February 26, 2014 by Wilmington Media

VOL. 30 / PUB 35 / FREE FEB 26 – Mar 4, 2014

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hodgepodge

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on the cover

What has been your favorite Winter Olympics event/ moment thus far, and why?

Daily $5 Lunches and $2 Beers!

Johnny Weir. Every single Johnny Weir moment. All of them. —Lindsey Skinner

Best of 2014 pgs. 30-43 We celebrated our Best of Fund-raiser and Masquerade Ball, on February 8th at Brooklyn Arts Center for the 2014 Best of wilmington. Not only did encore and the community raise money for Kid’s Making It, but we ate a whole lotta food, heard a whole lotta music and we paid tribute to Wilmington’s finest. From Best Shopping Plaza to Best Jeweler to Best Neighborhood Bar, we announce the second round of winners in our four-edition run of Best Of 2014. Above is encore advertising reps Rose Thompson and Kris Beasley at the gala; photo courtesy of Holland Dotts Photography.

music

The Low Down:

pgs. 10-11

Art Director: Kyle Peeler // ads@encorepub.com

Interns: Fiona Ní Súilleabhái, Chris Pendergast

Film p. 23

Closed Mondays Tues.-Thurs., noon- 1 a.m. Fri. & Sat., noon - 2 a.m. Sun., noon -8 p.m.

4540 Fountain Dr. 910-313-2738 www.lowtidepub.com • Find us on FB!

Figure skating, because it has a strong history and tradition, and it’s the most exciting to watch. —Jane Jones

Editorial Assistant: Christian Podgaysky // music@encorepub.com

Reggae-rock band Iration play Ziggy’s By the Sea Wednesday, March 5th.

Theater

St. Patty’s Weekend

Bob sledding because “Cool Runnings” is my favorite movie. —Abby Cox

EDITORIAL> Editor-in-Chief: Shea Carver // shea@encorepub.com

Cucalorus’ biggest fund-raiser and Wilmington’s best Oscar party takes place this Sunday.

March 14th: Kraoke, $2 Jamesons March 15th: Massive Grass on the deck, 8pm

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Where on the rocks is a good thing!

Tues.: Pub Wars Trivia, 8pm Wed.: Ladies Night 1/2-off wine specials Fri: Karaoke with djBE, 9pm Mon: Mar. 3rd, Mug Night! Buy your mug, get $2 draft.

question OF THE WEEK

Vol. 30 / Pub. 35/ /February 26 - March 4, 2014

p. 25 Annie Marsh and Tracy Byrd perform in the pop opera “Evita” at Thalian Hall.

Chief Contributors: Gwenyfar Rohler, Anghus Houvouras, Jay Schiller, Tom Tomorrow, Chuck Shepherd, Mark Basquill, Rosa Bianca, Rob Brezsny, Sarah Richter, Shannon Rae Gentry, Christian Podgaysky SALES> General Manager: John Hitt // john@encorepub.com Advertising: John Hitt // Downtown // Carolina Beach // john@encorepub.com Kris Beasley // Wrightsville Beach, N. Wilmington // kris@encorepub.com Shea Carver // Midtown, Monkey Junction // shea@encorepub.com Rose Thompson // Wrightsville Beach, N. Wilmington // rose@encorepub.com Office Manager: Susie Riddle // susie@adpakweekly.com Distribution Manager: Boykin Wright Published weekly, on Wednesday, by HP Media. Opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of encore.

Inside This Week: Live Local, pgs. 4-5 • op-ed, p. 6 • News of the weird, P. 9 • Music, pgs. 10-17 • Art, pgs. 18-19 • Film, pgs. 21-23 • Theatre, p. 25 Dining, pgs. 26-29 • Extra, pgs. 30-49 • Calendar, pgs. 50-64

2 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

P.O. Box 12430, Wilmington, N.C. 28405 email@encorepub.com • www.encorepub.com Phone: (910) 791-0688 • Fax: (910) 791-9534

Port City food lovers,

rejoice! Join us for the most delicious week of spring.

participating restaurants downtown wilmington

midtown

south wilmington

The Basics Caprice Bistro Elijah’s Pilot House The George Hell’s Kitchen The Little Dipper Ruth’s Chris Steak House Shuckin’ Shack YoSake Riverboat Landing The Fortunate Glass Dock Street Oyster Bar Delphina Dos

Blue Asia Sealevel City Gourmet Jamaica’s Comfort Zone Tandoori Bites Hieronymus Seafood Casey’s Buffet Carolina Ale House Hops Supply Company

Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant Thai Spice Henry’s Siena Trattoria Buffalo Wild Wings

wrightsville beach Bluewater Waterfront Grill South Beach Grill Oceanic

North wilmington Ogden Tap Room The Olive Cafe and Wine Bar The Melting Pot Buffalo Wild Wings

www.encorerestaurantweek.com encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 3

news> live local

“Y

Live Local, Live Small

ou grew up near Gastonia— how is the home of Mary Jo’s?” “You mean the fabric store? How do you know about Mary Jo’s?” “Are you kidding! It’s world famous! Everybody who sews or quilts knows about Mary Jo’s!” “Really? Really! I can’t believe you know about Mary Jo’s...” It’s a conversation I had about five years ago with Shea Carver, the encore editor, who grew up between Charlotte and Gastonia, NC, and spent numerous hours in the store during childhood thanks to a mother who always needed to redecorate the house. I was surprised Shea didn’t realize Mary Jo’s is as phenomenal a draw for the area as it is. Conversely, she was floored I had heard of it—let alone would ask about it. While it was commonplace in her family to go there, especially today for her sister’s interior-design business, it eluded her that folks outside a 50-mile radius would seek it out. Founded in 1951 by Margaret Cloninger, in the back of her dad’s grocery store, Mary Jo’s has grown into icon status. Currently, it anchors Gaston Mall and is quite famous for its extensive collections of fabrics housed under one roof. Costumers, quilters and crafters from all over the southeast travel there to shop; even more use their website for ordering fabrics

they just can’t find elsewhere. The store really has become as much a travel destination as a small business. When we think of tourism, going to Disney World or New York leaps to mind. A trip to see friends or relatives naturally offers a different set of questions. Like if one’s traveling to Portland, Oregon, they may hear: “Are you going to Powell’s, the largest independent used and new bookstore in the world?” Such scenarios have been rattling around in my head for a while. It has made me finally ask a question: Instead of the Disney’s of the world, why can’t small business be a tourist draw? If anything, Powell’s and Mary Jo’s both demonstrate it is possible to evolve into a tourist destination to draw visitors. We have, to a certain extent, a tourist attraction that continues to bring people to visit Wilmington constantly: the film industry. People come to see filming in progress and to tour the locations used in past productions. We’re still reeling in “Dawson’s Creek” fans who just have to see the house Joey climbed into nightly through Dawson’s window. It continues to bring in revenue. And tourism revenue is especially sought after by communities because it spreads around so evenly: People need places to stay, food to eat, transportation and souvenirs. Bartenders and waitresses benefit. Taxes get collected on hotel rooms, gas and sales. Furthermore,

When small business becomes a tourist attraction By: Gwenyfar Rohler

Above: Mary Jo’s Cloth Store in Gastonia, NC, draws tourists and rings in $7 million a year amidst a 72,000-populated town. Courtesy photo 4 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

year in sales and employs around 70 people. That’s a lot of fabric! Dun & Bradstreet put Powell’s at over $61 million a year in sales with over 400 employees. Do either of these scenarios sound like people picking up the crumbs? No. They are generating business not just for themselves but for everyone around them who benefit from their increased visibility and recognition. Municipalities talk a lot about attracting new business, and we play lots of games with tax incentives on that score. Arguably, bringing the USS NC Battleship to the area has paid off long term, certainly more so than say, a cement plant will. But I keep wondering, if instead of attracting new business, we gave the same sorts of incentives

living there. In many ways, it’s a bedroom community for Charlotte. But there’s a small fabric store in Gastonia which has grown to be a $7-million-a-year tourist attraction. With all the resources that we have, I think we should be able to produce something similar. Yes, we need the film-incentive package to keep not only our film industry but also our tourism and hospitality industry alive and thriving. But that happens on a state level; we must lobby our representatives for that. Locally, we have enough innovation and brain power to do better. We should be able to promote the things that make Wilmington unique. In a time of social media, the populace has power like never before. My advice: Go to Trip Advisor, Yelp, Fodors,

“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” —Gilbert K. Chesterton to existing businesses here that would allow them to expand, hire new people and focus on raising a national reputation, what sort of long-term payoff we might have? They already are known quantities who are invested here—rather than, say, a call center that might come in for a few years and leave when they have used up the tax breaks, rendering people unemployed once again. Gastonia is still a small town—even smaller than Wilmington with only 72,000 people

and all other sites to help plug the local businesses that make life in Wilmington so special. Encourage people to come here and spend money here. It will cycle back through the economy and benefit everyone. The more people who talk about us, and the more people who visit as a result, will go home and spread the word. Is there a restaurant in town offering a unique and life-changing experience? Would you drive an hour to eat there? For my

parents, it was Robert’s in Charleston. They recommended it to every friend they had that it was the place for a romantic anniversary. Of course, that was 20 years ago, and my parent’s circle of influence was small compared to ours in today’s society. Take 10 minutes and wield your power while we wait for the powers that be to decide to come to the table. Forgive me for saying this, but it must come from the populace. People who get paid to think long-term rarely do. Gwenyfar Rohler is the author or ‘Promise of Peanuts,’ which can be bought at Old Books on Front Street, with all monies donated to local nonprofit Full Belly Project.

! s l a e d .com

these tourists don’t use services that are high cost to the municipalities, like trash pick-up or schooling for kids. It is a win-win. Besides the film industry, we have several tourist draws to Wilmington, most notably the beaches. I also meet a lot of history buffs who come here to see the USS NC Battleship and tour through the history of downtown. Though, when visiting elsewhere I have never had the experience of someone asking about Wilmington’s Battleship. However, when shows like “One Tree Hill” were filming regularly, I would get asked about them during my travels—usually in the form of gushing: “Oh, my god! ‘One Tree Hill!’ Do you ever see Chad Michael Murray?” [My reponse: “Forgive me, but if I didn’t recognize John Updike, I wouldn’t be able to pick out Mr. Murray, even if we were standing in line together at the grocery store. I’m just not good at that sort of thing.”] But the film industry isn’t one business; it is an entire network of people, locations, and businesses that have grown together through this common bond. Perhaps what makes it the most interesting is that it isn’t one person’s vision, like Disney. It is rather an organic growth of mutually beneficial relationships. But back to Mary Jo’s and Powell’s. We have an image of small business as just that: small—on the fringes, picking up the crumbs. According to Dun & Bradstreet reports, Mary Jo’s does over $7 million a

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MAIN ATTRACTIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS

J IM M Y WEBB

THURSDAY FEBRuary 27 AT 8PM Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter and author of multiple famous hits including Witchita Lineman, Up Up and Away and By The Time I Get To Phoenix.

Tickets available through the Thalian Hall Box Office by calling 910.632.2285 or online at ThalianHall.org Media Partners “Your alternative weekly voice”

TICKETS: 910.632.2285 • 800.523.2820 • WWW.THALIANHALL.ORG 310 CHESTNUT ST •WILMINGTON, NC 28401 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 5

views > op-ed

DISCOVER NEW MUSIC AT 98.3 THE PENGUIN SAMPLE HOUR - THURSDAY 2/20 - 10AM:

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www.983thepenguin.com 6 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

By: Mark Basquill

ur weather is changing for the better, even as our climate is changing for the worse—just as Al Gore suggested. Our icy February is one more data point that will help us estimate how bad off our situation is, but it’s not likely to instantly change any hearts and minds any more than Martin Luther King or the Civil Rights Act instantly and politely transformed us into the post-racial, equal-economicopportunity America we now enjoy. The next time we weather such storms, we’ll probably be able to buy snow survival supplies at our local big-box stores. All our big-box stores will ship the emergency supplies in on one of thousands of energy-efficient freight trains that will criss-cross our progressive state. We won’t miss work, or listen to small businesses complain about lost revenue. We’ll leave our cars in the driveway, and use our state-of-the-art public-transportation system. With education always a priority, kids that get to the elevated trains on College Road or the Market Street subway won’t miss a day of learning music, math, and Shakespeare. While hunkered down under the ice, I spent a few hours watching the Olympics. Even the commercials. Some of the spots left me with questions. If you air a spot during the Olympics and promise to commit to buy $250 billion of American-made merchandise, is that technically an advertisement, or propaganda because you don’t sell much American merchandise now? And do you change the name of the country when you air the ad in China? In general, I’m not a winter-Olympics person, but these athletes impressed me. Particularly in the post-Cold War X-games-driven disciplines, many U.S. athletes gracefully downplayed hyper-nationalism and hyper-competitiveness, all to focus on surviving the slopes or half-pipes and cultivate their own particular excellence. Time will tell whether these youngsters simply traded flag-waving for corporate-branding (some youngsters had to be persuaded to ditch their corporate sponsors and product placement—at least while actually slushing).

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Weathering the Storm

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I also used the weather event to finally read Timothy Tyson’s “Blood Done Sign My Name,” and peruse the script of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” Not the kind of reading likely to warm the heart about the prospect of climate change in America—at least regarding racial and social justice or equal economic opportunity. I’m new to the area—only been here 19 years. Unless you were topping and cropping tobacco or shrimping as a kid, you’re new, too, and would benefit from reading “Blood Done Sign My Name.” Mr. Tyson writes about the civil rights era in North Carolina and in Wilmington. As the weather warms, and I finish Mr. Tyson’s little book, I’m reminded there is still ice in many hearts and bigger stories are far from over. The bigger stories are not necessarily a matter of black and white. Martin Luther King and many civil rights’ activists saw the struggle for minority rights inextricably linked to worker’s rights, education, and voting rights—all the things being rolled back to the reconstruction era in North Carolina. Doctor King knew that America was built by visionaries, salesman, and slaves, and that ever since the Civil War, when indentured servants of all races organized around their common interests, they faced vicious wellfunded opposition. Basically, whenever people of all races practiced democracy and took power, money and violence took it right back. Check 1876 Louisiana and South Carolina, 1898 Wilmington, or post-Reagan America. Reading Arthur Miller’s play also sent chills down my spine. Written in 1949 as theatre, it’s now prophecy. I easily can see Mitt Romney or Governor McCrory playing Willy Loman’s big brother Ben. As Willy falls further down the rabbit hole, Ben—the one percenter, the mythical entrepreneurial success story— smirks, “When I was 17, I walked into the jungle alone, and when I was 21, I walked out. And by God I was rich.” We’ve weathered February’s storms and are moving into what could be a heartwarming Moral March. I guess it’s up to each of us to choose how we will sign our names—whether we will lead lives of value or experience the death of a salesman.

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Deal of the Week

Master Series Workshop with award winning writer and filmmaker JIM KRUEGER March 8th, 1 pm - 5 pm • Giant • 1200 N. 23rd St.

$150 $75 for one week only

JIM krUeGer Known for his work on Avengers, Spider-man, X-Men, Justice League and more, the former creative director at Marvel will be at . Jim will guide writers through an intensive workshop on both novel & graphic novel writing as well as touch on progressing into filmmaking. Students will learn how to craft “story” and discover the many elements of the creative journey.

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Limited edition pressing of Krueger’s book related to his award winning short, a limited edition press of his new book- yet to hit store shelves • Q&A with autograph session • Giveaways and Door Prizes including rare books & collectibles • Workshop is from 1-5pm & includes a box lunch • GIANT 1200 N. 23rd #209, Wilmington, NC 28405

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SATURDAY MARCH 1, 2014 • $35 • 1-5PM • VIP $45 • 12PM

WILMINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

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UNLIMITED TASTING • $35 IN ADVANCE • $45 DAY OF FESTIVAL TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT CAPEFEARBEERFEST.COM 21 or older to attend. Attendees must show valid photo I.D at the door. You must be 21 or older to attend this event. No Exceptions! No children, toddlers, infants or strollers are permitted. NO READMITTANCE. Wilmington Convention Center 515 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 Parking Available on Site

A Portion of the Proceeds Benefit THE Downtown Business Alliance 8 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

News of the Weird with Chuck Shepherd Find That Genius! Beijing Genomics Institute scientists are closing in on a technology to allow parents to choose, from several embryos, the one most likely to yield the smartest offspring. London’s Daily Mail (in January, referencing recent work in Wired, The Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker) explained that BGI will have identified high-potential mathematics genes (by mapping the cells of geniuses) so that researchers can search for those among a couple’s array of embryos. (Most embryos will yield gene arrays resembling their parents’, but one embryo is likely “better” -- and maybe much better.) One Chinese researcher acknowledged the “controversial” nature of the work, “especially in the West,” but added, “That’s not the case in China.” The parental price tag on finding the smartest kid? Expensive, said a supporter, but less than upgrading an average kid via Harvard, or even a private prep school. Can’t Possibly Be True “This (was) my life,” said musician Boujemaa Razgui in December, referring to the 13 handmade flutes that he played professionally, “and now they’re gone.” Arriving in New York City from Madrid with the 13 woodwinds in his checked luggage, he was shocked to discover that U.S. Customs had destroyed them without notice because “wood” is a restricted “agricultural” import. (Unsophisticated agents had apparently regarded them as mere bamboo.) Razgui plays all over the world including, since 2002, with the Boston Camerata ensemble staged by the city’s Museum of Fine Arts. A Georgia Regents University’s dental school official acknowledged in December that the school would likely continue to conduct research on the mouths of stray dogs solely to test a coating that might inhibit infections in humans’ dental implants. The work is controversial because the only way to study the installed implants is to remove them, after euthanizing the dogs. (Also, the research is sponsored by commercial dental-implant companies for a market dominated by elective cosmetic patients.) (However, a GRU professor noted that implants are also functional, as they inhibit infections that might reach the heart’s lining and other locations.) Saved by the Blimps: Americans who have grown accustomed to hearing that the U.S. is militarily without peer might have been shocked to learn in January (as CBS News reported from a Pentagon interview) that America has “practically zero capability” either to detect enemy cruise missiles fired at Washington, D.C., from offshore, or even worse, to “defend against (them).” The Pen-

tagon’s interim makeshift solution to protect the U.S. capital, said an official, is to launch two blimps, soon, to float two miles up over a base in Maryland to try to spot any such missiles. In February, a California Highway Patrol officer handcuffed and threatened to arrest a firefighter performing an emergency roadside rescue along Interstate 805 in Chula Vista, Calif., because the rescuer would not move his truck from the fast lane, where it was “impeding” traffic. Firefighters are required to block lanes during rescues, specifically to “impede” traffic for their own protection and that of victims nearby. CHP and the Chula Vista firefighters later jointly called the incident a “miscommunication.” Unclear on the Concept Oregon inmate Sirgiorgio Clardy, 26, filed a handwritten $100 million lawsuit in January against Nike for inadequately marketing its Air Jordans. Clardy, a convicted pimp, had received an “enhanced” penalty for using a “dangerous weapon” to maim the face of a john, i.e., he had stomped and kicked a man after accusing him of skipping out on a payment, and the “dangerous weapon” was apparently his shoe. Clardy said Nike bears at least some responsibility for his incarceration because it failed to label the shoe a “dangerous weapon.” Ed Forchion sits in a jail in Burlington County, N.J. (where he will reside for a few more months), serving a term for possession of marijuana. However, for 10 days each month until his release, the same judge who sentenced him has promised to allow him to go smoke medical marijuana in California to relieve pain from his bone cancer. (Forchion was convicted of possession before New Jersey legalized medical marijuana.) (Update: Four days after a Trentonian columnist’s story about “Weedman” Forchion, and the subsequent Internet frenzy it wrought, Forchion’s judge commuted the final 130 days of his sentence and freed him.) In a December letter to the University of Minnesota president, a coalition of black student organizations demanded an end to racial profiling, especially in light of recent campus crime incidents. “(C)ampus safety should be of the (university’s) utmost importance,” they acknowledged, but among the organizations’ complaints was that when “be on the lookout” alerts were issued (usually based on victims’ descriptions of their attackers), innocent black students feel “discomforting,” “negative psychological effects” -- because the alerts so often describe black attackers. Officials at the Emu Plains Correctional Center near Sydney, Australia, announced in January that they had pre-empted a planned

escape by two female inmates, ages 32 and 21, after finding a 60-foot length of tiedtogether sheets in a cell. Nonetheless, the officials said they were puzzled, in that Emu Plains is a one-story facility, enclosed, wrote the Daily Telegraph, by a “not particularly high” fence. Perspective Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have made clear that only in the case of murder can a juvenile be given a life sentence “without possibility of parole” (and never a death sentence). Under-18s, the court said, must get a “meaningful opportunity” to mature and redeem themselves behind bars. The U.S. Constitution aside, apparently some Florida judges disagree and have subsequently sentenced juveniles to 50 years or longer for non-murders, in some cases assuring that the release date will be beyond the inmate’s natural life expectancy. In one case found by a Barry University law school program, a juvenile convicted of gun robbery and rape had his earlier life-without-parole sentence “reduced” to consecutive sentences totaling 170 years. Critics said the Supreme Court should recognize that some juveniles are already “thoroughly incorrigible.” People With Issues Christopher Pagano, 41, was finally ar-

rested in January as police identified him as the man who had apparently been roaming the Mayfair neighborhood of Philadelphia for several weeks exposing his genitals while lovingly fondling a hunk of Swiss cheese (“cheese-accessorized” genitals, wrote a Philadelphia Daily News reporter). The case was broken when a 2012 victim recalled a “Swiss cheese pervert” in the Philadelphia area and searched for him on the Internet, locating a man who rhapsodized as much about cheese as about having sex. “I started to compare girls to cheese due to their milky (complexions),” the man (Pagano) wrote. “(G)irls are soft, smooth-feeling, and tend to like dairy products more.”

Readers’ Choice (1) Ryan Bensen, 40, and Erica Manley, 37, were arrested in Seaside, Ore., in January, shortly after they expressed their gratitude to a waitress at the Twisted Fish by leaving, as a tip, a plastic bag of methamphetamine. (Police said Manley had still more in her purse when they searched her.) (2) A week apart in January, Pope Francis’ pair of “peace doves” released in Vatican City were almost immediately attacked by a seagull and a crow, and a 31-year-old nun in Rieti, Italy, “unaware” that she was pregnant, gave birth to a boy whom she named “Francis.” No details were released.

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arts > music

Crashing Sonic Waves:

rip current, commonly referred to as a rip tide, is a strong channel of water— faster than any human swimmer—that flows seaward from the shore. When caught in the rip, the ocean floor eludes one’s feet, forcing buoyancy into the depths of the unknown. Though fearsome, while lost in obscurity and letting go, find peace, comfort and identity. In order to escape, remaining calming and swimming along with the deadly current proves essential. If the victim succumbs to instinctual panic, the current can pull him deeper. But once fleeing this dangerous tide, the near-death experience brings euphoria like no other: an overwhelming sense of relief, a breath of fresh air, and a lust for life.

The coast of Wilmington has seen its fair share of rip tides, but not those taking on any other form of nature. The alternative/reggae/rock band Iration, while emulating the sounds of a day spent winding down on the beach, can serve as a (less life-threatening) rip current in musical terms. Their tracks sound deathly enticing, drawing the listener in gently until he’s left suspended in an ocean of incandescent guitar riffs, synths and persuasive vocals. Similarly, to truly escape, one must sit back and relax, letting all worries drift off to the horizon. From experience, it’s easy to get lost in Iration’s unexpected melodious rip tide. The band will wade into Wilmington on their 2014 Automatic Winter Tour when they’ll perform at Ziggy’s By The Sea on Wednesday, March 5th.

Reggae infused rock band Iration plays Ziggy’s by the Sea By: Chris Pendergast

Above: Get caught in the rip current with Iration Wednesday, March 5th as return to Wilmington with their Automatic Winter Tour. Courtesy Photo 10 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

Formed in a Santa Barbara garage, when Iration first started they were just bunch of friends with a shared passion for reggae. Save Kai Rediske (percussion/vocals), the group still consists of its original crew: Joseph Dickens (drums), Joseph King (engineer), Cayson Peterson (keyboard/synth), Micah Pueschel (guitar/vocals) and Adam Taylor (bass). All of the members met growing up in Hawaii, but Iration was established in the college town of Isla Vista a decade ago. “We’ve grown a lot since then,” Pueschel explains. “We actually didn’t know anything about music. We weren’t even musicians, we just picked up instruments that we thought were cool.” Pueschel claims that after four years of practice, the band hit the road. “I wouldn’t truly consider us a band until like 2007 or 2008, that’s when the tours really started,” he says. The reggae travelers have a tradition of going on tour in the beginning of the year. Contrary to their all-cathartic summertime vibes, they take on the responsibility of catering warmth in the colder months, too. Pueschel knows winter can get harsh for some, resulting in heavy indoor sojourn. “We chose this season to tour [because] we want to give the people a reason to go out, dance, and enjoy themselves,” Pueschel states. However, Iration’s 2014 doesn’t stop with the chill. They’ve joined the Cali Roots Festival and are in the midst of developing a large summer tour as well. The work and effort put into this past year has been dedicated to their latest record, Automatic, released in July of 2013. A splendid follow-up to its predecessor, “Fresh Ground,“ “Automatic” explores deeper waters of the reggae genre, while staying in the same boat. It’s an album that samples hip-hop on songs like “Uptown” and “Mr. Operator.” It also showcases folk riffs in the acoustically driven “Go That Road,” and revels in vigorous jams on “Home,” “Show Me,” and “Milk and Honey,” all featuring Lincoln Parish (guitarist, Cage the Elephant). The band doesn’t forget to embrace their catchy side either; the single “Back Around” treads the water of another smash hit, akin to “Falling,” off their second album, “Time Bomb.” Iration doesn’t want to be boxed into a single classification; they see reggae as more than just bright chords and carefree lyrics. “As far as Iration goes, we are a band that tries to push this genre to different places,” Pueschel confirms. “We aren’t afraid to take these risks. We want to give our fans something fresh and new.” Opposed to the recirculation of riffs and songs, Iration shows their experimentation live as well by expanding songs beyond the fenced-off “radio friendly” limitations. Songs from “Fresh Grounds,” a fivesong EP released in 2011, were used as an outlet to take on a raw sound. By strip-

ping down the synth and added effects prevalent in their previously well-received record, “Time Bomb,” the band proved themselves as true musicians. “Our goal was to make songs that were organic and natural,” Pueschel says. “We just used all-natural instruments.” A reggae/rock band with substance, Iration’s songs don’t just boil down the subjects of getting wasted and forgetting about the trials of today, tomorrow or the past. Pueschel’s lyrics speak of relationships, realization, letting go, and missing home. “Home is something I think about when I feel like I’m lost on the road,” Pueschel says.”’Dream,’ off of ‘Time Bomb,’ contains the structure of a contemporary love song; however, it’s about a place rather than a person. ‘Dream’ is about Hawaii and where we grew up,” Pueschel says. “But it’s not all about us. I like to think that our songs can be perceived in their own way by many different people.” These island natives thrive off of the laissez-faire nature of their homeland. It’s a state of mind they like to bring with them on the road and through various college towns around the United States. “We want these kids to let loose; we know how it can get,” Pueschel enthuses With guitar licks that bleed positivity, silver-tongued vocals, and choruses that evoke the constant rhythm of swells crashing upon shore, Iration may just be what this college beach town needs. “We’ve always loved playing in Wilmington,” Pueschel says. “It’s a coastal city ,and we obviously love being as close to the ocean as [we] can be. Whether it’s the Pacific or Atlantic, the sea brings us together. It’s all connected.” Music and the ocean are synonymous and once the show starts, one may find they are slowly getting pulled into the rip tide of Iration’s sound. Though lacking the deadly consequence, the escape will emit an identical rush: a swarming sensation of peace and inhalation of life, leaving listeners feeling more alive than ever

DETAILS:

ENCLOSED FULL BAR AWESOME VIEW

Upcoming cruises Feb. 26th - Explore the Lower Brunswick River March 2nd - Mimosas & Sweets Cruise March 4th - Mardi Gras Cruise March 9th - Black River Cruise

MUSIC AT THE DOCK... River Club on Thursday Nights @ the Dock Join us for great music by local musicians... March 20th - Jim Nelson March 27th - Drumming w/ Ron, Eric & friends

Iration Ziggy’s by the Sea 208 Market Street

March 6th - Ron & Raphael Bar opens @ 6pm Music 7-9pm No Admission Charge

Wed., March 5th, 9 p.m. Tickets: $18 adv. / $20 day of ziggysbythesea.com

A Relaxing Recipe

For a complete list of scheduled Tours, Excursions, and Fees, visit

wilmingtonwatertours.net HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

JUST ADD WATER! Visit us on the Riverwalk! 212 S. Water Street

910-338-3134

info@wilmingtonwt.com Follow BAR ON BOARD WITH ALL ABC PERMITS us

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 11

Blackboard Specials

soundboard

A preview of tunes all over town this week

Monkey Junction 910-392-7224

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

PINT NIGHT SUNDAYS

Play for FREE WORLD TAVERN POKER 7pm & 9:30pm

LUNCH MADNESS Mon-Fri Staring at $5.99 Nothing over $6.99 11am-2pm

FEATURE YOUR LIVE MUSIC FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS (as little as $29 a week!)

Call 791-0688

Deadline every Thurs., noon!

