Choose an appetizer from their tempting menu (try the ceviche), followed by a choice of soup or salad, an entrée (the dry-rubbed pork is complete heaven!), and a dessert to share. The cocktail of choice can be Sangria, house wine or a Mexican beer. The meal will impress so much, especially when sitting along the Cape Fear River on their open patio, that diners are sure to return more than once during Restaurant Week.
tastic blend of downtown energy and riverside flair. With a sophisticated menu and classy clientele—not to mention the unbeatable view—Elijah’s has its diners aching for more. For a truly blissful experience, try the soft shell crabs with a chilled glass of pinot grigio. Yum. Honestly, though, no matter what is ordered, the outcome of sheer satisfaction always shows on a diner’s face upon leaving the restaurant. Restaurant Weekers will be enveloped by their tempting lunch and dinner options. The first of two courses during lunch begins with a cup of either the Carolina Chowder or Elijah’s Red Chowder. Or enjoy their house salad, mixed lettuce, red onion, sliced mushrooms, carrots, cucumber and tomato, with one of their homemade dressings; a Caesar salad, served with classic romaine lettuce, shredded Romano cheese and garlic croutons, with house made dressing; or a spinach salad, served with carrots, tomatoes, walnuts, dried cranberries, blue cheese crumbles and raspberry vinaigrette. Diners choose one from the second-course menu: turkey reuben, featuring smoked turkey breast, sauerkraut, Swiss and 1000 Island dressing on soft rye bread; chicken salad sandwich, served with almond chicken salad atop soft, toasted rye, topped, with lettuce, tomatoes and toasted almonds; Elijah’s chef salad, which comes with mixed iceberg and spring lettuce, served with Virginia ham, smoked turkey, Swiss and cheddar cheeses, carrots, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and egg, with your choice of one of our homemade dressings; or the fresh catch of the day. Elijah’s three-course dinner comes with one starter: fried calamari, Buffalo shrimp or homemade mac-and-cheese, served with a blend of aged, sharp white cheddar, parmesan and cream cheese, with diced Virginia ham, tossed with baby pasta shells. Choosing the second course will prove as difficult, featuring: chicken and shrimp linguini, with blackened chicken breast, served with sautéed shrimp and scallions, atop fresh linguini in a parmesan cream sauce; stuffed pork, showcasing eight ounces of center-cut loin chop, with cornbread and sausage stuffing, finished with apple-cider reduction and served with fresh seasonal vegetables; or shrimp panned in butter, with large shrimp sautéed in a garlic-butter white-wine sauce, with scallions and diced tomatoes, served with seasoned rice and fresh vegetables. Dessert comes with a choice of one: Chocolate Delice, with a chocolate and raspberry sauce, or apple pie, served with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon and whipped cream.
SOuTH BEaCH gRIll 100 S. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach, NC (910) 256-4646 3-course dinner: $29.95/person If an intimate, casual, beachy atmosphere sounds like the right ticket for Wilmington Restaurant Week, then South Beach Grill can definitely satisfy the most extravagant of cravings. ElIjaH’S Both their lunch and dinner menus are widely 2 Ann Street • (910) 343-1448 varied, with Southern favorites like fried pickles, 2-course lunch: $14.95 and more surprising dishes, such as sweet po3-course dinner: $28.95 Located on the downtown Riverwalk, Elijah’s tato-crusted flounder. During Restaurant Week, Casual American Grill and Oyster Bar has a fan- Chef James Rivenbark has turned up the volencore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 25
ume, showing off his trained culinary skills. Folks will enjoy a three-course dinner, including a first course choice of: pan-seared blackpepper-crusted diver scallops, over an avocado and honey toast, finished with a fire-roasted tomato concasse; rosemary-skewered shrimp, over a smoked cheddar polenta cake, finished with a hardy saffron tomato basil sauce; or roasted summer vegetable bruschetta, over garlic-herb crostinis, finished with a sweet balsamic glaze. The second course proves as enticing, featuring five-spice rubbed tenderloin, over bacon gorgonzola risotto, finished with a blackened tomato coulis; ginger candied grouper, over kalamata olive, diced tomato, and spinach couscous, finished with a pinot grigio lemon garlic sauce; or chipotle seafood linguine, featuring sautéed shrimp, scallops and fresh mahi, tossed with spinach, mushrooms, diced tomatoes and linguine, in a white-wine chipotle butter sauce. The finalé will make the sweet tooth dance in happiness. Diners can choose from South Beach’s sweet cherry pie and vanilla ice cream; Lewis Farms’ strawberry shortcake; or homemade key lime pie.
tioned Jambalaya for dinner, too. Dessert cools things down with a slice of key lime pie or a serving of their crème brulée. aubriana’S 115 S. Front Street • (910) 763-7773 3-course dinner: $30 For a chic, candle-lit dinner, complete with white linen tablecloths, Aubriana’s is the place to make a reservation. One of Wilmington’s finest dining spots, the artsy space boasts a “melting pot of America’s best culinary traditions.” From lamb to hummus, lobster to shrimp, Chef Alex Succop knows how to please a diner. Dinner starts with a choice of salad. The Caesar includes hearts of romaine, tossed with house-made Caesar dressing, with anchovy filets, capers, croutons and shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano. Aubriana’s house salad contains a spring mix of greens, tomato wedges, purple onions and Asiago cheese, finished with one of their homemade dressings. Course two will engage the palate even further into Aubriana’s unforgettable experience. The crab and spinach potato gnocchi ala vodka comes with sautéed, jumbo lump crab meat and spinach, with Italian potato dumplings tossed in a classic creamy ala vodka sauce. For those who wish for a different flavor, choose the Ashley Farms chicken breast. The all-natural North Carolina chicken comes pan-seared then roasted with spring vegetables, in natural pan jus, and red bliss and Yukon gold mashed potatoes. And any rich palate will be happy with the spring lamb rack, marinated and then drizzled with jalapeño mint gastrique, served with herb-roasted fingerling potatoes and a medley of spring vegetables. Peanut butter pie or chocolate lava cake will finish the meal off memorably.
Cape Fear SeaFood Company 5226 S. College Rd. # 5 • (910) 799-7077 2-course lunch: $12/person 3-course dinner: $30/person Of its many successes, Cape Fear Seafood Company does one thing flawlessly: seafood. Its inventive menu practically speaks for itself, with the succulent Figure 8 Stuffed Flounder and decadent Grouper Saltimbocca. From the picky to the downright persnickety, this sophisticated seafood bistro is sure to please everyone stepping through its doors. Locally owned and operated, the Monkey Junction restaurant saw great success last ruth’S ChriS Steak houSe Restaurant Week—so any diner who missed 301 N. Water St. • (910) 343-1818 out on their tasty show should go ahead and 3-course dinner: $35/person plan on a seating this go ‘round. Lunch can’t be Internationally renowned for its Prime USDA beat at only $12 a person. The first course will Choice steaks, Ruth’s Chris Stea House combe a cup of their homemade soup of the day, pletely lives up to the hype. Serving an unbeattheir roasted red pepper and crab bisque or able menu of traditional flair in a modern atmotheir Caesar salad. Their second course offers sphere, Ruth’s Chris ranks consistently high for a Cajun favorite, Jambalaya, made with shrimp, its clear-cut chop-house vision: They only offer scallops and andouille sausage, okra, onions the most premium cuts of meat, cooked to and tomatoes, served over rice; or go for their perfection, and served with family-style sides Calabash-style fried shrimp platter, served with just as tempting. Reserve a seat for Restaurant fries and cole slaw. Week today, as they packed it out last fall! Dinner will be a more extravagant affair, as Their appetizer selections allow diners to three courses will run a mere $30 a person. choose one: the Steak House Salad, featuring Again, their first course includes the soup of iceberg, romaine and baby lettuces, with grape the day, their crab bisque, Caesar salad, crab tomatoes, garlic croutons and red onions, or a dip or spicy Buffalo shrimp. Plate two comes cup of their richly decadent Lobster Bisque. in one of many flavors: Cape Fear shrimp and The entrée to follow will feel like a special grits, featuring sautéed prawns, applewood occasion—in fact, it will be. Ruth’s Chris offers smoked bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms, a choice of their filet and lobster tail, featuring served over creamy cheese grits. Or choose a six-ounce cut of corn-fed Midwestern beef the honey BBQ salmon, served with green and a six-ounce cold-water lobster tail; or their beans and choice of side (whipped potatoes, 16 ounce New York Strip will be as delectable, rice pilaf, French fries, cole slaw, onion rings, with a full-bodied texture that is slightly firmer hush puppies and asparagus). Their Smith than a ribeye. For those who aren’t keen on Island crab cakes is also an option, featuring red meat, Ruth’s Chris offers a double-stuffed twin lump-crab galettes, pan-seared and fin- chicken breast, filled with garlic-herb cheese, ished with a velvety lemon buerre blanc sauce, served with lemon butter. They’re also offering served with green beans and choice of side. If a tender Atlantic salmon, poached under the Cajun still tempts, then go for the aforemen- broiler. The entrées will be served with a choice 26 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
ale houSe bbQ: The Carolina Ale House will have their Mountain Sweet BBQ Platter as an option for their late-night dinner for two, for only $24, available after 10pm.
of creamed spinach or mashed potatoes, and substitutions to accompaniments can be made for an additional $2 per side dish. The meal ends on a high note with dessert. Ruth’s Chris offers their chocolate Sin Cake, featuring chocolate and espresso, a delicious slice of their homemade chocolate cake, or a slice of cheesecake with fresh berries. katy’S Great eatS 1054 South College Road • (910) 395-5289 Lunch or dinner for two: $22 For down-home food in a casual, bar atmosphere, visit Katy’s Grill and Bar, also known as Katy’s Great Eats, located in the heart of midtown, off of College Road. Well-known for its inexpensive gourmet wings, this local favorite also serves up country classics, like fried green tomatoes and okra, and they serve one mean burger, too, in a variety of ways. Their Restaurant Week specialties will make anyone take a seat in their cozy digs and be happy for dinner for two at only $22. True Southern hospitality begins with the choice of an appetizer to share: homemade chips or onion rings, fried pickles or jalapeno buttons. Katy’s sandwich and seafood selection follows the tried and true, as well as the adventurous, and makes for a filling second course. Diners choose two of the following: Monterey chicken sandwich, featuring bacon, Ranch and Monterey Jack cheese; the Colorado chicken sandwich (editor Shea Carver’s fave), featuring tomato, grilled onions, bacon, sour cream and provolone cheese; or the Beach Burger, featuring American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. For those wishing to indulge the freshness that is Katy’s seafood, taste the fried shrimp platter, served with fries and slaw. Ending the meal with a slice of their Mermaid Pie will beckon diners back alone, as it comes with a slice of whipped chocolate pie, swirled with toffee, and topped with Oreo crumbles and pecans.
Carolina ale houSe 317-C College Road • (910) 791-9393 Late-night dinner for two: $24 Winner of encore’s Best Sports Bar and Best New Restaurant awards, Carolina Ale House undeniably lives up to the hype. The menu is extensive, serving classic bar food, like burgers and some of the Port City’s tastiest fries, to finger-sticky ribs and six different kinds of pizza. Throw in a flat-screen in every direction and 28 beers on tap, and it’s gastronomic paradise after 10pm. Diners can get a late-night dinner for only $24, starting with one of the Ale House’s appetizers to share. Whether choosing jumbo chicken wings, peel-and-eat shrimp or creamy spinach dip, among many other selections, the portion size and quality will start the meal off right. The second course allows a choice of two: blackened London broil, topped with a dollop of horseradish cream sauce, and served with mashed potatoes and fresh veggies; sweet mountain BBQ platter, featuring slowly cooked pork, rubbed with special dry seasonings and basted with sweet mountain honey BBQ sauce, and served with fries and slaw; or blackened mahi mahi, prepared island style in a citrus vinaigrette and mango salsa, served with beans, rice and fresh veggies. Couples can choose from Ale House’s desserts to share, like the Turtle Caramel Cheesecake, with creamy fudge-layered NYstyle cheesecake with a graham-cracker crust, smothered in caramel and walnuts; Apple Pie a la Mode, featuring Granny Smith apples in a flaky crust, served with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with a creamy caramel sauce; or Ale House Mud Pie, a rich dark fudge brownie, topped with Oreo cookie ice cream and drizzled with a smooth caramel topping. CapriCe biStro 10 Market Street • (910) 815-0810 3-course dinner: $25/person During encore’s fall Restaurant Week, Caprice Bistro packed the house. They were booked practically every night of the week, as their three-course meal could not be beat. The consistent level of quality food makes Ca-
price top-notch all-around. Chef Moity provided a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert, all chocked full of a divinity of flavors. The escargot, duck confit and profiteroles can send anyone into food-coma heaven. Paired with great wine or champagne and fabulous company, it will become one of many Restaurant Week highlights. Again taking Best French Restaurant 2010, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re back for springâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant Week. Words of advice: Make reservations early. Their three-course dinner only runs $25 a person and starts with the choice of: salad meli melo, featuring organic field mixed green lettuce, with a dijon vinaigrette and crostinis; homemade country pate; or escargot, served in a Roquefort, garlic-cream sauce. Course two offers a choice of: poisson â&#x20AC;&#x153;du jour,â&#x20AC;? Capriceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fish of the day, which varies; their insanely decadent duck confit, served with sautĂŠed potatoes and mesclun; or the steak â&#x20AC;&#x153;au poivre,â&#x20AC;? served with pomme frites. To end it all without regret comes dessert, again, with the choice of one: chocolat profiteroles, sorbet â&#x20AC;&#x153;maisonâ&#x20AC;? or crème brulee. FLAmING Amyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BOWL 4418 Shipyard Boulevard â&#x20AC;˘ (910) 799-6222 Dinner for two: $26 Like its sister of a Burrito Barn, Flaming Amyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bowl goes a different route: Rather than master the burrito, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re mastering noodle and rice bowls, a la Mongolian-style grilling. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how it works: Pick your ingredientsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;freshly chopped veggies, meats, sauces and starchesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;take it to the grill, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll cook it up before you for the perfect meal. Repeat upon seconds and thirds. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a make-your-own-meal-style restaurant, where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the chef, and they provide prime fillings. Located on Shipyard Boulevard, make it a pit stop between April 28th and May 5th, especially when considering dinner for two only rings in at $26. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get: two soft drinks or two bottled beers, two cups of hot â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sour soup, two dinner buffets and one brownie cheesecake dessert. The eatery is new to the Wilmington Restaurant Week spring event, so stop in for a hearty welcome, and leave planning your next trip with your favorite dining companion. CATCH 6623 Market Street Lunch; 11am-3pm â&#x20AC;˘ Dinner: 5pm-10pm
4-course dinner: $29/person Chef Keith Rhodes and his wife, Angela, opened Catch with a simple idea: to serve the best local ingredients with a modern twist. They support North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organic farmers, local fisheries and sustainable fishing practices to help stimulate the local economy. Their high-quality food continues comforting locals time and again. Winning encoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Chef many years now in a row, Rhodes produces palate-pleasing menu items, such as North Carolina sweet potato salad and red miso-broiled salmon. Decades of experience assure his creations are anything but ordinary, and his four-course dinner for Restaurant Week will be a debut success, for sure. Diners can choose an appetizer for starters, including Firecracker Shrimp, served over a romaine nest with a spicy sherry cream sauce; or pimiento cheese and shrimp dip, served with olive oil crostinis; or the crispy pork pot stickers, served in a Grand Marnier and chili sauce. Course two comes in the form of soup or salad. Rhodes will serve a curry catfish chowder, featuring a mild curry flavor and micro cilantro, or a hibachi salad, served with organic greens, mixed vegetables and ginger-sesame dressing. Finishing off the palate will be a joy of sweetness in the form of a warm chocolate bundt cake, served with Jasmine whipped cream and coco nibs; or Gnarly Head merlot-poached dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;anjou pear, served with vanilla, rose cream and curry almonds. Food this good comes with only one stipulation: Diners must make reservations for Friday- and Saturday-evening dinner (and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re encouraged other nights as well). HENRyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2508 Independence Boulevard (910) 793-2929 3-course dinner for two: $39.99 For a local favorite, offering up classic American staples in a friendly, inviting atmosphere, check out Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, located in Barclay Commons off Shipyard Boulevard. The ambiance is casual-chic, and the staff is nothing less than warm and inviting to every diner. Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu offers a cross between momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen (think grilled cheese BLT or fried bologna sandwiches) during lunch and grandmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home cooking (meatloaf, roast chicken dinner,
This wine is a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with intense flavours and crisp acid in a dry style. It is fruit-driven, with complexity from lees ageing for several months in stainless steel tanks before bottling. It has intense passionfruit
FLAT BUT HEIGHTENED WITH FLAVOR: FLAT Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offers the new sandwich: flat bread, topped with artisan ingredients, like smoked chicken and mandarin oranges. Try one come Restaurant Week.
