March 23, 2016

encore

The Cape Fear’s Alternative Voice for 30 Years!

Cover photos by Pamela Johnson

VOL. 32 / PUB. 39 / FREE March 23 – 29, 2016 www.encorepub.com

Stellar Dreams

DREAMS of Wilmington takes Best Nonprofit on 2016 readers’ poll

BEST OF WRITEUPS, WEEK 3 PGS. 28-38

HODGEPODGE Vol. 32/Pub. 39

March 23 – 29, 2016

Friday, March 25 - 5pm

WWW.ENCOREPUB.COM

Fourth Annual Easter Egg Hunt

ON THE COVER

Families should hop on over to Capt’n Bill’s Backyard and Grille (4240 Market St.) on Friday for their fourth annual Easter egg hunt! Kids ages 13 and under are welcome to attend. It’s a free event, but remember to bring a basket to collect eggs in! The Easter bunny will be around for pictures, as well as refreshments and door prizes from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., with the egg hunt starting promptly at 5 p.m. Visit www.facebook. com/captnbills/?fref=ts 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.

Stellar Dreams, pgs. 28-38 First-time Best Of winner DREAMS of Wilmington took home the accolade for Best Nonprofit in 2016. Read about their mural on N. 10th and Fanning streets and how to get involved, as well as other Wilmington Best Of winners highlighted in our Best Of coverage for week three. Courtesy photos

M

Music>> UNCW Department of Music’s faculty are set to perform at Beckwith Hall on Thursday, March 24, to benefit Community Music Academy programs like Pre-Twinkle Try It! for children.

Courtesy photo.

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Editor-in-Chief: Shea Carver // shea@encorepub.com Editorial Assistant: Shannon Rae Gentry // music@encorepub.com Chief Contributors: Gwenyfar Rohler, Anghus, Jay Schiller, Tom Tomorrow, Chuck Shepherd, Mark Basquill, Rosa Bianca, Rob Brezsny, Linda Grattafiori, Tiffanie DiDonato, Bethany Turner, Chris Pendergast, Jay Workman

PGs. 8-9

Interns: Arnold Estrada-Lopez, Logan Brantley

SALES>

Jason Aycock (left) and fellow castmates in ‘The 39 Steps’ are exceptional in their performances in this theatrical tour de force at City Stage.

Photo by Erik Maasch.

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Dining>>

General Manager: John Hitt // john@encorepub.com Advertising: John Hitt // Downtown // Carolina Beach // john@encorepub.com Shea Carver // Midtown, Monkey Junction // shea@encorepub.com Willa Brown // Midtown, Monkey Junction // sales@devourilm.com Rose Thompson // Wrightsville Beach, N. Wilmington // rose@encorepub.com Office Manager: Susie Riddle // susie@adpakweekly.com Distribution Manager: Boykin Wright

Rosa Bianca makes a trip to Donut Inn and leaves with more than a taste for their perfected confections—there’s a whole breakfast and lunch menu to try!

Photo by Tom Dorgan.

EDITORIAL>

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

<<Theatre

PG. 18

Published weekly, on Wednesday, by HP Media.

Opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of encore.

PG. 27

INSIDE THIS WEEK: Live Local, pgs. 4-5 • OpEd, pg. 6 • News of the Weird, pg. 7 Music, pgs. 8-14 • Art, pgs. 16-17 • Theatre, pg. 18 • Film, pg. 19 Dining, pgs. 21-27 • Extra, pgs. 28-40 • Calendar, pgs. 42-55

2 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

event of the week

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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NEWS>>live local

live local, live small:

The Sharing Economy and its impact on Wilmington and short-term rentals

by: gwenyfar rohler

T

he sharing economy is a socioeconomic ecosystem that includes peerto-peer lending, accommodation rentals (short-term rentals), ride services, and food services among others. It is one of the fastest and most unpredictable growth sectors in the global economy. Credit Suisse is willing to take a swing at a prediction: $335 billion a year in transactions by 2025. That’s incredible, and inevitably the discussion about how it is allocated and by whom has come to Wilmington.

On Thursday March 17, 2016, the City of Wilmington Planning Department hosted a public input meeting at Forest Hills Elementary School to address issues that have arisen around short-term housing rentals.

It is the latest in a string of events that have grown from the new Sharing Economy.

In November Residents of Old Wilmington (ROW) drafted a letter to the Wilmington City Council to request short-term rentals advertised on Air B&B and Vacation Rental by

Above: Stock graphic

Owner (VRBO) sites be prohibited from operating in the Residential Historic District. Wilmington City Council is moving forward with a public input session and an online survey. The information will be collected, compared with benchmarks in other cities and presented in a report to the council in May. Over 100 people packed the room in the back of the elementary school to weigh in on the topic. Property owners, neighbors, realtors, elected officials, and short-term rental users were directed to six stations around the room, each focusing on different questions surrounding the issue: zoning, enforcement, bed and breakfasts, length of stay, etc. The planning staff iterated that it’s primarily an issue of defining and applying code, and determining what future enforcement will be.

At present, the City Land Use Code doesn’t actually have language to appropriately address the issue. Housing unit, housekeeping unit, guest lodging, and residential hotel are all covered, but not the current realities

4 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

of the sharing economy.

“This is a charade,” Chris Beck observed.

“All this is going to change before they make their new rules.”

Beck has a 35-plus year track record with restoring and preserving historic houses as rental properties. “I’ve restored all the houses, so I care about them! I’ve had more luck in the short-term rental than long-term rental,” she observed. Her short-term rental clients have included a woman having the floors refinished in her own house, parents of UNCW students, a family visiting their son stationed at Lejeune for Thanksgiving.

As to the meeting? She was disappointed.

“People came here to have their say,” she told me. “Instead, nobody’s going to have direct input.”

At least two of the people I talked to turned to short-term rentals when the state killed the film industry. Pennie Coussit worked as a driver for “Sleepy Hollow.” “I heard about stu-

dio condos in an historic building downtown and bought two so I could make a living,” she explained. “They need to rewrite this plan to include this new way of traveling that came about because of the Internet.” Coussit said she felt her concerns were heard and noted at the meeting.

“My problem with the expansion of the short-term rentals is that degrading of neighborhoods,” DeYoung explains. “I feel like the reason these people are able to operate businesses in the historic district is because people like myself have renovated homes to create an attractive neighborhood—which allows them to carpet bag on our neighborhood.”

DeYoung would like to see short-term rentals confined to the Central Business District and Mixed Used District. DeYoung was quick to weigh in on another topic that came up frequently during the evening: the restriction of bed and breakfast permits to one per city block. “Part of the reason I’m for the expan-

sion of B&B permits is that puts an owner in my neighborhood and they become my neighbor,” he said.

One of the possibilities on the table is raising the requirement for short-term rentals to requiring a 30-day minimum stay.

Tom Hissam observed there was no station to discuss the economic impact. “Most people only get seven days of vacation time—not 30,” he explained. “You raise the limit from seven to 30 days and that’s a lot of people not coming here to look around [and] seeing if they want to live here.”

“I don’t think anyone in the room would say they don’t want them,” Councilman Kevin O’Grady stated. “They want them in appropriately zoned districts.” O’Grady commented the bed and breakfast station shouldn’t be part of this discussion. “We reached an agreement 12 years ago to keep the bed and breakfasts in check and not let them take over the neighborhoods,” he continued.

safety code. All other issues aside, safety of renters and surrounding neighbors should be the first concern. Any business that interacts with the public should be held responsible for providing a clear path in the event of an emergency and tools to address the problem until help arrives. I agree with Tirrito and Skavroneck that requirements expected of bed and breakfasts seem reasonable for lodgings open to the public: licensing, inspection and tax reporting. If there are indeed as many short-term rentals operating within the city (some estimates put the number at over 200) then room occupancy tax should be collected. As well, licensing fees from their registrations should easily employ one staff position to act as the short-term rental specialist.

Our state, county and city governments routinely remind us they are strapped for cash. Here is an excellent revenue source we already have legislation in place to tax.

Enforce it. The reality is the sharing economy is here to stay. It is only going to con-

At the end of the day, the goals are simple: saftety and security. — Jodi Rell Hunter Ford, owner of Burnt Mill Creek and Momentum Surf and Skate, which has a vacation rental upstairs, says Paul Lawler and Kevin O’Grady are both past presidents of ROW. As such he wants them to recuse themselves from voting on the issue when it comes before council.

Camelia Cottage Bed and Breakfast owners Paula Tirrito and Steven Skavroneck say they just want a level playing field. Specifically, they want short-term rentals regulated like they are. Bed and breakfasts are inspected by the health department, fire department and city. They pay room occupancy and sales taxes to the county and state. At this juncture, short-term rentals are not inspected by a governing body. Though they are supposed to be taxed, the tax office has stated on the record they do not have the staff at present to enforce the policy.

For what it is worth, my 2 cents on the subject is in agreement with inspections on shortterm rentals to ensure they meet the minimum

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tinue to grow and strengthen at a rate much faster than government can respond to.

The discussion shouldn’t be about limiting people’s use of property; it should be about ensuring greater safety.

Concerned citizens can share their thoughts and experiences with the City of Wilmington Planning Department via an online survey through April 1: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ WilmingtonSTR. The only way to have a voice in shaping the direction our city is moving is by showing up and participating.

Timeline for short-term rental discussion: March 2016: Initial public input meeting April 2016: Follow-up public input meeting to present proposed changes

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NEWS>>op-ed

2101-7 MARKET ST

Another Super Tuesday:

BEHIND PORT CITY JAVA

Obama wins again! by: MARK BASQUILL

D

espite not being on the ballot, President Obama posted a big Super Tuesday victory in North Carolina this year. March has been another good month for our much-maligned Community Organizer-in-Chief, for Stop Titan, Ocean Alliance and community activists everywhere—even for 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Elinor Ostrom.

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wealth! We’ll all have cookies! We’ll all be drunk, happy cookie monsters together!”

I imagine if I stood at the kitchen table for eight years and failed to convince anyone I might pull out and say, “The economics no longer support my efforts.”

Titan failed to mention eight years of community activism that made their business plan economically unfeasible. Throughout the past eight years Stop Titan has presented overwhelming evidence that, regardless of whether it’s economically feasible for Titan, was environmentally unsound. The plant’s design was inadequate to protect the environment and reduce health risks to levels we could accept. Economic analysts detailed the minimal local economic benefit, and the potential long-term damage to the local ecosystem.

Obama’s decision to reverse course and prevent drilling in the southeast Atlantic has Republicans crying foul again. Governor McCrory was ticked about the president exerting his authority and said, “President Obama’s total reversal can only be described as a special political favor to far-left activists that have no problem importing enPart of both community organizing victoergy resources from countries hostile to the ries belong to the first woman Nobel LauUnited States.” reate in Economics 2009 winner, Elinor That’s practically an endorsement. Our Ostrom. In 1968 biologist Garrett Hardin’s governor ceded a lot of power to community article, “Tragedy of the Commons,” in Science magazine theorized that if left alone activists. Kudos to him for noticing. the commons would be exploited and ruOn March 18, Governor McCrory dis- ined. Professor Ostrom has spent her life in banded the Coal Ash Management Com- many fields where “common pool resourcmission because it infringed on his execu- es” exist, and she studied this theory. tive power. How’s that for executive irony?

For the last 50 years, the ideas within the Governor McCrory’s environmental record, “Tragedy of the Commons” have been a way clarity of judgement about clean energy and of rationalizing privatizing every resource unastounding comprehension of foreign policy der the sun. Of course, they can also be used is beyond compare. I have so much faith in to rationalize complete state ownership. our governor’s environmental record that if Professor Ostrom’s extensive field and he poured me a glass of water, I’d filter it empirical work has refuted both extremes. and boil it for a few minutes to clear it of hog In fact, her work demonstrates simple sowaste and coal ash. lutions to complex problems inevitably fail.

Stop Titan’s victory was one for all of us Hers is not a black-and-white world in which in these parts. Titan America’s official state- either central planning or radical capitalism ment didn’t give credit to Stop Titan. They will lead us to nirvana. She offers no panastated, “The economics no longer support cea and instead invites us to embrace the building a cement plant in the region.” complexity of polycentric solutions. If “polyThat curt statement makes it sound like centric” sounds complicated, give yourself a Titan’s decision was business-based on gold star. It is complicated. cold, hard economic facts. But let’s say I visited my cousin’s house, stood alone at his kitchen table in front of a cookie jar and bottle of vodka. I might consider the cookies and vodka common pool resources and plan a way to transform them into private goods—my private goods. Out of the blue, my cousin and brothers and sisters show up and explain what a bad idea that would be. I might spend a lot of energy trying to convince my brothers, sisters and cousin my plan is a good idea. “We’ll all share the

My life is black-and-white simple though.