WHO’S AFRAID OF VITA WOOLFE: Vita and the Woolfe play their pop-soul fusion at The Juggling Gypsy on Saturday, March 1st. Photo by Cameron Starr

WEDNESDAY, February 26 Karaoke (9pm) —Bourbon Street, 35 N Front St.; 762-4050 Karaoke With DJ AMP —Locals Tavern, 6213 -D Market Street; 523-5621 Open Mic hosted by Thomas and Oglesby (7pm; drums, amps, full PA provided) —Halftime Sports Bar and Grill, 1107 New Pointe Blvd, Leland; 859-7188 Jammin’ with Jax: George Gardos, Leroy Harper Jr., Terry Nash, Larry Tull, Steve King, Gerard Torchio (7-10pm) —Jax Fifth Ave. Deli & Ale House, 5046 New Centre Dr.; 859-7374 Open Music Jam Hosted by Shannon Gilmore & Tommy Kaiser 7pm —Wired on Wrightsville, 3901 B Wrightsville Ave., 3996977

trivia w/ 103.7 the boone 6:30 —Banks Channel Bar & Grille, 530 Causeway Drive; 2562269 OPEN MIC NIGHT w/ Sean Thomas Gerard (ALL ACTS WELCOME; 9pm; FREE) —The Calico Room, 107 S Front St.; 762-2091 Shinobi Ninja w/ Nick Snow and D&D Sluggers (9 pm; $5; rock/experimental/ electronica) —Orton’s;133 N Front St, 343-8881 Jenny Pearson (Acoustic) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666 Carolina Chocolate Drops (7:30pm; $23-$28; String Band) —Brooklyn Arts Center, 516 N 4th St.; 538-2939

Karaoke —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

Jerry Garcia Band Cover Band (9PM; $10) —Ziggy’s by the Sea, 208 Market St.; 769-4096

DJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499

thursDAY, february 27

DJ Lord Walrus —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 2562776 DJ KeyBo —SideBar; 18 S. Front St., 763-1401 Karaoke —Brass Pelican; 2112 N. New River Dr., Surf City, NC 328-4373 Benny Hill (jazz) —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115 Jeremy Norris (8pm-12am; Country/Rock) —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832

12 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

793-6000 Open Mic w/ Acoustic Tsunami (9pm; Free) —Cardinal Bands & Billards, 5216 Carolina Beach Rd.; 793-6000

Open Mic —Brass Pelican; 2112 N. New River Dr., Surf City, NC 328-4373 DJKahuna —Billy Goats, 6324 Market St., 392-3044 Open Mic —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 763-3737 Karaoke —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001 Discotheque Thurs. with DJ’s DST and Matt Evans —Pravda; 23 N. Front St., Wilmington

tap tuesdays $3 Drafts and

Live Team Trivia 7:30 - 9:30pm

weekly drink specials

MONDAY - MYSTERY MONDAY Special Managers Choice TUESDAY - TAPS TUESDAY All draft beers are $3 WEDNESDAY - 1/2 Price Wine Glass or Bottle THURSDAY - ALL Flights $7 FRIDAY - SIMPLE MAN FRIDAYS Miller Light, Bud Light, PBR SATURDAY - College Basketball Package SUNDAY - $5 Bloody Mary’s, $5 Mimosa’s

Lunch Special

MONDAY - FRIDAY (11am – 4pm) ANY SANDWICH WITH A BEVERAGE $800 THURSDAYS - LIVE MUSIC 8 –10PM 7324 Market Street www.ogdentaproom.com 910-821-8185 • OPEN DAILY at 11am for Lunch & Dinner encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 13

Blackboard Specials 100 S. FRONT ST. 910-251-1832 LIVE MUSIC in the courtyard 7 days a week

MONDAY S.I.N NIGHT $2 Domestics • $3 All Draft Selections $4 Flavored Bombs • 50% off Apps 6pm til close NEW BELGIUM TUESDAY $3 New Belgium selections (Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Rampant IPA) $5 Jameson • Half Off Wings! WEDNESDAY $2.75 Miller Lite, $4 Wells, 50% off All Bottles of wine Nutt St. Improv on 2nd Floor @ 8:30 THIRSTY THURSDAY $2.50 PBR 16oz cans $3.50 Sam Adams Seasonal & Harpoon IPA Pints $5 Redbull & Vodka, 50¢ Steamed Oysters and Shrimp Open Mic Comedy: Doors @ 8 - Show @ 9 FRIDAY $2.75 Bud Light, $3.25 Stella, $4 Fireballs Live Music on the Patio SATURDAY $2.75 Coors Light, $3.25 Bud Light Lime, $5 Jager Live Music on the Patio SUNDAY $3 Coronas/Corona Lite, $10 Domestic Buckets (5) $4 Mimosas, $4 Bloody Mary’s

Schreiner’s Restaurant & Karaoke Lounge

MONDAY

BEAT OF ELDREDGE: “Beat of the Music” country singer Brett Eldredge comes to Ziggy’s by the Sea this Thursday, February 27th. Photo by Getty Images for Country Thunder Open Mic/Songwriters Night 7-10pm —Grinder’s Cafe, 5032 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403, (910) 859-8266

Open Mic Nite 50 cent wings, $1.00 PBR

Jazz night with Marc Siegel 6pm-8pm —Atlanta Bread Company, 6886 Main St. (Mayfaire), Wilmington, NC. (910) 509-2844

World Tavern Poker 6pm

Fire & Drums —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Karaoke (7pm-12am) —SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar, 227 Carolina Ave. N., Carolina Beach

THURSDAY

Thirsty Thursday Team Trivia with Sherri “So Very” (7-9pm) —Whiskey Trail at the Creek, 4039 Masonboro Loop Rd.; 399-3266

Wine Down Trivia Wine tasting 6pm, Trivia 7:30 Bike Nite - $3.00 Fireball, $2.00 domestics

FRIDAY & SATURDAY Steaks, Ribs, Prime Rib - $12.99

910.762.0220 2206 Carolina Beach Rd. (across from legion stadium)

www.RuckerJohns.com VISIT WWW.RUCKERJOHNS.COM FOR DAILY SPECIALS, MUSIC & EVENTS Friday Monday Select Appetizers halfMONDAY off $ 4 Cosmopolitan $ 2 Big Domestic Beers Draft ALL $ 22oz.Draft Domestic DAY 7 Cucumber $ 50 4 Frozen Daiquiris$5 PizzasLavender Martini (pick your flavor) $ 3 Sam Adams and Blue Moon Seasonal Bottles Tuesday TUESDAY LIVE JAzz IN THE BAR 1/2 off Select Bottles Half Price Bottles ofSaturday Wine of Wine $ 50 $ 2 Shiners Absolut Dream $5$•6 Pacifico All Southern 5 Absolut Dreams $ $ 3-22oz Blue Moon Draft 3 NC Brewed Bottles

WEDNESDAY

Sunday Miller Light Pints $150 Coronoa/ Wednesday $ 50 Breads 5 All$2Flat Corona Lite Bottles 1/2 off Nachos $ $ 50 4 Bloody$4Marys 1 Domestic Pints Margaritas/Peach Margaritas $ 50 $ 50 1 Domestic Pints 2 Corona/Corona Lt. $ THURSDAY $ 50 5 White Russians 4 Frozen Margarita $ Appletinis 5 Visit our $website (pick your flavor) 4, RJ’s Painkiller $ 50 www.RuckerJohns.com 2 Red Stripe Bottles for daily music and Thursday $ specials, 250 Fat Tire Bottles upcoming events $ 50 2 Fat Tire Bottles $ 50 FRIDAY5564 Carolina 6 Sinking Bahama Mama $ 50 3 1/2 off ALL RedCosmos Wine $4, 007 Beach Road $ Glasses Guinness Cans (910)-452-1212 3

DJ KeyBo —SideBar; 18 S. Front St., 763-1401 Open Mic Night with Dennis Brinson (8pm) —Locals Tavern, 6213 -D Market Street; 523-5621 Top 40 DJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 DJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499 DJ Shaft —Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.; 689-7219 Trivia with Steve (8:30pm) —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,763-1607 mike o’donnell (8pm; Rock; Acoustic) —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 DJ Lord Walrus (house, dance, hip-hop) —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 2562776 Kim Disco (Eclectic) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666

Brett Eldredge (10pm; $10, Country) —Ziggy’s by the Sea, 208 Market St.; 769-4096 Treehouse w/ Sun Dried Vibes (9pm; Reggae) —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 Wind Symphony and Chamber winds (7:30pm; Students free; public $5.35) — Kenan Auditorium, 601 S. College Rd.; 962-3500

—Station 21, 21 N. Front St., Wilmington, NC Karaoke w/ DJ A.M.P. —Billy Goats, 6324 Market St., 392-3044 DJ —Level 5/City Stage, 21 N. Front St.; 342-0872 DJ dr. jones (old school hip-hop) —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 2562776

friday, february 28

dj riz (10pm-2am) —Banks Channel Bar & Grille, 530 Causeway Drive; 256-2269

DJ DST and SBz —Pravda; 23 N. Front St., Wilmington

Karaoke (9pm) —Schreiner’s Restaurant, 2206 Carolina Beach Rd.; 762-0220

Karaoke with Mike Norris —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 DJ Battle —Dirty Martini, 1904 Eastwood Rd, Suite 109 House/Techno DJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 DJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499 DJ KeyBo —SideBar; 18 S. Front St., 763-1401 Karaoke —Toolbox, 2325 Burnette Blvd.; 343-6988 Open Music Jam Hosted by Shannon Gilmore & Tommy Kaiser 7pm —Wired on Wrightsville, 3901 B Wrightsville Ave., 3996977 DJ Milk and Matt Evans —Sputnik, 23 N. Front St. DJ Turtle

Seneca Guns (8pm-midnight; Cover Band) —SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar, 227 Carolina Beach Ave N.; 707-0533 Liz Uhlman (10pm; Acoustic) —Goat and Compass, 710 N 4th St.; 772-1400 Machine Gun (10:30 pm; Rock Cover band) —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-3838 Johnny Cash Tribute w/ The Mikele Buck Band (10pm; $10) —Ziggy’s by the Sea, 208 Market St.; 769-4096 Kim Disco (8pm) —Fermental, 7250 Market St.; 821-0362 Overtyme (7-10pm; Eclectic Mix) —Gabby’s Lounge (Holiday Inn Resort), 1706 N. Lumina Ave., 256-2231 Tom noonan & Jane Houseal (Piano&Vocals) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666 Loose Cannons. (10pm; FREE; Hip-Hop) —The Calico Room, 107 S. Front St.; 762-2091 Mazlow w/ A Bottle Volcanic (8Pm; $5; Rock) —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

HOW TO SUBMIT A LISTING All entertainment must be sent to music@encorepub.com by the prior Wednesday for consideration in the weekly entertainment calendar. Venues are responsible for notifying encore of any changes, removals or additions to their weekly schedules.

Island Sunsets 5 SATURDAY $ 14 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 Baybreeze/Seabreeze 4 | www.encorepub.com $

Fried Lot (7-9:30pm; 90s Covers) —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115

Jerry Powell (7-9:30pm; Blues) —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115

Donna Merritt (Piano) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666

Tuesday, march 4

Gene Gregory (10pm; Americana/Acoustic Rock/ Alt. Country) —Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; 503-3040

Zion w/ Cell Block 2 —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

DJKahuna —Billy Goats, 6324 Market St., 392-3044

Stoney Creek (10pm; Singer Songwriter/ Americana/Rock) —Goat and Compass, 710 N 4th St.; 772-1400

Karaoke —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

Groove Fetish (rock/jam band) —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 Last in Line, How to Kill a Monster, Dearest We, Pet Names and Side Project (6pm; $7; rock/metal/alternative) —Orton’s, 133 N Front St, 343-8881 Tiki Torch Trio (6:30pm - 9:30pm; steel drum trio) —Delphina Dos, 5 S. Water St., 762-0700

Saturday, March 1 Piano —Circa 1922, 8 N. Front St.; 762-1922 DJ —Level 5/City Stage, 21 N. Front St.; 342-0872 DJ KeyBo —SideBar; 18 S. Front St., 763-1401 DjBe Extreme Karaoke (9pm) —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,763-1607 DJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499 Piano —Blockade Runner Beach Resort, 275 Waynick Blvd., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2251 DJ Battle —Dirty Martini, 1904 Eastwood Rd, Suite 109 Irish Music Jam 2pm —The Dubliner, 1756 Carolina Beach Road DJ DST and Matt Evans —Sputnik, 23 N. Front St. DJ Milk and SBz —Pravda; 23 N. Front St., Wilmington DJ Sir Nick (Top 40: House, Classic hits) —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 2562776 DJ Turtle —Station 21, 21 N. Front St., Wilmington, NC DJKahuna —Billy Goats, 6324 Market St., 392-3044 dj Alex A (10pm-2am) —Banks Channel Bar & Grille, 530 Causeway Drive; 256-2269 House/Techno DJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 Karaoke (9pm) —Schreiner’s Restaurant, 2206 Carolina Beach Rd.; 762-0220 Boba funk (7pm) —Fermental, 7250 Market St.; 821-0362 Johnny Folsom Four (9pm; $5; Johnny Cash Tribute) —Orton’s;133 N Front St, 343-8881 Beach Billy Brothers (8pm-midnight; Country/Soul/Rock) —SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar, 227 Carolina Beach Ave N.; 707-0533 Signal Fire (9pm; rock-Reggae) —Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; 503-3040 The Brady Smith Band (9pm, Country) —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-3838

Yesterday’s Gravy (10PM; $5; Eclectic) —Ziggy’s by the Sea, 208 Market St.; 769-4096 Jeremy Norris (Country) —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 Vita & The Woolfe (9pm; Electronic soul Pop) —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223

Sunday, March 2 Open Electric Jam hosted by randy o (6pm) —Locals Tavern, 6213 -D Market Street; 523-5621 Karaoke w/ DJ Double Down —Billy Goats, 6324 Market St., 392-3044 clay crotts & Shane (3-7pm) —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 Tyler Perry’s Chill Beats Lab (10pm) —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223

Blackboard Specials

DRUMMING with Ron & Eric (6:30-8:30pm) —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 763-3737

DJ Keybo —SideBar; 18 S. Front St., 763-1401 DJ Lee Pearson/shagging —Carolina Lounge, 5001A Market St.; 791-7595

Jazz Jam with Benny Hill w/ Christopher Luther (8pm) —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 Tauk (7pm; Rock) —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 Wes Sayer (Country/Rock) —Goat and Compass, 710 N 4th St.; 772-1400 TATSUYA NAKATANI (8pm; $10; experimental percussionist) —Squidco Records, 928 North 4th St.; 399-4847

Drumming with Ron and Eric(6:30-8:30pm) — Bottega Gallery & Art Bar, 208 N Front St.; 763-3737 Rich Lambert (7-9:30pm; Acoustic) —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115

Open Mic hosted by Thomas and Oglesby (7pm; drums, amps, full PA provided) —Halftime Sports Bar and Grill, 1107 New Pointe Blvd, Leland; 859-7188 Jammin’ with Jax: George Gardos, Leroy Harper Jr., Terry Nash, Larry Tull, Steve King, Gerard Torchio (7-10pm) —Jax Fifth Ave. Deli & Ale House, 5046 New Centre Dr.; 859-7374 Open Music Jam Hosted by Shannon Gilmore & Tommy Kaiser 7pm —Wired on Wrightsville, 3901 B Wrightsville Ave., 3996977 Karaoke —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001 Karaoke —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341 DJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499 DJ Lord Walrus (Dub-step, electro) —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 2562776

Karaoke w/ DJ Double Down —Billy Goats, 6324 Market St., 392-3044

DJ KeyBo —SideBar; 18 S. Front St., 763-1401

Electric Mondays w/ Brewtal —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

Karaoke —Brass Pelican; 2112 N. New River Dr., Surf City, NC 328-4373

Josh Solomon Duo —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341 open mic night (8pm) —Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St. 763-2223 Iration, the Movement, Natural Vibrations (9PM; $18-$20; Reggae) —Ziggy’s by the Sea, 208 Market St.; 769-4096 Laura McLane (9pm; Blues-Rock) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666

timmy pierce Acoustic Mix

FRI.

kennedy park Classic Rock

SAT.

Clay Crotts Alternative

MAR 8

1706 North Lumina Ave. • (910) 256-2231

1610 Pavilion Place 910-256-0102

Karaoke w/ dj amp —Locals Tavern, 6213 -D Market Street; 523-5621

MONDAY, march 3

Karaoke —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

SAT.

MAR 7

Karaoke (9pm) —Bourbon Street, 35 N Front St.; 762-4050

Norma Jean (6PM; $12-$15; Metalcore) —Ziggy’s by the Sea, 208 Market St.; 769-4096

OVERTYME Eclectic Mix

College Night Karaoke —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666

Reggae —Lazy Pirate Sports Bar and Grill, 701 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach; 458-5414

Satellite Bluegrass Band (6-10pm) —Satellite Bar & Lounge, 120 Greenfield St.; 399-2796

FRI.

FEB 28 MAR 1

wednesday, march 5

Karaoke with Damon —Black Sheep Tavern, 21 N. Front St. (basement); 3993056

LIVE MUSIC

World Tavern Trivia hosted by Mud —Buffalo Wild Wings, 5533 Carolina Beach Rd., Monkey Junction; 392-7224

James jarvis (Acoustic Jazz piano 1:30PM) —Old Books on Front Street, 249 N. Front St.; 762-6657

DJ Battle —Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl; 509-1551

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Open Mic w/ John Ingram —Wired on Wrightsville, 3901 B Wrightsville Ave., 3996977

Monday

FRIday

$1 Tacos • $3 Wells $10 Domestic Buckets Free Pool

MAC AND JUICE

TUESDAY

$2 Draft Specials

Karaoke with Carson

saturDAY

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM TOURNAMENT $2 Bud Light & Miller Light

WEDNESDAY INTERNATIONAL NIGHT $1 cans • $3 wells

THURSDAY College Night $5 Cover & 1¢ Domestic Drafts

Comedy show www.deadcrowcomedy.com $2 bombs • $3 beer $4 wells

SUNDAY ILM’s Famous Sunday Funday with DJ Battle 1/2 Price Wine Bottles Karaoke with Carson

L I V E M ULISNIECUP

2.28 FRIDAY NIGHT ROCKS

Benny Hill (Jazz) —Sweet N’ Savory Cafe, 1611 Pavillion Pl.; 256-0115 Open Mic w/ Acoustic Tsunami (9pm; Free) —Cardinal Bands & Billards, 5216 Carolina Beach Rd.; 793-6000 Dylan Linehan (9pm; Old-Time, Folk) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666 OPEN MIC NIGHT w/ Sean Thomas Gerard (9pm; ALL ACTS WELCOME; FREE) —The Calico Room, 107 S Front St.; 762-2091

MACHINE GUN

3.1 SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

BRADY SMITH BAND ALL DAY, EVERYDAY

$2 PBR

$4 FIREBALL 1331 MILITARY CUTOFF RD I 910-256-3838

WILDWINGCAFE.COM

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 15

For Tickets and more information

BrooklynArtsNC.com 910-538-2939 FREE PARKING • CASH BAR • ATM ON SITE

Visit our website and join our mailing list for event announcements and updates.

516 North 4th Street | Historic Downtown Wilmington, NC 16 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

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Concerts outside of Southeastern NC

Thursday ________________________________________

TRIVIA WITH STEVE

8:30 p.m. • PRIZES! • $250 yuengling drafts

Friday ____________________________________________

LIVE MUSIC

FEB.28 - Alex W.Young • mar.7 - the blarney brogues

Saturday ________________________________________ Sunday

BREAKFAST BUFFET

9:00 A.m.- 1:00 P.M.• $4 BLOODY MARY’S AND MIMOSA’S 1423 S. 3rd St. DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON 763-1607 NC STAYS TRIPPY: Juicy J comes to The Fillmore in Charlotte on Tursday, February 27th, the Linconln Theatre in Raleigh on the 28th and the Myrtle Beach House of Blues on Saturday, March 1st in support of his new album Stay Trippy. Courtesy Photo

CAT’S CRADLE 300 E. MAIN STREET, CARRBORO, NC (919) 967-9053

2/28: Lost in the Trees, All Tiny Creatures; Dylan LeBlanc, Josh Moore (Back Room) 3/1: Jon Shain Trio, Anna Rose Beck (Back Room) 3/3: Stephen Malkmus 3/4: mewithoutYou 3/5: Shovels & Rope, Hurray for the Riff Raff

ZIGGY’S 170 W. 9th st., winston-salem, nc (336) 722-5000 2/28: Dressed to Kill 3/1: Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands

AMOS’ SOUTHEND 1423 South Tryon STREET, Charlotte, NC (704) 377-6874 2/27: Attila, I see Stars 2/28: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic 3/1: Familiar Faces w/ Vybe Band

THE FILLMORE 1000 Seaboard stREET, charlotte, nc (704) 549-5555 2/27: Juicy J 3/1: Rick Ross 3/2: Emblem3 3/3: Vertical horizon & Tonic

NORTH CHARLESTON PAC/COLISEUM 5001 Coliseum dr., n. charleston, sc (843) 529-5000 3/4: Celtic Woman

MOTORCO MUSIC HALL 723 RIGSBEE AVE., durham, NC (919) 901-0875 2/28: Look Homeward, Morning Brigade

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arts > visual

Modtage and More: Group show at Acme focuses on collage By: Sarah Richter

t seems like collage as an art form has been around for centuries. Yet, the term and genre as we are familiar with did not emerge officially until the 20th century. . The leading Cubist artists, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, added non-painted elements to their work to provide a new perspective, which, ultimately, reflected the evolution of modern art. Though not invented by Braque and Picasso, collage can trace its origins back to Japanese calligraphers who used to apply glued pater to create texture when writing poems. Gold leaf and precious gemstones were applied to painted panels of Gothic cathedrals in medieval Europe, and collage methods also were employed by hobbyists for memorabilia albums. Today collage is not as shocking as those works by the rebellious Picasso, but they are vitally important and relevant to the current art world and production. Always keeping us informed on the most cutting-edge local works, Acme Art Studios reminds us through their lat-

est exhibition, “Collage,” of the importance of emerging artists flourishing in the medium The idea for the exhibition came from Acme and local mixed-media artist Michelle Connolly. “After coming back from a trip to Australia, I took a look at our winter calendar and noticed that the first couple of months were looking empty,” she explains. She has taken on a curatorial role with the exhibition and summoned over a dozen artists showcase work. “I wanted to invite fellow artists whose work I admire, focusing on the common theme of collage,” Connolly states. Connolly also wanted to open doors for new emerging artists like Mavis Martini. A film-set decorator by day and collage artist by night, Martini will make her inaugural debut in a public art space. Having lived in Wilmington since 1989, she always was drawn to creative endeavors. In fact, she can’t really pinpoint when she became an artist. “When I was in college, I used to cut up magazines to make party invitations and band flyers, so that could be when I started doing collage,” Martini ruminates. When Martini moved to Wilmington, she

Blow Yourself Up: A new collage piece by Mavis Martini is one of many showcased in a group show at Acme Studios. Courtesy photo.

started channeling her creativity in the film industry. Currently, she’s working on “Under the Dome.” But her personal passion for collage was reignited during Cucalorus 2012. “After seeing the film ‘Beauty is Embarrassing,’ I felt inspired to do something fun for no reason but my own amusement,” she says. “I was going to decoupage something, but it didn’t really work, so I just started making my ‘modtages’ instead.” Martini coined “modtage” as a play on words, which refers to a montage’s combination of elements and the glue product, known as Mod Podge, used in decoupage. “Beauty is Embarrassing” follows the story of puppeteer Wayne White’s journey to see his dreams as an artist come to fruition. His infallible dedication struck something within Martini, who now creates her own colorful and dynamic art. C “I’m inspired by the aesthetics of the advertising world of the 1950s through the mid ‘70s,” Martini notes—“the optimism and excitement for the future they reflected in what seems now to be an irrational exuberance or even absurd.” Aside from finding inspiration through retro advertising, Martini also combines manufactured images with the natural world. “There’s

18 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

never a shortage of National Geographic at the thrift stores!” she quips. Alongside Martini, newcomer Leslie Pearson will showcase her works, too. After moving to Wilmington in 2006, she met Connelly at Acme and has begun to integrate herself into the arts community. Working in a variety of mediums, Pearson primarily works in encaustic painting, bookmaking and sculpture. The pieces she features in “Collage” consist of layering. “One piece in particular, ‘Lottie’s Place,’ is a mixedmedia painting that incorporates burned book pages, encaustic medium, a digitally printed image on silk crepe de chine and pigmented wax,” Pearson explains. “Combined, these layers begin to reveal a narrative to the viewer that is simultaneously haunting and calming. The mystery of the image is balanced by the order and rhythm of the burned-away, alluding to the notion that there are, and will always be gaps in the story of our personal histories.” Pearson notes she creates pieces in response to new challenges, environments, and relationships. Such elements focus on memory, identity, and communication. Other participating artists in Collage are Karen Crouch, MJ Cunningham, Elizabeth Darrow, William Fridrich, Diane Hause, Fritzi Huber, Nicolle Nicolle, Abby Spangel Perry, Colleen Ringrose, Dick Roberts, Pam Toll, Gayle Tustin and Katherine Webb.

DETAILS: Collage Group show and reception February 28th, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Hangs through March 21st Acme Art Studios • 711 N. 5th Ave. www.acme-art-studios.com

Gallery Guide

What’s hanging around the Port City the beautiful color, some environmental references, and let’s not forget one of our favorite holidays: it was exactly two years ago on St. Patrick’s Day we opened the doors of our new location. A diverse collection of art and craft by leading regional artists including Catherine Lea, Rebecca Humphrey, Ann Parks McCray and many more! Can’t make it to the Gallery? Visit us online at your convenience: www.newelementsgallery.com.

Artfuel.inc 2165 Wrightsville Ave. (910) 343 5233 Mon.-Sat., noon-7 p.m. www.artfuelinc.com

Artfuel is pleased to bring a oneman showing of Fleetwood Covington. The Wilmington local has a national client base, and has works shown in the House of Blues. All are welcome! The show will hang six weeks.

ArtExposure! 22527 Highway 17N, Hampstead, NC 910-803-0302 • 910-330-4077 Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (or by appt.)

River to Sea Gallery

www.artexposure50.com

Go to Artexposure50.com and check out Classes for Adults and Teens as well as Classes for Children. “Paint by Wine” will be offered on selected Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m., with Karen Crenshaw.

CAPE FEAR NATIVE 114 Princess St. • (910) 465-8811 Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.capefearnative.com

Join us for next Friday’s Art Walk, 6-9 PM. Featured is jewelry designer Claudia Bustamante. Claudia uses natural materials from her native Colombia to craft unusual and colorful jewelry. Claudia’s company Lativa also roasts wonderful coffee! Cape Fear Native features art, jewelry, pottery, photography and more, all original designs by local artists in the Cape Fear area. We also have sail bags by Ella Vickers and jewelry by Half United. Stop in and support your local creative community.

FIGMENTS GALLERY

NOW AT CAPE FEAR NATIVE: Jewelry designer Claudia Bustamante will showcase her works made of natural materials from her native Colombia.

225 S. Water St., Chandler’s Wharf (free parking) (910)-763-3380 Tues.-Sat. 11am-5p; Sun. 1-4pm.

Mountain Sculptors is a professional artist organization based out of the Asheville area. The show is being curated by local sculptor Dumay Gorham of Acme Art Studios. The show opens Wednesday, February 12th, and closes Friday, March 14th. The Fourth Friday reception is scheduled for February 28th, from 6-9pm.

River to Sea Gallery showcases the work of husband and wife Tim and Rebecca Duffy Bush. In addi-

tion, the gallery represents several local artists. The current show will enthrall visitors with its eclectic collection of original paintings, photography, sculpture, glass, pottery and jewelry. “Morning Has Broken” features works by Janet Parker. Come see Janet’s bold use of color and texture to reveal local marsh creeks and structures.

SUNSET RIVER Marketplace 10283 Beach Dr., SW (NC 179) (910) 575-5999 Tues.- Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. sunsetrivermarketplace.com

In the historic fishing village of Calabash, North Carolina, over 10,000-plus square feet of fine arts and crafts showcases artists from the two Carolinas. Clay art and pottery; oil paintings, watercolors, mixed media, pastels and acrylics; plus award-winning metalworks, wood pieces, hand-blown glass, fiber art, artisan-made jewelry and more. Sunset River Marketplace has become a popular destination for visitors, a gathering place for artists and a center of the community, thanks to its onsite pottery studio, complete with two kilns; a custom master framing department; and art classrooms for workshops and ongoing instruction.

New Elements Gallery 201 Princess St. • (919) 343-8997 Tues.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-6p.m. (or by appt.) www.newelementsgallery.com

“Going Green” is the new show, hanging February 28th through March 22nd, with an artist reception as part of Fourth Friday Gallery Night, downtown, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. “Going Green” opens itself to any interpretation; visitors will see all shades of

1319 Military Cutoff Rd. Ste. II 910-509-4289 Tues.-Fri.: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. www.figmentsgallery.com

Figments Gallery offers a unique selection of art, jewelry and various forms of fine craft created by talented artists. Come by for a Figments First Friday open house each month from 6 p.m. to 8 pm. Inspiring new work and themes change monthly.

WILMA W. DANIELS GALLERY 200 Hanover St., CFCC parking deck, first level 910-362-7431 Tues.-Fri., noon - 5 p.m.

Cape Fear Community College presents “Mountains Sculptors’ Small Works Show.” The

Tasty Author’s Weekend 2014 www.tastybooktours.com

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Readers Luncheon Co-Hosted by Candis Terry & Jennifer Bernard Friday Feb 28th, 12pm - 2pm ($30.00 Ticket) Book Fair/Signing Saturday March 1st, 3pm - 5:30pm, Free Admission, Open to Public - Featuring Pamela Palmer and Joanne Rock and Many More

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 19

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Joyless Regurgitation:

arts > film

reel to reel films this week

‘RoboCop’ remake tries to be too serious

Cinematique

By: Anghus

amenting about the woeful lack of originality in Hollywood is hardly novel. Much like politics or religion, it’s a topic discussed often but rarely comes to any real resolution. Simply put, Hollywood studios are averse to risk. They always finance the familiar rather than risk resources on something original. It’s this kind of logic that gets us a February chock full of remakes and reboots. Last weekend alone, I had the option of seeing a remake of “Endless Love,” a remake of “About Last Night,” or a remake of “RoboCop.” Out of morbid curiosity, I chose “RoboCop,” primarily because I love the original so much. It’s an ‘80s schlock masterpiece that is one of the most brutal, violent and hilarious action movies ever committed to celluloid. For what it attempts to be it is practically perfect; however, the remake is not. I’m mildly irritated by the deluge of remakes and re-imaginings that clutter the cinematic landscape, but for the most part it’s harmless. When Hollywood trotted out Brad Pitt and George Clooney in a remake of “Oceans 11,” cinephiles rolled their eyes, but there wasn’t a huge swell of indignation. Why? Because the movie isn’t a cultural staple or a well-loved classic. It is just a thing that existed and has some level of recognition; it gets repackaged for a new era of film fans. Soderbergh himself said that while he loved the idea of a star-studded caper film, he was not a big fan of the Rat Pack original. So, while the core concept might be lazy, there’s still a goal of improving upon the source material—to deliver audiences a better (or unique) version of the same story. I suppose if you’re going to be a re-make apologist, that is the best-case scenario. “RoboCop” manages to fail in delivering on that promise in the most spectacular of ways. There’s a pre-title action sequence that is mindblowing in its awesomeness—a scene which involves a Bill O’Reilly-like television pundit who is acting as a corporate shill for a company that has developed super intelligent robots. The robots happen to be enforcing American will in foreign nations. It’s a chilling scene that depicts how menacing and terrifying drone warfare can become, as citizens are scanned by scary-looking humanoid robots deciding whether they are friend or foe. When a bunch of locals decide to fight back against their robot oppressors, they are eviscerated swiftly, and dispatched violently. It’s a scenario so plausible it’s a little frightening. Back when the original “RoboCop” came out, the idea of corporatecontracted robot peacekeepers was an awesome sci-fi fantasy. Almost 30 years later, it feels like an inevitability.