and many noodle and seafood dishes). They have also started new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crate to Plateâ&#x20AC;? daily specials, featuring meals made from local seafood and vegetables, also one of their features during Wilmington Restaurant Week. Great food at great prices is whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waiting at Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and dining in deuces means saving bigger bucks! The first round begins with a choice of an appetizer to share, including Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famously rich crab dip, their crispy and savory calamari or fried onion crisps. Course two features two entrĂŠes from their Crate to Plate blackboard specials, which change daily, and feature locally grown vegetables and locally harvested seafood. The third course will allow couples to share a large dessert or two minis from the Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu. Desserts are homemade and they change daily, so be sure to ask about the selections upon visiting. EDDIE ROmANELLIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 503 Olde Waterford Way Leland, NC 28451-4147 (910) 383-1885 2-course lunch: $8/person 3-course dinner for two: $35 Eddie Romanelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s serves up scratch-made traditional Italian fare at affordable prices, with hefty servings and fantastic service to boot. Their Leland location is serving up meals in droves, as their daily specials ($5 specialty pizzas on Monday!) or Sunday brunches keep visitors lining up at Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s door. During Wilmington Restaurant Week, the Leland location will have people crossing the bridge without failâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for lunch and dinner, nonetheless. Lunch canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be beat for only $8, starting off with a cup of their daily soup or a house salad, served with one of their housemade dressings. Folks can then choose from: a Tuscany sandwich, topped with Prosciutto ham, sliced tomato, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil and balsamic vinegar on garlic-and-herb-toasted focaccia bread; chicken Parmigiana; a meatball
sub; or Romanelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spaghetti and meatballs. Dinner only runs $35 a couple, starting off with an appetizer to share, including bruschetta, served with fresh Roma tomatoes, basil and olive oil on crostini, topped with balsamic reduction; fried cheese, which is hand-breaded mozzarella, lightly fried and served with marinara; or Italian (Prosciutto, tomatoes, mozzarella and Kalamata olives) or American (bacon, spring onion, cheddar and Monterey Jack) potato skins. Their house or Caesar salad comes before the main course, which consists of two of the following: eggplant rollatini, featuring eggplant lightly breaded and fried, rolled up and filled with spinach and ricotta, topped with marinara and mozzarella; or rigatoni a la vodka, which comes with Prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms, in a vodka cream sauce; or Mama Romanelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lasagne, layered with Italian sausage, ground beef and meatballs, three cheeses, covered with homemade marinara; or shrimp fra diablo, served with penne, sautĂŠed shrimp, feta cheese and fresh mozzarella, in a spicy marinara. The final course comes with spoons for two, as a dessert from Romanelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu will be chosen to share. Among the contenders: six-layer chocolate cake, tiramisu, Double Decker ice cream pie or strawberry Dream Cake.
FLAT Eddies 5400 Oleander Drive (910) 799-7000 2-course lunch: $9 â&#x20AC;˘ Dinner for two: $20 Featuring toppings like roasted Roma tomatoes, peppadew peppers and smoked chicken, FLAT Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flatbread sandwiches are more than just the restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s namesake, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re its essence. Still, they have sandwiches, soups, salads and entrĂŠes, among their famed flatbreads, so everyone can choose something they love. The cafĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s polished atmosphere and large bar area offers a refined but reasonably priced menu. New to the Port City, Flat Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boasts itself a must-sample-everything establishment, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to do so come April 28th through May 5th. Nothing will make the wallet happier than a $9 lunch. Their first course starts with a cup of their daily soup or a house encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 27
salad. Lunch comes flat, but gets topped with many artisan ingredients to heighten the flatbread’s flavor. Diners can choose from: house-roasted Roma, featuring mushrooms, red onions, provolone and blue cheese over pesto; smoked chicken, with grilled asparagus, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges and roasted garlic, over cream-cheese and ricotta; pork BBQ, featuring sweet roasted corn and crackled onions over BBQ sauce with sharp cheddar; Mediterranean, with roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, and spinach with feta cheese crumbles; grilled shrimp, with Roma tomatoes, fennel and shredded mozzarella over red sauce with a balsalmic glaze; or the Flat Eddie, topped with eggplant, red onions, dried Romas and peppadew peppers, over pesto Alfredo sauce with three cheeses. Dinner for two costs a mere $20 and includes the same menu as lunch, except diners get a choice of two desserts, too, which change daily. The LiTTLe Dipper 138 S. Front St. • (910) 251-0433 4-course dinner: $25 Fondue is an interactive meal. It’s for lovers. It’s for family. It’s for girlfriends sharing a night on the town. Downtown’s Little Dipper offers up the best in cheeses, veggies, meats and chocolates, melted properly and cooked even more carefully so, to the most decadent flavor, the tastebuds are treated to a simultaneous rush. Last fall, the Little Dipper’s Restaurant Week menu provided a steal of a deal, considering fondue can run up a nice check. Thus, the spring event becomes all the more exciting, making Little Dipper affordable, fun and oh-so entertaining for everyone—and guaranteed to be unlike any other meal in town. Locally owned and operated, the staff simply swoons its diners; be a part of the movement, especially at only $25 a person for a four-course meal. It all starts with a cheese course, offered in one of many flavors (Switzerland’s Original, Cheddar Ale, Baja Cheddar, Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato) and served with assorted breads, fruits and veggies. Course two comes in the form of a chef’s salad, romaine with Caesar, a mushroom salad, or a cup of soup. The entrée selection comes with creamy horseradish, marinara, Asian-ginger, wasabilime, creamy dill, au pouivre and spicy curry sauce selections, along with proteins that can be cooked in either peanut oil or chicken broth. Choose from the: Pleasure Island, featuring Asian potstickers, stuffed with chicken and veggies, filet mignon and sashimi tuna; Figure 8, served with filet Mignon, chicken and pork tenderloin; Wrightsville, served with filet Mignon, chicken and shrimp; Sunset, with shrimp, filet Mignon and assorted ravioli; or Masonboro, served with assorted ravioli, marinated portabellos and seasonal vegetables. The Little Dipper’s fourth course may just be the showstopper! Folks will enjoy choco-
one heLLuVa BurriTo: Herbivores and carnivores alike will love the flavors of Flaming Amy’s during Restaurant Week, as dinner for two only runs $22!
late fondue (milk, half chocolate-half peanut butter, mocha and amaretto dark chocolate, white, the turtle or NY-style cheesecake and berries). It’s indulgence at its finest, for sure. porT CiTy Chop house 1981 Eastwood Rd • (910) 256-4955 4-course lunch or dinner: $26.50/person New to our Restaurant Week table is Wilmington’s Best Steak, as judged by readers of encore magazine for many years running now. Welcome Port City Chop House to the lineup. They have been serving diners the best cuts of meats for years now—and that includes not only prime selections of beef but fresh fish and shellfish that cannot be beat. From certified Angus filet Mignons to bone-in strip steaks to a wonderful cowboy ribeye, ordering red meat is luxury here. Pair it with a style or preparation, like their Oscar (steamed crab meat, asparagus and bearnaise) or au poivre (cracked peppercorn and brandy cream sauce), among other choices, and the experience will be one to relive again and again. Wilmington diners can start off their meal with the Chop House’s spinach and artichoke dip, a Greek version, served with feta, sundried tomatoes and garlic bread. Course two will be a choice of one: house salad, featuring mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, red onion, cheddar and croutons, served with homemade dressing; or a Caesar salad, made with romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, croutons and parmesan cheese. Course three is one of three entrées: shrimp pasta, made with jumbo shrimp, spinach and sundried tomatoes, tossed with cavatappi pasta in a light butter sauce; certified Angus beef café strip, a 10 ounce strip filet, cooked to desired temperature; grilled herb chicken, served with chicken breasts, topped with Prosciutto, muenster and herb oil. End the meal in “Seventh Heaven,” with a warm sweet biscuit, topped with vanilla ice cream, with raspberry or blueberry sauce.
28 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
FLaming amy’s BurriTo Barn 4002 Oleander Drive (910) 799-2919 Lunch or dinner for two: $22 Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn also joins the Restaurant Week ranks for the first time, bringing forth their widemouthed burritos and things to Wilmingtonians at deals that can’t be beat! From their overstuffed Double Bypass or their Thai-Me-Up burritos, to their vegetarian chili bowls and homemade salsas, a Flaming Amy’s meal takes top honors in this town. Don’t believe us? Well, they won Best Burrito yet again in encore’s Best-Of poll, so, really, enough said. They take Mexican to all new levels, adding flair from other styles of cuisine, and punching it with a hefty dose of kitsch and humor. And they’re family-friendly, so bring the kids, too. Dinner for two can be enjoyed for only $22, and includes two beers or soft drinks. Start off with a choice of dip: guacamole, freshly prepared avocado, lemon juice, onion and jalapeno; homemade hot cheese dip; or black bean cheese, a hot and spicy black beancheese dip. All dips are served with warm, yellow tortilla chips. The second entrée will appease carnivorous and herbivorous alike. Their Surf ‘n’ Turf Burrito comes with marinated steak, shrimp, Jack and cheddar cheese, lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes and a balsamic bleu-cheese dressing. The Grilled Veggie with Red Pepper Hummus Quesadilla is topped with a red-pepper and garlic hummus, marinated and grilled portabello mushrooms and eggplant, served with rice, beans and yogurt dressing on the side. Dessert will rock everyone to the bone, thanks to Amy’s famous Bananas Elvis—a banana with peanut butter, honey and chocolate chips, rolled up in a flour tortilla, then deep fried ‘til crispy, topped with a little more honey and chocolate fudge, served with vanilla ice cream. BLue pLaTe 121 Grace Street • (910) 399-4352 3-course lunch or dinner: $9.99 Historic downtown Wilmington has a bevy of restaurants, it’s true. Now adding to it is
R.A. JEFFREYS 805 North 23rd Street (910) 763-6216
the down-home comfort of a diner. The newly opened Blue Plate promises hearty and heartening food fit for blue-collar workers and whitecollar diners alike. Set to honor the port hands and construction men who poured their hearts into constructing downtown, Blue Plate serves up mid-century comfort food at an honest, reasonable price. With favorites such as dry-rubbed ribs and salmon croquettes, their fare is worth a second helping. Have a taste of the Blue Plate for only $9.99 a person for lunch or dinner. The three courses start off with a side salad from their salad bar, where fresh ingredients include a variety of vegetables and proteins alike. The second course features their famous fried green tomato and a broiled tomato, followed by the main event: the Blue-Plate Sampler. Diners will get a little bit of everything in this meal, including a made-from-scratch salmon croquette, a piece of rosemary chicken and a portion of dry-rub ribs. Their ribs aren’t to messed with, either, as the pork is dry-rubbed with the most savory of seasonings, not to mention the smoky flavor that resonates throughout every bite. piLoT house 2 Ann Street (910) 343-0200 2-course brunch for two: $15 3-course dinner: $35 Located right on the Cape Fear River in downtown, the Pilot House is the perfect spot for a romantic evening out or a celebratory dinner with friends. The view is unbeatable, and the menu is undeniably good. With its innovative spin on Southern classics, the Pilot House is sure to turn first-timers into every-weekers. (Grilled. Duck. Breast. Enough said.) Open at 10am, the Pilot House now serves brunch seven days a week until 3pm, which is part of the Wilmington Restaurant Week special, including two brunch entrées for only $15, with a choice of a non-alcoholic beverage. The Pilot House breakfast features scrambled eggs, potato hash and bacon, served with fresh fruit and toast. The country breakfast comes with a cider-pepper glazed pork chop, served with scrambled eggs, potato hash and fresh fruit. Or choose their french toast, a classic sourdough serving, topped with cinnamon and brown sugar, served alongside bacon and fresh fruit. The corned beef hash is house-made, topped with
poached eggs and hollandaise, served with toast and fresh fruit. For those who prefer their breakfast “fancified,” the Pilot House’s quiche of the day will be as exquisite. The three-course dinner for $30 will also impress diners, starting with an appetizer: crab dip; herb-fried calamari, served with with peach chutney and horseradish sour cream; fried green tomatoes, made with cornmeal batter, pan fried, with cayenne pepper creme fraiche; or low-country spring rolls, made with collards, country ham, shrimp, julienne vegetables, with hot-and-sour dipping sauce. The second course includes one of the following: shrimp and grits, made with shrimp, Kielbasa sausage, mushrooms, scallions, low-country seasoning and fried grit cakes; a porter house chop features 12 ounces of grilled pork, basted with apple-cider glaze, served with vegetables; sweet-potato grouper, topped with fried sweet potato crisps, over mushroom ravioli, organic greens and balsamic vinaigrette; grilled, marinated flank steak, served with with buttermilk onion rings and vegetables; or garlic chicken and pasta. Diners take heed: Leave room for a slice of Caribbean fudge nut pie, fresh fruit cobbler or classic bread pudding, served with bourbon and brown-sugar butter sauce. Priddyboy’s 419 South College Road • 910) 799-4400 3-course lunch: $5.99 With oversized portions and the freshest of ingredients, Priddyboy’s has all the qualities expected of a locally founded and local-loved lunch spot. Serving up gourmet grilled sandwiches that are overloaded with yumminess, and underpriced for their size, this Port City staple will leave everyone aching for more upon every visit. Their homemade chicken, tuna and egg salads have proven delicacies along the lunch-scape of our town, and their sandwiches come stacked with hefty cuts of meat and tons of fresh vegetables. Wilmington Restaurant Week customers will get a Juniorboy Sandwich (in any flavor: turkey, ham, roast beef, veggie, homemade tuna, chicken and egg salads, and so much more), a cup of soup, such as their clam chowder, cream of broccoli, chicken noodle or cream of potato; a fresh-baked cookie; and a non-alcoholic beverage. This may
seem somewhat odd to those who don’t take sweet tea seriously, but to the Southerners out there who can’t kick the habit: Priddyboy’s makes it right! EAsT 275 Waynick Blvd., Wrightsville Beach (910) 256-2251 3-course lunch: $15/person 4-course dinner: $25 Whether you’re craving a romantic oceanfront dinner for two or a quick lunch with your family, EAST restaurant will be just what you’re looking for during encore’s Wilmington Restaurant Week. Delight your taste buds with local seafood specials while watching the moonrise over the tides. With award-winning cuisine, and breathtaking views of the beach and their ocean front gardens, EAST, located in Wrightsville Beach’s Blockade Runner, is sure to please at any time and for any occasion. EAST’s three-course lunch includes a tender baby spinach salad, tossed with a warm white balsamic and cranberry vinaigrette, garnished with a crisp gnocchi, warm prosciutto, vine-ripened tomatoes and shaved parmesan. The second course inspires the seafoodloving crowd, as EAST serves thyme-seared Atlantic salmon, presented atop lemon risotto and baby greens beans, finished with a brandy lobster sauce. Folks should make a point to save room for tiramisu, made with sweetened Mascarpone, layered with espresso-dipped Lady Fingers and served with a mocha crème anglaise and berry coulis. Dinner will be a vacation away from the norm, too. Their grilled vegetable terrine comes served with baby house-grown greens and Provencal vinaigrette, followed by an appetizer of Artichokes Francaise. The egg-battered artichokes, sautéed in olive oil and finished with a white-wine lemon-butter sauce, make for a second course unlike any other around town. Their jumbo lump crab cake, sautéed and served with haricot vert and lobster foam, will send the whole meal over the edge into culinary bliss. As will dessert: Tarte au Tatin, featuring caramelized apples and short pastries, served with crème anglaise and berry coulis.