How ‘bout yours?

Near as I can figure, “Polycentric” solutions go well beyond simple notions of markets and states. Polycentric means we need each other. We need good government. Not fascism. We need functioning markets. Not monopolies. We need competition. Not cartels. And, to sustain the global village, we need Stop Titan and community organizers to keep posting Super Tuesday wins!

not need the help of lawyers to advocate for them in immigration proceedings. Teaching those kids their rights, Judge Jack Weil said, “takes a lot of time” and “a lot of patience,” but there is no need for government to provide lawyers. (Weil, a U.S. Department of Justice employee, was contesting an American Civil Liberties Union claim at a recent deposition in an immigration case in Seattle.)

Glaciers and Gender

University of Oregon professor Mark Carey produced a 10,300-word journal article in January proposing a new sensitivity to Earth’s melting icecaps: a “feminist glaciology framework” to “generate robust analysis of gender, power and epistemologies” with a goal of more “just and equitable” “human-ice interactions.” The jargonized, densely worded tract suggests that melting icecaps can be properly understood only with more input from female scientists since, somehow, research so far disproportionately emphasizes climate change’s impact on males. (The New York Post reported that the paper was funded by a National Science Foundation grant of $412,930.)

Trying to put (as a critic charged) “lipstick on a pig,” Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder boasted in March that the lead-in-the-water crisis plaguing the city of Flint for months now had actually spurred job growth. Though Snyder has been heavily criticized for tight-fisted budgeting that enabled the crisis, 81 temporary workers have been recently hired — to hand out bottled water so that residents would not have to hydrate themselves with poisoned municipal water.

— Homeless people frequently store their few possessions in commandeered shopping carts, but New Yorker Sonia Gonzalez, 60, became a legend recently on Manhattan’s West Side by maneuvering a stunning, block-long assemblage of more than 20 carts’ worth of possessions along the sidewalks. Among the contents: an air conditioner, a laundry hamper, shower curtain rods, a wire shelving unit, wooden pallets, suitcases and, of course, bottles and cans.

She moved along by pushing carts two or three at a time, a few feet at a time, blocking entrances to stores in the process. (The day after a New York Post story on Gonzalez’s caravan, Mayor DiBlasio ordered city workers to junk everything not essential, leaving her with about one cart’s worth.)

Can’t Possibly Be True

Questionable Judgments

Chutzpah!

— A senior federal administrative law judge recently claimed (and then, for good measure, repeated and emphasized) that, in his experience, “3-year-olds and 4-year-olds” do

Mexico’s latest female accessorizing craze is shellacking tiny dead scorpions onto fingernails, using the second-most venomous species of the arachnid, selling briskly at the Miss

Unas parlor in Durango. In fact, while in town (according to a London Daily Mail dispatch from Durango), shoppers may check out the Raices restaurant, which pioneered tacos filled with still-wriggling scorpions (that had been soaked in surgical alcohol to neutralize the venom).

Awesome!

— In a suburb of Newcastle, Australia, in February, workers using a crane extracted a 1-ton snake-like mass of sewage (mostly “wet wipes” unwisely flushed down toilets) from an underground pipe — with the gummed-together sludge reaching a height of more than 20 feet when the crane finally yanked the whole thing up. Said a representative of the water company, “(Y)ou’ll flush the toilet, and the wet wipe will disappear,” and you think (wrongly) it’s therefore “flushable.”

— Making Canada Great Again: Syrian refugees arriving at the airport in Vancouver, British Columbia, have been warmly greeted personally in a video by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but in March some were inadvertently booked into the same hotel that was hosting the fifth annual VancouFur convention of “furries.” Anthropomorphic, full-suited tigers, dogs, bears, foxes, etc., roamed the hotel, leading London’s The Independent to report that the child refugees loved every minute, playing with the furries and posing for pictures.

encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 7

arts>>music

A Spark in the Community: UNCW’s Community Music Academy will perform benefit recital

gram, she’s also organizing CMA’s upcoming benefit concert on March 24 at UNCW’s Beckwith Hall.

by: shannon rae gentry

Performing everything from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Piazzolla, all musicians consist of full- and part-time faculty, including Žeželj-Gualdi, as well as area artists. While she’ll be playing violin, she and Elizabeth Loparits will also perform Monti’s “Csárdás”—a fiery, gypsy dance.

“Always a delight for audience,” ŽeželjGualdi explains. “It cannot be better when performed by two (almost) gypsies. Elizabeth is Hungarian and I am Serbian.”

Classical guitarist Robert Nathanson and Natalie Boeyink (bassist, violinist, pianist, composer) will perform alongside cellist Jake Wenger, classical and electric guitarist Justin Hoke, and CMA’s newest addition, pianist Paolo André Gualdi. encore talked with Žeželj-Gualdi to discuss CMA’s upcoming performance and the young musicians it benefits. encore (e): As the new artistic director of CMA, how do you approach working with fellow faculty and area musicians; what’s it been like creatively and professionally?

Danijela Žeželj-Gualdi (DZG): I have collaborated with all of them at some point, either playing together or as a UNCW colleague working on projects. All these wonderful artists are my dear and close friends, and there is nothing better than making music together with your friends. When I approached them with the idea of participating in the UNCW CMA benefit recital, they were all wholeheartedly in and loved the idea. We are all also very passionate about our student’s progress and success, and this is really an event for them.

MOLDING MUSICians: A benefit concert for new youth programming for students like Julia Elena Gualdi happens Thursday. Courtesy photo.

“T

his is the class where you learn how to study flute, right?”

Danijela Žeželj-Gualdi asks her 7-year-old students.

“No!” they quickly answer.

“This is the class where you study … piano?” Žeželj-Gualdi tries again.

“No!” They laugh. Žeželj-Gualdi pretends to play the instrument she’s holding like a flute or piano with no luck. She finally asks her pupils what it is. They all shout enthusiastically

in tandem: “Violin!”

It’s a scene played out in a promotional video for a newly developed class, PreTwinkle Try It!, founded by UNCW’s Community Music Academy. Based on the Suzuki music method, it’s a six-week introductory violin class for children ages 5 to 7. The program is free and even has donated instruments from the Ronald Sachs Violins shop in Atlanta—one just opened in downtown Wilmington at 206 N. 4th St., #15. Children learn violin basics in a safe, fun and educational environment.

8 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

“We are hoping the students would spark an interest during this six weeks and that they will continue taking lessons, as well as participate in group classes,” Žeželj-Gualdi explains to encore. It’s one of many programs and initiatives the UNCW Community Music Academy (CMA) has for the future. Žeželj-Gualdi is this year’s appointed artistic director for CMA, as well an accomplished violinist and violist, and parttime professor in UNCW’s Department of Music. While cultivating the young pro-

Together we created the most fun program with everyone participating in suggestions, creative collaborations and willingness to invest hours of practice and rehearsals to make this event brilliant, entertaining and high class. e: Tell us about the performance selections. What are a couple of specific pieces and why were they chosen?

DZG: Music you will hear that night is wide-range repertoire. The evening opens with Robert Beaser Mountain Songs for flute and guitar based on Appalachian folk tunes, played by Justin Hoke and Amanda

Taylor. Paolo Andre’ Gualdi will then perform Debussy’s famous Reflets dans l’eau from Images I. This piece translates “reflections of the water” [like] a true impressionist—the play of the light on the surface of the water. It is for piano solo. A few selections that evening are very sensual, like composer Astor Piazzolla—the master of the new Tango movement.

Chopin’s “Etudes” on piano [will be] performed by our beautiful Elizabeth Loparits, as well as original composition by our new UNCW faculty member, Dr. Natalie Boeyink. Our cello instructor Jake Wenger will play a movement from Rachmaninoff sonata. This work was composed after a long period of composers fight with depression, and this third movement is a beautifully themed Andante. e: What can you tell readers about the Pre-Twinkle Try It program’s target students?

DZG: I decided on that age because it is when children start school, and are somewhat independent and able to focus a bit longer. It is possible to start earlier, and I am hoping to have even younger age classes. I envisioned “Mommy and Me” and Pre-Twinkle for 4-year-olds. For that one I have to have cardboard violins.

I also learned programs like this should be transferred to our public schools, so less-fortunate students would be given a chance to study an instrument. With the right kind of support, all this is possible!

A pre-concert reception will start at 7 p.m., with wine donated by Wilmington Wine. WHQR’s Gina Gamboni will host the evening, and it will feature a silent auction. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 to $20 and available at 910-962-3500. Proceeds will benefit the UNCW Community Music Academy and programs like Pre-Twinkle Try It! For more information, visit www.facebook.com/uncwcma.

Details:

UNCW Community Music Academy Benefit

Thurs., March 24, at 7 p.m.

UNCW Beckwith Hall 601 S. College Rd. UNCW campus Tickets: $5 - $20 910-962-3500

e: It started in February, but will it be a reoccurring workshop?

DZG: We have now about 15 kids in the class. I am hoping some, if not all of them, will continue to learn violin. e: Are the music academy performers all involved in Twinkle Try It? DZG: No. At this point, I am leading the program and it is violin-oriented. But this is an example of what is possible to do with other instruments, too! I am involving my UNCW music students, and they are having first-hand experience in teaching (at this point, violin) music and applied instruments to very young children. Which brings me to another very important program we are establishing at UNCW: CMAStudent Teacher Program. The Student Teacher Program provides the opportunity to study private music lessons with highly qualified UNCW music students at an affordable cost. The student teachers are hired, trained and supervised by members of the UNCW music faculty. e: What have you learned so far moving forward with Twinkle?

DZG: I learned programs like this really raise awareness in our community [about] how important music is in the development of a child and how much joy it brings to play together. We need more free programs where parents would be less scared to get their children involved without worrying that they invested in something completely wrong for them.

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arts>>music

JAZZING UP THE SCENE:

Keith Butler Trio takes the stage for jazz night every Wednesday at Burnt Mill Creek

K

by: Arnold LOPEZ

endrick Lamar performed at the 2016 Grammys, sending a message to every American watching: Music has soul, history, and must provoke the status quo in order to bring awareness and start a dialogue about societal problems. The performance of “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright” off his Grammy-winning album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” succeeded in bringing back into the mainstream a different type of hip-hop—the kind that makes people uncomfortable. And at its core of musicality: the heart and soul of jazz.

Blending jazz and hip-hop is not new, according to musician Keith Butler Jr. Butler is the drummer and namesake for local jazz outfit, Keith Butler Trio, which plays Burnt Mill Creek every Wednesday for jazz night.

“Cats like Robert Glasper, Eric Harland, Gerald Clayton and many others are fus-

ing the two styles and adding layers to the genre,” Butlers says. “Hip-hop is changing jazz, in that the generation that grew up on hip-hop in the ‘80s and ‘90s is the generation currently leading the charge in jazz.”

Both genres began gaining popularity in times of flux. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, people wanted their voices to be heard, and what better place than on a stage? Art Blakey recorded several worldbeat jazz albums, such as “Holiday for Skins,” “The African Beat,” “Orgy in Rhythm,” which are great examples of how the genre pushed for the development of black cultural nationalism—even before the rise of Black Power. Still, today, it resonates.

“Look up John Coltrane’s tune, ‘Alabama,’ and when you listen to it, you’re like, ‘Oh, this is about today,’” he says. The song was written in response to the burning of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. “What musicians were talking about in the ‘50s and ‘60s is the same in 2016, so let’s bring it on back,” Butler notes.

Ribs, Pulled Pork, Brisket, Smoked Sausage

TRIO OF SOUND: Keith Butler Trio playing Burnt Mill Creek, Wed., Feb. 24. Photo by Arnold Lopez

Keith Butler Trio’s weekly gig has Burnt Mill Creek buzzing. Crowds of all ages and backgrounds fill up the venue around 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. every Wednesday. The musicians feed off the crowd and each other; the rhythm seems to elevate at each new solo, until the music stops. They play jazz standards, like “Caravan” by Duke Ellington and “Someday My Prince Will Come” by Miles Davis. Yet, they always approach the music differently.

“We might play a song one week, and then play it the next, and people may not recognize it,” Butler explains.