GUARDED AND TASED: The new RoboCop doesn’t even have a loaded gun; only a taser to beat down the enemy. WTF? Courtesy photo

The first five minutes of the film are a great mix of sobering, satirical surrealism. For a moment I thought we were going to get a “RoboCop” worthy of the original. After the titles rolled, a different movie began. A toothless and passionless, by-the-numbers remake clocked a record time into its descent into boredom. Like the original, there is a good-natured, hard-as-nails cop named Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman). Murphy gets killed and brought back to life thanks to cutting-edge technology. OCP, the company behind this technology, is looking for a new type of cyborg hybrid so that lawmakers can start shaping policy to allow robots to patrol the streets of the U.S. So, they roll out RoboCop to try to win hearts and minds. The original “RoboCop” achieved a beautiful symmetry of action and humor. It was so wonderfully over-the-top and committed to the premise. The new “RoboCop” commits to the premise. They spend a lot of time and effort on the idea that a corporation would go to heinous lengths to push an agenda at the expense of innocent people. The original film was so amusing because of the comical, scenerychewing exploits of the corporate executives. The new version commits the cardinal sin that plagues so many remakes: There’s little joy in the new “RoboCop” because it tries to be far too serious. Director José Padilha (“Elite Squad”) strips apart the original like a hack mechanic in a chop shop. He forgets this movie is supposed to be fun; instead he tries to make it smart. I can’t fault him for it, but the movie is just way too deadpan. It reminded me of that joyless “Total Recall” adaptation from 2012—the one where they swapped out a mugging, overacting Arnold Schwarreznegger and cast Colin

Ferrell doing his best Zoolander impression. The most apt metaphor I can find for this flaccid remake is how RoboCop dispatches his foes. They took away his gun and replaced it with a taser. Now, instead of brutally gunning down his opponents into a bloody pulp, he hits them with a taser that shocks them into submission. This non-lethal version of “RoboCop” is laughably disappointing. I wish studios would stop regurgitating these remakes with such frequency.

DETAILS: RoboCop ★★★★★ Directed by José Padilha Starring Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton Rated PG-13

Cinematique at Thalian Hall’s Main Stage (unless otherwise noted) 310 Chestnut Street • $8 Mondays through Wednesdays (unless otherwise noted), 7:30 p.m. www.thalianhall.org 2/26: Nominated for six academy awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (Bruce Dern), “Nebraska” is captivating audiences across the country. After receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father (Dern) thinks he’s struck it rich, and wrangles his son (Will Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the best, most talked about films of the season. (R, 1hr, 50min.)

3/3-5: “Inside Llewyn Davis” (pictured)—written, directed and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and John Goodman—is about one week in the life of a singer who is active in New York’s folk music scene in 1961. Although Llewyn Davis is a fictional character, the story was partly inspired by the autobiography of folk singer Dave Van Ronk. Most of the folk songs performed in the film are sung in full and recorded live. (R; 104 minutes.)

War Horse Lumina Theater • 601 S. College Rd. Thurs., February 27th, 7 p.m. www.uncw.edu/olli • (910) 962-3195 $10-$20

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) presents “War Horse,” a National Theatre Live in HD production at Lumina Theater. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford, War Horse takes audiences on an amazing journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of World War I France. Fueled by a poignant soundtrack, this powerful drama uses life-size puppets by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring heaving, galloping, charging horses to dramatic life on stage. All area movie listings and paragraph synopses can be found at encorepub.com.

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 21

22 encore | february 26 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

Cucalorus Celebrates the Oscars:

arts > film

First fund-raiser for local film fest ramps up March 2nd By: Shea Carver

he Oscars take place March 2nd in Hollywood, and Wilmington’s own Cucalorus Film Festival will be celebrating the crème de la crème of filmmaking in style. As part of Cucalorus’ annual fund-raising efforts to continue bringing edgy independent films to Wilmington every November (next festival is November 12th through 16th), their annual “Evening on the Red Carpet,” held at Screen Gems Studios, pairs creative flair with local panache while celebrating the Academy Awards. The 2014 party will continue allowing participants to clock in their own predictions. For $20 a ballot, folks can choose who they think will win in a multitude of categories, from Best Film of 2013 to Best Actor, Supporting Actress and more. The person with the most correct predictions will win the pot at the end of the night, with half of the proceeds benefitting Cucalorus. “My big wish is that ‘The Act of Killing’ will win Best Documentary,” Cucalorus’ director, Dan Brawley, admits. “It’s one of those films you just can’t look away from, and you just can’t quite believe what is happening on the screen. I’m still haunted a wee bit by what happens in that film, and I really think they deserve recognition for achieving something so singularly confounding.” Cucalorus screened the documentary at its 2013 festival. As well, it screened the animated short, “Feral,” which also is up for the Oscar. Out of the features, Brawley says “Dallas Buyers Club” tops his personal favorite. “Partly because our old friend, Tracy Kilpatrick, had a hand in the casting, but its a long shot,” he notes. Between “12 Years a Slave” and “Gravity,” the real showdown lies in which of the two will take home the Oscar. The films tied at the Producers Guild Awards. “I think some critics feel like ‘American Hustle’ also has a good chance,” Brawley explains. “All that said, ‘Short Term 12’ was the best film of the year. I was bummed Brie Larson didn’t get a nomination. Cucalorus has big lovebombs for Brie Larson!” This year Cucalorus will screen the Oscars across three platforms, which all will be closed caption so folks can read up on all the action. “People sometimes have a hard time catching all the funnies and whatnot when the party’s roaring along,” Brawley says. “And we’ll have a few other tricks to roll out.” The annual auction, coordinated by Cathy Meriam, will feature bigger and better items, including helicopter rides. Cucalorus will introduce its new board members, too. “And we’re going to lock up the mayor on the set of ‘Sleepy Hollow,’” Brawley teases. “OK, we do have helicopter rides—the mayor thing, well, we’ll

RED-CARPET CUCALORIANS: The Cucalorus staff bombard the red carpet at last year’s Oscar party; (l. to r.) Ryan Jaccard, Ash McGuire, Jill Teft, and Dan Brawley. Courtesy photo.

enue generated from the fund-raiser only provides roughly 10 percent of their total budget. “We have big shoes to fill as we stage our 20th anniversary celebration in November,” Brawley notes. “We have a very diverse collection of revenue, from ticket sales to sponsorships and grants. But [the Oscar party] is what gets it all started.” Cucalorus remains one of the largest festivals in Wilmington and distributes roughly 14,000 tickets during the five-day event annually. Their estimated economic impact equals about $5.5 million in our film-friendly town. More so, it brings in out-of-town participants, as well as filmmakers who can find more than one reason to enjoy our beaches, historic downtown

and local offerings. Cucalorus has been noted “One of the Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine in 2013. It continues to host screenings and programs in dance, music, social justice and forums for emerging artists who want to show their works-in-progress. Tickets to the Oscar party are $100 for individuals and $180 for couples. Corporate tables also are available. Purchasers will not receive tickets but will check in on the guest list upon arrival.

DETAILS An Evening on the Red Carpet Fund-raiser for Cucalorus March 2nd, 2014 Screen Gems Studio • 1223 N 23rd St. Tickets: $100-$180 www.cucalorus.org

just have to see.” Part of Cucalorus’ Oscar fun is the main appeal of the red carpet. Folks flock to the event in creative and even black-tie attire to show off their fashionable best. Winners of Best Dressed receive Cucalorus Pegasorus passes, which allow all-access to the November festival. “People have fun getting dressed up and then having their picture-faces made,” Brawley says. “It’s like Facebook gold, right? I’m working on some new red carpet moves myself, but I’m a little clumsy so it could be a minor disaster but, again, only in the best ways.” People usually begin hitting the red carpet around 7 p.m. and the party officially gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Food will be available from Angie’s Catering, and superior cocktails will be served from mixologist craftsmen Ian Murray and Joel Finsel of Manna, along with Jason Sargis from 9 Bakery and Lounge. The cocktails will represent some of the Oscar category nominees. “My fave is the Trey Herring Carolina Bourbon-based recipe for ‘12 Years a Slave,’ which includes three dashes of bitterness,” Brawley says. John Gray, of local production studio Parallelogram, will be doing comedy in between commercial breaks, too. “[It] makes me a little nervous,” Brawley quips, “but in all the good ways.” All monies raised for the event present a boost to the start-up capital that Cucalorus needs to help finance their first round of staff. The revencore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 23

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arts > theatre

Emotional Landscape:

Lead actress gives a stand-out performance that lives up to its subject but also a voice so beautiful that she could sing a song about genocide (and does allude to it in “Waltz for Eva and Che”) that would still shine. Does she sell the story of Eva Peron? Completely. Does she sell the show? Absolutely. It is worth the price of admission alone to hear her sing this score—and it is a far more memorable performance than Madonna gave in the film version. Touching on gentleness, remorse, desire, pain, frustration and a range of human emotions that a caricature of this character would ignore, Goehring-Garrett’s rendition resonates. The design team has put together a really lovely world in which Evita and her populace can thrive. Scenic Asylum has a very bare, mostly scaffolding set with some nice scroll work to suggest the time period (1930s to early 1950s). Costumer Juli Harvey got almost 35 people through multiple costume changes, including military platoons, political rallies, parties and daily life. Outfitted in mainly drab colors to make Evita’s colorful ensembles really pop and sparkle in comparison, the strategic costuming of the ensemble cast delivers. Most of the color on stage comes through the shifting,

By: Gwenyfar Rohler

pera House Theatre Company opened their 29th season with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita” on the main stage of Thalian Hall. In his producer’s note in the program, Lou Criscuolo discussed his renewed faith in the bond between audience and performer. Certainly, “Evita” encompasses a story that speaks very directly to bonds. Evita herself connected endlessly with the people of Argentina; thus, the star who plays the role must carry over that connection with the audience. Following their 1971 success with “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Tim Rice became fascinated with the story of Eva Peron, the deceased wife of then-deposed Argentine President Juan Peron. Webber, however decided he wanted to concentrate on a musical adaptation of PJ Woodehouse’s stories, which turned out to be a commercial failure. In the mean time, Peron had been returned to power in Argentina after almost 20 years of exile. The time seemed ripe for the musical “Evita” when the pair recorded the concept album in 1976 and mounted the stage show in 1978. The story is structured very similarly to their most recent hit, “Superstar:” with an everyman narrator dismayed by how much things have gone off track. In this case it is Che, sung beautifully by Jon Berry. His disillusionment and frustration focus on the rising star of Eva Duarte (Kendra Goehring-Garrett), an illegitimate girl from the sticks who has her sights set on being an actress in the big city, Buenos Aires. She cons Agustín Magaldi (Tracy Byrd) into taking her with him to the city in a riveting scene of emotional blackmail played out in “On This Night of a Thousand Stars” and the answering “Eva Beware of the City.” Once there she begins a meteoric rise which culminates in a love match with Juan Peron (Jeff Phillips), a military general involved in the delicate dance of musical chairs necessary to be the future president of Argentina (wonderfully illustrated in “The Art of The Possible”). Using her star power and the voice of her weekly radio show, Eva campaigns for Peron and wins the election and the hearts of Argentines. As Che looks on, and raises uncomfortable and confrontational questions, Eva’s popularity soars higher, only to be grounded by her early death at the age of 33 from cancer. It is a love affair not so much between a man and a woman as it is between a star and her adoring public. The ensemble of close to 35 performers boast voices that make every part of the score ascend. Beautifully choreographed by Ray Kennedy and Tracy Byrd, the world of

shining world of Dallas LaFon’s lighting which constantly shades and textures the world as Evita’s fortune shifts, and attention changes. For a season opener to illustrate the reflection of the stage in real life, Opera House picked the right show. More so, they picked the right star to showcase the play’s ranging emotions.

DETAILS Evita ★★★★★

Fri., Feb. 28 - Sat., Mar 1st, 8 p.m., with Sun. matinee, 3 p.m. Thalian Hall • 310 Chestnut St. Tickets: $29 www.thalianhall.org (910) 632-2285

COMMANDING THE STAGE: Jeff Phillips and Kendra Goehring-Garrett emote as the Perons in Evita. Courtesy photo

Argentina comes alive with the art of dance. One could argue that the major exports of Argentina to the US have been beef and the Tango—a delicate, passionate and stylized dance that tells stories deeper than words. This visual metaphor is clearly the key note of Kennedy and Byrd’s vision for the pop opera. The music proves essential to every aspect of the show and Lorene Walsh has assembled a 15 member orchestra that impassions every note and carries the audience through the complex terrain encompassed in this musical. Despite a powerful ensemble and strong principal cast, the success of the show hinges on one person: Evita. Does the portrayal of the star live up to expectations? Much like with the announcement of “Les Mis” last year, when I heard “Evita” was coming, I started fantasy-casting the lead in my head. There are so many talented singers and actresses in town, but I narrowed it down to about four people that I thought could really sing and play the part. Evita commands the stage for almost every song and carries the entire show on her back. The production’s Evita must embody the presence of a woman who captured an entire nation. Enter Kendra Goehring-Garrett who combines not just charisma, wonderful dancing skills, and a performance that is captivating, encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 25

grub&guzzle

$5.99 lunch specials, Outdoor Patio

Southeastern NC’s premier dining guide

out. ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT:

Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: 2 locations-Midtown (910-7989464) and Monkey Junction (910-392-7224) ■ MUSIC: Live music Friday and Saturday in the

Summer

■ WEBSITE: www.buffalowildwings.com

DIXIE GRILL

THAI SPICE ach Road Ste. G 5552 Carolina Be (910) 791-0044

AMERICAN OGDEN TAP ROOM

Wilmington’s go to Southern Gastro-Pub. With a menu featuring some southeast favorites and a few from the bayou. Ogden Tap Room offers a selection the whole family will enjoy. With 40 beers on tap from around the world, The O Tap is a Craft Beer Enthusiast dream come true. Ogden Tap Room also has a great wine selection as well as a full bar featuring the areas largest Bourbon selection. You are sure to leave Ogden Tap Room a happy camper. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Thurs 11:00am-Midnight, Fri & Sat 11:00am-1:00 am, Sunday Noon - Midnight. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Ogden ■ FEATURING: Live Team Trivia Tues 7:30-9:30pm ■ MUSIC: Every Thursday 8:00-10:00 ■ WEBSITE: www.ogdentaproom.com

BLUEWATER

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 Sun. during the summer months. Large parties welcome. Private event space available. BluewaterDining.com. 4 Marina Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC. (910) 256.8500. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Fri 11a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sat & Sun 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Waterfront dining ■ MUSIC: Music every Sunday in Summer ■ WEBSITE: www.bluewaterdining.com

Blue Surf Café

Sophisticated Food…Casual Style. We offer a menu that has a heavy California surf culture influence while still retaining our Carolina roots. We provide a delicate balance of flavors and freshness in a comfortable and inviting setting. We offer a unique breakfast menu until noon daily, including waffles, skillet hashes and sandwiches. Our lunch menu is packed with a wide variety of options, from house roasted pulled pork, to our mahi and signature meatloaf sandwich. Our dinner features a special each night along with our house favorites Braised Beef Brisket, Mojo Pork

and Mahi. All of our entrees are as delicious as they are inventive. We also have a full beer and wine list. Come try the “hidden gem” of Wilmington today. 250 Racine Drive, Wilmington 910-523-5362. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Monday to Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Daily Specials, Gluten Free Menu, Gourmet Hot Chocolates, Outdoor Patio, New Artist event first Friday of every month and Kids Menu. ■ WEBSITE: www.bluesurfcafe.com

CATCH

Serving the Best Seafood in South Eastern North Carolina. Wilmington’s Native Son, 2011 James Beard Award Nominee, 2013 Best of Wilmington “Best Chef” winner, Chef Keith Rhodes explores the Cape Fear Coast for the best it has to offer. We feature Wild Caught & Sustainably raised Seafood. Organic and locally sourced produce & herbs provide the perfect compliment to our fresh Catch. Consecutively Voted Wilmington’s Best Chef 2008, 09 & 2010. Dubbed “Modern Seafood Cuisine” we offer an array Fresh Seafood & Steaks, including our Signature NC Sweet Potato Salad. Appetizers include our Mouth watering “Fire Cracker” Shrimp, Crispy Cajun Fried NC Oysters & Blue Crab Claw Scampi, & Seafood Ceviche to name a few. Larger Plates include, Charleston Crab Cakes, Flounder Escovitch & Miso Salmon. Custom Entree request gladly accommodated for our Guest. (Vegetarian, Vegan & Allergies) Hand-crafted seasonal desserts. Full ABC Permits. 6623 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405, 910799-3847. ■ SERVING DINNER: Mon.-Saturday 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Acclaimed Wine List

BUFFALO WILD WINGS

If you’re looking for good food and an atmosphere that’s fun for the whole family, Buffalo Wild Wings is the place! Award winning wings and 20 signature sauces and seasonings. Plus…salads, wraps, flatbreads, burgers, and more. Tons of Big screen TVs and all your favorite sports. We have daily drink specials, a HUGE draft selection, and Free Trivia all day every day. Come in for our Weekday Lunch Specials, only $5.99 from 11am-2pm. Visit us for Wing Tuesdays with 60 cent wings all day long, or Boneless Thursdays with 60 cent boneless wings all day long. Buffalo Wild Wings is a great place to dine in or take

26 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

The Dixie Grill has undergone numerous transformations over the years. It has been a white linen establishment, a no-frills diner and pool hall, a country café and now a classic American diner. The menu hearkens back to an aesthetic that equated good food with freshness, flavor and a full stomach. This combination has earned The Dixie Grill the Encore Reader’s Choice award for “Best Breakfast” and “Best Diner” several times. Call the Dixie an homage to the simplicity of southern cuisine, call it a granola greasy spoon, call it whatever you like. Just sit back, relax and enjoy!.

■ WEBSITE: www.halligansnc.com

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 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. SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun. - Mon. 11 a.m.10 p.m.; Tues.- Fri.: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sat.: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Daily blackboard specials. ■ MUSIC: Live Music beginning at 5:30 p.m. ■ WEBSITE: www.henrysrestaurant.com.

Holiday Inn Resort

OPEN 7 days a week. Serving Breakfast and Lunch daily from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown Wilmington

Oceans 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. (910) 256-2231. 1706 N Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach. ■ BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Sat.. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Waterfront dining ■ WEBSITE: www.holidayinn.com

Elijah’s

K’s Cafe

■ SERVING BREAKFAST and LUNCH:

Since 1984, Elijah’s has been Wilmington, NC’s outdoor dining destination. We feature expansive indoor and outdoor waterfront dining, with panoramic views of riverfront sunsets. As a Casual American Grill and Oyster Bar, Elijah’s offers everything from fresh local seafood and shellfish to pastas, sandwiches, and Certified Angus Beef selections. We offer half-priced oysters from 4-6 every Wednesday & live music with our Sunday Brunch from 11-3. Whether you are just looking for a great meal & incredible scenery, or a large event space for hundreds of people, Elijah’s is the place to be. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11:3010:00; Friday and Saturday 11:30-11:00 ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown Wilmington Kids menu available

HALLIGAN’S PUBLIC HOUSE

“Failte,” is the Gaelic word for “Welcome,” and at Halligan’s Public House it’s our “Motto.” Step into Halligan’s and enter a world of Irish hospitality where delicious food warms the heart and generous drinks lift the spirit. Be sure to try Halligan’s house specialty, “The Reuben,” number one with critics and of course our customers. One bite and you’ll understand why. Of course, we also serve a full selection of other delicious entrees including seafood, steak and pasta, as well as a wide assortment of burgers, sandwiches (Halligan’s Cheese Steak), and salads. And if you are looking for a friendly watering hole where you can raise a glass or two with friends, new and old, Halligan’s Public House boasts a comfortable bar where fun-loving bartenders hold court daily and blarney fills the air. Stop by Halligan’s Public House today, “When you’re at Halligan’s....you’re at home.” With 12 beers on tap and 16 flat screen TVs, you can watch your favorite game and enjoy your favorite drink. Enjoy two locatons: 3317 Masonboro Loop Rd., and 1900 Eastwood Rd. in Lumina Station. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 Days a Week Monday-Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOODS: Masonboro Loop & Lumina Station ■ FEATURING: The Best Reuben in Town!,

Visit us in our new location on the corner of Eastwood and Racine - 420 Eastwood Rd, Unit 109. “Where the people make the place” If you’re looking for a warm and friendly atmosphere with awesome homecooked, freshly prepared meals, you can’t beat K’s Cafe. K’s Cafe is the best deal in Wilmington.They offer chargrilled burgers, including their most popular Hot Hamburger Platter smothered in gravy! They also offer great choices such as fresh chicken salad, soups, and even a delicious Monte Cristo served on French toast bread. K’s also offers soup, sandwich and salad combos and a great variety of homemade desserts. On Sundays they offer a great brunch menu. A variety of choices will be on the menu such as Eggs Benedict. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Give K’s Cafe a try...you won’t be sorry. 420 Eastwood Rd., Unit 109, 791-6995. Find us on Facebook. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH: 7 DAYS A WEEK. Monday - Friday. 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. And Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Serving several pita options, as well as new lighter selections! ■ WEBSITE: www.ks-cafe.net

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 fourcourse meal, or indulge in appetizers and desserts outside on the back deck or in the bar while watching luminescent jellyfish. Reservations are appreciated for parties of any size. Located at the corner of Front and Orange in Downtown Wilmington. 138 South Front Street. (910) 251-0433. ■ SERVING DINNER: 5pm Tue-Sun; seasonal hours, Memorial Day-Labor Day open 7 days a week. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: “Date Night” menu every Tues.; Ladies Night every Wed; $27 4-course prix fixe menu on Thurs.; 25% off a’ la cart menu on Fri. from 5-7

p.m. and half price bottles of wine on Sun. ■ MUSIC: Mon., Fri. & Sat. in summer from 5-7 p.m. ■ WEBSITE: www.littledipperfondue.com

PINE VALLEY MARKET

Pine Valley Market has reigned supreme in servicing the Wilmington community for years, securing encore’s Best-Of awards in catering, gourmet shop and butcher. Now, Kathy Webb and Christi Ferretti are expanding their talents into serving lunch in-house, so folks can enjoy their hearty, homemade meals in the quaint and cozy 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 take-home frozen meals for nights that are too hectic to cook, and don’t forget to pick up a great bottle of wine to go with it. 3520 S. College Road, (910) 350-FOOD.

Sunday 4 p.m. -.9:30 p.m. ■ Neighboorhood: Mayfaire ■ Featuring: Authentic Thai Cuisine ■ Website: www.bigthainc.com

BLUE ASIA

Mon.-Fri.10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sun. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South ■ FEATURING: Daily specials and take-home frozen meals ■ WEBSITE: www.pinevalleymarket.com

Blue Asia serves a wide range of Asian and Pacific Rim cuisines, in Chinese, Japanese and Thai, prepared by experienced chefs. By offering only the freshest seafood, meats and vegetables, chefs prepare classic sushi rolls, nigiri and sashimi, as well as hibachi tempura dishes, and favorites like Pad Thai or chicken and broccoli. A large selection of appetizers, such as dumplings and spring rolls, along with homemade soups and salads, make Blue Asia a fusion experience, sating all palates. Folks dine in an upscale ambiance, transporting them to far-away metropolises. We always serve a full menu, and we specialize in the original all-you-can-eat, made-to-order sushi for lunch ($11.95) or dinner ($20.95). With specialty cocktails and full ABC permits, we welcome families, students, young professionals and seasoned diners alike. 341 S. College Rd., Ste 52. 910-799-0002. www.blueasiabistro.info ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Wed, 11am10pm; Thurs-Sat, 11am-10:30pm; Sun, noon-10pm. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, near UNCW ■ FEATURING: All-you-can-eat, made-to-order sushi for lunch ($11.95) or dinner ($20.95). ■ WEBSITE: www.blueasia.info

TROLLY STOP

SZECHUAN 132

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

Trolly Stop Hot Dogs is a five-store franchise in Southeastern North Carolina. Since 1976 they have specialized in storemade chili, slaw and various sauces. As of more recently, select locations (Fountain Dr. and Southport) have started selling genuine burgers and cheese steaks (Beef & Chicken). Our types of hotdogs include beef & Pork (Trolly Dog), all-beef (Sabrett), pork smoked sausage, Fat Free (Turkey) & Veggie. Call Individual Stores for hours of operation or Look at our website trollystophotdogs.com Catering available, now a large portion of our business. Call Rick at 297-8416 for catering and franchise information. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ LOCATIONS: Wrightsville Beach (910) 256-3921

Southport (910) 457-2012 Front St. Wilmington (910) 251-7799 Fountain Dr. (910) 452-3952 Boone, NC (828) 265-2658 ■ WEBSITE: www.trollystophotdogs.com

ASIAN BIG THAI II

From the minute you walk through the door to the wonderful selection of authentic Thai cuisine, Big Thai II offers you a tranquil and charming atmosphere - perfect start to a memorable dinner. For the lunchtime crowd, the luncheon specials provide a great opportunity to get away. The menu is filled with carefully prepared dishes such as Pad Thai (Chicken, Beef, Pork or Tofu pan-fried rice noodles with eggs, peanuts, bean sprouts, carrots, and chives in a sweet and savory sauce) and Masaman Curry (The mildest of all curries, this peanut base curry is creamy and delicious with potatoes, cashew nuts and creamy avocado). But you shouldn’t rush into a main entrée right away! You will be missing out on a deliciously appetizing Thai favorite, Nam Sod (Ground Pork blended with fresh chili, green onion, ginger and peanuts). And be sure to save room for a piece of their fabulous Coconut Cake! A trip to Big Thai II is an experience that you’ll never forget. If the fast and friendly service doesn’t keep you coming back, the great food will! 1319 Military Cutoff Rd.; 256-6588 ■ Serving Lunch: Mon-Fri 11 a.m. -.2:30 p.m. ■ Serving Dinner: Mon-Thur 5 p.m. -.9:30 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday 4 p.m. -.10 p.m.;

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

YOSAKE DOWNTOWN SUSHI LOUNGE

Lively atmosphere in a modern setting, Yosake is the delicious Downtown spot for date night, socializing with friends, or any large dinner party. Home to the never-disappointing Shanghai Firecracker Shrimp! In addition to sushi, we offer a full Pan Asian menu including curries, noodle dishes, and the ever-popular Crispy Salmon or mouth-watering Kobe Burger. Inspired features change weekly showcasing our commitment to local farms. Full bar including a comprehensive sake list, signature cocktails, and Asian Import Bottles. 33 S. Front St., 2nd Floor (910) 7633172. ■ SERVING DINNER: 7 nights a week @ 5PM; SunWed until 10pm, Thurs until 11pm, Fri & Sat until Midnight. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: 1/2 Price Sushi/Appetizer Menu nightly from 5-7, until 8 on Mondays, and also 10-Midnight on Fri/Sat. Tuesday LOCALS NIGHT 20% Dinner Entrees. Wednesday 80S NIGHT - 80s music and menu prices. Sundays are the best deal downtown - Specialty Sushi and Entrees are Buy One, Get One $10 Off and 1/2 price Wine Bottles. Nightly Drink Specials. Gluten-Free Menu upon request. Complimentary Birthday Dessert. ■ WEBSITE: www.yosake.com - @yosakeilm on Twitter & Instagram. Like us on Facebook.

INDOCHINE RESTAURANT & 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. Located at 7 Wayne Drive (beside the Ivy Cottage), (910) 251-9229. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

Tues.- Fri. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. for lunch. Mon.- Sun. 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. for dinner. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.indochinewilmington.com

SUNNY SUSHI & LOUNGE

Delight in a delectable range of “gateway” sushi and contemporary takes on classic Japanese cuisine in a hip and simple setting. Our fusion sushi makes use of unique ingredients such as seared steak and blue crab, offering downtown Wilmington a fresh and modern taste. Offering over 85 different sushi rolls, many are titled in quintessential Carolina names, such as the Dawson’s Creek, the Hampstead Crunch, and the Queen Azalea. We focus on fresh, organic ingredients, and seek to satisfy guests with dietary restrictions—we have many vegetarian options, for instance. Our selections feature exotic ingredients such as eel and octopus, while we even offer rolls using sweet potatoes or asparagus. Dine with us and discover the tantalizing flavors you’ve been missing. 141 N. Front St.; (910) 833-7272 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm; Sat. 12pm-2pm. Dinner: Mon-Thurs: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sun: 5 p.m.-9 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Sunny Maki Combo Specials: 3 sushi rolls for $11.95 daily.

THAI SPICE

From the flavorfully mild to the fiery spiced, Thai Spice customers are wooed by the dish that’s made to their specifications. Featuring a tasteful menu of traditional Thai standards to numerous delectable house specials, it’s quickly becoming the local favorite for Thai cuisine. This family-run restaurant is sure to win you over. If you haven’t discovered this gem, come in and be charmed. Whether it be a daytime delight, or an evening indulgence, your visit will make you look forward to your return. Located in Monkey Junction at 5552 Carolina Beach Rd., Ste. G. (910) 791-0044. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tue.-Th.: 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Sun.: 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South ■ WEBSITE: www.ThaiSpiceWilmington.com

CAJUN BOURBON ST

At Bourbon St., the food, style and atmosphere are New Orleans-bred but Carolina-refined. It features the unique decoration of a typical New Orleans bar, as it seems to have been extracted from the heart of the French Quarter. The classic French style and the laidback American culture come together to offer us a unique place where joy can be inhaled at every breath. The authentic Southern decorations in Bourbon St. were carefully selected at antique houses, garage sales and thrift shops found in the streets of the Big Easy. It enables us to offer you the true experience of being in the heart of the French Quarter: Bourbon St. It’s the best place to enjoy with friends, with the

rhythm of live music, the classic taste of typical Cajun food, and the best beers available in our market. 35 N. Front St.; (910) 762-4050. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Authentic Creole Cajun cuisine, live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday with no cover. Try our famous charbroiled oysters.

INDIAN TANDOORI BITES

Located on College Road, just opposite Hugh MacRae Park, Tandoori Bites offers fine Indian cuisine at affordable prices. Try one of 74 dishes on their lengthy menu, featuring a large range of side dishes and breads. They have specialties, such as lamb korma with nuts, spices and herbs in a mild creamy sauce, as well as seafood, like shrimp biryani with saffron-flavored rice, topped with the shellfish and nuts. They also have many vegetarian dishes, including mutter paneer, with garden peas and homemade paneer, or baingan bharta with baked eggplant, flamed and sautéed with onions, garlic and ginger. Join their cozy eatery, where a far east escape awaits all diners, among a staff of friendly and helpful servers, as well as chefs who bring full-flavored tastes straight from their homeland. Located at 1620 South College Road, (910) 794-4540. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-11 p.m.; Sat 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-11 p.m.; Sun 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-9 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown. ■ FEATURING: Lunch buffet, which now serves South Indian cuisine. ■ WEBSITE: www.tandooribites.net.