Good only April 28th - May 5th, 2010 at participating restaurants* *Not valid with any other offers
Sponsored by:
FAT Tony’s iTAliAn Pub 131 North Front Street • (910) 343-8881 250 Racine Drive • 910) 452-9000 4-course lunch or dinner: $18.99 Pizzas, pastas, and over 30 beers on tap. Homemade garlic bread, stuffed mushrooms, and tiramisu. Mouth watering yet? Fat Tony’s, located downtown and on Racine Drive, offers delectable Italian fare in an energetic pub atmosphere. With a friendly staff, live music, and fun events every few weeks, there’s no doubting Fat Tony’s status as a Port City classic. Come Wilmington Restaruant Week, they’re sure to turn the dining deals upside down, just like they did last fall. Just look at their menu: The first course starts with a half-order of: stuffed mushrooms, filled with either their delicious pesto sauce, or chopped meatballs and topped with melted mozzarella; porchetta dulce, a honey-coated Italian sausage, wrapped in dough, cut into medallions and served over a bed of marinara; or mozzarella sticks, served with marinara. Next, diners can cleanse their palates with a side or small Caesar salad. For dinner, folks will choose from spinach or beef lasagna, layers with either choice of filling, cheeses, pasta and marinara sauce; or shrimp and penne pasta, featuring flavorful grilled shrimp, diced tomatoes and penne noodles in pesto sauce. The final course can be either dessert, featuring their homemade tiramisu, or an alcoholic beverage, featuring a glass of wine (house red, white or Chianti), or a Sam Adams Summer Ale draft beer. While no reservations are required at Fat Tony’s, they are accepted—and for that matter recommended during this food-frenzy week! bAnks ChAnnEl Pub & GrillE 530 Causeway Dr., Wrightsville Beach, (910) 256-2269 3-course dinner: $25/person Located in Wrightsville Beach, with a great view of its namesake, Banks Channel Pub and Grille is a classic, no-frills sports bar and grill, which just happens to have incredible food at bar-food prices. Diners can watch the game inside, or enjoy a cold pint outside on the patio, while listening to some live music and snacking on a black bean quesadilla or a prosciutto and pepperoni sandwich. Dinner will offer more than gastro-pub fare,
though, as diners will be treated to some of the best seafood, Southern and contemporary cuisine in the area. Banks Channel’s threecourse dinner begins with an appetizer course. Choose from little-neck clams with andouille sausage in a fennel broth; squid stuffed with crab and marcona almonds, over a sweet redpepper coulis; meatloaf bruschetta with fried onion straws and smoked ketchup; or deviled eggs with pea shoots. Course two offers one of three salads from which to choose, including arugula, marcona almonds, goat cheese, fennel, sliced pear and an orange-fennel vin; wine-poached peach salad with an herbed ricotta dressing; or Southwestern taco salad with blackened Ahi tuna. The main act will come out to impress with a vengeance, featuring one of the following: hind chicken quarter, brick-grilled over a panzanella salad with pan au jus; seared prawns over a a pea-and-bacon risotto; or a crab cake over fettuccine, with balsamic-marinated portabella mushrooms, baby spinach and chili peppers, tossed in a white-wine butter sauce. dE lArA 3715 Patriot Way #101 • (910) 791-1661 3-course dinner: $25/person Visit De Lara, and make a stop at many countries all over the globe. The newest 17th Street Extension addition brings a touch of variety to midtown diners, from Italian dishes to Mediterranean cuisine to American favorites. Spaghetti bolognese, eggplant parmesan or wild mushroom pesto stands tall beside hummus and Greek spinach pie. Hamburgers and the hamburger steak also comforts the most pesky of eaters here. Conveniently located at College Road and 17th Street Extension, welcome owner Huseyin Ozogul, who owns and operates restaurants in Raleigh, too, to town. The De Lara three-course dinner behins with a choice of appetizer: crab dip, salt-and-pepper fried calamari or a Caprese salad (tomatoes, mozzarella and basil). The main course will feature a choice of entrée: penne a la vodka pesto crab, chicken marsala, veal picatta, swordfish parmesan, or mahi mahi putanesca. Dessert will be an embellishment on the tastebuds, as diners choose from De Lara’s crème brulee, chocolate lava cake or N.Y. style cheesecake.
Good only April 28th - May 5th, 2010 at participating restaurants* *Not valid with any other offers
Sponsored by:
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 29
dining guide american
FLaT eddie’S
A short drive from the beach, Brixx Wood Fired Pizza in Mayfaire Town Center is a fun, friendly neighborhood restaurant. Serving the best brick-oven pizzas around, Brixx also offers a fine selection of signature focaccia sandwiches, pastas, fresh salads and desserts. Stop in for a quick lunch, or kick back on the patio with one of 24 beers on tap or 14 wines by the glass. Brixx is also a late-night destination, serving 2-for-1 pizzas and appetizers after 10 p.m. Open until 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 p.m. on Sunday.6801 Main Street, Wilmington, NC 28405. 910-256-9677. www.brixxpizza.com.
Are you ready to eddie? FLAT eddie’s upbeat, modern dining room & bar makes eddie’s the new “it” place to dine in Wilmington for New American Cuisine. Why FLAT eddie’s? Their signature flatbreads! These flavorful creations start with scratch-made dough, stretched thin and piled high with ingredients like roma tomatoes, succulent shrimp and luxurious cheeses. All sandwiches and burgers are under $8 and their entrees are unique and bold. FLAT eddie’s bar serves up $2 and $3 beer and cocktail specials daily. Private dining area available. Large groups welcome. Family-style meals to go available. FlatEddiesRestaurant.com. 5400 Oleander Drive, Wilmington . 910.799.7000.
BLUeWaTer
HeLLS KiTcHen
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 during the summer months. Large parties welcome. Private event space available. BluewaterDining.com. 4 Marina Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC . 910.256.8500.
This former Dawson’s Creek stage set has been turned into a lively pub in the heart of Downtown Wilmington. Their extensive menu ranges from classics like a thick Angus burger or NY style reuben to lighter fare such as homemade soups, fresh salads, and vegetarian options. Whether meeting for a business lunch, lingering over dinner and drinks, or watching the game on the big screen, the atmosphere and friendly service will turn you into a regular. Open late 7 days a week, with a pool table, darts, weekly trivia, and live music on the weekends. Offers limited lunchtime delivery during the week and can accommodate large parties. MSat 11am until late, opens Sundays at noon. 118 Princess St, (910) 763-4133.
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
cHriS’ coSmic KiTcHen cosmicKitchenonline.com Serving breakfast all day as well as lunch and handmade cheesecake, Chef and Owner Chris Lubben loves to make many of his menu items from scratch. Whether you’re in the mood for a fluffy 3-egg Omelet, Shrimp & Grits, Prime Rib Sandwich or Andes Mint Cheesecake, Chris’ Cosmic Kitchen is your “Out of this World” Breakfast/Lunch Destination. Evening restaurant rental is available, as well as a Personal Chef service. Chris’ Cosmic Kitchen is located at 420 Eastwood Rd, Unit 109, on the corner of Racine Dr. and Eastwood Rd. Closed Monday. Open Tues-Sat. from 8am-4pm with Sun. Brunch from 9am-2pm. Take-out calls welcome, 7926720. Follow us on Twitter @CosmicKitchen.
c.G. daWGS For great traditional New York style eats with Southern charm look no further than C.G. Dawgs. You will be drawn in by the aroma of fine beef franks served with witty banter and good natured delivery from the cleanest hot dog carts in Wilmington. Sabrett famous hot dogs and Italian sausages are the primary fare offered, with a myriad of condiments for all of your mid-day or late night cravings. You may find them daily at their new location on the boardwalk of Market and Water St. from 11am to 5pm. Saturdays at the farmers market. Thursday-Saturday nights they are on Market St. between Front and 2nd St. from 10pm to 3:00am. Then they finish the week off at Fibbers on Sunday nights until 3am. To busy to leave the office? Ask about their lunch time delivery service for downtown!!
HenrY’S A local favorite, Henry’s is the ‘place to be’ for great food, a lively bar and awesome patio dining. Henry’s serves up American cuisine at its finest and offers daily blackboard specials that include entrees with fresh, local ingredients. Come early for lunch, because its going to be packed. Dinner too! Henry’s Pine Room is ideal for private functions up to 30 people. Henry’s is home to live music, wine & beer dinners and other special events. Check out their calendar of events at HenrysRestaurant.com for details. 2508 Independence Boulevard, Wilmington, NC. 910.793.2929.
HoLidaY inn reSorT The Verandah Café Restaurant located in this oceanfront resort is a wonderful find. This is the perfect place to enjoy a fresh Seafood & Steak dinner while dinning outside overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Chef Eric invites you to experience his daily specials in this magnificent setting. Open daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. 2562231 Wrightsville Beach.
KeFi Kefi, founded in 1981 by a group of friends, has a long-standing tradition as a favorite local watering hole. This Wrightsville-Beach eatery is open at 6am for breakfast, offering everything from omelets and pancakes, to shrimp and grits. Take a break from the beach and visit Kefi’s, where their menu features a variety of salads and sandwiches. There is even a “working man’s
30 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
lunch,” served Monday through Friday, all for under $6. At night Kefi comes alive by serving dinner with a Southern flare. From the fried pickles appetizer to their the shrimp or oyster Po’boy to their nightly dinner specials, there is something that will make your taste buds sing. Then stick around for live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; nightly drink specials are offered. Go online at www.kefilive.com for more info and full music schedule. Open 6am-2am, seven days a week, with full ABC permits. Lunch deliveries available in the Wrightsville Beach area. Located at 2012 Eastwood Road, 910-256-3558.
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. Open Tuesday-Sunday, serving dinner at 5pm. 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
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. 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 ambience 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 takehome 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. Mon.-Fri. 10am-7pm; Sat. 9am-6pm; closed Sunday. 3520 S. College Road, (910) 350-FOOD.
meLLoW mUSHroom Mellow out and relax in the comfortable atmosphere that Mellow Mushroom offers. From the giant psychadelic ‘shroom located in the bar area to the Cadillac hanging on the wall, this restaurant is far from ordinary. The open kitchen brings live entertainment as pizza dough flies in the air. Their hand-tossed, spring-water dough brings new meaning to pizzas and calzones—healthy!! With 20 drafts and an array of microbrews, domestic and import bottles, Mellow Mushroom has an extensive beer list and full bar. Also, check out their lunch specials and variety of sandwiches. Their menu also caters to everyone and offers many vegetarian dishes. Live jazz on Wednesdays. Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-10pm; Sun., 12pm-9pm. 4311 Oleander Drive, 452-3773.
TroLLY SToP Trolly Stop Hot Dogs are family owned with six locations. Since 1976 they specialize in homemade chili, slaw and sauces. Dogs include Smighfield (beef & pork), Southern Dog, Sabrett (all beef), Northern Dog, Carolina Packers Pork Dog (smoked sausage), Oscar Mayer 98% Fat Free Dogs (turkey) and Light Life Veggie Dog (soy). Locations are: 126 N. Front Street Open six days including Thurs., Fri., and Sat. night from 10pm-3am; 343-2999, 94 S. Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, 256-1421; 4502 Fountain Dr., 452-3952. Open at 11am on Sat.; South Howe St. in Southport, 457-7017; 103A Cape Fear Blvd in Carolina Beach, 458-5778. Catering cart available all year from $300. 910-297-8416.
aSian doUBLe HaPPineSS Double Happiness offers the Port City fine Asian dining at reasonable prices. Now under new management, the restaurant will serve flavorful dishes, prepared by the cultural richness of authentic China. Serving items like traditional dim sum and gourmet home-style cooking, Double Happiness is still dedicated to branding the exotic flavors of fresh ingredients and a romantic spice in all of their cooking. Their friendly staff will always go the extra mile to help diners enjoy their experience. Beer and wine is served for lunch and dinner, and Double Happiness is open Monday through Saturday, from 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm; closed Sundays. 4403 Wrighstville Avenue; 910-313-1088.
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), 799-1426.
Hiro jaPaneSe STeaKHoUSe What better way to celebrate a special occasion or liven up a dinner out than to dine in a place where every meal is an exciting presentation. Knowing that a meal should be more than just great food, Hiro adds a taste of theatre and a amazing atmosphere to everyone’s dinning experience. Also serving sushi, Hiro surprises its guests with a new special roll every week and nightly drink specials to complement it. From 47pm enjoy half-priced nigiri and half-priced regular makimono. Nigiri makimono combos are only $7.50, while early-bird specials last from 4-6pm, where diners can choose two: shrimp, chicken or steak. Open Monday thru Thursday 4pm-10pm; Friday and Saturday 4pm-10:30pm; and Sunday 11am-10pm. Located at 222 Old Eastwood Road (910) 794-1570. Please visit the Web site at hirojapanesesteakhouse.com.
indocHine reSTaUranT and LoUnGe 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, or be entertained every Friday night with a Balinese dancer. Located at 7 Wayne Drive (beside the Ivy Cottage), 251-9229. Indochinewilmington.com.
caribbean JaMaica’S cOMFOrT ZOne Jamaica’s Comfort Zone is Wilmington’s Authentic Caribbean Restaurant conveniently located at 417 S. College Road in University Landing. We offer exquisite Caribbean cuisine to satisfy your taste buds, whether they are for spicy Jamaican jerk chicken, mellow flavors of our curry chicken, curry goat or our ox tail skillfully flavored by our Jamaican chefs. Come in and enjoy our many menu selections, our warm décor, atmosphere, excellent service and our smooth reggae music. Operating hours are: Sunday 3:00pm – 8:00pm; Wednesday – Saturday 11:45am – 9:00pm (Closed Monday and Tuesday). Jamaica’s Comfort Zone is family owned and operated. Check us out at www.jamaicascomfortzone.com or call us 910-399-2867.
French caPrice biSTrO Wilmington’s finest French cuisine can be found at Caprice Bistro, a small informal neighborhood restaurant, serving hearty food in generous portions at affordable prices. Simple is the atmosphere in the bistro, as plain white plates and tables dressed in white paper make up the decor. However, the food is far from simple, as a combination of fresh ingredients and innovative preparation delight the taste buds with a plethora of unique appetizers, entrées and desserts. The service is fast, efficient and non-intrusive, and the ambience is friendly and unpretentious. After dinner, be sure to venture upstairs into their cozy and relaxing sofa bar for an after-dinner martini, or enjoy your meal there, as a light-fare and full menus are served. Art is always on display in the sofa bar, so be sure to inquire frequently about their artist show receptions. Voted “Best French Restaurant” three years in a row! 10 Market Street, downtown Wilmington, 815-0810.
iTalian
zas. Its American influences include tasty burgers, the U.S.A. Salad and a 16oz. Marinated Rib Eye Steak. Romanelli’s offers patio dining and flat screen TVs in its bar area. Dine in or take out, Romanelli’s is always a crowd favorite. Large parties welcome. RomanellisRestaurant.com. 503 Olde Waterford Way, Leland. 910.383.1885.
