March 15, 2017 by Wilmington Media

VOL. 34 / PUB. 37

FREE MARCH 15 - MARCH 21, 2017 encorepub.com

photos by Chris Brehmer Photography

BEST OF 2017 CONTINUES: Week two of announcing winners, winners and more winners!

HODGEPODGE Vol. 34/Pub. 37

March 15 - March 21, 2017

WWW.ENCOREPUB.COM

event of the week

Friday, Mar. May 17, 6 - 11 a.m. 5 p.m.

Isaac Bear Spring Fling

ON THE COVER

Isaac Bear Early College High School 1st Annual Spring Fling will be held at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 612 S College Rd. Featuring Battlefield Live Wilmington—New Hanover’s only mobile, outdoor tactical laser tag—bring friends and family for an evening of fun, food, raffles, games and prizes. Cost is $5 - $20. All proceeds to benefit the PTSA Summer Enrichment Scholarship Fund. Visit www.nhcs.net/isaacbear.

THE BEST OF 2017 CONTINUES... PGS. 30-47

To enter events on encore’s new online calendar, generated by SpinGo, head to www.encorepub. com/welcome/events-2. Events must be entered by every Thursday at noon, for consideration in print and on our new app, encore Go. E-mail shea@ encorepub.com with questions.

Thalian Association won Best Theatre Company and put on the best show of 2016, the ‘80s rock music, “Rock of Ages.” The cast (above) performed “Don’t Stop Believing at our awards ceremony and fundraiser for Surfers Healing on Feb. 25. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

EDITORIAL>

MUSIC>> Peace, love and reggae abound with Mike Love’s upcoming show at The Calico Room in downtown Wilmington on Monday, Mar. 20, featuring local band Signal Fire. Photo by Mollie Hull

Editor-in-Chief:

Shea Carver // shea@encorepub.com

Editorial Assistant:

Shannon Rae Gentry // music@encorepub.com

PG. 10

<<ART

PG. 14

‘Luisa’s Lagoon’ (oil on canvas, left) is one of several pieces by Darren Mulvenna to be featured in “Bee Hope and Sea Change,” opening at Caprice Bistro on Mar. 19, alongside artists Aundi Wilson and Lauren Lassiter. Courtesy image

Photo by Tom Dorgan

Intern: Kyle Maples SALES>

General Manager:

John Hitt // john@encorepub.com

Advertising:

John Hitt // john@encorepub.com Shea Carver // shea@encorepub.com Tiffany Wagner // tiffany@encorepub.com

ads@encorepub.com

Distribution Manager: Boykin Wright

Published weekly on Wednesday by HP Media. Opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of encore.

PG. 29

INSIDE THIS WEEK: Live Local, pgs. 4-5 • News of the Weird, pg. 6 Music, pgs. 10-13 • Art, pgs. 14-15 • Theatre, pgs. 18-19 • Film, pg. 20 Dining, pgs. 22-29 • Extra, pgs. 30-47 • Calendar, pgs. 48-62

2 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

Tom Tomorrow, Chuck Shepherd, Mark Basquill, Rosa Bianca, Rob Brezsny, Linda Grattafiori, Bethany Turner, Chris Pendergast, Emily Truss

Office Manager: Susie Riddle //

DINING>> ILM finally has an ongoing farmers market with Port City Farmers Market at Waterline Brewing Company every Tuesday at 4 p.m., complete with craft beer and new local chef dishing out market-inspired samples.

Art Director: Susie Riddle // ads@encorepub.com Chief Contributors: Gwenyfar Rohler, Anghus,

6700 Netherlands Drive, Ste. A, Wilmington, NC 28405 P.O. Box 12430, Wilmington, N.C. 28405 email@encorepub.com • www.encorepub.com Phone: (910) 791-0688 • Fax: (910) 791-9534

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encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 3

NEWS>>LIVE LOCAL

LIVE LOCAL, LIVE SMALL: Gwenyfar and friends attend first town-hall meeting

Allison mumbled to me.

BY: GWENYFAR ROHLER AND JOHN WOLFE

At the steps of the auditorium, a crowd pressed against the glass doors. An aging usher was left to defend the statement that the auditorium was full (it seats 1,500. “No one else will be admitted,” he said. “But I RSVP’ed!” several people proclaimed. They referenced the email that Congressman Rouzer’s office sent, asking people to reserve their space for the event. “They’re already throwing people out!” a young man and woman stormed out the glass doors and loudly declared they were thrown out for speaking up. While part of the crowd engaged with them, another part pressed back against the doors. People pointed out if two attendees left, it meant there should be two seats available. “Why not let two more people in?” Every time someone stuck his or her head out the door to engage with the crowd, we would hear thunderous cheers from inside. Our curiosity piqued. Was the applause in favor or opposed of something? What is going on in there? “Gwenyfar, come on,” John motioned as we entered. Dressed in a nice blazer and armed with a smile, he flashed our press credentials and got us seated in the media aisle. The electricity in the room crackled. Looking around, I noted with surprise, though there were a few beefy security and law-enforcement personnel, it wasn’t overwhelming.

EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS: A group of women attended Congressman Rouzer’s town hall meeting last week at Brunwsick Community College’s Odell Williamson Auditiorium. Photo by Kait Malec

“S

ee that row with the cameras? You can find seats there.” I nodded and thanked the gentleman who escorted us into Congressman Rouzer’s Town Hall meeting, held at Odell Williamson Auditorium in Brunswick County. We settled

in. John Wolfe, my dear friend and cowriter for encore, pulled out a notebook and began scribbling notes furiously. The third member of our trio, Allison Ballard, another local writer and encore and Devour contributor, snapped pictures. I looked around in astonishment.

4 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

When we first walked up to the building, people met us and headed the other way. “They’re turning people back—it’s full,” one woman informed us. “Well, let’s go take a look,” John and

Congressman Rouzer was onstage with a gentleman pulling lottery numbers to determine who would be allowed to ask questions. Behind the two men was a screen with a PowerPoint presentation. Men in suits held microphones on each side of the house, and in the balcony, when someone’s number was called, they would walk to the nearest microphone to ask their question. Behind us in the balcony, a real-life Cindy Lou Who walked up to the man with the mic and explained in a sweet, angelic voice, filled with concern, “There are a lot of kids in my class who are afraid their parents will get deported. Why do you support this?”

The room erupted in applause. People press is not fair and objective.” jumped to their feet to give her a standAnd that felt like getting hit with a ing ovation. frying pan—especially after President Jaws across the auditorium were George W. Bush’s interview last week agape. Out of the mouths of babes—so on the Today Show. He called the media “indispensable for democracy.” simple, so straightforward, so direct. Rouzer responded the president and his team were deporting criminals, murderers and rapists. He was cut off by an animal howl of boos, shouts of “liar” and “dump Trump!” A small amount of scattered applause came through, too, along with lots of shushing. “Are you OK?” Allison asked. I nodded and waved back—the intensity of the room was so palpable, it was hard to breathe. As we looked toward the stage, our congressman continued to smile and move toward each person asking a question before pacing during his response. Next, an older lady in red stood to ask about the president’s “inspiring speech to Congress.” She turned and surveyed the room with a surprised look of confusion on her face when the audience laughed. She was serious, but the audience thought she was joking. No one in our group ever had been to a town hall meeting. County conventions, campaign stops and candidate speeches, rallies, yes—but nothing quite like this. Behind us, a woman bellowed at the crowd, “Stop screaming!” Her face red and contorted was filled with emotion and concentration. Perhaps because Rouzer wouldn’t give the young lady in the balcony the courtesy of a direct answer instead of a talking point, several people tried asking the congressmen direct “yes or no” questions. One occupational therapist, who explained he worked with many geriatric patients, tried asking if the congressman would vote to privatize Medicare (yes) or leave it alone (no). Rouzer avoided being pinned down by committing to any course of action. Instead, he responded Medicare, as it stands, would have to be adjusted for the long-term. The crowd began to chant, “Yes or no? Yes or no?” Still, he did not answer directly. “That’s some serious rhetorical judo,” John noted.

“Are we done?” Rep. Rouzer asked somewhat rhetorically. People were walking out and shaking their heads in disgust as he performed the litany: “The earth has been warming and cooling since the beginning of time. What is it that’s causing it? Some scientists say it’s caused by human activity, and some say it’s not. Public policy should be based on real, concrete science, not the opinion of this group of scientists or that group of scientists. The scientific community is split.” And then it was over. People trickled out the doors in the back—the flood of emotion retreating back to the simmering sea of everyday life. We, shuddering and exhausted, stood up to leave, too. At the doorway, Allison pointed downstage to the cluster of people gathered around something. “That’s where the Trump voters are.” There stood the congressman, too, open and available—surrounded by a small group of people and a few beefy no-necked security guys.

“I’ll be right back,” John said and strode down the empty aisle to the orchestra pit—no intention except obserThe afternoon surged on at a level of vation. adrenaline that is hard to maintain. The “Do you want to join him?” Allison ofextreme highs and lows of the audifered. ence’s responses were terrifying. Rou“No, I want to talk to the people in the zer shrugged off the demands and accusations of the crowd the way KY Jelly lobby.” I left them. slides off a Teflon muffin tin. Unfazed by audience response—or the attempt to insert either facts or statistics into * * * * * the conversation—he pressed onward. John stood at the fringe for a few minThe only moment he seemed to waver utes, observing. The congressman had was when Deborah Dicks Maxwell of the taken off his tie. Up close, John noticed NAACP schooled him on the importance his suit, a dark royal blue, had a faint of words: “The Affordable Care Act has plaid pattern to it. It looked expensive. a name—use it,” she urged. “Further- John’s own blazer, black and wrinkled, more, given the roll back of the EPA, the only suit he owned, had gotten him how can communities like Navassa with this close to the man himself—beyond superfund sites expect to get help?” She the quick up-down glimpses of a beefpressed the issue and called specific at- cake security guard and another stafftention to the disparity that communities er-looking guy. He carried an important of color face. leather shoulder bag across the fraterniThe congressman physically retreated ty uniform of blue blazer tan slacks. They from her across the stage. Without ad- both scoped out John and then leaned dressing her concerns, he managed to aside so John could inch closer. “I’m not say, “Thank you for your comments,” a threat,” John realized. and desperately searched for the next They believe I’m just another supquestion from the audience. Visually, the porter, John thought. The camouflage exchange was striking and clear; it was worked marvelously. like we were watching a movie instead of (That’s the beautiful and dangerous democracy in action. thing about thoughts: Unless they are At a few minutes before 4 p.m., the cut- written down or voiced, they still can’t be off time, a young meteorology student read.) from N.C. State asked the congressman John decided not to hammer Rep. directly for his views on climate change, Rouzer on environmental issues. It was and how he planned to defend his dis-

not the time, and the congressman already spent two hours fending off betterworded questions than John’s shocked and exhausted brain could process. Instead, he lobbied two simple questions, formulated as he awaited and watched small groups take turns shaking hands, expressing support or telling the congressman what a good job he is doing— and how he could do it better. Admittedly, Rouzer was marvelous on this platform: courteous, respectful, engaged, even if he disagreed—which he did with some people. One man took a selfie, and prompted John and the no-necked security guard, both in the background of the picture, to move their torsoes slightly so their faces were out of frame. John looked at the guard and flashed his secret weapon: a disarming good-natured grin that opens so many doors. The guard bit and cracked a smile, too. They acknowledged the human moment they shared: “The good ol’ Selfie Sway.” As Rouzer finished talking with the last two people, he thanked them graciously and said, “I’ve got to go meet the press now.” Suddenly, he was opposite John’s smile, with a face like oiled dough, eyes a little dark and hollow, and a tad further away than what seemed from afar. But his jet-black hair still was perfect. “Hello, Mr. Rouzer. How do you feel?” “Oh, uh, fine,” he said, a little off-balance for a millisecond as if wondering who the hell John was. Then habit took over, and he offered the standard political two-point-of-contact-handshake (soft grasp of hand and touch of upper arm, the touch of power light and brief). “Why do you do this?” John asked. The congressman hesitated for another micro instant, so John added, “It seems like there was a lot of anger directed at you up there.” This Rouzer latched onto. “Well, I don’t view it as anger. I think there was some good dialogue today.” He turned and walked away, owing John nothing else. Then, as he exited to the bright door to the left of the stage where the rest of the press waited, he chuckled and looked back over his shoulder. He had thought of one more thing: “Nothing happened that I didn’t expect.” And then he was gone.

! s l a de .com

And so it went with all major issues of the day: Affordable Care Act; Donald Trump’s income-tax returns; Trump’s business interests and ties to Russia; education; Planned Parenthood; the EPA; the Muslim ban; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. When asked about Donald Trump calling the press the enemy of the state, Congressman Rouzer responded, “The

But the real moment that felt like a sonic shock wave moved through the room—the point at which we came the closest to breaking down all pretense of civilization—happened when a retired gentleman from the EPA, who worked during Reagan, Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush and Obama eras, for 36 years overall, pointed out how EPA Clean Power Plan would have located tens of thousands of jobs right here in NC. He asked Congressman Rouzer why he did not support the plan and instead supported saving a few jobs in West Virginia. “The jobs in West Virginia are important,” Rouzer said. But he went one step further. He said he didn’t just represent North Carolina—but everyone in the country. The crowd jeered, “You work for us! Do your job!” The rage was so volatile, it felt like the roof was going to fly off the building. How exactly does representation work if our congressman does not actually represent us but rather everyone in the nation?

trict, with its many low-lying coastal areas susceptible to the looming effects of sea-level rise?

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EXPLOITING VILLAINS

In February, two teams of South Korean researchers announced cancerfighting breakthroughs — by taking lessons from how two of medicine’s most vexing, destructive organisms (diarrheacausing salmonella bacteria and the rabies virus) can access often-unconquerable cancer cells. In journal articles, biologist Jung-joon Min of Chonnam National University described how his team “weaponized” a cancer-fighting invader cell with salmonella to stir up more-robust immune responses, and nanoparticle expert Yu Seok Youn’s Sungkyunkwan University team coated immunizing cells with the rabies protein (since the rabies virus is remarkably successful at invading healthy cells) to reach brain tumors.

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT

Gemma Badley was convicted in Eng-

land’s Teesside Magistrates’ Court in February of impersonating British psychic Sally Morgan on Facebook, selling her “readings” as if they were Morgan’s. (To keep this straight: Badley is the illegal con artist, Morgan the legal one.) Michigan is an “open carry” state, and any adult not otherwise disqualified under state law may “pack heat” in public (except in a few designated zones). In February, an overly earnest Second Amendment fan, James Baker, 24 (accompanied by pal Brandon Vreeland, 40), believed the law was an invitation to walk into the Dearborn police station in full body armor and ski mask, with a semi-automatic pistol and a sawed-off rifle (and have Vreeland photograph officers’ reactions). (Yes, both were arrested.) Wells Fargo Bank famously admitted last year that employees (pressured by a

company incentive program) had fraudulently opened new accounts for about 2 million existing customers by forging their signatures. In an early lawsuit by a victim of the fraud (who had seven fraudulent accounts opened), the bank argued (and a court agreed!) that the lawsuit had to be handled by arbitration instead of a court of law because the customer had, in the original Wells Fargo contract (that dense, fine-print one he actually signed), agreed to arbitration for “all” disputes. A February Wells Fargo statement to Consumerist.com claimed that customers’ forgoing legal rights was actually for their own benefit, in that “arbitration” is faster and less expensive.

THE CONTINUING CRISIS

NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE

Small-Town Government: The ex-wife of Deputy Sheriff Corey King of Washington County, Georgia (largest town: Sandersville, pop. 5,900), filed a federal lawsuit in January against King after he arrested her for the “crime” of making a snarky comment about him on Facebook (about his failure to bring the couple’s children their medicine). King allegedly conspired with a friendly local magistrate on the arrest, and though the prosecutor refused the case, King warned the ex-wife that he would still re-arrest her if she made “the mistake of going to Facebook with your little (excrement) ... to fuss about.”

Ex-Colombo family mobster and accused hitman “Tommy Shots” Gioeli, 64, recently filed a federal court lawsuit over a 2013 injury at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City. He fell and broke a kneecap while playing ping-pong (allegedly because of water on the floor), awaiting sentencing for conspiracy to commit murder. The New York Post also noted that the “portly” Gioeli, who was later sentenced to 18 years, was quite a sight at trial, carrying his “man purse” each day.

GREAT ART!

French artist Abraham Poincheval told reporters in February that in his upcoming “performance,” he will entomb himself for a week in a limestone boulder at a Paris museum and then, at the conclusion, sit on a dozen bird eggs until they hatch — “an inner journey,” he said, “to find out what the world is.” (He apparently failed to learn that from previous efforts, such as the two weeks he spent inside a stuffed bear or his time on the Rhone River inside a giant corked bottle.) He told reporters the super-snug tomb has been thoroughly accessorized, providing for breathing, eating, heart monitor and emergency phone—except, they noted, nothing on exactly how toileting will be handled.

THE JOB OF THE RESEARCHER

SMOOTHIE Fresh baby spinach is blended with frozen bananas, frozen mangos, apple cider, and lemon juice in a refreshing smoothie.

6 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration “bioacoustic research” team recently reported recording and listening to about 2 million underwater sounds made over a four-month period by various species of dolphins (“whistles,” echolocation “clicks,” and “burst pulses”) and can, they believe, distinguish the sounds to match them to a particular dolphin species (among the five most prevalent) — with 84 percent accuracy. The team built a computer algorithm to also make estimating dolphin populations much easier.

Compelling Explanations: (1) Oklahoma state Rep. Justin Humphrey, justifying his proposed bill to require a woman seeking an abortion to first identify the father, told a reporter in February that the father’s permission is crucial because, after all, the woman is basically a “host” who “invited that (fetus) in.” (2) After the North Dakota House of Representatives voted yet again in January to retain the state’s Sunday-closing “blue laws,” Rep. Bernie Satrom explained to a reporter: “Spending time with your wife, your husband, making him breakfast, bringing it to him in bed” is better than going shopping.

LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS

In a first-person profile for the Chicago Tribune in February, marketing consultant Peter Bender, 28, recalled how he worked to maximize his knowledge of the products of company client Hanes — and not just the flagship Hanes underwear but its Playtex and Maidenform brands. In an “empathy” exercise, Bender wore bras for three days (a sports bra, an underwire and a lacy one) — fitted at size 34A (or “less than A,” he said). “These things are difficult,” he wrote on a company blog. “The lacy one,” especially, was “itchy.”

NEWS YOU CAN USE

“Fecal transplants” (replacing a sick person’s gut bacteria with those of a healthier one) are now almost routine treatments for patients with violent abdominal attacks of C. diff bacteria, but University of California researcher Chris Callewaert says the concept also works for people with particularly stinky armpits. Testing identical twins (one odoriferous, the other not), the researcher, controlling for diet and other variables, “cured” the smelly one by swabbing his pit daily with the sweat of the better-smelling twin. The Callewaert team told a recent conference that they were working on a more “general” brew of bacteria that might help out anyone with sour armpits.

Thank you, Wilmington!

For voting us Best Thai for 16 years, as well as Best Atmosphere, Restaurant Overall and Outdoor Dining for 11 years! We appreciate your continued patronage.

Thank you, Wilmington, for voting Pine Valley Market Best Catering Services and Best Gourmet Store. We are grateful for your ongoing support and recognition.

Love, Niki and staff

Owners Christi Ferretti and Kathy webb-Ferretti

Lunch: Tues. - Fri., 11am-2pm and Sat. noon-3pm Dinner: Mon.-Sun., 5-10pm 7 Wayne Dr. â&#x20AC;˘ (910) 251-9229 indochinewilmington.com

HOURS: Mon.-Tues., 10-6 Wed.-Fri., 7:30-6 Sat., 7:30-4 Sun., 9-2 3520 S. College Rd. 910-350-FOOD(3663) pinevalleymarket.com encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 7

8 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

PORT CITY FOOD LOVERS,

REJOICE! Join us for the most delicious week of spring

participating restaurants downtown wilmington The Basics Elijah’s Pilot House The George The Little Dipper YoSake Ruth’s Chris Steak House Circa 1922 The District Kitchen & Cocktails Caprice Bistro Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar Nikki’s Fresh Gourmet & Sushi Grace on 2nd Food from Bone & Bean BBQ. Photo by Tom Dorgan

north wilmington The Melting Pot Osteria Cicchetti El Cerro Grande La Costa Mexican Restaurant The Italian Bistro

hampstead The Village Café

midtown Casey’s Buffet Okami Japanese Steakhouse El Cerro Grande Jax 5th Avenue Deli & Ale House Antonio's Pizza & Pasta Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill Bill's Front Porch Pub and Brewery La Costa Mexican Restaurant Hieronymus Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar JohnnyLukes KitchenBar

south wilmington Osteria Cicchetti II El Cerro Grande Antonio's Pizza & Pasta Bone & Bean BBQ

wrightsville beach Sweet-n-Savory Café The Pub Boca Bay South Beach G rill

www.wilmingtonrestaurantweek.com

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 9

ARTS>>MUSIC

UNIVERSAL ENERGY:

Mike Love brings reggae and harmony to The Calico Room

BY: KYLE MAPLES

rom a young age, Mike Love learned to appreciate the power of music. Listening to his father craft folk tunes on his guitar or his grandfather compose gospel on piano, he knew the dream of becoming a musician was possible despite the odds. He learned to play guitar from his father and sister, and it became his main instrument for writing and playing. Now, as an internationally touring musician with three albums under his belt, Love hasn’t forgotten where it all started. “I think—coming from that line of musicians—I always was interested in playing music,” Love says. “I think that’s the thing. That’s really important.” Growing up in Hawaii provided an ideal atmosphere for poetic inspiration, with its lush forests and tranquil beach-

es. The culture and community of Hawaii first introduced Love to reggae and its spirituality, which ultimately would become a driving force in his music.

without relying on a dying system of megalithic record labels, and brings creative and spiritual connection directly to people. In the age of digital networking and social media, breaking free of the music industry’s bonds is more possible than ever.

“It’s music with a deeper meaning and a purpose to inspire people to awaken their own spirituality—and to open their minds to the controls of the system around us and the revolution against that,” he says. “All those things really appealed to me; I started writing music in the same vein.”

“Ten years ago, I couldn’t have done what I do now,” he admits, “and I wouldn’t have been successful touring and travelling the world. But all of the technology that’s come along in the last 10 years has been great for independent musicians.”

Reggae music may be the cornerstone of Love’s sound, but he isn’t restricted by genre. Over his musical career, he has delved into different traditions—from blues to psychedelic rock to R&B and soul. Before embarking on a solo career, he played in reggae bands, including Dubkoncious and Melodious Solutions, but once he struck out on his own, he began to revisit past influences.

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People are at the heart of grassroots movements—whether musical, political or social. Love doesn’t let the stresses of touring distract him from making real, human connections. Living on the road is far from luxurious, and can easily wear down a person. But for Love every live performance feeds his creative energy. GOOD VIBES: See Mike Love with Signal Fire at The Calico Room on March 20. Photo by Mollie Hull.

“On the first [solo] album [“The Change I’m Seeking”], there’s quite a bit of reggae music, which I guess is on a lot of the other albums, but I started bringing in other styles—R&B or acoustic-rock songs,” Love says. “I never really think about whether it’s going to be heavily reggae. It’s just what songs are at hand and how they fit together.”

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Love’s creative process is free flowing—not just in constructing an album, but also on a micro level of songwriting. Even with his busy schedule of touring and raising children, he carves out time to write, whether while he’s driving home from a gig or sitting in a hotel room after a long day of travelling. He lets the inspiration come to him when it can. “For me, creativity kind of flows through from the universe, and I feel like I can really be creative any time,” Love says. “It comes in any way at any time.” Love has produced three albums by adhering to this philosophy, as well as his EP, “Love Overflowing” (2016). All of Love’s albums are released independently on his own label, Love Not War Records. The grassroots approach is inherent to Love’s music: He creates

“We tap into the energy of the universe, and we use that energy to lift people up, and as a result, their energy lifts us up, and it’s a circular flow,” he says. “After playing a show for two or three hours, most people say, ‘You guys must be exhausted,’ but it’s exactly the opposite. . . . Sometimes it’s hard to get to sleep because we’re so energized from the positive music and energy we received.” After concluding multiple tours this year, which include Europe and both US coasts, Love will return to the studio to record another album with a live sevenpiece band. Until then,folks can check out Mike Love in a three-piece setup (with bass and drums) at The Calico Room on Monday, Mar. 20, at 7 p.m. Local reggae/rock group Signal Fire will open the show.

DETAILS:

Mike Love with Signal Fire

Monday, March 20 Doors: 7 p.m., Show: 8 p.m. The Calico Room 107 S. Front St. Tickets: $10 adv, $12 day of show mikelovemusic.com

A PREVIEW OF EVENTS ACROSS TOWN THIS WEEK

THE SOUNDBOARD

www.RuckerJohns.com VISIT WWW.RUCKERJOHNS.COM FOR Friday Monday DAILY SPECIALS, MUSIC & EVENTS Select Appetizers halfMONDAY off $ 4 Cosmopolitan $ 2 Big Domestic Draft Beers $550 Caramel Apple Martini ALL DAY $ 95 22oz. Domestic Draft $ 4 RJ’s Coffee 3 Sam Adams and Blue $5 Pizzas Moon Seasonal Bottles Tuesday TUESDAY 1/2 off Select Bottles of Wine saTurday LIVE(sugar JAzz IN THE BAR $ 5 Absolut Dream rim) $ 6 All Southern Half Price Bottles of Wine Shiners $ 3 NC Brewed Bottles $ $ 50 3-22oz Blue$2Moon Draft • Pacifico Absolut Dream (Shotgun, Buckshot, High $ 550 2 Select Domestic Bottles Roller and Hoppyum)

WEDNESDAY

sunday Wednesday Miller Light Pints $150$ Coronoa/ 5 All$2Flat 50 Breads 1/2 off Nachos Corona Lite Bottles $ 50 $4 Bloody$ Marys 1 Domestic Pints Margaritas/Peach Margaritas 4 Pints $ 50 $ 50 1 Domestic 2 Corona/Corona Lt. $ 5 White Russians $ 50 THURSDAY 4 Margaritas on the Rocks Visit our $website Appletinis $4, RJ’s Painkiller 5

Thursday www.RuckerJohns.com $ 50 2 Red Stripe for Bottles daily specials, music and 2 Fat Tire Bottles $ 50 2 Fat Tire Bottles upcoming events $ 00 3 22oz. Goose Island IPA $ 95 FRIDAY 4 Irish Coffee 5564 Carolina $ 50 Cosmos $4, 007 Beach 3 1/2 off ALL Premium Road $ Red Wine Glasses Guinness Cans 3 $ 50

(910)-452-1212

Island Sunsets $5 SATURDAY Baybreeze/Seabreeze $4 22oz. Blue Moon Draft $3 Select Domestic Bottles $2 SUNDAY Wrightsville Beach, NC Bloody Marys $4, Domestic $ 50 Pints 1 Hurricanes $5

LIVE MUSIC

5564 Carolina Beach Road, (910) 452-1212

FRI MAR 17 SAT MAR 18 Travelin’ Jones Robert Beauchene Americana 7pm - 10pm

Eclectic Mix 7pm - 10pm

FRI MAR 24 L Shape Lot

SAT MAR 25 Mike O’Donnell

Acoustic Mix 7pm - 10pm

Dance & Classic 7pm - 10pm

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

JUGGLING BLUES AND FOLK: Wheatley Matthews is making his way to the Port City’s Juggling Gypsy. See him perform his special brand of delta-blues folk on Wed., March 15. No cover charge but donations appreciated! Photo by J. Allen Laack.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

James Jarvis (7pm; Free; Jazz Piano)

—The Blind Elephant, 21 N Front St. Unit F;

Laura McLean’s Songwriter Showcase (7pm; $3)

—Ted’s Fun on the River, 2 Castle St.; 910-2313379

Comedy Improv (7pm; Cover TBD)

—Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St.

HOW TO SUBMIT A LISTING:

Wheatley Matthews (7pm; Donations; Delta Blues, Folk)

—Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.; 910-763-2223

Comedy in Hell (9pm; Free)

—Hell’s Kitchen-Wilmington, NC, 118 Princess St.; 910-763-4133

Griffin Limerick (9pm; Free; Singer-Songwriter) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St.; 910-362-9666

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

Wes Sayer (6pm; Free; Singer-Songwriter) —Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut Street;

Open Mic Comedy (7pm; Cover TBD)

—Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St.

Trivia Night w/Party Gras Entertainment (9:30pm; Free) —Fox & Hound, 920 Town Center Dr.; 910-509-0805

All Soundboard listings must be entered onto our online calendar, powered by SpinGo, each Wednesday, by 5 p.m., for consideration in the following week’s entertainment calendar. All online listings generate the print listings, as well as encore’s new app, encore Go. Venues are responsible for notifying encore of any changes, removals or additions to their weekly schedules.

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

Call 791-0688 Deadline every Thurs., noon!

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 11

Firedrums Fire Dancers/Cirque Artists/Drum (7:30pm; Free) —Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.; 910-7632223

UNCW Community Music Academy Benefit Concert (7pm; $10-$20)

—UNCW Beckwith Recital Hall, 5270 Randall Dr.

Jarret Mlodzinski (9pm; Free; Singer, Guitarist) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St..; 910-362-9666 $2.50 Budweiser Draft $4 Wells 65 Wings, 4-7pm

FEATURE FEATURE YOUR LIVE YOUR MUSIC LIVE& FOOD DRINK MUSIC, SPECIALS

FOOD & DRINK Call SPECIALS 791-

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$5 Mimosas $5 Car Bombs

$2.75 Yuengling Draft $2.75 Domestic Bottles 65 Wings, 4-7pm

$5 Bloody Mary’s & Mimosas *Drink Specials run all day

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

James Jarvis (7pm; Free; Jazz Piano)

—Bottega Art Bar and Gallery, 723 N. 4th St..

Mike Stanley (7pm, 9:30pm; $15; Comedy)

—Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St..

Jim Nelson (7pm; Cover TBD; Blues)

—Ted’s Fun on the River, 2 Castle St.; 910-231-3379

1423 S. 3rd St. DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON (910) 763-1607 Wednesday

_____________________________________

KARAOKE w/Elite Entertainment 9PM-2AM • $400 GUINNESS

Thursday ________________________________________

TRIVIA WITH STEVE

Medicated Sunfish and Friends (10pm; Cover TBD; Jam, Eclectic) —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St..