IRISH THE HARP

Experience the finest traditional Irish family recipes and popular favorites served in a casual yet elegant traditional pub atmosphere. The Harp, 1423 S. 3rd St., proudly uses the freshest ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible, to bring you and yours the most delicious Irish fare! We have a fully stocked bar featuring favorite Irish beers and whiskies. We are open at 5 a.m. every day for both American and Irish breakfast, served to noon weekdays and 2 p.m. weekends. Regular menu to 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends. Join us for djBe Open Mic & Karaoke - Irish songs available! - 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and half-price wine bottles all day Tuesdays; Harp University Trivia with Professor Steve Thursdays 7:30 p.m.; djBe karaoke and dancing 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturdays and live music Wednesday and Fridays call ahead for schedule 910-763-1607. Located just beside Greenfield Lake and Park at the south end of downtown Wilmington, The Harp is a lovely Irish pub committed to bringing traditional Irish flavor, tradition and hospitality to the Cape Fear area. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER:

Open at 6 a.m. every day for both American and Irish breakfast, served to noon weekdays and 2 p.m. weekends. Regular menu to 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenfield Lake/Downtown South ■ FEATURING: Homemade soups, desserts and breads, free open wifi, new enlarged patio area, and big screen TVs at the bar featuring major soccer matches worldwide. ■ MUSIC Live music Wednesdays and Fridays call 910-763-1607 for schedule; djBe open mic and karaoke Tuesdays 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m, and djBe karaoke and dancing Saturdays 9 p.m - 1:30 a.m. ■ WEBSITE www.harpwilmington.com

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 27

ITALIAN AMORE PIZZA AND PASTA

We believe fresh ingredients and good conversation are what makes a meal. You will discover that pleasure and happiness does not stop with the food we prepare, but will spill over into the warm, casual atmosphere we provide. Every guest is a welcome part of our family from the moment they walk through the doors. Whether you are looking for a fresh salad from the garden, a hot sub from the oven, a dish of pasta, or a pizza straight from your own creation; you will find it here! From calzones, strombolis and meatballs, every dish is made fresh to order. Our homemade dough and sauce is made daily, as we strive for the best, using the highest quality ingredients. Complete your meal with our decadent desserts, such as the popular Vesuvius cake or our Chocolate Thunder cake. We serve cheesecake, cream puffs, and madeto-order cannolis and Zeppoli. We offer cozy outdoor seating, big-screen TVs—and ice cold beer served with a frosted glass, as well as wine. Please call for daily specials, such as homemade lasagna and brisket. 2535 Castle Hayne Rd.; (910) 762-1904. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Thurs: 11am to 9pm; Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm; Sun: 11am-7pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington near the airport ■ FEATURING:$4.99 lunch special: 2 slices and a drink, from 11 am-3pm; $4.99 10in. pizza after 3pm; $4.99 for 6 wings all day

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 pizzas. Its American influences include tasty burgers, the U.S.A. Salad and a 16 oz. 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. 503 Olde Waterford Way, Leland. (910) 383.1885. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.- Thurs. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South. ■ FEATURING: Weekly Specials ■ WEBSITE: www.RomanellisRestaurant.com.

ELIZABETH’S PIZZA

A Wilmington favorite since 1987! At Elizabeth’s you’ll find authentic Italian cuisine, as well as some of your American favorites. Offering delicious pizza, salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, beer, and wine. Elizabeth’s is known for their fresh ingredients, where even the bread is baked fresh daily. A great place for lunch, dinner, a late night meal, or take out. Elizabeth’s can also cater your event and now has a party room available. Visit us at 4304 ½ Market St or call 910251-1005 for take out. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 10am-Midnight every day ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown (Corner of Market St and Kerr Avenue). ■ WEBSITE: www.epwilmington.com ■ FEATURING: Daily specials, kids menu and online coupons.

Fat Tony’s Italian Pub

Fat Tony’s has the right combination of Italian and American influences to mold it into a unique familyfriendly restaurant with a “gastropub” feel. Boasting such menu items as Penne alla Vodka, Beef Lasagna, and mix-and-match pasta dishes (including a glutenfree penne), Fat Tony’s is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Add in homemade, hand-tossed, New York style pizzas, 8oz Angus burgers, and deliciously plump chicken wings, and you’ve got a game day in heaven. Proudly supporting the craft beer movement, they

have an ever-changing selection of small-brewery beers included in their 25-tap lineup – 12 of which are from NC. They have over forty bottled beers, great wines, and an arsenal of expertly mixed cocktails that are sure to wet any whistle. Fat Tony’s has two petfriendly patios – one looking out onto Front Street and one with a beautiful view of the Cape Fear River. With friendly, efficient service and a fun, inviting atmosphere, expect to have your expectations exceeded at Fat Tony’s. It’s all good. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Monday-Thursday 11 am-10 pm; Friday-Saturday 11 am-Midnight; Sunday Noon-10 pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: www.fatpub.com ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials until 3pm and late night menu from 11pm until closing.

Pizzetta’s Pizzeria

Family-owned and operated by Sicilian cousins Sal and Vito, Pizzetta’s Pizzeria has become Wilmington’s favorite place for homey, authentic Italian fare served with precision and flavor like none other. Made daily from family recipes, folks will enjoy hand-tossed pizzas——gourmet to traditional——specialty heroes and pastas, homemade soups and desserts, and even daily blackboard specials. Something remains tempting for every palate, whether craving one of their many pies or a heaping of eggplant parm, strombolis and calzones, or the famed Casa Mia (penne with sautéed mushrooms, ham, peas in a famous meat sauce with cream). Just save room for their buttery, melt-in-your-mouth garlic knots! Ending the meal with their pastry chef’s carefully crafted cannolis, Tiramisu or gourmet cheesecake, alongside a cup of freshly made espresso or cappuccino, literally makes a perfect end to one unforgett able and desirable meal. Located in Anderson Square at 4107 Oleander Dr., Unit F, Wilmington (910-799-4300) or Pizzetta’s II, Leland, 1144 E. Cutler Crossing, St., Ste 105, in Brunswick Forest. ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER: ILM location: Mon.Sat., 11 a.m., and Sun., noon. • Leland location: Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m. -11 p.m.; Sun., noon - 9:30 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown Wilmington and coming soon, Brunswick Forest in Leland ■ FEATURING: Homemade pizzas, pastas, soups and desserts, all made from family recipes! ■ WEBSITE: www.pizzettas.net

SIENA TRATTORIA

Enjoy authentic Italian food in a beautiful, warm, casual setting. Whether dining indoors or in our courtyard, Siena is the perfect neighborhood trattoria for the entire family to enjoy. From our delicious brick oven pizza to elegantly prepared meat, seafood, and pasta specials, you will find a level of cuisine that will please the most demanding palate, prepared from the finest and freshest ingredients. ■ SERVING DINNER: at 4 p.m. Daily. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South. 3315 Masonboro Loop Road, 910-794-3002 ■ FEATURING: Family style dinners on Sundays ■ WEBSITE: www.sienawilmington.com

SLICE OF LIFE

“Slice” has become a home away from home for tourists and locals alike. Our menu includes salads, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, homemade soups, subs and, of course, pizza. We only serve the freshest and highest-quality ingredients in all of our food, and our dough is made daily with purified water. Voted “Best Pizza” and “Best Late Night Eatery.”All ABC permits. Visit us downtown at 122 Market Street, (910) 2519444, in Wrightsville Beach at 1437 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 101, (910) 256-2229 and our newest location in Pine Valley on the corner of 17th and College Road, (910) 799-1399. ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT:

28 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

11:30 a.m.-3 a.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, Downtown and Wilmington South. ■ FEATURING: The largest tequila selection in Wilmington ■ WEBSITE: www.grabslice.com

JAMAICAN JAMAICA’S COMFORT ZONE

Tucked in the corner of University Landing, a block from UNCW is the hidden gem of Wilmington’s international cuisine scene - Jamaica’s Comfort Zone. This family owned restaurant provides a relaxing blend of Caribbean delights – along with reggae music – served up with irrepressible smiles for miles. From traditional Jamaican breakfast to mouth-watering classic dishes such as curry goat, oxtail, jerk and curry chicken, to our specialty 4-course meals ($12.00) and $5.99 Student meal. Catering options are available. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tuesday - Saturday 11:45am - 9:00pm and Sunday 1:30pm - 8:00pm Sunday. Monday - Closed ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown – University Landing 417 S. College Road, Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Weekly Specials updated daily on Facebook ■ WEBSITE: www.jamaicascomfortzone.net

LATIN AMERICAN SAN JUAN CAFE

Offering the most authentic, gourmet Latin American cuisine in Wilmington. With dishes from countries such as Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Cuba you’ll be able to savor a variety of flavors from all over Latin America. Located at 3314 Wrightsville Avenue. 910.790.8661 Follow us on Facebook/Twitter for live music updates! ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon Sat. 11 a.m.2:30 p.m. and from 5-10 p.m. Closed Sunday. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Nightly specials ■ WEBSITE: www.sanjuancafenc.com

ORGANIC LOVEY’S MARKET

Lovey’s Market is a true blessing for shoppers looking for Organic and Natural groceries and supplements, or a great place to meet friends for a quick, delicious and totally fresh meal or snack. Whether you are in the mood for a Veggie Burger, Hamburger or a Chicken Caesar Wrap, shoppers will find a large selection of nutritious meals on the a la carte Lovey’s Cafe’ menu. The Food Bar-which has cold salads and hot selections can be eaten in the newly expanded Lovey’s Cafe’ or boxed for take-out. The Juice Bar offers a wide variety of juices and smoothies made with Organic fruits and vegetables. Specializing in bulk sales of grains, flours, beans and spices at affordable prices. Lovey’s has a great selection of Local produce and receives several weekly deliveries to ensure freshness. Lovey’s also carries Organic GrassFed and Free-Range meats and poultry. Wheat-Free and Gluten-Free products are in stock regularly, as are Vegan and Vegetarian groceries. Lovey’s also carries Wholesome Pet Foods. Stop by Lovey’s Market Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 am to 6 p.m.. Located at 1319 Military Cutoff Rd in the Landfall Shopping Center; (910) 509-0331. “You’ll Love it at Lovey’s!” ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Café open: Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.(salad bar open all the time). Market hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown FEATURING: Organic Salad Bar/Hot Bar, New Bakery with fresh, organic pies and cakes. Newly

expanded.

■ WEBSITE: www.loveysmarket.com.

TIDAL CREEK CO-OP KITCHEN

Come dine-in or take-out from the newly renovated Co-op Kitchen at Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market. You can fill your plate or box with hot bar and salad bar items that are prepared fresh daily in our kitchen. Made-to-order sandwiches, like the Tempeh Reuben, are served hot off the Panini grill. The Co-op Café offers organic smoothies and fresh juices; local wheatgrass shots; fair trade organic coffee, lattes, and chai tea; and our newest addition of Lenny Boy kombucha tea on tap. Don’t forget our baked-fromscratch baked goods! The Co-op Kitchen provides menu items that appeal to everyone, regardless of dietary demands. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon. - Fri. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ■ WEEKEND BRUNCH: Sat & Sun, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ■ SALAD BAR: Mon. - Sun, 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. ■ SANDWICHES: Mon. - Sun, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. ■ BAKERY & CAFE: Mon. - Sun, 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: indoor/outdoor seating, free Wi-Fi ■ WEBSITE: www.tidalcreek.coop

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 comfort able 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. (910) 7622827. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days a week. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Fresh daily steamed oysters. ■ WEBSITE: www.dockstreetoysterbar.net

HIERONYMUS

Hieronymus Seafood is the midtown stop for seafood lovers. In business for over 30 years, Hieronymus has made a name for itself by constantly providing excellent service and the freshest of the fresh in local seafood. It’s the place to be if you are seeking top quality attributes in atmosphere, presentations, flavor and ingenuity. Signature dishes include Oysteronymus and daily fresh catch specials. Hieronymus has all ABC permits and also provides catering services. Voted “Best Seafood” in 2011. 5035 Market Street; 910-392-6313; hieronymusseafood.com ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Fireside oyster bar. ■ WEBSITE: www.hieronymusseafood.net

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. 703 S. Lumina Avenue, Wrightsville Beach. (910) 256.5551. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Dining on the Crystal Pier.

■ WEBSITE: www.OceanicRestaurant.com

Pilot house

The Pilot house Restaurant is Wilmington’s premier seafood and steak house with a touch of the South. We specialize in local seafood and produce. Featuring the only Downtown bar that faces the river and opening our doors in 1978, The Pilot House is the oldest restaurant in the Downtown area. We offer stunning riverfront views in a newly-renovated relaxed, casual setting inside or on one of our two outdoor decks. Join us for $5.00 select appetizers 7 days a week and live music every Friday and Saturday nigh on our umbrella deck. Large parties welcome. Private event space available. 910-343-0200 2 Ann Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11am9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm and Sunday Brunch 11am3pm. Kids menu ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Riverfront Downtown Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Fresh local seafood specialties, Riverfront Dining, free on-site parking ■ MUSIC: Outside Every Friday and Saturday

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster BaR

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar is thrilled to now serve customers in its new location at 109 Market Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington (910-833-8622). It’s the place you want to be to catch your favorite sports team on 7 TV’s carrying all major sports packages. A variety of fresh seafood is available daily including oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and crab legs. Shuckin’ Shack has expanded its menu now offering fish tacos, crab cake sliders, fried oyster po-boys, fresh salads, and more. Come in a check out Shack’s daily lunch, dinner, and drink specials. It’s a Good Shuckin’ Time! The original Shack is located in Carolina Beach at 6A N. Lake Park Blvd.; (910) 458-7380. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Sat 11am2am; Sun noon-2am ■ NEIGHBORHOODS: Carolina Beach and Downtown ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials, join the mailing list online ■ WEBSITE: www.pleasureislandoysterbar.com

SOUTHERN CASEY’S BUFFET

In Wilmington, everyone knows where to go for solid country cooking. That place is Casey’s Buffet, winner of encore’s Best Country Cookin’/Soul Food and Buffet categories. “Every day we are open, somebody tells us it tastes just like their grandma’s or mama’s cooking,” co-owner Gena Casey says. Gena and her husband Larry run the show at the Oleander Drive restaurant where people are urged to enjoy all food indigenous to the South: fried chicken, barbecue, catfish, mac‘n’cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken‘n’dumplings, biscuits and homemade banana puddin’ are among a few of many other delectable items. 5559 Oleander Drive. (910) 798-2913. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesdays. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Pig’s feet and chitterlings.

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 UNC W, this lively sportsthemed restaurant. Covered and open outdoor seating is available. Lunch and dinner specials are offered

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & ■ LATE NIGHT: 11am-2am daily. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: 40 HD TVs and the biggest HD

projector TVs in Wilmington. ■ WEBSITE: www.CarolinaAleHouse.com

HELL’S KITCHEN

This is downtown Wilmington’s Sports Pub! With every major sporting package on ten HDTVs and our huge HD projection screen, there is no better place to catch every game in every sport. Our extensive menu ranges from classics, like thick Angus burgers 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, the atmosphere and friendly service will turn you into a regular. Open late 7 days a week, with free WiFi, pool, and did we mention sports? Free downtown lunchtime delivery on weekdays; we can accommodate large parties. 763-4133. ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & ■ LATE NIGHT: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: 1/2 priced select appetizers Monday

- Thursday 4-7 p.m. ■ WEBSITE: www.hellskitchenbar.com

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN sealevel gourmet

Having opened in early spring 2013, Sealevel Gourmet is the new baby of Chef Nikki Spears. Spears wanted a place to cook what she eats: well-executed, simple, snacky, and sandwichy, seasonally changing meals. From a nearly guilt-free American veggie cheeseburger, to fresh sushi, fish and shrimp “burgers,” falafel, fish tacos and avocado melt pitas, Spears caters to the needs of gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and lactose-intolerant diets, which includes cookies and seasonal pies. This winter try Sealevel’s small-batch soups and sauteed greens. Their Kale Nacho Program has met an appreciative audience, along with their portobello lentil patty mellt. Their Carolina vegan dog and German vegan dog can satisfy the tube-steak hankerings of staunch flesh-eaters and are a very affordable introduction to the fun foods featured at Sealevel. The fried oysters, and the newly introduced “oyster dog,” are embedded in the specials menu during the season. The inshore catch, speckled trout and flounder, make delightful fish dogs and sandwiches! With spring around the corner, folks can expect deliciously healthful smoothies as part of Sealevel’s Cool TReats PRogram! Check the web and Facebook for updates, and stop by for a to-go menu and a biz card. Beer, wine and sake served! Drop by daily for lunch, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., or for dinner, Thurs. - Sat., 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. 1015 S. Kerr Ave. 910-833-7196. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., daily; Thurs-Sat., 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Closed Tuesdays ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, near UNCW ■ FEATURING: Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, lactose-intolerant and seafood-friendly fare! ■ WEBSITE: www.sealevelcitygourmet.com

! s l a e d .com

SPORTS BAR

daily, as well as the coldest $2 and $3 drafts in town. 317 South College Road. (910) 791.9393.

Your one-stop discount connection Half-Price Vouchers

NEW GRUB AT B-DUBS CHICKEN CHIPOTLE BLT

BLEU CHEESE PRIME RIB WRAP

BOURBON HONEY MUSTARD

PRIME RIB AND POTATO GRILLER

Old Eastwood Rd. 910.798.9464

Monkey Junction 910.392.7224 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 29

extra > best of 2014

Best Of Wilmington:

t’s the time of year when Wilmington starts singing the praises of its locals. Businesses, theatre companies, artists, thespians, musicians, humanitarians, volunteers, media, bloggers ... they’re all recognized as the crème de la crème in encore’s annual reader’s poll—a poll which has been taking place well over 25 years in Wilmington. We hold the official Best Of moniker. In 2014, between nominations and final votes, we culminated over 20,000 voices to crown the winners. Nominations opened in mid-November 2013 and closed in early December, before final voting opened midDecember and closed mid-January 2014. All voting was done by encore readers through our online voting system, featuring 136 categories. We try to be as fair as possible, and while we encourage local businesses and groups to campaign so their patrons/fans to vote for them, we do lay a few ground rules in campaigning practices: 1) No stuffing the ballot box! That means you can’t vote under multiple email addresses or encourage customers and employees to do so. 2) No voting on someone else’s behalf. If you have a list of email addresses that don’t belong to you, please, don’t fill out ballots in their names. 3) Do not entice patrons/fans into voting for you by offering specials, discounts or prizes in exchange for votes. After voting closes, we throw our annual Best Of Party and Fund-raiser. This year’s event was held at Brooklyn Arts Center on February 8th. The masquearde ball benefitted Kids Making It—a wonderful local nonprofit, which teaches woodworking skills to at-risk youth (see our cover story from encore’s February 12th edition for full info on KMI). Thanks to 600 tickets sold, numerous raffles, T-shirt, hoodie, and masquerade-mask sales, as well

as monies raised during our Best Of Battle of the Bands, KMI raised $7,223 and took home $5,000 after expenses. Our Best Of hosts, comedy troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps, entertained with a plethora of sketches across every category of award-winners. Their impeccable organization and outstanding massive team of members ensured audiences were never bored—especially with the Phantom of the Opera lurking about and haunting the room throughout the night. We laughed a ton, but we ate even more, thanks to a monster-load of food passed throughout the evening—and provided from our numerous nominees in food and beverage (thank you, all!). And we danced to music from DJ Magic Marker and our Best Of band nominees. Speaking of which: 2014 saw a six-way tie for Best Band! No Dollar Shoes, L-Shaped Lot, Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine, Mike Blair and the Stonewalls, the Bibis Ellison Band and Machine Gun all received equal votes. Because of previous engagements, only three bands were able to play the ceremony. No Dollar Shoes, Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine, and Mike Blair and the Stonewalls churned out a lovely mix of Americana, bluegrass and indie-rock. They each played two songs and allowed the audience to vote on the winner with dollars donated to KMI. No Dollar Shoes came out on top! Just so you can see the fabulosity of the attendees who dressed to the nines, as well as the run-down of winners and a whole lotta pictures of the evening (thanks to Sean Carr Photography and Holland Dotts Photography), flip through encore’s Best Of editions, February 19th through March 12th; all writeups will be online at www.encorebestof.com on March 19th to access throughout the rest of the year. Welcome the Best Of Wilmington class of 2014—winning looks great on them!

Recognizing the greats across our southeastern locale By: Shea Carver & Christian Podgaysky

ABOVE: Twins Jesse and Carson Jewell play in Wilmington’s Best Band No Dollar $hoes, which won the 2014 Battle of the Bands at the encore masquerade ball for Kids Making It on Feb. 8th at Brooklyn Arts Center. Photo by Holland Dotts

30 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

Port City Animal Hospital Place to Buy a New Car Bob King Volkswagen Place to Buy a Used Car Stevenson Honda Wine/Beer Shop Lighthouse Beer and Wine Bookstore Old Books on Front Gourmet Store Pine Valley Market Florist Julia’s Florist Hair Salon Bangz Hair Salon Seafood Catch Italian Osteria Cicchetti Mexican K38 Baja Grill Thai Restaurant Indochine French Brasserie du Soleil Fast Food Chick-fil-a Pizza Slice of Life Vegetarian Nikki’s Gourmet and Sushi Soul Food Casey’s Buffet, Barbecue and Home Cookin’ Barbecue Jackson’s Big Oak Barbecue Sub/Sandwich Shop Chop’s Deli

& Cafe Waitstaff The Copper Penny Breakfast The Dixie Grill Atmosphere Indochine New Restaurant 9 Bakery and Lounge Chain Restaurant Bonefish Grill Restaurant Overall Indochine Fine Dining Restaurant Circa 1922 Lunch Chop’s Deli Coffee Shop Port City Java Thespian Amy Tipton

Tattoo Parlor Artfuel Inc. Place to Buy Gas Costco Jeweler Perry’s Emporium Surf Shop Sweetwater Surf Shop Women’s Clothing Island Passage Men’s Clothing Bloke Shoe Store Monkees Real Estate Agency Intracoastal Realty Local Newscaster Ashlea Kosikowski Consignment (Home Decor) The Ivy Cottage

Chef Keith Rhodes (Catch, Phun)

Vintage/Consigment (Clothing) The Fairy Circle

Wings Copper Penny

Antique Shop Ivy Cottage

Burrito Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn

Ice Cream/ Frozen Dessert Kilwin’s

Mortgage Company Alpha Mortgage

Oysters Dock Street Oyster Bar

Sushi Nikki’s Gourmet and Sushi

Steak Port City Chop House

Buffet Casey’s Buffet, Barbecue and Home Cookin’

Burger PT’s Olde-Fashioned Grille Hot Dog The Trolley Stop

Appetizers Front Street Brewery Salads Whole Foods Desserts Sweet & Savory Bake Shop

Outdoor Dining Bluewater Grill Late Night Eatery Slice of Life Veterinarian

Car Wash Cruisers Car Wash Tanning Salon Tropical Tans Health Food Store Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market Gift Shop Blue Moon Gift Shops Hotel Hilton Wilmington Riverside

Adult Store Adam and Eve Motorcycle Shop Carolina Coast Harley Davidson Radio Personality Kim Czonij- 98.3 The Penguin Caterer Middle of the Island Sports Bar Carolina Ale House Neighborhood Bar Satellite Bar and Lounge Bartender Megan Loux (CF Wine and Beer) Bar Overall Satellite Bar and Lounge Wine List The Fortunate Glass Bowling Alley Ten Pin Alley Arcade/Game Room Jungle Rapids Pool Hall Blue Post Billiards Gym Planet Fitness Spa Head to Toe Shopping Plaza Mayfaire Town Center

Robbie Kass

Bozart Family Dentistry

Museum Cameron Art Museum

Chiropractor Back In Motion

Theatre Production Rocky Horror Show - City Stage

Alternative Medicine McKay Healing Arts

TheatrE Company Thalian Association

Japanese Restaurant Nikki’s Sushi & Japanese Steak House

Theatre Venue Thalian Hall Comedy Troupe Nutt St. Improv

Chinese Restaurant Szechuan 132

Local Newscast WECT

Moving Company Two Men and a Truck

Local Radio Station The Penguin 98.3

Indian Food Tandoori Bites

Morning Radio Show Foz and Laura-107.5

Bakery Apple Annie’s Bake Shop

Local Filmmaker Keith Welborn Local Website PortCityDaily.com Writer Celia Rivenbark Thing to Happen to Wilmington in 2013 Film Industry Success Deli Chop’s Deli Mediterranean The Greeks

Masseuse Mary Beth Redman

Place to Board a Pet Paw Beach

Tourist Attraction NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Dog Groomer Pups Play and Stay

Tour of Wilmington Springbrook’s Horsedrawn Carriage Tours

Personal Trainer LaMaine Williams

Live Music Venue Ziggy’s By the Sea

Kids’ Clothing Store Once Upon a Child

Local DJ DJ Battle

Local Independent Film Children of Salt

Dance Club Level 5 Place for Karaoke Katy’s Grill and Bar

Nonprofit Good Shepherd

Fries P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille Diner The Dixie Grill Garden Store The Plant Place Apartment Complex The Reserve at Mayfaire Blog Port City Foodies Panini Wayfarer Deli and Bistro Place to Bring Visitors USS North Carolina Battleship Place for First Date The Little Dipper Place to Propose Airlie Gardens Homemade Bread Sweet ‘n Savory Bake Shop & Cafe Homemade Soup Chop’s Deli Pet-Friendly Business Java Dog Coffee House

Place to Buy Musical Instruments Finkelstein Music

Local Humanitarian Bo Dean

Food Truck Flaming Amy’s Sacred Burrito Bus

Environmental Group Cape Fear River Watch

Auto Mechanic Black’s Tire and Auto Service

Place to Buy Music Gravity Records

Volunteer Bo Dean

Print Shop Dock Street Printing Company

Art Gallery Eclipse at Blue Moon

Take-Out Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn

Local Artist

Dentist

Write-In Category Beer List - Cape Fear Wine and Beer

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 31

Goods & Services PLACE TO BUY MUSIC

From 3-years-old Matt Keen knew his life path would contain a world of music in some form or fashion. Though classically trained in violin from his early 20s—and being accepted into the NC School of the Arts—he chose to pursue a degree in business management at UNCW. After working at Manifest Discs and Tapes in the ‘90s, upon their closing he wanted to ensure Wilmington still maintained its own record store to keep fueling the passion of sound to the masses. He opened Gravity Records in 2004; this year marks their 10th anniversary and quite a brithday party to come at their Castle Street location in August. “I picked the field of music because music moves everyone,” Keen says, “no matter who you are or what you’re into.” At Gravity folks can find the best in new and used CDs, vinyl, cassettes, and DVDS. They also extend their services not only to developing the most knowledge in genres of sound, but they repair audio gear, including turntables, CD players, speakers, recievers, tape dects, effects pedals, rack units and more. “Bands trust us to fix their gear,” Keen notes. “Music lovers bring in their turntables for new needles and belts, and people just getting into it all come to us with thrift-store

finds in need of minor cleaning and soldering touch-ups.” Their relationships with their peers, as well as close-knite ties to record labels and bands across the country keep the niche store ever-evolving. “We feed off of each other for ideas,” Keen notes. He strives to make his business a place of comfort—somewhere people can go to interact over their passion for bands and albums. Having moved last year, and bringing Keen’s wife, Lindsey, into the business, makes it cozier in familial terms—something they also strive with customers, treating everyone as if part of their own bloodline. Their store hosts two listening stations, and is centrally located in Castle Street’s Antique and Arts District within walking distance of cafés and coffee shops. “We’re basically a commercial street in the heart of a beautiful, friendly, and diverse neighborhood,” Keen notes. “The new location also gave us the opportunity to stock more product and have more room to work on audio equipment.” They increased in size from 1,800 square feet to over 2,000. In their constant transformation of brand and superb customer service (their staff also maintains a vast amount of music factoids and encyclopedic knowledge, including the Penguin’s afternoon DJ Eric Parsons), they make sure all items are reasonabley priced. “Vinyl is still the biggest item trending right

Voted

BEST PIZZA and

BEST LATE-NIGHT EATERY LARGEST TEQUILA SELECTION IN WILMINGTON!

LUNCH DINNER LATE NIGHT 11:30 a.m. until 3 a.m. Open 7 days a week 365 a year! Sorry no delivery All major credit cards accepted All ABC Permits • Dine in or Take Out PINE VALLEY Corner of 17th Ext. & S. College Rd. 910-799-1399 INDEPENDENCE MALL 3500 Oleander Dr. 910-791-6160

NORTH WILMINGTON 1437 Military Cuttoff Rd. 910-256-2229

DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON 122 Market St. 910-251-9444

NEW LOCATION COMING SOON IN DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON AT 125 MARKET ST

www.grabslice.com

32 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

PUT THE NEEDLE ON THE RECORD... Mike Blair and Michael Graham of Mike Blair and the Stonewalls (nominated for Best Band 2014) accept the award for their friends at Gravity Records for Best Place to Buy Music. Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

now,” Keen says, “along with affordable turntables, and that’s something we’re looking forward to more heavily stocking.” Folks who wish to follow the shop’s evolution must hit them up on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram for constant opportunities to catch discounts and win gift certificates. They’ll also promote in-house shows and events at Gravity. “We’re sort of marrying the Internet with the mom-and-pop shop,” Keen states. “It’s cool.” Moreso, they’ve taken home the coveted “e” for nie years now. Quite honestly, Keen says it never tires. “It wasn’t a panel of judges [voting for us,] he states. “It was the masses, and that feels really good.” Other music stores turning in votes include Yellow Dog Discs and Best Buy.

PLACE TO BUY A NEW CAR

Everyone remembers the appeal of the Volkswagen commercials from the late-’90s: presenting the perfect scenario of contenmentment, with a group of friends driving in a VW Cabrio convertible, the black sky sparkling with the moon and stars, as Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” played in the background. The highly successful ad started the relaunch of the famed VW branding, offering style, substance, and innovation, with a hip sense of nostalgia in the modern-day lifestyle. Locally, Bob King Automall, specifically their VW branch, tips the win for their first entry onto encore’s poll. Readers simply love Bob King Volkswagen as the Best Place to Buy a New Car in 2014. Maybe it’s the new, sleek Jettas, or the efficiency of the Passat, or maybe the redesign of the Beetle that once again keeps them returning. Whatever it is, it continues Bob King’s tradition of offering the best. “Robert S. King started out his love for automobiles in the late 1960’s when he first started working for General Motors Pontiac Division,” general manager Jason Wallace says. Locally, in 1972 Bob King Automall was born. Mr. King’s knowledge of cars remained

vast. He’s served as a Pontiac dealer, Mercedes-Benz dealer, GMC dealer, Buick dealer, and of course Volkswagen. The motto to remain top-notch across all platforms of vehicle offerings comes from one idea alone: “Service creates sales.” “Through running an honest business based on all aspects of customer service and personal relationships, a one-time customer becomes a customer for life,” Wallace says. “General Motors, MercedesBenz, and Volkswagen all have recognized the dealership’s values when it comes to customer service and sales through multiple awards and accolades.” Aside from garnering national and local recognition, the dealership also has a 75-percent repeat customer base. “The customer is truly king and has been for over 42 years,” Wallace assures. Like many dealerships, Bob King Automall has recognized the growth of shopping from home via online sales. In response, they’ve increased their Internet presence over the past few years. Plus, they’ve expanded service hours, and are constantly updating their facilities. “Mr. King feels that the locals are what have made this business and that is who we are here to serve through our sales and service departments,” Wallace maintains. “This win just reminds the dealership of that point.” 2015 will welcome a slew of new vehicles across the numerous Bob King lots: the

drick Toyota Scion of Wilmington.