GiOrGiO’S iTalian reSTauranT Giorgio’s is a locally owned, one-of-a-kind restaurant. Offering age-old traditions and timeless recipes, perfection is accomplished by combining the perfect cuisine and atmosphere for a dining experience that is not soon forgotten. With over 50 years of cooking experience under one roof, the smells of old-fashioned home cooking float through the air creating that comforting feeling of home-away-from-home! From old world style dishes to modern day creations, the menu showcases multiple flavors that will tempt the palate of the most discriminating connoisseurs. A Monkey Junction landmark for over 12 years! www.giorgios-restaurant.com. 5226 S College Rd.,Wilmington 910-790-9954.
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. We have the largest tequila selection in Wilmington. Voted “Best Pizza” and “Best Late Night Eatery.” Stop by for lunch dinner, or a late-night treat, open from 11:30am until 3am, seven days a week, 365 days a year, all ABC permits. 122 Market Street between Second and Front, downtown Wilmington. 251-9444. Visit our 2nd location at 1437 Military Cutoff Rd., next to PT’s! 256-2229 www.grabslice.com.
JaMaican JaMaica’S cOMFOrT ZOne Jamaica’s Comfort Zone is Wilmington’s Authentic Caribbean Restaurant conveniently located at 417 S. College Road in University Landing. We offer exquisite Caribbean cuisine to satisfy your taste buds, whether they are for spicy Jamaican jerk chicken, mellow flavors of our curry chicken, curry goat or our ox tail skillfully flavored by our Jamaican chefs. Come in and enjoy our many menu selections including our daily offering of a four-course meal for $12.00. Operating hours: Sunday 3:00pm – 8:00pm; Monday - Closed; open Tuesday – Saturday 11:45am – 9:00pm. Live Music every 3rd Friday. Jamaica’s Comfort Zone is family owned and operated. Check us out at HYPERLINK “http://www. jamaicascomfortzone.com” www.jamaicascomfortzone.com or call us at 910-399-2867.
OrGanic
eddie rOManelli’S
lOVeY’S MarKeT
Eddie Romanelli’s is a family-friendly, casual Italian American restaurant that’s been a favorite of Wilmington locals for over 16 years. Its diverse menu includes Italian favorites such as Mama Romanelli’s Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Rigatoni a la Vodka and, of course, made-from-scratch piz-
Lovey’s Market is a true blessing for shoppers looking for natural and organic groceries, or just a great place to meet friends for a quick, delicious, and totally fresh snack. Whether they are in the mood for a veggie burger, a bean burrito or a chicken Caesar wrap, shoppers will find a large
selection of nutritious meals on the a la carte café menu at Lovey’s. The food bar—which has cold salads and hot selections that can be eaten in the café seating or boxed for take-out—can be enjoyed all day long, while the juice bar offers a wide variety of juices and smoothies made with organic fruits and vegetables. Specializing in bulk sales of produce, grains, flours, beans and spices at affordable prices, Lovey‘s also carries grass-fed and free-range meats and poultry. Wheat-free, gluten-free, products are in stock regularly, as are vegan and vegetarian groceries and wholesome pet foods. For anything shoppers want that is not in stock, Lovey‘s will be happy to find it. Stop by Lovey’s Market Monday through Friday, 9am to 7pm; Saturday, 9am to 6pm; and on Sundays, 10am to 6pm. Café hours: Monday-Friday, 11am–6pm; Saturday & Sunday, 10am-6pm. Located at 1319 Military Cutoff Road; 910-5090331. Online at www.loveysmarket.com.
Tidal creeK cO-OP Tidal Creek Deli offers a wide array of exceptional and unusual organic foods, all of which taste as good as they are for you. The salad bar and hot bar incorporate flavors from around the world; each item is prepared by hand using only fresh and local ingredients. The chefs are constantly experimenting to create new and exciting dishes. Choose from made to order smoothies with almond butter and hemp milk, salads with locally grown greens or, special order a wedding cake made from scratch to your specifications. Whatever your tastes, Tidal Creek Deli is a place to rejuvenate the mind and body while enjoying the company of a friendly and relaxed organic community.
SeaFOOd 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 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 comfortable in flip flops as you would in a business suit. ! Located at 12 Dock St in downtown Wilmington. Open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. 762-2827 www.dockstreetoysterbar.net.
eaST aT The blOcKade runner hOTel The Blockade Runner offers an array of seasonal seafood specials, certified Angus beef, lobster menu on Friday evening plus a spectacular Sunday brunch. Romantic al fresco dining is available on our dinner deck located in the center of a lush garden overlooking the ocean far away from the traffic and noise. We offer live entertainment on Saturday evening and Sunday brunch. Our lounge is eco-friendly and offers light fare nightly. 275 Waynick Blvd. Wrightsville Beach. 910-256-2251.
hierOnYMuS Proving that excellent seafood isn’t just for the eateries at Wrightsville Beach, Hieronymus Seafood is the stop for midtown Wilmington seafood lovers. In business for 27 years strong, Hieronymus has made a name for itself by consistently
providing excellent service and the freshest of the fresh in oceanic cuisine. Complete with a fullservice bar and a fireside oyster bar, it’s the place to be if you are seeking top-quality attributes in atmosphere, presentation, flavor and ingenuity. Signature dishes include Oysters Hieronymus and the Scallops Fra Diavlo. Hieronymus has all ABC permits and also provides catering. Voted “Best Seafood” in 2007. 5035 Market Street; 392-6313.
Oceanic Voted best seafood restaurant in Wilmington, Oceanic provides oceanfront dining at its best. Located in Wrightsville Beach, Oceanic is one of the most visited restaurants on the beach. Choose from a selection of seafood platters, combination plates and daily fresh fish. For land lovers, try their steaks, chicken or pasta dishes. Relax on the pier or dine inside. Oceanic is also the perfect location for memorable wedding receptions, birthday gatherings, anniversary parties and more. Large groups welcome. Private event space available. Family-style to go menu available. OceanicRestaurant.com. 703 S. Lumina Avenue, Wrightsville Beach. 910.256.5551
SOuThern hall’S TrOPicana reSTauranT Hall’s is a Wilmington tradition! Originally opened in 1901 as a drug store, Hall’s has been serving the Downtown community for over 100 years. We serve traditional Southern fare, including a classic breakfast with the accompaniments you’ve grown to love. Lunch includes a Southern buffet Monday-Friday with pork, chicken, all the fixin’s, and a special addition every day! Don’t forget our unique menu, which includes everything from specialty sandwiches to fried seafood. Most importantly, at Hall’s everything is fresh! Open Monday-Friday, 7am-2pm (buffet 11-2), and Saturday from 7am-12:30pm with breakfast and menu items only. 421 Castle St. 910-762-2210.
SPOrTS bar carOlina ale hOuSe Voted best new restaurant AND best sports bar of 2010 in Wilmington, Carolina Ale House is the place to be for award-winning food, sports and fun. Located on College Rd. near UNCW, this lively sports-themed restaurant is home to over 40 HD TVs and the biggest HD projector TVs in Wilmington. Covered and open outdoor seating is available. Lunch and dinner specials are offered daily, as well as the coldest $2 and $3 drafts in town. Carolina Ale House serves its full menu from 11a – 2a daily. CarolinaAleHouse. com. 317 South College Road, Wilmington, NC. 910.791.9393.
CALL 791-0688 to find out how you can be part of the dining guide.
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 31
below Book Club Read
33 Free Comic Book Day 34-39 Calendar /Toons/Corkboard
Ghosts of the Past: All Will Be Revealed beckons encore book club members
W
hile I anxiously await a Kimono, shipped from my husband who’s at sea-service (no pressure, handsome), I have learned that ghost stories have played a vital role of summer in Japan. In Japanese Buddhism August is the season ancestral spirits are wholeheartedly believed to return for a visit. Developed around the time of the Edo period (1600-1868), this tradition remains prevalent today, as each summer a diverse plethora of scary, crazy and frightening creatures crawl out of the dark and into the illuminative creative light of Japanese books, movies and television. The idea? A spooky, spine-tingling tale will make one’s blood run cold during the smoldering summer heat. Interestingly, it’s been scientifically proven that when one is
by: Tiffanie Gabrielse
All Will Be Revealed encore Book Club Preview by Robert Anthony Siegel MacAdam/Cage Publishing $24
scared, the blood vessels on the surface of the skin shrink, reducing the flow of blood and as a result the temperature of the skin drops. For encore book-club readers, this summer we will partake in this brilliant Japanese tradition, as we travel with UNCW professor Fred Siegel, into his haunting second novel, All Will Be Revealed.
! n w o t n Best i Tuesdays 1/2 lb. cheese burger & fries $5.99 All pints $2.50 OPEN FOR LUNCH AND DINNER
Serving “Private Reserve” steaks starting at 13 $
steaks
wings
ribs
salads
99
In the Cotton Exchange Downtown Wilmington
762-4354 FREE PARKING www.paddyshollow.com
32 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
Within Siegel’s tale we will enter early 19th-century New York, where we will meet Augustus Auerbach, a man as obsessed with his highly lucrative work as a pornographer as he is reclusive about life. In a wheelchair since childhood, and convinced that he is the pioneer of a new art form, he obsesses day and night, within his opulent mansion, over the details of his photographic sessions. Soon, his controlled and familiar existence unravels when one of his most prized models talks him into attending a séance with spiritualist Verena Swann. When Verena puts Augustus in touch with his long-dead mother, Augustus finds dissatisfaction with the life he has been living. What follows for readers should be a haunting and original quest to find peace among preying vultures. Balancing writing with realworld responsibilities, like work and family, Siegel admits he did struggle with many portions of the work. Battling sleepless nights during the process of creation, his passion for the art, and his love for his followers, kept the ghosts said to live within All Will Be Revealed lurking. Hopefully, Siegel continuously will keep us moving through his exploration, and into the ways many cope with their inability to truly love or mourn loss of the ones they have loved.
“The truth is that novels are always hard,” Siegel began about the inspiration for All Will Be Revealed. “They’re ultra-marathons of the mind. This book had a long and complicated gestation. I think there were multiple sources of inspiration, but the primary one was the birth of our first child, our son Jonah (who is now 11). There’s no simple way to explain why this is so, but his imprint is everywhere. There’s a baby in the book, of course, but the experience of Jonah’s babiness appears in other ways, too: He’s the reason my hero, Augustus Auerbach, is limited to a wheel chair, for example. We were pushing Jonah around in a stroller back then, and I could see how frustrated he was, how he wanted to get up and walk but couldn’t. I gave that feeling to Auerbach.” Set in 1896, during the Gilded Age, Siegel researched the period obsessively. Considering all the various elements of the age—polar exploration, early photography and Spiritualism—he assures he left no detail untouched. “The story could only have happened at that moment in history,” he explained, “when polar explorers were national heroes, and Spiritualism was a mass religious movement. Ultimately, I believe that good fiction is about character, and human nature does not change; it transcends time and place. So, I think of my novel simply as fiction, unhyphenated fiction, a story trying to relate a human truth.” However, will Siegel fall victim to the dangers that surround many novelists when writing about the past? Will he become distracted by the heavy task of recreating an aged world, with horse-drawn carriages, and lose sight of the most important element of fiction? Hopefully, as we will determine together, he will consider two items: the characters’ feelings and our own. Pick up the book-club’s next read, All Will Be Revealed, at local stores Pomegranate Books and Two Sisters Bookery and receive 15 percent off the purchase when mentioning encore’s book club. Questions for Siegel about the read are due to Tiffanie May 25th for the review, to be printed the first of June: tiffanie107@hotmail.com.
Free Comic Book Day:
OPEN NOW! Fresh from the Farm
Fanboy Comics prepares for their biggest day of the year
O
ne of my favorite days of the year is fast approaching: Free Comic Book Day. And I’m not just saying that because I love comic books, and I’m a cheap bastard. The event has become a kind of summer kickoff. Fanboy Comics has once again put a lot of effort into making the event a celebration of the
medium, as well as an opportunity to contribute to the community. The crew will also be on hand at Regal Cinemas just as Iron Man 2 hits theaters. For eight years Fanboy Comics has been celebrating Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), giving away 1,000s of comics each year, and this ninth year looks to be one of the biggest so far. With a wide-ranging selection of comics, featuring top-flight talent, a superhero lunch at Krazy Pizza, and an array of additional events, Fanboy is ready to make the May 1st event exciting. Of course, the main draw of Free Comic Book Day is the books, and this year’s lineup is one of the best that’s been available in quite some time. As usual, icons like Superman, GI Joe, Iron Man and Green Hornet will have comics available, along with other, smaller-press fare and kid-friendly titles, like “Shrek,” “Archie,” “Toy Story” and “Sonic.” Fanboy is delighted to be celebrating the day along with their neighbors in University Landing: Game Giant, Priddyboy’s, Expressions, Sew Perfect, Krazy Pizza and Jamaican Comfort Zone—all of which will also have free comics ready to hand out to participants. There will be special gift bags for the first 50 people through the door on Saturday morning, each containing five exclusive comics, movie passes and gift certificates for use at both Fanboy Comics and other University Landing businesses. Those who are willing to line up and wait for their
by: Anghus
Free Comic Book Day Fanboy Comics 419 S. College Road May 1
exclusive gift packs will get free breakfast, too, starting at 8am, courtesy of Chick-FilA at Mayfaire. Free Comic Book Day provides Fanboy with more exposure than any other event of the year, which creates a good opportunity to focus people’s attention toward worthy causes through a charity fund-raiser. This year the beneficiary will be the New Hanover County Public Library—and what a fine recipient, too, (as proven by Gwenyfar Rohler’s piece in the News and Views section on page 4). To this end Fanboy Comics will hold a raffle, and the winner will receive a year of free comics from Fanboy Comics, free chicken sandwich combos from ChickFil-A at Mayfaire, and free movie tickets to Mayfaire’s Regal Cinemas. Tickets are a mere $5 each and will be sold at all free Comic Book Day events. All proceeds will go to the New Hanover County Library to increase their collection of graphic novels. For more information about Free Comic Book Day, contact Thomas Gilbert, the owner of Fanboy Comics, at (910) 452-7828, or e-mail him at fanboycomics@bellsouth.net.
The Riverfront Farmers’ Market is a curbside market featuring local farmers, producers, artists & crafters. • Fruits • Vegetables • Plants • Herbs • Flowers • Eggs • Cheeses • Meats • Seafood
• Honey • Baked goods • Pasta • Pickles • Jams & Jelly • Candy • Art • Crafts • Entertainment
The Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays, April 17 - December 18 from 8am-1pm downtown on Water Street between Market and Princess Streets. The market will open at 9am Sat., May 8th due to the Diligence Annual 5K road roace
For more information call
538-6223
or visit www.wilmingtonfarmers.com
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 33
calendar
where to be, what to do in Wilmington and beyond
Events FREE DENTAL CLINIC UNCW’s pre-dental program will assist local and regional dental professionals in a NC Missions of Mercy dental clinic, 7:30am-5pm, Fri/Sat, 4/30 and 5/1, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1401 S. College Rd. UNCW pre-dental club students will be on hand to help set up dental equipment on 4/29, noon5pm, to assist dental professionals. Clinic will provide free cleanings, fillings and extractions to needy children and adults, those who have no dental insurance and whose family income falls 200 percent or more below the National Poverty Index. Registration and initial exams of the patients begins at church, 6am, both days, and patients served first-come basis. WHQR WHQR Gallery grand re-opening celebration, new work from MJ Cunningham, Palette of Spirituality. Enjoy meeting the artist, talking to on-air personalities, and sipping wine and light refreshments. Cunningham uses her landscapes to express the feeling, emotion and spirituality that she encounters alone in an environment, observing nature from a lifetime of personal experiences,
thoughts and sensations. • Cinematique is taking a short break before moving back into the beautiful and newly restored main theater in Thalian Hall on 5/24. 254 N. Front Street
The NC Missions of Mercy will hold a dental clinic in conglomeration with the UNCW pre-dental program, wherein students will assist professionals. The clinic lasts from 7:30am-5pm, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church off College Road, providing cleanings, filling and extractions to those who do not have dental insurance and fall 200% or more below National Poverty Index. First-come, first-serve.
is sponsoring the 2010 CHEW Homeschool Prom at Northside Baptist Church Family Life Center located at 2501 N. College Rd. Doors will open at 7pm and the prom will end at 11pm. The 2010 CHEW Homeschool Prom is open to all homeschoolers, their parents and guests in New Hanover and surrounding counties. You do not need to be a CHEW member to attend. Parents may attend at the normal ticket price. The theme of this year’s prom will be, “An Evening In Paris.” Music will be by a professional DJ who is playing radio version pop and dance music. The prom will be chaperoned by parents. Food will consist of heavy hors d’oeuvres with vegetarian options. Attire will be formal or semi-formal reflecting a Christian teen environment. Homeschool students and Alumni in grades 7 & above and their guests are welcome to attend. Advanced Ticket Sales from 3/1-4/28 are $20. Ticket sales at the door are $25. Ty Parker, owner of Bliss Photography, will do prom portraits on site. Bliss Photography will offer 5x7’s at $5 and 8x10’s at $10. Family members can order the portraits from her website after the prom. [www.vibephotography.net ] Contact S. Harrell at 910-632-9454 or nanny_on_call@yahoo.com.