Wes Sayer (10pm; Free; Singer-Songwriter) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St..; 910-362-9666

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

New Politics (7pm; $12-$25; Pop, Rock)

$ 00

—Kenan Auditorium UNCW, 601 S. College Rd.

Sunday ___________________________________________

Mike Stanley (7pm, 9:30pm; $15; Comedy)

9:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.• $4 MIMOSA’S

Wilmington Symphony Masterworks Concert: Operatic Orchestra (7:30pm; $10-$35)

BREAKFAST BUFFET

WATCH YOUR FAVORITE TEAM HERE! 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 Drafts • $4 Flavored Bombs NEW BELGIUM TUESDAY $3 Ranger IPA & Fat Tire WINE & WELL WEDNESDAY 1/2 Priced Bottles of Wine • $2.75 Miller Lite $4 Well Drinks THIRSTY THURSDAY $2.50 PBR 16oz cans $3.50 Sam Adams Seasonal & Hoppyum Pints $5 Redbull & Vodka FRIDAY $2.75 Michelob Ultra • $3.25 Stella $4.50 Lunazul Tequila Shots SATURDAY $2.75 Carolina Blonde & Carolina Strawberry • Reel Cafe Rooftop Concert Series • Brunch from 11am - 2pm SUNDAY $3 Corona/Corona Light • $4 Bloody Mary or Mimosa $5 Lunazul Margaritas • Brunch from 11am - 2pm

12 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

—Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.

Mammoth Cannon with Bridge to Breakdown (9pm; Cover TBD; Rock) —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St..

Show Tune Sing-A-Long (9pm; Free)

—Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St..; 910-362-9666

MONDAY, MARCH 20

Gypsy Open Mic Mondays (8pm; Free)

—Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.; 910-763-2223

Crystal Fussell Duo (9pm; Free; Country) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St..; 910-362-9666

—Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St..

—Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St..

LIVE MUSIC 2 BUD & BUD LIGHTS

Open Mic (7pm; Free; All Genres)

SondorBlue (8pm; Free; Alt-Rock)

After Dinner Jazz Piano (6pm; Free)

Friday & Saturday

—Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.; 910-763-2223

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

8:30 P.M. • PRIZES! • $250 YUENGLING DRAFT $ 50 3 FIREBALL SHOTS

__________________________

DJ Pop-up Electrolounge (7pm; Free)

Earth, Wind & Fire (7:30pm; $55-$165; Groove, Soul) —Wilson Center, 703 N. 3rd Street;

0688

every Thurs.,

$3.50 Pint of the Day $4 Fire Ball

$3.50 Sweetwaters $4.50 Absolute Lemonade 65 Wings, 4-7pm

(as little as $29 a week!) Deadline

$3.50 Sweet Josie $4 Margaritas

—First Presbyterian Church, 125 South Third St..

—The Calico Room, 107 S. Front St..; 910-762-2091

—Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St..

Comedy Bingo (7pm; Cover TBD)

Ann Wilson (7:30pm; $42-$99; Rock n’ Roll) —Wilson Center, 703 N. 3rd St..

Cape Fear Blues Jam (8pm; Free) —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.

Randy & Mr. Lahey of Trailer Park Boys (8pm; $24.50-$34.50) —Throne Theater, 208 Market St..

Cape Fear Blues Jam (8pm; Free) —Rusty Nail, 1310 S 5th Ave.

College Night Karaoke (9pm; Free)

—Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St..; 910-362-9666

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22

James Jarvis (7pm; Free; Jazz Piano)

—The Blind Elephant, 21 N. Front St. Unit F

Jill and Ted (7pm; $3; Singer-Songwriter Duo)

—CFCC Wilson Center, 701 N. 3rd St..

—Ted’s Fun on the River, 2 Castle St.; 910-231-3379

Cute Boys Club Comedy Show (7:30pm; Free)

Dirty Reggae Punx (8pm; $10)

—Gravity Records, 612 Castle St.

Porch Light Apothecary (8pm; Free; Americana) —Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St..

The Outlaws (8pm; $25-$125; Southern Rock) —Throne Theater, 208 Market St..

Urban Soil (10pm; $5; Electric Jam) —The Whiskey, 1 S Front St.;

Kim Dicso (10pm; Free; Folk)

—Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St..; 910-362-9666

—Reggies 42nd Street Tavern, 1415 S. 42nd St.. 910-799-6465

Ephemeral (9pm; Donations; Groove/Post-Rock) —Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.; 910-763-2223

THURSDAY, MARCH 23

Corey Hunt Band (6pm; Free, Southern Folk, Rock) —Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St..

Open Mic Comedy (7pm; Cover TBD)

—Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St..

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

Lil Wyte (8pm; $15; Rapper)

—Old Books on Front St.., 249 N. Front St..; 910-76 BOOKS

Trivia Night w/Party Gras Entertainment (9:30pm; Free)

Books, Beer & Jazz Piano (3pm; Free) Music at First (5pm; Free)

—First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. 3rd St..

A Spring Musicale (5pm; Free)

—The Calico Room, 107 S. Front St..; 910 762-2091

—Fox & Hound, 920 Town Center Dr.

Firedrums Fire Dancers/Cirque Artists/Drum (7:30pm; Free)

—Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.; 910-763-2223

CONCERTS OUTSIDE OF SOUTHEASTERN NC

SHOWSTOPPERS

UPCOMING EVENTS MAR. 18 THE OUTLAWS MAR. 21 RANDY & MR. LAHEY OF TRAILER PARK BOYS MAR. 25 REVEREND HORTON HEAT SPACE COWBOYS: See The Steve Miller Band play this month at the Durham Performing Arts Center on March 28. Photo by Jay Blakesberg. NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE NORTH DAVIDSON ST., CHARLOTTE, NC (704) 358-9298 3/15: Melvin and Seals 3/17: Black Stone Cherry and more 3/18: Time Sawyer and more 3/21: Rising Appalachia 3/22: Reverend Horton Heat and more THE FILLMORE 820 HAMILTON ST., CHARLOTTE, NC (704) 916-8970 3/17: Regina Spektor 3/18: Judaha & the Lion 3/22: Simple Plan and more MOTORCO MUSIC HALL 723 RIGSBEE AVE., DURHAM, NC (919) 901-0875 3/15: Scythian 3/17: Jose James, Nate Smith and Corey King 3/18: Nails, Toxic Holocaust and more 3/23: Leyla McCalla DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 123 VIVIAN ST. DURHAM, NC (919) 688-3722 3/23: Celtic Woman 3/28: Steve Miller Band

PNC ARENA 1400 EDWARDS MILL RD. RALEIGH, NC (919) 861-2300 3/17: R. Kelly 3/19: Stevie Nicks and Pretenders 3/24: Mike Epps, Bruce Bruce and more LINCOLN THEATRE 126 E. CABARRUS ST., RALEIGH, NC (919) 821-4111 3/16: The Hip Abduction and The Get Right Band 3/19: Rodi, Modena, Dirty Remnatz and more 3/22: Rising Appalachia CAT’S CRADLE 300 E. MAIN ST., CARRBORO, NC (919) 967-9053 3/17: Dark Water Rising and more (Back) 3/17: Tortoise and Tara Jane O’Neil 3/18: Pax’ Chest Fest (Back) 3/18: Martin Sexton and Brothers McCann 3/21: Powers & Bridgit Mendler (Back) 3/22: The Japanese House and Blaise Moore (Back) THE ORANGE PEEL 101 BILTMORE AVE., ASHEVILLE, NC (828) 398-1837 3/16: FKJ 3/17: Donna The Buffalo and Locust Honey 3/18: The Breakfast Club 3/19: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo 3/21: Conor Oberst and The Felice Brothers 3/22: Local Natives and Little Scream

SAT. MARCH 18 THE OUTLAWS

MAR. 31 ASG APR. 8

COREY SMITH

APR. 25 DOPAPOD APR. 26 JAMESTOWN REVIVAL MAY 4

ANDERSON EAST

MAY 9

COIN

TUES. MARCH 21 RANDY & MR. LAHEY OF TRAILER PARK BOYS

MAY 27 HINDER NONPOINT JUN 4

CONOR OBERST

SAT. MARCH 25 REVEREND HORTON HEAT

208 Market Street • (910) 782-8939 www.thronetheater.com encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 13

ARTS>>ART

SCENES FOR THE FUTURE:

‘Bee Hope and Sea Change’ art sales to benefit Plastic Ocean Project and Pollinator Partnership

BY: EMILY TRUSS

hile our environment’s well-being has been declining for decades, humans have now reached a point where wasteful habits are threatening our futures, too. Ocean pollution and rapid decline in pollinating species populations are pushing us down the path of famine at an alarming speed. The worst part is we’re doing it to ourselves. In an effort to educate on such issues, and to benefit nonprofit organizations Pollinator Partnership and Plastic Ocean Project, artist Darren Mulvenna is hosting the opening reception of his new exhibit, “Bee Hope and Sea Change,” at Caprice Bistro on Sunday, Mar. 19. The exhibit will consist of seascape paintings by Mulvenna, as well as ceramic pieces by Aundi Wilson, and macramé by Lauren Lassiter. “The theme is basically protecting our oceans and our pollinators, which protect us in the end,” Mulvenna explains. “About 70 percent of our food supply is available because they’ve pollinated it. So many pollinating species are threatened or extinct.”

Along with being the curator and bartender at Caprice, Mulvenna is known for his company, Mimicri. He and business partner Andrea Hammond create butterfly-themed jewelry to sell in boutiques around Wilmington. As well, he is known for his surrealist environmentally themed paintings. Naturally, the idea of preserving our ocean and pollinators emerged organically. “I started doing environmental pieces a while back,” Mulvenna tells. “A lot of new landscapes and seascapes I’m doing depict beautiful scenes, but I’m trying to show everyone that these are scenes you may not see in the future.” While Mulvenna has mainly worked with acrylics for the last decade (“because they dry faster”), he will display five oil paintings for “Bee Hope and Sea Change.” “I realized I wasn’t getting the effects I wanted for the sea with the acrylics,” he tells. “My creative process is still developing when it comes to oils, but I think it’s getting better with each seascape painting.” Mulvenna’s work responds to the pandemic

OIL ON CANVAS: ‘Between the Turtle and the Shark’ (above) by Darren Mulvenna. Courtesy image

of plastic pollution in the ocean and efforts of organizations like Plastic Ocean Project to eradicate it. More than 8 million tons of plastic are discarded in the ocean each year. The overproduction of single-use plastic items only perpetuate this issue.

“Plastic Ocean Project’s main agenda is to help figure out ways to clean the ocean,” Mulvenna says. “There’s a video on their website about how the mass of plastic found will eventually outweigh the amount of living fish.” Along with Plastic Ocean Project, Pollinator Partnership will benefit from the Mulvenna’s exhibit. “Although the two organizations help with different causes, they’re both very important to our livelihood on this planet,” Mulvenna states. Pollinator Partnership works to end the wrath of Colony Collapse Disorder, which has steadily overtaken populations of pollinating species. While the exact cause of CCD remains elusive, careless usage of chemicals and pesticides is definitely a factor among many others. Lassiter’s contribution to the exhibit is a large macramé piece she designed with Mulvenna. “We have been acquaintances for years and share several close mutual friends,” Lassiter says. “I’ve been a patron of Caprice and always love the art featured there.” Originally from Raleigh, Lassiter has lived in Wilmington for almost nine years. Only recently did she emerge herself into the art of macramé.

“It had been in the back of my mind for a while and I wanted to make pieces just for myself,” Lassiter explains. “One day last summer I was helping my boyfriend’s mother clean out her attic, and we found a dusty old stack of her mother’s macramé books from the ‘70s. It was a sign. I just started working without a real plan in mind and then realized I could really make somewhat of a living from it.”

14 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

About the size of a door frame, the piece adorned with monarch butterflies from Mimicri will display their migration patterns and population decline. Lassiter, like Mulvenna, is concerned with people’s current scope of awareness. “These pressing environmental issues are no longer something to consider in the near future—they are happening now,” she says. “It’s a reality we all face, whether first hand or down the line. I hope more of us begin and continue to actively work to take care of our planet and its creatures. It’s up to us.”

Along with Lassiter, Wilson’s ceramic contributions pay respect to butterflies and plants they pollinate. For the exhibit, Wilson will contribute three different installations of flowers made from clay with Mimicri butterflies attached to them. “I mentioned to Darren I raise Monarchs for the Great Migration every year,” Wilson explains. “We talked about the importance of pollinators and what can be done to educate others.” Clay has been one of Wilson’s mediums since she was in high school, but it was near the end of her college career she decided she wanted to make a living with ceramics and pottery. Her craft and dedication to helping Monarchs combined perfectly for adding ceramic beauty to the exhibit. “I hope viewers are inspired by the art to learn more about what they can do to help,” Wilson adds. “They certainly don’t have to start raising pollinators, but it would be really rewarding if my work inspires someone to do just that!”

Twenty percent of proceeds from art sales on Mar. 19 will benefit Plastic Ocean Project and Pollinator Partnership.

DETAILS:

Bee Hope and Sea Change

Artists’ reception Mar. 19, 7 p.m. Caprice Bistro • 10 Market St. Free

WHAT’S HANGING AROUND THE PORT CITY

GALLERYGUIDE ARTEXPOSURE!

22527 Highway 17N, Hampstead, NC (910) 803-0302 • (910) 330-4077 Tues. - Sat. 10am - 5pm (or by appt.) www.artexposure50.com ArtExposure will be offering classes in watercolor, basics of acrylic, and beginning drawing. Classes in hand-building with clay can be scheduled at your convenience at ArtExposure as well as “Paint by Wine” classes for groups. Call us at 910-803-0302 to schedule or if you have questions. Current classes are listed on our website. We have a studio available for rent at this time. You can get more information about becoming a member and renting studio space on the website. Go to the Call for Entries page. There is also an opportunity to enter our annual “Artist’s Choice” Invitational. It is open to all NC artists, 18 years and above. Download the entry form from that page for information.

ART IN BLOOM

210 Princess St. Tues. - Sat. 10am - 6pm (or by appt., Sun. and Mon.) (484) 885-3037 • www.aibgallery.com Art in Bloom Gallery is in a renovated, 19thcentury horse stable and exhibits original art by a diverse group of global and local artists. Events in March and April include gallery talks by featured artists. Carole Osman will speak about her pastels, oil, and acrylic paintings on Sunday, March 26th, 2:00PM – 4:00PM. Mark Gansor will demonstrate his textured acrylic painting and speak about his art on Sunday, April 2nd, 2:00PM – 4:00PM. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free and open to the public. “Catching the Spirit: Images by Mark Gansor and Carole Osman” continues through April 7th. Join us for an art opening and reception for “Sibs: New Art by Michael Van Hout and Brooks Koff” (brother and sister), Friday, April 21st, 6-9pm. The exhibit continues through May 27th with tie-wire sculpture, wood block carving, and mixed media by Michael and mosaic stained glass by Brooks.

CRESCENT MOON ART AND STYLE

24 N. Front St. • (910) 762-4207 Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs. - Sat., 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sun.., noon - 6 p.m. • Call for appointment! As a longtime leader in local art curation, Crescent Moon strives to be an ambassador for their artists and to make their customers art collecting, decorating and gift-giving experience an easy one. With an unparalleled selection of individually chosen pieces and an expanded showroom with stunning collections from both new and returning artists, Crescent Moon has something for everyone.

CHARLES JONES AFRICAN ART

311 Judges Rd., Unit 6-E cjart@bizec.rr.com • (910) 794-3060 Mon. – Fri. 10am - 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm - 4 pm Open other hours and weekends by appointment www.cjafricanart.com AFRICAN ART: Museum quality African Art from West and Central Africa. Traditional African art for the discerning collector. CURRENT EXHIBITION: Yoruba beadwork and Northern Nigerian sculpture. Appraisal services, curatorial services and educational exhibitions also available. Over 30 years experience in Tribal Arts. Our clients include many major museums.

EXPO 216

216 N. Front St, Wilmington, NC (910) 769-3899 Wed. – Sun., Noon – 6 PM www.expo216.com A “gallerium,” Expo 216 is part gallery and part museum. Incorporating 5,000 square feet over two floors of a renovation in historic downtown, Expo 216 features thought-provoking art and fashions. Its one-year expositions are themedriven with the inaugural theme, Ocean Plastic, running until mid 2017. Visitors may experience CSI: Albatross (interactive crime solving), Fashion in Plastic ( nine stunning fashion creations crafted by local designers), The Plastic Age (an insightful history of plastic), What Goes Around, Comes Around (Kanagawa Waves by Bonnie Monteleone), and more. Expo 216 is a supporter of the Wilmington music scene and provides live music during the Fourth Friday Gallery Nights.

Bush. In addition, 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 • Mon.- Sat. 10am - 5pm www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com Sunset River Marketplace showcases work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, and houses some 10,000 square feet of oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, art glass, fabric art, pottery, sculpture, turned and carved wood and artisan-created jewelry. There are two onsite kilns and four wheels used by students in the ongoing pottery classes offered by the gallery. A custom framing department is available. There are realistic and abstract art classes as well as workshops by nationally and regionally known artists. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the

website at www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com. Upcoming Coffee with the Authors: May 11, Curtis J. James’international thriller, “High Hand.”

CFCC WILMA W. DANIELS GALLERY

200 Hanover St. (bottom level, parking deck) Mon.-Fri., noon-5pm http://cfcc.edu/blogs/wilmagallery CFCC’s Wilma W. Daniels Gallery is pleased to present “Girls Thriving: The Homes of Hope Story in India,” a photo exhibit by Arrow Ros runs through Mar. 24, with receptions on Mar. 24, 6-9 p.m. Exhibit documents the struggle by girls in Northeast India to escape poverty through education and training. Originally from Denmark, Ross has documented social conditions around the world and is a pillar of the Wilmington arts community, best known for his fine art photography and documentation of the No Boundaries Art Colony on Bald Head Island. Free and open to the public. More info? Contact Ashly Farley at adfarley125@mail.cfcc.edu.

NEW ELEMENTS GALLERY

271 N. Front St. (919) 343-8997 Tues. - Sat.: 11am - 6pm (or by appt.) www.newelementsgallery.com Located in the heart of historic downtown Wilmington, New Elements Gallery has been offering the best of regional and national fine art and craft since 1985. “Menagerie “opens on Fourth Friday, March 24, with a celebratory reception from 6-9 p.m. This exhibit features new work from well-known illustrator Mark Weber. Weber creates curious worlds bursting with lively characters and droll wit. We are excited to host our grand re-opening in conjunction with the opening reception for Menagerie. Rhonda Bellamy, Executive Director of The Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover County, will preside over our ribbon cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 24. Menagerie will remain on view until April 21.

RIVER TO SEA GALLERY

225 S. Water St., Chandler’s Wharf (free parking) • (910) 763-3380 Tues.- Sat. 11am - 5pm; Sun. 1- 4pm River to Sea Gallery showcases the work of husband and wife Tim and Rebecca Duffy

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 15

MAIN ATTRACTIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS

LAWN & DISORDER: comedy from the subuRbs

WEDNESDAY, march 22nd AT 7:30 PM National Headlining Comedians Karen Morgan and Jim Colliton bring the laughs to domestic life Tickets available through the Thalian Hall Box Office by calling 910.632.2285 or online at ThalianHall.org Media Partners

TICKETS: 910.632.2285 • 800.523.2820 • WWW.THALIANHALL.ORG 310 CHESTNUT ST • WILMINGTON, NC 28401

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ARTS>>THEATRE

OLD BULLIES DIE HARD:

‘Heathers: The Musical’ makes ILM debut in Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre

BY: SHEA CARVER

efore Rachel McAdams was eviscerating Lindsey Lohan in “Mean Girls,” a teen comedy in the mid-aughts, Judy Greer was taking down Rose McGowan in 1999’s “Jawbreaker.” But a decade before that came the start of all the mean-girls cult films with “Heathers.” Winona Ryder and Christian Slater banded together to take down evil teenage oppression, even if it meant murder. The movie became an instantaneous classic, thanks to its campy, dark comedy, where overthe-top actions bore the same reactions. Yet, at its heart, a message rang relevant to teens watching: Bullying is way uncool. And so the message carries forth—maybe even more so in today’s digital age. Kids with Facebook, Snap Chat and Instagram accounts can actually reach swaths of people to spread rumors or tease others with one fell pressing of an “enter” button. Thus, it’s not a bit surprising

to see “Heathers” have a resurgence of popularity. It hit off-Broadway in 2014 as a rock musical, with music, lyrics, and book by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. Later on this year it will become a series on TV Land. Locally, Panache Theatrical Productions will launch the musical’s debut on a Wilmington stage at the Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre in Thalian Hall. “I discovered ‘Heathers’ in the early ‘90s,” director and Panache cofounder Anthony Lawson says. “A friend quoted, ‘If you were happy every day of your life, you wouldn’t be human. You’d be a game-show host.’ I asked him what it was from and he told me ‘Heathers.’ I fell in love with the movie instantly.” The premise of the show consists of three of the school’s most popular girls, all named Heather, who get away with bullying and belittling outcasts of the school—basically anyone who isn’t a jock, cheerleader, thin, and pretty. Though Veronica Sawyer hates the dramatic social hierarchy the Heathers create, she becomes one of them and even sacrifices one

of her childhood friends, Martha, by playing a prank on her. However, after meeting J.D. Dean, a smart, attractive rebel who wants to get back at the Heathers for the despicable imprint they leave on high-schoolers, Veronica ostracizes herself from the group. At the behest of J.D.’s leadership, she becomes involved in a killing spree-faked-as-suicides against the popular kids in school. “I was always on the fringe of all of the different social scenes,” Lawson tells of his own highschool days. “I wasn’t popular, but I also wasn’t the nerd. I wasn’t a joke; I wasn’t any specific thing. I had friends in all different circles, yet always saw myself on the outside. In many ways, Veronica was me.” Lawson—who codirected last year’s rock opera “American Idiot,” and has played in rock musicals, like as Uncle Ernie in “Tommy”—wasn’t sold on the idea of one of his fave ‘80s movies becoming a musical. “I first thought, ‘Oh, hell no! Don’t you dare touch that perfect movie.” Yet, the very day the soundtrack came out, Lawson bought it. “Then I thought, ‘Shit, this is really good; I will have to direct this,’” he says. “The show very much depends on scenes and music (musically, it will be directed by Adrian Varnam). But it’s not like ‘American Idiot’ or ‘Tommy.’ It’s not a rock opera; it is a musical along the lines of ‘Rocky Horror’ or ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ or anything with horror in the title.” Playing lead lady Veronica Sawyer is Hunter Wyatt, who had been practicing “Heathers” songs with local playwright and musician Bryan Putnam months before the audition. “I wanted it that badly,” she says. It’s her biggest role to date. To have to follow in the footsteps of Ryder could be buckling pressure for any young performer. But Wyatt is most enjoying showcasing Veronica’s more awkward parts. “[Ones] that Barrett Wilbert Weed brought out on Broadway,” she says. “My goal is to keep her intelligence and dry wit, while making sure she is likable, and finding part of myself somewhere in the mix.” Wyatt is shedding one of Ryder’s most wellknown attributes: her dark hair. Wyatt’s red coif felt more appropriate to represent someone who is one-of-a-kind and doesn’t fit in with the in crowd. “I went back and forth on it, and Anthony and I decided red hair makes Veronica even more of an outcast,” she explains. “My hope is audience members will attend with an open mind and recognize love for the piece, even though it isn’t an exact copy of the film.” In the play, the role of Veronica’s overweight friend, Martha, is a combination of two people, including another of Veronica’s chilldhood friends, Betty Finn. Elizabeth Flora plays the

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part. “Martha carries most of the emotional (and physical) weight of the show,” Flora tells. “Her vulnerability is something we can all relate to no matter our size, and I’m just trying to capture that. . . . I think Martha doesn’t always know [her weight] is what people are seeing. As if she forgets she’s fat until she’s reminded. She’s just trying to live her best life. Each time she’s picked on, even though it’s every day, it destroys her a little.” Flora, who is a part of the comedy troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps, says it’s a dramatic departure from the roles she’s used to doing. Comedy is her forte in acting and in life. “My character gets bullied,” she says, “and where I would normally laugh it off, it really hurts Martha. It’s hard to remove 20 years of defense mechanisms and allow myself to appear wounded.” J.D. Dean will be played by Ty Myatt. Passion fervently rules the character. More so, he wants the world to be filled with people doing their best and giving their best. The irony is, while he’s preaching for kindness, he’s enacting atrocities to ensure it. “J.D.’s passion can come across as overzealous and just plain crazy, but there is no denying his commitment,” Myatt says. It’s the first villainous role the actor has played. He calls J.D. an “enigmatic sociopath.” He is smart, charming and compelling. He’s tough and a bad guy, too. “The biggest challenge is trying to fuse charm with manic in a way that can’t really be deciphered,” Myatt tells. Myatt’s favorite tune comes in a show-defying moment at the end of Act I in “Our Love is God.” The turning point will reveal his character’s motives. “It’s at this moment we find out who the true villain is and can only imagine what will happen in Act II.” Lawson has designed the set to be stripped down and minimalistic. Six color-changing blocks move throughout the small stage to form each scene. Original artwork by Kyle Page were designed specifically for the show and will screen on a backdrop. “Heathers” opens Wednesday night at 8 p.m. and runs through Sunday, with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. The show continues its Thursday through Sunday run through April 1.

DETAILS: Heathers

May 16-19, 23-26, 30-Apr. 2, 8 p.m. or Sun., 3 p.m. Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre Thalian Hall • 310 Chestnut St. Tickets: $20-$25 www.thalinhall.org

ARTS>>THEATRE

LAUGHING ‘TIL THE END:

Neil Simon’s ‘Barefoot in the Park’ perfectly closes the doors of Red Barn Studio Theatre

BY: GWENYFAR ROHLER

halian Association’s final show at the Red Barn Studio Theatre is Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park.” Directed by James Bowling, it really is a wonderful farewell to the space, which is being sold by former Wilmingtonians and theatre supporters Linda Lavin and Steve Bakunas. Full disclosure on my bias toward Simon: I adore his work (indeed, I spent a significant portion of my young life hoping to become Neil Simon when I grew up). “Barefoot in the Park” debuted in 1963 and was Simon’s second hit, after “Come Blow Your Horn” and before “The Odd Couple.”

her child from reality. If she wanted, Bass could really take Ethel over-the-top; however by opting for restrained concern, her performance is funnier and more compelling. As a counterpoint to the smooth-talking con man, Velasco Bass manages to remind what substance is—it is not boring so much as dependable. Young quite beautifully and innocently brings the free-spirited eccentric artist Corie to life. She inhabits Corie totally, even down to her highly questionable theory about how to light a fire. Like a moth drawn to a flame, Paul, her straightlaced new husband ,trying to make it as a young lawyer, is irresistibly attracted to all her joie de vivre. (Yes, it is the setup for “Dharma and Greg.” If Simon were starting his writing career today, my date commented, he would work in the world of TV sitcoms. I nodded.) In fact, Simon began his career writing for TV, which he immortalized in “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.” The setup, with familiar characters facing painful but not insurmountable life quandaries, is a comfortable one. Perhaps it is why Simon remains so popular.

Corie (Amanda Young) and Paul Bratter (Josh Bailey) are newlyweds—so newly, they have been honeymooning at the plaza for the last week. Alas, they are about to spend their first night in their new home: a fifth-floor walk-up in an old brownstone in Manhattan. Did I mention fifth floor? Because Corie didn’t mention it to anyone—not to the telephone guy (Charles Calhoun), the delivery guy from “Barefoot in the Park” takes place in Bloomingdale’s (Joel Parry), her mother New York in the early ‘60s, so getting a (Denise Bass), and especially not to her telephone installed is a key and important new husband, Paul. part of dealing with housekeeping—and They have an eccentric upstairs neigh- delivery guys are a part of getting wedbor, Mr. Velasco (Steve Rassin), who ding gifts home. Joel Perry’s brief cameo utilizes their bedroom window to break as the winded and much-abused delivinto his own apartment. Known as “The ery guy is absolutely hilarious. Charles Bluebeard of 48th Street,” Mr. Velasco Calhoun gives us a soft-hearted but actually has one of the more noticeable iron-fronted telephone installer. He’s not transformations throughout the script. happy about the stairs, but he is hopeHe begins with a pretty smarmy pass at ful about the newlyweds. He’s seen a few Corie and ends as an unexpected hero. things over the years, and even if this Rassin makes his transformation not only couple are not sure they can get through believable but incredibly funny. this, he has faith in them—and by extenOf all the stock characters Simon pulls sion, in all of us, to learn to adjust. That into the script, my favorite far and away benevolent and joyful smile he flashes is Denise Bass’ Ethel Banks—mother to when they aren’t looking is one of the the irrepressible Corie. “Denise Bass is truly lovely details of this show. playing my mother,” I commented to my But whatever else “Barefoot in the date. Park” is, it is a love story. Young and Bai“She’s playing most people’s mothers,” ley take the audience on the roller-coaster ride of their new marriage. Bailey’s Paul he countered. embraces new responsibilities as breadPoor Ethel—she is trying so hard to be winner (remember, 1960s) very seriously. supportive of her willful, headstrong and Someone has to pay for the five flights highly unrealistic daughter. But she is of stairs! Corie’s new role of homemaker feeling lonely in a way she never has be- (remember, 1960s) is hitting challenges, fore: Her baby left home and is all grown too. She has never had to be around Paul up. It is a tough-enough life for Ethel without being the center of his attention without five flights of stairs separating before. This is new—and, frankly, she is

lonely at home all day. Doesn’t he know thing would work out in the end? sprites and fairies die without attention? “It’s Neil Simon,” I assured him. MeanWith the best of intentions, and very lit- ing: In spite of improbable struggles, yes, tle forethought or life experience, Young’s everything works out in the end. And auCorie leaps off the cliff in search of adven- diences will laugh heartily both with and ture that will make her life interesting and at the characters along the way. her new husband remember her. Frankly, I wanted to leap with her. She looks like she is having so much fun. When Paul and Corie have their first serious domestic squabble, both Young and Bailey fore- Barefoot in the Park go comedic sarcasm for the heartrending Mar. 16 -26, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., or thrusts of absurdity we wield at the ones Sun., 3 p.m. we love most. The things we say to hurt the one person we would never want to Red Barn Studio Theatre cause pain are some of the most tragi- 1122 S. 3rd St. cally funny actually. Simon captures that Tickets: $25 paradox, but Young and Bailey breathe www.thalian.org life into them. All couples have to learn how to live together, and even more, all couples have to push each other to the limit to find out where it is. Young and Bailey illustrate this fearful exploration so realistically, my date had to ask if every-

DETAILS:

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REEL TO REEL

ARTS>>FILM

HITTING A HOMERUN!

films this week CINEMATIQUE

‘Get Out’ is a worthy debut from Jordan Peele

Thalian Hall • 310 Chestnut St. $7, 7pm • www.thalianhall.org

Mar. 20-22 (also playing Mar. 22, 4 p.m.): “The Salesman” is playing in Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre and is about a young Iranian couple forced to leave their apartment due to a dangerous construction project in a neighboring building. The couple moves to the center of Tehran where they become embroiled in a life-altering situation involving the previous tenant. Directed by Asghar Farhadi, “The Salesman” won the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language Film. (PG-13, runtime 125 minutes)

Cape Fear Museum 814 Market St. • $5-$8 www.capefearmuseum.com

aving the best for last. This concept eludes most big-budget blockbusters. How many Hollywood franchises are known for giving their most popular characters a strong send-off? Let me clue in readers—like, none. Most studios churn out content with the precision of wringing a washcloth, twisting until every last ounce has been extracted. Then, its damp remains are flung into a corner to grow a vomitous layer of mold until enough time has passed to try and make use of the damn thing again. Most of the time a franchise’s final film is so terrible and/or creatively bankrupt that the whole enterprise gets mothballed waiting to be resuscitated. “Logan,” the latest movie featuring iconic comic-book staple Wolverine, is by far the best film to use the character—and a bloody fantastic example of what this genre is capable doing. Try to name the final film in a series that’s any good? Would anyone like to sit down with me and watch “The Godfather Part III”? How about “Halloween 6”? Would anyone like to waste even 10 minutes on Earth watching “Batman and Robin”? “Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow”—anyone? Of course not, because the only people who enjoy such pain are sadomasochists.