Oftentimes, guest musicians sit in to play with the trio. Last March, when reshoots for “Bolden” were being filmed in Wallace Park, Delfeayo Marsalis (yes, of the famed Marsalis brothers), sat in on trombone. Local jazz stalwart Benny Hill joined in, too, and somehow Burnt Mill Creek felt like a hideaway on a New York City street where jazz greats sneak in for a spell.

Winter Hours: Thursday - Friday: 11am - 8pm Saturday: 11am - 6pm or until we run out!

(Typically around 4pm)

Now Open on Wednesday: 11am - 6pm

10 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

Butler’s love for jazz can be attributed to Hill. In 2009 Butler attended the Benny Hill Quartet reunion at UNCW in Kenan Auditorium. He remembers Hill playing “Sing a Song of a Song” by Kenny Garrett, who played with Duke Ellington Orchestra and Miles Davis. Butler was hooked.

Though Butler has drummed with bands locally, like Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine, Onward, Soldiers, and Mike Blair and the Stonewalls, he formed the trio in 2014. It grew out of Butler’s hip-hop group, Temple5, and includes Cameron Tinklenberg on keys and Sean Howard on bass. Lately, Danny Louis Thomas has been joining in on the mic,

rapping and elevating the music beyond its smooth winding roots, and touching on the popularity Kendrick Lamar has cornerstoned in the current music industry.

“People like Kendrick Lamar aren’t afraid . . . to speak their mind, and I think that’s what it takes,” Butler says— “people unapologetically putting good music out there.”

Now a music genre which once had a select audience is growing and evolving. Locally, it’s expanding, too, even if slowly.

“A lot of places in town are not quiet places suitable for listening to jazz, but there are a couple of good spots,” Butler says. “The Rusty Nail is one place where people come to really listen to the music. The crowd responds appropriately and honors the music. The Cameron Art Museum brings a similar audience.”

The Keith Butler Trio wants to keep spreading the music, and paying proper respect to its history and the people who played before them. It’s what they strive to communicate every time they take the stage.

“Most problems I have as a jazz musician are self inflicted,” Butler tells. “We can be our worst critics at times. I struggle with the public perception of jazz music. It’s too often seen as a background music. The message I want to get across by playing is that this music is beautiful.”

DETAILS:

Keith Butler Trio

Every Wednesday, 8:30 - 11:30 p.m.

Free Burnt Mill Creek 2101 Market St. www.facebook.com/Keithbutlertrio

Make Hells Kitchen your March Madness Headquarters! featuring all Carolina Teams on the Big Screen with Sound! great Food and Drink Specials All Tournament Long!

MARCH 2016 THANKS FOR VOTING HELL'S KITCHEN BEST WINGS IN WILMINGTON!

118 PRINCESS ST • DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON • FREE DOWNTOWN DELIVERY MON–FRI

AS SEEN ON DAWSON’S CREEK (910) 763-4133 • WWW.HELLSKITCHENBAR.COM • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 11

a preview of events across town this week

the soundboard

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BORN OF THE BLUE RIDGE: Combining rock, Americana, Irish, gypsy, and old-time sounds, Chamomile and Whiskey plays with punk-rock ferocity. See them live at Satellite Bar and Lounge on Friday, March 25, at 10 p.m. Photo by Rich Tarbell.

Wednesday, March 23 Intervention Wed. Open Mic (6:30pm; Free) —Addicted to the Bean, 1207 S. Kerr Ave.

Trivia with Jim and Glenn (6:30pm; Free)

—Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.;

Tacos and Trivia (8pm; Free)

UNCW Community Music Academy (7pm; $5-$20)

Karaoke Night (9:30pm; Free)

Coleman Daley (7pm; Free; Reggae)

—Capt’n Bills Backyard and Grille, 4240 Market St. —Fox & Hound, 920 Town Center Dr.; 910-509-0805

—Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St.

Robert Ronner (7pm; Free; Southern Rock, Funk) —Goat & Compass, 710 N. 4th St.

James Jarvis (7pm; Free; Jazz Piano)

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

Thursday, March 24

Barry and Jill (7pm; $3; Classical, Jazz)

Acoustic Blues Jam (7pm; $3)

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

—UNCW Beckwith Recital Hall, 5270 Randall Dr.

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

Dank with The Formula (8pm; Cover TBD) —The Whiskey Bar NC, 1 S. Front St.

Fire and Drums (9pm; Free)

—Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.

HOW TO SUBMIT A LISTING: 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.

12 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

Trivia Night (9pm; Free)

—Fox & Hound, 920 Town Center Dr.; 910-509-0805

Karaoke (9pm; Free)

—Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.

Tex Railer’s Doomtown w/ Slippery Jake and The Bad Brakes (9pm; $5; Punk, Rockabilly)

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

Bass Station (10pm; Free)

—Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.

Friday, March 25 Hugh Mallard & Friends (6pm; Free; Jam, Rock) —A Tasting Room, 19 S. 2nd St.

Randy McQuay (7pm; Free; Blues)

—Holiday Inn Resort, 1706 N. Lumina Ave.

Port City Trio (7pm; $3; Jazz)

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

Snake Malone & The Black Cat Bone (8pm; Cover TBD; Blues) —The Whiskey Bar NC, 1 S. Front St.

Karaoke (9pm; Free)

—Rack’M Darts and Billiards, 415 S. College Rd.

—Reggie’s 42nd St. Tavern, 1415 S. 42nd St.

Sai Collins (7pm; Free, Folk, Rock, Soul) —Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St.

Live Music (8pm; Free)

—Bellas Bar LoCAL, 19 Market St.

Michael Frusha (9pm; Free; Guitar) —Goat & Compass, 710 N. 4th St.

St. Judas (9pm; Cover TBD; Metal)

—The Whiskey Bar NC, 1 S. Front St.

Stop Light Observations (9pm; $10; SouthernRetro-Electro-Rock)

—Goat & Compass, 710 N. 4th St.

Sunday, March 27 Easter Jazz Brunch with Nina Repeta (12pm; $10-$22) —TheatreNOW, 19 S. 10th St.

Books, Beer & Jazz Piano (3pm; Free)

—Old Books on Front Street, 249 N. Front St.

Bluegrass Sunday (6:30pm; Free)

—Satellite Bar & Lounge, 120 Greenfield St.; 910-399-2796

Monday, March 28 Free! Music & Comedy Open Mic (8:30pm; Free) —Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St.

Justin Cody Fox (10pm; Free; Americana) —Duck n Dive, 114 Dock St.

Tuesday, March 29 Best Medicine: Lymphomania! (7pm; Donations; Comedy) —Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St.

—Ziggy’s By The Sea, 208 Market St.; 910-769-4096

Open Mic (7:30pm; Free)

Chamomile and Whiskey (10pm; Free; Americana)

College Karaoke (9pm; Free)

—Satellite Bar & Lounge, 120 Greenfield St.; 910-399-2796

DJ UK (10pm; Free)

—Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.

Tom and Jane (10pm; Free; Piano, Singer) —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St.; 910-362-9666

LIVE MUSIC

Mark Herbert (9pm; Free; Folk Rock)

Big Jay Oakerson (7pm, 9:30pm; $20; Comedy) —Dead Crow Comedy Club, 265 N. Front St.

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Lionized, Reason To Ignite, A Bottle Volcanic, and The Romance (9pm; $5; Rock)

—Goat & Compass, 710 N. 4th St. —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St.; 910-362-9666

Bonerama (9pm; $10-$15)

—The Whiskey Bar NC, 1 S. Front St.

Wednesday, March 30

fri

MAR 25 sat

mar 26 fri

apr 1 sat

apr 2

Christine Martinez Acoustic Mix, 7pm - 10pm

Mike o’donnell

Dance & Classic, 7pm - 10pm

monica & wes

Acoustic Mix, 7pm - 10pm

Mike o’donnell

Dance & Classic, 7pm - 10pm

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 Watermelon Martini $ 95 22oz. Domestic Draft ALL DAY 4 RJ's Coffee $ 3 Sam Adams and Blue $5 Pizzas Moon Seasonal Bottles TUESDAY TUESDAY 1/2 off Select Bottles SATURDAY LIVE JAzz IN THE BAR of Wine $ $ 6 All Half Price Bottles of Southern Wine Shiners 5 Absolut Dreams 50 $ Blue$2Moon Draft 3 NC Brewed Bottles • Pacifico Absolut Dream $$5$503-22oz 2 Select Domestic Bottles WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY SUNDAY 1/2 offMiller Nachos Light Pints $150$ Coronoa/ $ 50 5 All$2Flat 50 Breads 1 Domestic Pints Lite Bottles Corona $ 50 $4 Bloody$ Marys 2 Corona/Corona Lt. Margaritas/Peach Margaritas 4 Pints $ 50 $ 50 1 Domestic 4 Frozen Margarita $ 5 White Russians THURSDAY (pick your flavor) Visit our $website Appletinis $4, RJ’s Painkiller 5

THURSDAY www.RuckerJohns.com $ 50 2 Red Stripe for Bottles $ 50 daily specials, music and 2 Fat Tire Bottles $ 50 2 Fat Tire Bottles upcoming events $ 50 2 Flying Dog IPA 1/2 off ALL Red WineFRIDAY5564 Carolina $ 50 Glasses Cosmos $4, 007 Beach 3 Road

$ (910)-452-1212 3 Guinness Cans $ Island Sunsets 5 SATURDAY 100 S. FRONT ST. $ Baybreeze/Seabreeze 4 22oz. Blue Moon 910-251-1832 Draft $3 LIVE MUSIC $ 2 Select Domestic Bottles in the courtyard SUNDAY7 days a week $ Bloody Marys 4, Domestic MONDAY S.I.N. NIGHT $ 50 $2 Domestics • $3 All Draft Selections 1 • $4 Flavored Bombs Pints $ 50% off Apps 6pm til Hurricanes 5 close

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

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

Call 791-0688 Deadline every Thurs., noon!

NEW BELGIUM TUESDAY Carolina Beach Road, $3 New5564 Belgium selections (Fat Tire, Ranger IPA) (910) 452-1212 $5 Jameson • Wing Special WEDNESDAY $2.75 Miller Lite, $4 Wells, Half off All Bottles of wine Live Music @ 8pm THIRSTY THURSDAY $2.50 PBR 16oz cans $3.50 Sam Adams Seasonal & Hoppyum Pints $5 Redbull & Vodka, 50¢ Steamed Oysters and Shrimp FRIDAY $2.75 Michelob Ultra • $3.25 Stella $4.50 José Cuervo Silver • Live Music on the Patio SATURDAY $2.75 Red Stripe • $4.50 Evan Williams Cherry Reel Cafe Rooftop Concert Series SUNDAY $3 Coronas/Corona Lite • $10 Domestic Buckets (5) $4 Mimosas • $4 Bloody Mary’s

Intervention Wed. Open Mic (6:30pm; Free) —Addicted to the Bean, 1207 S. Kerr Ave.

Saturday, March 26 Jazz Piano on Front St. (6pm; Free)

Trivia with Jim and Glenn (6:30pm; Free)

—Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.

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

James Jarvis (7pm; Free; Jazz Piano)

Will Daube (6pm; Free; Folk)

Beau Soir (7pm; $5-$10)

—A Tasting Room, 19 S. 2nd St.

Mike O’Donnell (7pm; Free; Guitar)

—Holiday Inn Resort, 1706 N. Lumina Ave.

Phil Kelly (7pm; $3; Americana, Folk) —Ted’s Fun on the River, 2 Castle St.; 910-231-3379

Big Jay Oakerson (7pm, 9:30pm; $20)

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

Sean Thomas Gerard (7pm; Free; Pop, Indie) —Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St.

Medicated Sunfish (8pm; Free; Rock) —Duck n Dive, 114 Dock St.

Ashton Stanley (8pm; Free; Rock, Folk)

—The Blind Elephant, 21 N. Front St. Unit F —Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St.; 910-395-5999

Tacos and Trivia (8pm; Free)

—Capt’n Bills Backyard and Grille, 4240 Market St.

Nora Jane Struthers and Striking Copper (8pm; Cover TBD; Americana) —The Whiskey Bar NC, 1 S. Front St.