JEWELER

building a mystery: encore general manager John Hitt and his wife Susan Hitt show off their masks at the Best Of Masquerade Ball for Kids Making It, held at Brooklyn Arts Center on February 8th. Courtesy Holland Dotts Photography

GMC Yukon, Mercedes-Benz CLA and GL, as well as the VW SportWagen. Constant product deliveries, including pre-ownded inventory, keeps them showcasing high-class options for any driver. Other dealerships driving onto our nominee list include Stevenson Mazda and Hen-

Folks know Alan Perry for many reasons. Aside from running a highly successful jewelry store, he attends a vast array of charity events every year and donates back to the community tenfold thanks to his success at Perry’s Emporium. Perry’s rounds out the number-one spot for Best Jeweler 2014, as the locals recognize him for his generosity, but also from his famed commericals. His showcase of fun and quirky campaigns, often promising a free engagement ring if it snows in some random place on some random day every Christmas, appeals to many. Paired with an outgoing endearment and tagline, “We’ll see ya when you get here,” he’s branded himself a local yokel to support whenever someone wants to sell gold, have a prized possession like a family heirloom fixed, or shop for a special anytime present. “Ever since I was about 16 years old I have been involved in the jewelry industry,” Perry says. It all started in the ‘80s in Charlotte; Perry and his brothers ran a family jewelry store. It wasn’t untill 1990 Perry wanted to branch out on his own, so, he moved to Wilmington and founded the emporium so well-known today. “My passion has continued to grow over the years as my sons become more involved with the family business and with their eagerness to learn all there is to know about the

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encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 33

jewelry industry,” he says. “My love for this business grows even stronger.” The pride of being family-owned and operated extends to customers. The staff’s constant compassion for every cleint’s needs keeps loyalty and commitment alive and well in extraordinary service. “We treat every item as if it was our own,” Perry says, “and ensure it gets the best quality service we can provide.” Though inventory changes regularly at the Barclay Commons’ store, Perry’s Emporium always embraces the new. That includes technology to attract upcoming generations of shoppers. “Being from an older generation you can dislike change, but you bring in younger blood and learn to embrace it,” Perry states. “You can teach an old dog a new trick or two!” Their Heartbeat pendant continues being a top-seller, and in upcoming months folks can expect to enjoy a Customer Appreciation Day at Perry’s. Plus he promises other fun events throughout 2014. “You never know what I may come up with!“ he quips. This marks the third win for Perry’s Emporium throughout the years. It’s one the owner and staff do not take for granted either. “We feel very blessed for being voted for by the locals,” he says. “When we’ve won previous years, we’ve gained new clients, and the recognition lets us know we must be doing something right, but we know we can always do better!”

Other nominees sparkling into second and third are REED’s Jewelers and Kingoff’s.

GARDEN STORE

At 6114 Market Street, The Plant Place cannot be missed. The pink and green building, owned and operated by Bill and Bobbie Edwards, has become revered for evolving its two greenhouses in 1976 into 34 in 2014, along with several quansit houses and a field-growing area. Along with a dedicated staff, including their shop manager, Dee Ivey, who has worked with them for 29 years, and greenhouse manager Shawna Hopson’s service for 11 years, they continue their adoration for all things green and growing. “We are passionate about our business because we grow all of our own plants, with the exception of tropicals,” Bobbie says. They work with exclusive plant brokers to help bring the best products to plant-loving customers. Bill’s degree in floriculture from Cornell University, and Bobbie’s business sense and artistic flair keep the store operating at break-neck speed. Not to mention, the funloving, happy eagerness they share with customers remains top priority. “We answer questions and take time with each customer,” Bobbie notes. “We know them by name, and if not, we make it a point to learn their names and faces. We offer advice, repotting services and good old-fashioned courtesy.”

A FAR EAST CAFE Thai • Vietnamese

Thank you Wilmington for your continued support and voting us

Best Thai, Best Overall Restaurant & Best Atmosphere

HOSTS WITH THE MOST: Ryan P.C. Trimble and Ben Henson of Pineapple-Shaped Lamps—the comedic hosts for the 2014 Best Of Masquerade Ball—announce a slew of award winners on Feb. 8th. Courtesy Holland Dotts Photography

The Plant Place keeps prices competitive, whether one’s shopping for an herb, vegetable, or flower garden. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, they also have an extensive garden gift shop for accessories, seasonal decorations and more. Currently, on the heels of hot-weather, they’re on the search for drought-tolerant plants which will be least problematic to grow. “We don’t sell plants that have a genetic problem (i.e. old-fashioned impatiens that carry a fungus),” Bobbie tells. “We only sell quality, and we dono’t skimp on anything, by using quality soil and fertilizers, along with giving all plants tender-loving care.” As well, they will offer demos and classes occasionally to help educate the public on garden-keeping and maintanence. By following trade magazines and interior-design trends, the crew constantly adds new products to the public. “It’s very gratifying to be chosen by our customers,” Bobbie says. “It reminds us how important they are to us. We won last year, and to be chosen again is so humbling.” Other garden centers sprouting up on our poll include The Transplanted Garden and Progressive Gardens.

PLACE TO BUY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Tues - Sat: Lunch 11am - 2pm NOW OPEN MONDAY EVENINGS! Mon - Sun: Dinner 5pm - 10pm

34 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

7 Wayne Drive

(Market Street at Forest Hills)

910-251-9229 www.indochinewilmington.com

Like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow says, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” This is precisely why Finkelstein’s Music continues servicing Wilmingtonian’s needs for being the Best Place to Buy Musical Instruments.

Having actually started over a century ago in 1906, Finkelstein’s is a landmark at the corner of Market and Front streets in downtown Wilmington. It began as a general store, and sold all sorts of items throughout the years. Today, Finkelstein’s stands tall as a jewelry shop and primarily a music-instrument haven. “We strive to give the shopper a unique and tangible experience, one you cannot get online,” owner Bobby Hamelburg says. They price-match online rates and can place special orders for all musicians. “Guitars are always ‘trending,’” Hamelburg says. “We try to provide a comfortable environment for anyone, and everyone to come in and play a few strums.” The staff at Finkelstein’s aren’t just dedicated to great customer service, they’re trained musicians as well. They make sure to keep their store simple and organized and listen to the customer always. “The people make the place,” Hamelburg says. “The crew at Finkelstein’s are music lovers who are professional in all aspects of the industry. “ Therefore, offering the most up-to-date knowledge on products comes naturally. Currently, Hamelburg says Clip on electronic tuners seem to be selling really well. “They have transformed the tuner market,” he notes. Their quality products and service goes unmatched, which is why the community constantly crowns them the best annually. In fact, this the shop has been taking home this award for more than a decade now. “It feels great receiving positive feedback from our community,” Hamelburg says. “This is a very competitive industry, but we believe everyone has their own niche and we respect our competitors fully.” Other stores topping are list in this category are Music Loft and Modern Music. —Shea Carver

ment their already admirable corporation. The company embarked on creating a few new items that are slated for unveiling in the coming months. Their inclination toward improvement pays off with the reputation they’ve managed to garner. “A brand is derived from who you are and ultimately how others perceive you,” Slacum excites. “It is very humbling to have people in the community vote us as the best real estate company.” Second and third place for Wilmington’s Best Real Estate Company goes to Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty and Century 21 Sawyer.

APRATMENT COMPLEX

Located within walking distance of the shops and restaurants at Mayfaire Town Center is Wilmington’s Best Apartment Complex, The Reserve at Mayfaire. The establishment aims to be the height of luxury living. The community also positions itself a quick bike ride away from Wrightsville Beach. Their roomy and contemporary-designed units provide tenants with an affordable, upscale living option. Offering an array of floor plans, openess remains the unifying component of each option. Offering up to three-bedroom residencies, The Reserve has two designs for one and two bedroom apartments that feature a smaller and larger floor plan to accommodate the needs of modest dwellers or space-cravers. The Reserve at Mayfaire doesn’t just seek to provide housing, they also hope to cultivate an entire lifestyle through a range of amenities. The neighborhood boasts a residents only gym and swimming pool. As well, the main office serves as home to a spacious theater, which residents can reserve for an intimate screening or an Oscars viewing party. Fostering a family-friendly environment, they offer a playground for kids, and the main office routinely serves snacks and foods to forge relationships between their renters. Though The Reserve at Mayfaire is an apartment complex, they strive to create as homey a feel as possible. Pet-friendly, they permit up to two dogs and three pets total—though certain breeds and types are restricted. Residing in second and third place are The Reserve at Forest Hills and Cape Harbor Apartments.

REAL ESTATE COMPANY

From the historic houses that line the cobblestone streets downtown to the nautical houses in Wrightsville Beach, Wilmington features a multitude of prime properties. Honing in on the diversified market is Wilmington’s Best Real Estate Company, Intracoastal Realty Corporation. CEO Jim Wallace began the company in 1976. A one-man show during its formative years, Intracoastal Realty has steadily grown—even becoming the New Hanover market leader since 1989. Over the years, the real-estate company has procured in depth knowledge of the Cape Fear are market. Serving Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Hampstead, Topsail Beach, Leland, Southport and Oak

MOVING COMPANY

CLOSING ON another win: ? and ? accept another Best Real Estate Company win for Intracoastal Realty. Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

Island, the corporation is a full-service brokerage that specializes in vacation rentals, longterm rentals, property management, project development and new home communities. “We have the most experienced, knowledgeable, hardest-working agents in the business,” vice president and marketer Lake Slacum says. “That’s what produces results.” Slacum’s praise for the staff isn’t just fluff; the corporation thrives due to the relationships forged between employees. Donning an unofficial motto, “work hard, play hard,” Intracoastal Realty fosters a familial atmosphere. Known for its ups and downs, the housing market is an ever-evolving business. Staying ahead of the curve on technology and innovation proves key in remaining afloat. One such effort comes in their award-winning website which is compatible with desktops, laptops, tablets, mini-tablets, or phones. “With the increase in mobile usage, we seized this opportunity to offer a website that better serves those looking for real estate,” Slacum divulges. Throughout 2014, Intracoastal Realty want to develop new products and services to aug-

Wilmington’s diversified areas— each with their own distinctive charm—results in many residents making moves over the course of their time in the port city. Being a college town, roommate squabbles also constitute a number of transcity relocations. Luckily, Wilmington’s Best Moving Company makes house-hopping simple. The franchise found its footing in Lansing, Michigan, founded by Brig and Jon Sorber. Two Men and a Truck—which now spans over 32 states—had humble beginnings as the brothers hauled furniture for extra money in their pickup truck. While their namesake characterizes the company’s formative years, the moving company has since evolved beyond the two stick figures their logo depicts. Aiding Wilmington’s business and residency moves, Two Men and Truck boasts customizable options to make such a stressful time as convenient as possible. The company will even pack for you upon request—whether you need them to do all or just one room. They also provide customers with the option to unload only. As well, locals redecorating or remodeling their home can take advantage of their internal move option, which will send movers to transport items from one room to another. Those making a change on a budget can check out the company’s website to utilize their free quote. Second and third place go to Few Moves, LLC and Coastal Carrier.

SHOPPING PLAZA

EMPIE PARK TENNIS CLINICS 3405 Park Avenue | 341-4631

www.empiepark.com Pre-registration required

Beginner Tennis Session 1: March 3, 10, 17, 24 Session 2: March 31; April 7,14, 21 Session 3: April 28; May 5, 12, 19 Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Cost per session (4 clinics): $44

Anchoring everything from Ulta, to World Market, to their high-tech Time Warner Cable location, Wilmington’s Best Shopping Plaza Mayfaire Town Center offers an unparalleled shopping experience. Cultivating an atmosphere of a city within a city, Mayfaire constitutes a distinct presence in Wilmington. Aside from their shops, the plaza boasts an apartment complex, movie theater, offices, a host of hotels, and more. Established in 1999, Mayfaire sought to

Visit www.empiepark.com for a complete list of tennis programs for adults and kids. For more information, call 341-4631 or email info@empiepark.com

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 35

produce a “work, live, play” community in Wilmington. With an all-in-one mindset, the shopping center aims to always make a Mayfaire visit worth the customer’s time. Offering a diversified selection of stores, ranging from high-end clothing retailers like Banana Republic and Francesca’s, to book retailer Barnes and Noble, the high-density center houses a number of eateries like Panera Bread and On the Border to create a convenient experience for patrons. Donning architecture that recalls a small-town, Main Street vibe, the plaza evokes idealism—cultivating an air of familiarity with a modernized twist. Their fusion of convenience with aesthetic guarantees a quality shopping experience. Despite already successful efforts, Mayfaire still strives for improvement. “Mayfaire continues to ‘tweak’ its merchandise mix and bring people of eastern North Carolina new retail concepts not covered in every market,” managing partner Hyman Brody explains. The shopping center has a number of national tenants considering the shopping center. This summer will see the inclusion of national bargain retailer Marshall’s as well as Dick’s Sporting Goods. As well, they are considering a phase-three expansion of Regal Mayfaire Stadium 16. The plaza’s efforts are not in vein; they’ve taken home the Best Of win for the past eight years. “It’s very special and a validation that people like what is here,” Brody excites. Enticing shoppers with second and third

ton’s Best Men’s Clothing Store are Gentlemen’s Corner and Belk. —Christian Podgaysky

Arts, Media & Entertianment RADIO PERSONALITY

TOO HIP TO BE SQuare: The crew of Bloke are all smiles for taking Best Men’s Clothing in 2014. Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

place are midtown’s Hanover Center and downtown’s The Cotton Exchange.

MEN’S CLOTHING

Thank you! We are the BEST at being

hot, cheap, fast and easy! Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn 2014 Best Burrito and Best Take Out Flaming Amy’s Sacred Burrito Bus 2014 Best Food Truck

4002 Oleander Dr. • (910) 799-2919 www.flamingamysburritobarn.com 36 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

Staying abreast of the latest trends comes easy for port city residents given the abundance of local clothing stores that populate the area. Wilmington’s very own Bloke knows how to secure a Best Of spot, mainly because they stock a plethora of brands from Big Star Jeans to Alternative Apparel to Half United to French Connection that keep men looking GQ ready. Located on Military Cutoff near Slice of Life, Bloke focuses on the hip and young professional. “Being a lifestyle-oriented shop, we change with the seasons and offer options for every day of the week,” owner Michael Vinson states. “So, if you’re looking for a shirt and tie to wear for your next hot date, or just some Sunday loungewear, we have you covered.” The contemporary men’s clothing store prides itself on being a part of the community. The store has cultivated immense growth over the past three years due to their prioritization of fostering close relationships with their clientele. Staying well-versed on what’s current proves just as important as the store’s implementation of a quality business model. Currently, Bloke is tapping into the growing market for male grooming. The store carries a wide selection from local supplier Forge & Foundry, founded by Jeff Bridgers. Bridgers, a metalsmith and artist, handmakes shave soaps, pomades, beard oils, razors, and brushes.“Guys are taking more ownership in their appearance and the market is reflecting this,” Vinson elaborates. In the coming year, Vinson promises quite a few more surprises. They hope to expand their online presence and add a few new clothing lines. “I fully believe in the quote, ‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,’” Vinson enthuses. “I consider myself very blessed to wake up every day and be excited to go into Bloke.” Coming in second and third for Wilming-

The familiar voices that accompany many to and from work daily are like a familiar friend when tuning into the Penguin 98.3 FM. Morning and early-afternoon radio personality Kim Czornij (Zor-nick) wins the ears and hearts of listeners everyday through her dedication to keep playing the best new music triple-A radio can play. Czornij’s infectious spirit, passion for music, and her enthusiasm for ticket-give ways have permeated port city airwaves for almost six years now. Born and raised in Greensboro, NC, her career didn’t begin in radio. Formerly, she was a drug-rehabilitation counselor. Looking for a more light-hearted job that still had the potential to touch lives, Czornij stumbled into her current profession. “It never crossed my mind to be on the radio,” she states. “I first interviewed for a possible sales position. [However,] the stars aligned, and I have been having the time of my life!” Drawn to music as a result of its universality and connectivity, Czornji beams over her ability to introduce listeners to quality music. She recalls listening to Elvis records at an early age and realizing the power of music, though at the time unsure of how to channel this interest. Currently, the music lover sings praises for Holly Williams and Jason Isbell, each of whom recently played at Ziggy’s By the Sea. Czornji likes the raw, vulnerable emotion in Williams’ songs. As well, she has taken to “Call Me” by St. Paul and The Broken Bones and “California (Cast Iron Soul)” by Jamestown Revival. Each week she also gets multiple chances to connect with fans personally. Czornji hosts Rate-a-Record at Slice of Life, which allows Wilmingtonians a chance to choose new music heard on the Penguin weekly. Each Monday night she hosts ticket giveaways at Mellow Mushroom’s Pengo, too. “It is so fun getting to know and hang with our listeners,” she enthuses. Dialing in at second and third are Foz at z107.5 and the Sheila Brothers with Sunny 104.5. —Christian Podgaysky

BAND

In 2005 No Dollar $hoes started up primarily as a bluegrass band, with Benjo Smith, and twins Jesse and Carson Jewell leading the helm. Though they’ve had a rotating group of musicians come in and out (Andy Lowe of Grandpa Wood and the Woodpile, Ryan Eversole on fiddle), the trio have re-

Mostly self-taught musicians, the band collectively has endured music lessons at some point in their lives. They’ve also been inspired by family, especially the twins, who played frequently with their father, Pat Jewell, during front-porch jams in high school. Smith played bluegrass in high-school as well, and with local acts Grandpa Wood as well as the Barnraisers. Yet, gelling as a prolific live act has helped hone their craft as a unit. “We believe that most our practice comes from the gigs we play, and learning how to work well with each other” Smith says. “We have all put years into the Wilmington music scene, as have many other great bands.” The traditional feel of sounds played from days of yore seemingly connect their fans. The storytelling, the upright bass thumps, the abundance of finger-picking and the downhome feel of it reach into the lives of many. “We think our music is pleasing to a large swath of people young and old,” Smith adds. “People can expect to hear a lot of harmonies.” For the first time in encore’s Best Of history, a six-way tie commenced, with nods going to Bibis Ellison, L Shaped Lot, Machine Gun, Mike Blair and the Stonewalls and Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine. The Best Band winner gets determined at the Best Of Masquerade Ball as bands play to raise money through each set for the nonprofit beneficiary, which was Kids Making It in 2014. No Dollar $hoes raised the most

TRANSYLVANIAN CELEBRATIONS ABOUND: Cape Fear Theatre Arts LLC (aka City Stage) takes home the win for Best Theatre Production with their fantastically, edgy showstopper, “Rocky Horror Show.” Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

mained at its heart. Today, they consider their music more folk and traditional country rather than bluegrass, and in January 2014, they expanded once again by adding Ben Privott on drums and keys. “The band is lucky to have him,” upright bassist Smith says. “Having the drums have allowed us to push our music in a different direction.” Making their first appearance on encore’s poll as winners for Best Band validates the numerous gigs the bands have lugged equipment into over the years. Playing frequently across Wilmington also has garnered No Dollar $hoes a loyal following. “Venues we play regularly include Duck and Dive, The Whiskey, Goat and Compass, Satellite and The Palm Room on Wrightsville Beach,” Smith says. “We end up doing a few gigs a month, sometimes more, sometimes less.” Though they don’t hold down standing weekly gigs as of late, they rotate venues ev-

money among Mike Blair and the Stonewalls and Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine. Bibis Ellison, L Shaped Lot and Machine Gun couldn’t play the event from previously booked engagements.

THEATRE PRODUCTION

Well over 100 shows hit the stage across Wilmington’s theatre scene annually. With the plethora of theatre companies in town, comedies, dramas, musicals, and even shorts, whether original or of Broadway caliber, come to life thanks to a vast talent pool of thespians, creative directors, set-designers, musicians, hair and makeup folks, and more. They all work tirelessly to make our small town a big catch for live theatre. 2013 saw more talent onstage than local reviewers could shake a stick at; but Wilmingtonians spoke loud and clear on the one that left the most impressive impact. Cape Fear Theatre Arts LLC (a.k.a. City Stage)’s The Rocky Horror Show managed to hit all the right degrees of edge and entertainment to take home Best Theatre Production of the year. Starring creative director Justin Smith in the lead role of Dr. Frank ‘n’ Furter, veteran thespians also ruled the stage: Sam Robison as Brad, Amy Tipton as Janet, Anthony Lawson as narrator, Leo Grinberg as Riff-Raff, Caitlin Becka as Magenta, Heather Setzler as Columbia, LaRaisha Burnette as Usher-

ery four to six weeks. So, folks are likely to catch them on local bills often. “Carson is leaving on a surfing trip next week and we will have a little time off,” Smith says. “Ben and I play at The Blind Elephant every Thursday, but as a piano and bowedbass combo.” The last year for the band has been packed with recording their sophomore album, a followup to “Extra Medium,” which was released two years ago. Mostly, all songs are written by Jesse before the band hears it and tries them out at practice or on-the-fly onstage. “Eventually, they mostly work themselves out,” according to Smith. The unnamed album—which the band recorded on and off over the last year—will be released this spring. That each member has a day job means juggling time between family obligrations and hobbies. But the band keeps it low-pressure to ensure it remains fun during every live performance and practice. “We just want to keep playing while making it sound as good as we can,” Smith says. “We want to keep putting out more new songs . . . Music is a lot of fun and a great release. We’d like to keep it that way. Some people paint; some people run. We bang on our instruments and yell into mics all night. Same thing.” encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 37

Where flowers bloom, so does hope...

Thank you, readers! Best Florist 2014 Serving Wilmington for over 25 years with flowers and gifts for all occasions: get well, new baby, anniversary, sympathy, or just because!

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Thank You

Wilmington for voting us the best! BEST FINE DINING

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Osteria Cicchetti BEST FRENCH

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Thank You to all of our employees & managers for your hard work!

38 encore | february 26 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

with friends and family. Familiar drink-slingers line the bar, as well-known bartenders even include local celebs—like He is Legend frontman Schuylar Croom who works there when not touring. “Our establishment is geared toward locals,” Ricks informs. “It makes us very happy to know so many people appreciate what we’ve tried to build here.” Filling the steins for second and third place for Best Bar Overall are Cape Fear Wine and Beer and Blue Post Billiards and second and third place for Best Neighborhood Bar go to Duck and Dive Pub and Goat and Compass.

LUNCH * DELI * SUB/SANDWICH * SOUP

ette/Eddie and George Domby as Dr. Scott. Paired with their amazing minions, including an ensemble cast of Patrick Basquill, Khawon Porter and Anna Gamel, among others, the amount of talent onstage read like a Who’s Who of Wilmington. The outcome of their performances was nothing shy of spectacular. The raunchy romps of the before-show antics had the ensemble crawling Thalian Hall’s poles and slivering through the aisles on the audience’s lap nonetheless. Once the evening’s shenanigans got underway, the oddbell characters of Transylvania antagonized and bitch-slapped everyone into a trance, while all the underlying elements of the show—aliens, sexuality, transvestites, campy songs—kept everyone involved in the cult-classic cat-calls which make “Rocky Horror” so much fun (and the funny kids of Pineapple-Shaped Lamps also happened to be the audience to direct those funny oneliners when needed). With Chiaki Ito leading the band through the time warp, folks sang along and literally danced all over the theater (the cast and audience alike). “Dammit Janet,” “Sweet Transvestite,” “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me,” and “I’m Going Home” offered a few magnanimous memories which had us all in full-throttle sinalong mode. It was a night of debaucherous fun, perfect for fall’s Halloween-time show. Other theatre productions kicking up in memorable fashion are Opera House Theatre Production’s “Les Mis” and PineappleShaped Lamps’ “History of Comedy Part 1.” —Shea Carver

chopping down the competition: Brad Corpening of Chop’s Deli showcases his four Best Of wins for Best Sub/Sandwiches, Deli, Soup, and Lunch. Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

These guys ripped through Best Of with the most wins of any business. With locations in the heart of Wilmington’s historic downtown, at Monkey Junction, and a soonto-open Wrightsville Beach spot on Wrightsville Avenue (previously home to Gloria’s Italian Restaurant), Wilmington’s Best Lunch, Best Deli, Best Homemade Soup, and Best Sub/Sandwich goes to Chop’s Deli. After meeting each other while working late-night shifts at The Dixie Grill, Chris Graham and Brad Corpening cultivated a mutual respect. The two quickly realized they shared a passion and flair for sandwich-making—exceeding the effort exhibited by most burger slingers. From there the dynamic duo embarked on a trial and error culinary venture of their own. Placing emphasis on pushing

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BAR OVERALL * NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Opening just over four years ago in 2009, Wilmington’s Best Bar Overall and Best Neighborhood Bar, Satellite Bar and Lounge, has solidified itself a fixture on Wilmington’s nightlife scene. Rustic brick walls accentuated by dim lighting set a laid-back vibe. “[We provide] a beer for anyone’s tastes [and] a homey space to enjoy it,” owner Dustin Lee Ricks explains. Throughout the week locals populate the quaint setting, sipping on IPAs, lagers or stouts, amid delicious Bloody Marys (with pickled okra) or a whiskey or two. Pet-friendly, the bar allows patrons to bring their wellbehaved furry companions after a long day at work. As the “Cheers” sentiment goes, Satellite quickly becomes “a place where everybody knows your name.” With a large, open space, the venue hosts live bands on the weekends. As well, they’ve become especially well-known for their bluegrass nights on Sundays. Two spacious outdoor areas offer movies on some nights during the summer, at the base of the ancient oak tree strung with lights. As well, garage doors typically remain open during warmer months, generating an open-air feel perfect

boundaries Graham and Corpening began experimenting with sandwiches and soups. Their efforts culminate in one of Wilmington’s most innovative menus. First-time diners are well advised to disregard their expectations of the traditional delicatessen. Each sandwich fuses ingredients so immaculately that it’s a sin to forego a single component of the sandwich. Their Amsterdam boasts a generous serving of pot roast, melted cheddar and a hearty, thick mushroom gravy that one can pour between the sour dough Kaiser roll at their own discretion. Another favorite comes in the form of the Plymouth. The signature sandwich combines smoked turkey breast with Havarti, Granny Smith apples, and homemade cranberry relish served on whole wheat. The flavors coalesce so profoundly one is hooked at first bite. The locally operated deli doesn’t just thrive in the sandwich arena, their mac n’ cheese—which they routinely change up— holds its own. As well, their soups regularly alternate and range from New England clam chowder, to Tomato Basil gazpacho, to chilis and more. They perfectly complement any the sandwiches, too. Satisfying appetites in second and third place for Best Lunch are Sweet & Savory Bake Shop and Café and Best Panini winner Wayferer Deli and Bistro. On the chopping block for second and third place for Best Sandwich/ Sub are Jimmy John’s and

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around in his head. Rolling in for second and third place for Best Burrito are K38 Baja Grill and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Second and third for Best Take-Out go to Indochine and Hibachi To Go, and Patty Wagon and Catch the Food Truck ride in for second and third for Best Food Truck.

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Jersey Mike’s. Wayfarer Deli and Bistro and Taste of Italy are the stiff competition for Best Deli. Best Homemade Soup nods also go to Sweet & Savory Bake Shop & Café and Panera Bread.

A MAD, MAD WORLD: Allen Walker of Walkerworld Organic Artist Retreat poses with encore graphic designer Kyle Peeler at encore’s 2014 Masquerade Ball and fund-raiser for Kids Making It. Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

CHAIN RESTAURANT

The Cape Fear regions hosts an array of dining destinations, and while local eateries provide a unique taste, our city by the sea has its fair share of chains, too. Taking home the gold for Wilmington’s Best Chain Restaurant is Bonefish Grill. Founded in 2000 in St. Petersburg Florida, the seafood restaurant is owned and operated by Bloomin’ Brands, which also head Outback Steakhouse. With a prioritization of quality, they serve market-fresh fish and the crème de la crème of ingredients. The restaurant’s menu is complete with mahi mahi, sea bass, grouper, trout, salmon and tilapia just to name a few. Rich with flavor, the eatery titillates taste buds with their signature sauces, which include the warm mango salsa—best paired with the Chilean sea bass or the sea scallops and shrimp-or their sweet Asian glaze called Pan Asian. Quick to divulge tricks of their trade, the fish griller’s website even posts recipes for all of their sauces. Offering a casual dining experience, Bonefish Grill cooks their fish, chicken and steaks over a wood-burning grill. Their tender, flamelapped meats never fall short on texture. Nominated for est Appetizers, their Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer also constitutes a notable menu item. As well, The Bonefish Grill features a fully stocked bar to complement the meal. Sizzled to perfection in second and third place are Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse.

BURRITO * TAKE-OUT * FOOD TRUCK

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eat over beers with friends or to conveniently eat on-the-go. Wilmington’s Best Burrito and Best Take-Out goes to Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn, while Best Food Truck goes to Flaming Amy’s Sacred Burrito Bus. Since opening in 2000, owners Jay and Amy Muxworthy have cultivated a relaxed atmosphere that appeals to college students, families or Wilmington’s quirkiest individuals. “It is hard not to get too comfortable after you have been around a while,” Jay Muxworthy explains. “My constant fear that the people will stop coming keeps me on top of things--or as on top of things as I can be.” Staying abreast on developments in Wilmington’s culinary scene has resulted in the creation of Flaming Amy’s Sacred Burrito Bus. Muxworthy always follows his gut on issues of expansion. A hot-button issue for food purveyors over the past couple of years, the food truck business has sky-rocketed. Muxworthy’s efforts paid-off when The Sacred Burrito Bus took home the gold for Best Local Food Truck at this past November’s installment of Truck-a-roo. “You have to do something that you care about; it can’t just be about the money,” Muxworthy declares. Reasonable prices and the restaurant’s contribution to the city demonstrates his passion. The restaurant’s ongoing campaign, Operation Salsa Drop, continues delivering a taste of home across seas to military persons, and they also hold charity functions in house. Recently, the hosted a dinner fund-raiserand gave 10 percent of their profits for the night to local nonprofit Nourish NC. What’s next for the burrito king remains yet to be seen, though he says a lot of ideas swirl

With the number of delicatessens that serve our area, garnering enough fanfare to win a coveted “e” award is no easy task. Beating out the competition for Best Panini is Wayfarer Deli & Bistro. Crafted by Chef Carey Way, whose owned a bakery/deli in Newington, Connecticut during her formative years, Wayferer boasts delicately balanced sandwiches. With warm, melted-to-perfection cheeses blended with a combination of meat and veggies of your choice, their panini delights regulars and newbies. “We roast and-or smoke our own meats, prepare every side item, soup and our famous ‘S’mac ‘n Cheese’ from scratch daily, allowing our wonderful ingredients and carefully constructed recipes to speak for themselves,” general manager Ron Suriano edifies. Since opening in 2010 as a tribute to Chef Carey’s late mother, Maryilyn, the deli has generated over 1,000 different sandwiches. Exploration and a sense of adventure typifies their process when creating something new, whether it’s their weekly bison burger (Wednesdays and Saturdays only) or a panini of the day. In doing so, they foster their goal to stay up-to-date on current culinary developments and create without restrictions. Keeping the menu fresh allows every trip to the restaurant to be as fresh as the ingredients and prevents them from falling victim to the typical trope tired, long-standing menus. Though Wayferer’s signature is constant innovation, the core of their business is consistency. In keeping with their current methodology, they plan to unveil as many new sandwiches as they can in 2014. Rounding out the category in second and third are Chop’s Deli and Panera Bread. —Christian Podgaysky

BREAD * DESSERTS

When passion fuels and drives the best output, rewards inevitably will follow. Such has been the case for Rob Shapiro, owner of Sweet & Savory Bake Shop & Cafe, for quite a few years on encore’s reader’s poll. They have taken home awards in a multitude of categories; 2014 crowns them with the Best Bread and Best Desserts in Wilmington. “Being able to work with food and the joy it brings people and myself provides the base of my passion,” Shapiro says. The café’s become a local institution, having opened in September 1993. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, rarely can someone walk in the spot without an overflow of

gut instincts and not cutting corners, Shapiro and company are seeing things even out these days in time-management. “We are constantly evolving,” he says. “All of our menus are updated at least twice a year to adjust for changing customer desires and to keep things fresh, new and interesting.” The Pub will be focusing on their burgers in 2014. Petty is grinding a blend of short ribs, brisket, chuck, and beef tenderloin. The burgers will come with the customer’s choice of six varieties of their famed homemade bread. “We’re really going after making the best burger anywhere,” Shapiro says. “Accompanying the burgers will be fresh-cut fries, beer-battered onion rings, and chocolate and vanilla malts.” At the café, Shapiro and his wife host regular Wednesday wine-tastings, too. They’re offer varietals of all sorts at near grocerystore pricing. But readers looking to taste the freshest made baguettes, pitas, rolls, or breads, alongside decadent bear claws, pies, cakes, cookies, and brownies need not look any further. Sweet & Savory makes a carb-binger worth it. “We generally try to avoid gimmicks and what’s hot, and instead focus on offering the absolute best fresh quality product and service at great value every day,” Shapiro says. Other nominees in the dessert category are Circa 1922 and The Little Dipper; bread nominations also go to Panera Bread and Great Harvest.