FILM SCREENING

March 26 (1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3 p.m.): Cape Fear Museum presents a screening of “Moons: Worlds of Mystery.” Narrated by Ed Helms, the short film is an exploration of the little worlds of our solar system. (N/A, runtime: 35 minutes)

Just in case it isn’t obvious: I’ve become generally bored with run-of-the-mill superhero movies. They’re basically the same experiences. First, the origin story features a likable but complicated guy who gets extraordinary abilities. Then they struggle with the newfound role of hero and try to find the superhero equivalent of a work/life balance. A bad guy shows up, fires a laser beam into

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an aged telepath with dementia and a killing machine who grows weary of dispensing violence.

BY: ANGHUS

Call David 910-620-6014

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X-ICON: Hugh Jackman plays Wolverine one last time in ‘Logan.’ Photo credit: Ben Rothstein, Marvel.

the sky, and there’s a massive punch up until the good guy corks that shit faster than you can say “predictable mange.” “Logan” abandons many of the traditional trappings of the modern-day superhero film in favor of an actual, down-to-earth story. It’s amazing it took nearly 17 years to do the character of Wolverine justice—but damn it all James Mangold and Hugh Jackman have finally delivered something substantial. The story takes place in a familiar future where mutant numbers have dwindled significantly. Logan (Hugh Jackman) has abandoned the heroic exploits of the X-Men for a pared-down life as a caregiver to the aged and broken Charles Xavier (Sir Patrick Stewart), whose inability to control his mental powers has made him a mutant of mass destruction. Logan isn’t exactly the same man he used to be either. His life has become a difficult balance of managing his own diminished state while trying to figure out what to do with Charles. None of this is made easier by the surprise appearance of a 9-year-old mutant genetically created using Wolverine’s DNA. For all intents and purposes, she’s his daughter named Laura. So Logan does what anyone does when they suddenly learn they are a parent: He drives to New York and appears on the Maury Povich show for a DNA test. It turns out he is the father, so Charles convinces him to help get her to the Canadian border to escape the menacing scientists and mercenaries hunting her. The plot is fairly standard: Mutants get weaponized for their destructive potential, but this time there’s no X-Men to stop them—only

“Logan” succeeds because of a very human story at the core of all this mutant brouhaha. For the first time, he feels like a character. We see him at his worst when he’s grasping for whatever shreds of normalcy remain, constantly tortured by his friend’s deteriorating state and his constant henpecking about the importance of helping others. The dream of Charles Xavier’s XMen is long dead. But Laura gives Logan a reason to keep fighting. There’s a fantastic dynamic woven between the eternal optimism of Xavier and the brutal cynicism of Logan. The added layer of Laura, the next generation of their kind, is a nice way to provide Logan perspective he’s been lacking. The acting here is top-notch. Dare I say it? Hugh Jackman has never been better and Patrick Stewart is an absolute delight. The villains of the film, like the plot, are standard comic-book fare, but the execution is so magnificently handled. There were genuine feelings evoked from the movie. Yes, it borrows heavily from other films. And, yes, some emotions are the product of manipulative button-mashing that happens when a crusty old man and a charismatic young girl are put together to hash out daddy-daughter issues. In spite of minor criticisms, “Logan” works very well. It’s proof positive that every comic-book movie doesn’t have to adhere to redundant structure and overthe-top spandex antics. In the hands of filmmakers with a vision who are allowed to tell stories focused on characters, movies based on comic books can be as engrossing as any other adapted medium. Why it took 17 years for studios to figure this out is anyone’s guess.

DETAILS: Logan

Rated R Directed by James Mangold Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen

Thank you encore readers for voting us best radio station, 98.3 The Penguin and best website, portcitydaily.com. encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 21

SOUTHEASTERN NC’S PREMIER DINING GUIDE

GRUB & GUZZLE

BLUE SURF CAFÈ •

AMERICAN

www.bluesurfcafe.com

BLUEWATER WATERFRONT GRILL Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of sailing ships and the Intracoastal Waterway while dining at this popular casual American restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. Lunch and dinner are served daily. Favorites include jumbo lump crab cakes, succulent seafood lasagna, crispy coconut shrimp and an incredible Caribbean fudge pie. Dine inside or at their award-winning outdoor patio and bar, which is the location for their lively Waterfront Music Series every Sunday April - October. Large parties welcome. Private event space available. BluewaterDining.com. 4 Marina Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC. (910) 256-8500. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Fri 11a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sat & Sun 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Waterfront dining ■ MUSIC: Music every Sunday in Summer ■ WEBSITE: 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 specialty waffles, skillet hashes and unique breakfast sandwiches. Our lunch menu is packed with a wide variety of options, from house roasted pulled pork, to our mahi sandwich and customer favorite, meatloaf sandwich. Our dinner features a special each night along with our favorite house entrees: 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 Ste. 1, Wilmington 910-523-5362. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Breakfast served until noon each day! ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Daily Specials, Gluten Free Menu, Gourmet Hot Chocolates, Outdoor Patio, New Artist event first Friday of every month and Kids

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courtesy photo by Blue Surf Cafè

Menu. ■ WEBSITE: www.bluesurfcafe.com

BLUE SURF CAFÉ

Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and

Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Breakfast served until noon each day! ■ 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 CAM CAFÉ CAM Café, located within the CAM delivers delightful surprises using fresh, local ingredients. The café serves lunch with seasonal options Tuesday thru Saturday, inspired “small plates” on Wednesday nights, an elegant yet approachable dinner on Thursday and brunch every Sunday. Look for a combination of fresh, regular menu items along with daily specials. As part of dining in an inspiring setting, the galleries are open during CAM Café hours which makes it the perfect destination to enjoy art of the plate along with the art of the museum. 3201 S 17th St. (910) 777-2363. ■ SERVING LUNCH, BRUNCH & DINNER: Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 11am-2pm; Thursday evening, 5pm-9pm

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.camcafe.org CAPT’N BILL’S BACKYARD GRILL Capt’n Bill’s is a great place to have fun, meet people and get some great exercise all at the same time. We have a lively, personable and tentative wait staff, not to mention a wide selection of food and two full service bars. Whether you love seafood, BBQ, sandwiches or veggies, Capt’n Bill’s has something for everyone. Capt’n Bill’s has over a dozen televisions, including a big screen, so that you can watch a variety of sporting events. We even have NFL Sunday Ticket! Capt’n Bill’s is the perfect spot to come watch all the big games! Whether you love football, basketball or just sports in general, you are guaranteed to have a great time! Come visit Wilmington’s best kept secret ... Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill and Outdoor Volleyball Facility. 4240 Market St. (910) 762-0173 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Thurs, 5-11pm; Fri., 4-11pm; Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., noon-10pm. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown/Market St. ■ WEBSITE: https://captnbills.com THE DISTRICT KITCHEN & COCKTAILS A new addition to the Brooklyn Arts and downtown area, The District Kitchen & Cocktails is serving fresh, seasonal menus in a polished casual atmosphere. We feature locally sourced ingredients when available. For lunch, we offer delicious burgers and sandwiches, while dinner features steaks, chops and seafood all handcrafted by executive chef Luke Poulos. Within blocks of CFCC and the Riverwalk, The District welcomes diners to enjoy inspired wines, craft cocktails and NC draught beers at their renovated bar and restaurant, located at 1001 N. 4th St. 910-(910) 769-6565 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tues.-Thurs.11am9pm, Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm. Lunch menu served ‘til 4pm. ■ SERVING BRUNCH: Sunday 11am-3pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Brooklyn Arts District ■ WEBSITE: www.districtnc.com ELIJAH’S Since 1984, Elijah’s has been Wilmington, NC’s outdoor dining destination. We feature expansive indoor and outdoor waterfront dining, with panoramic views of riverfront sunsets. As a Casual American Grill and Oyster Bar, Elijah’s offers everything from fresh local seafood and 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 ETERNAL SUNSHINE CAFÉ Wilmington’s new unique restaurant, Eternal Sunshine Café, is conveniently located between downtown and Wrightsville Beach, also close to UNCW. It is a great spot to savor a gourmet breakfast, like cinna-swirl pancakes with coffee cream cheese syrup or a southwest benedict with chipotle hollandaise on a made from scratch biscuit. The lunch menu is filled with fresh delectable salads, sandwiches on house baked breads, and pitas. Come experience the innovative twist on breakfast classics and a casual lunch guaranteed to make you a regular customer. May the tranquility of Eternal Sunshine Cafe’s atmosphere shine upon your face and reinvigorate your day. Serving breakfast all day.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH: MondayWednesday 7-2, Thursday-Friday 6:30-2, Saturday 7-2, Sunday 8-2 ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ WEBSITE: www.eternalsunshinecafe.com THE FELIX CAFE The Felix Cafe is a restaurant experience like no other in Wilmington, N.C. Our eatery is a unique and relaxing gem situated near the port, and at the edge of Sunset Park on Burnett Blvd. We believe fine dining doesn’t have to come with all the fuss. From our homemade soups to the locally sourced produce, we let the ingredients speak for themselves in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Folks will enjoy the outdoor seating, our vibrant staff, the colorful interior, and our cabana style tiki bar. You will come here as a customer and leave as a friend. 2140 Burnett Blvd. (910) 399-1213. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun.-Wed..: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Sunset Park, Downtown Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Daily specials, full bar,freejazz and wine tastings on Thursdays ■ WEBSITE: www.thefelixcafeonline.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 it’s going to be packed. Dinner too! Henry’s Pine Room is ideal for private functions up to 30 people. 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. ■ WEBSITE: www.henrysrestaurant.com HOLIDAY INN RESORT 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. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Sat. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Waterfront dining ■ WEBSITE: www.holidayinn.com HOPS SUPPLY CO. The combination of chef-inspired food and our craft bar makes Hops Supply Co. a comfortable and inviting gastropub that attracts guests of all types – especially a local crowd who can feel right at home whether ordering a classic favorite or trying a new culinary delight! At HopsCo, we are dedicated to the craft of excellent cuisine and delivering hops in its most perfect form, exemplified by our selection of craft beers. As hops are the heart of flavor for beer, our local seasonal ingredients are the soul of our culinary inspired American fare. 5400 Oleander Dr. (910) 833-8867. ■ OPEN: Mon-Thurs 10:57 am - 10 pm; Fri-Sat 10:57 am - 11 pm {Serving Brunch 10:57am – 3pm & bar open until midnight}; Brunch ALL DAY Sunday 9:57am – 10pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.hopssupplycompany.com JOHNNYLUKES KITCHENBAR Good eats, good drinks, and great times is what JohnnyLukes KitchenBar is all about. JohnnyLukes KitchenBar serves Wilmington, NC a variety of 19

2 locations to serve you 7220 Wrightsville Avenue 5906 Oleander Drive 910-256-1222 910-769-4232 Serving Breakfast and Lunch 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM every day.

www.beachbagels910.com encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 23

rotating craft beers on tap, a hand selected eclectic American wine list, fun cocktails, and of course, exceptional food. Our two-story layout brings the best of both worlds under one roof. Downstairs at JohnnyLukes KitchenBar pair your beer or wine with our Parmesan Crusted Pork Chop, Chicken Pot Pie, Ribeye, or one of our many main entrees and sharable plates. Or, join us upstairs at JL’s Loft and pair a beer with one of our multiple burgers, JL’s roast beef sandwich, meatball sandwich, or one of our many appetizers (we recommend both!). So next time you are looking for a new and exciting restaurant in Wilmington, NC where you can experience both great craft beer and amazing food, be sure to head over to JohnnyLukes KitchenBar and JL’s Loft! 5500 Market Street, Suite 130. (910)-769-1798 ■ OPEN: JohnnyLukes KitchenBar: Mon to Sun: 11:30am to 10pm; JL’s Loft: Mon to Sun: 11:30am to 2am ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ WEBSITE: www.johnnylukeskb.com THE LITTLE DIPPER Wilmington’s favorite fondue restaurant! The Little Dipper specializes in unique fondue dishes with a global variety of cheeses, meats, seafood, vegetables, chocolates and fine wines. The warm and intimate dining room is a great place to enjoy a four-course meal, or indulge in appetizers and desserts outside on the back deck or in the bar while watching luminescent jellyfish. Reservations are appreciated for parties of any size. Located at the corner of Front and Orange in Downtown Wilmington. 138 South Front Street. (910) 251-0433. ■ SERVING DINNER: 5pm Tue-Sun; Seasonal hours are open 7 days a week, Memorial Day through October ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown

■ FEATURING: Tasting menu every Tues. with small plates from $1-$4; Ladies Night every Wed; $27 4-course prix fixe menu on Thurs.; “Date night menu,” $65/couple with beer and wine tasting every Fri. and half price bottles of wine on Sun. ■ MUSIC: Mondays and Memorial Day-October, 7-9pm ■ 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 inhouse, 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. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Fri.10 a.m.7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sun. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: South Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Daily specials and take-home frozen meals ■ WEBSITE: www.pinevalleymarket.com THE PUB A true public house. A gathering place. In house fresh ground burgers made with short rib, bris-

ket and chuck on Sweet n Savory’s, made from scratch, bread along with 40 other sandwiches and meals under $12. 32 beers on tap, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere where you can hang out with friends and enjoy live music, your favorite NFL game or the BEST burger you’ll ever eat! 2012 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, (910) 679-8101, Hours: 11am-2am ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Causeway ■ WEBSITE: www.sweetnsavory.pub RISE Serving up the best dang biscuits and donuts in Wilmington, Rise is not any typical breakfast spot. Our donut menu includes an assortment of ‘old school, new school, and our school’ flavors; and our buttery, flaky biscuits filled with country ham, bacon, sausage, fried chicken, and fried eggplant “bacon” are crave-worthy. Lunch is on the Rise with our new chicken sandwiches on potato rolls and fresh salads. 1319 Military Cutoff Rd. (910) 239-9566 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.- Sun. 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ WEBSITE: http://risebiscuitsdonuts.com SPICOLI “In crust we trust.” Spicoli specializes in classic NY style pizza with a totally unconventional (AND DELICIOUS) sourdough crust. We also feature one-of-a-kind burger creations, Jumbo wings complete with our perfect, house-made blue cheese or ranch. Or enjoy any of our unique vegan or glutenfree options. But Spicoli is not just amazing food. We keep it awesome with a killer juke box, classic arcade games, and great deals on everything at our full bar. Share some brews over PacMan or enjoy the area’s only 20in pie on our outdoor patio.

Just make sure you are having fun. Don’t worry!! If you can’t come see us, we also have the largest delivery radius in town!! 1978 Eastwood Road, (910) 256-0339. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach SWEET ‘N’ SAVORY CAFÉ The Real Wizard Behind the Food. Anyone who has seen the Wizard of Oz knows that the wizard was just a scared old man hiding behind the curtain. Restaurants are no different. Making incredible food is not magical or mystical and instead just requires heart (Tin Man), brains (Scarecrow), courage (Lion) and love (Dorothy). At Sweet n Savory we have pulled back the curtain because we don’t believe that we need smoke, mirrors, over inflated prices or pretentiousness to offer you the best and freshest food your money can buy. 1611 Pavillion Place, Wilmington, NC 28403, (910) 256-0115 Hours: 7am-10pm. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, BAKERY & CATERING ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Causeway ■ WEBSITE: www.sweetnsavorycafe.com THE TROLLY STOP 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, pork smoked sausage (Carolina Packer), Fat Free (Turkey) & Veggie. Recognized as having the Best Hot Dog in the Best of Wilmington Awards in 2011, 2012, 2013,

best dang

& DONUTS BISCUITS ARE NOW IN WILMINGTON!

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER GOURMET HOT CHOCOLATES UNIQUE SPECIALS DAILY 250 Racine Drive • Wilmington, NC Racine Commons • 910.523.5362 www.BlueSurfCafe.com 24 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

RANKED AMONG BEST BISCUITS IN THE U.S. BY FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE

OPEN

Rise Wilmington (Landfall) 1319 Military Cutoff Road

DAILY

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7AM-2PM

2014 and 2015. Call Individual Stores for hours of operation or check out our website at www.trollystophotdogs.com. Catering available, now a large portion of our business. All prices include tax. Call Rick at 297-8416 for catering and franchise information. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ LOCATIONS: Wilmington, Fountain Dr. (910) 452-3952 Wrightsville Beach (910) 256-3921 Southport (910) 457-7017 Boone, NC (828) 265-2658 Chapel Hill, NC (919) 240-4206 ■ WEBSITE: www.trollystophotdogs.com

also make it a point to host all dietary needs, omnivores, carnivores and herbivores alike. They have burgers and cheesesteaks, as well as falafal pitas and veggie wraps, as well as an extensive Japanese fare menu, such as bento boxes and tempura platters. Daily dessert and drink special are also on order. Check out their website and Facebook for more information. 16 S. Front St. (910) 771-9151. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Thurs., 11am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 12pm10pm. Last call on food 15 minutes before closing. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: www.nikkissushibar.com/ OKAMI JAPANESE

ASIAN

GENKI SUSHI Welcome to Genki Sushi, an inviting and unique dining experience in the heart of Wilmington. We serve the freshest, most authentic sushi and traditional Japanese favorites. In the mood for sushi and authentic Japanese food? Look no further then Genki Sushi. From fresh nigiri to custom rolls, everything is homemade, including all of our sauces. We look forward to meeting each and every one of you and can’t wait for you to try our delicious Japanese cuisine. You can make a reservation through OpenTable (you must have a reservation for Friday and Saturday nights), or just walk in during our open hours Sunday through Thursday. At Genki, everyone is welcome! 4724 New Centre Dr. #5, Wilmington. (910) 796-8687. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Closed Monday, Tues-Sat 11:30a.m. - 2:00p.m. 5:00p.m. - 9:30, Sunday 5p.m. - 9p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www. genkisushiwilmington.com 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 NIKKI’S FRESH GOURMET For more than a decade, Nikki’s downtown has served diners the best in sushi. With freshly crafted ingredients making up their rolls, sushi and sashimi, a taste of innovation comes with every order. Daily they offer specialty rolls specific to the Front Street location, such as the My Yoshi, K-Town and Crunchy Eel rolls. But for less adventurous diners looking for options beyond sushi, Nikki’s serves an array of sandwiches, wraps and gyros, too. They

HIBACHI STEAK HOUSE We have reinvented “Hibachi Cuisine”. Okami Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse in Wilmington, NC is like no other. Our highly skilled chefs will not only cook an incredible dinner, but they will entertain you on the way. Our portions are large, our drinks are less expensive, and our staff is loads of fun. At Okami Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse, we are committed to using quality ingredients and seasoning with guaranteed freshness. Our goal is to utilize all resources, domestically and internationally, to ensure that we serve only the finest food products. We believe that good healthy food aids the vital functions for wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Our menu consists of a wide range of Steak, Seafood, and Chicken for the specially designed “Teppan Grill,” to the taste bud tingling Japanese Sushi, Hand Rolls, Sashimi, Tempura dishes and Japanese Noodle entrees. This offers our guests a complete Japanese dining experience. Check out our all you can eat sushi menu and daily specials at www.okamisteakhouse.com! ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Monday - Thursday 11am - 2:30pm / 4pm - 10pm; Friday 11am - 2:30pm / 4pm - 11pm; Saturday 11am - 11pm; Sunday 11am - 9:30pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.okamisteakhouse.com SZECHUAN 132 Craving expertly prepared Chinese food in an elegant atmosphere? Szechuan 132 Chinese Restaurant is your destination! Szechuan 132 has earned the reputation as one of the finest contemporary Chinese restaurants in the Port City. Tastefully decorated with an elegant atmosphere, with an exceptional ingenious menu has deemed Szechuan 132 the best Chinese restaurant for years, hands down. 419 South College Road (in University Landing), (910) 799-1426. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Lunch Specials ■ WEBSITE: www.szechuan132.com 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: South Wilmington

■ WEBSITE: www.ThaiSpiceWilmington.com YOSAKE DOWNTOWN SUSHI LOUNGE Lively atmosphere in a modern setting, Yosake is the delicious Downtown spot for date night, socializing with friends, or any large dinner party. Home to the never-disappointing Shanghai Firecracker Shrimp! In addition to sushi, we offer a full Pan Asian menu including curries, noodle dishes, and the ever-popular Crispy Salmon or mouth-watering Kobe Burger. Inspired features change weekly showcasing our commitment to local farms. Full bar including a comprehensive sake list, signature cocktails, and Asian Import Bottles. 33 S. Front St., 2nd Floor (910) 763-3172. ■ SERVING DINNER: 7 nights a week @ 5PM; Sun-Wed 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.

BAGELS BEACH BAGELS Beach Bagels is “the” favorite spot for breakfast and lunch in Wilmington. Get a taste of a New York-style bagel by the beach. We make our ba-

gels the traditional way: kettle-boiled then baked and always made with love. Enjoy something simple like a traditional BLT, or spice it up and try our AnnieWB: turkey breast, bacon, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, mayo, onions, and jalapeños. Not in the mood for a bagel? Don’t worry, we have ciabatta bread, croissants, kaiser rolls, biscuits, and wraps. Whatever you’re looking for, we have you covered. Don’t forget to make your lunch sandwich a combo for only $1.50,. and get a small drink, potato salad or chips and a pickle spear. Come see us at 5906 Oleander Drive or 7220 Wrightsville Avenue— right before the drawbridge on the way to beautiful Wrightsville Beach. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown and Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Homemade bagels, biscuits, croissants, sandwiches, and more! ■ WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/Beach-Bagels-301865953202309/

BREWPUB BILL’S FRONT PORCH Welcome to Bill’s Front Porch Brewery & Restaurant, where you’ll find fine handcrafted beers, creative yet informal cuisine, and friendly, attentive service in a casual, upscale atmosphere. We’re passionate about producing distinctive, full-flavored handcrafted beers, accompanied by fresh–from–scratch New American cuisine in a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Our goal has always been to provide food and beer that is inspired, consistently crafted and presented by a knowledgeable and courteous service staff. Our commitment to support the communities in which

Serving seasonally inspired, locally-sourced Southern Cuisine.

P embroke ’ s

Proudly purchasing all of our seafood, protein, and produce from local fishermen, vendors, and farmers.

SPECIALS:

SoCIAL Hour In tHE BAr tuESdAy - tHurSdAy 5Pm-7Pm wItH BAr mEnu & CoCktAIL SPECIALS

Dinner Daily: Tuesday - Saturday starting at 5pm Sunday Brunch: 10am-2pm

1125 A, m ILItAry C utoff r d . • (910) 239-9153 www . PEmBrokESCuISInE . Com

F acebook :

Facebook . com / pembrokeswilmington or Follow us on instagram @ pembrokecuisine

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 25

photo by: Tom Dorgan

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. ■ WEBSITE: www.harpwilmington.com

ITALIAN

A TASTE OF ITALY •

www.atasteofitalydeli.com

we do business goes to the heart of what differentiates Bill’s Front Porch from other restaurants. But it is because of you, our guests, that we have been able to make this all happen. 4238 Market St. 4-10 Mon-Wed; 4-11 Thurs; 11-11 Fri-Sat; 12-10 Sun. 910-762-6333 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown/Market St. ■ FEATURING: Homemade craft beer, bar food and entrees. ■ WEBSITE: www.billsfrontporch.com

DINNER THEATRE THEATRENOW TheatreNOW is a performing arts complex that features weekend dinner theater, an award-winning weekly kids variety show, monthly Sunday Jazz Brunches, movie, comedy and live music events. Award-winning chef, Denise Gordon, and a fabulous service staff pair scrumptious multi-course themed meals and cocktails with our dinner shows in a theatre-themed venue. Dinner theater at its best! Reservations highly suggested. 19 S. 10th Street (910) 399.3NOW (3669). Hours vary. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown Wilmington

■ FEATURING: Dinner shows, jazz brunches, and more ■ WEBSITE: www.theatrewilmington.com

IRISH THE HARP Experience the finest traditional Irish family recipes and popular favorites served in a casual yet elegant traditional pub atmosphere. The Harp, 1423 S. 3rd St., proudly uses the freshest ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible, to bring you and yours the most delicious Irish fare! We have a fully stocked bar featuring favorite Irish beers and whiskies. We are open every day for both American and Irish breakfast, served to noon weekdays and 2 p.m. weekends. Regular menu to 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends. Join us for trivia at 8:30 on Thursdays and live music on Fridays – call ahead for schedule (910) 763-1607. Located just beside Greenfield Lake and Park at the south end of downtown Wilmington, The Harp is a lovely Irish pub committed to bringing traditional Irish flavor, tradition and hospitality to the Cape Fear area. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenfield Lake/Downtown

A TASTE OF ITALY Looking for authentic Italian cuisine in the Port City? Look no further than A Taste of Italy Deli. Brothers, Tommy and Chris Guarino, and partner Craig Berner, have been serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner to local and visiting diners for twenty years. The recipes have been passed down from generation to generation, and after one bite you feel like you’re in your mamas’ kitchen. Along with the hot and cold lunch menu, they also carry a large variety of deli sides and made-from-scratch desserts. Or, if you’re looking to get creative in your own kitchen, A Taste of Italy carries a wide selection of imported groceries, from pasta to olive oils, and everything in between. And last but certainly not least, allow them to help you make any occasion become a delicious Italian experience with their catering or call ahead ordering. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Monday-Friday 8:00am-8:00pm, Saturday 8:30am-7:00pm, Sunday 9:30am-4:30pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.atasteofitalydeli.com ■ FEATURING: Sclafani goods, Polly-O cheese, Ferrara Torrone and much, much more! ANTONIO’S Serving fresh, homemade Italian fare in midtown and south Wilmington, Antonio’s Pizza and Pasta is a family-owned restaurant which serves New York style pizza and pasta. From daily specials during lunch and dinner to a friendly waitstaff ensuring a top-notch experience, whether dining in, taking out or getting delivery, to generous portions, the Antonio’s experience is an unforgettable one. Serving subs, salads, pizza by the slice or pie, pasta, and more, dine-in, take-out and delivery! 3501 Oleander Dr., #2, and 5120 S. College Rd. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Sun., open at 11:30 a.m.) ■ NEIGHBORHOOD DELIVERY OFFERED: Monkey Junction and near Independence Mall ■ WEBSITE: www.antoniospizzaandpasta.com FAT TONY’S ITALIAN PUB Fat Tony’s has the right combination of Italian and American influences to mold it into a unique family-friendly restaurant with a “gastropub” feel. Boasting such menu items as Veal Saltimbocca,

Eggplant Parmigiana, USDA Prime Sirloin, and award-winning NY style hand-tossed pizzas, Fat Tony’s is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Their appetizers range from Blue Crab Dip to Grilled Pizzas to Lollipop Lamb Chops. Proudly supporting the craft beer movement, they have an ever-changing selection of microbrews included in their 27-tap lineup – 12 of which are from NC. They have a wide selection of bottled beers, a revamped wine list, and an arsenal of expertly mixed cocktails that are sure to wet any whistle. Fat Tony’s offers lunch specials until 3pm Monday through Friday and a 10% discount to students and faculty at CFCC. They have two pet-friendly patios – one looking out onto Front Street and one with a beautiful view of the Cape Fear River. With friendly, excellent service and a fun, inviting atmosphere, expect to have your expectations exceeded at Fat Tony’s. Find The Flavor…..Craft Beer, Craft Pizza! ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Monday-Thursday 11 am-10 pm; Fri.-Sat., 11 am-Midnight; Sun., noon-10 pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: www.fatpub.com ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials until 3pm and late night menu from 11pm until closing. SLICE OF LIFE “Slice” has become a home away from home for tourists and locals alike. Our menu includes salads, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, homemade soups, subs and, of course, pizza. We only serve the freshest and highest-quality ingredients in all of our food, and our dough is made daily with purified water. Voted “Best Pizza” and “Best Late Night Eatery.”All ABC permits. Visit us downtown at 125 Market Street, (910) 251-9444, in Wrightsville Beach at 1437 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 101, (910) 256-2229 and in Pine Valley on the corner of 17th and College Road, (910) 799-1399. ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, Downtown and Wilmington South. ■ FEATURING: Largest tequila selection in town! ■ WEBSITE: www.grabslice.com

LATIN AMERICAN

SAN JUAN CAFÉ 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!

BUY ONE at regular price GET ONE

99¢

+ tax

Equal or lesser value • Limited Time Offer at the following Dairy Queen locations:

• 1517 Dawson St., Wilmington • 5901 Oleander Dr., Wilmington • 20 Naber Dr., Shallotte • 5701 East Oak Island Drive, Long Beach • 106 Southport-Supply Rd. SE, Supply

26 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

SEAFOOD • STEAK • SUSHI • CHINESE BUFFET

BAR & GRILL WITH OVER 100 ITEMS Ask about our special room for private parties!