HOMESCHOOL PROM Fri. 4/30: Christian Home Educators Of Wilmington
ORTON PLANTATION EVENTS Art at Orton. 4/30-5/2. Orton Plantation Gardens and Harbor Island Arts present Art at Orton, an art show and sale, showcasing local professional and
4/30 - 5/1: FREE DENTAL CLINIC
emerging artists working in all mediums. 3-day event, 4/30-5/2, 9:30am -4:30pm ea. day. Regular garden admission, $9/adults and $8/seniors.
Chari
SILENT AU TIDAL CREEK PROGRAMS 5/1: Gluten Free Day. All gluten-free items in the store will be on sale, there will be demos, and lots of info on going gluten free. Free. Tidal Creek Co-Op. • 5/7: Alive at Five. 5pm, Free. Tidal Creek Lawn. Bring your chairs and blankets for a free beer tasting and live music. • 910-799-2126, www.tidalcreek.coop. COASTAL C PARADE OF HOMES The 2010 Parade of Homes’ focus is “Building Dreams” with homes representing the ability of Cape Fear area builders to make the desire of homeownership come true. Whether you would like to live in New Hanover, Brunswick or Pender Counties, you’re sure to find the home of your dreams. Visit the homes during 2 weekends: 5/1-2, 12-5pm ea. day. As always, all homes are open for touring free of charge. www.wilmingtonparadeofhomes.com.
WILMINGTON BALLET COMPANY TEA PARTY Join the Wilmington Ballet Company at our Fairy Princess Tea Party and Ballet featuring Wilmington’s v ery own princess ballerinas, on Sat. 5/15 at 1pmDOMESTIC and 3pm at the Scottish Rite Temple. Tickets are $30 each, all profits benefitting the Wilmington Ballet Company. www.wilmingtonballetcompany.org; 910547-3032. HOLISTIC HEALTH FAIR Wilmington’s 2nd annual holistic health fair will be held at the Natural Therapies Institute on 5/15, 10am-5pm. Event will host an eclectic group of local health experts with a single goal of broadening health awareness. A range of healing modalities, such as Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, Biofeedback, Nutrition Counseling, Massage, Life Coaching, Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Intuitive Arts, and Crystal Healing are just a few of the dynamic participants. Live music, free lectures, demonstrations, and delicious food will round out the event. This event is free and open to all ages. It is a great opportunity to meet the practitioners directly and have questions answered about services provided. 219 Racine Dr. 910-392-5404, or Peggy@ NaturalTherapiesInstitute.com TASTE OF WILMINGTON 5/16, 5-9pm. Coastline Convention Center, 501 Nutt St. in Wilmington, N.C. The Taste of Wilmington Food & Wine Festival takes place at the Coastline Convention Center. Attendants sample offerings from participating restaurants, wine shops and wineries, then vote on their favorites in set categories, such as best local red wine, dessert and hot soup. Also, members of the public have chosen favorite local chefs through StarNews at TopChefs. StarNewsOnline.com. Finalists will compete in a cook-off for the title of Top Chef. $40 per person, on sale at StarNews, 1003 S. 17th St., and at participating restaurants and wine retailers. 3432024. StarNewsOnline.com/TasteOfWilmington.
FARMERS’ MARKETS Riverfront Farmers’ Market on Sat., 8am-1pm. Remains open every Saturday (except October 2 Riverfest) through 12/18, 8am-1pm, downtown. Features local farmers, producers, artists and crafters. Products offered include fresh fruits and berries, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs,SPRING PH cheeses, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, legumes, pickled items, jams and jellies, wine, art, crafts, and more. N. Water St. (between Market & Princess streets). • Pine Valley Market’s Farm Fresh Saturdays: 5/22, and every Sat., from June-August. A local farmer from Clinton will have a variety of local and regional produce. Castle Hayne farm flowers, too. www.pinevalleymarket.com, 3520 S College Rd. • Poplar Grove Farmers’ Market on Wed., 8am-1pm. Everything is locally grown or made: in-season fruits and vegetables, plants, cut flowers, eggs, cheese,
34 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
sausage, crab cakes, baked goods, nuts, pickles, herbs, honey, and a lovely assortment of beautiful crafts. Through 12/15, rain or shine. 10200 U.S. 17, Poplar Grove is only a mile from the I-40 bypass.(910) 686-9518ext. 26 • Wrightsville Beach Farmers’ Market, Mondays, 8am-1pm, feat. 15 vendors of local produce, shrimp and seafood, arts and crafts. • Carolina Beach Farmers’ Market open every Sat., 8am-1pm, featuring over 40 vendors, farmers and arts and craft vendors, selling everything from produce to flowers, jewelry to photography.
Charity/Fund-raisers SILENT AUCTION AND FASHION SHOW 18th annual Silent Auction and Fashion Show, 4/30, 11am-1pm (lunch event) or 6-9pm (dinner event), Wilmington Hilton Riverside. Lunch: $40 ea. (Table $320). Dinner: $50 ea. (Table $400). Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc.: 910-343-9969 ext. 17. www.domesticviolence-wilm.org COASTAL CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT Coastal Classic Celebrity Golf Tourney presented by First Citizens Bank held 4/30-5/1.18th anniversary tournament raised more than $2.2 million to support New Hanover Regional Medical Center. On Friday, 4/30, sponsors and guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a very special day of golf at the newly opened Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest. On Sat. evening the Landfall Hampton Inn & Suites will host a Tournament Wrap-Up Party, feat. Mulch Brothers Band and other celebrity talents. Proceeds will benefit Cardiac Services at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Visit http://www.nhrmc.org. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FASHION SHOW Mayor Bill Saffo, radio celebrity Harvard Jennings,
5/1: KENTUCKY DERBY CELEBRATION
w/cruise names to PIPH, PO Box 643, Kure Beach, NC 28449 and give a contact phone number or email. • Sat., 5/1, 8pm we will be entertained by Big Fish at the Lazy Pirate. PIPH once again has raffles and silent auction for charities. 910-392-2663. BELK SPRING CHARITY SALE Belk will hold annual Spring Charity Sale, 5/1, 610am, to benefit local charities, schools and nonprofit organizations throughout company’s 16-state market area. In exchange for a $5 donation, customers will receive a ticket admitting them to the Charity Sale and entitling them to merchandise discounts ranging from an extra 15 to 70 percent on purchases throughout store, including special savings on rarely discounted brands. Customers also receive $5 off their first purchase of $5 or more at the event, and Belk cardholders will receive double Rewards points for card purchases. Belk Elite card holders receive triple rewards. First 100 customers in ea. store will receive free Belk gift cards, ranging in value from $5 to $1,000. All participating charities and schools will be automatically registered to win one of three $1,000 donations from Belk in a company-wide drawing. Participating local charities will sell the Charity Sale tickets prior to the event and all proceeds from each $5 ticket sold will be retained by the charity. Tickets can be purchased at Belk stores with all donations equally divided among the participating charities and schools. There is no limit to the number of tickets charities can sell, and no limit to the amount of money that can be raised. JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WILMINGTON Jr. League of Wilmington’s 2nd annual Mint Julep Jubilee, “A Kentucky Derby Celebration,” Sat., 5/1 at historic Poplar Grove Plantation, 3-8pm. Highway 17 North. Ticket holders will enjoy refreshing mint juleps, Southern fare buffet, live race coverage, musical entertainment, “Best Hat” contest and exciting raffle prizes. Ticket costs support community programs, such as Read to Me Festival, Kids in the Kitchen and Pied Piper Theatre among more. $60: www.jlwnc.org or call Junior League Headquarters at 910-799-7405.
Pull out your fanciest hat, dust off your riding boots, and head on over to Poplar Grove Plantation on May 1st, when Junior League throws their annual Kentucky Derby Celebration, taking place from 3-8pm. Mint Juleps will be served, and a Best Hat Contest will be held! Raffle prizes, food and beverages are a part of the fun, for only $60 a ticket—tax deductible, too, as it helps the league fund local charities. Cape Fear Community College president Eric McKeithan, and television news anchors Marcy Cuevas, Frances Weller, and Kim Ratcliff will model fashions from the Vintage Values Resale Shops, 4/30, at Domestic Violence Shelter and Services Silent Auction and Fashion Show at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside. Auction items: lunch with author Wanda Canada, beach house/condo packages, artwork, jewelry, an area World War II-site guided tour, and Disney Hopper passes. Auction viewings at 11:30am and 6pm. Fashion shows, hosted by WECT-TV6 and WSFX-Fox 26 anchor Jon Evans, begin at noon and 7pm. Luncheon tickets $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. Dinner tickets $50 and $400. Tickets available at Vintage Value shops at 609 Castle St.; 413 S. College Rd.-University Landing; and 5226 S. College Rd.-Monkey Junction; or www.domesticviolence-wilm.org. Diane Lomax: 910-343-9969, ext. 17; dvdevelop@earthlink.net. SPRING PHLING Pleasure Island Parrot Heads 12th anniversary Spring Phling 2010, 4/30 & 5/1 nightly hosted by the Lazy Pirate, 701 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach. Proceeds to Benefit Cape Fear River Watch & Nourish NC. Fri. 4/30, 7-10pm, entertainment by Latitude from Myrtle Beach with raffles and a silent auction at the Lazy Pirate in Carolina Beach. • Sat. 5/1 from 1-4pm, PIPH annual boat cruise on the Winner Cruise Queen in the Carolina Beach boat basin cost is $25/person. RSVP; a BYOB cruise with snacks provided by PIPH. 392-2663 or www.piph.com. Send cruise reservations check $25 for ea. person
ACOUSTIC SOUP 5/1, 3-7pm: Art Soup, a local nonprofit arts organization presents Acoustic Soup: a philanthropic afternoon of live music and organic wines at Wilmington Wine, 605 Castle St. Enjoy an afternoon with acoustic music on the back porch, featuring the amazing talents of Zeke Roland, According to Oscar, Bryan Galecki, Brandon Guthrie, the Stonewalls, Lynn Casper and Josh Moore. Creatively coupled with an organic wine tasting, raffles and more this event is a soft, kick off celebration/fundraiser for Art Soup, a recently established non-profit group. $2 donation appreciated. All proceeds go to federal nonprofit status fees for Art Soup, a local arts organization promoting events and education. 910-202-4749.
POKER RUN Poker Run to benefit Special Olympics: 5/1, Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson, Market St, ILM regular: 10am, bikes out by 11, in by 4. $10 per hand includes a door prize raffle ticket. Purse: $200 Best Hand, $50 Worst Hand (providing 50 riders). Final stop includes food, entertainment and back message. For sale: Event Shirts and additional raffles. Schedule: CCHD, Eagle Island Seafood, JW’s Bar (Leland), Ultra Classic Bar & Billiards (Hampstead) finish at the Beach House Restaurant (Market St, ILM). All money raised benefits Special Olympics. 910-352-3703 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY See page 33. REACH THE BEACH Current campaign focused on stopping the proposed Titan Cement plant (www.stoptitan.org) from being built along northeast Cape Fear river. All funds raised at Reach the Beach go directly toward educational and legal efforts to stop the Titan project. Schedule/ details, 5/8: 5k Run/1 mile Walk (Walkers immediately follow runners), 9am • Music, food, auction and family festival, Wrightsville Beach Town Park, 10am. • If an individual/family is sponsored there is no registration fee. If you don’t do the sponsorship, registration is $25, whether you’re a family or an individual, doing the run or the walk (you get one t-shirt per $25 registration, but additional t-shirts can be purchased!) • Pre-race
registration opens at 7:3 am and closes at 8:45am on race day.Free parking at Town Hall and Wrightsville Beach Park. • Race Course Info: Certified course, tag timing system. Runners/walkers are responsible for knowing the course. We will also have race markers. No bicycles, roller skates, in-line skates, headphones or dogs. Entrance fee is $5/person. Sponsor forms and sign up sheets: reachthebeach2010.com. WALK MS Eastern NC Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society invites community members to join Wilmington Walk MS’s elite Gold Club. To become a Gold Club member, participants must raise $500 or more for the Wilmington Walk MS event on 5/15 at Greenfield Lake Park. The Society’s goal is to recruit more than 500 Gold Club members by 5/31, the end of the 2010 Walk fund-raising season. Participants can accept the Gold Club Challenge while registering for Walk MS at http://walknct.nationalmssociety.org. In addition to the four-mile walk, the event will feature entertainment, kids’ activities and lunch. walknct. nationalmssociety.org, 1-800 FIGHT MS. SADD YARD SALE You can shop and do a good deed at the same time on 5/15 (rain day 5/22) at Lowes Food at Monkey Junction, 5309 Carolina Beach Rd. from 8am3pm. Funds raised provide relief for suffering animals during natural/man-made disasters. Saving Animals During Disasters urges you to enjoy this opportunity to assist them in helping our “best friends.” If you would like to donate items for the sale, drop them off by 5/13 at Coastal K-9 Bakery at 5905 Carolina Beach Rd. Call 794-4014. or at Jeannie Mintz’s at 205 Georgia Ave., Carolina Beach, Call 520-6810. Please, no exercise equipment, computers or adult clothing. DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR VOLUNTEERS Wilmington’s Downtown Economic Development Organization is accepting applications for it’s all new Downtown Ambassador Program. The goal is to provide a dedicated resource to help everyone learn the many activities and assets available in downtown. Ambassadors act as official downtown greeters and offer directions, helpful information and recommendations on things to see, places to visit, stores to shop in, places to eat and local events, to begin 5/21. Success relies heavily on the commitment of Wilmington’s citizens, through generous contribution of time and energy. Ideally, ambassadors will volunteer for two hours once a week, or at least once a month. John Hinnant: (910) 763-7349 or john@wilmingtondowntown.com. http://downtownambassador.com. SEA DAWGS VOLUNTEERS Wilmington Sea Dawgs are looking for elite level volunteers (ages 15-18) for the 2010 season. Volunteer duties will consist primarily of concessions operations, selling tickets, helping with equipment, assisting the staff, setting up and tearing down operations, etc. Wilmington Sea Dawgs’ games are generally played on weekends at Schwartz Center. Most promising “Teen Elite” volunteer applicants will complete an interview process. Applications are available on the Web: www.wilmingtonseadawgs.com.