Karaoke Night (9:30pm; Free)

—Fox & Hound, 920 Town Center Drive; 910509-0805

Thursday ________________________________________ $2.50 Budweiser Draft $4 Wells 65 Wings, 4-7pm $3.50 Sweetwaters $4.50 Absolute Lemonade 65 Wings, 4-7pm

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

$3.50 Sweet Josie $4 Margaritas $3.50 Pint of the Day $4 Fire Ball $5 Mimosas $5 Car Bombs $5 Bloody Mary’s & Mimosas *Drink Specials run all day

TRIVIA WITH STEVE

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

Friday ____________________________________________

LIVE __________________________________________ MUSIC Sunday

BREAKFAST BUFFET

9:00 A.m.- 2:00 P.M.• $4 BLOODY MARY’S AND MIMOSA’S

1 42 3 S . 3 r d S t . D O W NT O W N W I L M I NG T O N ( 91 0 ) 7 63 - 1 60 7

—Ironclad Brewery, 115 N. 2nd St.

encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 13

concerts outside of southeastern nc

showstoppers

STOP LIGHT OBSERVATION FRI, MARCH 25th

MUNCIPAL WASTE THURS, MARCH 31st

MAR. 25th STOPLIGHT OBSERVATION APR. 20th TRIBAL SEEDS MAR. 29th BONERAMA

APR. 21st CILVER FIT FOR RIVALS

MAR. 31st MUNCIPAL WASTE

APR. 22nd LUKE COMBS

APR. 1st STICK FIGURE

APR. 26th COLEMAN HELL

APR. 2st FOAM DROP

APR. 30th MATOMA

APR. 3rd SHAMAN HARVEST

MAY 7th STATE CHAMPS

APR. 7th CORROSION OF CONFORMITY

MAY 10th THY ART IS MURDER

APR. 11th MADBALL

MAY 20th SAY ANTHING

APR. 17th EYEHATEGOD

MAY 22nd WHITECHAPEL

MAY 15th INSANE CLOWN POSSE

ON THEIR WAY: See Rusted Root on March 29 at The Orange Peel in Asheville. Courtesy photo.

NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE NORTH DAVIDSON ST., CHARLOTTE, NC (704) 358-9298 3/25: Paul Thorn Band 3/26: Run River North 3/30: Divin’ n’ Cryin’ and Great Peacock THE FILLMORE 820 HAMILTON ST., Charlotte, NC (704) 916-8970 3/25: Papadosio and The Mantras 3/26: Trial By Fire 3/30: Chance the Rapper AMOS’ SOUTHEND 1423 S. TRYON ST., CHARLOTTE, NC (704) 377-6874 3/25: Sister Hazel, Christian Lopez Band and Brad Ray 3/26: Dirty Grass Soul, Kenny George Band and more MOTORCO MUSIC HALL 723 RIGSBEE AVE., durham, NC (919) 901-0875 3/24: Astronauts, etc. and Harriet Brown 3/25: Chip Shearin 3/26: Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba Kaira Ba 3/26: ForeverAtLast and The Things They Carried 3/31: Chad Valley and Blackbird Blackbird

STICK FIGURE FRI, APRIL 1

st

FOAM DROP

14 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

SAT, APRIL 2nd

HOUSE OF BLUES MYRTLE BEACH 4640 Hwy 17 S., Myrtle Beach, SC (843) 272-3000 3/25: Future 3/29: Disturbed

LINCOLN THEATRE 126 E. Cabarrus st., raleigh, nc (919) 821-4111 3/25: SUPERDUPERKYLE, Nance and Biggie Whit 3/29: Twiddle and Groove Fetish 3/30: Autolux and Eureka The Butcher 3/31: Stick Figure, Fortunate Youth and Raging Fyah CAT’S CRADLE 300 E. MAIN St., CARRBORO, NC (919) 967-9053 3/25: Aaron Carter 3/25: Laura Reed, Bella G and SE Ward (Back Room) 3/26: Mount Moriah, Elephant Micah, Dex Romweber 3/26: Happy Abandon, Cool Party, Lairs (Back Room) 3/28: Junior Boys, Jessy Lanza and Borys 3/29: Nora Jane Struthers and more (Back Room) 3/30: The Wonder Years and more 3/30: Konrad Küchenmeister and more (Back Room) 3/31: G. Love & Special Sauce, The Bones of J.R. Jones THE ORANGE PEEL 101 bILTMORE AVE., ASHEVILLE, NC (828) 398-1837 3/25: Camp David, Doc Aquatic and Fashion Bath 3/28: The Great American, Holden and Luke 3/29: Rusted Root and The Get Right Band 4/2: Yo La Tengo

encore | march 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 15

arts>>art

Ladies of the arts:

Visual and literary artists come together in ‘She Tells a Story’

I

by: Shea Carver

n honor of Woman’s History Month, Cameron Art Museum opened a new exhibit last Friday that pairs female visual artists with local female literary artists. “She Tells a Story” celebrates 51 women, with the art culled from CAM’s permanent collection.

“Exploring the catalytic relationship between visual imagery and text, CAM invited 14 Wilmington-area writers to compose new work inspired by these selections,” CAM registrar Holly Tripman Fitzgerald says. “This juxtaposition of visual with word illuminates how artists communicate their experiences, perspectives and world views through their chosen medium.”

They asked writers Anna Lena Phillips Bell, Karen E. Bender, Wendy Brenner, Maylee Chai, Cara Cilano, Amrita Das, Nina de Gramont, Dina Greenberg, Celia Rivenbark, Gwenyfar Rohler, Emily Louise Smith, Bertha Boynkin Todd, Kelly Rae Williams, and Margo Williams to participate. The ladies chose their artists from CAM’s vast pool of talent, including

Rohler chose Chant’s piece, “Merlin and the Lady of the Lake,” to interpret in a short story of 500 words. Rohler’s corresponding piece of fiction hangs beside Chant’s art in the show.

“Merlin and the Lady of the Lake” showcases a lady by a lake with a man at her feet with an open book. The lady is gesturing quite candidly, as the background tree twists and turns in mystical beauty—though large and clearly rooted in its strength and girth. Rohler took to it as a conversation of sorts.

Elisabeth Chant, Mary Cassat and Minnie Evans, among others. But the museum didn’t want an all-female exhibition just for the sake of having one. “That would be the same with grouping artists for any reason other than their work,” Fitzgerald notes. The fact Women’s History Month falls in March and present-day undercurrent of women’s issues continues to make headlines certainly impacted the decision. Not to mention, there’s a lot of female talent locally.

“The reality is there is a gender imbalance in the presentation of art in museums and galleries,” Fitzgerald states. “According to data compiled by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 51 percent of artists working today are female, while just 28 percent of museum solo exhibitions in the 2000s were dedicated to female artists.”

“I was drawn to several elements, among them a conversation appeared to be taking place in the painting, and also the book open on the ground appealed to my inclination toward the written word,” continues Rohler, who owns Old Books on Front St. “I responded to it with a short piece of a conversation between Elisabeth and [her sister,] Emma, discussing Elisabeth’s visions, and her coming to understand the power of writing, books and documents—an allusion to her commitment papers.

Her family had her committed to an institution for her nightly travels to Camelot. She apparently did speak of that when she moved here.”

Fitzgerald chose the writers by closely utilizing local resources at UNCW. She worked with Heather Wilson and Emily Smith, both alums from the MFA Creative Writing Program. “We were looking for diversity in their chosen writing medium, age and ethnicity,” she tells. CAM then pulled favorites, like Mary Cassatt’s “The Ten,”

Open for lunch all over town!

MERLIN AND THE LADY AT THE LAKE: Artwork by Elisabeth Chant and a corresponding 500-word story written by Gwenyfar Rohler is on display at Cameron Art Museum, as part of ‘She Tells a Story,’ which showcases 51 females from the visual and literary arts. Courtesy photo, Cameron Art Museum

as well as new work—including two new acquisitions from Minnie Evans, Maud Gatewood, Shahzia Sikander, Barbara Chase-Riboub, and Viola Frey. Imagery was sent to each writer.

Thank you, Wilmington, for voting us Best Sub /Sandwich Shop & Deli!

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16 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

When encore writer and book author Gwenyfar Rohler received a call to participate, the honor of being included amongst National Book Award finalist Karen Bender, New York Times Best Seller Celia Rivenbark and others was overwhelming. “It made me a little woozy,” Rohler says. She kept asking herself: “Is it real?

They let me be part of this?”

Rohler chose the work of Elisabeth Chant (1865-1947), who was born in Somerset, England but moved stateside in 1873. Chant went to school for art, helped found Minneapolis Artists’ League and its Handicraft Guild, as well as went to nursing school and served in the Spanish-American War. Her family had her committed to an asylum in the early part of the 20th century, wherein she remained for three years.

Upon her release, she landed in Wilmington, NC, and worked in the arts as a mentor and teacher, as well as founded the Art League of Wilmington in 1923.

Trepidation set in for Rohler, as she tried to imagine the directions of her peers interpreting their own selections. Approaching it correctly weighed on Rohler.

“I [worried about taking] a wrong turn and failing to meet expectations,” she candidly states. “When you look at the visual artists— Chant and Fritzi Huber, for example—the bar is equally high.”

All of the art in “She Tells a Story” is breathtakingly high quality, yet also goes deeper to any viewer who would allow it. Specifically, gender and societal mores impact artists, shape their identities and how they responded to their environments. “By acknowledging and questioning these effects, this exhibition hopes to highlight the many contributions, past and present, of women in the visual and literary arts,” Fitzgerald says.

“She Tells a Story” will be on display through Sept. 11 at Cameron Art Museum.

Details:

She Tells a Story

Hanging through Sept. 11 Cameron Art Museum 3201 S. 17th St. $3-$8; free for members http://cameronartmuseum.org

what’s hanging around the port city

galleryguide Artfuel.inc

2165 Wrightsville Ave. Mon. - Sat., noon - 7pm www.artfuelinc.com • (910) 343-5233 Artfuel is pleased to host Vol. 42, featuring work by Dennis Schaffer, Kyle Page, Mimi Logothetis, and Tuki Lucero. Hangs for eight weeks.

Bracelets” and designer jewelry. Alos presenting Papa Froosh as our musical artist, a duo, here at “The Moon”!

New Elements Gallery

201 Princess St. (919) 343-8997 Tues. - Sat.: 11am - 6pm (or by appt.) www.newelementsgallery.com Striking A Balance opens at New Elements Gallery on March 25, 2016. This exhibit features new works from printmaker ArtExposure!

Donald Furst and painter Bob Rankin. Both 22527 Highway 17N, Hampstead, NC artists share a clean, linear aestheric, but (910) 803-0302 • (910) 330-4077 they differ in palette. Furst works predomiTues. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm (or by appt.) nately in black and white where Rankin www.artexposure50.com We have over forty NC artists here at Ar- plays with primary hues. New Elements tExposure. Come visit and view the work. Gallery will host an opening reception on Artists may rent wall space and/or studio March 25th, from 6pm to 9pm, in conjuncspace. Come meet the artists working in tion with Downtown Wilmington’s Fourth their studios. A Plein Air Workshop with Friday Gallery Night. Striking A Balance Karen Crenshaw on beautiful Topsail Is- will remain on view until April 16, 2016. land will be held April 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. Details can be found on our website.

River to Sea Gallery Deadline to sign up is March 31st. Check 225 S. Water St., Chandler’s Wharf our website for more available classes. (free parking) • (910) 763-3380 Tues.- Sat. 11am - 5pm; Sun. 1- 4pm River to Sea Gallery showcases the work Art in bloom of husband and wife Tim and Rebecca 210 Princess St. Duffy Bush. In addition, the gallery repTues. - Sat. 10 am - 6 pm resents several local artists. The current (or by appt., Sun. and Mon.) show will enthrall visitors with its eclectic (484) 885-3037 collection of original paintings, photograwww.aibgallery.com phy, sculpture, glass, pottery and jewelry.

Established in 2015, the Art in Bloom Gal- “Morning Has Broken” features works by lery is in a renovated, 19th-century horse Janet Parker. Come see Janet’s bold use stable at 210 Princess Street in downtown of color and texture to reveal local marsh Wilmington. The gallery focuses upon in- creeks and structures. ternational and national fine art. The current exhibit of oil paintings, “Debra Bucci: Living in the Moment,” runs through May SUNSET RIVER Marketplace 27th. We are open until 9 pm for Fourth Fri- 10283 Beach Dr., SW (NC 179) day Gallery Nights. Join us for receptions (910) 575-5999 • Tues.- Sat. 10 am - 5 pm in March for special community events www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com where the visual arts, history, and literary In the historic fishing village of Calabash, arts converge: 1) “Dig and Learn” with the NC, over 10,000-plus square feet of fine Public Archaeology Corps, Sunday, March arts is showcased. Clay art and pottery; oil 13, 2-5 pm and 2) Childrens’ Book Read- paintings, watercolors, mixed media, pasing for “Winnie and Willie Won’t Give Up” tels and acrylics; plus award-winning metby author, Cherie Rechka, Sunday, March alworks, wood pieces, hand-blown glass, 20, 2-5 pm. fiber art, artisan-made jewelry and more.