CHINESE joviliaty permeating the dining space off Pavilion Place, near Wrightsville Beach. “Being able to meet, interact with, and grow close to so many people—guests, staff, suppliers—provides ongoing energy and passion even after all these years,” the restaurateur confirms. “And the day-to-day and long-term challenges and complexity of the business provides never ending-challenges to help prevent any complacency whatsoever.” In fact, 2012 and 2013 were quite busy

SWEETS FOR OUR SWEETS: Sweet & Savory Café & Bake Shop scored Best Homemade Bread and Best Desserts on the 2014 Best Of reader’s poll. Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

for the owner and his chef, Josh Petty. They opened Sweet ‘n’ Savory Pub at 2012 Eastwood Road in the old Kefi spot. The last 18 months have proven to be high-energy running both businesses. But by following his

For 25 years, Joseph Hou has been running Wilmington’s most famed Chinese restaurant, Szechuan 132. Szechuan is a place where one can get delectable cuisine that’s served tableside rather than in take-out boxes. Every meal has been cared for and prepared with only the freshest ingredients, and the service is so attentive, customers will feel like a member of the Hou family by the time they leave. “I still look forward every morning to going into Szechuan 132,” Hou says, “and having fun and sharing joy with our customers and my restaurant family. The restaurant business is fun and exciting, and can never be described as ‘boring.’”

From their Dang Dang Mien (ground chicken and veggies, stir fried and served over a hot egg noodle) and their lighter nontraditional fare, like rosemary-grilled fish, palates always get sated here. Their menu takes on traditional fare as well as lighter fare for any diner watching her waistline, too. “[This business] also allows you to be an artist in your own fun, little world,” Hou says. “You can play with different ingredients in the kitchen. You disco, salsa, and jazz food and drinks together to create something that you can showcase to world with pride. This is what I call drunk in love and passion! “ More so than pairing outstanding food with outstanding service, the Hou family pride themselves on constant giveback to their community. Szechuan often works with charities, like Good Shepherd Center and the annual New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s gala. “Besides serving customers and paying bills, we as human beings have a duty and responsibility to serve others,” Hou says. “Our family’s favorite quote is: ‘God gives us hearts to love and hands to serve.’ Nothing in life can have as positive an impact on a person than giving or serving others. That is because giving and serving are the highest levels of living.” Hou’s secret to success manifests from his dedication and drive to achieve excellence. In the process, he also stays humbled by the loyalty of customers and opportunities which present themselves. In today’s restaruateur climate, he’s definitely taking notice of food trends. Knowing from where the food comes often drives the Szechuan menu. “I think, once again, locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce will remain at the top of the trend, as are foods grown in environmentally sustainable methods, food to enhance children’s nutrition, and gluten-free products. Our cuisine will continue to blend together these new trends along with our Southern-comfort traditions,” Hou says. Constant changes make Hou’s business a love affair for which he never tires. He beams with pride over the constant recog-

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PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE

COMEDIC TIMING: Funny folks Rachel Helm and Wesley Brown of Pineapple-Shaped Lamps keep the party going thanks to hosting duties with lots of enteratinment at the annual Best Of fundraiser for Kids Making It. Courtesy Holland Dotts Photography

nition the public bestows upon Szechuan 132 annually. “We are very grateful for the recogni-

tion we have received for our work because we are very sure that every other nominee for this award was just as capable of winning,” he notes. “As we all know, there are no businesses in the world without hurdles. We are no exception. We face challenges, obstacles, and mistakes along the way, but each setback has only strengthened us and helped to make us a better restauranteur and better people.” Other Chinese Restaurant nominees include Double Happiness and Chopstix.

In July 2005 Wilmington’s first fondue restaurant opened downtown at 138 South Front Street: The Little Dipper. Since, they’ve been a hotspot among couples, oftentimes starting with a first date and ending with an engagement. Kristin Groudis, co-owner, says, “We’re passionate about food and wine, and taking moments out of our busy lives to enjoy time with the people we love, which is a big part of the fondue experience. It’s something we wanted to share with others.” The involvement of dining fondue makes it a shared experience for customers. The melange of veggies and meats, cheeses and breads to dip and dunk, and eat together creates a perfect setting for sharing and divulging. “There’s something very intimate about sharing good food from one pot,” Groudis agrees. “Taking your time eat over multiple courses while truly listening to the person across the table makes The Little Dipper a great place for a first date.” They also keep the Dipper experience all inthe family so to speak. Just last year The Little Dipper opened a franchise in Durham. Its owner actually had his own first date at the Wilmington restaurant. “He went on to work for us for five plus years, and over that time, he and his date got married,” Groudis says. “They were both from Durham so they moved back and partnered with us to open that location last April.” They’re constantly updating specials and theme nights to keep it front-of-mind for diners. From their back-deck dining, always open during spring, summer and fall, as well as new promotions like Monday Local’s Nights, the management strives to keep folks walking through the doors again and again. Plus, they have live music to add to their ambiance, and personalized attention from their staff to help guide diners through their extensive menu and even wine pairings. “On many occasions we know our customers by name,” Groudis tells. “We want to make sure we bring their favorite items or regular little extras that we know they like

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before they even have the chance to ask . . . When your staff sees that you’re a hard worker and determined to do whatever it takes to make each night run smooth, they are more likely to respect you and will be proud to work there, in turn helping in whatever way possible to make the business thrive.” Other first-date hotspots encore readers noticed on our 2014 poll are Indochine and Riverboat Landing.

WRITE-IN CATEGORY: BEER LIST

When Lector Bennett and Maaike Brandis opened Cape Fear Wine and Beer 11 years ago, it existed in a small Water Street storefront where vinyl sounded throughout the room and craft beer kept the two dedicated to their passion. Moving to 139 N. Front Street, the space tripled in size, and their inventory exponentially evolved. It’s no wonder they’ve taken home our newest write-in category for Best Beer List. “As for the physical beer list itself, I have to credit my awesome business partner Maaike Brandis for that,” Bennett notes. “The elegant and to-the-point beer descriptions, as well as the beer scores, are all her work. We love bringing a great beer selection to Wilmington. The beer world is constantly changing, and we feel honored to be on the cusp of it.” They focus on limited-edition beers, like Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew from Dogfish Head Brewery, as well as stock a vast selection of deliciousness on the regular, from meads to ciders to lambics to stouts to ales and beyond. More importantly, they want to celebrate their love for brew with everyone, and without overlooking anyone. “We think it is important to make our beer list accessible,” Bennett says. “No one should ever feel intimidated. We are not snobs, dorks, or nerds when it comes to beer. No one has ever been laughed at for ordering a Bud Light.” However, the shop doesn’t sell the normal industry wares. One won’t find Coors or Budweiser. The point of Cape Fear Wine and Beer is to develop tastes beyond the norm and to show even the chinciest beer drinker that there is a flavor as delectable for his or her palate as the ordinary sellers. “The industry itself has been evolving,” Bennett notes. “Years ago there were so many beers that we just couldn’t get in Wilmington that were easily available in the Triangle region. Finally, Wilmington is on the beer map and we have access to some great brands. Remember when Dale’s Pale Ale was available in every part of the state except Wilmington?” Being recognized by the people steers the owners of Cape Fear Wine and Beer to keep evolving and providing the best. Beer Advocate also has recognized them number one in Wilmington. They have flight-night Mondays where folks can taste nine 4-ounce samples for $18. All NC beers are $1 off on Saturdays, while their Sunday Beer Church

even more powerful, because we were doing something together.” Today Dean is the executive director of Access of Wilmington—The Miracle League, which opened its Miracle Field recently. The field offers a chance for all-ability sportsmen and active citizens to have the opportunity to partake in athletics. Two weeks ago they held their first all-abilities race, and had over 600 people show up in support. “I don’t even think we have scratched the surface on what we can do to be of service to people with disabilities, and to be of service in partnership to create change in the community,” Dean says. “It’s extraordinary the kind of population we have in Wilmington for people with disabilities, and there’s just so much more than we can do. It just takes us working together.” Dean also donates an extraordinary amount of time volunteering outside of his nonprofit job. He serves on the boards of The Carousel Center, Coastal Horizons and the Rape Crisis Center, as well as the Willie Stargell Foundation. In 2014 he also is the chair of the Heart Walk—something near and dear to his heart, as his dedication to fitness and well-being started two years ago with a great amount of weight-loss. “By being involved in things that create change for health and wellness, we are feeding back into access for all abilities and for all persons,” Dean says. “That’s what Access is about, and that’s what The Miracle League is about.”

SMILES FOR MILES: Best Volunteer and Humanitarian Bo Dean (left) poses for a smile with Kids Making It founder Jimmy Pierce during the Best Of 2014 awards party at Brooklyn Arts Center. Courtesy Sean Carr Photography

Humanitarian & Environmental VOLUNTEER * HUMANITARIAN

offers pours on select beer and a free glass with its purchase. “Cask-ale has been a popular item recently,” Bennett says. “More and more people are in the know about it. What used to be a rare cask-ale event is now a daily occurrence for us. We have our own cooperage, and breweries have been putting together some amazing concoctions for us.” Other write-in category contenders include Best Dance School for Techniques in Motion and Best Beer List for Ogden Tap Room.

In high school Bo Dean joined the Key Club, and every Saturday they would visit the home of a young woman with cerebral palsy. While there, they would help pattern her muscles. “I’m not even sure if they still do that today but it was a remarkable experience,” Dean says. In fact, the incident exposed Dean to the world of philanthropy and how despite differences, we are all alike in the need of human compassion. Dean learned how to give fully. “Just being there was giving of time and energy, something as equally valuable,” Dean says. “Sharing time with that young girl every Saturday was remarkable, and being with my fellow peers at the time was

Essentially, to be the best person in physical health means being the best at serving others. To Dean, it’s all about being a part of the solution and accepting responsibility for it. In fact, folks can hear the radio host on Hometown Solutions 95.9 FM every Saturday at 11 a.m. Problem-solving is something his mother inspired him to seek in childhood. She set the example for her children to work on their own terms with determination and intergrity. “I’ve been very grateful to have her as an example in my life, and I’m constantly surrounding myself with examples like her in this community,” Dean says. Dean stresses it doesn’t take the donation of $1 million to make a true difference. Whether it’s $1 or giving of time, it all adds up to the greater good. It’s about giving through love, energy, and talents. “I literally cried all the way back to the Heart Ball after I left the Best Of event,” Dean admits. “I was just overwhelmed and humbled that people thought of me in this way—especially the humanitarian award. I recognize the fact that without having children, I have time to be able to be involved and to volunteer. I am very grateful to be able to have the privilege to be involved in this world.” Other volunteers recognized locally are Maria Tofelo and Kelli Neese Russell, while humanitarian nods go to Jock Brandis and Kelli Neese Russell.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Registration 7:00 AM 10K / 5K Run 8:00 / 8:30 AM Awards Ceremony (approx) 10:45 AM

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A Wordly Excursion:

extra > nonprofit

Cape Fear Literacy Council hosts annual gala and fund-raiser By: Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin

“A

round the World in 80 Days,” written by Jules Verne, is set in the Victorian era and tells a story of two men on a journey to make the impossible possible. On a bet, they travel the world in a short timeframe, by train and steamboat, on foot, by elephant, and in a hot air balloon, exploring and overcoming life’s vast obstacles along the way. Much like the protagonist’s determination to win his £20,000 gamble to see through his journey, the drive of the Cape Fear Literacy Council to continue promoting reading and literacy comes with its own set of trials and tribulations. Fundraising is among them; yet, the payback to the community remains priceless. “Over 40 percent of New Hanover County residents (over 61,000 people) do not have the reading, writing or comprehension skills to fully function on a daily basis,” Payne states. The council serves around 550 students annually. In fact, the cost to help one student lies between $75 and $80.

“The National Assessment of Adult Literacy show [in the most recent data from 2003], quantitative literacy had improved a bit; otherwise, rates remained the same,” Yasmin Tomkinson, literacy program director, informs. “In terms of Cape Fear Literacy Council, we have increased the number of students we served 10 years ago. We served fewer than 400 adults then, and now we serve about 500 to 550. The need, however, is vast. Applying the best data available from the national survey, we estimate that almost 60,000 adults could use educational support.” Their annual spring gala is the non-profit’s biggest fund-raiser of the year, and they strive to break $100,000 annually. Thus, they can continue their high order to educate adults and families of the Cape Fear region. While attendance is mostly great, they notice an upswing when choosing the correct theme for the event. For many years the non-profit hosted its own Mardi Gras party at the Coastline Convention Center during the weekend of the New Orleans bash. Although it was well-received, they decided five years ago to step it up with a black-tie gala; now, they change the theme annually. They’ve danced and reveled

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BREAKFAST FOR LITERACY: The Cape Fear Literacy Council sold out their 2013 Breakfast at Tiffany’s fund-raising gala in 10 minutes last year. This year they’ll travel ‘Around the World in 80 Days.’ Courtesy photo, Land Rover Cape Fear

among the set of “Casablanca,” the backdrop of “The Great Gatsby,” and even enjoyed a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” “The choice of popular books/movies is a fun way for our guests to celebrate the magic of books and learning,” Erin Payne, community outreach and volunteer management coordinator, tells. “Our gala committee chose ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ this year because it is a book that highlights the adventure of a lifetime. It is a book/movie that many of our supporters and students can connect with, and what is more fun than adventure, intrigue and elegance told through a story that spans the globe!” The evening will feature cocktails and an international-inspired dinner. Starting off with London’s famed Ploughman’s salad, folks will enjoy tender bib lettuce, sweet cherry tomatoes, white cheddar cheese, apples and olive croutons with cider vinaigrette. Then, guests will be transported to India, Hong Kong and Japan, to nosh on a black-and-white sesame-seed boneless breast of chicken with citrus ginger sauce, basmati rice and a mélange of sweet peppers, snow pea-pods and carrots, along with Indian naan bread. Crossing the Pacific Ocean, they’ll finish it off with New York cheesecake, topped with a San Francisco black Mission fig sauce. “This menu follows the route that main characters Phileas Fogg and Passepartout follow in

the novel/movie,” Payne notes. Savor at the Wilmington Convention Center their in-house caterer will be providing the food. Live music will be provided by 360 Degrees, a local band that plays ‘60s soul and R&B, as well as British Invasion rock ‘n’ roll. Casino games also will be offered: Black Jack, Roulette and Poker among them. Live and silent auctions will feature great grabs, including a Hilton Head oceanfront condo getaway, a week’s rental of a Harley-Davidson, a MarineMax fully catered day cruise, and a Bahamas vacation. Payne tells, “We have sold out over the past several years (the Breakfast at Tiffany’s Gala in 2013 sold out in 10 days) and we expect the same for this year.” The organization expects around 400 to 500 guests. Folks are asked to come in formal dress or suited for a whirlwind journey. “Around the World in 80 Days” takes place at the Wilmington Convention Center on March 1st at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $125. For more information, contact the Cape Fear Literacy Council by calling 910-251-0911.

DETAILS:

Around the World in 80 Days Fund-raising gala for the Cape Fear Literacy Council Saturday, March 1st, 6:30 p.m. Wilmington Convention Center 515 Nutt Street Tickets: $125 • 910-251-0911 www.cfliteracy.org

extra > do-gooders

The Caring Ministry: Stephen ministries offers hope to community By: Amanda Greene

neeling before her congregation, Sheila Leach made a commitment to God and to her fellow parishioners at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. She would listen to them, pray for them, be with them in their sorrow and pain—as long as they needed her. But Leach isn’t ordained. She isn’t a professional counselor either. Her public commissioning in early February was part of the entrance to Stephen Ministry leadership, lay people who work one-on-one with fellow parishioners counseling them through tough times in their lives. Stephen ministers also help relieve the pressure on pastors in dealing with some of the emotional needs of their parishioners. Named for St. Stephen, the first layperson referenced in Acts 6 whom the apostles appointed to a caring ministry, Stephen Ministry, began in 1975 in St. Louis. Now, it’s in more than 11,000 congregations worldwide, according to organization statistics. In 2013 there were 483 Stephen ministries in North Carolina. St. Matthew’s has one of the oldest Stephen Ministry branches in New Hanover County. This year it’s turning 20 and celebrating with a year of events, starting with a free publiclecture series on cancer and wellness in March, April, and May. The celebration will culminate in November with a reunion of all past Stephen ministers at the church. Connie Hill, founder of the Christian breast cancer support ministry, Lump to Laughter, will give the first lecture on her experiences with breast cancer. She’ll also discuss what led her to start her organization at 6:30 p.m. on March 4th at the church (612 S. College Rd.). Other lectures will follow on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Normally, Stephen Ministry is a private, confidential ministry, but the lecture series is an outreach to the community. Since St. Matthew’s began its ministry, 58 people have become Stephen ministers and leaders there, according to Ana Maria Jackson, one of the church’s Stephen leaders. “We felt like pioneers back then; we really did,” Pat Mahl, the original Stephen leader at St. Matthew, said. “Stephen ministry has been the most influential thing in my life . . . Watching the power and sharing of the Holy Spirit through this ministry, you realize this person needs this Stephen minister. It makes you feel very small, and powerless.” “Care receivers”—as the Stephen ministry calls its clients—are interviewed by St. Matthew’s pastor, the Reverend Samuel Zumwalt, to see if they are open to speaking with a Stephen minister. Some care receivers are dealing with grief from the loss of a spouse or a child, a cancer

POWERFUL PRAYER: Sheila Leach kneels in prayer during her commissioning as a Stephen minister at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wilmington. Photo by Amanda Greene

diagnosis, or depression. Just becoming a Stephen minister involves 50 hours of training. Leach returned recently from a week-long training for leadership, which she characterized as an intense experience. “What we do is just short of professional help,” Leach said. But the Stephen ministers are frank about not being professional counselors, and if a person needs that help, the church has community services they can refer to a care receiver. Some Stephen ministers might work with one care receiver for two or three years or until that person doesn’t need their help. “It’s humbling to see the power of prayer,” Jackson added. “You see when they get the peace.” The result of working that closely with fellow parishioners creates “wonderful friendships through this afterward,” Leach added. But it can be a struggle getting care receivers to accept the help, Mahl said. After all, that can mean being vulnerable with someone possibly seen at church the next week. Through the ministry, women meet with women, and men meet with men. “Very few men accept the support of a Stephen minister because they often say they can handle things on their own,” Jackson said. “We’re really listening and praying for them. For me, the most beautiful thing is I’m holding you in prayer. When it is my care receiver, there’s more of a sense of commitment.”

DETAILS Lecture with Connie Hill (Lump to Laughter) March 4th, 6:30 p.m. March 4 St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 612 S. College Rd.

910-791-4582 dcapozio@stmatthewsch.org Amanda Greene is the editor of Wilmington Faith & Values at WilmingtonFAVS.com. Do you have a volunteer opportunity to highlight? Email her at Amanda.Greene@ReligionNews.com or call 910-520-3958.

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to-docalendar events FEATHERS, FUR AND FRIENDS PET EXPO 3/8, 11am-4pm: First annual pet expo will feature free admission, raffles, face painting for kids, pet adoptions, exotic parrot display, pictures with parrots, music and vendors for pets only. 4610 Carolina Beach Rd. CAPE FEAR BEER FESTIVAL 3/1, 2pm – 5pm: The Cape Fear Beer Festival is a true beer tasting (and wine) event featuring a wide variety of beer styles from the most creative brew masters in the world. We’ll be pouring their tasty creations inside the newly constructed Wilmington Convention Center, 515 Nutt St. Regular: $35/adv, 1-5pm; VIP, $45, noon entry; $45 day of tickets. ANTIQUE AUTO CLUB OF AMERICA The Cape Fear Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America will conduct its 42nd Annual

3/1: CAPE FEAR BEER FESTIVAL Literally, 100 or more beers are up for sampling at the 4th annual Cape Fear Beer Festival, taking place at the Wilmington Convention Center this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.—but if you score a VIP ticket, you get early entry at noon. From Aviator Brewing’s Hogwild IPA, to Foothills’ Torch Pilsner, to Triangle Brewing’s Belgian White, all flavors will be available for craft-brew lovers everywhere. Tickets to the event are $35 in advance or $45 for VIP; folks who wait the day of the festival will pay $45 at the door. Tickets are available at www. capefearbeerfest.com. Antique Automobile Show on Sat., 3/8, at Independence Mall, 3500 Oleander Dr., Wilmington. Participants can expect to view over 100 antique automobiles from throughout the Cape Fear re-

Happenings and events across Wilmington

gion. Reg: 9-11:30am. Judging at noon with the Trophy Award Ceremony scheduled for 3pm. Prereg: $15, day-of-show registration is $20. Prereg. forms: www.ncregionaaca.com/capefear. Trailer parking is available and there are numerous eating places in and around the mall. Ashby Armistead, President, 910-612-0470. BRIDAL BY DESIGN Sat., 3/8, 10am-6pm: Spectrum Art & Jewelry announces their first annual Bridal by Design— A Creative Wedding Show and “Handmade for the Home” wedding gift registry. Spectrum offers artist-created gift collections that make truly memorable wedding presents. This event launches the Spectrum “Handmade for the Home” Bridal Registry intended for the couple that dreams filling their home with creativity. Experts will be available to answer questions about diamonds, jewelry appraisals and insuring your fine jewelry and selecting the perfect wedding ring. The Spectrum team will also provide free inspection and jewelry cleaning and a free high-definition photo

of guests engagement rings. Guests will be able to register for their favorite artworks, glass and pottery serving wear and more. Plus Spectrum’s jewelry design team is available to discuss custom attendant jewelry and accessories and Mother’s jewelry, custom created to best complement the Bride’s chosen colors. Free and open to the public. Guests will receive a free Spectrum bridal guide, enjoy sips and snacks and have the chance to win a number of wonderful giveaways including a free bridal shoot with Eric von Bargen photography and a Romantic Weekend Getaway at the City Club at de Rosset. Pre-reg. on Facebook for a “swag bag” full of gifts, information and special offers. www.SpectrumBridal.com or 910-256-2323. 1125-H Military Cutoff Rd. in the Forum across from Mayfaire. The FAM EXPO 3/8 10am-4pm: The FAM Expo(Family and Maternity). Schwartz Center Interactive fun for moms to be and families. Car seat check from 10-12. Infant & child CPR demonstrations. Sheriffs Department will be giving out i.d. bracelets. Tons of great door prizes from free camps, to free restaurant gift cards. Huge giveaways, The Nursery of your Dreams by Peanut Butter & Jelly, Whole Foods $500 gift card, and more! SPRING FASHION PREVIEW Wed. 3/12, 7pm. Style Girl and Wilmington Dermatology Center presents Spring Fashion Preview at Cameron Art Museum. Featuring an evening of season essentials, fashion & beauty styling secrets, local celebrity models, shopping, light bites, bubbly & fun! Must-have, age-appropriate looks for spring modeled by local celebrities in their 20s to 75+. Tickets $25, imited space. First 25 guests to purchase tickets online will be entered to win some fabulous prizes! www.stylegirljessjames.com

charity/fund-raisers GRIEF GROUP MEETINGS Mondays, 3/10-4/14: Coping with the loss of a parentThursdays, 3/20-4/24: Coping with the death of a spouse, 3/4, 4/1, 5/6: An open-ended monthly discussionLower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter is offering several free grief groups for the community.The groups provide grief education and support that enable members to cope with and understand grief. Discussions include the phases of grief and the grieving process, along with other areas of concern for participants. Reg. rqd: 796-7991/melinda.mckeon@lcfh.org. RAPE CRISIS CENTER VOLUNTEER TRAINING The Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. will be offering training for Volunteer Hospital Responders Board Room of Coastal Horizons Center, Inc., 615 Shipyard Blvd. Training is open to residents of both New Hanover and Brunswick counties. Schedule: 2/26, 6pm: Human Trafficking. $2 deposit, to cover the cost of drug screen and criminal background check, is required and due after completing the training. Deposit will be refunded to volunteers after 6 months of active service. Deborah O’Neill at doneill@coastalhorizons.org or 910-392-6936. FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS

48 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

CROSSWORD

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THE NEWSDAY CROSSWORD Edited by Stanley Newman (www.StanXwords.com)

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: Explained further at 119 Across by Fred Piscop ACROSS 1 GWTW surname 6 Just __ (very little) 10 Really annoys 15 Ran in the wash 19 Kaiser or czar 20 The voice of the iPhone 21 First name in TV talk 22 Stage work 23 Ne’er-do-well 25 Little Bighorn victor 27 Lost altitude 28 Piano part 29 Can’t stomach 30 Vicuñas’ habitat 31 Tourney type 33 Anthem start 35 Crunchy sandwich 36 Came to light 39 Numbers in weather charts 41 Doorkeepers 45 Falstaff-like 46 Forest growler 47 Intense 49 Off __ tangent 50 Medal-worthy behavior 51 Conductor Georg 52 Architect from China 53 In shabby shape 55 Double curve 56 Lendl of tennis 58 Attach with a click 60 Mares and sows 61 “No talking!” 62 More amiable 64 College sr.’s test 65 Parade day 68 Copter part 70 Ghana’s capital 72 22 Across filler 73 Pop singer/songwriter King

74 Derisive laugh 75 Not so green 77 BBC clock setting 80 Cotillion girls 81 “Shucks!” 84 Workbench device 85 Sculler’s tool 86 Macaroni shape 88 Nashville-based awards org. 89 007 in Skyfall 91 Anguish 93 Quarterback Manning 94 Geological period 96 Well-honed 97 Exodus VIP 98 Indy team 100 Orbital periods 101 Can’t stomach 102 Obviously embarrassed 103 Compromise 104 Pasternak heroine 105 Ancient Peruvian 108 Trees with needles 110 Everyday 113 Barely defeats 117 Abrupt cessation 119 Theme of the puzzle 121 Carrier to Tel Aviv 122 Skein fliers 123 Leave off 124 Game fish 125 A handful 126 Time trials 127 Bluish green 128 Electricity source, for short DOWN 1 Planets, to poets 2 Luau dance 3 Rickman of the Potter films

4 “I guess” 5 It’s north of La. 6 Drained of color 7 Headed for overtime 8 Zone 9 Embassy workers 10 Coffee orders 11 “Here’s hoping . . .” 12 Greek group 13 Throw for a loop 14 Spotlight-avoiding 15 Wuthering Heights author 16 Tennyson title 17 Alternatively 18 Low marks 24 Made haste 26 Summer top 32 Look through, as a keyhole 34 Young one 35 Vampire guise 36 Pacifists 37 Disconcert 38 Cheese-and-toast dish 39 Steakhouse selection 40 Sushi-bar fish 41 Subject in an experiment 42 Nursery-rhyme byline 43 Pierce 44 Parliamentary votes 47 Emerge 48 Corp. top dog 51 One above criticism 54 Concerning, in other words 57 Stringed instrument 59 Part of ETA 63 Gung-ho

66 Experts 67 Party decoration 69 Approximately 71 Tuna source 73 Stringed instruments 76 Bill of Wrongs author 78 Leonine locks 79 Covert meeting 80 Tough to fathom 82 Mad Men network 83 Step all over

87 Didn’t exist 90 Prefix like atm 92 Hit the roof 95 Walker, on signs 99 Nursery furniture 100 Ardent assent 101 Spanish artist 103 Westernmost French city 104 Coffee order 105 Summer treats 106 Court plea, in brief

107 Untalkative one 108 For the asking 109 Scandinavian furniture chain 111 Prefix for sweet 112 Power co., for example 114 Arrow Shirt rival 115 Decant 116 __ speak (as it were) 118 “That’s awful!” 120 Ultimate degree

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Sixth Annual Festival of Flowers with Fiore Fine Flowers starts at 4:30pm, Wed., 2/26, at Union Station at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington. Tickets are $50 per person. Attendees will follow along as Guérard shares her secrets on how to create spectacular settings and arrangements. Guests will create their own arrangements to take home. Registration is required. Reg: www. hospicefestivalofflowers.org.

HIKING FOR HOPE 3/8, 10am-4pm: Old River Farms presents Hiking for Hope. A fundraiser to support women with cancer. Includes hiking, nature trails, story telling, hay rides, great food, karakoke, children activities, music, and more. Adults: $15, or $17 day of event. Children (under 18): $8, or $10 day of event. Children 6 and under are free. Tickets: womenofhopenc.org.

PLAY AT THE BEACH Thurs. 2/27, 11am-3pm. The Assistance League invites you to its 6th annual Play At The Beach fundraiser to enjoy a fantastic view of the ocean and a fun-filled day playing bridge, canasta, pinochle or any other card game at the Shell island Resort, 2700 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach. Groups wishing to play something other than cards can bring the game of their choice. Admission price of $30 per person includes lunch. Beautiful, unique baskets will be raffled. Reservations: mail checks payable to Assistance League of Greater Wilmington to Nancy Tillett, 1213 Congressional Lane, or 686-3902. Proceeds support philanthropic programs in the community.