Theater/Auditions GODSPELL “Godspell,” a musical by Stephen Schwartz & JohnMichael Tebelac, includes the international hit “Day by Day,” as well as “Turn Back, O Man,” “All Good Gifts” “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” and “All For the Best. Groundbreaking and unique reflection on the life of Jesus, with a message of kindness, tolerance and love, to be presented at Hannah Block 2nd Street Stage, 4/30-5/2, 8pm, with matinees at 3pm on Sat/Sun, and on 5/7-9. 120 S. 2nd St. $10 GA. Directed by Kendra Goerring, and starring Ann Brownlow, Grace Christian, Clare Glenn, Julia Goei and more! CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE RockStars: CFCC will present a series of entertaining programs performed by drama students. 4/30, 12-1:50, CFCC’s Acting II class will present “ROCKSTARS” in room E-180. Students must pick a living or dead rock star and perform as the singer for one song. Singers scheduled to perform: Lady Gaga, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Usher, Fergie, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Sid Vicious, Robert Plant, and many more. After the performances, the audience
will pick their favorite rock star for a “major” award (past awards have included ribbons, dolls, and soda). Admission free; seating limited. CFCC’s Black Box Theatre located in the “E” building at the corner of Front and Harnett Streets, and is directly across the street from the PPD building. jlandry@cfcc. edu. • 4/30, 2-2:30pm, The Odd Couple. Directing I will present Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple in E180: The tale of two recently divorced men, who despite being polar opposites, attempt to help each other find a way to move on. Can they live together without driving each other crazy? It’s the basis for every sitcom ever written. Come see the original. Admission is free. • 4/30-5/2: Moliere’s Tartuffe. A French comedy about a con artist posing as a holy man to part fools from their money. Production of CFCC’s drama department pens 4/30, 8pm, in the Black Box Theatre (E180) across Front Street from PPD. 5/1 & 2 at 8pm and 5/2 at 2pm. General admission is $5 and $4/students. Tickets half-hour before the show. Small theatre, so come early. jlandry@cfcc.edu. OPERA HOUSE SEASON 25th anniversary season. The first two shows will be performed at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1415 South 17th St. The rest of the season will be performed on the Main Stage of Thalian Hall. Five Guys Named Moe: Book by Clarke Peters. Music and Lyrics by Louis Jordan. 4/28-5/2 and 5/7-9. His woman left him, he’s broke, and it’s almost 5 o’clock in the morning; Nomax slumps in his chair, drowning his misery. Suddenly, five hipsters appear—Big Moe, Four-Eyed Moe, Eat Moe, Little Moe, and No Moe—to deliver the lessons Nomax needs, lessons in the mysteries of life and love. Featuring 20 of his greatest up-tempo, sing-along musical sensations, including “Saturday Night Fish Fry”, “Let the Good Times Roll”, and “Caldonia.” All performances at 8pm, except for Sun. matinees, 3pm. MULLIGAN’S BIG FAT IRISH WEDDING You are cordially invited to be a guest at a wacky and wild Irish Wedding, w/a very Irish groom and the not-so-Irish bride. Audience plays the role of guest and family of the Mulligan’s—dance, toast, sing, eat Wedding cake and take part in some unconventional surprises. 6:30pm. $35/seat. 4/29, Front St. Brewery. (910) 232-6611 or www.porchtheatre.com. CEREMONIES IN DARK OLD MEN Seed of Abraham Outreach Ministries In Association with Kids in Media Program (K.I.M.) and TVI Video and Stills Production L.L.C. & Company presents “Ceremonies in Dark Old Men” 4/29–5/2 at the Brown Coat Theater, 111 Grace St. Thurs. 4/29 at 6pm: Opening Night Reception with performance at 7pm. Shows: 4/30 and 5/1, 8pm; and 5/2, 3pm. Beverly Judge, 910-251-3797, tvivideo@yahoo. com. http://ceremoniesindarkoldmen.shutterfly. com. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF The Upper Room Theatre Company, Wilmington’s Christian community theatre company, will perform the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” on 4/30 and 5/12 at Lutheran Church of Reconciliation’s Ministry Center, 7500 Market Street. Performances will be held at 7pm on 4/30 and 5/1, with 3pm matinee performances on 4/25 and 5/2. Tickets are $6 for children under 12, $8 for adults and can be ordered online at upperroomtheatre.org or by stopping by 7500 Market Street, beginning 3/15. Portion of sales will be donated to a local charity. Laura Frank: (910) 686-9203. GOODBYE CHARLIE Big Dawg Productions presents the comedy Goodbye Charlie, 5/6-9, 13-16 and 20-23 at the Cape Fear Playhouse, 613 Castle St. Charlie Sorel was a cad and a womanizer and a despicable human being. After he’s killed by a jealous husband, he comes back to life as a woman... and now he’s even worse! By George Axelrod (writer of “The Seven Year Itch”) stars Melissa Stanley and Tony Moore, directed by Ken Cressman. Thurs.-Sat. shows 8pm, Sun. matinee 3pm. Tickets are $18; $15 for students and seniors, available at the Newcastle Antique Center, 606 Castle St. or 341-7228 or at www.bigdawgproductions.org. Opening night Thurs. 5/6 is pay-what-you-can ($5 minimum, please). MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE 5/6-6/24: 6:30pm, Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St. $35 includes dinner, performance, tax and gratuity. Join all of your favorite characters from the
encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com 35
world’s most famous “whodunit” board game as their criminal capers come to life onstage. Fast-paced farce will leave audiences dying with laughter! Murder, madness, mystery, and mayhem. Seven suspects, six weapons … how many bodies? Limited seating. Reserve online at www.porchtheatre.com or call 910-232-6611.
at Dance Cooperative 118 s.17th st. Free or $5 donation suggested albanelved@ albanelved.com. No experience needed. www.albanelved.com BABS MCDANCE NEW SCHEDULE West Coast Swing: Mondays 6-7pm • Rumba: Mondays 7-8pm • Basic Shag: Tuesdays 6-7pm • Night Club Two Step: Tuesdays 7-8pm • Basic Salsa: Tuesdays 7-8pm • Progressing Salsa: Tuesdays 8-9:30pm • Swing & Lindy: Wednesdays 6-7pm • Cha Cha: Wednesdays 7-8pm • Mambo: Wednesdays 8-9:30pm • Waltz: Thursdays 6-7pm • Progressing Shag: Thursdays 7-8pm • Foxtrot: Thursdays 7-8pm • Argentine Tango: Thursdays 8-9:30pm. Check out full schedule at babsmcdance.com.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS 4/30, and 5/1-2, 7-9, 8pm. City Stage at Level 5, 21 N. Front St. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, directed by Rob Mann. Con artists Lawrence Jameson (Mike O’Neil) and Freddy Benson (Gray Hawks) are both in the business of swindling women, but Lawrence is suave, sophisticated, and successful, while Freddie is just a small town grifter. Also starring Amy Tipton, with music direction by Chiaki Ito. Tickets: $18, $20, and $22. Students/Seniors, $2 off. 910-342-0272 for reservations. OLIVER! Thalian Association presents the classic musical “Oliver!” 5/13-16 at Kenan Auditorium on the campus of UNCW; Thurs., Fri. and Sat., 8pm, and Sat. and Sun.,3pm. $20-$25 with senior, student and group discounts. One of the most beloved British musicals, vividly bringing to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more! 910-962-3500. GUERILLA THEATRE Guerilla Theatre presents Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog!” 5/13-15, 20-22 & 2729 at 8 & 9:30pm and 5/16, 23, 30 at 3 & 5pm. Fully authorized original stage adaptation of the Emmy Award-winning musical. Shy and awkward Billy is in love with his laundry buddy, the innocent and altruistic Penny who, quite by accident, falls for the handsome hero Captain Hammer. But Billy’s got a secret: Underneath all the nerdiness, he’s Captain Hammer’s arch nemesis Dr. Horrible! Tickets: $10 General Public; $20 dinner and a show Brown Coat Pub and Theatre 111 Grace St.
Comedy COMEDY WORKSHOPS Stand-Up Comedy Workshop: Saturdays 5/1, 10am1pm. Gain focus, get feedback, writing exercises and the Open Mic experience.This workshop is focused on getting you to your first Open Mic. This workshop will also give you a forum to try out material, create new material and overcome performance anxiety. Ending in a live showcase performance.• Sketch Comedy Writing Workshop: Saturdays, 5/1, 2-5pm. In this workshop we will brainstorm as a group to develop and perform sketch comedy for a live showcase.This workshop culminates with a live showcase performance. • Instructor Brooklin Green is a graduate of Chicago’s Second City Conservatory and a regional finalist in Nick At Night’s Funniest Mom 3. Must be 18 or older to attend. $120 for each workshop. Location: Uptown @ Myrtle Beach Mall. Register: www.CarolinaImprov.com/enroll. PORT CITY’S TOP COMIC 2010 Nutt Street Comedy Room and Comedy by the Beach present, the third annual Port City’s Top Comic standup comedy contest and comedian networking event. Each comedian will be given between five to seven minutes to perform on 5/14-15, 21-22. These are the dates for the preliminary rounds of Port City’s Top Comic held at Nutt Street Comedy Room . Each night: 16 comics will perform and only 4 will advance to the Semi-Finals on 5/26 at City Stage/Level 5. Of the 16 that perform at the Semi-Finals, 8 will advance to the finals on 5/27 at City Stage. Only one comic will emerge as Port City’s Top Comic. This comedian will win a trophy for being the top comic along with other prizes that will be announced via e-mail in the coming weeks. supercatmatt@gmail.com. SIDES Every Mon. at 9pm: Wilmington’s only live sitcom: Sides. $5 admission, All new episode each week. Browncoat Pub & Theater at 111 Grace St. 910471-5690. CAPE FEAR COMEDY FESTIVAL We are pleased to announce The Cape Fear Comedy Festival, coming to downtown Wilmington on 5/2629. The Cape Fear comedy Festival is a four-day standup, sketch & improv comedy festival that includes the finals of Port City’s Top Comic and many comedy showcases, workshops and networking events. Nutt
FIREHOUSE STUDIO BELLY DANCING Bellydance Classes at the Firehouse Pilates Studio, Mon. nights. Private and semiprivate, $50 for an hour and a half instruction and $30 a piece for two people for same duration. divyawaters@yahoo.com or 910620-3566. CAROLINA SHAG CLUB DJs play favorite beach music and shag tunes every Sat, 8pm to close. $4/members; $6/guests. Carolina Shag Club, 103 N. Lake Park Blvd. Carolina Beach, NC 620-4025
Street Comedy Room and City Stage at Level 5 will host the majority of the festivals events. The event is being produced by Nutt Street Comedy Room and Comedy by the Beach . NUTT ST. COMEDY ROOM Tuesdays and Wed. Improv with the “Nutt House” troupe ($5 cover and $1 Front St draft beer), Thursdays Open Mic Stand-up, Fridays and Saturdays Nationally Touring Comedians. All shows 9pm, 8pm doors. 255 N. Front Str. 910-251-7881
Music/Concerts SCHOLA CANTORUM Schola Cantorum, of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, will sing choral evensong at First Presbyterian Church, 125 South Third St, 5/1, 5pm. Service will include the Mt. St. Alban’s service of David Hogan, and anthems by Tallis, Gardiner and West. Additional service music is by Howells, Parry and Smith. Schola Cantorum comprises 20 singers, primarily from Episcopal parishes across the Diocese of East Carolina and singers from other faith denominations. Schola Cantorum is under the direction of Douglas Leightenheimer, Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church. Lewis Moore: arconza@nc.rr.com or Douglas Leightenheimer: dougl@firstonthird.org. RAD FEST Rad Fest brings close to 100 bands split between five venues, Wilmington will play host to music nerds, drinkers and partiers alike. Rad Fest combines the underground and independent music scene to celebrate hard working artists. The lineup will include: New Mexican Disaster Squad, Leatherface, Ann Beretta, None More Black, Rehasher, Toys That Kill, The Sainte Catherines, Madison Bloodbath and Army of Ponch, among many, many more! Show dates: Fri and Sat, 5/14-15. Tickets: $25, two-day pass, available through Gravity Records or www. radfestnc.com. Venues hosting the bands: The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge (both floors), 16 Taps, The Whiskey and Charley Brownz. Chason Huggins: radfest@gmail.com CAROLINA VOCAL ARTS ENSEMBLE Carolina Vocal Arts Ensemble, directed by Stephen Field, will present its spring concert “A Night at the Opera” on Sat. 5/22 at 8pm and Sun. 5/23 at 4pm. Concert will include great choruses from famous operas. Ensemble will be assisted by guests Elisabeth MacKay Field, soprano and Wes Rickard,
36 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
tenor. First Christian Church at 2035 Oleander Drive. Tickets required for admission but free to the public. Donations to support CVAE’s commitment to musical excellence for the community will be gratefully accepted. 910-960-SING (7464) or www. carolinavocalarts.org. WE FEST Five stages only $1! 101 bands from all over the country performing, on-site art, poetry, art exhibit, dance, film, open paint mural, book signing and more! Thurs., 5/27: 3p-3a; Fr., 5/28: 12p-3a; Sat., 5/29: 12p-3a; Sun., 5/30: 12p-3a; Mon, 5/31 3p2a. Showcases brought to you by: Ninjatronics, Bootleg Magazine, Encore Magazine, Broken Wings Productions, The Artbox, Art Soup, Eskimo Kiss Records, The Beat Magazine, Carl Kruger, Me Can I Kill, Mz. Metal, Forward Motion Dance, Performer Magazine. wefestival.com or soapboxlive.com WILMINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY 5/29, 7pm, the Wilmington Choral Society performs John Rutter’s Magnificat, a tremendous large-scale work for both chorus and orchestra, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1403 Market St. Tickets free and available at door, or 910-254-1044 for reservations. Sponsorship opportunities available; fully taxdeductible donation of $150 provides for one of 18 chamber musicians. 910-254-1044. RAYLAND BAXTER & GABRIEL KELLEY Wilmington Unplugged presents Rayland Baxter and Gabriel Kelley, along with Big Al Hall and Marching Rams at Level 5/City Stage. $15 (in advance) and $20 day of the show, with a limited number of premium stage-level seats for tenured sponsors on a seats/table charge. All advance seats will be reserved via credit card or personal check. Billy Mellon: 352-6417 CAPE FEAR CHORALE Cape Fear Chorale, under the direction of Jerry Cribbs currently acceptsnew members for fall 2010. 910-791-2121 or www.capefearchorale.org.