Sunset River Marketplace has become a popular destination for visitors, a gathering CRESCENT MOON ART AND STYLE 24 N. Front St. • (910) 762-4207 place for artists and a center of the comCall for new hours or appointment! munity, thanks to its onsite pottery studio, This Fourth Friday, join the community complete with two kilns; a custom master of Wilmington to celebrate the Life & Art of framing department; and art classrooms Linda A. Hartman. Tommy J is back, too— for workshops and ongoing instruction. featuring his beautiful and limited sterling silver Galion “Hook and Double Hook

WILMA W. DANIELS GALLERY

P embroke ’ s

200 Hanover Street, CFCC parking deck First level Tues.- Fri., 10am - 5:30pm; Sat., noon - 5:30pm (910) 362-7431 CFCC’s Wilma W. Daniels Gallery is pleased to present Bob Bryden: Works on Paper. The exhibition will run through March 24th, 2016. Bob Bryden’s work exists comfortably within the traditions of minimalism and optical art. Subject is reduced to the essential elements of point, line, and plane. Visual dialogue emerges from the layering of color field and pattern. Bryden’s work creates the impression of movement and contains hidden images, undulating surfaces and conflicting perspectives.

Bob grew up in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. He is a graduate of Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, and received a masters degree in art from the University of Louisville in Kentucky. Contact Sarah Rushing at srushing278@mail.cfcc.edu.

1125 A, M ilitAry C utoff r d .

(910) 239-9153

SPECiAlS:

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encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 17

arts>>theatre

RAPID-FIRE LAUGHS:

City Stage Co. nails it with espionage comedy ‘The 39 Steps’

by: GWENYFAR ROHLER

C

ity Stage Co’s current production of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps,” adapted by Patrick Barlow, is a theatrical tour de force. John Buchan published the novel “The Thirty-Nine Steps” in 1915. In 1935 Alfred Hitchcock directed the first major film adaptation of the book.

Though several other film and television adaptations have come since, the 1935 production is still considered the definitive one, even though it differs from the book considerably. 1995 saw the beginning of a four-person stage adaptation. In 2005 Patrick Barlow premiered this adaptation in the UK. The concept of the show is delightful: part musical hall comedy, part Hitchcock homage, part Charles Ludlam. And, overall, it is all delightful. Richard Hannay (Jason Aycock) functions as the narrator and lead character. Hannay is feeling bored and at loose ends when he decides to go to the music hall to see Mr. Memory (Brett J. Young) perform. There is a strange woman, Annabella Schmidt (Heather Setzler), who fires a gun and kidnaps Hannay to his own apartment. Setzler kicks off the first outrageous but entertaining accent of the evening. More follow at a rapid-fire pace.

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Annabella is murdered in Hannay’s apartment but first leaves him with an oversized map of Scotland and a series of confusing clues about an espionage caper that would cripple Britain in the coming war. Hannay sets off toward Scotland to try to unravel the mystery, clear his name of the murder charge, and if possible, save the nation.

Christopher Rickert and Brett J. Young are billed as Clown 1 and 2 (respectively).

Between the actors, they play almost all of the characters—with the exception of Hannay and the three women that Setzler portrays. A small smattering of their adventures include: two tough guys, a Scottish innkeeper and his wife, a double agent and his wife, two traveling salesmen, police officers, political operatives, airplane pilots, and musical-hall performers.

With a cast of four taking on this many roles in such a fast-paced show, the casting definitely proved half the battle for director Chandler Davis. Clearly, she struck

18 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

gold. Real-life couple Heather Setzler and Jason Aycock are well-known to musicalgoing audiences. Both are triple threats, as they sang and danced their way into audiences’ hearts years ago.

Jason Aycock as the handsome, darkhaired, dissolute, but deep down good hearted Richard Hannay, absolutely stuns. He tackles the part with a straight face but a twinkle in his eye—the perfect blend of farce and in-on-the-joke for this show. I think it is the first time I’ve seen him onstage in a non-singing and dancing role. His talent as an actor is just as compelling as his dancing and singing gifts (and when I say his musical theatre gifts are compelling, I mean, I secretly believe that Aycock is the reincarnation of Gene Kelly), but his musical-theatre abilities are so spectacular they usually overshadow his skill for acting and comedy.

Setzler meets every challenge Aycock’s Hannay throws at her various personas.

More so, she ups the ante time and time again. It seems absurd to say their chemistry is great, but like many famous acting couples (Tracy and Hepburn, Bogart and Bacall), they really do complement each other and pull something special to the fore.

Two other more appropriately people could not have been found, like Rickert and Young, to play the clowns. Christopher Rickert is blessed with height, gravitas and a beautiful singing voice. As such, he finds himself frequently cast in musicals not as the young lover, but either a sidekick or respectable guy. It is rare we get to see his silly side come out onstage, but he is bursting with comedic talent and is truly having so much fun in this role.

So much so, it is infectious to watch him.

Anyone who saw him as Bob Wallace in “White Christmas” will be a bit shocked to see him as the wife of a Scottish innkeeper. I believed him entirely.

Brett J. Young is one of the founding members of Pineapple-Shaped Lamps (PSL), Wilmington’s nationally recognized sketch comedy and shadow cast troupe.

Seeing Young as “zany” is not new, but the experience that his co-performers bring to this show pushed his own performance. This is by far the best work I have seen from him. His characters are distinct, compelling, and when the big reveal occurs, his rendition of Mr. Memory is quite touching.

There is another uncredited performer in this show and that is stagehand Jon Wallin.

Part of the conceit of the script and design concept is various set pieces (windows, doors, lights, etc.) are introduced and frequently held in place by cast members and occasionally the stage hand. Wallin manages to tread a line between “you don’t see me” and a smile reminiscent of Chico Marx asking, “It’s a pretty good show, eh?”

The cast manages to reproduce a scene climbing along the outside of a moving train that creates palpably genuine motion.

Then they turn around and change the rules of physics for how windows are supposed to operate—all with a wink and nod.

The scenic design is very stripped-down, which puts a lot of emphasis on costumes and lighting. Costumer Lance Howell gives Hannay and Setzler’s characters very detailed threads. But for the clowns—who have constant quick changes—some even onstage while talking to themselves as multiple different characters—he has opted for a selection of hats, wigs and one or two defining pieces. It works beautifully.

Beau Mumford’s lighting complements the action of the show, which moves from the stage to the audience several times, and highlights where the audience’s attention should go. In a show this complicated, he manages to help the audience feel “in the know.” We tend to recognize design and technical achievements when they are overwhelming with big “awe” factors. Sometimes, simplicity is harder. With a show like this, if the visual pieces aren’t there it would fail miserably and quickly.

The team has put together an amazing balance, making everything not only work but sizzle and pop with excitement.

The script is funny, smart and chocked full of Hitchcock references outside of just “The 39 Steps.” But more importantly, all the pieces have come together to make something greater than the sum of the parts. It truly is a theatrical tour de force.

DETAILS:

The 39 Steps

March 25-27, and April 1-3 Tickets: $20-$25 City Stage • 21 N Front St #501 910-342-0272 CityStageCoReservations@gmail.com

arts>>film

reel to reel

A Dramedy Anomaly:

films this week

Jason Sudeikis and Rebecca Hall are great in ‘Tumbledown’

T

cinematique

Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St.

by: Anghus

$8-$10, 7pm • www.thalianhall.org

March 21-25 (additional showing March 23 at 4 p.m.): Playing in the Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre, “Anomalisa” is an animated film about a man crippled by the mundanity of his life. Inspirational speaker (David Thewlis) becomes reinvigorated after meeting a lively woman (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who shakes up his mundane existence. “Anomalisa” is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. (Rated R, 90 mins)

here’s something to be said for subtlety. God knows there are few movies that exhibit this trait, buried under the incredibly ham-fisted dialogue and poor casting of Hollywood-produced romances.

Such films are often exercises in the lowest-common-denominator plotting. Romantic dramedies are hardly the world’s most subtle cinematic genre. About 85 percent are adapted from Nicholas Sparks novels, and feature a story so thin and dialogue so painful it could be considered cruel and unusual punishment by the Geneva Convention.

“Tumbledown” is something of a pleasant surprise—a movie about love that has all the staples of a love story but refuses to embrace the broader tone such movies often carry. There were a lot of moments I could see coming. Scenes felt familiar in similar movies, but rather than playing it up, director Sean Mewshaw plays everything at an even keel. Even the most over-the-top moments seem genuine in a way so many other romantic comedies don’t.

Hannah (Rebecca Hall) lives in rural Maine and is trying to get over the death of her husband—a musician who had acquired a cult following. His gravesite is frequently visited by fans, who drop off notes, mementos and occasional bottles of liquor.

Hannah still very much lives in the epic shadow he cast—enthralled by music he created. There’s a very big hole left in his absence. One particular hole is filled by local utility worker Curtis (Joe Manganiello), who has developed a friends-with-benefits relationship with Hannah. She has constructed the basic tenants on an existence: food, shelter, occasional human contact, but she’s still stuck in a rut.

The rut is challenged by Andrew McDonnell (Jason Sudeikis)—an aspiring writer and associate professor who is obsessed with Hannah’s late husband and what will become of his legacy. Hannah has been trying to write a biography about her husband, but struggles to write anything she believes encapsulates everything he was.

Their relationship is strained at first. She’s convinced Andrew is another muckraker looking to write some tabloid garbage.

Andrew’s devotion to Hannah’s late husband’s career serves as another reminder of everything she has lost. They both put aside their differences to collaborate on a book as Andrew moves into Hannah’s remote lake cabin.

NO SO IDIOTIC: Tumbledown takes an enjoyable, slow-burn approach to a romantic dramedy when so many others are without substance.

Courtesy photo.

It’s an interesting set up. Like a posthumous “The End of the Tour,” where a writer digs through the life of a tortured artist after they’ve gone. Hannah is reluctant to share everything. She keeps Andrew at arms’ length and only after some trust is built is she capable of sharing some of the more intimate truths about their relationship. It doesn’t help that Andrew believes the death of Hannah’s husband may have been suicide, instead of an unfortunate hiking accident that she and her family have come to accept.

istry and make the film feel like an anomaly in a sea of sub-par, substanceless romantic comedies. I wish more relationship movies took the “slow burn” approach. “Tumbledown” is an engaging, pleasant surprise. A romantic comedy that doesn’t feel idiotic or annoying. How often can you say that?

Available on iTunes, Google Play, and On Demand.

DETAILS:

Tumbledown

★★★★★

Rated R Starring Rebecca Hall, Jason Sudeikis, There’s a lot to like about “Tumbledown.” Blythe Danner Most notably a cast that brings a great deal of Directed by Sean Mewshaw sincerity to the proceedings. Jason Sudeikis is doing a fine job of separating himself from crazy characters he portrayed on “Saturday Night Live.” He seems to be spending a lot of time recently trying to establish himself in more dramatic roles and doing it pretty well. Rebecca Hall is an actress I’m becoming a bigger fan of with each subsequent film. The small supporting cast is filled with spry performers like Manganiello, Griffin Dunne and Blythe Danner. The ice covered landscapes of Maine are beautifully filmed. I kept thinking about movies like “The Shipping News” or “The Proposal,” which effectively use “off the beaten path” as the backdrop for their stories.

The inevitable spark between Andrew and Hannah is telegraphed way in advance, but how they come together is handled in such a subtle, natural way. Nothing feels forced. Sudeikis and Hall have great chem-

March 28-April 1 (additional showing March 30 at 4 p.m.): Also playing in the Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre in honor of Fashion Week is “Dior and I.” Frédéric Tcheng’s solo directorial debut brings viewers inside Christian Dior’s fashion house with behind-the-scenes looks at Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director. Melding everyday, pressure-filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from iconic brand’s past, it’s a colorful homage to seamstresses who serve Simons’ vision. (Rated R, 90 mins)

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southeastern nc’s premier dining guide

grub & guzzle

blue surf cafÉ • www.bluesurfcafe.com

American 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 awardwinning 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 Menu.