2541 CAROLINA BEACH ROAD • 763-8808

Hibachi Grill Included W ith Th e buffet!

Open Daily Lunch and Dinner • Mon - Thurs. 11am-10pm • Fri.-Sat. 11am-11pm • Sun. 11am-10pm

300 OFF

Any 3 Adult Lunch or 2 Dinner Buffets

ASIAN BUFFET DINE-IN ONLY One Coupon Per Purchase. Not valid with any other. Excludes Crab Legs Offer Expires 3/31/17

200 OFF

Any 2 Adult Lunch or Dinner Buffets

ASIAN BUFFET DINE-IN ONLY One Coupon Per Purchase. Not valid with any other. Excludes Crab Legs Offer Expires 3/31/17

■ 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

MEXICAN

EL CERRO GRANDE In January, El Cerro Grande will celebrate 25 years serving authentic, delicious Mexican cuisine to the greater Wilmington area. With an ever-evolving menu, they have introduced eight new exclusive soft tacos as part of Taco Fiesta! They churn out mouth-watering enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, chef specialties, and more, in a colorfully inviting dining room marked by a friendly staff and attention to detail. Check out El Cerro’s daily drink and food specials at their three different locations, including $3.50 margaritas on Tuesdays off Military Road, on Wednesdays at 341 S. College Road, and on Thursdays at 5120 S. College Road. Mondays feature fajita dinners for 10.99 at all locations, and they even have karaoke every Wednesday at 341 S. College Rd, starting at 6 p.m. Serving lunch and dinner daily. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Fri., open at 11 a.m.; Sat-Sun., open at 11:30 a.m. ■ LOCATIONS: 341 S. College Rd., 910-7930035; 5120 S. College Rd., 910-790-8727; 1051 Military Cutoff Rd., 910-679-4209 ■ WEBSITE: www.elcerrogranderestaurant.com

LA COSTA MEXICAN RESTAURANT With three locations to serve Wilmingtonians, La Costa is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m with lunch specials. Their full dinner menu (from 3 p.m. on) offers the best in Mexican cuisine across the city. From top-sellers, like fajitas, quesadillas and burritos, to chef’s specialty items, like molcajete or borrego, a taste of familiar and exotic can be enjoyed. All of La Costa’s pico de gallo, guacamole, salsas, chile-chipotle, enchilada and burrito sauces are made in house daily. Add to it a 16-ounce margarita, which is only $4.25 on Mondays and Tuesdays at all locations, and every meal is complete. Serving the Port City since1996, folks can dine indoors at the Oleander and both Market Street locations, or dine alfresco at both Market Street locations. 3617 Market St.; 8024 Unit 1 Market St.; 5622 Oleander Dr. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs until 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. until 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown and Ogden ■ WEBSITE: lacostamexicanrestauranwilmington. com

ORGANIC

LOVEY’S NATURAL FOODS & CAFÉ Lovey’s Natural Foods & Café 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, organic 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 delicious 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 grass-fed 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: North Wilmington in the Landfall Shopping Center ■ FEATURING: Organic Salad Bar/Hot Bar, Bakery with fresh, organic pies and cakes. ■ WEBSITE: www.loveysmarket.com WHOLE FOODS MARKET Whole Foods Market offers one of the most expansive freshly prepared foods options in the city! With 4 bars featuring hot dishes & salads, a sandwich station, sushi station, and pizza station, you are apt to satisfy everyone in your group. All of the ingredients are free of any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives so food is fresh and flavorful from farm, ranch, or dock to your fork! Dine in the cafe or carry out. On any given day the selection offers an array of organic, local, vegan/vegetarian, and healthy options. Voted Best Salads by encore readers. ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days a week. Monday - Sunday. 8am - 9pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Seasonal, healthy, organic, vegan/ vegetarian ■ WEBSITE: www.wholefoodsmarket.com

staff strives to accommodate guests with a sense of urgency and an abundance of southern hospitality.” Cape Fear Seafood Company has been recognized by encore magazine for best seafood in 2015, as well as by Wilmington Magazine in 2015 and 2016, and Star News from 2013 through 2016. Monkey Junction: 5226 S. College Road Suite 5, 910-799-7077. Porter’s Neck: 140 Hays Lane #140, 910-681-1140. Waterford: 143 Poole Rd., Leland, NC 28451 ■ SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER: 11:30am-4pm daily; Mon.-Thurs.., 4pm-9pm; Fri.-Sat., 4pm10pm; Sun., 4pm-8:30pm. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, north Wilmington and Leland ■ WESBITE: www.capefearseafoodcompany.com CATCH Serving the Best Seafood in South Eastern North Carolina. Wilmington’s Native Son, 2011 James Beard Award Nominee, 2013 Best of Wilmington “Best Chef” winner, Chef Keith Rhodes explores the Cape Fear Coast for the best it has to offer. We feature Wild Caught & Sustainably raised Seafood. Organic and locally sourced produce & herbs provide the perfect compliment to our fresh Catch. Consecutively Voted Wilmington’s Best Chef 2008, 09 & 2010. Dubbed “Modern Seafood Cuisine” we offer an array Fresh Seafood & Steaks, including our Signature NC Sweet Potato Salad. Appetizers include our Mouth watering “Fire Cracker” Shrimp, Crispy Cajun Fried NC Oysters & Blue Crab Claw Scampi, & Seafood Ceviche to name a few. Larger Plates include, Charleston Crab Cakes, Flounder Escovitch & Miso Salmon. Custom Entree request gladly accommodated for our Guest. (Vegetarian, Vegan & Allergies) Handcrafted seasonal desserts. Full ABC Permits. 6623 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405, 910-799-

3847. ■ SERVING DINNER: Mon.-Sat. 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Acclaimed Wine List ■ WEBSITE: www.catchwilmington.com DOCK STREET OYSTER BAR Voted Best Oysters for over 10 years by encore readers, you know what you can find at Dock Street Oyster Bar. But we have a lot more 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) 762-2827. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days a week. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Fresh daily steamed oysters. ■ WEBSITE: www.dockstreetoysterbar.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 events, such as wedding ceremonies & receptions, birthday gatherings, anniversary parties and more. Large groups welcome. Private event space available. 703 S. Lumina Avenue, Wrightsville Beach. (910) 256.5551. ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & SUNDAY BRUNCH: Mon – Sat 11am – 11pm, Sunday 10am

SEAFOOD

BUSTER’S CALABASH SEAFOOD AND DINER New to the NOMA corridor, Buster’s Calabash Seafood and Diner features a large menu of seafood that will sate all fishy palates. From fresh catfish and flounder to shrimp, and scallops, oysters and crab cakes, it’s all found in one spot. They also offer sandwiches, fajitas, and wraps, so there is something for everyone. Their daily blue-plate specials help keep the belly full and the wallet light, while their daily breakfast buffet and special Sunday brunch buffet (6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.) keeps the early and midday risers just as full. 6309 Market St, North Wilmington. 910-769-2018 ■ SERVING BREAKFAST LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days a week, Mon-Sat, 6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sun., 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Reservations available. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Calabash-style seafood and more! CAPE FEAR SEAFOOD COMPANY Founded in 2008 by Evans and Nikki Trawick, Cape Fear Seafood Company has become a local hotspot for the freshest, tastiest seafood in the area. With its growing popularity, the restaurant has expanded from its flagship eatery in Monkey Junction to a second location in Porter’s Neck, and coming soon in 2017, their third location in Waterford in Leland. “We are a dedicated group of individuals working together as a team to serve spectacular food, wine and spirits in a relaxed and casual setting,” restaurateur Evans Trawick says. “At CFSC every dish is prepared with attention to detail, quality ingredients and excellent flavors. Our

Specials: TUES NIGHT: 1/2 Price wines by the glass WED NIGHT: 1/2 Price Draft beers

Dinner Daily: Tuesday - Saturday starting at 5pm Sunday Brunch: 10am-2pm featuring DIY Mimosa = 1 bottle of sparkling wine and a mason jar of hand squeezed OJ

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421 c astle s t • (910) 399-3080 F acebook : Facebook . com / rxwilmington / or Follow us on instagram rxrestaurantandbar encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 27

– 10pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Dine on renovated Crystal Pier. ■ WEBSITE: www.OceanicRestaurant.com

Lovey’s Natural Foods and Café

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THE 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. 910-3430200 2 Ann Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11am9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm and Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm. Kids menu ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Riverfront Downtown Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Fresh local seafood specialties, Riverfront Dining, free on-site parking ■ MUSIC: Outside Every Friday and Saturday ■ WEBSITE: www.pilothouserest.com SHUCKIN’ SHACK Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar has two locations in the Port City area. The original Shack is located in Carolina Beach at 6A N. Lake Park Blvd. (910-4587380) and our second location is at 109 Market Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington (910-8338622). The Shack is the place you want to be to catch your favorite sports team on 7 TV’s carrying all major sports packages. A variety of fresh seafood is available daily including oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and crab legs. Shuckin’ Shack has expanded its menu now offering fish tacos, crab cake sliders, fried oyster po-boys, fresh salads, and more. Come in and check out the Shack’s daily lunch, dinner, and drink specials. It’s a Good Shuckin’ Time! ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Carolina Beach Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-2am; Sun: Noon-2am, Historic Wilmington: Sun-Thurs: 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat: 11am-Midnight ■ NEIGHBORHOODS: Carolina Beach and Downtown ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials. Like us on Facebook! ■ WEBSITE: www.TheShuckinShack.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.

■ WEBSITE: www.caseysbuffet.com RX RESTAURANT & BAR Located in downtown Wilmington, Rx Restaurant and Bar is here to feed your soul, serving up Southern cuisine made with ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. The Rx chef is committed to bringing fresh food to your table, so the menu changes daily based on what he finds locally. Rx drinks are as unique as the food—and just what the doctor ordered. Join us for a dining experience you will never forget! 421 Castle St.; 910 399-3080. ■ SERVING BRUNCH & DINNER: Tues-Thurs, 5-10pm; Fri-Sat, 5-10:30pm; Sun., 10am-3pm and 5-9pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: www.rxwilmington.com PEMBROKE’S A seasonally inspired and locally sourced Southern cuisine dining experience, Pembroke’s was created by the owners of downtown’s Rx Restaurant. Pembroke’s focuses on the same values and excellent service as its sister restaurant, purveying local companies for the best in seafood, proteins and produce. They work with local fisherman and farmers to ensure your meal will be freshly grown and hand chosen. A new dinner menu is churned out daily to ensure the chefs are working with the freshest ingredients. Plus, the bartenders are creating new drink menus daily as to never bore your taste buds. 1125 A Military Cutoff Rd. 910-239-9153. ■ SERVING BRUNCH & DINNER: Open for dinner Tues-Sun, 5pm-close, with live music Fri-Sat nights. Sunday brunch, 10am-3pm. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ WEBSITE: www.pembrokescuisine.com

SPORTS BAR

CAROLINA ALE HOUSE Voted best new restaurant AND best sports bar of 2010 in Wilmington, Carolina Ale House is the place to be for award-winning food, sports and fun. Located on College Rd. near UNC W, this lively sports-themed restaurant. Covered and open outdoor seating is available. Lunch and dinner specials are offered daily, as well as the coldest $2 and $3 drafts in town. 317 South College Road. (910) 791.9393. ■ 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 JAX 5TH AVE. DELI & ALE HOUSE Locally owned and operated, Jax offers a laidback atmosphere, welcoming foodies, sports fans, and craft beer enthusiasts alike. We provide a full eclectic menu of quality Boar’s Head sliced meat and cheeses, and feature unique items like our smoked salmon deviled egg, a legendary Italian sandwich, and famous pita pizzas that bake up lite and crispy. 20 HDTVs feature premium sports packaging for all the games! Supporting local craft breweries with 24 drafts and over 100 different bottles and cans, enjoy it all inside the shiny silver building or outside on the dog-friendly patio at 5046 New Centre Dr. Carry out: 910-859-7374. ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT: Full menu until 2am daily. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, near UNCW ■ FEATURING: Daily food and drink specials. ■ WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/ JaxFifthAveDeliAleHouse

GRUB & GUZZLE>>FEATURE

NIP SIP

BEACON OF DELICIOUS HOPE:

foodtastic events

Port City Farmers Market offers new vendors, craft beer and gourmet treats BY: SHANNON GENTRY

March 25, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

Children’s Museum of Wilmington 116 Orange St. www.playwilmington.org Admission: $25 - $30

olks biting at the bit for spring and summer farmers’ markets to begin can relax in the shining beacon of hope every Tuesday evening at Waterline Brewing. The Port City Farmers Market (PCFM) is giving Wilmingtonians a year-round farmers’ market. And added beer and gourmet chefs, too! The market started in early November 2016. Upon a recent visit, the parking lot was overrun with vendors and attendees—quite impressive for a 5 p.m. Tuesday slot. Mushpa y Mensa or- NEW MARKET: Chef Chris Estelle of Cape Fear ganic and recycled clothing, Farmage, Ridge Seafood serves up fried okra samples straight from Port Farm Fresh Produce, The Pepper Mill Shop, City Farmers Market vendors. Photo by Tom Dorgan Our Mom’s Best pepper jellies, and Changin’ Ways Farm and Farm Service out of Hamp- duce it themselves, it is not sold at our market. stead were lined up to sell their wares. Also, some of the local growers have been “We use the market like an incubator for new- excluded from other markets. We wanted to er up-and-coming vendors,” market organizer make sure they had an additional outlet. We do and Lunchbox Pickles owner Jules DeBord not allow resellers or wholesalers. explains. “I love finding a new product that’s e: How do vendors get involved? original and maybe needs a little help launching to a local audience. That’s how we started JD: No applications or membership fees. Lunchbox Pickles, and the formula seems to [However,] to set up at the market, the fee is work pretty well.” $15 each week. We generally have vendors set Aside from being able to grab a beer and up at 3 p.m. and the market runs from 4 p.m. shop for locally grown and/or crafted goods at to 8 p.m. or 9-ish. To be a part of the market, a PCFM, one major difference between DeBord’s potential vendor needs to e-mail jules@lunchmarket and others is a guest chef each week. boxpickles.com a business profile and some For example, during a mild March afternoon, pictures of their products. Again we emphasize Chef Chris Estelle from Cape Fear Seafood 100-percent local, 100-guaranteed. If you didn’t Company was cooking up samples using in- grow it or make it yourself, you can’t sell it at gredients found at the market: fried okra atop our market. a bed of fresh watercress, arugula and sliced e: Tell us more about your partnership radishes, with a drizzle of tangy remoulade. with Waterline Brewing. Other top ILM chefs who’ve dished up goods JD: It took one text message to [co-owner] at PCFM include Courtney Matheson of Delish; Eve Robinson to get it rolling. We met the next Surfhouse Cafe’s Craig Love; Jeffrey Porter of week. I laid out the basics about using the parkDixie Grill and Port City Pop-ups; as well as encore’s 2017 Best Chef, James Doss of Rx (Best ing lot for the vendors and we wanted to have a different local chef do a cooking demonstration Fine Dining Restaurant) and Pembroke’s. each week. The rest is history. With all of us encore sat down with DeBord, who also sets working together, we have turned a very unup a tent each Tuesday for Lunchbox Pickles, eventful Tuesday into a weekend night for the to learn more about what’s to come. brewery, the vendors and all of our guests who encore (e): From where did the idea for come out and enjoy just a little slice of what some of us do with the best of what’s around. Port City Farmers’ Market come? Jules DeBord (JD): The market started because we wanted to keep highlighting the produce, meats and seafoods, and handmade local products still available throughout winter months. We also wanted to prove we could make a night-time market work with the right combination of location, atmosphere and vendors. We wanted it to be 100-percent local, 100-percent guaranteed—something that no other farmers’ market in Wilmington provides. Basically, if the vendor does not grow it or pro-

5TH PIZZA PUTT FUNDRAISER

My mantra: “When we all work together, we all win.” Waterline loves having us and the business the market brings. We love working with the most gracious hosts a market could have. When I have some new, crazy idea for the market, we always talk it out and make it happen. Teamwork always works.

Like I said before, it’s pretty uneventful and it’s always rewarding to make something out of nothing. e: What’s been some feedback from vendors and shoppers alike? JD: Everyone loves the cooking demonstrations. Who doesn’t like free food, especially when it comes from one of the best chefs in Wilmington on a weekly basis? For people that work during the week, it’s nice to have a farmers’ market at a time when they are not at their job and not on the weekend. Oh, yeah—and we have beer! Lots and lots of the best brews in Wilmington. Part of the whole reason in choosing Waterline was because we love their beer, and we knew we needed something extra to entice folks to come out to a new market. e: Which ILM chefs will cook up samples for the market next? JD: Coming up we have Josh Petty from Cast Iron Kitchen (winner of Best New Restaurant, encore 2017) and Justin Carr from YoSake and Dram + Morsel. Any other chefs else are welcome; they just need to email me. e: What has been your favorite sample served up so far? JD: Sautéed collards from Chef Pat Green [of Soulful Twist Food Truck] and raw oysters with 2xIPA mignonette from [Pine Valley Market’s] Christi Ferretti. e: Are their more plans to expand upon this concept throughout the summer? JD: There is always something new in the works. Maybe another night market, maybe another day market. Maybe a full-time brick and mortar locals and tourists can shop for the best of what’s around all year long.

DETAILS:

Port City Farmers Market

Waterline Brewing • 721 Surry St. JD: It just happened to be the night of the Tuesdays, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. week we didn’t have anything else going on. facebook.com/PortCityFarmersMarket e: Why Tuesday evenings?

On Saturday, March 25, the Children’s Museum of Wilmington will once again be transformed into an 18-hole mini-golf course, complete with pizza and beer! Anyone 21 and older is invited to the fifth annual Pizza Putt fundraiser. Guests will be offered pizza, beer and wine from a variety of local restaurants and breweries, while completing the course. Come join the adventure and help raise funds for the place where kids play to learn and adults learn to play! Advance tickets (after March 5) are $25 and $30 at the door.

TACO BOWL POP-UP Every Thurs. in March! noon - 2 p.m.

Whole Foods 3804 Oleander Drive $5 www.wholefoodsmarket.com Enjoy the $5 Taco Bowl Popup from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. every Thursday in March! Choose from meat or veggie, beans and rice included. Add your favorite toppings: sour cream, salsa, guacamole, green onions, hot sauce! All proceeds benefit Whole Planet Foundation, whose mission is to alleviate global poverty by providing microcredit in communities that supply Whole Foods with products.

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 29

SPECIAL SECTION>>ENCORE BEST OF 2017

IT’S JAWESOME!

2017 Best Of hosts Pineapple-Shaped Lamps announce winners at annual awards party

BY: SHEA CARVER

nd here we are again: another year, another Best Of.

The planning that begins every fall to put on Wilmington’s official Best Of readers’ poll has evolved from hand-counting ballots in the ‘80s and ‘90s, to allowing computers to tally results via online voting. Flimsy Best Of certificates given to 75 or so winners has blossomed into hand-built plaques awarded to 137 people, places, businesses, arts organizations, and more. A small party that started in the early aughts has evolved into a full-blown fundraiser for a local nonprofit—all to honor winners and raise awareness for a great cause. encore’s Best Of is in constant flux of reinvention, and every year we feel like it’s shedding brighter lights on all the important parts of our community. We appreciate every person who takes time to fill out the nomination and final-voting ballots, the businesses who campaign and

donate food, raffle items and even money to our fundraiser, and to all the folks who volunteer and help us host the benefit: local comedy troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps; Rich and Artie of Brooklyn Arts Center; local band Da Howlies; Chris Brehmer Photography; Cape Fear Sound and Soundwave Audio; and Surfers Healing, our 2017 beneficiary, who oversaw a lot of the planning and organizing with so many helpful volunteers. Surfers Healing Wrightsville Beach NC is a satellite camp of the national nonprofit, Surfers Healing—a foundation that enriches the lives of people living with autism by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing. Last year the local chapter served close to 400 families affected by autism during their annual summer surf camp. The nonprofit is all about the “ohana,” the love, the families coming together for one perfect day—maybe their only perfect day all year long. encore and Surfers Healing partnered to raise funds for the surf camp through various events over the last four months. We held a holiday 50/50 raffle that raised $3,050 in December, followed by the Wine Not Friday held

SURFERS VERSUS GREASERS Pineapple-Shaped Lamps do the opening skit at encore’s The Beach Ball best of fundraiser, a la “West Side Story” 1950’s beach party, as house band Da Howlies play in the background. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

at Whole Foods the night before the Best Of party, which raised an additional $495. Ticket sales to the Best Of totaled $6,685, with other funds raised through donations, raffles and sponsors, all totaling $2,569. With the community’s help, we were able to raise $12,799 for Surfers Healing Wrightsville Beach NC, and after costs for the party, they will have $9,276 to utilize for the 2017 June camp. The Best Of party was a smash thanks to The Beach Ball theme: Are you a surfer or a greaser? Folks donned their spiffiest floral beach wear, perfect for an unusual 80-degree day on Feb. 25. Others slicked back their pompadours and took a chance with black leather to showcase a too-cool-forschool vibe. But the winners of our costume contest were the Baywatchers from Slice of Life who scored local gift certificates to Fork n Cork, The District, The Fortunate Glass, and PT’s Olde Fashioned Grill. With surf tunes blaring through the house, Da Howlies playing their brand of “da kine Hawaiian music” and Pineapple-Shaped Lamps zipping through many island themed and West Side Story skits—“Jaws” soundtrack included—the 450-deep crowd was entertained through the announcement of 137 award winners. They ate from nominees who were kind enough to donate lots of delicious grub throughout the night, with drinks in hand and smiles on point for all the pics Chris Brehmer captured.

30 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

encore culled over 30,000 votes for its 2017 Best Of, between nominees and final votes. Anyone with a valid email address can vote as part of our annual Best Of contest, wherein winners are chosen by the public, not encore staff members. New this

year, throughout our Best Of reporting will be the reveal of percentages by which contestants won. While we allow local businesses and groups to campaign so their patrons/fans will vote for them, we do lay a few ground rules in campaigning practices. No, we’re not the NC Board of Elections but we want to play fair, so we ask voters:

1.) No stuffing the ballot box! Don’t vote under multiple email addresses, or encourage customers and employees to do so. If you have a list of e-mail addresses that don’t belong to you, please, don’t fill out ballots in their names. 2.) Do not entice patrons/fans into voting by offering specials, discounts or prizes in exchange for votes. Folks who missed voting will have to wait until fall 2017 when we start the process over again. And anyone who missed out on our fundraiser for Surfers Healing can still help: The nonprofit will hold their golf tournament on Mar. 31 at Castle Bay Country Club. For information, contact Rob Kelly at 910-352-6493 or e-mail him at robkelly06@ hotmail.com. Nonprofits who are interested in partnering with encore for the 2018 Best Of will be able to apply at the end of April; it will be a yearlong partnership not only for Best Of but to help in other areas of promoting the nonprofit and their numerous events. Check www.encorepub.com for information on how to apply. And, now, let us introduce the 2017 class of encore’s Best Of Wilmington... Cheers!

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 31

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GIFT SHOP: BLUE MOON GIFT SHOPS Seventeen years ago, Blue Moon Gift Shops opened on Racine Drive to provide Wilmington one of its first multi-vendor arts and crafts markets. Walking through its 8,000 square feet will allure shoppers into 100 or more cozy retail booths, where handmade items, from jewelry to art, clothing to home decor and more, are sold. “We have always supported artists and mentored local small businesses,” Blue Moon manager Sandra Peruzzi says. “That is our mission statement.” Thus far, it’s working like a gem, as Blue Moon has continued on its winning streak, scoring Best Gift Shop for nine years in a row now. It’s all about top-notch customer service, according to Peruzzi. “Listening to our customers is of utmost importance. Coupled with quality shops that have beautiful handmade products, it keeps our customers returning.” Happy buyers enjoy the rotation of vendors in the physical market and online. They consist of places like Aunt Kerry’s Pet Shop, which sells homemade doggie treats and goodies for pets, as well as Bella Lynn Naturals high-quality skin-care products, and Mitzy Jonkheer Jewelry. “We are continuing improving our Strawberry Moon Gourmet Market that is relatively new,” Peruzzi says.

55% votes Essentially inside Blue Moon, it consists of gourmet NC foods, like “Gourmade” pickles, homemade marinara, nuts, spices, sauces, cookies, preserves, and the like. The also host monthly sales at various vendors. Currently folks can find Guttersnipe Press T-shirts and Foy’s Joys silks scarves on sale, or Emmi-Lu’s Baby Boutique has 50 percent off select items. Blue Moon essentially a one-stop shop for one-of-akind gifts for any holiday or birthday, and also for endof-the-year teacher gifts or Mother’s Day items. They sell furniture, pottery, hand-blown glass, coastal decor, lamps, photography, and so much more. They also offer custom ordering and complementary gift wrap. They’re always accepting vendor applications for budding entrepreneurs who want to branch out without necessarily having monstrous upstart costs. Blue Moon makes it easy, by providing an established storefront for a new business or even a satellite location for an existing one, not to mention a strong online presence, experience sales staff who monitor the booths seven days a week, coverage of overhead costs (phone, utilities, sales tax, etc.), year-round ad campaigns, and more! Each application goes under jury review for consideration. Other gift shops wrapping up a spot on the poll include Dragonflies (25%) and Crabby Chic Home (20%).

43% votes

SURF SHOP: SWEETWATER SURF SHOP Starting in 2007, Sweetwater Surf Shop began collecting their Best Surf Shop awards, and through 2017, they’ve managed to cull eight. The family-owned and -operated business is run by Danielle Bourgeois, along with her dad and sister. “We bought the store in 1995, but Sweetwater has been in business since 1976,” Bourgeois clarifies. “We carry all the major Surf brands: Billabong, O’Neill, Quiksilver, RipCurl, Reef, Hurley, and many other small up-and-coming brands” Naturally the store offers a gnarly collection of boards, from short to long, as well as wet suits and surf accessories. Currently, they’re stocking their shelves with spring and summer arrivals, just in time for warmer months. While they pride themselves on the best in customer service, the surf shop also does community outreach. Being more than a retail store and entrenched in the organi-

BUY A USED CAR: AUTO WHOLESALE With over 25 years in automotive experience, Paul Tracy and his brother Dan Tracy opened Auto Wholesale in 2002 with hopes of showcasing the best pre-owned vehicles in the market. They take only late-model used cars in super condition and offer them at he most competitive prices, with help of customer financing and the best interest rates from banks and credit unions. Their business took off—so much they had to relocate only four years into action. “Changing location in 2006 to 6003 Market Street [meant] we could an even better selections of vehicles,” Tracy says. “We still have the same great staff, great vehicles and a fantastic buying experience.” Auto Wholesale moves 30 to 40 cars every week in Wilmington. Hondas and Toyotas typically tend to be the most requested because of how dependable they are and how long they last. “We

goods & services

zations that make a difference worldwide really appeals to the Bourgeois family. “We are involved with Hope From Helen,” she says, “which is a non-profit auction held every December to benefit local and global charities.” The nonprofit has raised over $500,000 since it started in 2005 to benefit causes such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), American Cancer Society, PAWS Place, New Hanover Humane Society, Surf Aid, Life Rolls On, Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation, Surfers Healing, Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter, and others. “We also donate to many local schools, charity fashion shows and other events,” Bourgeois tells. Other shops catching a wave onto our poll are Hot Wax VOLUNTEER MOONDOGGIES: Surfers Healing stacked our Surf Shop (30%) and South End Surf Shop (27%). Best Of party and fundraiser at Brooklyn Arts Center with the best volunteers. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

45% votes

offer a no-haggle buying experience,” Tracy says with pride. Essentially, that means customers aren’t exposed to wheelin’ dealin’ salesmen. “Our customers deal with the same person from beginning to the end of the buying experience.” Aside from selling cars at the best prices, Auto Wholesale also has a service center for customers. They provide customer loyalty discounts, honest service and state-of-the-art equipment to keep vehicles in top condition. Whether customers need an oil change or A/C service work, or typical tune-ups and tire changes, Auto Wholesale has it covered with quality mechanics and technicians. Other places to buy used cars on our poll include Bruce Cavanaugh (32%) and Bob King Automall (26%). VROOM-VROOM: The guys from Auto Wholesale have fun with their Best Place to Buy Used Cars win for 2017. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 33

March Monday

Tuesday

2017 Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

St Patrick’s Specials !!

2nd Round

23 16

WEDDING VENUE: AIRLIE GARDENS

Sweet

Elite 8

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52% votes

There are many venues perfectly capable fore all of our ceremonies, golf-cart transporof providing the most magical backdrop to cel- tation day-of and an additional two-hour bridal ebrate lovers’ unions. But only one comes in portrait opportunity to all of our brides.” at the top for brides and grooms everywhere: To help the bride and groom decide on Airlie, Airlie Gardens. they offer tours and walk-throughs while dallyNow taking the category every year since it ing over details of the contract, to ensure all started (2014), Airlie as a wedding venue of- questions are answered. Airlie does not restrict fers historical gardens, mighty live oaks, views outside vendors in hosting the event either— of Bradley Creek, a sculpture garden, and the which makes for a variety of weddings. famed Minnie Evans Bottle House, hand-craft“One of our favorite weddings involved local ed by local artist Virginia Wright-Frierson. progressive folk/bluegrass band, The Midat“Our Pergola Garden is the most popu- lantic, leading a parade of guests to a receplar ceremony location,” says Nicole Herron, tion on the Oak Lawn with their music,” Herron administrative technician for weddings and says. “When they got to the Oak Lawn, The events. The lawn at the Airlie Oak—the tree Midatlantic had learned and performed ‘Hava which sprouted in 1545 nonetheless—takes Nagila,’ and guests began the Hora—or chair top billing for the reception locale. Many par- dance—to open up the reception. It was so ties have taken place under the oak—about 30 much fun to see all the guests celebrating the a year give or take—from March through Octo- newlyweds and having a blast on the dance ber, the high-time season for weddings. floor. We also had a bride have the UNC Clef Hangers perform an a capella Beyoncé song

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ENCORIANS: Assistant editor Shannon Rae Gentry and her husband and encore contributing photographer Tom Dorgan at the encore Best Of 2017 Beach Ball. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR VOTING US BEST WAIT STAFF & BEST SPORTS BAR!