PINK HEALS GOLF TOURNAMENT Sun., 3/9, 7:30am registration; shot un start, 9:30 am. Pink Heals Golf Tourney with Castle Bay Country Club, Hampstead, NC. $75/golfer and early sign-up by 2/25. After, $90/golfer (4 per team). Raflles, silent auction, Pink Golf Ball Challenge and more, w/MC Francis Weller. http:// pinkhealscapefear.org/registration. $75

HEART OF THE MATTER FASHION SHOW 2/28, 7:30-9:30pm, Council Chambers in City Hall/Thalian Hall, 310 Cestnut St. Heart of the Matter Fashion Show is present by the Cape Fear Volunteer Center and Big Buddy Program as a fund-raiser. Tickets: $25/peson or $45/two, www. eventbrite.com. CF LITERACY GALA See page 46. OYSTER ROAST Sat., 3/1, 4-7pm. Join the N.C. Coastal Federation for an oyster roast to celebrate a healthy coast. A party will be held at Tidal Creek Co-op. Feat. steamed oysters, corn chowder, craft beer,

SOUTHERN BELLE FUND-RAISER LUNCHEON 3/12: A Southern Belle Luncheon feauring guest speaker - Celia Rivenbark, who will be selling and signing copies of her latest book “Rude Bitches Make Me Tired.” Money raised will go to the Dollars 4 Small Scholars fundraising campaign - where The Megan Cajigas Education Foundation helps local families afford pre-k tuition. The luncehon will be held at The Bakery, 105 Orange St. Lacy Ford, 919-208-6050 or mcefoundation@ec.rr.com

live bluegrass music, door prizes and outdoor games. Tickets ($35 federation members; $45 nonmembers, available online at www.nccoast.org or in-person at Tidal Creek’s Customer Service desk. All Shellebration proceeds will benefit the federation’s environmental education programs. (910) 509-2838. WINE WOMEN & SHOES

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theatre/auditions

Thurs., 3/3, 630pm-1030pm. Wine Women & Shoes Benefiting Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina. The Burney Center at UNC Wilmington. BURN THIS Thur. 2/27, 7pm: “Burn This,” free play reading, 500 women will sip libations from some of the starring Rachel Lewis Hilburn, Shane Bates, Lance country’s top winemakers, shop the latest trends Howell, and Zach Hanner. Pulitzer Prize winner in the multi-vendor marketplace, watch a live runLanford Wilson’s play shows us that we can’t alway show featuring local models and partake in an ways choose who we love. The first in a series of unforgettable auction and raffle- all to help grant free readings of award-winning plays presented by wishes to kids with life-threatening medical condiTheatre Network of Wilmington. Donations benefit tions. www.winewomenandshoes.com/wilmington Superstar Academy, providing theater programs MARDI GRAS FUND-RAISER to area youth. TheatreNOW, 19 S. 10th St. (910) Mardi Gras fund-raiser will cap off the Oak Island 399-3669. Mardi Gras By The Sea Festival on Fat Tuesday, WAR HORSE BROADCAST FROM UK 3/4 at the St. James Community Center. EnterThur 2/27. 7 p.m. Lumina Theater, Fisher Student tainment will be provided by the Brunswick Big Center, 601 South College Road. War Horse.TickBand and we will dine on shrimp and grits and ets: $18 members, $20 nonmembers $10 UNCW an authentic New Orleans gourmet pancake bar. Students. The National Theatre’s original stage There will be a silent and live auctions and even a production of War Horse, broadcast live from Loncostume contest. brunswicklittletheatre.com don’s West End to UNCW. CFLC VOLUNTEER TRAINING Volunteer tutor candidates are encouraged (but not FRAKTURED FAERY TALES “Fraktured Faery Tales for A Mid-Winter’s Eve required) to take CFLC 101, a free 2-hour orientaIV” directed by Cherri McKay , fractured by Zach tion to the Cape Fear Literacy Council in which we Hanner, Aimee Schooley with Caylan McKay, describe who we serve and how we do it. The next Tamica Katzmann, Lupin Byers-Olge & The P.E.T CFLC 101 Orientation is Wed., 3/5, 10am-noon, Project Company . Part four is the latest selec1012 South 17th St. The next ABL Tutor Traintion which celebrates Journey’s 14th season ing will be on 3/17, 19, 24 and 26, 10am-1pm, at with a little something for everyone music, dance, Cape Fear Literacy Council, 1012 South 17th St. comedy, and definitely a moral to each story. Bring To become a certified ABL tutor a volunteer must the family and anyone with a funny bone to this attend 12 hours of training to gain the basic skills fantastic fortnight of Fraktured Faery Tales. All needed to help an ABL student succeed. Workproceeds benefit Cape Fear Shakespeare on shop material fees are $20 if you will be volunteerthe Green. GA, $12. Thurs., 2/28-3/2, matinees, ing at CFLC or $50 if you are getting certified for 3pm, and night shows, 8pm. Family NIght Adm, another organization. The next ESOL Tutor Train2/28, 7:30pm. Thalian Hall, 910-632-2285. www. ing will be on 3/11, 12 and 13, 6:30-9:30pm, 1012 ThalianHall.org South 17th Street. To become a certified ESOL tu-

tor a volunteer must attend 9 hours of training and ROMANTIC COMEDY observe 2 classes to gain the basic skills needed 2/28-3/2. Thur.-Sat. 8pm, Sun, 3pm. “Romanto help an ESOL student succeed. The ESOL Tutic Comedy” by Bernard Slade. Arrogant, self tor Training includes techniques and content for centered and sharp tongued Jason Carmichael, working with adult speakers of other languages. successful co-author of Broadway romantic comThe focus is on strategies for developing listening, edies, is facing two monumental events: he is speaking, reading, writing and vocabulary skills to about the marry a society belle and his collaborahelp students navigate everyday life and to achieve tor is retiring. Enter Phoebe Craddock, Vermont academic goals. Workshop material fees are $30 school teacher and budding playwright. Quicker if you will be volunteering at CFLC, Interfaith Refuthan a flash, Jason acquires a talented and adoring gee Ministry or Winterpark Baptist Church, or $50 collaborator in mousy Phoebe. Fame and success if you are getting certified for another organization. are theirs for 10 years and then Jason’s world falls (910) 251-0911. apart. His wife divorces him to go into politics and

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Phoebe, her love for Jason unrequited, marries a breezy journalist and moves to Paris. Jason goes into professional, financial and physical decline as a newly chic Phoebe returns, solo and successful, igniting the long delayed romance between them. Directed by Nick Smith. Starring Bryan Cournoyer, Susan Auten, Erin Hunter, Chase Harrison, Clare Kiley, and Jessica Farmer. Cape Fear Playhouse, 613 Castle St. Tickets $20. $18 for students, seniors, and military. $15 all Thur. perfomances. Purchase tickets: (910) 367-5237, bigdawgpro@ gmail.com, or through bigdawgproductions.org BRUNSWICK LITTLE THEATRE I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is an adult musical comedy revue poking fun at male/ female relationships from single-dom through marriage, family, and even new romance at a funereal. The show is directed by Sue MacCallum, a veteran director but newcomer to BLT, and features a cast of six, each portraying multiple roles throughout the show. We are also performing this show in a new venue for us, the Brunswick Center at Southport. 3/1, 7:30pm. Sue MacCallum: suemaccallum1@gmail.com EVITA See page 25. CHARLIE MURPHY’S FOND FAREWELL Doors open at 6pm. Show at 7pm. $28/$18 incl. meal. Limited # of show-only tickets for $12 at our mezzanine seating. Musical mayhem! Meet the colorful characters as they toast the dearly departed at their local pub. Interactive fun and frivolity at this comedic Irish wake. TheatreNOW, 10th and Dock streets. www.theatrewilmington.com. Every Friday and Saturday through 3/15. FOR COLOR GIRLS Techmoja Dance and Theater Company presents, Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf.” An African American literature and black feminism—depicts the interconnected lives of seven women, exploring their lives and struggles as women of color. “For Colored Girls” is a series of 20 poems, collectively called a “choreopoem.” Expresses many struggles and obstacles that African-American women may face throughout their lives. It is performed by a cast of seven women characters, each of whom is known only by a color. The play has a mature theme, adults only. 3/7-9, Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $15

DEAD CROW COMEDY Wed. Nutt House Improv, 9pm ($2), Reel Cafe. • Thursday Open Mic Night, 9pm (no cover) • Friday/Saturday National touring comedians 8pm & 10pm. City Stage/Level 5 and Fibber McGees. Timmy Sherrill: deadcrowcomedy@aol.com. 910520-5520

by Moscow Festival Ballet. Leading dancers from across Russia have forged under Sergei Radchenko’s direction, an exciting new company staging new productions of timeless classics such as Giselle, Don Quixote, Paquita and Carmen. $18$43. 910-962-3500. wilmingtonconcert.com.

JAZZ AT CAM PINEAPPLE-SHAPED LAMPS A concert series by the Cameron Art Museum and 3/13, 8pm. “Sex a.k.a. Wieners and Boobs,” a the Cape Fear Jazz Society, 6:30-8pm, first Thurs. comedy written by Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Showea. mo. Cameron Art Museum, Weyerhaeuser Realter, and David Wain; The creative minds behind ception Hall. Indv. tickets: Members, $8; non, $12; “The State”, “Stella” and “Wet Hot American students, $5 w/ID. Musicians performing a range Summer.” This absurdist western comedy follows of jazz genres for your listening pleasure. • 3/6: Jack Greenberg, the new sheriff of Teaneck, New Lee Venters and Vermillion Sands www.cameronJersey. Teaneck is a corrupt town run by Tad Theartmuseum.org aterman, a crime boss armed with henchmen and MIX GROTTO RELEASE PARTY a legion of hookers and gigolos. Will Jack save Te3/8, 2-6pm: Gravity Records hosts MixGrotto aneck, get the girl, and defeat Tad? Or will the wieRelease Party. The compilation album will feature ners and boobs prevail?! Doors open at 7:30pm, bands from NC w/ performances by A Bottle Volshow starts at 8:00pm. $15 canic, Astro Cowboy, closed caption, ¡Pretend LIVE SKETCH COMEDY SHOW Surprise! and free clinic. Admission: a suggested 3/13, 8pm, $3. Each month we will bring you donation of “Pay What You Can” at the door. Mixa night of completely new and original sketch Grotto celebrating in a “Sweet Sixteen” fashion comedy written and performed by local comedy equipped w/ cupcakes, DJ set by DJ Jaguar, and troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps. Join us on the prizes for the best dressed male and female at the 2nd Wednesday of every month at TheatreNOW! end of the night. 612 Castle St. www.iheartmixDoors open at 7:30pm, Show starts at 8pm. www. grotto.com or Facebook https://www.facebook. wilmingtontheatre.com com/Mixgrotto or 252-339-9698

music/concerts

NEW YORK VOICES 3/8, 7pm. New York Voices: Grammy-winning jazz vocal quartet, synonymous with airtight musical perfection,celebrates 25 years of vocal artistry at Thalian Hall. Tickets: $18-$35, ThalianHall.org.

CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS Carolina Chocolate Drops w/ L Shaped Lot Duo, 2/26, Brooklyn Arts Center, 6:30pm doors. $23 EAST CAROLINA BLUES SOCIETY Sun, 3/9, 3pm-7pm. East Carolina Blues Society in advance; $28 day of. ww.pipelineevents.com. at Buck Wild BBQ and Saloon, 29 Van Campen Carolina Chocolate Drops released their studio alBlvd. Performances from The Polar Bear Blues bum Leaving Eden (Nonesuch Records) produced Band,The Robbie Reid Band. Oana Duma, 910by Buddy Miller. The traditional African-American 612-4028 string band provides “an end-to-end display of excellence, [playing] styles of southern black music MUSIC AT FIRST from the 1920s and ’30s string- band music, jugSt. Andrew’s School Choral Scholars, 3/9, 5pm. band music, fife, drum and early jazz,” according to St. Andrew’s School Choral Scholars is a curricuNYT. www.brooklynartsnc.com lar ensemble at St. Andrew’s School, an Episcopal residential high school in Middletown, Delaware, PRINCE IGOR in which students in grades nine through twelve Sat., 3/1, noon-4:30pm. Borodin’s defining Rusreceive individual vocal training and instruction in sian epic, famous for its Polovtsian Dances, comes music theory, aural skills, sight-singing, and music to the Met for the first time in nearly 100 years. history through the Royal School of Church Music Dmitri Tcherniakov’s new production is a brilliant training scheme, Voice for Life. First Presbyterian psychological journey through the mind of its conChurch, 125 S. Third St. flicted hero, with the founding of the Russian na-

tion as the backdrop. Star bass-baritone Ildar Abdrazakov takes on the monumental title role, with Gianandrea Noseda conducting. (Live Broadcast from New York’s MetropoliUNCW’s Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds will host tan Opera. There will be a pre-performance LINE DANCING CLASSES a concert at Kenan Auditorium on the 27th at 7:30 lecture 45 min. prior to each screening, Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department is offering beginner Line Dancing lessons in English.) $24 ($20 members of p.m.. Tickets are only $5 to the general public and Subtitled with Inez Eason, a former NFL-World League Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) $15 stufree for students with UNCW IDs. Conducted by John dents, contact the venue for ticketing infor- Football Professional Cheerleader. Line Dancing P. LaCognata, and made up of students from across the mation.910-962-3195. (memberships $30/ lessons are open to anyone at any age. No partuniversity campus, including both music majors and semester and $50/year) Tickets available at ners are needed for this fun dance style, and with 1-hour classes held on Sunday afternoons, you non-music majors, they will play tradition winds’ reper- door. http://uncw.edu/olli/ can bring the whole family! Line dancing lesson, toire, as well as a slew of 21st century works. For more CHAMBER WINDS UNCW Sun, 3/2, 4-5pm, at the Wrightsville Beach Rec2/27: Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds infomration, contact the UNCW Department of Music at reation Center. Pre-reg rqd; 256-7925. Brochures will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Kenan Audiuncwmus@uncw.edu or 910-962-3415. and registration forms can be downloaded from torium. Tickets are $5 for the genour website at www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com eral public and free to students with valid UNCW IDs. Tickets may DINOSAUR DANCE Dinosaur Dance: Event will be one big dinosaur be purchased the day of the event when the Kenan party with age appropriate activities for all. There Auditorium box office opens at 6:30 p.m. will be fun music, games, a special snack, and WILMINGTON CONCERT ASSOCIATION crafts! Children and parents/caregivers are invited Carmen, 3/3, 8pm, Kenan Auditorium. Teatro JOKES ‘N’ SMOKE to dress in dinosaur gear also! Fit For Fun Center, Lirico D’Eruopa feat. full-scape opera productions, Every first Mon. of month will feature a stand-up 3/7, 9am-noon, ages 5 and under. Cost: $5/child inc. this presentatio of Bizet’s Carmen. The story comedy showcase Hosted by Brian Granger, perand adults are free. 302 S. 10th St. 910-341-4630. tells of Don José, a native soldier seduced by formances by Reid Clark, Colton Demonte and www.fitforfuncenter.com the wiles of the fiery gypsy Carmen. • Cinderella, more of Nutt Street Comedy Club’s finest. 3021 Thurs., 4/3, 8pm, Kenan Auditorium, performed AZALEA COAST DANCE USA Market St. Arabian Nights Hookah Bar. 9pm, $4.

2/27: CHAMBER WINDS

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52 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

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Sat., 3/8 6:45-7:30 for group lessons; 7:30-10pm for open dancing. Azalea Coast USA Dance Monthly Social Dance & Lesson. Evening of social ballroom dance and a basic group dance lesson at the New Hanover County Senior Center, 2222 S. College Rd. Group lesson given by Verna Jordan. No partner necessary for the lesson. Open dancing to our own custom mix of ballroom smooth and latin music. Admission $8 members, $10 nonmembers, $5 military with ID, $3 students with ID. 910-799-1694 or usadance@csandes.com. http://www.azaleacoastncusadance.org CAPE FEAR DANCE FESTIVAL Produced by Wilmington Ballet Company, featuring three performances: “The Velveteen Rabbit” (produced by Dance Element Productions); “A Tea for Ruby,” written by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser (of the “Fancy Nancy” series). Set by Mary LeGere of The Raleigh Dance Theater. Children’s stories from Cape Fear Dance Theatre, doing acting, dance, film, and physical theater. Details of stories TBA. Performance times at 2pm and 4:30pm at Thalian Hall on 4/27. wilmingtonschoolofballet@ gmail.com. www.wilmingtonschoolofballet.com IRISH STEP DANCE Traditional Irish Step Dancing Beginners to Championship level ages 5-adult! Mondays nights. The studio is located at 1211 South 44th St. www. walshkelleyschool.com. 76’ERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB Modern Western Style Square Dance. Club meets Thurs. nights at 7pm at the Senior Center for a new workshop on square dancing. Info: 270-1639 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 CONTRA DANCE Tuesday night dances, 5th Ave United Methodist Church on South 5th Ave at Nun, 7:30-9:30pm. Social dance for all levels; singles and couples, families, college and high school students and folks of all dancing abilities are invited to come. $4. (910) 538-9711. TANGO WILMINGTON Tango classes and social dancing, Fridays, Carolina Lounge of Ramada Inn. 5001 Market Street (between College and Kerr). 8-9:45pm. $5 lounge entrance includes beginners’ lesson, 7:30.

art MICHAEL VAN HOUT’S ANIMAL FORMS Van Hout is well-known for his metalwork and sculptures, which are widely exhibited throughout

the state. Opening Fri., 2/28, 6-9 pm; on display through April. 621N4TH Gallery, 621 N. 4th St. Free. www.621n4th.com.

COMPANIONS OBSERVING AFRICA WHQR 91.3fm Public Radio is excited to anExhibition “Observing Africa: The Life and Career nounce the MC Erny Gallery at WHQR will open a of Stuart Marks,” explores the continent through new show on 2/28, “Companions – A Collection of Dog-Inspired Paintings” by Clair Hartmann. Opening reception, 2/28, 6-9pm. Companions is a delightful and sensitive look at man’s best friend; Hartmann seeks to make each portrait a “soul connection in paint.” The The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover show will remain on display until 4/4. A porCounty will host their monthly Fourth Friday Gallery tion of the proceeds from any sale of art benNight this week, on February 28th. Sixteen galleries efits WHQR. 254 N. Front St.

mains.” Honoring the changing style of interment with a juried competition devoted to the art of cremation urns, entitled All That Remains. Open to professional and amateur artists in North Carolina, must be 18 years plus. Artist may submit a maximum of two original works that, using his/ her creativity could be used as a cremation urn; size should be within dimensions of 12”length x 12” width x 12” height. All works must be sturdy enough to withstand handling and exhibition. All mediums of art will be accepted. Digital images of the work, with entry form must be received by Fri., 8/14, 4pm (Send to Historic Oakwood Cemetery, PO Box 26867 Raleigh, NC 27611). E-mail jpgs (300 dpi) to robin@historicoakwood. com by 9/20, 4pm. No more than two photos of each piece of work should be included. Mailed CDs should be labeled with name, email address and phone number. Winners notified via email on Mon., 8/15. Approved urns must be delivered to Historic Oakwood Cemetery (701 Oakwood Ave.) no later than 3pm on Wed., 9/10; dropped off between 11am and 3pm on the 10th if handdelivered. Opening reception, Sat., 10/11, 3-5pm. Exhibit on Sun., 10/15, 1-5 pm. Friends of Historic Oakwood Cemetery will retain a 30% commission on all works sold. All works must be for sale. 1st Place, $600; 2nd place, $250;3rd Place, $150.

CALL FOR ARTISTS Over $4,000 in cash awards Wilmington Art Association, 32nd annual Juried Spring Art Show & Sale, 4/11-13. Accepting 3D & 2D artwork images Online beginning 1/13 through midnight 3/3. Process includes fee payment and image submissions at www. wilmingtonart.org for detail. WAA members $35/Non-members $45. Hannah Block community Arts Center, 120 S. Second. St.

FOURTH FRIDAY GALLERY NIGHT “Fourth Friday Gallery Night” is now coordinated by The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County, feat. 16 local art galleries and studios that will open their doors to the public in an after-hours celebration of art and culture, from 6-9pm, every fourth Friday of the month through 2014. Rhonda Bellamy at 910343-0998, 221 N. Front St. Suite 101. www.artscouncilofwilmington.org

ORANGE ST. FEST CALL TO ARTISTS Thalian Association is seeking talented artists in all mediums to display and sell their art at the 2014 Orange Street ArtsFest, the largest arts festival in downtown Wilmington. Memorial Day weekend, Sat., 5/24, 10am-6pm, and Sun., 5/25, 10am5pm. The street fair is held on Orange Street between Front and Second Streets, next to the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, with some exhibitors inside the building. Exhibition fee is $125.00 and the deadline for applications is April 15, 2014. Donna Green, donnajoynergreen@ thalian.org, 910-341-7860.

IMAGING JUSTICE: WILMINGTON 10 STORY A visual art exhibition of selected works submitted by students and community members that depict the stories of the Wilmington 10 and their long journey from wrongful convictions in 1971 to their pardon by the Governor of North Carolina in 2012. Sponsored by the UNCW Upperman African American Cultural Center and Dept. of Art & Art History. Warwick Center Lobby Gallery, UNCW. http://uncw.edu/upperman/wilmington10.html A TRIP BACK TO THE ‘60S Sat., 3/15: A Trip back to the 60s: Psychedelic Relics—A Private Collection of Original Art . Art Installation at Giant. Open to the public, no charge, 8am-8pm Private viewing Friday evening prior. www.giantculture.com. ARTISTS LOCK-IN Artists Lock-in, 3/29: Need artists to particiapte in the all-night event, 8pm-8am. Free art supplies to create masterpieces. Opportunities to help

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SILVER COAST ART SHOW Silver Coast Winery is pleased to announce a mutli artist art show in the art gallery, featuring the works of Artists David McCune, Gabriella Lynch and Michael Green will be on display through 4/30. Gabriella Lynch, a self taught artist, does watercolors. Michael S. Green works in several medias such as water color, wood carving, air brushing, acrylic and oil. 6680 Barbeque Rd., Ocean Isle Beach, NC. www.silvercoastwinery. com or 910-282-2800.

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56 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

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and studios open their doors to the public from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring new art exhibits and refreshments. Downtown participants include Acme, Art Factory, MC Erny Gallery, Wilma W. Daniels Gallery, New Elements Gallery and more. For a list of all galleries, head over to www.artscouncilofwilmington.org. the eyes of renowned anthropologist. Hangs through 5/15. Free. Randall Library, UNCW. 910962-3760;http://library.uncw.edu/news/observing_africa_display_special_collections JANETTE HOPPER “Dancing through my Blogosphere—Taking you on a whirlwind trip through my visual blog,” an art show by Janette K Hopper, Costello’s Piano Bar in downtown Wilmington, NC, will present a new art show, exhibiting prints and paintings by Janette K. Hopper. Exhibition will consist of three chapters: 1) Medieval nastygrams - the foibles of man, 2) Nature, the killer app, and 3) To the Cloud! Vaporware. Each portion of the trip through Hopper’s artistic Blogosphere will last for two months, with the entire trip lasting six months. Costello’s is open 7 days a week from 7pm-2am. ALL THAT REMAINS Historic Oakwood Cemetery & Mausoleum hosts Juried Urn Competition and Sale, “All that Re-

REGIONAL ART SHOW The Associated Artists of Southport, NC is accepting entries for the annual Regional Art Show to take place in Franklin Square Gallery 6/2 through 6/21. Deadline for completed registration forms with entry fee is 5/16. Delivery of registered works is 5/30 from 10am to 2pm. Awards: $1200 plus Merit & Honorable Mentions. Judi Betts (2D) and Brenda McMahon (3D) will judge from actual work. For complete details, download a prospectus form from www. FranklinSquareGallery.com or contacting Carol Kidd (910) 253-3532 or carolskis@earthlink.net.

museum BATTLESHIP Power Plant, 3/15, noon-5:30pm. $65 per person. $60 for Friends members or active military.

Learn in detail about the ship’s eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers, four sets of General Electric turbines and reduction gears, steam and diesel powered service turbo generators, along with electrical distribution, water distillation, and steering mechanisms. Features classroom presentations and behind-the-scenes tour of engineering spaces. Adults only (ages 16 and up) and is limited to 40 participants. RSVP/payment due by Thurs., 3/13. $65/$60 for Friends of the Battleship or active military. 910-251-5797. Junction of Highways 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River. www. battleshipnc.com CAPE FEAR MUSEUM Exhibits: Through 3/2014: Imagine and discover a world you can’t see! Nano is a mini, interactive exhibition that engages family audiences in nanoscale science, engineering and technology. Hands-on interactives present the basics of nanoscience and engineering, introduce some real-world applications, and explore the societal and ethical implications of this new technology. • Since the launch of the world’s first artificial satellite Sputnik in 1957, satellites have dramatically changed the way we study our planet. A View from Space, a new, bilingual (Spanish and English), highly interactive, hands-on science exhibit, will allow visitors to see the world from a satellite’s perspective. They can track a hurricane from space, send a satellite spinning into orbit around a model Earth, study incredible images of our planet captured by NASA’s Earth Observing System and more. Includes numerous hands-on activity sections such as the Satellite Activity Area. 910-798-4370. Hours: Tues-Sat, 9am-5pm; Sun., 1-5pm. $4-$7. Free for museum members and children under 3. New Hanover County residents’ free day is the first Sun. ea. month. 814 Market St., downtown Wilmington. capefearmuseum.com. MOORE’S BATTLEFIELD Moores Creek National Battlefield: Loyalists were unaware of what they would encounter as they charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776. Just beyond the bridge nearly 1,000 North Carolina patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire. This dramatic victory ended British rule in the colony forever. Visitor Center, 9am-4pm, through 3/31; 4/1, 9am-5pm, for spring and summer season. Center will be closed every Mon/ Tues throughout the year while staying open WedSun to provide educational programs and guided tours on the weekend. Moores Creek National Battlefield will be completely closed on all Federal Holidays with no access to any part of the park being permitted. www.nps.gov/mocr CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Mon, Little Sprouts Storytime, 10am, and Go Green Engineer Team, 3:30pm. • Tues., Kids Cooking Club, 3:30pm • Wed., Preschool Science, 10am; Discover Science, 3:30pm; and Mini Math, 4pm. • Thurs. StoryCOOKS, 10am; and StART with a Story, 3:30pm • Fri., Toddler Time, 10am; and Adventures in Art, 3:30pm • Drop off gently used books at our Museum to be used for

a good cause. Ooksbay Books uses book collection locations to help promote literacy, find a good use for used books, and benefit nonprofits. www. playwilmington.org 116 Orange St. 910-254-3534 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. 256-2569. 303 West Salisbury St. wbmuseum.com. WILMINGTON RAILROAD MUSEUM Explore railroad history and heritage, especially of the Atlantic Coast Line, headquartered in Wilmington for 125 years. Interests and activities for all ages, including historical exhibits, full-size steam engine and rolling stock, lively Children’s Hall, and spectacular model layouts. House in an authentic 1883 freight warehouse, facilities are fully accessible and on one level. RSVP: discounted group tours, caboose birthday parties, and after-hours meetings or mixers. Story Time on 1st/3rd Mondays at 10:30am, only $4 per family and access to entire Museum. Admission only $8.50 adult, $7.50 senior/military, $4.50 child age 2-12, and free under age 2. North end of downtown, 505 Nutt St. 910-763-2634, www.wrrm.org. LATIMER HOUSE Victorian Italiante style home built in 1852, the restored home features period furnishings, artwork and family portraits. Tours offered Mon-Fri, 10am4pm, and Sat, 12-5pm. Walking tours are Wed and Sat. at 10am. $4-$12. The Latimer House of the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society is not handicapped accessible 126 S. Third St. 7620492. www.latimerhouse.org CAPE FEAR SERPENTARIUM World’s most fascinating and dangerous reptiles in beautiful natural habitats, feat. a 12-foot saltwater crocodile, “Bubble Boy.” and “Sheena”, a 23ft long Reticulated Python that can swallow a human being whole! Giant Anaconda weighs 300 lbs, w/15 ft long King Cobras hood up and amaze you. See the Black Mamba, Spitting Cobras, Inland Taipans, Gaboon Vipers, Puff Adders, and more! Over 100 species, some so rare they are not exhibited anywhere else. One of the most famous reptile collections on earth. Open everyday in summer, 11am-5pm (Sat. till 6 pm); winter schedule, Wed-Sun. 20 Orange St, across from the Historic Downtown Riverwalk, intersecting Front and Water Street. (910) 762-1669 or www. capefearserpentarium.com. BELLAMY MANSION One of NC’s most spectacular examples of antebellum architecture, built on the eve of the Civil War by free and enslaved black artisans, for John Dillard Bellamy (1817-1896) physician, planter and business leader; and his wife, Eliza McIlhenny Harriss (1821-1907) and their nine children. After the

Calendar entries are due Thursdays by noon for consideration in the following encore. Entries are published for free two weeks out from event date according to space.

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• 20 Naber Dr., Shallotte • 5701 East Oak Island Drive, Long Beach • 106 Southport-Supply Rd. SE, Supply • 1517 Dawson St., Wilmington • 5901 Oleander Dr., Wilmington encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 57

fall of Fort Fisher in 1865, Federal troops commandeered the house as their headquarters during the occupation of Wilmington. Now a museum, itf ocuses on history and the design arts and offers tours, changing exhibitions and an informative look at historic preservation in action.910-251-3700. www. bellamymansion.org. 503 Market St.

If you’ve ever wanted to see a bunch of badass chicks take to a roller rink for some intense action, then this Saturday offers your chance. The Cape Fear Roller Girls will be rolling around the rink at the CFCC Schwartz Center on March 1st at 7 p.m. for a bout against Raleigh’s Carolina Roller Girls. Tickets are only $10 in advance or $12 at the door ($5 for children, 6-10). Parking is free, and concessions are sold inside. Plus, folks can meet the gals after the bout! Tickets available at Jellybeans or from one of the skaters.

CAMERON ART MUSEUM Exhibits: Floating Sculpture: Bruce Barclay Cameron Duck Decoy Collection, through 6/1. Avid hunstman, sportsman and philanthropist Bruce Barclay Cameron collected duck decoys throughout his lifetime, and CAM will showcase them. • Requiem in a Glass: Brady’s Greenhouse, thorugh 6/1. Installation by Harry Taylor commissioned by CAM pays homage to the industrious work of famed American Civil War photographer Matthew Brady. Brady’s glass negatives were recycled after the war to build greenhouses, but as the years went by, the sun’s rays burned the imagery from the glass and these images were lost.. Taylor reimagines them. • Art Among Friends: Four Collections of American Art features paintings and drawings from four private collections in North Carolina showing the evolution during 1880s-1940s of painting in America. • CAM Public Tours, Thurs., 7:30pm, w/admission. Explore what’s new and on view. Open late on Thurs. until 9pm.• Corner of South 17th St. and Independence Blvd. TuesSun,10am-5pm; Thurs: 10am-9pm. Museum members free, $8 non-members, $5 students with valid ID, $3 children age 2 -12. • CAM Café hrs: Tues-Sat, 11am-3pm; Sun, 10am-3pm; Thurs. dinner. www.cameronartmuseum.com or 910-3955999. www.cameronartmuseum.org BURGWIN WRIGHT HOUSE

3/1: CAPE FEAR ROLLER GIRLS

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 St. Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm. Last tour, 3pm. Admission rqd. (910) 762-0570. www.burgwinwrighthouse. com.Space is limited. $20/person “pre-reg. rqd.” 910-253-7934 or http://greenlandsfarmstore.info

sports/recreation HALYBURTON NATURE PROGRAMS Pre-reg. required! Kids ages 2 and up, adults and families including a wide variety of birding programs. Bird Hike, Greenfield Lake, 3/20, 8am4pm, Clark Park; 4/17, 8am-1pm, Holly Shelter Gamelands, $10 • Birding By Bike, 2/27, 3/27, 4/10, at Gary Shell Cross-City Trail, 8am-noon

(free). • Backyard Birding and Feeding: 3/8, 4/12, 9:30-11:30am, $5. 4099 S. 17th St. 910-3410075. www.halyburtonpark.com

shows a year. Those shows have helped raise millions of dollars. Tickets at various retail outlets also listed on the brownpapertickets website.