Dance WILMINGTON SINGLES CLUB 4/30: DJ Buddy Langley. Members $8, guests $10. All events held at American Legion, Post 10. Kathleen: 910-232-3315. www.wilmingtonsingles. blogspot.com. THE CIRCLE Free form movement session every Friday, 6-7:30pm
DANCE LESSONS: CAROLINA LOUNGE Tues, 7:30pm, shag lessons with Brad and DJ Lee Pearson. • Fri., 7:30pm, Tango workshop with Paula. 9:30pm, salsa lessons with DJ Lalo. • Line Dancing lessons with DJ Lee and instructor Barbara Braak 7:30pm. Cover charge $5, lesson free. • Sat., Latin ryhthm. Doors open 9pm. 5001-a Market St, (910) 790-8598
Art SUMMERARTS Professional instruction with Lois DeWitt, MFA, over 30 years of teaching experience. Tutoring: $30/2hour session. • Acrylic Painting Workshop, $20, Mon, 3-5pm: Color mixing, brushwork, gradations, light and shadow, drawing for painting. Learn basics or maximize your intermediate or advanced skills. Maximum 4 students. Enroll anytime, start at any skill level. • Collage Workshop, $20, Tues., 11am-1pm: Collect papers, found materials and create beautiful collage compositions. Learn basics or maximize your intermediate or advanced skills. Maximum 4 students. Enroll anytime, start at any skill level. • Oil Pastels Workshop, $20, Tues, 3-5pm: Explore the vibrant colors of oil pastels: shading, layering color, blending, light and shadow. Learn basics or maximize your intermediate or advanced skills. Maximum 4 students. Enroll anytime, start at any skill level. • Water Color Workshop, $20, Wed, 11am1pm: Wet and dry brush, expressive brushstroke, light and shadow washes, spray and splash, basic drawing for water color painting. Learn basics or maximize your intermediate or advanced skills. Maximum 4 students. Enroll anytime, start at any skill level. • Drawing Workshop, $20, Wed., 3-5pm: Line, shading, composition and how to draw what you see. Learn basics or maximize your intermediate or advanced skills. Maximum, 4 students. Enroll anytime, start at any skill level. • Drawing Workshop, $20, Sat., 11am-1pm: Line, shading, composition and how to draw what you see. Learn basics or maximize your intermediate or advanced skills. Maximum 4 students. Enroll anytime, start at any skill level. • Acrylic Painting Workshop, $20, Sat, 3-5pm: Learn basic acrylic painting skills and techniques: color mixing, brushwork, gradations, light and shadow and basic drawing. Maximum 4 students. Enroll anytime, start at any skill level. • www.free-online-art-classes.com or loislight@ bellsouth.net UNCW SENIOR ART SHOW An exhibition of work by UNCW seniors at the Art Gallery in the Cultural Arts Building, 601 S. College Rd., to celebrate the work made by the graduating seniors. The exhibition is comprised of mostly two-dimensional work, including photography, print-making, drawing, and painting in oil and acrylic. Because of the variety of artists
in the collection, the pieces cover many categories of subject matter. Three-dimensional work in the exhibition includes sculpture by Mark Krucke and ceramic pieces by Stella Duplass. Reception is free and open to the public; runs until 4/30. Erica Furr at ecf9486@uncw.edu. BOTTEGA EVENTS CALENDAR EXHIBIT: The Rad Fest Art Exhibit: Displaying all original pieces of six artists known for their artistic works and involvement in independent music and culture across the country, including Richard Minino of Horsebites Design, Jana Miller, Craig Horky, Joshua Mikel of Sharkguts Design, Lauren Denitzio of Black and Red Eye, Chason Huggins and Joelle Andres. Art will be on display through 6/6th, with opening reception on Thurs. May 13th from 6-9pm to correspond with the kick-off weekend of Wilmington’s first Rad Fest music festival OTHER: Call to artists: Currently taking submissions for summer’s exhibitions—New works created by our animal loving artists. Those who have been inspired by a pet or any animal that has been a companion, even if only for a moment, are encouraged to submit. Please note, we are not necessarily looking for images of these animals specifically (although that is fine too) but think of other ways to express these memories (a park, their toy, fire hydrant, etc…) All styles, medium & creative processes welcome. Submit by 5-10 jpeg images by 5/15. Proceeds from this exhibition will be donated to local shelters. • Looking for pieces for a watercolor exhibit. Anything goes. Please also submit 5-10 jpeg images by 7/15. 208 N. Front St. 910-763-3737. bottegagallery.com.Bottega Gallery & Art Bar, 208 N. Front St. 910.763.3737, www.bottegagallery.com, www.myspace.com/bottegagallery.
rate of $35 per participant. 910-620-2047 or info@ art-soup.org. PORT CITY POTTERY & FINE CRAFTS Port City Pottery & Fine Crafts, Cotton Exchange in downtown Wilmington, w/ handmade, one-ofa-kind, 3-D art, crafts and more by jury-selected coastal North Carolina artisans. Open: Mon.-Sat., 10-5:30pm; Sun., 11-4pm. 307 N. Front St./7637111, portcitypottery.com
5/1 - 2: BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR
The NC Aquarium hosts its Behind the Scenes tour on the 1st and 2nd, showing kids how staff members take care of the museum’s marine life. Tourists will see the animal quarantine, will watch food preparation and see access areas. The tour is limited to 10 participants, and does not allow children under 8. Ages 8-14 must be accompanied by an adult, too—$15, admission included.
RECYCLE OF LIFE See page 16. ARTSHAK GALLERY The Artshak Gallery will offer “Meet the Artists” series for the public to attend: 5/1, 2-8pm. First of the series hosted by Wilmington artists and sisters, Gail and Lynne Powell, painter and jeweler. Gail will paint live, and refreshments will be served. 822 N. Howe St., Southport. (910) 457-1757. ARTISTS AID THE ANIMALS The 6th annual Artists Aid the Animals art show and sale is seeking artists and fine craftsmen to participate in a two day show on 6/5-6 at the Elks Club at 5102 Oleander Drive. Deadline to enter is 5/4. Art or craft does not have to be animal realted. Space is limited to approx. 80 artists, so early entry is important. Cost for the 2-day event is $125 per booth, or $200 if sharing booth with other applicant. Pictures of your work must be submitted alone with an autobiography and your application. E-mail normat1@bellsouth.net with cc to llefrog@aol.com. For application form, visit pchsdreams.org. Please enter “Arts and Crafts show” in subject line. Call Gloria at 910-799-5401. THRIVE STUDIOS “Hello...Exhibition” currently on display, featuring Thrive Studio artists. • The Miniature Art Show will be held Sat., 5/29th, 7- 11pm. 6622 Gordon Rd. Unit N • www.facebook.com/pages/WilmingtonNC/Thrive-Studios/272329281091 • www.myspace. com/ThriveStudiosNC ART OPENING AT SILVER COAST WINERY The Silver Coast Winery is proud to display the works of Suzanne C. Hunady through 6/14. Sue’s work reflects talent in several mediums including but not limited to Water Colors and Acrylics. Silver Coast Winery is a full winemaking facility housing an eclectic art gallery, unique gift shops, with beautiful picnic grounds. Private parties as well as corporate parties and weddings are welcome. Tours and Tastings on Mon.-Sat. from 11am–6pm and on Sun. from 12-5pm. Visit www.silvercoastwinery.com or call 910 287 2800. CALL TO AUTHORS Art Soup, a non-profit arts organization in Wilmington, NC is currently seeking published or self-published authors and poets to participate in an annual, large outdoor arts festival, Sat. 9/11. The Wilmington Art Walk is an artist market throughout the streets of the historic downtown area, featuring visual artists, crafts, music and more. Literary participants are welcome to sell and sign copies of current or previous work at individual booths in a special section of the festival dedicated to writers. Spaces available at a discounted
Museums CALL FOR PRESERVATION NOMINATIONS Historic Wilmington Foundation will be presenting the 2010 Annual Preservation Awards Thurs. 5/20 at 6:30pm at the Historic New Hanover County Courthouse downtown. All nominations must be submitted by 4/28, 2010. Mark your calendars to be a part of this historic event. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the categories and fill out a nomination form. Call (910) 762-2511. www. historicwilmington.org. CAMERON ART MUSEUM EXHIBITS: Opening Reception: NC Collects: The Real McCoy. Through 9/12 is the first in a series of exhibitions featuring private collections of North Carolina collectors. Exhibition will feature cookie jars, vases and decanters ranging from the 1930’s to the 1970’s and will include rare, one-of-a-kind examples of McCoy pottery. • Kaleidoscope: Changing Views of the Permanent Collection, through 5/9. Features selected paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photographs, furniture, decorative arts and other objects drawn from the museum’s permanent collection. The exhibition’s configuration will change throughout the year, as individual works are rotated. • Recollection: The Past Is Present, through 6/20. The exhibition’s visual and thematic referencing of the past while being rooted firmly in the present connects the art work of Amalia Amaki, Lillian Blades and Beverly Buchanan to the historical-tinged quilts by African American women in the exhibition.• EVENTS: Lenard D. Moore, M.A. presents “Cultural Writing: Using Music and Visual Art in Poetry,” 5/2, 3pm, free. Moore will read from his works and discuss the creative forces and literary techniques that he has employed in his poems. • George Smart, “Mayberry Modernism: NC’s Modernist Legacy,” 5/3. Reception: 6pm/ Lecture: 6:30pm. AIA and CAM Members: Free, public: $8. What is our state’s greatest secret? NC is third in having the most modernist houses in the country. Explore some of the state’s modernist gems, many still glorious, some endangered, and some destroyed forever with this illustrated lecture by George Smart. • “Kid”cademy: Wed., 3:30-4:30pm, through 5/12. Ages 6 to 10. Limited enrollment, 8 students per session. Members $60, Non-members: $90. Education Dept. at 910-395-5999 ext. 1019 or e-mail georgia@cameronartmuseum.com. Students explore the galleries and make exhibition-inspired artwork. • Cameron Art Museum is located at the corner of South 17th St. and Independence Blvd. Regular museum hours: Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri: 11am2pm, Satu/Sun: 11am-5pm. Museum admission is: Museum members free, $8 Non-members, $5 Students with valid student identification card, $3 Children age 2 -12. cameronartmuseum.com or call 910-395-5999. NC AQUARIUM
Pre-register for all programs! EVENTS: Aquarist Apprentice: 5/8, 2pm. Find out what it is like to be responsible for the aquarium critters. Join staff on a behind-the-scenes tour, learn about our animals and their diets, and assist our staff in the preparation of food and feeding of some of our animals. Limited 10 participants; wear close-toed shoes and be prepared to smell fishy. Ages 10 and up; ages 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $25/participant. Aquarium admission included. • Behind the Scenes Tour: 5/1, 11am; 5/2, 2pm; 5/9, 2pm. Accompany aquarium staff on a guided tour of animal quarantine, life support, food preparation, and access areas. Limited 10 participants. Children under 8 not permitted; ages 8-14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee: $15/ participant. Aquarium admission included. • Breakfast w/the Fishes: 5/1, 8am. Get a sneak peek at the aquarium before it opens for the day. Coffee, juice, pastries and bagels are provided for guests, and participants feed some of our aquarium critters! Fee: $15 (includes the admission for the day). $5 for children ages 2-5. Members pay $7/participant. • Daddy and Me: 5/1, 9am. Dads and children interact and learn together about aquarium animals, and enjoy free playtime in our Freshwater Wonders Room, which will be reserved just for program participants. Kids ages 1-3. Fee: $13/adult and child ($1 ea. add. child) Admission included • Mommy and Me: 5/8, 9am. Moms and children interact and learn together about aquarium animals, and enjoy free playtime in our Freshwater Wonders Room, which will be reserved just for program participants. Kids ages 1-3. Fee: $13/adult and child ($1 ea. add. child). Admission included • Salt Marsh and Crabbing: 5/2, 3pm. Hands-on program that introduces participants to the challenge of catching blue crabs; lessons in biology and crabbing equipment prepare participants for an exciting expedition outdoors to catch (and release) crabs. All equipment is provided. Ages 7 and up. Ages 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $16/participant, $8 for members. Admission included. • Surf Fishing Workshop: 5/1, 8, 9am. 3-hour workshop includes one hour of classroom discussion, then surf fishing on the beach nearby. All equipment provided; rain or shine, with extra activities added in event of bad weather (e.g., throwing a cast net). Ages 10 and up. Fee: $12/participant. Admission not included. 910-458-7468; 900 Loggerhead Rd. Kure Beach. www.ncaquariums.com CIVIL WAR LECTURE SERIES Explore the social, economic, and political aspects of the Civil War era in Wilmington with historian Chris Fonvielle, PhD. • Before the War: 5/4, 7pm. Examine Wilmington in the days leading up to and during the Civil War. What circumstances transformed the city from a modest seaport into a bawdy, wild, and exciting place? Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St. • Civil War Wilmington: 5/8, 9am or 11:30am. Participate in a walking tour of historic downtown Wilmington to envision the city during the height of Civil War. Bellamy Mansion Museum, 503 Market St. • After the War: 5/11, 7pm. Discover how Wilmington fared under Union occupation in 1865. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St. • All three events, $25. Individual events, $10 each. RSVP: Aimee Jones 762-2511 or aimee@ historicwilmington.org. CAPE FEAR SERPENTARIUM Cool down in front of “Anaconda Splash” exhibit in the indoor tropical jungle. See, photograph and even touch rare animals assembled from all over the planet in beautiful simulations of their natural environments. Meet colorful jungle birds, crocodiles, king cobras, black mambas and many more. Open from 11am5pm, Sat. from 11am-6pm. 20 Orange Street at Front Street on historic downtown riverwalk. (910) 762-1669 or www.capefearserpentarium.com. LATIMER HOUSE Victorian Italiante style home built in 1852, the restored home features period furnishings, artwork and family portraits. Tours offered Mon-Fri, 10am - 4pm, and Sat, 12-5pm. Walking tours are Wed and Sat. at 10am. 126 S. Third St. Adults $8, children $4. 762-0492. www.latimerhouse.org WILMINGTON RAILROAD MUSEUM Explore railroad history and heritage, especially of the Atlantic Coast Line, headquartered in Wilmington for more than 130 years. Interests and activities for all ages including historical exhibits, full-size steam engine and rolling stock, lively children’s area, and spectacular scale models. Housed in an original 1882
freight warehouse, facilities are fully accessible and on one level. Groups receive special guided tours. Facilities can also be booked for meetings or mixers, accommodating groups of up to 150. Admission only $6 for adults, $5 for seniors/military, $3 for children 2-12, and free under age 2. Located at the north end of downtown at 505 Nutt St. 910-763-2634 or www. wrrm.org. CAPE FEAR MUSEUM Exhibits: • Conservation Matters- Explore the art and science of artifact conservation. Discover what it is, who does it, and why it matters to museums. A selection of beautifully conserved furniture and other objects from the Museum’s permanent collection will be on display. • Going To The Movies: Experience the history of a century of movie-going in the Lower Cape Fear region. Explore where people went to the movies. Discover how the theater experience has changed over the years. Watch some of the first films local residents may have seen. • Cape Fear Treasures: Drink: Glimpse a selection of drinking vessels, as you explore treasures from Cape Fear Museum’s permanent collection. From 18th-century bottles to fancy teapots to modern-day souvenir mugs, discover objects that help tell the stories of liquid consumption through time. • Hours: 9am-5pm Tues-Sat. and 15pm, Sun. Admission is $6 for adults; $5 for students with valid ID and senior citizens; $5 special military rate with valid military ID; $3 for children 3-17; and free for children under 3. Museum members are always free. New Hanover County residents’ free day is the first Sunday of each month. 814 Market St. WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH MUSEUM The Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, housed in the turn of the century Myers Cottage, exists to preserve and to share the history of Wrightsville Beach. Visitors to the cottage will find a scale model of Wrightsville Beach circa 1910, exhibits featuring the early days of the beach including Lumina Pavilion, our hurricane history and information about the interaction between the people and our natural environment which have shaped the 100 year history of Wrightsville Beach. 303 West Salisbury Street. wbmuseum.com. BURGWIN WRIGHT HOUSE 18th century Burgwin-Wright House Museum in the heart of Wilmington’s Historic District, is the oldest museum house in NC, restored with 18th and 19th century decor and gardens. Colonial life is experienced through historical interpretations in kitchen-building and courtyard. 3rd and Market streets. Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm. Last tour, 3pm. Admission rqd. (910) 762-0570. www.burgwinwrighthouse.com.