“We book 18 months out,” Herron tells. “For while she walked down the aisle—that was a brides wanting prime spring dates.” Should lot of fun!” brides choose to utilize Airlie, they can secure two or three spots on the grounds for their speBrooklyn Arts Center (29%) and Wrightsville cial day. “We offer a rehearsal time the day be- Manor (19%) also took slots on the readers’ poll.

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Great Burgers and Hand-cut Fries

Established 1990

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

WWW.PTSGRILLE.COM

BEST OF 2 0 1 7

W I N N E R

73% votes

SHOPPING PLAZA: MAYFAIRE TOWN CENTER It’s no surprise when it comes to the best shopping center in town, folks are trekking to Military Cutoff to scoop up wares and eat some delightful grub at Mayfaire Town Center. In fact, they’ve been crowning the multiplex the crème de la crème for 13 years now since opening in 2004. In 2017 it’s continually growing and rounding out its final phase this year. “The evolution of Mayfaire has worked to fulfill our broad customer base, offering residents a destination where they can go and find everything on their shopping and dining list,” marketing director Paige Somervell says. “Visitors and residents can stroll through our village-like streets and discover a treasure trove of stores, restaurants, hotels, and events.”

Currently, 28 tenant reside in its community center and 75 in its town center. Recently, they’ve seen the addition of Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory, Duck Donuts, UltraSkin Wax Center, Clean Juice, EpicFit 365, Palmetto Moon, and H&M open. More are slated for the final phase, but Somervell is sworn to secrecy until the

leases are signed.

“CBL and Associates Property is committed to being a part of the community,” Somervell explains. “We are dedicated to enhancing the original vision of the live, work, shop and play concept.” The “play” part is made possible thanks to the numerous events Mayfaire holds annually. Coming up on April 1 and 2, they will hold the Coastal Carolina RV and Boat Show, and of course they will welcome the Easter bunny for photo ops with kids, April 1 through 15. On April 29, they will host the 7th annual Coastal Run/Walk for Autism. From May 1 through 7, they will house the will-call ticket area for the Wells Fargo Championship, and May 13 and 14 they will hold the Mercury Marine Boat Show. As is the case annually, Santa will make a visit to their village beginning November 18 through Christmas Eve. Other shopping plazas taking votes on the poll include Hanover Center (15%) and Lumina Station (12%).

SPA, NAIL SALON: HEAD TO TOE DAY SPA Twenty-four years ago, Lynn Gibson decided to open her own business with just one employee: herself. Head to Toe Day Spa opened in Wrightsville Beach. Its success was such that since 1993, the company has expanded four times. Today, numerous employees work for the spa, including Lynn’s sister Lexanne. The family business is going strong, as the sisters and 56 employees give far more than 100 percent to their customers. “Our business model is focused on doing honest work, always listening and developing new friendships with our guests.”

Lynn also utilized a consulting firm that specializes in growing the spa industry. The partnership created changes and growth she once thought unimaginable. She started with a state -of-the-art salon plan, kept growing employees, and setting goals. “The results in the past few years have been extraordinary,” she tells. “We have never been so happy to be able to grow with our town and reach out to so many.”

Today they serve over 2,600 people a month. They guarantee satisfaction, no matter if getting a facial, massage, hair cut, tan, pedicure or manicure, or one of their med-spa treatments. They recently teamed up with Dr. James Maultsby to offer new and up-to-date procedures in the beauty industry, like Soprano XL for hair removal or Harmony Laser for sun damage and dark spots. “Dr. Maultsby and his experienced staff are bringing Wilmington skin care that is on the next level,” Lynn tells.

43% votes

45% votes

PAMPERED BY THE BEST: Let Lynn and Lexanne Gibson show you the best spa treatments at their award-winning Head to Toe Day Spa, which scored Best Spa and Best Nail Salon 2017. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

“With two nurse practitioners and two medical estheticians, the team combines for over 50 years of experience.”

They do monthly specials for services and retail, which folks can access via their monthly newsletter. Plus, they do referral discounts, and last-minute fill-in appointments can by accessed for 50 percent off if contacting the spa at the right time.

Their options span every department, though they scored wins for Best Spa and Best Nail Salon. They’re adding new treatments constantly, from nail services to waxing, eye-lash extensions, to makeup applications. “We specialize in bridal parties and can accommodate large groups,” Lynn promises. “We work with top of the line products like Obagi, Elta MD, Latisse, Norvell, Neocutis, Skin Deep, Redken, Pureology, to just mention a few.”

The Gibson sisters also give back to the community as much as they can. Head To Toe donates to various local charities, schools and events on a monthly basis. “We encourage all employees to understand that making a difference by donating their time and compassion is always on our mind,” Lynn tells. “We take great pride in our giving back to local community and believe it is a main part of building the business to where it is.” Other spas ranking the poll include Ki Spa (31%) and Tanglez Salon and Spa (26%). Nail salons painting the poll include Tanglez Salon and Spa (30%) and Bangz Hair Salon and Spa (25%).

BEST OF 2 0 1 7

W I N N E R

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www.juliasflorist.com THANK YOU READERS! for voting us

BEST FLORIST 2017

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

LIKE A TIDAL WAVE OF GRATITUDE: Grocery coordinator Katie Berry and grocery buyer Eric Edwards of Tidal Creek Co-op graciously accept the award for the local cooperative for Best Health Food Store 2017. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

REAL ESTATE AGENCY: INTRACOASTAL REALTY Though we made it through the housing market crash in 2008, rising back to satisfactory numbers in homes sold has been an ongoing effort locally. However, living in a coastal region where folks seek to retire or relocate has been helpful in the uprise. Now, some nine years later, the housing market in Wilmington is on fire, according to Best Real Estate Company, Intracoastal Realty—which has been serving the ILM market since 1976. Intracoastal saw over 3,000 transactions in 2016 alone. “It’s a ‘seller’s market’ for those with homes priced below $400,000,” Lake Slacum, VP of marketing at Intracoastal, tells. “In other words, there is not enough inventory of homes for sale to keep up with the demand of the buyers. It’s all about supply and demand!”

Slacum says the luxury market is performing well, too. However, it’s still hovering in the “buyer’s market” range because of the amount of inventory surpassing demand.

BEST OF 2 0 1 7

W I N N E R

900 S Kerr Ave • Wilmington, NC 28403 36 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

Whether buying or selling, customers often think going about the process solo is easy. Not so, according to Slacum. Having a real-estate agent really helps understand the process—which isn’t about money first and foremost. “In most transactions, it’s important to understand that the buyer does not pay the real-estate agent,” Slacum explains. “The commission is paid by the seller. Secondly, a top-notch agent will make the entire process much less stressful (lots of legal paperwork to manage) and will provide an advantage in a competitive seller’s market.” Advice from real-estate agents also helps lessen the stress of the process.

57% votes

They can hone in on the best location for the buyer’s wants and needs. “Choose location over anything else!” Slacum proposes. “Intracoastal Realty has exceptional agents and support staff. The company is fully committed to training, education, marketing, technology, and in providing incredible support to our agents.” Their persistence to offering the best has led to their growth as well. They will open a midtown office and one at The Pointe at Barclay this year. Plus, they’ll launch new marketing and tech products in coming months. They also give back to the community at large through charities and fundraisers.

“We make donations of money, time, and resources to civic organizations, disaster relief funds and local chapters of national health organizations,” Slacum says. “Further, we work closely with UNCW, Cape Fear CC, and Brunswick CC to offer scholarship program opportunities to deserving students. Finally, there is the Teacher’s Fund, which our owner and CEO founded that helps kindergarten through 5th-grade school teachers buy supplies and learning aids they so desperately need.” As far as predictions go for the coming year, Slacum says it all points to maintaining and growing a robust housing market. “Economists are projecting an improving economy, which will start to influence interest rates higher,” Slacum tells. “Rising rates will eventually lead to reduced buying power and fewer buyers; therefore, the time to buy or sell is now.” Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage (24%) and Keller Williams Realty Wilmington (18%) also rank on the poll.

36% votes

HEALTH FOOD STORE: TIDAL CREEK CO-OP Though there were talks of Tidal Creek Co-op opening doors in the downtown area, Wilmington’s oldest community-based food cooperatives has signed another two-year lease for their Oleander Drive locale. It’s where they’ve built a foundation of about 1,700 owners—as well as additional general shoppers—and it’s where they’ve secured another win for Best Health Food Store in encore’s poll. Co-op ownership not only means having a stake in the entire grocery store, including its all-natural café, but it means supporting local products, farmers, economy and community. Tidal Creek’s marketing coordinator, Shaylah Paul, credits their popularity to their buying standards, which of course emphasize sourcing local. Cottle Organics, Red Beard Farms, Humble Roots Farm, Moore Brothers Beef, Meg Shelton, and Nature’s Way are a few purveyors shoppers can find there right now. “I think it resonates with our shoppers that when they shop at Tidal Creek they’re investing in their local economy,” Paul offers. “That feeling, along with the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the store, makes the experience of shopping here really unique and enjoyable.” Seeing as Tidal Creek Co-op has been

operating for more than 30 years, they have a lot of history to build upon in the Port City. And despite the influx of national health-food chains, a la Whole Foods just down the road, and growing availability of organic products offered at other grocery stores, Paul says they plan to continue their “tradition of partnering with other local businesses and organizations to make Wilmington a place of social consciousness and environmental activism, with a strong, sustainable, local food system.” Tidal Creek continues to offer more community-oriented activities, too. Lots of events on their front deck and lawn are planned for 2017, including a weekly beer tent, music series and Spring Garden Party on Sunday, March 19, from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. “Everyone is welcome here,” Paul adds. “Not only are we a grocery store specializing in organic food and special dietary needs, but we are a community that embraces a culture of acceptance, diversity and inclusion.”

"BEST ANTIQUE SHOP" AND "BEST CONSIGNMENT/RETAIL FOR HOME GOODS"

Folks can learn more about Tidal Creek Co-op, how to become an owner or to see what events are coming up by surfing www. tidalcreek.coop. Runners up for Best Health Food Store are Whole Foods (34%) and Lovey’s Market (30%).

ANTIQUES, CONSIGNMENT/RESALE— HOME DECOR: IVY COTTAGE Looking for the perfect gift for a wedding that’s perhaps more unique than the same ol’ same ol’ found on every bride’s registry? Head to Ivy Cottage. Their selection of fun, antique glassware will make every bride and groom look forward to cocktail hour. Need an interesting piece of antique jewelry for Mom’s birthday or Mother’s Day? Head to Ivy Cottage for one-of-a-kind rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more. Need furniture or garden wares or antique [fill in the blank here] for your home to accentuate the perfect balance between modern and old-school style? Ivy Cottage is the place to go. Ivy Cottage has scored Best Antiques and Best Consignment/Resale for Home Decor for more than a dozen years now on encore’s poll. In fact, since each category began, they’ve been the sole winner. Owner Drew Keller bought the store a few years ago and its more than 9,000 consignors who keep it stocked with all the best finds. Three buildings make up Ivy Cottage, all of which offer a unique shopping experience to Wilmington consumers. “We still don’t have barcodes,” Drew says of the store’s cozy and friendly customer service that ensures each and every person who walks through the door is given detailed attention. “Plan on spending the day [when shopping with us.] It takes that long to get

Winner for 16 Years in a row!

68% votes

56% votes

through all the buildings. Plus, you can eat lunch at Indochine [winner of Best Thai, Best Restaurant Overall, Best Outdoor Dining and Best Atmosphere.] We share the parking lot.” The items they get in fluctuate daily. They’re priced competitively, yet also decrease over passing of time in order to constantly move inventory. However, their famous “Half Off the Half Off Room Sale” takes place the third weekend of every month in Cottage One. Items are 75 perfect off—and that’s on everything marked under $100 before the sale. “Sometimes we include more in the sale, so like us on Facebook or join our email list for updates,” the staff notes online (www.ivycottage.com). “There is really nothing like us close by for comparison,” Drew adds. “We are constantly tweaking and trying to appease both consignors and customers.” Plus, when shopping Ivy Cottage, all money stays in the community since consignors often live here. “We are the definition of ‘shopping local,’” he promises. “We mail 1,000 consignment checks a month, with 90 percent within a 50-mile radius.” Other consignment stores cashing in on the numbers are Home Again (24%) and Uptown Market (20%), while antique shops include Cape Fear Jewelry and Antiques (18%) and Zartiques (14%).

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MORTGAGE COMPANY: ALPHA MORTGAGE Buying a house does not rank high on encore’s list of “Least Stressful Things To Do.” However, encore readers say Alpha Mortgage is the place to go when readying to settle down with a mortgage or refinance one in Wilmington. Better yet, they make the process painless. Alpha has a baker’s dozen of Best Mortgage Company awards for excellent service and on-time closings. And the market couldn’t be better for buyers right now, according to Alpha Mortgage’s marketing director, Joey Milam. “Interest rates are still at historic lows in comparison to rates of 10 or 20 years ago,” he says. “There are also a number of loans that allow buyers to purchase with little or

57% votes no money down.” Since opening their doors in 1983, they’ve closed thousands upon thousands of loans for homeowners: approximately 25,000 since the early 2000s and more than 2,000 in 2016 alone. Alpha is already ahead in closings from this time in 2016. “We expect 2017 to be an incredible year for the realestate and mortgage industries,” Milam adds. Milam admits folks misconceive the mortgage process, often times thinking it takes months to close a loan. The reality is: Alpha Mortgage can get buyers approved and closed in as

45% votes

BEER LIST: CAPE FEAR WINE AND BEER Maaike Brender à Brandis, co-owner of Cape Fear Wine and Beer, says nowadays it’s not all that uncommon to see 300-ish beers at beer joint like they have on a given day. “Although there are beer spots with more than 300 beers, for us it’s always about quality over quantity,” she explains. “Combined with the fact that our drafts and bottles are constantly rotating to reflect the current seasonals available on the market, we have a widely recognized list.” Ain’t that the truth! While Brandis credits their 14-year longevity to experience and savvy staff, CFWB was also just featured in nationally distributed Draft Magazine’s “Where to drink next: Wilmington, North Carolina” back in November. They also took home another win for Best Beer List this year. True, their diverse collection of suds spans all styles and brewing regions worldwide—but lately their patrons’ tastes have gone bitter. “IPAs are huge sellers [right now],” Brandis

few as 15 business days. Clients need proper documentation and of course good credit helps. “If you haven’t gotten a mortgage in the past few years, know the requests for supporting documentation will likely be more than in the past,” he advises. Their website, www.alphamortgage.com, showcases dozens of staff members and offers free rate quote. Runners up in the 2017 poll for Best Mortgage Company are TowneBank Mortgage (23%) and Movement Mortgage (20%).

clarifies. “Single, double, fruit-infused, unfiltered, it doesn’t matter—if it’s hoppy, it’s bound to move. . . . We also pour tons of sour ales. We have so many we’ve created a separate list for just sours.” This year CFWB has also been tapping into the free Untappd app provides, which not only allows instantly accessible to customers but helps them keep their beer list updated to the minute. “Untappd says we have the fastest rotating draft selection in the world,” Brandis observes. “Untappd has been a large part of the success of our beer list, as well as Andrew Love, our graphic designer. His company, Love Art Media, has worked with Untappd to synchronize our beer and wine lists with our website, Facebook and our Untappd page.” “People love that they can have as little or as much information about a beer at their fingertips,” Bennett adds. “We also keep easy-to-read tablets at the bar for folks to view our

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for voting us Best Museum!

online beer list. Another great thing is we use a lot less paper this way.” When Brandis and Bennett first opened their doors, there were few craft beer spots in ILM. Restaurants and bars came and went over the years but, like many small business owners, they hard work and persistence paid off. Now they welcome recent boom in breweries, bottle shops, bars and restaurants—with strong beer lists to boot. “We have stiff competition,” Brandis admits, “but we’re very happy to be in such good company.” CFWB’s award-winning beer list, upcoming events and more can be researched at www.capefearwineandbeer.com. Serving up suds for Best Beer List on our readers’ poll include The Brewer’s Kettle (32%) and Bombers Bev. Co. (19%).

HOTEL: HILTON RIVERFRONT WILMINGTON

37% votes

Whether housing tourists in transit, family and friends of wedding parties, or weekend visitors, encore Best Of voters recommend Hilton Wilmington Riverside. Picked as Best Hotel, the Hilton not only offers a complimentary shuttle to and from ILM Airport, their riverfront accommodations welcome thousands from across the country each year. Hilton Wilmington Riverside opened in 1971, so they were do for an upgrade when they redesigned roughly 272 guest rooms and 20,000-square-foot meeting space in recent years. Head over to their website (www3.hilton.com) to take a virtual tour of rooms and facilities. While folks can have dinner at Ruth’s Chris and full bar, conveniently located downstairs of the hotel, they’re also in walking distances of downtown’s best in Italian to burgers, Southern fare to French cuisine. Not to mention local shopping and craft beer destinations. However, for those not planning to leave their rooms for a while … wink, wink … room service is available. Visitors can stay connected with free wireless internet throughout the hotel, as well as myriad of business services: business center, express mail, meeting rooms, notary public, photo copy and printer services, video conference capabilities and more. Their expansive and flexible meeting space, wherein dozens of local organizations hold events annually, is also a perfect fit for visiting companies.

814 Market Street • Wilmington

910.798.4350 • capefearmuseum.com FREE ON-SITE PARKING

@capefearmuseum 38 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

Families can relax poolside, even if they’ve forgotten necessities like cribs or high chairs—Hilton has them. It’s never too early or too late for a workout in their 24-hour Fitness Center. As well, regardless of accessibility needs, Hilton Wilmington Riverside accommodates all visitors as a service pet-friendly facility and public areas/facilities accessible for physically challenged patrons. Anyone looking for rates or to book a room this vacation season may visit www3.hilton.com or stop by their Facebook page. Local Wilmington voters also recommend visitors stay at Blockade Runner (36%) and Holiday Inn Resort in Wrightsville Beach (27%).

BAKERY, DESSERTS: APPLE ANNIE’S BAKESHOP

51% votes

46% votes

In the world of chocolate cakes, gingerbread cookies, canollis, eclairs, and other treats that bend the sweet tooth, Apple Annie’s Bakeshop can’t be beat on encore’s poll. Again in 2017 they’ve swept Best Desserts and Best Bakery categories because their products are dependably delicious, whether celebrating a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or a nice, hot cup of morning Joe.

dining

and a chewy crumb. “It’s perfect for mopping up sauces and dipping in olive oil,” Mingia notes. They also have added treats for four-legged fur babies. Dogs will be able to enjoy handcrafted biscuits and such, with the Apple Annie’s stamp of approval.

Folks who live outside city lines will be excited to hear about Apple Annie’s expansion into Brunswick County, coming this spring. “This has been a long-time coming,” Mingia states, “and we are thrilled to be adding a location for our customers who live in the Leland area.” They’ll be combining the sweet and savory goodness of the bakery and pairing it with their other storefront, The Wine Sampler, and making it an all-in-oneshop called 80 Barnwell.

“We have customers who grew up eating our adorable character cupcakes and are now introducing them to their children,” Krissy Mingia, marketing director, says. In fact, just in time for Easter and St. Patrick’s Day, they’ll be doling out bunnies and rabbits, and shamrocks and leprechauns to nosh. “The recipe for success in our case is providing first-rate customer service and a quality product. When something has been working for over 32 years, you don’t mess with it.”

“We wanted to offer a destination where you could pop in for a cup of our proprietary blend coffee and a freshly baked croissant in the morning or enjoy a complimentary wine tasting with delicious desserts in the evening,” Mingia says. “Our menu will be expanding to offer savory lighter fare, like paninis, soups, and cheeses and charcuterie— all designed to be paired with our freshly baked breads.”

While sweets may be local’s faves, Apple Annie’s bread and butter, so to speak, comes from their wholesale line from their bakery. They provide local eateries like Poe’s Tavern, Copper Penny and A Taste of Italy, to name a FRESHLY BAKED: Rob Cooley, owner of Apple Annie’s Bakeshop, scores Best Bakery and few, all bread for their top-notch sandwiches Best Desserts for 2017. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography. and burgers. “So not only are we a staple on Other bakeries rising on the poll are Sweet n Savory the culinary scene in our own right, but we Cafe (35%) and One Belle Bakery (14%), while dessert Yet, they’re always adding to their ever-evolving menu to support many of the best restaurants in town as well,” Mingia keep the town raving. They’ve included a rustic Italian loaf to contenders consist of Sweet n Savory Cafe (36%) and Circa praises. their menu, most recently, which provides a crispy outer layer 1922 (18%).

SALADS: RUCKER JOHNS

41% votes

Wilmington is full of active folks: runners, swimmers, bikers, surfers, and so on. Sometimes diners just want something light and healthy to munch; something that’s filling, delicious, but not a draining trip to food-coma city. Salads get a bad wrap as “rabbit food.” And who doesn’t have a die-hard meateating friend who often jokes: “Salad is my dinner’s dinner.” However, RuckerJohns knows better—and they know salads. They’ve been nominated for Best Salads on our readers’ poll several times throughout the years and 2017 is their first win in the category. “Winning this award is great,” General Manager Thomas Woodman says. “Maybe a few folks will come down to Monkey Junction and give us a try.” Some of RuckerJohns’ bestsellers are the Seared Tuna Salad and Grilled BBQ Chicken Salad. RJ’S Spinach Salad not only starts with fresh spinach, real bacon, eggs, fresh mushrooms and homemade croutons, but is served with their own blend of Hot Bacon-Honey Mustard dressing. The

Key West Salad offers a tropical twist with fresh melons and seasonal fruits, choice of chicken salad or low-fat cottage cheese, and served with creamy orange dressing on the side. RJ’s House Salad—served in a frozen bowl with crisp salad greens, chopped tomatoes, eggs, bacon and croutons—can also be paired with the soup of the day. Plus, no matter which salad diners choose to nibble on, everyone gets a flaky honey butter croissant with it. All of their dressings are made in-house, too. From Buttermilk Ranch and Thousand Island, Cajun Catalina to Bleu Cheese, to Honey Mustard, Fat-Free Italian, Raspberry Vinaigrette or Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette, folks have their pick. “All ingredients are cut fresh everyday, and/or made inhouse,” Woodman adds. “I give a great deal of credit to our staff, they strive for high quality and most of all consistency with the product.” Woodman points to Kitchen Manager and Chef Danny Ciciretti and Johnny Nalepka for their culinary creativity. Aside

from their devotion to using fresh, local ingredients—which is consistent throughout their entire menu—they’re continuously inventive with their daily chalkboard specials. “[Ciciretti] is going on his 17th year with RuckerJohns and has been a chef for 30,” he explains. “[He] specializes in Italian but I haven’t found something he can not cook. And Johnny Nalepka has been with the company for five years.” While Woodman says their Wilmington spot has no plans in the near future, their Emerald Isle eatery is about to reopen its doors after a two-month hiatus. They have completely renovated the entire restaurant. “Everyone is very excited to see the new and improved RuckerJohns,” he tells. Readers can find RuckerJohns’ full menu online at www. ruckerjohns.com. Also tossing the best salads on encore’s 2017 Best Of are Brasserie Du Soleil (37%) and Jester’s Cafe (22%).

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BURRITO: FLAMING AMY’S BURRITO BARN

68% votes

Thai Mee Up. Wok on the Beach. Treehugger. Big Jerk. Each burrito is almost as synonymous with Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn as the infamous Flaming Amy itself—stuffed with chipotle peppers, fresh jalapeños, green chilies, Flaming Hot salsa and more, it’s the hottest thing on the menu. “We are something different,” owner Jay Muxworthy says of their offerings. “Not your typical burrito place, our variety is what I believe sets us apart. Hot, fast, cheap and easy!” Their variety, creativity and service continue to set them apart on encore’s Best Of poll as well. Taking home another Best Burrito award in 2017, Muxworthy is already surprising patrons with new (limited-time) specialties. A green-chile pork burrito—inspired by a trip out west—came and went in a flash, but Muxworthy took to Facebook last week to tease his tribute to St. Patrick’s Day: The Shepherd’s Chimi. An idea loosely based on another seasonal craze, Thanksgiving’s Churkeychangas, this deep-fried burrito stuffed with mashed potatoes, meat and savory fillings won’t last long. “We just keep on trying to give the people who come quality food in a unique environment at a reasonable cost,” Muxworthy promises. “Variety and the unique selection of burritos and salsa is what sets us apart from other burrito places and keeps people coming in the door!” After 17 years here in the Port City, Wilmingtonians are finding more and more Flaming Amy’s across ILM. They expanded from their original concept at Oleander Drive with Flaming Amy’s Bowl out on Shipyard Boulevard in 2008. Still a fun and funky environment, Flaming Amy’s Bowl is more a build-yourown adventure with rice, noodles or flour tortilla topped with endless varieties and combinations of sauces, proteins and veggies. They’ve since opened a second Bowl in Northchase in 2015 and then another Burrito Barn out in Carolina Beach in the same year.

Each Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn offers the staple menu items, including build-yourown or specialty quesadillas, bowls, salads and desserts. However, out at their Carolina Beach locale only, folks can get their burrito and brunch fix on Sundays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Whether looking for Taco Huevos or a new twist on a Southern staple like Sontino’s Shrimp N Grits Burrito, pair it with the perfect brunch cocktail from their Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. With all of the growth, consistency remains key. Yet, Muxworthy admits, it can be hard to keep up with themselves at times. “As the company grows and people come and go,” he says, “It is tough to make sure that the food quality and service quality remain the same or improve.”

OHANA: It’s all about the “love.” Surfers Healing board member Rob Kelly poses with his girlfriend, Kelly Morley. Surfers Healing was the beneficiary of the 2017 Best Of awards and fundraiser which garnered over $12,000 in monies for the annual surf camp it holds for children with autism. The nonprofit also will host a Captain’s Choice golf tournament on Mar. 31 (see ad page 44). Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

Flaming Amy’s has become a staple in the community for their unique burritos and salsa bar, and their philanthropy as well. Their latest philanthropic endeavor, Local Love Salsa, offers a portion of Pineapple Jalapeño Salsa sales to local nonprofits. For the entire month of March, their partner is Open House Youth Shelter of Coastal Horizons Center—an emergency shelter for youth.

“I like to keep giving back to the community that supports us,” Muxworthy says. “I think that is very important and one of the reasons we have made it this long.” Runners up are K-38 (22%) and Beer Barrio (10%).

43% votes

CHINESE: SZECHUAN 132 Joseph Hou says 2016 was a very exciting year for Szechuan 132, starting with adding new top-sellers to his menu. Su Yeun Shrimp, Sriracha Shrimp, Chinto Box, and Laksa Beef are all the latest from Wilmington’s Best Chinese Restaurant, as declared by encore’s readers. If diners are trying to decide which new dishes to try first, Hou has a recommendation:

Hou most recently updated the restaurant to look more aesthetically fresh and modern. They remodeled their bar area, decorated walls with new artwork, rearranged their wait station for efficiency, installed new light fixtures in the kitchen, and created a new wine list.

“Hands down I would suggest the Chinto Box,” he asserts. “This exciting dish consists of homemade chicken dumplings, fresh ginger salad, crispy chicken and shrimp, and a healthy serving of brown rice all in one box with our mouthwatering spicy cactus sauce.” Hou’s small, family-owned restaurant is well on its way to two dozen awards for their traditional, yet innovative take on Chinese cuisine. Their expansive lunch, dinner and pre fixe menus have something for adventurers (like Rabbit In Wild Cherry Brandy Sauce—a Canadian delight) or traditionalists (Peking Duck). By offering a variety of dishes not commonly seen on other Chinese restaurants’ menus, such as Tibetan Lamb or the glutenfree Cape Fear Treasure seafood stir-fry, they try to provide “a new perspective on what it’s actually like to dine on authentic Chinese food.” “We at Szechuan 132 help define and expand Chinese cuisine by taking our food a step up from what Americans view as traditional Chinese food,” Hou adds.

“Making these small changes is undeniably worth every penny of our effort,” Hou says. “There is no perfect or special recipe for success in our industry, but there are a few things you can do to put your restaurant in a better position.”

TWISTING TRADITIONS: Joseph Hou takes another win for his eatery Szechuan 132, Best Chinese Restaurant 2017, which recently began introducing new menu items with traditional Chinese cuisine twists. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

Since opening in 1988, Hou says the most challenging aspect of being a restaurant owner/manager is the amount of training and initial oversight involved in anything from culinary and food safety training, to creating a staff culture which values and offers an appropriate level of customer service. “I

40 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

strive to keep people loyal, healthy, motivated, disciplined, and focused on working together as a team,” Hou explains. “We are constantly assessing what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong, too. The things that need to be revamped may call for changes ranging anywhere from a change in staff to a simple menu revision.”

Aside from owning the joint, Hou’s number-one job is to make sure every customer leaves satisfied. Meeting not only expectations of food and service, but also keeping his cool in crisis is key. “Understand what the experience is like for your patrons, get feedback and figure out what is working and what needs to be improved,” he advises. “Stay focused!”

Folks should look out for more additions to Szechuan 132’s menu in 2017 and keep up with the newest info from the restaurant at www.szechuan132.com. Also topping our readers’ poll for Best Chinese Restaurant are Double Happiness (39%) and Chopstix (18%).

MORNING RADIO SHOW, RADIO PERSONALITY: FOZ IN THE MORNING, FOZ (Z107.5) Jason Fosdick, a.k.a. Foz, has been collecting Best Of awards for years. “My wall looks amazing!” he says of the display of awards aligning his Z107.5 office wall. He has two more to add to his collection in 2017, as he once again takes home prizes for Best Radio Personality and Best Morning Radio Show for Foz in the Morning.

39% votes

45% votes

Batten, owner of Soul Shoetique (7110 Wrightsville Ave.) and Bespoke Coffee & Dry Goods downtown (202 Princess St.) to join him onair. “And the ratings have never been better!” Foz exclaims. “Eva, Eva—for any Top 40 station in this town.”