■ WEBSITE: www.bluesurfcafe.com

CAM cafÉ

CAM Café, located within the CAM delivers delightful surprises using fresh, local ingredients with a Chef Jessica Cabo twist. Awarded “Best Food” by the local Wilmington Food & Wine Festival. Under her influence the café serves a West Coast interpretation of local dishes. The café serves lunch with seasonal options Tuesday thru Saturday, Internationally inspired Tapas on Wednesday nights, elegant yet approachable dinner on Thursday and brunch every Sunday.

Look for a New England Lobster Roll in the summer and Miso Short ribs as winter evening signature dishes. 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 and art of the museum. 3201 S 17th St. (910) 777-2363.

■ SERVING LUNCH, BRUNCH & DINNER: Hours: Tues-Sat 11 am– 3 pm; Wed./Thurs 5 – 9 pm; Sunday Brunch 10 am – 3 pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.camcafe.org

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 Chris Corona. 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. 910-796-6565 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tues.-Thurs.11am-9pm, Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm. Lunch menu served ‘til 4pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Brooklyn Arts District ■ WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/thedistrictnc

20 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.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 11:30-10:00; 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. Serves 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

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 rotating craft beers on tap, a hand selected eclectic American wine list, fun cock-

BrooklynArtsNC.com 910-538-2939

FREE PARKING • CASH BAR • ATM ON SITE Visit our website and join our mailing list for event announcements.

516 North 4th Street | Historic Downtown Wilmington, NC

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encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 21

tails, 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

low tide pub

THIS COULD BE YOUR VIEW

CELEBRATE SPRING AT THE RIVERBOAT LANDING WITH THE BEST VIEWS IN TOWN! Riverboat Landing 2 Market Street ◆ (910) 763-7227

www.riverboatlanding.com 22 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

Located across from UNCW’s campus, Low Tide Pub serves up delicious fare and great drink specials in a fun atmosphere. Enjoy the biggest and best wings in town for only $0.50 on Sundays, a $5 daily lunch special, $2 daily beer special, and even taco Tuesdays. Their Mother Clucker is served just in time for the holidays: slow-roasted chicken with cranberries, housemade stuffing, lettuce, and tomato.

Their Thai or Buffalo shrimp wrap, famed Monte Cristo and 1945-family secret cheesecake recipe will keep customers coming back for more. Karaoke Saturdays begin at 9:30 p.m., and trivia Tuesdays get underway weekly at 7:30 p.m.

Low Tide has a beautiful, private deck, perfect for hosting parties and events. It’s midtown Wilmington’s favorite pub— ”where on the rocks is a good thing.” 4540 Fountain Drive, beside of PT’s. 910-313-2738.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER AND LATE-NIGHT: Mon., 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.; Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.; Fri., 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.; Sat., noon - 2 a.m.; Sun., noon - 9 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown Wilmington, near UNCW ■ FEATURING: Daily specials, Saturday karaoke and Tuesday trivia night.

■ WEBSITE: www.lowtidepub.com

pine valley market

Pine Valley Market has reigned supreme in servicing the Wilmington community for years, securing encore’s Best-Of awards in catering, gourmet shop and butcher. Now, Kathy Webb and Christi Ferretti are expanding their talents into serving lunch in-house, so folks can enjoy their hearty, homemade meals in the quaint and cozy ambience of the market. Using the freshest ingredients of highest quality, diners can enjoy the best Philly Cheesesteak in Wilmington, along with numerous other sandwich varieties, from their Angus burger to classic Reuben, Italian sub to a grown-up banana and peanut butter sandwich that will take all diners back to childhood. Served among a soup du jour and salads, there is something for all palates. Take advantage of their take-home frozen meals for nights that are too hectic to cook, and don’t forget to pick up a great bottle of wine to go with it. 3520 S.

College Road, (910) 350-FOOD. ■ 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, brisket 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.sweetnsavorypub.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), allbeef, 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, 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

Asian 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

kabuki korean cafÉ and sushi

Family-owned and operated, Kabuki Korean Café and Sushi is Wilmington’s only authentic Korean restaurant, freshly renovated and boasting a brand new menu! They feature delectable Korean BBQ, and are best known for traditional items like their bibimbop and bulgogi. But they also feature a large variety of Asian cuisine, from fresh sushi to fried rice to teriyaki dishes, dumplings, edamame and more. Open daily, Kabuki welcomes diners for lunch from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

and dinner 4:30 to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. Stop by Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. 4102 Oleander Drive, Suite 2, at the corner of 41st Street, behind the Hess gas station. 910-350-3332.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

Mon-Fri, 11am-2:30pm; Sat-Sun, noon-10pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, off Oleander Drive.

■ FEATURING: Wilmington’s only authentic Korean restaurant!

■ WEBSITE: www.kabukikoreancafe.com

KYOTO ASIAN GRILLE

Kyoto Asian Grille specializes in crafting mouth-watering food and providing superb customer service. We serve a plethora of Asian cuisines, from Chinese to Japanese to Thai, and have an unwavering commitment to flavor. All of our ingredients are fresh, cooked to order, with artistic culinary flair. We also serve everything from sushi to traditional Chinese dishes, a plethora of curries to Pad Thai, hibachi and teriyaki dishes, and more. Come give us a try where you will find nothing in the freezer but the ice cream. Open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday. Located at 4102 Market Street, (910) 332-3302.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon - Thu: 11am - 3pm and 5pm - 9:30pm or Fri - Sat, 11am - 3pm and 5pm - 10pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: An array of Asian cuisines, from Japanese to Chinese, Thai and more.

■ WEBSITE: www.kyotoasiangrille.com

Okami Japanese hibachi Steakhouse

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 well-being, 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.

Downtown Wilmington > 115 N. 2nd Street

Book your next event at Ironclad Comfortably holds more than 400 people Stage, sound system & 12 ft. HDTV 2nd St parking deck is across the street No cost to use the space for events www.ironcladbrewery.com 910-769-0290

To feature your brewery, beer or wine shop, contact Shannon at music@encorepub.com encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 23

■ 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.

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

Healthy NEMA LOUNGE and EATERY

Open since the summer of 2015, NeMa Eatery and Lounge boasts the delicacies of Chef Borkowski. Serving bold flavors in a variety of menu items form grass-fed burgers to artisan pizzas to small plates, the NeMa team takes diners across the world through palate pleasing menu items, includ-

ing their “fancy fries”, doused with truffles and Parmesan.

Borkowski takes pride in hand-crafted food, while the NeMa staff offers helpful, friendly knowledge. They offer vegan, gluten-and-allergy-friendly fare and Wine Down Wednesday (1/2 off glasses and bottles of wine). 225 S Water St. 910-769-3709 ■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER AND BRUNCH: Closed Monday, Tuesday 12pm -9pm, Wednesday-Friday 12pm -10pm, Saturday 10am - 10pm, Sunday 10am - 9pm, Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10am - 2pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown, Chandler’s Wharf ■ FEATURING: Worldly eats, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free items ■ WEBSITE: www.nemalounge.com

Indian kabob and grill

Welcome to Kabob and Grill, downtown Wilmington’s only fine Indian restaurant. Located on Water Street, overlooking the Cape Fear River, Kabob and Grill innovatesexotic flavors of Indian kabobs and curries. Kabobs are baked to perfection in our “tandoor” clay oven fresh, daily. We take pride in offering a great selection of vegetarian entrees made with healthy spices, vegetables and herbs. We also serve vegan and gluten-free items, all aromatic and full of flavor. Our professional chef ensures our lavash and extensive menu appeals to all palates, whether choosing vegetarian, chicken, lamb, goat, or seafood. Our dining area is modern and upscale, yet steeped in Indian tradition. We have a full-service bar and are open seven days a week. We do take-out, delivery and welcome private parties. Live music and dance every Saturday. Please, check our website or facebook page for more information. www.kabobandgrilldowntown.com - 5 S. Water Street, (910) 833-5262.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Lunch Sunday through Saturday 11am-3pm. Dinner Sunday through Thursday 5-10pm, Friday & Saturday 5-10:30pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown

Open for Lunch & Dinner

■ FEATURING: Innovative Indian recipes, made fresh daily.

■ WEBSITE: www.kabobandgrilldowntown.com

Italian

tandoori bites

eddie romanelli’s

Located on College Road, just opposite Hugh MacRae Park, Tandoori Bites offers fine Indian cuisine at affordable prices.

Try one of 74 dishes on their lengthy menu, featuring a large range of side dishes and breads. They have specialties, such as lamb korma with nuts, spices and herbs in a mild creamy sauce, as well as seafood, like shrimp biryani with saffronflavored rice, topped with the shellfish and nuts. They also have many vegetarian dishes, including mutter paneer, with garden peas and homemade paneer, or baingan bharta with baked eggplant, flamed and sautéed with onions, garlic and ginger. Join their cozy eatery, where a far east escape awaits all diners, among a staff of friendly and helpful servers, as well as chefs who bring full-flavored tastes straight from their homeland. Located at 1620 South College Road, (910) 7944540.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon. - Fri. 11-2:30 pm (Lunch Buffet) & 5-10 pm (Dinner), Sat. - Sun. 11:30 -3:00 pm (Lunch) & 5-10 pm (Dinner) ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Lunch buffet ■ WEBSITE: www.tandooribites.net

irish Halligan’s public house

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

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 Days a Week Monday-Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOODS: Masonboro Loop & Lumina Station ■ FEATURING: The Best Reuben in Town! $5.99 lunch specials, Outdoor Patio ■ WEBSITE: www.halligansnc.com

THE HARP

BEST IN TOWN! STEAKS

WINGS

Have your next party with us inside or out.

Call us today!

910.762.4354

RIBS

SALADS

Save 10% with our loyalty card.

Ask how to sign up today!

In the Cotton Exchange • Downtown Wilmington • FREE PARKING 24 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

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 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

Eddie Romanelli’s is a family-friendly, casual Italian American restaurant that’s been a favorite of Wilmington locals for over 16 years. Its menu includes Italian favorites such as Mama Romanelli’s Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Rigatoni a la Vodka and, of course, made-from-scratch pizzas. Its American influences include tasty burgers, the U.S.A. Salad and a 16 oz. Marinated Rib Eye Steak. Romanelli’s offers patio dining and flat screen TVs in its bar area. Dine in or take out, Romanelli’s is always a crowd favorite. Large parties welcome. 503 Olde Waterford Way, Leland. (910) 383.1885.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.- Thurs. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South/Leland ■ FEATURING: Weekly Specials ■ WEBSITE: www.RomanellisRestaurant.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 am10 pm; Friday-Saturday 11 am-Midnight; Sunday Noon10 pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: www.fatpub.com ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials until 3pm and late night menu from 11pm until closing.

mamma bella pizzeria

Mamma Bella’s is Wilmington’s latest pie palace, offering fresh and unique pizzas, strombolis, sandwiches, salads, wings, and more. Diners can enjoy eating in their quaint dining space or have Mamma deliver to their doorstep ($10 minimum, three-mile radius). Nothing is frozen, and everything is made with top-notch ingredients, from the house meatballs to the pesto, salad dressings to marinara sauce, and beyond! Mamma bakes bread fresh several times daily and helps produce the most scrumptious cinnamon and/or pizza knots. In fact, through Feb. 29, either flavor of knots are free with the purchase of any large pie; or customers can get 12 free wings when ordering two large 2 topping pizzas (dine-in or delivery; offers cannot be combined). With a knowledgeable staff providing excellent customer service—all of whom “respect the pie”—every order is cared for from placing it to picking it up. 3926 Market St. 910-399-6723.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon - Thurs 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat 11am - 11pm; Sun 11am - 9pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.mammabellapizzeria.com

Slice of life

“Slice” has become a home away from home for tourists and locals alike. Our menu includes salads, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, homemade soups, subs and, of course, pizza. We only serve the freshest and highest-quality ingredients in all of our food, and our dough is made daily with purified water. Voted “Best Pizza” and “Best Late Night Eatery.”All ABC permits. Visit us downtown at 125 Market Street, (910) 251-9444, in Wrightsville Beach at 1437 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 101, (910) 256-2229 and in Pine Valley on the corner of 17th and College Road, (910) 799-1399.

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

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown,

Downtown and Wilmington South.

■ FEATURING: The largest tequila selection in Wilmington ■ WEBSITE: www.grabslice.com

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 madefrom-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 8:00am8:00pm, Saturday 8:30am-7:00pm, Sunday 11:00am6:00pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: www.ncatasteofitaly.com ■ FEATURING: Sclafani goods, Polly-O cheese, Ferrara Torrone and much, much more!