Sports/Recreation HALYBURTON NATURE PROGRAMS Free, pre-reg rqd. 4099 S. 17th Street 910-341-0075 or www.halyburtonpark.com. Ages 16 and up! • Birds, 4/29 , 9am-4pm. Learn to identify these birds by sight and sound, as well as learn about the biology, habitat requirements and life cycles of these well traveled birds. This workshop is led by educator Mike Campbell of the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission and park naturalist Andy Fairbanks. • Birding by Ear, 5/13, 9am, 4pm. Join educator Mike Campbell of the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission and park naturalist Andy Fairbanks to learn the songs and calls of resident and migratory birds. Useful tips, tricks and mnemonics Free but pre-reg. is rqd. • Fossil Hunt (ages 6-10), 5/13, 1:30-3pm. Get a closer look at remnants of the past as you discover the remains of different animals that had been hidden beneath the sea for millions of years; until now. $3/participant • Snake and Turtle Feeding: 5/12, 4-4:30pm. Enjoy a brief presentation about the live animals on display in the Events Center and watch them feed. At least one snake and a turtle will be fed during the demonstration. Age: 3 and up. $1/participant. (910)341-0075. MARLINS SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION The Marlins Swim team will begin registration on Sat. 5/1 at Smithville Park in Southport and Sat. 5/8 at Bill Smith Park in Oak Island between 10am-12pm. Coaches will be present to answer questions and to meet new swimmers. Practices will be held Mon.-Fri. at the Baptist Assembly, Caswell Beach, beginning 5/24. Practice times vary depending the age of the swimmer. Registration forms may be obtained at http://marlinswimteam.com. If registration is mailed, it must be postmarked on or before 5/1. Fees are $125,
encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com 37
which includes a cap and team t-shirt. Swimmers will also need to purchase a team swimsuit. Call Coach LouAnn Hadlock at 269-4186. • The Marlins swim team is currently seeking sponsorships for children who might not otherwise be able to participate in the program. The cost for sponsorship is $175 which includes the cost of registration and a team swimsuit. Julie Stiller: 612-3198 or jcstiller@ec.rr.com. RACE FOR HISTORY Bellamy Mansion Museum announces its first Race for History, a 5k run and mile walk around historic downtown that ends at Wilmington’s historic masterpiece. Refreshments served in courtyard and participants have a chance to tour the mansion after finishing the race. Goal is to help raise operational funds for the Mansion and re-introduce this historic site to a crowd of people who may not have visited in while (or may have never visited). The race will begin at 8am on Sun. 5/2 at the Bellamy Mansion Museum located at 503 Market St. Registration: Bellamy Mansion.org/5k by 4/30 or on race day from 7 to 7:45am. $20/person in advance and $25 on race day. Early packet pick up for pre-reg. runners available at Trysports on Fri. 4/30, 4-7pm in Mayfaire, 901 Town Center Dr. Awards to first walker to finish, top corporate team, top overall male and female runners, and top two finishers in each age group: 17 and under, 18-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, and 66+. Gareth Evans : 910-251-3700 x102. FENCING CLASS The Cape Fear Fencing Association (CFFA) will offer its next beginners’ fencing class starting Tues. 5/4 at 6:30pm and will run for six weeks. Taught by Head Coach Greg Spahr, the six-week class will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm and costs $40. The class will meet in the lower level of Tileston Gym at St. Mary’s on the corner of 5th and Ann streets. All equipment is supplied by the CFFA. Beginning fencing classes include basic elements of fencing, the history of the sport, foundational techniques, conditioning, refereeing, and tournament strategy. Graduates will have the option of continuing to fence with the CFFA which
offers fencing Tues/Thurs evenings, 7:30pm. www. capefearfencing.com or head coach Greg Spahr, 910 799-8642. WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH PARKS & REC Beginner II Bridge Lessons, Thurs, 10am-noon • Intermediate II Bridge Lessons, Thurs, 12:30pm– 2:30pm. • Currently registering for group tennis lessons, adult, youth, and tots. Classes meet Mon/Wed, at tennis courts at Wrightsville Beach Park. Adult, Youth ages 9-12, and Tots ages 68. • Yoga: Tues/Wed, 6:30pm. • Pilates: Mon/Wed/Fri, 10:15-11:15am. Beginner Pilates on Tues/Thurs, 7:30-8:15am. • Low Impact Aerobics. Mon/Wed/ Fri, 8-9am and 9-10am. All ages welcome, catered toward ages 60+. • Tone & Stretch. Tues/Thurs, 8:30-9:15am. All ages welcome, catered toward ages 60+. • Boot Camp fitness class meets Tues/Thurs, 6-7am. • Performance Club—structured theater games, kids can exercise their imagination and have fun by performing. Tues. afternoons. Grades K-2nd and 3rd-5th.• Wrightsville Beach Shag Lessons. Beginner shag lessons on Sun. All classes at Fran Russ Rec Ctr. unless otherwise noted. Wrightsville Beach Park: 256-7925.
Kids Stuff IMPROVE FOR CHILDREN Steve Vernon will start teaching Improv for Children, Mondays, 5-6pm, for 6 weeks, beginning 5/10; and Improv for Adults, Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm, beginning 5/11. $80 for the full 6 weeks, at the Community Arts Center. Childrens class is for ages 12-17, adults 18+. Focusing on improvisation, the spontaneous creation of material ranging from songs, physical movement and spoken word; active participation a must. Vernon has been performing Improv for over 18 years, and has taught varying degrees of this form to children as young as five, to autistic teenagers, actors, lawyers, educators and adults from various walks of life. 910-612-2239 MONTESSORI MARINE SCIENCE AND ART CAMP
This 1/2 day program delights children with a hands on sea life experience in the safety of The Montessori classrooms and outside environment. Water safety issues are explored with a child friendly approach. Art projects,experiments and music go hand in hand with each “sea critter” or environmental topic that is introduced. Sea life offered by Hieronymus Fishing Charters. Ages 3-6 years. We will work with your vacation schedule. Lhieronymus@aol.com. UPPER ROOM THEATRE CO. SUMMER CAMP The Upper Room Theatre Company has announced the summer camp schedule for its Kids’ Musical Theatre (KMT). The camp, intended for children and teens in first through eighth grade, will take place from 6/28-7/27. The program will run from 9am-1pm daily in the Lutheran Church of Reconciliation’s Ministry Center, 7500 Market St. The camp schedule is as follows: 6/28-7/2: Hannah Montana; 7/5-9, Peter Pan; 7/12-16, The Lion King; and 7/19-23, Annie. $15 one-time, non-refundable registration fee for individuals; $25 one-time, non-refundable registration fee for siblings (one fee covers two siblings) plus $95 per week. A 10% discount is offered if sibling attends the same week of Camp KMT. Scholarships are available on as needed basis. Contact Kate Santhuff, KMT Camp Director, at info@upperroomtheatre.org or call (910) 686-9203.
Lectures/Readings MARIANNE SMITH BOOK SIGNING On Sat. 5/1, 2-5pm, Marianne Smith will be at Silver Coast Winery signing her wonderful new book “On The Other Side” which is a story about a young German girl, her family and friends. On hand, in the beautiful Silver Coast barrel room will be a small band playing some German music to provide the perfect background for Marianne’s talk. www. silvercoastwinery.com or 910-287-2800. Directions: 7 mi. north of the South Carolina border on Hwy 17, take 904W, 2nd right onto Russtown Rd, 4th right Barbeque Rd. POMEGRANATE BOOKS MAY EVENTS Sat. 5/1: Storytime with Captain Tim Dillinger and the Pickpocket Pirate, 10:30am. Parents, bring your kids and your cameras! Wilmington’s favorite pirate and re-enactor, Captain Tim Dillinger, will read stories from his much-lauded collection, The Pickpocket Pirate dressed in his finest pirate attire. • Wed. 5/5: First Wives Club, 7pm. The First Wives’ Club is both a book club and a supportive networking opportunity for women who have been divorced more than five years. This will be the last FWC meeting until October 2010. Christine Parker at (910) 686-6999, or parkerchris9@aol.com. • Thurs. 5/6: Christy English’s reading/book-signing: The Queen’s Pawn, 7pm. Christy’s prose and storytelling ability have garnered outstanding reviews from writers, critics, and reviewers. www.christyenglish.com. • Sat. 5/8: Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation (MVFR), 2pm. David Kaczynski & Bill Babbit, “Voices of Experience: Race, Mental Illness, & the Death Penalty.” MVFR brings Bill Babbit and David Kaczynski to NC to share their experiences and to tell the rest of us their stories. www.mvfr.org. Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave. 910-452-1107. pomegranatenc@gmail.com, www.pombooks.net.
Classes/Workshops POPLAR GROVE Classes: Pilates, Mon. 4:30-5:30pm • Glass Bead Making, Sat. 5/8, 5/29, 11am-4:30pm. $175. 18 and up. • Wire Wrap Beading, third Wed. of each month 11am-12pm & Mon. 5/17, 6/21 6-7:30pm. $35 • Bracelet Making, first Wed. of ea. month 11am-12pm & Mon. 5/3, 6/7 6-7:30pm. $50. • Tae Kwon-Do, Tues. & Thurs. 6-7pm. $75/month. • Self -Defense for Adults, Wed. 1-2:15pm, 5:45-7pm. $40/4 classes. • 910-686-9518 ext. 26, www.poplargrove.com KAYAKING WORKSHOP Have you ever wanted to kayak but didn’t know where to start? Come check out this free workshop at Wrightsville Beach Rec. Center, Fri. 5/15 from 79pm. Topics will include kayak safety, PFD (personal flotation devices), equipment, water access, tours and maps. Conducted by the professionals at Hook, Line, & Paddle. Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Office: 910-256-7925.
38 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com
BOATING COURSE Did you know effective 5/1 NC Senate Bill 43 will require all boat operators under the age of 26 to take an approved boating course to be able to operate their boat or PWC legally? The Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron, an affiliate of the United States Power Squadrons, is offering America’s Boating Course, to the public on three consecutive Saturdays, 5/5, 15, and 22. Classes will be at CFCC, Room L-107 from 8am to 1pm. Cost of materials is $30. Information will be provided on recreational boating and will include lessons on boat handling and basic seamanship. The course meets NC state specific and National Association of State Law Administrators requirements. A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course. Peter Dahl at 681-1106 or Alan Smith at 762-2906. www.capefearpowersquadron.org. THEOLOGY PUB Young adult christians in the Greater Wilmington Area have a chance to attend a unique event, known as Theology Pub, over the next five weeks. During these five weeks attendees will discuss the topic of “Is the church alive?” at The Beam Room at Front Street Brewery. Each week various religious leaders and scholars will present a subtopic related to the overall subject. Discussion follows every presentation with moderation from the group organizers. Attendees invited to enjoy food and refreshments from Front Street Brewery. Fletcher Wells: 910-763-1628 or fletcher@stjamesp.org.
Clubs/Notices CAPE FEAR INQUIRY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cape Fear Center for Inquiry is a charter public school in it’s 10th year of operation, governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of 13 members of the community, parents and teachers. We are currently looking for new directors to fill spaces for directors who have served their term. David Ball: dball@cfci.net CALL FOR VENDORS Thalian Association seeks arts and crafts vendors for their 8th Annual Southern Coastal Bluegrass Festival to be held 9/18 and 19at Battleship Park, USS NC. Funds generated from the festival help to continue Thalian Association’s 222 year tradition of quality live theater as well as children’s theater and arts training. Vendors can apply online: www. coastalbluegrassfestival.org, or contact Pam Duncan at 919-949-1667. NC WRITERS NETWORK Poetry Bomb: Thur, 5/20, 7pm at Pomengranate Books on Park Ave. The Poetry Bomb is a former U.S. military practice bomb. The artifact will be completely converted into a beautiful object filled with poetry from around the world. It will also have a window or portal that will open and close, making it possible to not only see inside of the piece, but to take poems out at performances to read aloud, and to add future submissions. Bring your poems to put inside it! • Ireland to America: The Last Generation, by Kathie Wycoff, 5/10, 7pm, at WHQR Studios, 254 N. Front St. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Every month the Prologue book club of the StarNews and public radio station WHQR invites you to meet the authors of their chosen selections for some all-around book-filled fun and fellowship. • Food for Thought: 1st and 3rd Sundays, 3-5pm , at Pomegranate Books. Wildly successful food drive, sponsored by Grandmothers for Peace. Bring a canned good or nonperishable food item and choose free books (publishers’ advanced copies)! We have fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books available. All food is delivered to local food banks. WILMINGTON PRIDE 2010 Celebration of the Wilmington LGBT community takes place 6/10-13. Pride helps encourage all LGBT groups and supportive businesses to get involved and celebrate. OutWilmington will be glad to advertise any planned event or activity the community holds, and will help promote it, such as a restaurant’s drink special or any other specials during Pride; a retail space’s open house, offering refreshments and/or entertainment; or any event that can draw out the public and raise awareness and support of Pride Weekend. Currently planned: 6/12: afternoon Street Fair (sponsors needed); 6/12 evening: dinner and a show at St. Jude’s for $20/ person, more details coming soon. info@outwilmington.com
CORKBOARD Available for your next CD or Demo
HEALING HANDS
cancer, Back Pain, arthritiS, cartillaGe rePair, etc... non emBr. Stem cell treatmentS
$29.00 per visit maSSaGe, in home theraPy aVailaBle
910-632-3936 AFFORDABLE David Want to Get the Word out aBout your BuSineSS...
Get Some
Pandora’s Box 5745 Oleander Drive
(910) 791-8698
DVDs, NoVelties, liNgerie aND shoes!
half Price aPPS 4 to 7Pm & after 9Pm
• 25% off Select Body Zone dance Wear • all $9.99 dVdS on Sale noW: 3 for $20 Overstock Sale Red Light District DVD’s
eVery day
KAREN KANE MUSIC PRODUCTIONS
aDVertise oN the
200 alBum creditS
4weeKs - oNlY $50
Front Street Brewery 910.251.1935 9 North Front Street, Downtown Wilmington FrontStreetBrewery.com
Open Until Midnight Friday & Saturday
are you ready to take it to tHe next LeveL?
Happy Hour acupuncture $10
Want to Get the Word out aBout your BuSineSS...
Every Wednesday, 5-6:30pm Center for Spiritual Living • 5725 Oleander Dr., F1-1
CORKBOARD
33 year veteran Producer/Engineer
Dreaming Of A Career In The Music Industry?
AUDIO ENGINEERING CLASSES Music Recording, Mixing, Pro Tools, Studio Production Classes offered in Jan., Apr. and Sept.
(910) 681-0220 or mixmama.com Want to Get the Word out aBout your BuSineSS...
aDVertise oN the
CORKBOARD
4weeKs - oNlY $50 call 791-0688 For Details
CORKBOARD
call 791-0688 For Details
• ADULT MARTIAL ARTS • GRAPPLING • WOMEN’S ONLY KICK TO FITNESS CLASS
(this class is Not Your traDitioNal Martial arts class)
- No Contracts - Drop In Rates Available
910-386-6846 www.dynamicmartialarts.webs.com
beautiFY Your hoMe custoM tile worK Bathrooms, Kitchens, Fireplaces, Foyers, Shower Bottom Repairs, Etc.
Call for Free Estimate 616-0470
at the BreWery.
For stress, aDDictioNs & balaNce!
Karen Vaughn, L.Ac • (910) 392-0870 Proceeds Benefit The Wounded Warriors
Buy One, Get One 1/2 OFF
Pirates i aND ii Now aVailable!
Blu-Ray discs now in stock!
aDVertise oN the
4weeKs - oNlY $50 call 791-0688 For Details
CORKBOARD
aMericaN laNDscaPiNg & Pressure washiNg
call 791-0688 For Details
CALL 540-0459
Want to Get the Word out aBout your BuSineSS...
aDVertise oN the
4weeKs - oNlY $50
BREATHE HEALTY AIR Starting January 2nd NC Restaurants & Bars Are SMOKE FREE
encore | april 28 - may 4 , 2010 | www.encorepub.com 39
IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH FOR YOUR WEALTH! With all the debate about Healthcare Reform one of the key solutions is prevention not prescription. The number one enemy of our health is not government, insurance companies, or health care practitioners, but ourselves. It’s Time To Take Care of YOU
YOU ARE THE BEST HEALTHCARE PROVIDER A majority of Americans can improve their health care coverage, quality of life, and live longer by simply taking better care of their health by eating properly and getting the right amount of exercise. Let Gold’s Gym, the leaders in health fitness, help put you in charge of your own healthcare reform.
40 encore | april 28 - may 4, 2010 | www.encorepub.com