Aside from switching up co-hosts, Foz notes the capability of the radio station itself has experienced a great deal of Every weekday morning from 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. Foz and change and growth over the past 10 years. What Z107.5 is friends talk the latest in news about love, life, stars, and style able to provide the community has grown with it. while playing a few songs in between. Wilmingtonians call in “This year Z was able to provide 122 local teachers with to chat and win fun prizes. However, listeners only get to expeschool supplies for the year, help 20-plus families with food rience a fraction of what actually goes on behind the scenes. cards, gas cards, beds, whatever was needed in their situaFoz not only plays the role of host but program director, mution,” Foz lists. “Being able to do so much good, and have so sic director, imaging director, and director of performance and much fun at the same time—it’s a great time to be in the radio personnel for Sunrise Broadcasting’s four other radio stations business!” (98.7 Modern Rock, Jammin 99.9, ESPN Wilmington or 95.9 AM630, and Sunny 103.7). Foz also hints to a big year in cash giveaways—with thousands up for grabs from March through May. Concert tickets “The day starts at 4 a.m.—sometimes after 4 p.m.! ” Foz for Ed Sheeran, Jason Derulo and The Chainsmokers are says. “Z is one of the most active stations on the planet, with coming up early in 2017, as well as a free apartment contest contests, concerts, tons of remotes, music research, commuin May. “Big contest coming up this summer with Perry’s Emnity involvement, appearances . . . lots of work is required to porium,” Foz divulges of the 2017 Best Jeweler. “Z gives away run this monster radio station! You really have to love somemore prizes than other stations in town combined! Gonna be thing to do it for 12 hours a day. I obviously really love this job.” an amazing year.” Yet, he isn’t just a one-man show. After last year’s Best Of, Runners up in the 2017 poll for Best Local Radio PersonalFoz announced the departure of his then co-host Laura Chinni ity are 98.3 The Penguin’s Beau Gunn (29%) and Eric Miller of Foz and Laura in the Morning. “Laura decided radio was (26%). Folks from our readers’ poll also like to start their days not her passion and left the business, leaving a huge void in with The Morning Chill at 98.3 The Penguin (34%) and WGNI the AM show,” Foz describes. He then brought on Michaela 102.7’s Bob and Sheri (27%).

RADIO STATION: PENGUIN 98.3 Since their inception, 98.3 The Penguin has endured major changes and challenges since starting out August 18, 2003. First, they switched radio frequencies from 106.7FM to 98.3FM in 2010.

“No matter how much you try to prepare people, it’s always a challenge making sure they are aware of a dial change,” says Beau Gunn, The Penguin’s program director and vice president of Local Voice Wilmington. “We also moved facilities in 2016 and that was a pretty large undertaking, too.” Nevertheless, Wilmington’s 98.3 The Penguin has taken home the encore award for Best Radio Station for the last 14 years. They’ve garnered readers’ love and votes pretty much since The Igloo started filling southeastern NC airwaves with an eclectic mix of rock, jamtronica, folk, Americana, and genrebending and -blending acts from across the globe. Not only do they (hosts Beau Gunn, Kim Swinny and Eric Miller) cross over different musical genres in any given set, they also bring in local and regional artists. “It’s a truly a special listening experience,” Gunn tells. “It’s

theatre venue: thalian hall Thalian Hall is a treasure among our cityscape. Aside from the fact it’s been operating in Wilmington since it opened in 1858, the historical structure acts as home to City Hall. Between the numerous performances, weddings, city hall meetings, and other miscellaneous schedulings, by the end of the 2016-17 season, Thalian will have hosted well over 600 events. It’s no wonder the space shot to the top of our Best Theatre Venue category to no avail. So far, marketing director Gary Tucker says The Drifters have been their best-selling show this season. “Their combination of nostalgia and cross-generational appeal was hard to beat,” he explains. However, so much more is on the docket to enjoy.

“The hidden gem in the Thalian Hall Main Attractions Season is Mike Farris,” Tucker explains of the GRAMMY-award winner for “Roots.” “As people hear him play, they immedi-

46% votes not just about the music. It’s about the community and the lifestyle. . . . Whether it’s the historic support of local bands or the more recent addition to important, locally focused true news, we want to always be synonymous with Wilmington.”

Gunn and The Penguin team have put emphasis on “local” and bringing the community together through live music. The Penguin hosts weekly giveaways like Monday night’s Pengo at Mellow Mushroom (Oleander Drive) and Hometown Trivia on Wednesdays at The Pub at Sweet & Savory. They use concerts at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater to help raise tens of thousands for local nonprofit and community organizations through concessions sales. “Last year we raised a total of $42,000 for various booster clubs that volunteer at our GLA shows,” Gunn says. Each season music fans eagerly wait for the next big surprise-act to hit a Port City stage, including Throne Theatre and Wilson Center, which Gunn utilizes as need be. But Greenfield Lake’s outdoor venue is what many look forward to every spring through fall. Their huge lineup begins in April with the Drive-By Truckers (April 19) and the sold-out Nathaniel Rateliff & The

arts, media, entertainment

A PENGUIN LISTENER: Rich Leder, executive director of Brooklyn Arts Center, which works with Penguin 98.3 to host national touring concerts, accepts the award on behalf of the Best Radio Station 2017. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

Night Sweats show (April 21). Gunn admits he gets amped for all of them, but especially those he calls “underplays.”

“[They’re] bands that usually play 5,000 or 10,000 cap venues but stop by Wilmington to play our little 1,000-seat venue,” he explains. “Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nathaniel Rateliff, Greensky Bluegrass, Drive-By Truckers ... I could go on all day [laughs].” These days snagging Sturgill Simpson is top priority, though Gunn says he’s a difficult (and expensive) act for a small venue. “It boils down to economics for him at this point,” he explains. “We will get him here one day, though. Take that to the bank. . . . We have one of our biggest announcements to date coming down the line. It will be a game-changer, so hold onto your hats!” Readers can follow The Penguin’s Facebook page for concert announcements, contests and more, or visit their website at www.983thepenguin.com. Folks from our readers’ poll also love to tune in to Z107.5 (34%) and 91.3’s WHQR (20%).

62% votes ately recognize the talent and are getting very excited for his show on April 22nd.”

for community theatre or film, as hosted weekly by WHQR’s Cinematique.

While the theatre venue always draws crowds from the greater Wilmington area, they’ve been pushing harder to pull an audience from Brunswick County as of late, especially to appeal to the newcomers in the region who may be unaware of Thalian’s impact. Plus, they’ve launched gift cards this season that can be used for any shows in the main attractions,

Other theatre venues gaining applause on the poll are Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College (26%) and TheatreNOW (12%).

Just as well, bluegrass always makes for larger audiences in Wilmington, which is why Thalian’s Bluegrass Bash, featuring Best Band runnerup Massive Grass and Folkstone String Band, will be a hit. This is a first for Thalian’s Main Attractions Series: including local acts. “I think the community is excited to see some local bands being billed alongside the national touring artists,” Tucker explains.

The venue has undergone numerous updates and renovations during its centuries-old timeframe. But before it even existed, the lot at the corner of 3rd and Chestnut housed the Innes Academy and Theatre, which opened in 1806. “The Innes Academy, much like Thalian Hall-City Hall, was a dualpurpose building. On the ground floor was a 200-seat theatre that served as Wilmington’s performance space, and on the second floor was a private academy (the precursor to high schools if you will). It’s amazing to think this parcel of land has been used for performing arts for 211 years.”

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k n Tha , u yo

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BEST OF 2 0 1 7

Wilm

W I N N E R

Daily Cruises & Private Charters

Azalea Firecracker Cruise

We look forward to stuffing you full with the BEST BURRITO in town as long as you’ll let us!

Sunset Cruise with The Nile Project Musicians 4002 Oleander Dr. • 910-799-2919 flamingamysburritobarn.com

A favorite Festival event, the “Fireworks spectacular” are presented over the majestic Cape Fear River. What better way to enjoy this part of the festival is cruising on the Cape Fear. Cruise, catered apps & great place to view the fireworks. 7pm - $55 per person (limited seating)

Cruising 6 Days A Week As of March 14th we are cruising 6 days a week (No Mondays) Eagles Island 50 min narrated cruises Sun thru Sat - 12, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5pm Sunset cruise w/ Live Music Thurs, Fri & Sat - 6:30pm Black Water Adventure Fri & Sat - 10am

Wednesday, March 29th 5:30pm Sunset Cruise with The Nile Project Musicians and local historians who will focus on the history and ecology of the Cape Fear River. Then, sit back and enjoy live music and light hors d’oeuvres while soaking up the natural beauty of our river and downtown Wilmington. Tickets available for purchase at uncw. edu/presents or the Kenan Box Office 910.962.3500.

http://uncw.edu/presents/nile_project.html

Picnic Cruise to the Bluffs

Thursday, April 6th 9am Join us for a 3 hour cruise up to River Bluffs. A picnic lunch catered by Bon Appetit. $35 per person

Located on the riverfront in historic downtown Wilmington, between Orange & Ann Streets For a complete list of scheduled Tours, Excursions, and Fees, visit

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42 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

“Best Chinese Restaurant!”

Celebrating 29 years in Wilmington!

Thank you, Wilmington & surrounding area friends, again, for adding another beautiful chapter in our history book. Our vision is to provide our customers with the most exciting dining experience while they are in our home; that we see to it that every customer in our restaurant leave with the anticipation of coming back.

419 South College Rd. • (910) 799-1426 www.szechuan132.com

THEATRE COMPANY: THALIAN ASSOCIATION Being around for roughly 229 years and nurturing the civic, cultural and social life of a community tends to garner attention from its citizenry. At least that’s the theory from executive director Susan Habas who happily receives Thalian Association’s series of awards for Best Theatre Company. In addition to their theatrical productions on multiple stages, they oversee a number of community outreach programs across ILM. They manage Hannah S. Block Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington; founded the Orange Street ArtsFest; offer one of the oldest youth theatre programs in the southeast; and offer free youth education programming and support for various groups like GLOW and Boys and Girls Club of Wilmington—all while staging multiple productions every year. “This is accomplished with three full-time employees,” Habas reminds, “five part-time employees, a volunteer board of directors and an army of parents, actors, technicians and volunteers! [The Best Of award] means everything because our community is engaged with our productions and likes us.” As a nonprofit community theatre group, which inherently has many challenges, Thalian Association’s arsenal of talented artists, volunteers and quality shows keep the spotlight on the depth of their work. It’s no wonder the association was named the Official Community Theatre of North Carolina by the State Legislature almost a decade ago. “We truly embody the spirit of a community theatre,” Habas adds, “onstage with our productions and off stage with outreach programs and theatre education.”

58% votes

Thalian Association is collaborating with Friends of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA for a month of live theatre in July. Starting with “Mister Roberts,” opening on July 4 (with fireworks to follow), performances will be held Thursday through Sunday for three weekends. “This coming year [artistic director[ Chandler Davis has planned the most exciting youth theatre and main-stage Thalian Hall season in our long history,” Habas divulges. “We are excited about all the shows: ‘Young Frankenstein’ a Wilmington premiere and will be a monster of a show, and our youth theatre is reviving ‘Hairspray’ and premiering Disney’s ‘Tarzan.’” Whether an aspiring actor, designer or theatre enthusiast, there are many ways to become involved with Thalian Association: audition, volunteer, donate, or simply attend performances. (Psst … season flex-ticket passes are available.) Opportunities, programs and productions are posted at www. thalian.org. Other productions coming from Thalian Association include “Gypsy” from March 30 through April and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which encore will sponsor, May 18-28. They also are celebrating Red Barn Studio Theatre’s final production, “Barefoot in the Park,” this month through March 26. (Read Gwenyfar Rohler’s review on pg. 19.) Runners up in the 2017 poll for Best Local Theatre Company are Cape Fear Theatre Arts (22%) and Opera House Theater Company (20%).

Winner of Encore’s 2017 Best Bottle Shop in Wilmington, NC 1007 North Fourth Street • Wilmington, NC 28401 • 910.399.1081 • info@palatenc.com • www.palatenc.com

Aside from their regular 2017 season,

, r a e Y e r o One M he Cake! This Takes T University Square Mall 837 South Kerr Avenue MODEL TALENT: Chandler Davis, ?? and Susan Habas accept the award for Thalian Association’s Best Theatre Company 2017. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

LOCATIONS

910-799-9023

The Forum

1121-I Militar y Cutoff Road

910-256-6585

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44 encore |march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

CAPTAIN CHOICE: MARCH 31 NOON REGISTRATION 1 P.M. TEE-OFF

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Includes golf, cart, range balls, on-course beverages, lunch, on-course contest, and prizes for best Light Up Blue costume contest!

For more information, contact Rob Kelly, 910-352-6493 or robkelly06@hotmail.com

Upcoming Events: TUESDAY, MARCH 14 | 4:00 P.M. Baseball vs Coastal Carolina THURSDAY, MARCH 16 | 6:00 P.M. Men’s Soccer vs Campbell (exhibition)

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 2:00 P.M. Men’s Tennis vs UAB FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 4:00 P.M. Baseball vs VCU FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 10:00 A.M. Softball St. Bonnie’s vs Georgetown FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 12:30 P.M. Softball UNCW vs St. Bonnies FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 3:00 P.M. Softball UNCW vs UM Lowell FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 5:30 P.M. Softball Georgetown vs UM Lowell

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 2:00 P.M. Baseball vs VCU SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 10:00 A.M. Softball UNCW vs Georgetown SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 12:30 P.M. Softball UNCW vs UM Lowell SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 3:00 P.M. Softball St. Bonnies vs Georgetown SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 5:30 P.M. Softball UM Lowell vs St. Bonnies SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | 1:00 P.M. Men’s Tennis vs Charlotte SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | 2:00 P.M. Baseball vs VCU SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | 10:00 A.M. Softball UM Lowell vs Georgetown SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | 12:30 P.M. Softball UNCW vs St. Bonnies

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 1:00 P.M. & 3:00 P.M. Beach Volleyball vs Coastal Carolina At Dig and Dive

SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | ALL DAY Men’s Golf Seahawk Intercollegiate

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 | 2:00 P.M. Men’s Tennis vs Georgia State

MONDAY, MARCH 20 | ALL DAY Men’s Golf Seahawk Intercollegiate

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TUESDAY, MARCH 21 | 6:00 P.M. Baseball vs Maryland

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humanitarian & environmental ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP: CAPE FEAR RIVER WATCH Cape Fear River Watch has been in the Wilmington community for more than 20 years and they’re continuously recognized on our Readers’ Poll for their efforts in protecting drinking water, including 2017’s Best Environmental Group. “This win means another year of support from our community,” says Jen Cole, communications and membership coordinator for Cape Fear River Watch. “It means the world to us!” Recent years have been big for monitoring and challenging heavy industry and CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Farming Operations) along the Cape Fear River. One of the most notable local victories was when Titan Cement left town last year. In celebration, CFRW Riverkeeper Kemp Burdette paddled all 200 miles of the Cape Fear River. Being a part of the Wilmington community and protecting its water supply, fisheries and economy of the Cape Fear also includes highlighting the fun and beauty of the river. Between programs like their CreekKeeper stream monitoring program and annual events like Lakefest

49% votes

and Striperfest, CFRW engages and educates thousands each year. They also work with young citizen advocates. Cape Fear River Watch’s Summer Camp program is entering it seventh year and they’re always seeking help to provide scholarships to less-privileged children. A tax-deductible contribution of $25 provides healthy snacks for one camper for a full week; $75 provides a half tuition and snacks; and $150 provides a full scholarship for a camper, including snacks. “Get involved with CFRW by visiting our website at CapeFearRiverWatch.org,” Cole adds, “signing up for our newsletters and attending one of our First Saturday Seminars, Second Saturday Cleanups or Third Saturday Paddles.” If anyone has questions or need to report water-quality emergencies, such as pollution spills, trash being dumped or leaks near the Cape Fear River, call CFRW at 910-762-5606.

Runners up in the 2017 poll for Best Environmental Group are Surfrider Foundation (35%) and NC Coastal Federation (16%).

ROLLING ON THE RIVER: Kay Lynn Plummer-Hernandez, education coordinator, and Jen Cole, communication and membership coordinator, of Cape Fear River Watch accept their win again for Best Environmental Group 2017. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography.

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W I N N E R

SEAFOOD Cape Fear Seafood Co. ITALIAN FOOD A Taste of Italy LATIN/MEXICAN K38 Baja Grill THAI, RESTAURANT OVERALL, OUTDOOR DINING, ATMOSPHERE Indochine JAPANESE RESTAURANT, SUSHI YoSake Downtown Sushi Lounge CHINESE RESTAURANT Szechuan 132 INDIAN FOOD Tandoori Bites FRENCH FOOD Caprice Bistro FAST FOOD Chick-fil-a PIZZA, LATE-NIGHT EATERY A Slice of Life VEGETARIAN FOOD Epic Food Co. SOUL FOOD, BUFFET, FRIED CHICKEN, Casey’s Buffet BARBECUE Jackson’s Big Oak SUB/SANDWICH SHOP, DELI, LUNCH, SOUPS Chop’s Deli FRIES, BURGER PT’s Olde Fashioned Grille HOT DOG Trolly Stop BURRITO Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn

OYSTERS Dock Street Oyster Bar STEAK Port City Chop House APPETIZERS, BREWERY Front Street Brewery SALADS Rucker John’s DESSERTS, BAKERY Apple Annie’s Bake Shop WAITSTAFF, SPORTS BAR Copper Penny BREAKFAST, DINER Dixie Grill NEW RESTAURANT Cast Iron Kitchen CHAIN RESTAURANT Bonefish Grill FINE DINING RESTAURANT Rx Restaurant COFFEE SHOP Bitty & Beau’s CHEF James Doss (Rx/Pembroke’s) WINGS Hell’s Kitchen ICE CREAM/FROZEN DESSERT Boombalatti’s Ice Cream MEDITERRANEAN FOOD Baba Ghannouj GOURMET STORE, CATERING SERVICE Pine Valley Market HEALTH FOOD STORE Tidal Creek Co-Op BAR Satellite Bar and Lounge BARTENDER Ian Murray (manna) FOOD TRUCK Catch the Food Truck WINE LIST The Fortunate Glass TACOS Islands Fresh Mex Grill BRUNCH Boca Bay RIBS Mission BBQ BEER LIST Cape Fear Wine and Beer PLACE TO BOARD A PET

Paw Beach Pet Resort CHIROPRACTOR Back in Motion ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE McKay Healing Arts DENTIST Bozart Family Dentistry VETERINARIAN College Road Animal Hospital PLACE TO BUY A NEW CAR Stevenson Honda PLACE TO BUY A USED CAR Auto Wholesale AUTO MECHANIC Mobiletech LOCAL BOOK STORE Old Books on Front Street FLORIST Julia’s Florist HAIR SALON, TANNING SALON Tanglez Salon & Spa TATTOO PARLOR Artfuel Inc. PLACE TO BUY MUSIC Gravity Records JEWELER Perry’s Emporium SURF SHOP Sweetwater Surf Shop WOMEN’S CLOTHING Island Passage MEN’S CLOTHING Bloke Apparel KID’S CLOTHING Once Upon a Child SHOE STORE Journeys REAL ESTATE AGENCY Intracoastal Realty LOCAL GARDEN STORE The Transplanted Garden CONSIGNMENT/RESALE CLOTHES The Fairy Circle ONSIGNMENT/RESALE —DECOR, ANTIQUE SHOP The Ivy Cottage MORTGAGE COMPANY Alpha Mortgage FARMER’S MARKET Riverfront Farmers’ Market CAR WASH Cruisers Car Wash

GIFT SHOP Blue Moon Gift Shops PRINT SHOP Dock Street Printing HOTEL Hilton Wilmington Riverside ADULT STORE Adam and Eve MOVING COMPANY Two Men and a Truck NAIL SALON, SPA Head to Toe Day Spa DOG GROOMER Von Barkee’s Spa and Bakery PERSONAL TRAINER LaMaine Williams (The Fitness Squad)

GYM O2 Fitness WEDDING VENUE Airlie Gardens PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE The Little Dipper DOCTOR Dr. Chris Cosgrove (Intracoastal Internal Medicine)

SHOPPING PLAZA Mayfaire Town Center MASSAGE THERAPIST Mary Beth Redman BOWLING ALLEY Ten Pin Alley ARCADE/GAME ROOM Jungle Rapids POOL HALL Blue Post Billiards TOUR ATTRACTION NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher TOUR OF WILMINGTON Wilmington Water Tours LIVE MUSIC VENUE Greenfield Lake Amphitheater LOCAL BAND/PERFORMER L Shape Lot LOCAL DJ DJ Battle DANCE CLUB Ibiza PLACE FOR KARAOKE Jerry Allen’s at Katy’s MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Finkelstein Music

ART GALLERY Port City Pottery and Fine Crafts LOCAL ARTIST Mary Ellen Golden MUSEUM Cape Fear Museum THEATRE PRODUCTION OF 2016 Rock of Ages THEATRE PRODUCTION COMPANY Thalian Association THEATRE VENUE Thalian Hall LOCAL THESPIAN Tony Rivenbark COMEDY TROUPE Nutt House Improv LOCAL NEWSCAST WECT NEWSCASTER Frances Weller LOCAL RADIO STATION The Penguin 98.3 LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY Foz (Z107.5) MORNING RADIO SHOW Foz in the Morning (Z107.5) LOCAL FILMMAKER Jonathan Landau LOCAL INDEPENDENT FILM Finding Home LOCAL WEBSITE www.portcitydaily.com LOCAL WRITER Clyde Edgerton DONUTS Britt’s Donuts WRITE IN CATEGORY Bagels: Beach Bagels NONPROFIT Adopt an Angel LOCAL HUMANITARIAN Alexandra Leviner ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP Cape Fear River Watch BOTTLE SHOP Palate LAW FIRM Shipman and Wright ESTHETICIAN Marcella Hardy (Tanglez Salon and Spa)

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 47

HAPPENINGS & EVENTS ACROSS WILMINGTON

TO-DO CALENDAR

events

charity/fundraisers

PATIO PARTY

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

Mar. 23, 5pm: Cape Fear Museum Associates celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian Institute’s traveling exhibit “Pools, Patios and the Invention of the American Backyard.” Enjoy retro cocktails, thrill of the grill cuisine and mid-century era tunes in Cape Fear Museum Park. View the exhibit, filled with vintage photographs, historic drawings, and period advertisements, revealing how the suburban backyard became such an integral part of American pop culture. Pre-purchase tickets: http:// www.capefearmuseum.com/programs/patio-party. $15 members; $30 non-members. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

The YWCA Lower Cape Fear is accepting nominations for the 32nd annual Women of Achievement Awards—a fundraiser to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women and young leaders in our community. The event also raises key support for the YWCA’s programs and services which promote racial justice and gender equity for thousands of women, children and their families in southeastern NC. Awards held on Thurs., May 4, Wilmington Convention Center. Awards provide recognition for outstanding contributions and achievements of women active in Brunswick, Co-

lumbus, New Hanover and Pender counties. Womadmission is $20. Proceeds go to Coastal Animal en nominated in: Arts, Business, Education, EnviRescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) and other local rescue ronmental, Health and Wellness, Public Service, groups. Let’s all pull together and save the pups. Social Justice, Rachel Freeman Unsung Hero, VIP ($50) is a seated ticket, $20 GA. Wrightsville Volunteer and Young Leader. Three young leader Manor, 1952 Allen’s Ln. award recipients will receive a $1,000 scholarship HIGH SCHOOL SPRING FLING to continue their education after high school. www. Mar. 17, 5pm: Isaac Bear Early College High ywca-lowercapefear.org. School 1st Annual Spring Fling! Featuring BatCANINES AND COUTURE tlefield Live Wilmington. An evening filled with Mar. 16, 6pm: 5th annual Canine’s Couture/ Strut friends, fun, food, raffles, games and prizes. You to Stop Puppy Mills Pup Fashion Show. Rescue can also step out onto the Battlefield with Battlepups will sashay down the runway to show their field Live Wilmington, New Hanover’s only mobile, support for less fortunate dogs. The purpose of outdoor tactical laser tag! All proceeds to benefit this grassroots movement is to create awarethe PTSA Summer Enrichment Scholarship Fund. ness around the puppy mill problem and promote St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 612 S animal adoption. VIP seats are $50 and general College Rd. STEVE HAYDU ST. PAT’S LO TIDE RUN

Carolina Beach, Sat., Mar. 19. All proceeds from registration fees, sponsors and individual donors are distributed to recipients selected by the volunteer board of directors to assist local cancer victims in financial need. St. Patrick’s Lo-Tide Run is in honor of Steve Haydu who lost his battle with cancer in May 2005. Recipients are New Hanover County residents diagnosed with cancer and are in desperate financial need. All donations are tax deductible. Early race registration is currently open through March 1st. The cost to register early is $35 for the 5K/10K or $30 with a military or student ID. After March 1st the cost to register increases to $40. The course is set to take you around the scenes of Carolina Beach and end right where everyone wants to be…the beach. Reg.: www.lotiderun.org.

music/concerts UNCW COMMUNITY MUSIC ACADEMY

Silent auction and wine generously donated by Wilmington Wine. Pre-concert reception begins at 7 p.m. and concert begins at 7:30. Performances by: Danijela Zezelj-Gualdi, violin; Paolo Andre Gualdi, piano; Justin Hoke, guitar; Elisabeth Loparits, piano Clark Spencer, viola; Isabella Stollenmeier, voice and Jake Wenger, cello, www. facebook.com/uncwcma. Special thanks to Ronald Sachs Violins. $10 students, $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 910-962-3500. UNCW Beckwith Recital Hall, 5270 Randall Dr.

WSO AND KEVIN LAWRENCE

Chair of the string department at UNC, Kevin Lawrence joins the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra for Antonin Dvořák’s tuneful violin concerto. Program is a selection of preludes, interludes, and dances from the world of opera, including Richard Strauss’s exotic Dance of the Seven Veils.wilmingtonsymphony.org/operatic-orchestra.html. facebook.com/capefearstage. Student $10, section B, $25. Section a, $35. CFCC Humanities and Fine Arts Center, 701 N. 3rd St.

MUSIC AT FIRST

March 19, 5pm: Stevenson/Stohl Suzuki Tour Group: Join Dr. Barry Salwen, international concert pianist and UNCW professor, as he performs

48 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

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BEST W I OF N 2 N 0 E 1 7 R

ready to put on the show? we’re hiring! • Crew • stage eLeCtriCians • wardrobe • stage Carpenters • audio teChniCians • Loaders • and more • makeup • stage hands For more information, or to apply to join the crew at the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College, visit us online at:

CapeFearStage.com/jobs 50 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

CROSSWORD

WWW.STANXWORDS.COM

3/19/17

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

PLAY TIME: Members of the Toy Hall of Fame by Fred Piscop ACROSS 1 Rodeo gear 6 Joke response, informally 10 Pork serving 14 Very small sums 19 Childish comeback 20 Sweet sandwich 21 Regatta implements 22 Collectively 23 Toy with 3-D slides 25 Six-faced toy 27 Dinner host’s exhortation 28 Shelter adoptee 29 Catches wind of 31 Overjoyed 32 NL West team 33 Petty squabble 34 Greenish-blue hue 35 Barn dance attendee 38 Model car toy 41 Well-worn pencil 42 Flow back 45 __ Baba 46 Pays attention to 47 Rodeo gear 48 Business card no. 49 California wine, for short 50 Guide a ride 53 Jacuzzi feature 54 Spandex alias 56 List shortener 57 Toy for aspiring chefs 62 “Beg pardon . . .” 63 Greenhouse woe 65 Toy holders 66 Highly decorated 68 Hopping mad 69 Gourmet mushroom 70 Secluded spots 71 French film festival city

73 74 77 78 82 83 85 86 87 88 89 91 94 95 96 97 101 102 103 104 105 108 110 111 114 116 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126

In a worse mood Sobriquet Stare at Toy with stick-on shoes Before, to bards In a bad mood Mare morsel Cruise crew Flat hat Beer holder Some 124 Across debuts Actress Watts 15-season CBS drama “You bet!” Talk trash to Game-board toy for preschoolers Witch’s work Euro fraction May race, familiarly Links standard Overshoot Black Sea port Debate side Sun’s name Toy for aspiring architects Toy in an egg Shaping tool Place to shop Buffalo’s water Aloft Energy-saving computer mode 11 Wall St. institution Longings Earliest Icelanders

DOWN 1 Broadcast as it happens 2 Tajikistan’s locale 3 Proofer’s mark

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 24 26 30 34 35 36 37 39 40 42 43 44 47 50 51 52 53 55 58 59 60 61 64 67 69

Piglet’s parent Tuba sound Went ballistic Museum piece Know innately Expect in the future Rodeo enclosures Regular hangouts Celestial spheres Air-pump letters Tag incorrectly From Machu Picchu With no slack Dresden’s river Winter coaster Sleek, in auto lingo Intensify Acted like Grand fraction Telescope devotee Justice Samuel Toy for future carpenters Dairy byproduct Parsley or sage Toy for aspiring painters Flat hat Culpability Tach reading Be of use Chinese belief Founded: Abbr. One of the Coen brothers Greek New Age musician Scrap the mission Pacific Rim peninsula Put forth Fee-free, as mutual funds Pitchfork parts Tears apart No longer relevant

70 71 72 73 75 76 79 80 81 84 90

107 Sampras of tennis 108 Anthem opener 109 Suffix for zillion 111 Marquee name 112 Company that trademarked “escalator” 113 Guitar ancestor 115 LBJ successor 117 Architect Maya 118 Argentine article

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FREE Truck With Move In encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 53

a collection of pieces from Chopin, Liszt, Fanny Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Schumann. The concert will offer a colorful picture of the season, with songs of spring and evocations of Carnival! This event is free and open to the public. A $15 dollar donation is suggested and all proceeds benefit both the First Presbyterian Church and the Bellamy Mansion Museum. Email the Bellamy Mansion Museum at info@bellamymansion.org with any questions or visit www.firstonthird.org. 125 S. 3rd St. (910) 762-6688. ANN WILSON

SAVE $20 on a BIRTHDAY PARTY. Ask us how.

Mar. 21, 7:30pm: Esteemed and pioneering Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Ann Wilson is known for her force-of-nature vocals. Musicians on board for the Ann Wilson of Heart tour incl. Craig Bartock on guitar (Heart member for a dozen years, who also performed in the Ann Wilson Thing for two years); Andy Stoller on bass (the Ann Wilson Thing member for two years); Denny Fongheiser on drums and percussion (Heart member in the 1990’s for two years). Tickets: www.capefearstage. com. Wilson Center, 703 N. 3rd St.

theatre/auditions SHAMROCK HOLMES

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Written & directed by Penny Kohut Fri./Sa. through Mar. 25, 7pm. Doors open 1 hour prior. Tickets $16$39. Come to Shenanigans Pub for the wake and reading of the will of William John Carter MacFee. Seems the family of the deceased has claims to the pub and wants to kick poor Maggie O’Shea out on her...asking questions. Join local historian, Shamrock Holmes, the MacFee lawyer, and a host of other local characters as they try to figure out this all Wilmington-Irish conundrum. Be sure to let us know how much you want to participate in this hilarious mystery, too. Chef Denise “O’Gordon” is sure to please with her St. Patrick’s Day inspired Irish fare from the TheatreNOW kitchen. TheatreNOW, 19 S. 10th St.