Jamaican JAMAICA’S COMFORT ZONE

Tucked in the corner of University Landing, a block from UNCW is the hidden gem of Wilmington’s international cuisine scene - Jamaica’s Comfort Zone. This family owned restaurant provides a relaxing blend of Caribbean delights – along with reggae music – served up with irrepressible smiles for miles. From traditional Jamaican breakfast to mouth-watering classic dishes such as curry goat, oxtail, jerk and curry chicken, to our specialty 4-course meals ($12.00) and $6.99 Student meal. Catering options are available.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tuesday - Saturday 11:45am - 9:00pm and Sunday 1:30pm - 8:00pm. Monday - Closed.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown – University Landing 417 S. College Road #24 ■ FEATURING: Weekly Specials updated daily on Facebook ■ WEBSITE: www.jamaicascomfortzone.net

Latin American CEVICHE’S

Come enjoy the tropical flavors of Panama and Central America...from our fresh fish to our handmade empanadas, traditional arroz con pollo to fresh inspired salads, We hope you will be transported to simpler time with warm, friendly service, and festive vibe. Large selection of beer and wine, including red and white sangria, tropical mimosas, drink specials daily. Just before the bridge at Wrightsville Beach. 7210 Wrightsville Ave. (910) 256-3131.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & BRUNCH: Mon-Sat 11am9pm, Sunday Brunch 9am-3pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ WEBSITE: www.wbceviche.com

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!

■ 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., 910-793-0035; 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: www.lacostamexicanrestauranwilmington.com

San Felipe Mexican Restaurant

At San Felipe, we pride ourselves in offering the best Mexican cuisine combined with a Mexican inspired dining experience that will instill a sense of “familia” with our patrons.

Ditch the regular fare and try one of our Mexican inspired favorites such as our sizzling Certified Angus Beef Fajitas or our Carolina Chimichanga. Visit any of our 10 North Carolina locations to see for yourself and while your at it, try one of our delicious Margaritas! See you soon Amigos!

Independence Mall, 3522 Oleander Dr - Wilmington, NC (910) 791-9277 and 1114 New Pointe Blvd - Leland, NC (910) 371-1188.

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

Seafood catch

Serving the Best Seafood in South Eastern North Carolina.

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

Dubbed “Modern Seafood Cuisine” we offer an array Fresh

Seafood & Steaks, including our Signature NC Sweet Potato Salad. Appetizers include our Mouth watering “Fire Cracker” Shrimp, Crispy Cajun Fried NC Oysters & Blue Crab Claw Scampi, & Seafood Ceviche to name a few. Larger Plates include, Charleston Crab Cakes, Flounder Escovitch & Miso Salmon. Custom Entree request gladly accommodated for our Guest. (Vegetarian, Vegan & Allergies) Hand-crafted seasonal desserts. Full ABC Permits. 6623 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405, 910-799-3847.

■ SERVING DINNER: Mon.-Saturday 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

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington, Leland & Southport ■ WEBSITE: www.sanfelipenc.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 freerange 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

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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 – 10pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Dining on the newly renovated Crystal Pier.

■ WEBSITE: www.OceanicRestaurant.com

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. 910343-0200 2 Ann Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, FriSat 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. (910-458-7380) and our second location is at 109 Market Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington (910-833-8622). The Shack is the place you want to be to catch your favorite sports team on 7 TV’s carrying all major sports packages. A

variety of fresh seafood is available daily including oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and crab legs. Shuckin’ Shack has expanded its menu now offering fish tacos, crab cake sliders, fried oyster po-boys, fresh salads, and more. 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: 11amMidnight ■ NEIGHBORHOODS: Carolina Beach and Downtown ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials. Like us on Facebook!

■ WEBSITE: www.TheShuckinShack.com

smoothies and more Tropical smoothie cafÉ

Tropical Smoothie Café’s menu boasts bold, flavorful food and smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made to order from the freshest ingredients. Our toasted wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads and gourmet salads are made fresh with highest quality of meats and cheeses, topped with fresh produce and flavorful sauces, available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The fun atmosphere and unparalleled hospitality brings customers back to Tropical Smoothie Café again and again. At Tropical Smoothie, we are guided by one simple belief: When you eat better, you feel better and when you feel better, all is better. It’s part of our mission to inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies with a bit of tropical fun. 2804 S. College Road, Long Leaf Mall. (910) 769-3939.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sat-Sun ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, at Shipyard Blvd. and

Celebrating 3 years of serving Wilmington...

Thank you for all of your support!

CHINESE • Japanese • thai COME SEE US APRIL 4TH & APRIL 5TH BUY 1 GET 1 HALF OFF ENTRÉES MON-thur: 11am-3pm and 5pm-9:30pm • Fri-sat: 11am-3pm and 5pm-10pm

4102 market st. • (910) 332-3302

www.kyotoasiangrille.com 26 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

College Rd. ■ WEBSITE: www.tropicalsmoothie.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; FriSat, 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 awardwinning 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

dig and dive

A new way to play with your food.” It isn’t just a catch phrase—it is what we do at Dig & Dive. Locally sourced, high-quality food is what we bring to the table. From our specialty “pork wings,” tossed in our famed bourbon-barrell Kentuckyaki sauce, to our fresh ground chuck burgers, to our dogs and sausages, and even salads and kids menu, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We pair it with an expansive craft beer selection—including a large selection of NC brewed beers—and we give you the most unique and fun atmosphere in Wilmington, thanks to our soft-sand volleyball courts, outdoor and indoor dining. Hands down, we’re the best place in town to ... Eat. Drink. Play. 3525 Lancelot Lane. 910-202-9350.

■ SERVING LUNCH & Dinner: Sun.-Thurs., 11am-midnight; Fri.-Sat., 11am-2am.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, off Market Street and Darlington ■ FEATURING: Burgers, dogs, build-your-own French fries, sandwiches, craft beer, volleyball courts.

■ WEBSITE: www.DigandDive.com

hell’s kitchen

This is downtown Wilmington’s Sports Pub! With every major sporting package on ten HDTVs and our huge HD projection screen, there is no better place to catch every game in every sport. Our extensive menu ranges from classics, like thick Angus burgers or NY-style Reuben, to lighter fare, such as homemade soups, fresh salads and vegetarian options. Whether meeting for a business lunch, lingering over dinner and drinks, or watching the game, the atmosphere and friendly service will turn you into a regular. Open late 7 days a week, with free WiFi, pool, and did we mention sports?

Free downtown lunchtime delivery on weekdays; we can accommodate large parties. (910) 763-4133.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & ■ LATE NIGHT: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: 1/2 priced select appetizers Monday

- Thursday 4-7 p.m.

■ WEBSITE: www.hellskitchenbar.com

vegetarian/Vegan sealevel restaurant

Shop for gifts while you’re waiting on your to-go order or for the cook to fix your food. How about a lentil patty melt with fresh, handcut potato chips or a crisp salad for lunch?

If you’re looking for a high-fiber plate, we’ve got you covered: the brown-rice tortilla—which is gluten free, vegan and chockful of crunchy vegetables and creamy smoky eggplant spread and avocado—will surely suit you! With a side of creole-spiced organic red beans or our superb vegan purple coleslaw, it will be over the top! Vegan heaven exists: We serve sushi rolls and desserts especially to suit your preferences. Seafood lovers are mad about the shrimp burger, soft crab slider and the frequently featured Caribbean-spiced shrimp tostada, which combines the aforementioned purple slaw, spicy Jerk sauce, and cool avocado, and organic refried lentils on a crispy corn tortilla. Please stop in for lunch six days (not Tuesday/closed) from 11 am to 2 pm, and dinner Thursday through Saturday, 5 pm to 9 pm 1015 S. Kerr Ave. 910-833-7196.

■ SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., daily; Thurs-Sat., 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Closed Tuesdays ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, near UNCW ■ FEATURING: Vegetarian,Vegan, Seafood, Gluten-Free ■ WEBSITE: www.sealevelcitygourmet.com

grub & guzzle>>review

Ready, Set, Glaze:

Donut Inn whips up killer confectionaries and freshly prepared eats

L

by: Rosa Bianca

ast week, I met first jumbo English muffin. I’ve based much of my professional career on these flat, yeasty breads. So imagine my surprise of never encountering an oversized nookand-cranny-nosh of these sorts. The even bigger revelation? It only took one bite of a monstrous egg-filled muffin from Donut Inn to hook me—forever.

The specialty café—located on Military Cutoff in a stripmall at the corner of Eastwood Road—not only serves sugary treats and savory eats, but it has a sweet story to match its decadent confections.

Its charming tale began in Connecticut, when owner Phil Santomassi said, “Peace out, corporate world. Hello, donut shop!”

American dream, anyone?

After a successful run, Phil and his wife, Patty, sold the shop and made their move to a warmer climate. Once in Wilmington, they tried their hand at another circle-shaped craft: Beach Bagels on Wrightsville Avenue. Ultimately, they decided they were destined for donuts.

Once Donut Inn’s original baker hopped aboard, the cast was complete.

Ready, set, glaze.

I’ll be honest: I don’t have much of a sweet tooth (good thing encore readers don’t know my real name ‘cause I would certainly be tarred and feathered for that). In my pre-review dig of Donut Inn, I discovered they offer a full lineup of morning and lunchtime selections.

I kicked things off with a sensationally satisfying ham, cheddar and egg sammy on a “jumbo English muffin.” The crusty, buttery breaded delight created an epic vehicle for all of my breakfast goodies: two freshly cracked eggs, a gooey serving of Boar’s Head cheddar and salty ham. Unlike many chains that fall short with not-so-exceptional egg substitutes, Donut Inn’s were fluffy, made-to-order, and straight off the griddle. For anyone counting carbs, breakfast burritos also are available and stuffed with deliciousness. And the Boar’s Head hot sauce behind the counter will set it afire for those who dare.

Let me espresso my feelings for a minute: I like to judge coffee purely on its own grounds. Although I appreciate a good vanilla-hazelnut whatever, I believe

in reviewing a restaurant’s coffee as is.

Though the inn offers an array of flavored lattes, cappuccinos, and mocha-thingies for their donuts, there iced coffee’s flavor tasted of medium boldness with hints of smoke. I didn’t notice a sign boasting any local beans, but it was reminiscent of some other local favorites of mine. Coming from someone who prefers her coffee darker than her motor oil, trust me—this is a compliment.

Moving along to the real reason I’ve gathered all to this holy article: donuts.

Donut Inn’s traditional glazed is a perfect example of what it does best. The basic donut was fluffy, yeasty (without being cakey) and sublimely sweetened. While we all love the choices of 17 luxurious donuts from other shops, it’s more rewarding to enjoy a treat that doesn’t feel like an overindulgence. These glazed rings had an unexpected softness and fluffiness for a full round of applause.

Next, I shipped up to Boston with the traditional cream-filled favorite. The Boston cream’s shiny chocolate coating was uber fresh (not crackly), and—thanks to several seconds in a warm car—its inside custard oozes with fragrant vanilla. Napkins necessary.

Although I typically aim for healthy options to start off my day, there is one morning extravagance to which I occasionally partake. Hint: It rhymes with shmuffin. Then again, seeing as I steer toward cupcake-shaped treats featuring zucchini and not chocolate chip, I’m not sure I’d call it a luxury item.

Oh, well, to each his own.

I jumped for joy when I saw homemade blueberry bran, so I snagged one—and a coffee cake muffin because, well, YOLO. The bran muffin surprisingly tasted moist, uncrumbly, and had a spectacular oaty flavor sparked by sweet pops of tart blueberry. Even the next day it tasted fresh as could be.

The coffee cake muffin came loaded with fragrant cinnamon and dusted with crunch. Donut Inn, if I had to guess, I would say you do, in fact, know the muffin man.

After eating enough sugar to fly to the moon, I went back to a savory state. I asked the friendly cashier for the local lunch favorites and she suggested the Baywater. Packed with turkey, bacon, cheddar, spinach, and tangy honey mus-

TASTY SAMMY: The Baywater sandwich at Donut Inn is packed with fillings yet lighter for diners.

Photo by Tom Dorgan.

tard, a wrap would have made it a bit lighter. But on thick multigrain toast, it was one hearty hoagie—pickle and chips included.

My last two splurges were on a mini sugar-glazed croissant and a cigar. The first one is exactly as it sounds—flaky, buttery, and melt-in-your mouthy—and the second, not so much. The cigar was a long, windy, phyllo-based pastry, laced

with cinnamon, topped with sugary pecans and twirled with magic. Imagine the love child of a sticky bun and Baklava. Diners will want to inhale this cigar in private.