CAPE FEAR ROLLER GIRLS CAROLINA GIRLS OUTDOOR SCHOOL 3/1, 7pm: Wilmington’s Cape Fear Roller Girls The Carolina Girls Outdoor School will be a series have been working hard so far this year to bring of hands on seminars for women that will be held you some intense roller derby action! Join us on 3/15 during the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo at the March 1st for our first bout of the season. CFRG Wilmington Convention Center. Cost is $125/perwill be hosting the Carolina Roller Girls from Rason with one additional member at $75. Includes leigh, NC at the CFCC Schwartz Center, 601 N. a 3-day admission to the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo, Front St. Doors open at 6:30pm; $10 in advance, a catered lunch by Mike McMillion of the Crab $12 at the door, $5 for children 6-10, and parkShack, a tee shirt for each participant, a goody ing is free. Concessions provided, merchandise bag and door prize drawing for fishing and huntavailable for purchase, and a meet-n-greet with ing outdoors trip. Instruction will meet the needs of the Girls directly following the bout. portion of the hunters and fisherwomen ranging from novice to proceeds will go to benefit Wilmington’s Rape advanced. Fishing School: 843-902-6532 or wc@ Crisis Center provided by Coastal Horicapefearwildlifeexpo.com. zon’s Center. www.capefearrollergirls. com or at Jellybeans Skating Center or from CFRG Skater.

film

EMPIE TENNIS CLINICS Adult Tennis Clinics, pre-reg and pay rqd. Mon., CFIFF FEMALE DIRECTORS SUBMISSIONS 14th Annual Cape Fear Independent Film Festival 3/3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 10am-11:30am. $15/clinic. honors female directors in 2014. Presenting a new • Monday Beginner Tennis—Session 1: 3/3; category, the award committee for this film is be3/10, 3/17; 3/24. Session 2: 3/31; 4/7; 4/14; ing headed up by Karen Labbe, former winner of 4/21. Session 3: 4/28; 5/5; 5/12; 5/19, 5:30Best Local Film for her short “When Nicole Meets 6:30pm. $44 for 4 clinics/session. Complete list of Oliver.” The award will become an annual fixture clinics including kids clinics, visit www.empiepark. in the festival’s award ceremony which includes com the Don Payne Screenwriting Award which honors YOUTH BASKETBALL REGISTRATION excellence in screenwriting which will be selected 3/3. The city is looking for boys and girls ages 11by Simpsons Producer Joel H. Cohen. The award 13 of to sign up for youth basketball at the MLK is sponsored by The Wonder Shop in downtown Community Center. The MLK Center is located Wilmington to represent creative women. Filmat 401 S. 8th St. The season runs March through makers interested in submitting their film for conMay and games will be held on Tuesdays and sideration can submit via the festival’s website Thursdays. Teams will be selected on March 10. at http://cfifn.org or through the WithoutABox Registration deadline is 3/3. Required for regisfestival submission system. Deadline: 3/1. Karen tration: birth certificate, registration form (Select Labbe, karenlabbecallahan@gmail.com Midget League) registration fee ($30). (910) 341SECOND SUNDAY FILMS 0057 or (910) 341-7866 (TDD 341.7873/TTY Second Sunday is adults’ afternoon out at North711). east Library. 3/9: Free movie starring Tyler Perry, NC COASTAL RESERVE/NTL ESTUARINE based on books by James Patterson, 2pm. The Join the N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Esperformance license doesn’t allow the library to tuarine Research Reserve for a day of service and advertise movie titles. Adults only, please. BYOP= training as we set up a bird-nesting enclosure for Bring Your Own Popcorn and other snacks. NHC the 2014 season on 3/8, noon-2pm, at the Big Bay Northeast Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Rd. area of the Masonboro Island Reserve. Several NC BLACK FILM FESTIVAL important species of birds nest on the island each 3/13-16: 13th annual NC Black Film Festival is year. The Reserve is looking for volunteers to help a 4-day juried and invitational competition offers with this posting and to adopt additional postings screenings of independent films by African-Ameron the island. You must be able to provide your ican filmmakers with guest artists, panel discusown transportation to the Reserve. To find out sions, workshops, and more. Genres include feamore information and register contact us at ncnerr. tures, shorts, animation, and documentary films. volunteering@gmail.com or 910-962-2324. Sponsored by the Black Arts Alliance. Admission PINK HEALS GOLF TOURNAMENT charge. Hannah Block Historic USO/CommuSun., 3/9, 7:30am registration; shot un start, nity Arts Center, 910-612-7832. www.blackartsal9:30 am. Pink Heals Golf Tourney with Castle liance.org. Bay Country Club, Hampstead, NC. $75/golfer and early sign-up by 2/25. After, $90/golfer (4 per team). Raflles, silent auction, Pink Golf Ball Challenge and more, w/MC Francis Weller. http:// pinkhealscapefear.org/registration EARTH DAY POSTER CONTEST Cape Fear Volunteer Center (CFVC) is proud to HARLEM AMBASSADORS announce our Global Youth Service Day/Earth Internationally acclaimed Harlem Ambassadors will Day poster contest to promote the importance of be visiting Hampstead, NC, for a game at the Topyouth taking part in making this a healthy world. sail High School gymnasium on 3/9, 4pm. Come Designed to raise environmental awareness out and see a rematch of the Harlem Ambassaamong students by giving them an opportunity to dors against the Topsail Fury. The Harlem Ambasdesign aposter explaining what they think Earth sadors offer a unique brand of Harlem-style basDay is all about.Open to all K-8th grade students ketball, featuring high-flying slam dunks, dazzling in US; must be original with ecological message; ball-handling tricks and hilarious comedy routines. any size, and done in color or b/w; must be done They work with organizations such as Habitat by hand or computer; two age groups, kindergarfor Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers ten through 4th grade, and 5th grade through 8th Big Sisters and American Red Cross, as well as grade. Poster: cfvcdirector@gmail.com or Cape Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs in communities Fear Volunteer Center, 214 Walnut St., Wilmthroughout the U.S., and perform more than 200 ington, NC 28401 “GYSD/ Earth Day Poster

kids’ stuff

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Contest Entry” in the subject line and include name, age, grade, school and a phone number where we can reach you. Deadline: 4/22. $100 prize. (910) 392-8180. www.capefearvolunteercenter.org. MUSIC AND ART FOR CHILDREN 3/6. Music and Art for Children: Ms. Susan’s Room: Happy Little Singers, 6 mths- 6 yrs. Sing, Dance and Creative Play. 90 minsession, every Tue., Wed., Thur. and Sat. 9:45am. $10 per family w/ 2 kids. Art and craft sessions Thur.4pm and Fri. 10 am. All ages welcome, $10 per child. In The ArtWorks, 200 Willard Street www.ms-susans-room.com or 910-777-8889.Advanced registration (Arts & Crafts) required: info@ms-susans-room.com CHILDRENS THEATER WORKSHOP Let’s PLAY!, BLT’s children’s theater workshop. Taught by director Jen Iapalucci with help from her sister Katie Deese, this program introduces young actors to theater and helps hone the skills of children who have already caught the performing bug. Weekly sessions are held on Sunday afternoons and will culminate in a showcase on 3/16 at South Brunswick High School’s drama studio. jiapalucci@ ec.rr.com. brunswicklittletheatre.com KIDS AT CAM Kids @ CAM, Sat., 3/15, noon-3pm. Admission by donation. Guest artist Steve Myott will lead art projects and activities inspired by our exhibition, Corrugated World: The Artwork of James Grashow. Create your own art you can take home! Don’t miss this afternoon of creativity, inspiration and art fun! All ages welcome. No pre-registration necessary. Parental supervision required at all times.Georgia@ cameronartmuseum.org. THEATRE NOW Children’s Theater Super Saturday Fun Time. Kid’s live adventure and variety show. Saturdays. Doors open at 11am. $8/$1 off with Kid’s Club Membership. Drop off service available.Tickets: www.theatrewilmington.com or 910-399-3NOW

readings/lectures POMEGRANATE BOOKS Wed., 2/26: Tamra Wilson Presents for NC Writer’s Network will give a presentation on how six elements (place, race, alcohol, religion, missing parents/missing fortune and the chifforobe) define a Southern story! The more of these elements it contains, the more “Southern” it is. www.storysouth.com/2013/09/

the-chifforobe.html. • Thurs. 2/27: Joint author reading with Barbara Claypole White and Barbara Davis. Free reading and book-signing w/ author’s newest novel, “The In-Between Hour.” Barbara Davis will read from her first novel “The Secrets She Carried.”

Learn all about this interesting habitat and the birds that call it home. Free and open to all! (910) 343-6001. www.wildbirdgardeninc.com

classes/workshops

boat ride will include: salt marsh function, wetland plants, and strong emphasis on shorebird/ water bird ecology and identification. Common Species are: Common Loon, White-winged scoter Forester Tern, Black Back Gull, Willet, Little Blue Heron, and Black Bellied Plovers. $25/person, Mon-Sat, 11-noon, 1-2pm. www. wrightsvillebeachscenictours.com. 910-2004002

TASTY AUTHORS WEEKEND CAM CLASSES The Tasty Authors Weekend is being held at the Museum School classes, 910-395-5999 (ext. Hilton Wilmington Riverside, and will kick off on 1008 or 1024), at CAM. Sign up for 6 week HOBBY GREENHOUSE Fri., 2/28-3/2, 12pm-2pm, with a Readers Lunclasses and/or 1 to 2-day workshops in drawcheon co-hosted by Candis Terry and Jennifer 3/1, 9am-5pm: Annual Hobby Greenhouse ing, painting, mixed media, photography, art Bernard, two of Avon Romance’s Fabulous AuTour, free and self-guided of local greenhoushistory, copper repousse and artistic journal thors. The luncheon is open to Romance Reades, including member and non-member greenkeeping. • Yoga: Thurs., noon-1pm; Fri., 5:30ers who want to meet and greet, with Candis houses and commercial and institutional green6:30pm • T’ai Chi: Wed., noon-1pm. Sessions and Jennifer, while enjoying a lovely lunch with houses throughout New Hanover, Brunswick are ongoing and are open to beginner and exan author Q&A and intimate signing, w/door and Pender counties. Tour starts at prizes. $30/ticket. Also two days of fun and the New Hanover County Arboretum. informative workshops, given by industry 9-5pm. Free!. www.hobbygreenhouseprofessionals and published authors, as club.org or email hobbygreenhouse@aol. well as keynote speeches for breakfast com. and dinner receptions, given by Pamela Folks who are interested in touring through various RANDALL JARRELL POETRY COMPETITION Palmer (Avon) and Joanne Rock/J.K. The 2014 Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition is greenhouses, from members and nonmembers, Rock (Harlequin), book fair/signing. Tastenow open for submissions; first-place winner as well as commercial and institutional ones, can ful Book Promotions: Tastybooktours@ receives $200 and publication in storySouth, live.com. www.Tastybooktours.com take advantage of the Hobby Greenhouse Tour this an online literary journal. Open to any writer weekend, March 1st, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour who is a legal resident of NC or a member of GREAT FRIEND TO KIDS Beloved former Governor of North Carofeatures structures in New Hanover, Brunswick, and the North Carolina Writers’ Network. Submislina, Jim Hunt, will be visiting Wilmington sions should be one poem only (40-line limit). Pender counties, and starts at the New Hanover on 3/5. Invited by The Children’s MuseDeadline is March 1.Judge is Jillian Weise, County Arboretum. It’s self-guided and lasts from 9 um of Wilmington, Hunt will be the Keyauthor of The Book of Goodbyes (BOA Edia.m. to 5 p.m. Oh, and it’s free! Visit the club online tions, 2013), the 2013 James Laughlin Award note Speaker and receive a special award at www.hobbygreenhouseclub.org. at the Third Annual Great Friend to Kids from the Academy of American Poets winner. Awards Luncheon, noon, at Union Station Submissions should be one poem only (40at Cape Fear Community College in downtown line limit), typed (single-spaced) and stapled in perienced participants. cameronartmuseum. Wilmington. 910-254-3534 x105 or online at the left-hand corner. Entry fee: one poem per org http://www.playwilmington.org/index/page/ entry fee: $10 for NCWN members, $15 for GUIDED MEDITATION great-friend-to-kids-awards. Tickets: $50/pernonmembers. Send submissions to: Terry L. Wed. 2/26, 6:15-7:15pm. Guided Meditation, son or $350/table of eight (8). Proceeds from KennedyMFA Writing Program, 3302 MHRA McKay Healing Arts, 4916 Wrightsville Ave, the event will serve to benefit early childhood Building, UNC Greensboro, Greensboro, NC Wilmington, $10-$15. http://mckayacupunc27402-6170. www.ncwriters.org education programs at the Children’s Museum ture.com/ or 910-791-1981 of Wilmington. $50-$350 LIVING WITH GRIEF HEAL YOUR HEART: MIRACE OF DIVORCE Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter FLASHBACK LECTURE Fri. 2/28, 6:15-8:45pm ~ Heal Your Heart: The offers Living with Grief, a free six-session grief 3/6, 6:30-7:30pm: Earnestine Keaton leads the Miracle of Divorce (or Break Up), Writing for support group for adults, 11am-1pm, Thurs., Lower Bladen-Columbus Historical Society and Healing Workshop, All Love Healing, 217 N. through 3/6. Offered to adults experiencing is the great niece of Mack Munn. She will dis5th Ave, Wilmington, NC, $75. 949) 547-4402 grief, regardless of whether they received hoscuss his life and the work on display. Earnestine or alllovehealing.com. pice services, in addition to families of hospice will also share unseen historical images of rural patients. It provides grief education and supAfrican American life in southeastern NC. Belport that enable members to cope with and lamy Mansion, 503 Market St. Free, donations understand their grief. Discussions include accepted. 910-251-3700 or bellamyintern@ the phases of grief and the grieving process, presnc.org WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH SCENIC TOURS along with other areas of concern for particiWILD BIRD AND GARDEN Discover winter birding boat cruise of Masonpants. • Coping with the loss of a child, Tues., 3/8, 9:15am: Temptations Everyday Gourmet boro Island and Bradley Creek. Guided eco10am-noon, through 3/18. • Coping with the (six doors down from Wild Bird & Garden. loss of a parent, Mon., 3/10-4/14. Registration cruises are educational boat tours designed to Speakers Carson Wood and James Abbott of required: 796-7991 or Melinda.mckeon@lcfh. increase conservation awareness about local the Coastal Plain Conservation Group present org. • Living with the loss of a spouse, 6-8pm, wildlife and sensitive coastline habitats in New an informative program on the birds that can be Hanover County. Topics explained during the Thurs, 3/20-4/24. • Monthly drop-in sessions, found in the swampy areas around our region.

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clubs/notices/tours

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3/4, 4/1, 5/6. Topics to heal and cope. All sessions provide education, support and discussion. Phillips LifeCare & Counseling Center, 1414 Physicians Dr. www.lcfh.org. NCSBA SPRING MEETING 3/6-8, 8am: North Carolina State Bee Association, the largest and oldest beekeeping association in the nation, will be holding their annual spring meeting here in Wilmington. Come join us in the fascinating world of honey bees and learn more about beekeeping. There will be keynote speakers on all expects of bees and beekeeping. There will be classes on getting started in beekeeping, queen rearing, top bar hives, brewing with honey, swarm prevention, nuc importance, and many more. Vendors will have displays and equipment will be for sale. Registration will start at 8am, 3/6. Parking will be available at the Convention Center Parking deck with a fee. Registration fees are listed on the NCSBA website. Membership to NCSBA will be available at registration. www.ncbeekeepers.org/spr2014.htm ANCHOR CHURCH The Anchor Church will be gathering on Sundays at 9:45am for what we call WikiWorship; 3/9, 16, 23, 30; 4/6, 13. We will gather at Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant (118 Princess St). WikiWorship is a time to address the hardest questions of life. www.anchorwilmington. org/wikiworship or call 910-524-5676. philipchryst@gmail.com HUMANISTS AND FREETHINKERS The Humanists and Freethinkers of Cape Fear welcomes Dr. Peter Boghossian as the guest speaker at 3/16 meeting. “Street Epistemology, or A Manual for Creating Atheists” will delineate tools to help people talk to one another about faith, superstition, and the benefits of reason. An extended discussion will follow. Newcomers to HFCF, as well as interested people of faith, are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and engage in a thoughtful discussion. Enjoy Humanists’ traditional pot luck dinner. Participants should bring a dish to share with others and take advantage of the opportunity for informal discourse. 6pm at YMCA Bridge Center, Market Place Mall 127-40, S. College Rd, Wilmington. Kindly RSVP at www. humanism.meetup,com/182. WRITE-ON WEDNESDAYS Write-On Wednesdays, 6-10pm: Creative, scriptwriter, poet or storytellers are welcome to a roundtable discussion. Organized and directed by local and regional writers. Call for details and price. Jodi: 910-200-2511 or jodi@ giantculture.com. Giant: 1200 N 23rd St #209. giantculture.com

ARIES (21 Mar. – 20 April): The battles you’ve been waging these last 10 months have been worthy of you. They’ve tested your mettle and grown your courage, but I suspect your relationship with these battles is due for a shift. In the future they may not serve you as well as they have up until now. At the very least, you will need to alter your strategy and tactics. It’s also possible that now is the time to leave them behind entirely—to graduate from them and search for a new cause that will activate the next phase of your evolution as an enlightened warrior. What do you think? TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Life is like Sanskrit read to a pony,” Lou Reed said. That might be an accurate assessment for most people much of the time, but I don’t think it will be true for you in the coming days. On the contrary: You will have a special capacity to make contact and establish connection. You’ve heard of dog whisperers and ghost whisperers? You will be like an all-purpose, jack-ofall-trades whisperer—able to commune and communicate with nervous creatures and alien life forms, and pretty much everything else. If anyone can get a pony to understand Sanskrit, it will be you. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Does Kim Kardashian tweak and groom her baby daughter’s eyebrows? They look pretty amazing, after all: elegant, neat, perfectly shaped. What do you think, Gemini? Ha! I was just messing with you. I was checking to see if you’re susceptible to getting distracted by meaningless fluff like celebrity kids’ grooming habits. The cosmic truth of the matter is that you should be laser-focused on the epic possibilities that your destiny is bringing to your attention. It’s time to reframe your life story. How? Here’s my suggestion: See yourself as being on a mythic quest to discover and fully express your soul’s code. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The 19th-century American folk hero known as Wild Bill Hickok was born James Butler Hickok. At various times in his life he was a scout for the army, a lawman for violent frontier towns, a professional gambler, and a performer in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Women found him charismatic, and he once killed an attacking bear with a knife. He had a brother Lorenzo who came to be known as Tame Bill Hickok. In contrast to Wild Bill, Tame Bill was quiet, gentle, and cautious. He lived an uneventful life as a wagon master, and children loved him. Right now, Cancerian, I’m meditating on how I’d like to see your inner Wild Bill come out to play for a while, even as your inner Tame Bill takes some time off.

tors syndiCate

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “If I was a love poet,” Rudy Francisco, addressing a lover, writes, “I’d write about how you have the audacity to be beautiful even on days when everything around you is ugly.” I suspect you have that kind of audacity right now, Leo. In fact, I bet the ugliness you encounter will actually incite you to amplify the gorgeous charisma you’re radiating. The sheer volume of lyrical soulfulness that pours out of you will have so much healing power that you may even make the ugly stuff less ugly. I’m betting you will lift up everything you touch, nudging it in the direction of grace and elegance and charm. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” hockey great Wayne Gretzky says. In other words, you shouldn’t be timid about shooting the puck toward the goal. Don’t worry about whether you have enough skill or confidence or luck; just take the damn shot. You’ll never score if you don’t shoot. Or so the theory goes. But an event in a recent pro hockey game showed there’s an exception to the rule. A New York player named Chris Kreider was guiding the puck with his stick as he skated toward the Minnesota team’s goalie. When Kreider cocked and swung his stick, he missed the puck entirely. He whiffed. Yet the puck kept sliding slowly along all by itself. It somehow flummoxed the goalie, sneaking past him right into the net. Goal! New rule: You

miss only 99.9 percent of the shots you don’t take. I believe you will soon benefit from this loophole, Virgo. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you are the type of person who wears gloves when you throw snowballs, Germans would call you “Handschuhschneeballwerfer.” They use the same word as slang to mean “coward.” I’m hoping that, in the coming days, you won’t display any behavior that would justify you being called “Handschuhschneeballwerfer.” You need to bring a raw, direct, straightforward attitude to everything you do. You shouldn’t rely on any buffers, surrogates, or intermediaries. Metaphorically speaking, make sure that nothing comes between your bare hands and the pure snow. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In his song “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” Bruce Springsteen mentions a disappointing development. “That waitress I was seeing lost her desire for me,” he sings. “She said she won’t set herself on fire for me anymore.” I’m assuming nothing like that has happened to you recently, Scorpio. Just the opposite: I bet there are attractive creatures out there who “would” set themselves on fire for you. If for some reason this isn’t true, fix the problem! You have a cosmic mandate to be incomparably irresistible. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Some people say home is where you come from,” a character says in Katie Kacvinsky’s novel, “Awaken.” “But I think it’s a place you need to find, like it’s scattered and you pick pieces of it up along the way.” That’s an idea I invite you to act upon in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. It will be an excellent time to discover more about where you belong and who you belong with. The best way to do that is to be aggressive as you search far and wide for clues, even in seemingly unlikely places that maybe you would never guess contain scraps of home. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What words bring the most points in the game of Scrabble? Expert Christopher Swenson says that among the top scorers are “piezoelectrical” and “ubiquitarianism”—assuming favorable placements on the board that bring double-letter and triple-word scores. The first word can potentially net 1,107 points and the second 1,053. There are metaphorical clues here, Capricorn, for how you might achieve maximum success in the next phase of the game of life. You should be well-informed about the rules, including their unusual corollaries and loopholes. Be ready to call on expert help and specialized knowledge. Assume that your luck will be greatest if you are willing to plan nonstandard gambits and try bold tricks. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sorry to report that you won’t win the lottery this week. It’s also unlikely that you will score an unrecognized Rembrandt painting for a few dollars at a thrift store, or discover that you have inherited a chinchilla farm in Peru, or stumble upon a stash of gold coins half-buried in the woods. On the other hand, you may get provocative clues about how you could increase your cash flow. To ensure you will notice those clues when they arrive, drop your expectations about where they might come from. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Avery, a character in Anne Michaels’ novel “The Winter Vault,” has a unique way of seeing. When he arrives in a place for the first time, he “makes room for it in his heart.” He “lets himself be altered” by it. At one point in the story, he visits an old Nubian city in Egypt and is overwhelmed by its exotic beauty. Its brightly colored houses are like “shouts of joy,” like “gardens springing up in the sand after a rainfall.” After drinking in the sights, he marvels, “It will take all my life to learn what I have seen today.” Everything I just described is akin to experiences you could have in the coming weeks, Pisces. Can you make room in your heart for the dazzle?

encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com 61

HUNT FOR HERITAGE TREES Nominations are due by 4/30. Wilmington Tree Commission celebrates conifers of the coast and ginkgo as Trees of the Year 2014: “A Hunt for Heritage Trees in Wilmington.” Hunt for Heritage Trees in Wilmington for 2014! The Tree Commission is taking nominations for any tree species exhibiting large size, age, rarity, overall beauty or historical significance representing an important aspect of the City’s history or natural landscape. All tree species are eligible for recognition as a Heritage Tree. Angela W. Faison, Associate Planner: (910) 341-3248

culinary

4pm through the evening. 910-821-0362. Free event.. 7250 Market St., www.fermental.net. WINE PAIRING CLASSES Developed to help you select wines to pair with whatever meal you may be enjoying. Taste 5-6 wines each paired with an Hors d’oeuvre. Reservations are required. The Seasoned Gourmet, 1930 Eastwood Rd., Ste. 105, 910-256-9488. 3/4, 6:30pm, $15: Enjoy 6 wines each paired with an hors d’oeuvres and learn about growing conditions, wine making process, and more. BOURBON TASTING EXPERIENCE Wed. 3/19, 6:30pm. Front Street Brewery hosts Rare Bourbon Tasting Experience with Preston Van Winkle, Pappy Van Winkle’s great-grandson. Special celebration will feature sample tastings of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Family Re-

2/28: AFTERNOON HIGH TEA

SEASONED GOURMET COOKING CLASSES All classes include a generous portion of the menu items and wine pairing samples for adults. 2/26, 6:30m: The Anatomy of Soup with Susan Boyles, $40. Three basic soups with warm, crusty bread and homemade organic tea pastries, as well as sandwiches creamy compound butters. Butternut squash, cream of mushroom and chicken and more. They’ll also learn about the art of making and dumplings. • 3/2, 2pm: Master It: the perfect cup of tea. Cost is $14.50 a person and folks Gratins, $25. Learn about even slicing, must pre-register: http://greenlandsfarmstore.info. careful arrangement in the baking dish, and not too much sauce. If done right, you can unmold a gratin and cut it into squares for servserve, Front Street Brewery’s hand-selected, ing, and yet it will have a creamy mouth-feel. Single Barrel Buffalo Trace 9 Year Bourbon • 3/12, 6:30pm: TBA w/1900’s chef, Kirsten and locally brewed Amberjack ESB aged in Mitchell. Stay tuned for details! The Seasoned Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels. Heavy hors Gourmet, 1930 Eastwood Rd, Ste. 105, 910d’oeuvres will also be provided along with a 256-9488. meet and greet with Preston Van Winkle in FERMENTAL Every Friday: Free wine/beer tasting, 6pm. • 3/1, 3-6pm: Celebrate a one year anniversary. Live music in the beer garden throughout the day as well as a visit from the award winning Catch Restaurant food truck, Fermental welcomes all ages to their inaugural birthday celebration. Indoor and outdoor bar area with rare and local beers on draft alongside a variety of wines by the glass. Outdoor games, prizes, raffles, giveaways and more throughout the day. Live music features local funk trio Boba Funk along with Fermental favorites Kyle Lindley, Dick Monalds, Dave Tyson and more. Catch Food Truck 3 - 6pm; live music at

GENUINE FACTORY

See Us For

The Beam Room at Front Street Brewery. 50 tickets available at $50 each, available at the bar at Front Street Brewery only. Tickets must be paid for and picked up at the bar at the time of purchase Ellie Craig, 910-251-1935. RAISE THE BARN 3/22, 6-10pm: Wilmingtonians will have the opportunity to experience one of the most exciting and entertaining local food events of the year! Raise the Barn is the 1st annual Feast Down East premiere Farm Dinner and Benefit in support of local farms and fisheries. Multi-course gourmet dinner prepared by six

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WILMINGTON WINE SHOP Join us to sample five new delicious wines we’ve brought in just for our customers during Free Friday Wine Tasting, 5-8pm. Have a bottle or glass of your favorite with friends afterwards in our cozy shop or on the back deck. And beer lovers don’t fret, we’ve got a fridge full of craft and micro-brews. 605 Castle St. 910-2024749. www.wilmingtonwine.net.

NONI BACCA WINERY Tasting room open seven days a week, 10am9pm (Mon-Sat) and 12-5pm (Sun.). Taste a flight of 6 or 9 wines w/complementary souvenir glass; over 70 wines made on premise to sample at any time, nserved by the glass or the bottle. • Tues/Wed Winemaker’s Special: three 3 oz. pours of any wine at a special While National Hot Tea may have been in January, price. • Thurs.-Sat.: Specials at the bar on the folks at Greenlands Farms in Burgaw are continu- glasses and bottles of wine that run all day, ing their love of holding an Afternoon High Tea. Their but the crowd begins to gather around 7pm. monthly event takes place the last Friday of each month Craft beer selection, too. We also make spethrough April. This February 28th, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., cial label wines for weddings, corporate gifting, birthdays, reunions, or any event. 910folks can head to Greenlands and enjoy organic teas, 397-7617.

SWEET N SAVORY CAFE Sweet n Savory Cafe: Having a weekly wine tasting on Wednesdays, 5-6:30pm. $5 off every Bottle every Wednesday. YouTube #SNSWINE. 1611 Pavillion Pl., (910) 2560115

KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTES

of Wilmington’s renowned chefs, using locally grown and raised ingredients; open ba; silent and live auctions; dancing to music of L Shape Lot and more. $80 per person or two for $150: www.feastdowneast.org. 910-962-7105. Historic Poplar Grove Plantation, 10200 US Hwy 17 N.

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62 encore | february 26 – march 4, 2014 | www.encorepub.com

AFTERNOON HIGH TEA Afternoon High Tea, Greenlands Farm, 2-4pm, 4th Friday of every month. 2/28, 3/28, 4/25. Bring some friends and your favorite tea cup and join us for a delightful high tea! Organic teas, homemade organic tea pastries and our tasty tea sandwiches will be served. Learn the art of making the perfect cup of tea and enjoy the views of our long leaf pines. $14.50/person. Pre-reg. rqd. http://greenlandsfarmstore.info. 910-2537934 RED BANK WINE Red Bank’s wine of the week, Sat., 1-4pm. 1001 International Dr. 910-256-9480. FORTUNATE GLASS Free wine tasting, Tues. 6-8pm. • Sparkling wine specials and discounted select bottles, Wed. & Thurs. • Monthly food and wine pairings. 29 South Front St. CAPE FEAR WINE AND BEER Mon Flight Night: $18 for nine 4 oz. samples of local, nationally-renowned & international brews. Also, Massage Monday: $10 for a

ten-minute shift with our licensed, registered therapist Josh Lentz. • Tues., DIY Trivia with our host Greg Jaeger. Prizes include beer from us and gift certificates from AzioMedia and Memory Lane Comics. 9 PM. $1 off all glasses of wine, ciders, and mead. • Wed: YouTube Video Competition. Submit the wackiest, funniest, zaniest video & win a bomber of beer & a Chop’s Deli sandwich! Hosted by Captain Video. 9pm; select $10 pitchers. • Thurs: Beer Infusement Thursday. Come see what ingredients Randall the Enamel Animal is enhancing upon delicious beer. 9pm. Also, Thrifty Thursday: select $3 bottles and $1 off select draft. • Fri.: Bartender’s pick. You never know what you’re gonna get! • Sat.: Think local, drink local. $1 off all bottled NC beers. • Sun: Beer Church Purchase select beer and keep your glass for free. 139 N. Front St. HOMEBREW SUPPLY COMPANY Free craft beer tasting every Friday 4pm-7pm • Free all-grain brewing demonstration Every Saturday starting at 1:30pm at Wilmington Homebrew Supply, 4405-A Wrightsville Ave. wilmingtonhomebrew.com TASTING HISTORY TOURS Tasting History Tours of Pleasure Island; guided walking tours. From its beginnings as a tourist destination, the island has weathered destructive fires, tragic hurricanes, naval battles and more. Tasting History takes you through the streets of Carolina Beach and into a few of the restaurants to taste some of what the locals have to offer. Join us for an afternoon of interesting history and tasty eats. $32.50, www. tastinghistorytours.com. 910-622-6046. CULINARY ADVENTURES TOUR Eat your way through Wilmington’s food history and delights! Culinary Adventures Tour with food writer/chef Liz Biro; under a mile, wear comfortable shoes. Top Chef Farmers Market Tour and Cooking Class, Heart of Downtown, Drinks Downtown, Downtown Brunch Stroll, Foodie Shopping Tour, Custom and Special Group Tours and more! $25 and up! www.lizbiro.com. 910-545-8055 THE WINE SAMPLER Every week we have five wines available to taste during sampling hours, Thurs., 3-8 pm, Fri., 3-8pm, and Sat., 11am-7pm. Each week we arrange a set of five wines, which we offer a 10% discount as well toward purchase. 4107-C Oleander Dr. (910) 796-WINE (9463). thewinesampler.com

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