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK

Through Mar. 26, Thurs.-Sat., 7:30pm; Sunday, 3pm. Classic romantic comedy about a conservative young lawyer Paul Bratter and his free-spirited newlywed bride Corie. The comedy follows the young couple as they move from the giddy joy of the honeymoon at The Plaza into the crazy reality of starting married life in a fifth-floor walkup in New York City. Red Barn Studio Theatre, 1122 South 3rd St. Tickets: $25. www.thalian.org.

HEATHERS

Panache Theatrical Productions presents “Heathers: The Musical.” Based on the 1988 cult hit movie of the same name, Heathers: The Musical is a fun, irreverent take on high school life and the struggles of balancing popularity with sanity. This sometimes hysterically raunchy musical is intended for mature audiences and runs Mar. 16-Apr. 2 at Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre in Historic Thalian Hall. Shows are 8pm, Thurs.-Sat.; 3pm on Sun. Tickets; www. thalianhall.org or by calling the box office at 910632-2285. Mature audiences recommended. Ruth and Bucky Stein Studio Theatre, Thalian Hall, 301 Chestnut St.

HAND TO GOD

Mon.-Fri. 9am-Midnight Sat. 10am-Midnight • Sun. 11am-11pm 3907 Shipyard Blvd. 799-3023 bowlcardinal.com

54 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

UNCW Department of Theatre presents The Terry Rogers Student Lab Series production of “Hand to God.” This play is darkly comedic, focusing on a young boy with either a special talent for puppetry or a terrifying connection to the underworld. The production is performed, directed, stage-managed, costumed, and constructed by students. Tickets will be available at the door of the SRO Theatre in the Cultural Arts Building, UNCW. $3 for stu-

dents/$10 GA (includes sales tax). Mar. 16th-19th at 8pm; Sun., 2pm. Strong language, sexual content, and violence. Audience discretion is advised. THE LADIES ROOM

Pineapple-Shaped Lamps is proud to present the 5th anniversary of their all-women sketch comedy show, “The Ladies Room: Femme Force Five!” And this time you’ll have three chances to see it: Mar. 23-25, 8pm. Hosted by Wilmington Theater Award winner Holli Saperstein! PSL will be donating a portion of ticket sales to Operation Pretty Things, Inc, a local organization dedicated to loving and empowering victims of domestic violence. Tickets are available for only $10 by visiting http://ladiesroom5.brownpapertickets.com/ Remaining tickets will be sold for $15 at the door the night of each performance. For more information, call 910-6320775 or email pineappleshapedlamps@gmail. com. DREAMS Garage, 901 Fanning St, between Anderson and N 10th sts. in Wilmington.

dance CONTRA DANCE

Evening of contemporary American country dancing—done to live music by Box of Chocolates band—fiddle, percussion, guitar, dulcimer, bass, mandolin and more! Dress cool and comfortable, soft-soled shoes. 2nd/4th Tues. ea. mo. All ages welcome. United Methodist Church, 409 S. 5 Ave.

SHAG LESSONS

Learn the basic shag step as you dance to beach music, giving you the confidence to get on the dance floor! If you already know the basic shag step, complement your basic shag knowledge in our advanced beginners and intermediate. Thursdays through Mar. 16. Beginners 6:45 - 7:45 p.m. Advancing Beginners / Intermediate 7:45 p.m. 8:45 p.m. Wrightsville Beach Municipal Park, Bob Sawyer Dr.

STOMP

Mar 22-23, 7:30pm: CFCC’s Wilson Center is pleased to announce STOMP has added an additional performance at the Wilson Center. From its beginnings as a street performance in the UK, STOMP has grown into an international sensation over the past 20 years, having performed in more than 50 countries and in front of more than 24 million people. Created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, STOMP incorporates an additional two new pieces for 2017—you’ll never again look at supermarket carts or plumbing fixtures the same way. Tickets for both performances: www. capefearstage.com and 910-362-7999. Wilson Center, 703 N. 3rd St.

comedy OPEN MIC

The wildest open mic in town ... anything goes. (except cover songs). Stand-up comedy, slam poetry, video, live music, odd talents—performances of all kinds. Hosted by 6-beer Steve. Signup, 8pm, and runs all night. Juggling Gypsy 1612 Castle St. ILM, (910) 763-2223 daily after 3pm for details. www. jugglinggypsy.com.

COMEDY BINGO

Brent Blakeney headlines comedy bingo at Dead Crow, Tuesday nights, 8pm. Free show featuring the best comics from all over the Southeast, all while playing bingo along with the words they say! Win prizes and enjoy discount tacos! Hosted by Louis Bishop with in-booth side kick comedian Lew Morgante. Dead Crow Comedy Club, 265 N. Front St.

CAROLINA COMEDY CUP

Comedian Jenn Snyder Headlines “Carolina Comedy Cup.” Jenn Snyder tours with Neil Hamburger and Tim Heidecker. What’s there to do at the beach in the winter? Laugh every week at the Lazy Pirate on Carolina Beach is “Carolina Comedy Cup. The “Carolina Comedy Cup” presented by Wake N’Bake Donuts!! See the best area comics compete against each other for your votes, followed by a nationally touring headliner comedian. Enjoy the show, drink specials and more for just $5. That’s “Carolina Comedy Cup every Wed. 9pm, through Mar. 25th. 701 N Lake Pk Blvd. www.LazyPirateRestaurant.com.

DEAD CROW COMEDY CLUB

Comedy Open Mic every Thurs, 7pm. • Mar. 1718, 7pm/9:30pm: Mike Stanley appeared in San Francisco Comedy Festival, Adam Corrola Show, Cape Fear Comedy Festival, and Just For Laughs. Has a penchant toward brutal honesty, spiced up with a healthy dose of insatiable wit. Named“Best Chicago Stand-up Comedian” in a Peoples Choice poll done by the Chicago Reader and ranked in the top 10 of the best comedians in Chicago by a poll on Comedy.com. www.deadcrowcomedy. com. Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St.

COMEDY IN HELL

Mike Merryfield never feels fake or forced. By simply being himself, he’s become a comic on the verge of stardom. Mike has amassed an impressive string of credits including winner season 3 Comcast’s “Trial By Laughter,” runnerup in the 2012 37th Annual San Francisco Comedy Competition, an original “Lucky 21” at the HBO Comedy Festival. Aired on TBS. *First album “Live at Loonies” was considered for a GRAMMY. Feature comedian Wills Maxwell Jr., host of “Late Fear,” and co-star of Theater Now’s “Percy Late Night”), and “What Did We Miss,” will perform.Hosted by Comedy in Hell producer Jamey Stone. Free. facebook.com/comedyinhell. mikemerryfield.com. Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.

CUTE BOYS COMEDY SHOW

Mar. 18, 7:30pm: Big changes are around the corner for the March show at Gravity Records with Jack and Troy. With big changes come many new things like all the new theme songs that Jack has written for the show. Troy will listen to Jack’s pitches and try to find a happy middle ground in this edition of. With special guest comedians from South Carolina! Hosted by Jack Nelson and Troy Coleman. 8pm, Free, BYOB 21+ Gravity Records, 612 Castle St.

art FOURTH FRIDAY GALLERY NIGHT

Fourth Friday Gallery Nights, Wilmington’s premier after-hours celebration of art and culture, 6-9pm, fourth Friday of ea. month. Features art openings, artist demonstrations, entertainment and refreshments. Administered by the Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover County, numerous venues participate. Full list: artscouncilofwilmington.org

MEET LOCAL ARTISTS

Meet working local artists, and see their works in progress. Everything from sculptures to fine jewelry in this unique location. Free parking, fun for everyone. Over 45 artist’s works to enjoy. Free, and we participate in the 4th Friday Art Walks 6-9 pm on the 4th Friday ea. month! theArtWorks, 200 Willard St.

ORANGE ST. ARTSFEST ARTISTS NEEDED

Thalian Association Community Theatre is seeking artists for the 22nd Orange Street ArtsFest, Memorial Day weekend, May 27, 10am-6pm,

and Sun., May 28, 10am-5pm. Celebrated street fair will return to Orange St. next to the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, with some artists inside the building. The popular juried festival is the largest springtime arts festival in downtown Wilmington and will feature over 80 artists from NC and surrounding states, with local entertainment and refreshments. Applicants must submit a color photo of original work in acrylic, oils, watercolor, sculpture, drawing, graphics, wearable arts, leather jewelry, clay, glass, fiber, metal work or mixed media. Photographically or commercially reproduced work is also acceptable in limited editions, signed and numbered by the artist. An early bird entry fee of $135 will be offered until Apr. 28 and artists will be eligible for awards and $550 in prize money. www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org. Samantha Herrick, slherrick@thalian.org. CATCHING THE SPIRIT

explore natural phenomena while challenging perception in the viewer. Lin’s artwork interprets the world through a modern lens, using technological methods to visualize and convey the natural environment; Fernández work delves into the psychology of looking and she is often inspired by rethinking the meaning of landscape and place; Mitcham’s work with animation began with his desire to incorporate time into a painting; Parsons’ work explores the distortion and textual qualities of video projection in intersection with clay. • New! “From the Fire” (on view through Aug. 27) feat. Rick Beck, John Littleton, Pablo Soto and Kate Vogel celebrates the 55th anniversary of the studio glass movement, the influence of Littleton and the current innovative processes in contemporary glass. • CAM Café open and serving delicious menu with full bar, 5pm-9pm. Tuesday-Sunday 11am-2pm; Thursday nights, 5pm-9pm 910-395-5999. cameronartmuseum.org. 3201 S. 17th St.

Images by Mark Gansor and Carole Osman presents a playful and serene mix of global and local WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH MUSEUM scenes including acrylic paintings of buildings, Mar. 15, 3pm: Pirates - Shiver Me Timbers! Our gardens, and fields in Wilmington and France by very popular program with our costumed pirate is Mark Gansor and pastels and acrylic paintings of returning! We will learn about local pirates: where Japan and Germany by Carole Osman. Meet the they lived and traveled and what they did. He will artists; enjoy catering from Whole Foods; and lisshow you all about his clothing and teach you how ten to music by Cameron Tinklenberg, jazz pianist. to talk “pirate!” Light refreshments will be proThrough Fri., April 7. Art in Bloom Gallery, 210 Prinvided. For elementary-school aged children. Free cess St. event. Space is limited. Call 256-2569 to register. • Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, housed COLOR WORKS in the turn of the century Myers Cottage, exists to Bellamy Mansion Museum features local artist Tom preserve and to share the history of Wrightsville Conway’s original color photography exhibit, “ColBeach. Visitors to the cottage will find a scale or Works.” Conway’s website is http://naturespormodel of Wrightsville Beach circa 1910, exhibits traits.org/gallery/. Free; donations appreciated. Exfeaturing the early days of the beach including Luhibit on display through Apr. 2. Works are for sale mina Pavilion, our hurricane history and information by artist. www.bellamymansion.org. 503 Market St. about the interaction between the people and our FRITZI HUBER natural environment which have shaped the 100 New exhibition “At the Water’s Edge,” by featured artist Fritzi Huber. Fritzi is a local artist with Acme Art Studios and has been a papermaker for more than 35 years. She has sought inspiration at the water’s edge. Fritzi is represented by New Elements Gallery. Expo 216, 216 N. Front St.

year history of WB. (910) 256-2569. 303 W. Salisbury St. wbmuseum.com. STARRING CAPE FEAR

New Hanover County’s Cape Fear Museum is proud to showcase highlights of the region’s film history with the opening of its newest exhibit, Starring Cape Fear! Visitors can explore the history of the local film and television production industry from the 1980s to the present day. View artifacts from several productions including Firestarter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill and Tammy. See a cape and the ear from Blue Velvet, an Iron Man 3 mask, and the jet ski beloved by Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) in Eastbound & Down. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St. Tues.-Sat., 9am5pm; Sun.,1-5pm.

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. By reservation, discounted group tours, caboose birthday parties, and after-hours meetings or mixers. Story Time on 1st/3rd Mon. at 10:30am, only $5 per family and access to entire Museum. Admission only $9 adult, $8 senior/military, $5 child, ages 2-12, and free under age 2. 505 Nutt St. 910-7632634. 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-

CAPE FEAR CAMERA CLUB

Gallery feat. 40 local artists. A vast array of photography areas are represented including: street photography, landscape, wildlife, nature, and architecture. The exhibit will be on display until March 19, Mon.-Sat.,10am-5pm. www.capefearcameraclub. org. Aces Gallery, 221 N. Front St.

GRAPHICALLY SPEAKING

An exhibition of art by Bob Bryden, at Flytrap Brewing. Working with a variety of drawing and printmaking processes Bob overlays simple elements and patterns to create complex visual structures and translucent color fields. His work contains hidden images, undulating surfaces, and conflicting perspectives. His luminous abstract images animate the surface inviting the viewer to perceive and enjoy basic visual relationships in unique ways. Kickoff Bryden’s solo exhibition on March 9th while instrumental jazz musician Sean Howard and 2 Bros Coastal Cuisine dish out tunes and local street food. Bryden’s work will be on display through April 30. Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St.

museums/education CAMERON ART MUSEUM

Exhibits: Beyond the Horizon: Exploring our evolving perceptions of the natural world, contemporary artists Maya Lin, Teresita Fernández, Jason Mitcham, and Colby Parsons employ unique mediums to unearth human interaction with the landscape. The four nationally and internationally renowned artists in Beyond the Horizon all aim to

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Fri, 10am-4pm, 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

Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most fascinating and dangerous reptiles in beautiful natural habitats, feat. a 12-foot saltwater crocodile, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bubble Boyâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheena,â&#x20AC;? 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, 11am5pm (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. capefearserpentarium.com.

BELLAMY MANSION

One of NCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 fall of Fort Fisher in 1865, Federal troops commandeered the house as their headquarters during the occupation of Wilmington. Now a museum, it focuses 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.

BURGWIN WRIGHT HOUSE

18th century Burgwin-Wright House Museum in the heart of Wilmingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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/Market St. Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm. Last tour, 3pm. 910-7620570. www.burgwinwrighthouse.com.

always-hungry dog, Dock, solve adventures. Parents can even drop off kids ages 5+. Kid-friendly snacks and drinks available for purchase. Custom birthday packages with a chance to interact with characters and step onstage in the action. 2017: Spring Show, Mar. 25, Summer Show, Jun. 24; Back to School Show, Aug. 19; Halloween, Oct. 28; Christmas, Dec. 16. 19 S. 10th St. SATURDAY STORY HOUR

Miss Shannon will lead interactive story hours for kids ages 3 to 6 on the first and third Saturdays Tues., Kids Cooking Club, 3:30pmÂ â&#x20AC;˘ Wed., of March, April, and May at the Main Library in Preschool Science, 10am; Discover Science, downtown Wilmington. Saturday Story Hour is free 3:30pm; and Mini Math, 4pm. â&#x20AC;˘ Thurs. Storyand no pre-registration is needed.Opens with a COOKS,Â 10am; and StART with a Story, 3:30pm â&#x20AC;˘ Fri., Toddler Time, 10am; and Adventures in Art, 3:30pm â&#x20AC;˘ 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, While Mother Nature has been a little punch drunk find a good use for used books, and benon the seasons this year (80 degrees in February efit nonprofits. www.playwilmington.org. and snow on March 12), the Azalea Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual 116 Orange St. 910-254-3534.

CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MUSEUM

MAR. 19: AZALEA FEST CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TEA

kids stuff SUPER SATURDAY FUN TIME

celebrations must go on, regardless of whether those flowers remain in bloom through the official event, April 5-9. The annual childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tea will take place Mar. 19 at the Coastline Convention Center at 2pm. They will have Azalea belles on hand, as well as pageant princesses and queens! www.ncazaleafestival.org

Appropriate for ages 4-10, but all ages welcome. Dock the Dog and Dock Street Kids for 10 exciting episodes of Super Saturday Fun Time, 3pm, TheatreNOWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s live theatrical show featuring local history and mystery and super guest stars, hosted by Captain Coy T. Plunkett (Zach Hanner). Live music, games, cartoons, short films, and his favorite surf â&#x20AC;&#x153;nuggets.â&#x20AC;? Dock Street Kids and their

picture book and end with a project or activity at the end, and include time to play, learn, and laugh in between. Each child should bring a participating adult. Shannon Vaughn: 910-798-6303 or svaughn@nhcgov.com. 201 Chestnut St. STORY EXPLORERS

CAM, every Thurs., 10-10:30am: Admission by donation. Bring your infant, toddler or preschooler for story time, gallery exploration and an art project! georgia@cameronartmuseum.org for more info. 3201 S. 17th St.

STORY ART

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Special program for kids in kindergarten through second grade. At each session theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hear a story that incorporates a different art concept, then have time to apply what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen and heard as they make their own art! Free but space limited. Register www.nhclibrary.org for the dates your child will attend, to be sure of having enough seats and art materials. Julie: jcriser@nhcgov.com or 910-7986303. NHC Main Library, 201 Chestnut St.

FRENCH PLAYGROUP

Thurs., 10am: Chantez! Jouez! Rencontrez des nouveaux amis! Sing, play, and meet new friends at French Playgroup at the Main Library! Informal hour where young kids and parents/caregivers can hear and try out some French words. Free and no advance registration is needed. Main Library Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Room at 910-798-6303 or sdemarco@ nhcgov.com. NHC Main Library, 201 Chestnut St.

LEGO CHALLENGE

Call us at 910.392.0078 www.Computer-Medics.biz help@Computer-Medics.biz

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NHC Myrtle Grove Library, 5155 S. College Rd. Maureen Weinman, mweinman@nhcgov.com, 910-798-6393. Lego Challenge at Myrtle Grove Library is a fun way for kids to practice problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, visualizing three dimensional structures, communication, and motor skills! Participating children may work alone or in groups. Legos are scheduled on the third Tuesday of each month at New Hanover Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Myrtle Grove Library. The sessions are free for kids ages 5 to 10. Space limited, so prereg: www.nhclibrary. org or 910-798-6393. 5155 S. College Rd.

BUILD IT!

Explore the world around us with hands-on activities, experiments and fun in Museum Park! Enjoy interactive story time, exploration stations and play related to a weekly theme. In event of inclement weather, program moved inside. Perfect for children ages 3 to 6 and their adult helpers. Adult participation is required. Little Explorers is sponsored by the PNC Foundation. Free! Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

LEGO ROBOTS

Free for museum members/$10 adults and $8 children. Engage in science, technology, engineering and math as you construct and program a LEGO MINDSTORMSÂŽ robot! Create a programmable robotic arm and bring its power under your control. Build your robot in the first workshop on Saturday, March 18, and continue with exciting challenges in the second workshop on Saturday, March 25, 2017. Appropriate for ages 8+. Space is limited. Sponsored by Corning Incorporated and Landfall foundations. Prereg. rqd: www.capefearmuseum. com or (910) 798-4362. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

FAIRY GARDEN CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TEA

Mar. 19, 2pm: Azalea Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tea is truly an enchanted experience. With the theme changing each year, it is like stepping into a different fairy tale every time. In attendance at this event are the Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Belles, as well as pageant queens and princesses. The Azalea Festival Princess and her Court are in attendance as well. Proceeds benefit the operations of the Cape Fear Volunteer Center. Coastline Convention Center , 501 Nutt St. www. ncazaleafestival.or

DISCOVERY LAB

Free for members or with general admission. Investigate, experiment, and explore! In the Discovery Lab, the whole family can drop-in for fun, quick experiments and hands-on investigations. Themes vary. Ideal for ages 5 and up. Adult participation is required. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

outdoors/recreation 10-WEEK EXERCISE PROGRAM

Beach Bound Boot Camp is a ten week high energy exercise program that meets two times per week. Kick start your 2017 training regimen with this 10week training session that strives to improve physical fitness and increase health awareness in a fun but safe environment. The program will include a variety of feasible exercises including calisthenics, low impact cardio, resistance training. Beach Bound Boot Camp seeks to provide a transformational experience through effective training while fostering relationships that will encourage success. $200 WB residents/240 nonresidents. Pre-reg rqd. Mon/Wed, 9-10am. Session 1: Through Mar. 20. Session 2: Mar. 27-Jun. 5. Wrightsville Beach Municipal Park, Bob Sawyer Dr.

RAIN GARDEN MAINTENANCE

Mar. 17, 10am: Staff and volunteers to help maintain rain gardens and stormwater wetlands at Alderman Elementary School in Wilmington. Project is part of the Bradley and Hewletts Creeks Watershed Restoration Plan, which aims to reduce the amount of polluted runoff that makes its way into the creeks. Volunteers will remove invasive plants, pull weeds, prune trees and spread mulch in the existing rain gardens and wetlands at the school. All project supplies and equipment will be provided as well as snacks and refreshments. Open to public and suitable for ages 8 and up. Alderman

Elementary School, 2025 Independence Blvd.

classes ART CLASSES

Fri., 6pm: River to Sea Gallery hosts a Cape Fear Paint & Wine class taught by exhibiting gallery artist Rebecca Duffy Bush. Classes are $40 per person. Class will be held 6:00-8:00. Includes two glasses of wine or beer, a gorgeous view and a finished painting for you to take home. Space is limited and reservations are required. Message or call 910.763.3380 to reserve your seat today. www.capefearpaintandwine.weebly.com, $40 with 2 drinks, $35 without. River to Sea Gallery, 224 S Water St., Ste 1A

Draw Light and Shadow with Pencil, Mon., 10amnoon or 2-4pm. • Coastal Critters in Water Color Thurs, 10am-noon or 2-4pm. • Draw Upon Your Creative Self! Fri., 10am-noon or 2-4pm. • Just Kids Workshop, Sat., 10-11:30am. Workshops $15—all materials are provided. • Printing With WINE AND WATERCOLOR Natural Materials, Mon., 10am-noon or 2pm-4pm. Wine and watercolor with Nick Mijak. Every Tues• Impressionist Painting, Tues, 10am-noon or 2pmday evening starting at 7:30 class is led by local 4pm. $80/4 weeks. Supply list available. loislight@ watercolor artist Nick Mijak, we always enjoy a nice bellsouth.net or call 910 547-8115. Sun Room Stuglass of wine while we learn some fundamental dio, 6905 Southern Exposure. techniques of the mysterious medium of watercol-

BOOK NOOK

Hands-on computer workshop at Northeast Library is for avid readers! Librarian Carla Sarratt will walk you through a variety of online tools for the reading community. At this training session you’ll learn tricks and tips for discovering reading and readalike suggestions using the Library’s own online catalog and website, NoveList, and Goodreads. Explore self-published books by Indie authors on Biblioboard! Seats limited— pre-reg. rqd., free. www.nhclibrary.org. 910-798-6371. Carla Sarratt, 910-7986371; csarratt@nhcgov.com. Northeast Regional Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Rd.

FITNESS CLASSES

MAR. 17-20: HEALING ARTS WORKSHOPS This weekend at McKay Healing Arts (4916 Wrightsville Ave.), a variety of workshops will take place with local instructor Noelle Whittington and musician Perry Smith. Joining them will be Asheville yoga teacher and musician Amah Devi. They will lead classes in Kirtan, chanting and Nirayani, slow tribal yoga and music, and host a harmonium workshop. Classes vary from free to $25. For more information and to register: www.narayankishakit.com/event-schedule

Boot Camp, Tues/Thurs, 6 a.m.-7 a.m. Barre or. The idea is to take the fear out of watercolor and Fit classes, Tues/Thurs, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Halearn the fun. All the materials are provided, and tha (Gentle) Yoga, Tues, 10:45 a.m.-1:45 a.m. Keteach participant gets a completed painting they tlebell Training , Fri, 6 a.m.-7 a.m., starting in Januare proud of by the end of the evening. Come join ary. Vinyasa Yoga, Mon/Wed, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; the fun, at Bar Local! 19 Market St. Tues, 6:30.-7:30 p.m.; and Fri, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Low Impact Aerobics, Mon., Wed., and Fri., 8-9 CAPE FEAR YOGA a.m. Tone, strengthen and stretch classes, Tues/ River to Sea Gallery hosts a Cape Fear kids yoga Thurs, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Admission: 910-256-7925. class taught by certified yoga instructor Heidi WB Park, 321 Causeway Dr. Thompson. Classes are $10 per person and are Sundays from 10-11. Come try our Sunday Stretch HEART HEALTHY NUTRITION SEMINAR Kids’ Yoga. Space is limited and reservations are Four-class nutrition seminar series is a part of the required. Message or call 910-763-3380 to reserve YMCA’s evidence-based Blood Pressure Selfyour spot today. Donations through March. $10 Monitoring Program. Each 1-hour seminar covers class fee begins Mar. 26. River to Sea Gallery, 224 important nutrition topics that impact heart health. S Water Street, Suite 1A These seminars are a part of the Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program but are open to the public METAL WORK AND JEWELRY CLASSES and free of charge. Seminar 4: (April 12th, 12pmMetal and wire work jewelry classes held every 1pm): Heart Healthy Eating for Life. www.wilmingTues., 10am-noon at the Hannah Block Commutonfamilyymca.org. Express YMCA, 11 S. Kerr Ave. nity Arts Center at 2nd and Orange streets. $30/2 hour class (includes all supplies and tools for use INTERIOR DECORATING in class). Pre-reg: Karen Keffer Pridemore, takey24-hour course will show you how to unlock your ourpickdesigns@yahoo.com. own personal style. Course topics include: a history of various decorating styles, with special em- BOATING CLASS phasis on local Southern architecture and furniture; Beginner boating class will give the student the how to define style—whether classic, modern, vinknowledge needed to obtain a boat license or tage, chic, coastal, urban or a mix. CFCC North safety certificate for the state of North Carolina. It is required for anyone who operates a power Campus, 4500 Blue Clay Rd. Pre-reg is required boat or Personal Water Craft (PWC) of 10 or more and the cost is $140. enrich@cfcc.edu or (910) horsepower in North Carolina waters that was born 362-7199 after 01 January, 1988. Topics taught include: A PAPERMAKING CLASSES basic introduction to types of boats, boating law, Wed., 6pm: Adults explore different papermaking required safety equipment, discussion of navigatechniques so you can make each sheet of paper tion aids, boating problems, trailering your boat, unique. All materials included, but we encourage and enjoying water sports. It is an 8-hour class bringing in some of your own materials that you that begins at 9:00 am. Boating certificate/card can include into your paper—such as flat memenwill be issued at the end of the test. Text Included. tos and plants. See samples on our Facebook $35. Session 2 Sat., July 22, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Adand website. • Adult and children classes held on vance reg. is strongly recommended due to limited Sat., 2pm. Sign up: www.alunaworks.com. Aluna seating availability. Jim Sinclair: captjim.sinclair7@ Works, 603 Castle St. gmail.com or 202-746-5253. Fran Russ Recreation CAPE FEAR WINE AND PAINT Center, 1 Bob Sawyer Dr.

NC COASTAL FEDERATION

Currently seeking volunteers to serve as Coastal Ambassadors of the federation. The southeast region of the North Carolina coast is an active place, and the federation is invited to participate in multiple events, often having to decline due to lack of resources. Coastal Ambassadors will represent the federation at events, educating the public on the federation’s mission and work. Wrightsville Beach office is hosting a two-hour training session on Mar. 15, 6-8 p.m. to help interested volunteers get started. Training will include a brief history of the federation and this year’s goals and benchmarks, an overview of the various outreach materials used at events and suggested talking points. Participants will leave with the tools and resources to help the federation have a larger presence in the community and will give us more time to continue our work protecting and restoring water quality and coastal habitats. Dinner provided. Jessica Gray, coastal outreach associate, at 910-509-2838 ext. 204 or jessicag@nccoast.org. Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center, 309 W. Salisbury St.

HOMESCHOOL FENCING CLASS

Cape Fear Fencing Association 8-week beginning fencing class for homeschool students in the basement of the Tileston gym. Class will meet for approximately 1 hour on Wed. All fencing equipment provided, students should wear loose fitting clothing and sneakers. Appropriate for ages 8 - 18. Cost is $40 plus a $10 membership to USA Fencing good until July 31. Tileston Gym at St. Mary, 5th and Ann Taught by Internationally accredited instructor. MCKAY HEALING ARTS WORKSHOPS

Mar. 17, 7-9pm: Kirtan with local Narayani (Noelle Whittington; E-RYT500), Amah Devi, and

Perry Smith. Asheville Yoga teacher and musician Amah Devi blends classical piano and West African drumming, with a chanting style expressing a diverse range of engaging flavors. Kirtan means “to glorify,” and traditionally the ancient, sacred practice of Bhakti (devotion) Yoga was used as a form of worship by singing the divine names in a call and response fashion. No experience or “singing voice” is necessary. All welcome! • Mar. 18, 1-3pm: Chant Workshop with Narayani: Dive deep into the sea of bliss found within a group offering of Sacred Chant with Narayani, with percussion and vocal support by Amah Devi. Discuss select sacred Sanskrit mantras, including pronunciation and meaning, and enjoy Pranayama and vocal techniques to prepare the body/mind for chanting. $20 suggested donation. • Mar. 19, 4-6pm: Slow Tribal Flow Yoga with Live Music: Join Narayani for “Slow Tribal Flow Yoga”—all-levels, full-body Vinyasa class. Movement suggestions to groovy music provided by Amah Devi and Perry Smith, or move to how you feel. Concludes with an extended savasana with live music and light Thai Yoga assists for deep relaxation, followed by one Kirtan chant with the whole band including Narayani. $25. • Mar. 19, 9-11am: Harmonium Workshop with Amah Devi—Ever wanted to learn to play harmonium, lead Kirtan, or just sink more deeply into your Sacred Chant practice, drop in for unforgettable exploration of harmonium, mantra, and sacred song? Bring your own instrument or play one provided and come ready to deepen your Bhakti yoga practice. No prior musical experience required! $25. • Mar. 19. 1-3pm: YogaSerenade with Narayani—gentle mixture of Yin and Restorative Yoga set to her own live music during the fully supported, long-held postures. . No experience is necessary. $20. Register and

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pay for events: www.narayanishakti.com/eventschedule. McKay Healing Arts, 4916 Wrightsville Ave. (910) 791-1981. LEARN TO CURL

Mar. 18, 4pm: Coastal Carolina Curling Club will host Beginner’s instruction! Reg: info@coastalcurling; $20 per person. Participants will be provided with a half-price return voucher to return for open curling. Beginners start with a half-hour off-ice session in which we go over the basics of curling: safety, terminology, delivery and more. Then we head out to the ice for small group instruction on sweeping, delivery, release and finish by curling a couple ends. Focus is to have new curlers feeling confident to join a league immediately! Then join club members for off-ice fun. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Wilmington Ice House,7201 Ogden Business Ln.

MICROSOFT OFFICE COACH

Mar. 20, 9am: Book an hour with a friendly librarian for help using Microsoft Office computer programs like Word and Excel. An hour with a patient coach can help you get started and answer lots of your questions. Bring a project to work on together, like a cover letter, flyer, or leaflet. One-on-one coaching appts, free! RSVP: 910-798-6323 to ask for another time that works for you and the coach. Dorothy Hodder at dhodder@nhcgov.com or 910798-6323. Main Library, NHC, 201 Chestnut St.

lectures/literary BEGIN THE CONVERSATION CLINICS

Lower Cape Fear Hospice will host free Begin the Conversation clinics from 10-11 a.m. the third Fri. of ea. mo., Phillips LifeCare & Counseling Center, 1414 Physicians Dr. Free, 18 and older, will provide attendees information and resources to think

about and plan for future healthcare decisions. Attendees will receive specific strategies for initiating conversations that can significantly reduce family stress and improve quality of care. Advance directives supplied so healthcare instructions can be legally documented. Jason: 910-796-7943 or jason. clamme@lcfh.org. ROB DUNN

Mar. 15, 7pm: The Honors College hosts a “Spring Speaker” each year who brings to the campus an important, scholarly discussion that is current and interdisciplinary. Traditionally, prior to the speaker’s arrival, a book group open to faculty, staff, and students is sponsored by the College to engage the community in the topic at hand and promote discussion, debate, and opportunities for inquiry. http://robdunnlab.com

SATSANG W/EDDY NATARAJ

Mar 15, 7:30-8:45 pm: Humans have wondered and contemplated about the meaning of life for millennia, often going to extremes of severe austerities, starvation, and psychedelics. Teachings of yoga tell us truth to our existence already exists within us. In Satsang we gather to discuss and realize the truth that we already know, that we already embody. Eddy leads discussion and exploration into “dharma” and other relevant yogic philosophical ideas. Class will include music and mantra to help synchronize frequencies of heart and mind for conversation that stays centered and uplifting. Discussions will often be driven by the questions asked, so come with curiosity and an open mind. Suggested donation $15. Longwave Yoga, 203 Racine Dr.

DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC SERIES

Mar. 16, 11:30am: Elizabeth Weirick, president of Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District #21, will be the keynote speaker onnational trends and issues. Ms. Weirick has led the Milwau-

Share the Magic March 25, 8:30 p.m. Magic with Justin Flom Tickets: $32-$52 (843) 272-3000 www.hob.com

58 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com

kee Downtown program since its inception in 1998, which provides a range of enhanced programs and services that cover 150 blocks of the city’s commercial center. In addition to ensuring a clean, safe POKEMON LEAGUE and friendly district, Ms. Weirick promotes downCome out to Cape Fear Games on Sunday evetown as a destination through branding campaigns nings to catch them all by learning to play the and special events. She has also improved visitor Pokemon Trading Card game, battle and trade amenities, strengthened the arts, collaborated to in the video games, or enjoy the store’s Pokemon restore a trolley service and led a successful retail Go Pokestop. All ages are welcome to our family recruitment effort. Wilmington Convention Center, friendly environment. www.facebook.com/groups/ 515 Nutt St. WDI will also accept donations at the CFGPokemon. Cape Fear Games, 4107 Oleander luncheon. Tickets for the event are $50 per person, Dr., Ste D with tables of 10 available for $475. Sponsorships FRIDAY NIGHT MAGIC available. www.wilmingtondowntown.com. Format of Magic: The Gathering tournaments, THE UNITED NATIONS IN A POPULIST WORLD held on Friday nights in gaming stores and assoMar. 18, 9am: Dr. Paige Tan is Professor and Chair ciations all across the world. They are designed to of the Department of Political Science at Radford be a beginner-friendly introduction to organized University. She teaches courses in Comparative play. Standard format. $6 fee paid towards prize Politics and International Relations, with a primary support for event. Prizes are a pack per win and focus on Asia. She is currently editing a book on also if you complete all 4 rounds. Event begins at Asian political thought for Routledge press. She 7pm, reg. begins at 6pm. Arrive early for event reg. also researches political parties and their role in Free play, $6 entry fee first FNM Free. Cape Fear democratization, with a particular emphasis on Games, 4107 Oleander Dr., Ste D. Indonesia. Dr. Tan is working to support high-imBIRTH CIRCLE pact educational experiences for students; these Every 3rd Saturday come for our Birth Circle, include Model United Nations study abroad, and something always different every month. Check community engagement. She also served as a out our website for more details of what we have in past advisor for Model UN students during her store this month & exact time of each event! www. tenure at UNCW. Breakfast: $20/Students/Children thebumpandbeyond.com. Bump & Beyond, 890-3 $15. RSVP to boomershinea@gmail.com. Consider S. Kerr Ave. sponsoring a student to attend ($15) or donating to Ann Sherman Skiba Student Scholarship Fund LA LECHE LEAGUE and/or Yolanda Norwood Memorial Scholarship Sat., 10am, meetings are informal and are open to Fund. McNeill Hall, UNCW, 601 S. College Rd. pregnant women, mothers, babies and children. If

clubs/notices

JOHN MOSELEY TALK

Mar. 20, 7:30pm: John Moseley of the Fort Fisher State Historic Site returns to talk on US Medal of Honor Winners, Lower Cape Fear area. Federal Point History Center, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd.

you have questions or just would like to meet other breastfeeding mothers, this is the meeting for you. La Leche League Leaders are experienced mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have been trained and accredited by La Leche

MarCh 22, 2017 &

MarCh 23, 2017 at

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Tickets at Ticket Central 910.362.7999 or CapeFearStage.com

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League International to help mothers and mothers-to-be with all aspects of breastfeeding. Bump & Beyond, 890-3 S. Kerr Ave. STUDENTS NEEDED

Town of Leland has an opportunity for two (2) high school students to serve as representatives on the Town’s Parks and Recreation Board. Students will serve two-year terms and attend monthly Parks and Recreation Board meetings. They will have the opportunity to give reports concerning activities and issues affecting young people, report on how they have shared parks information, provide input on board issues, ask questions, serve on subcommittees of interest, and represent the board in a number of capacities and at community events. Parks and Rec Board meetings, 6 p.m., last Wed. ea. mo. Town Hall (102 Town Hall Dr.). Students within the Leland Town limits. Rising sophomores and juniors are preferred for the positions, but all applications will be considered. 102 Town Hall Dr.

CAPE FEAR ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

ST. PAUL’S TAIZÉ SERVICE

Fourth Wed. of every month at 5:30 p.m. for Taizé, an ecumenical sung and silent participatory prayer service designed to achieve a contemplative state through music, song, and silence. www.spechurch.com, 910-762-4578

ST. PAUL’S

Midweek Holy Eucharist: Every Wed. at 12:10 p.m. for Holy Eucharist followed by community lunch (suggested donation, $5). • Choral Evenson every second Wed., followed by supper and Christian Formation discussion. Evensong is a sung service of evening prayer, psalms, canticles, and scripture readings. Ancient part of the

MAR. 23: ILM SISTER CITIES MEET

Every Mon., join our coffee club. It will be hosted weekly by Angela Pollock and most Mondays with Darien Brooks. This will give adults with or without disabilities an opportunity to work on social skills in a typical, relaxed environment. Please share and stop by! Luna Caffe, 604 Castle St.

VENDORS NEEDED AT POPLAR GROVE

lection of locally grown plants of all types—herbs, perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, shrubs, native plants, vegetable starts and houseplants, plus garden art & accessories, herbal and all— natural products, artisan crafts & local foods. poplargrove.org

Poplar Grove Plantation is accepting vendor applications for the area’s largest and longest running Herb and Garden Fair, April 1, 9am-5pm, and April 2, 10am-4pm. Gardeners come from all over to kick off the spring planting season by purchasing garden items and attending our classes, activities and exhibits. Help us fill the grounds with a se-

Guest speakers are lined up to speak aithe Wilmington Sister Cities meeting on Mar. 23 at City Council Chambers (102 N. 3rd St.). They will discuss the 2016 Brexit, and why folks wanted to leave the European Union. Keynote speakers include Jim McLaughlin, Andrew Terrell and Dr. Paul Townend. It’s free to the general public and begins at 8:30 a.m. Questions from the audience will be a part of the program.

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BOARD GAME NIGHT

Thurs., 6pm: Join the Wilmington Board Game group and the Wilmington Board Game Meetup group for a night of Board Games and more. No experience necessary. Bring your own game or select one from our free Demo Library. www. facebook.com/groups/CFGBoardGames. Cape Fear Games, 4107 Oleander Dr., Ste D.

TOASTMASTERS

Mar 16t, 6:30pm: Lamplighters Toastmasters of Wilmington will be holding a speech contest in extemporaneous speaking (Table Topics) and a local version on the International Speech contest. New Hanover Government Center, 230 Government Center Dr. (off Racine).

FORGET-ME-NOT LUNCHEON

Mar. 18, 11:30am: Event is intended to serve as a welcoming and inclusive environment for caregiver’s to bring their loved one for socialization. Guests must RSVP. Come dressed in green and ready to mingle at our Forget-Me-Not cafe! We will have acoustic music, Irish cuisine, door prizes, and plenty of fine company! Forget-Me-Not Cafe exists to foster an inclusive ‘safe-place’ for seniors with memory-impairment and their caregivers to socialize. We ask that guests attending our events respect our commitment to the needs and privacy of families. Event is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging, New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, Assistance for Life Care Management, Gibbs Catering Service, and Elderhaus. Elderhaus at the Lake, 1950 Amphitheater Dr. ILM SISTER CITIES MEETING

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Anglican tradition, ever renewing the soul. Sung by Choir of St. Paul’s. spechurch.com. 910-7624578. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 16 N. 16th St.

Mar. 23: At City Council Chambers (Wilmington City Hall) beginning at 8:30am. 2017 program will focus on why people voted to leave the European Union and what the future implications are for relations both within and outside the region. Voters in the district including Wilmington’s sister city, Doncaster, voted two to one to leave the EU. Featured speakers will include Jim McLaughlin, Andrew Terrell, and Dr. Paul Townend. McLaughlin is a speaker on business topics in a variety of forums and regular contributor to the Business Connections Live online television channel. Terrell was recently appointed to the role of Consul for Government and Prosperity. Townend is Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Kerry Toone, PPD executive who is also a SCAW board member and native of Great Britain will be the moderator of the panel and will take questions from the audience. Free to the general public; light refreshments will be provided (donations accepted). Doors at 8:15am and program begins promptly at 8:30am. Program will be recorded and available for viewing from the City of Wilmington’s GTV8 site. RSVP: membership@scawilmington.org. 102 N. Third St. CF SIERRA CLUB MEETING

Mar. 20, 6pm: Christine Hughes, who led the development of the city’s first contemporary comprehensive plan, will present a program on the “Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan,” for which the city received a special award. Ms Hughes says cities are changing and evolving places, and she helps the city manage this process. Free pizza at 6pm, followed by the program at 6:30. Events are open and free to the public. Halyburton Park, 4099 S. 17th St.

TOPS 0295 OPEN HOUSE

Mar. 21, 10am: Come to a free Open House of TOPS 0295 Wilmington. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a weight loss support group. Our guest speaker will be Heidi Kaufman, Clinical Nutritionist. Windermere Presbyterian Church, 104 Windemere Rd.

NEW HANOVER NAACP MEETING

March 23, 7pm, St. Stephen AME church, 501 Red Cross St. Information on important upcoming community events and other vital community and state issues will be on the agenda. Members and friends are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 910-765-0102 or email nhcnaacp@gmail.com.

CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM

Mar. 19, 2pm: Join us as we explore God using the methods and guidance of Moses, Jesus, the prophets and a rich sampling of delightful saints including Theresa of Avila, Meister Eckhart and Thomas Aquinas. We will meet twice a month for fellowship, poetry, instruction in spiritual practices, group meditations and playful spiritual fun. Morning Glory Coffee House, 1415 Dawson St., 2pm. First and third Sun. ea. month Good parking on 15th St. John Evans, insightbuilders@gmail. com.

culinary FERMENTAL

Free tasting every Friday, 6pm. • Third Wednesday of each month feat. musical and brewing talents alongside an open mic night, as well as the opportunity for homebrewers to share, sample, and trade their creations: an evening of beer and an open stage. PA and equipment provided. All genres. All beer styles. 4pm, free. 910-821-0362 for details. Fermental, 7250 Market St.

RIVER BLUFFS FARMER’S MARKET

Every Sat., 10am-3pm: Farmer Bill is up early most mornings, tending to the crops at The River Bluffs Organic Farm. Situated on 10 acres of land, The Farm utilizes sustainable growing methods so that all yielded produce can be tagged “certified organic.” Located just down the road from the entrance of River Bluffs, The Farm helps to fill the amazing menu at the neighborhood restaurant—Porches Cafe. River Bluffs, 3571 Hansa Dr. http://riverbluffsliving.com/saturday-farm-market.

FREE BREWERY TOURS AND TASTINGS

3pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm everyday at Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St. Learn how we brew our beer, meet our brewers and get two free samples.

BEER BINGO

Every Thursday night for beer bingo. No charge for cards. Great prizes. Food and drink specials. Capt’n Bills Backyard and Grille, 4240 Market St.

AYCE OYSTER ROAST

Every Friday for All You Can Eat oysters, shell on shrimp, fried shrimp, hushpuppies and slaw. Only $34.95. Local oysters. Capt’n Bills Backyard and Grille, 4240 Market St.

NEMA LOUNGE AND EATERY

Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour every Thurs. $5, 9” pizza and $5 glass of select Pinot Noir or Pinot Grigio. Traditional crust pizza, small 9” includes housemade roast balsamic tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan; other toppings extra. Dine in special only. • Martini Tastings, Fri. and Sat., 4-8pm. 5 tastings and an order of NeMa Fancy Fries, $20/person. • It’s Champagne & Salmon Burger Sunday! $5 glasses of champagne all day and Chef Mark’s famous wild caught Alaskan

salmon burger only $7, 5-7pm. NeMa Lounge & Eatery, 225 S. Water St. Chandler’s Wharf. TACO BOWL POP UP FUNDRAISER

$5 Taco Bowl Popup, noon-2pm, every Thursday In March! Choose from meat or veggie, beans and rice included. Add your favorite toppings: sour cream, salsa, guacamole, green onions, hot sauce. All proceeds benefit Whole Planet Foundation, whose mission is to alleviate global poverty by providing micro-credit in communities that supply Whole Foods with products. Whole Foods Market, 3804 Oleander Dr.

KEGS AND EGGS

Mar. 17, 9am: Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with us here at Hell’s Kitchen. We are having Keg’s & Eggs along with drink specials and so much more. Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.

FISH FRY

The Knights in Hampstead will hold a series of Fish Fry Events for Lent 2017. We will be available every Friday through April 7 at the American Legion Post 167, 16660 U.S. 17, Hampstead, North Carolina 28443. Serving time is from 4:30pm to 7pm. The ticket prices are $8.50 each. The meals include fried cod, hush puppies, french fries, cole slaw and dessert. You can get the meal to go or eat it there. Tables will be set up and the Knights provide great conversation! All net proceeds donated to the Knights Charities! Tickets at door. American Legion Post 167, 16660 Highway 17

SUNDAY BRUNCH

Chef Jessica Cabo and her culinary team create weekly brunch specials—artful renditions of vegan, vegetarian and seafood-centric menu selections.Local produce shapes and inspires the brunch. Enjoy shrimp & grits with a different sauce each week. Try the omelet station, a waffle station with local fruit purees, and smoked Scottish king salmon. Meats vary weekly such as marinated flank steak, roasted pork loin and duck hash. EAST Oceanfront Dining, Blockade Runner, 275 Waynick Blvd 10:30am-2 m, with live blues starting at 11:30am.

TIDAL CREEK CO-OP COMMUNITY GARDEN

Mar. 19, 3:30pm: Join us as we rebuild the Coop community by restoring and expanding our garden beds, plant herbs and vegetables, and dedicate a zinnia garden to Sue Derstine. Food from our deli, and live music by Mike Slaton and Nimara Snyder on the deck while we work on the garden! Egg carton seed-starter station set up so kids can make their own windowsill gardens! 5329 Oleander Dr.

ARIES (Mar. 21–April 20)

The more unselfish and compassionate you are in the coming weeks, the more likely it is you will get exactly what you need. Here are four ways that can be true: 1. If you’re kind to people, they will want to be kind to you in return. 2. Taking good care of others will bolster their ability to take good care of you. 3. If you’re less obsessed with I-me-mine, you will magically dissolve psychic blocks that have prevented certain folks from giving you all they are inclined to give you. 4. Attending to others’ healing will teach you valuable lessons in how to heal yourself—and how to get the healing you yearn for from others

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

I hope you will consider buying yourself some early birthday presents. The celebration is weeks away, but you need some prodding, instigative energy. It’s crucial you bring a dose of the starting-fresh spirit into the ripening projects you’re working on. Your mood might get overly cautious and serious unless you infuse it with the spunk of an excited beginner. Of course only you know what gifts would provide you with the best impetus, but here are suggestions to stimulate your imagination: a young cactus; a jack-inthe-box; a rock with the word “sprout” written on it; a decorated marble egg; a fox mask; a Photoshopped image of you flying through the air like a superhero.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Many Geminis verbalize profusely and acrobatically. They enjoy turning their thoughts into speech, and love to keep social situations lively with the power of their agile tongues. Aquarians and Sagittarians may rival your tribe for the title of The Zodiac’s Best Bullshitters, but I think you’re in the top spot. Having heaped that praise on you, however, I must note your words don’t always have as much influence as they have entertainment value. You sometimes impress people more than you impact them. But here’s the good news: In coming weeks, it could change. I suspect your fluency will carry a lot of clout. Your communication skills could sway the course of local history.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Your world is more spacious than it has been in a long time. Congrats! I love the way you have been pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and into the wilder frontier. For your next trick, here’s my suggestion: Anticipate the parts of you that may be inclined to close down again when you don’t feel as brave and free as you do now. Gently clamp open those very parts. If you calm your fears before they break out, maybe they won’t break out at all.

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

I like rowdy, extravagant longing as much as anyone. I enjoy being possessed by a heedless greed for too much of everything that feels rapturous: delectable food, mysterious sex, engrossing information, liberating intoxication, and surprising conversations that keep me guessing and improvising for hours. I am also a devotee of simple, sweet longing . . . pure, watchful, patient longing . . . open-hearted longing that brims with innocence and curiosity and is driven as much by the urge to bless as to be blessed. That’s the kind I recommend you explore and experiment with in the coming days.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You know that forbidden fruit you’ve had your eyes on? Maybe it isn’t so forbidden any more. It could even be evolving toward a state where it will be both freely available and downright healthy for you to pluck. But there’s also a possibility that simply a little less risky than it was before. And it may never become a fully viable option. So here’s my advice: Don’t grab and bite into the forbidden fruit yet. Keep monitoring the situation. Be especially attentive to the following questions: Do you crave forbidden fruit because it would help you flee a dilemma you haven’t mustered the courage to escape from?

CYAN (34 Across), together with

Or because it would truly be good for you to partake of forbidden fruit?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

I expect you will get more than your usual share of both sweetness and tartness in the coming days. Sometimes one or the other will be the predominant mode, but on occasion they will converge to deliver a complex brew of WOW!-meetsWTF! Imagine chunks of sour apples in your vanilla-fudge ripple ice cream. Given this state of affairs, there’s no good reason for you to be blandly kind or boringly polite. Use a saucy attitude to convey your thoughtfulness. Be as provocative as you are tender. Don’t just be nice—be impishly and subversively nice.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

“I want to gather your darkness in my hands, to cup it like water and drink,” Jane Hirshfield writes in her poem “To Drink.” I bet she was addressing a Scorpio. Does any other sign of the zodiac possess a sweet darkness that’s as delicious and gratifying as yours? Yes, it’s true you also harbor an unappetizing pocket of darkness, just like everyone else. But that sweet kind—the ambrosial, enigmatic, exhilarating stuff—is not only safe to imbibe, but can also be downright healing. In the coming days, I hope you’ll share it generously with worthy recipients.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Saturn has been in your sign steadily since September 2015, and will continue to be there until December 2017. Some traditional astrologers might say you are in a phase of downsizing and self-restraint. They’d encourage you to be extra strict and serious and dutiful. To them, the ringed planet is an exacting task-master. There are some grains of truth in this perspective, but I like to emphasize a different tack. I say if you cooperate with the rigors of Saturn, you’ll be inspired to become more focused, decisive and disciplined as you shed any flighty or reckless tendencies you might have. Yes, Saturn can be adversarial if you ignore its commands to be faithful to your best dreams. But if you respond gamely, it will be your staunch ally.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Born in the African nation of Burkina Faso, Malidoma Somé is a teacher who writes books and offers workshops to Westerners interested in the spiritual traditions of his tribe. In his native Dagaare language, his first name means “he who befriends the stranger/enemy.” I propose we make you an honorary “Malidoma” for the next three weeks. It will be a favorable time to forge connections, broker truces, and initiate collaborations with influences you have previous considered foreign or alien.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Every relationship has problems. No exceptions. In the beginning, all may be calm and bright, but eventually cracks will appear. Here’s the corollary to that rule: Every partner is imperfect. Regardless of how cool, kind, attractive, or smart they may seem in the early stages, they will eventually unveil their unique flaws and troubles. Does this mean all togetherness is doomed? That it’s forever impossible to create satisfying unions? The answer is hell, no! Especially if you keep the following principles in mind: Choose a partner whose problems are: 1. interesting; 2. tolerable; 3. useful in prodding you to grow; 4. all of the above.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Would you like some free healing that’s in alignment with cosmic rhythms? Try this experiment: Imagine you’re planning to write your autobiography. Create an outline that has six chapters. Each of the first three chapters will be about a past experience that helped make you who you are. In each of the last three chapters, you will describe a desirable event you want to create in the future. I also encourage you to come up with a boisterous title for your tale. Don’t settle for “My Life So Far” or “The Story of My Journey.” Make it idiosyncratic and colorful, perhaps even outlandish, like Piscean author Dave Eggers’ “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.”

encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 61

TRANGENDER SUPPORT GROUP

Transgender Support groups facilitated by licensed therapists in a private and safe location. Four free monthly support groups for parents and family, children and teens, young adults, and older adults. All are phone screened for safety. Group information is given at the time of the screening. Please contact Nova Swanstrom MA, LPA for more information. (910) 343-6890 x3009

WILMINGTON PRIDE YOUTH GROUP

Middle school and high-school students: Wilmington Pride and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation have joined together to create and facilitate a youth group for children/youth (middle school and high school) who are LGBTQIA, plus straight allies. A safe space for kids to talk about orientation, gender, racial equality, political consequences, religion, self harm and self-care. Needed: youth facilitators, especially those who are trained to work with kids, and speakers to talk about important topics. Meet every Thurs. at 7:30pm at UU Congregation of Wilmington, 4313 Lake Ave, (across from Roland Grise Middle School). Sue Graffius: dre@uufwilmington.org).

CHADD

Wilmington Area CHADD meets on the 2nd Monday of every month from 7-9pm at the Pine Valley United Methodist Church, 3788 Shipyard Blvd., Building B. This free support group is open to a growing group of parents, grandparents and individuals affected by AD/HD who understand what it takes to face its daily challenges. Free. Pine Valley United Methodist Church 3788 Shipyard Blvd., bldg B. WilmingtonCHADD.org

ANXIETY / OCD SUPPORT GROUP

Meets 1st and 3rd Thurs. of each month Pine Valley United Methodist Church, 3788 Shipyard Blvd. Bldg B, 7-8:30pm. Christopher Savard,

Life Community Church, 3500 Oleander Dr. Ph.D., with Cape Fear Psychological Services, gives a presentation the 1st Thurs. a. month. 3rd PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Thurs. meeting is member led. Everyone 18+ Thurs., 6pm: Meets in Classroom C, Ground Floor. welcome. Alayne at 910-763-8134 Men and spouses welcome from the entire Cape Fear area. Discussion/programs. www.wilmingtonGRIEF GROUP prostatecancersupportgroup.com. 910-792-9953. Lower Cape Fear Hospice will offer a grief program for those coping with the death of a spouse EXPECTING MAMA’S CIRCLE or partner. The group will meet Wed., through Sat, noon: Come chat with other pregnant mamas Mar. 22, 10am-noon, Dr. Robert M. Fales Hoswho are going through the same thing as you! pice Pavilion, 1406 Physicians Drive in WilmingLamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Breastfeedton. Pre-registration is required; to register, call ing USA counselor, and Postpartum Doula, Jess 796-7991. Most of us have loved and lost speZeffiro will moderate a free Pregnancy Meetup cial people in our lives and we understand that Group. Expectant mothers are invited to pop into coping with grief is a challenging process. If you the group at any time to share their stories, ask and/or your friends and family are having diffiquestions, and connect with great area resources. culty dealing with the loss of a loved one, we are Share your stories with each other and have any here to help. Throughout the year, we offer compregnancy and birth related questions answered passionate care, educational and enrichment in a supportive and caring environment. The Bump opportunities that support many types of loss in & Beyond, 890-3 S. Kerr Ave. safe and familiar environments. Because of our MS SUPPORT GROUP generous donors, these caring, no cost groups, Those with MS, families and friends welcome. camps and workshops are available to all. Your Meets at New Hanover Rehabilitation Hospital donation is always appreciated. Dr. Robert M. 1st floor conference room (behind Betty CamFales Hospice Pavilion, Conference Room, 1406 eron Women’s Hospital), 2131 S. 17th St. SecPhysicians Dr. ond Thursday each month. Lisa, 399-7252; Burt, PFLAG 383-1368. PFLAG Meeting is first Mon/mo. at UNCW, in the Masonboro Island Room #2010, 7pm. CELEBRATE RECOVERY

tours

Life Community Church, located inside Independence Mall, will have a Celebrate Recovery meet- LITERARY HISTORY WALKING TOUR ing every Monday evening at 6:30 pm starting Explore the rich culture of our talented Southern with fellowship followed by a large group meettown with a 90 minute walking tour of the literary ing at 7pm. Support groups for men and women history of downtown Wilmington, NC. Visit “The Two Libraries.” Walk the streets of your favorite follow at 8 pm. The meeting is in the Extension novels, and stand where Oscar Wilde did when he located across from Branches bookstore and the lectured here. Saturdays, 1:30pm, Old Books on church auditorium. For more information. contact Front St. 249 N. Front St. www.brownpapertickets. Jodie at 910-547-8973, 791-3859 or Lifecc.com.

BrooklynArtsNC.com 910-538-2939

com/event/1282390 CONFEDERATE WALKING TOURS

Experience Wilmington’s people, history and architecture in the late antebellum period and during the conflict, conducted by noted Wilmington historian Bernhard Thuersam Walk in the footsteps of George Washington, James Monroe, Daniel Webster, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and more. In-depth 90-minute tours are by appt, Sunday through Saturday, 910-619-4619 or bernhard1848@gmail.com. Personalized tours downtown and local forts available. Foot of Market St. www.cfhi.net.

HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE TOURS

Narrated horse drawn carriage and trolley tours of historic Wilmington feature a costumed driver who narrates a unique adventure along the riverfront and past stately mansions. Market and Water sts. $12/adult, $5/child. (910) 251-8889. www.horsedrawntours.com

INSIDER’S TOUR

Curious about the Cape Fear? Explore the history of your community at Cape Fear Museum. Take the Insider’s Tour offered the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10am. Tours are free with admission and include a “behind the scenes” sneak peek. Pre-registration is required: 910-798-4362 or cfmprograms@nhcgov.com. Free w/general admission or membership. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

GHOST WALK

6:30 & 8:30pm. Costumed guides lead visitors through alleyways with tales of haunted Wilmington. Nightly tours at 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Admission charge. Water & Market sts. RSVP rqd: 910794-1866; hauntedwilmington.com

St. Paddy’s Day Celebration

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GET INSPIRED!! SPARK YOUR SKILLS! Adults or Students CONTACT: BarbaraMcKenzie2008@gmail.com

WANTED HP Media LLC publishes Wilmington’s alternative weekly, encore magazine (over 30 years), as well as the only foodie publication in town, Devour (four years old), plus the classification publication, AdPak (over 40 years old). The sales position is available for encore and Devour.

Does this sound like you? Outgoing ■ Ambitious ■ Team oriented ■ Creative ■ Energetic ■ Persuasive ■

Then come be part of our team!

STRIPTEASES cost a lot more than a good meal at the Brewery $6.99 Lunches, $8.99 Dinners. Front Street Brewery 910.251.1935 9 North Front Street, Downtown Wilmington FrontStreetBrewery.com Web-based Investment Advisory Service

no commissions • no fees nominal subscription

WealthFit

Smart Investing with Sector ETFs Manage your own Money

www.wealthfit.net

Want to Get the Word out about Your business...

ADVERTISE ON THE

CORKBOARD

4WEEKS - ONLY $50 CALL 791-0688 FOR DETAILS

Advertising Sales Representative

Basic Qualifications: • Year minimum of outside sales experience • Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook); Mac applications a plus • Ability to operate a computer and communicate over the phone and in person • Must be able to stand or walk a minimum of 4+ hours during a standard 8-hour work day • Must have a valid driver’s license Preferred skills and qualifications: • Advertising sales experience is a benefit • Digitally savvy in regards to use of mobile software, social media, websites, and other emerging technologies • Effective communication, organization and verbal presentation skills

Interested applicants should email their résumé and cover letter to john@encorepub.com encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com 63

The Nile Project Musicians bridging boundaries with flow and harmony Saturday, March 25 7:30 p.m. Kenan Auditorium Tickets $20 â&#x20AC;˘ $35 â&#x20AC;˘ $50

This project was supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

Accommodations for disabilities may be requested by calling 910.962.3500 at least three days prior to the event. An EEO/AA institution.

Call 910.962.3500

uncw.edu/presents 64 encore | march 15 - march 21, 2017 | www.encorepub.com