‘Nuff said.

DETAILS: Donut Inn

1427 Military Cutoff Rd. 910-679-8420 Mon.-Fri.: 5 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sat.-Sun.: 5:30 a.m. -3 p.m.

Thank you,Wilmington, for voting us Best Mediterranean Restaurant again!

Two Convenient Locations:

University Commons 351-29 S. College Road • (910) 769-1056

Independence Mall 3500 Oleander Drive FC-4 • (910) 796-8838

www.babaghannoujbistro.com encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 27

extra>>best of 2016

Stellar Dreams:

DREAMS of Wilmington takes Best Nonprofit on 2016 readers’ poll

by: js CARVER & Sr GENTRY

W

ho has the best pizza? Where is the best place to buy a new car?

Who carries the best shoes in town? Where is the best place to take a first date? They’re questions we all struggle with in life, but thank goodness for encore’s annual Best Of poll! We’re here to make your decisions a little easier in the coming year.

For more than 25 years, encore’s annual Best Of Wilmington has been leading folks in all kinds of directions on where to spend their money locally, who to support in the arts, as well as who to trust in everything from local media to nonprofits. To put it simply: encore holds the official “Best Of” moniker, and our readers’ opinions matter a whole bunch!

In 2016, we culled over 20,000 voices to weigh in on the Best Of Wilmington. Nominations opened in mid-November and closed mid-December 2015, before final voting

began and closed mid-January 2016. The community-at-large cast their favorites through our online voting system, featuring over 130 categories.

At encore we try to be as fair as possible with our Best Of poll, and 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.

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 email 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.

After voting closed, encore threw its annual Best Of party at Brooklyn Arts Center on Saturday, February 27. The event benefitted DREAMS of Wilmington—a local nonprofit and multidisciplinary arts

PINEAPPLE FOR A LAUGH: The local comedy troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps hosted the 2016 Best Of Awards Party and Fundraiser for DREAMS on Feb. 27 at Brooklyn Arts Center. Above is Wesley Brown as Captain America along with Darth Vader and the house band The Midatlantic. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

program for at-risk youth (see the story from encore’s February 24 edition for info on DREAMS). Thanks to 408 tickets sold and numerous raffles, DREAMS raised more than $10,000 and will take in $7,600 after expenses. This money allows them to accept 45 students into their three-week summer intensive arts program.

Our Best Of hosts, comedy troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps (this week’s dashing

cover models), entertained with a plethora of sketches across every category of award winners—all set to the theme, “2016: A Space Odyssey: Invasion of the Trophy Snatchers.” Aside from threatening world domination, they ensured audiences were rolling in laughter during skits and interpretive dance numbers. As a bonus: The funny Pineapples also got to know DREAMS students and even made videos with our Best Of house band, The Midatlantic, all of whom spoke about the importance of having arts education in youth.

We stuffed ourselves silly, thanks to food donated from numerous nominees in the “Food and Beverage” category.

We danced to DJ Time and DJ Filthy spinning everything from “Fame” to “Weird Science.” The Midatlantic played their brand of bluegrass throughout the night as well, and Chris Brehmer Photography caught it digitally as our official Best Of photographer. Brehmer’s photos will be published over the next four editions of encore and in our official Best Of Book (published summer 2016), as we announce all winners.

An amazing solar system, DREAMS rocket included, decorated the venue, thanks to the wonderful students at DREAMS flexing their creative muscles. And “Futurama” characters Leela (Rose Hunt) and Bender made an appearance and took top applause from the audience in our annual costume contest. They scored tickets to see Jewel at Cape Fear Stage on March 18.

Really, we were there to celebrate our besties! So, without further ado, allow us to introduce you to the Best Of Wilmington, class of 2016! Congrats, all!

Thank you, Wilmington, for continuing to vote us Best Place for Alternative Medicine!

Acupuncture • Massage • Herbal Pharmacy Medical Qi Gong • Workshops and Classes Free Consult BEST OF 2016 WINNER

28 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

4916 Wrightsville Avenue Wilmington NC 28403

910 791 1981 • MckayHealingArts.com

Humanitarian and Environmental Nonprofit

DREAMS of Wilmington were encore’s Best Of beneficiaries for 2016. They also took home the prize for Best Nonprofit on the 2016 poll, according to encore readers. As a nonprofit who works to fill the void of arts education for at-risk youth, DREAMS offer highquality, free-of-charge programming in literary, visual and performing arts, for students ages 8 to 17.

Founded by Tracy Wilkes in 1996, DREAMS has grown and expanded from its humble beginnings in a church on 5th Street to its own 8,000-sqaure-foot facility on the north side of downtown in the Brooklyn Arts District (901 Fanning St.). Since arriving almost two years ago, current executive director Matt Carvin has overseen the construction of their 5,000-square-foot Garage space, a multipurpose community arts center. The adjacent venue allows DREAMS and other organizations to host events, whether it’s a concert, theatre production or fundraiser.

Art teachers from around the community and volunteers inspire students in drama, dancing, music, filmmaking, visual arts, and more. Just recently they launched a community-wide effort to transform their grounds and its surrounding environment into a bounty of colorful inspiration (see cover).

“It all started with a dream,” Carvin says.

“DREAMS is very interested in revitalizing and beautifying the wonderful community that we are a part of. We saw the 240-foot-long grey retaining wall alongside our property as an opportunity—just like a blank canvas— to work corroboratively with the folks in our neighborhood and beyond to reimagine North 10th Street and show the power of creativity and collective vision.”

Since the beginning of March, they’ve asked folks to pick up a paint brush and create a 240-foot-long and 8-foot-tall mural. Lush greenery, peppered by butterflies and other creatures, have transformed the wall, thanks to the help of more than 400 volunteers, 100 artists in school and 500 individuals to date.

“There has been tons of support from the local arts community, particularly art teachers in the public schools,” Carvin says. “Anne Sinclair from Hoggard, Happy Homestead from DC Virgo and Margaret Cooley from Noble Middle School, have been particularly dedicated. Also, of course, our DREAMS kids are involved, all of whom we view as stellar artists themselves.”

Though a lot of work has been finished, there is still more to go. DREAMS has set the completion date of April 30 and welcomes everyone to join in on Saturday mornings, 9 a.m. to noon. For those who can’t participate in the mural DREAMS always is looking for volunteers to help with the kids year-round.

“Folks can do anything from volunteering in the classroom to helping us expand and

maintain our beautiful gardens,” he says. “We also take in-kind donations of things like art supplies—frames, paintbrushes, etc. That kind of stuff goes a long way with our kids.”

Anyone interested in helping can contact DREAMS of Wilmington at 910-772-1501.

Other nonprofits raising the stakes on giveback to our community are Junior League of Wilmington and Nourish NC.

Goods & Services

C o n s i g n m e n t /R e s a l e —H o m e Goods and Antique Shop

The Ivy Cottage has marked itself a winner on our reader’s poll for years. In fact, when owner Andrew Keller took over a couple of years ago, he walked in to a bevy of “e” awards hanging.

“Thirteen years in a row are hanging up, but we ran out of room,” he tells.

With over 7,000 active consignors contributing to The Ivy Cottage’s unique and vast stock, which takes up three buildings on Market Street, Keller and his staff take in literally hundreds of new items daily. They have everything from jewelry, to beautiful glassware and china, antique furniture to quilts, garden accents to kitchenware. Antique lovers happily spend hours meandering through the treasured gems.

“The only changes we’ve made for 2016 is adding statewide delivery and upgrading the buildings,” Keller notes. Currently, however, Keller says he is seeing a lot of mid-century modern items and reclaimed wood.

“We have such a wide consignment base to pool from we just change what we accept based on market trends,” he continues. “We will always carry antiques but also listen to shoppers’ needs and wants.”

The Ivy Cottage has a scale in which their prices decrease from the time an item is punched into the system to its expiration date of sale. So good deals always make it to the customer.

Other consignment shops for home goods on the poll include Home Again and Uptown Market, which also makes a showing for antique shops alongside Zartiques.

Bookstore

When strollers meander the streets of downtown and reach North Front, one block down from The Cotton Exchange, a window of book shelves filled with tons of reads welcomes them at address 249 N. Front. From David Wallace Foster’s “Infinite Jest” to Allen Geinsberg’s “Howl” and quite a few Shakespeare selections. The iconic Old Books on Front Street has been in operation since 1982 and was started by Mr. Daughtry. Around a decade ago, the owner called Lloyd Rohler and told him to buy his bookstore because the Rohler family, including Lloyd’s wife, Diane, and his daughter, Gwenyfar, often shopped there.

“My life changed for the better immediately,” says Gwenyfar Rohler, who also is a

PAGE-TURNING GOLD: Gwenyfar Rohler, encore writer and owner of Old Books on Front St., accepts her win for Best Bookstore. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

writer of encore’s theatre reviews and Live Local column. “Everyday I come to work, I meet nice people and talk to them about interesting ideas. We watch a lot of kids grow up here and see the same families visit year after year.

People get engaged here regularly—I mean, how incredible is that?”

Gwenyfar’s insatiable appetite for literary works keeps her happily welcoming to share the latest best read or a classic tailored specifically to each customer’s wants and needs.

However, without her dedicated staff, she says keeping the bookstore open daily would be nearly impossible.

“They make it a pleasure to come to work everyday,” she praises. “They bring wonderful insights about inventory, operations and service. We are the opposite of a big box—we are out of the box!”

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR • 19 Craft Beers on Draft • MON: Kids Eat Free ALL DAY VOTING US BEST • TUES: $5 Wine Pours SPORTS BAR, BEST • WED: $3.50 Select Pints LUNCH & BEST • THURS: 1/2 OFF Bottles of Wine • FRI: Fish & Chips, Guinness Specials WAIT STAFF! 109 Chestnut Street Downtown Wilmington (910) 762-1373 www.copperpennync.com encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 29

Old Books carries a beer and wine license so folks can enjoy sipping on Shakespeare Stout and Mad Hatter Ale or Chaucer’s Mead while perusing the selections. Often times folks enjoy a pour while enjoying a reading and book signing or a theatre production in the back of the store.

“After years of grappling with technology that we could never compete with, the big boys [a.k.a. book box stores] are starting to open bars in bookstores—something we did years ago,” Gwenyfar proudly tells. “We are the only bookstore in the county with a beer and wine license.”

Plus, on Sundays, James Jarvis plays piano to serenade shoppers. And for those who want to go beyond the page in learning about literary history and its impact on Wilmington, Gwenyfar upstarted a Literary History Walking Tour last year. It takes place every Saturday, and folks walk the riverfront to 5th Avenue, Ann Street to Thalian Hall and discuss the likes of Oscar Wilde, William Jennings Bryan, John Sayles, Oscar Meceaux, the African-American silent film impresario, Inglis Fletcher, current author Nicholas Sparks, and more. They visit grave sites and even filming locations based on books.

Old Books hosts events annually, like Bloomsday every June and Banned Books Week. They have their upcoming poetry festival every spring, called “Couplet.” On April 23 for the festival, they will welcome NC Poet Laureate Shelby Stephenson Always upping the ante on the shop, Gwenyfar has been renovating the upstairs apartment at the store which will be coined “The Top Shelf.” Known as a literary loft, it will be designed to honor NC authors and will be available as an alternative spot for visitors to rent, as well as a spot to host small functions for the store and other organizations. “It will be Wilmington’s completely unique lodging for the literati jet set,” she says.

Books, beer, readings, fun ... and it doesn’t stop there. Old Books sells a new line of candles made in house, as well as tote bags, coffee cups, and T-shirts, all featuring works and quotes from writers like Charles Bukowski, Stephen King and more.

“I view the store as a sacred trust passed to me by Mr. Daughtry and my parents,” Gwenyfar says. “Winning the encore award is a nod to that trust and acknowledgement that the daily striving to uphold it are on the right track.”

Other bookstores culling votes are Pomegranate Books and Barnes and Noble.

—Shea Carver

Tattoo Parlor

For Artfuel Tattoo Shop and Art Gallery’s Sarah Peacock, there’s never pressure to give her best work because that’s the only option.

“Never become complacent,” she says of her mantra. “Your clients are the most important, they are why you are there.”

As a gallery Artfuel houses work from many local and regional artists, with work ranging 30 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

from paintings to pottery, as well as host receptions for exhibitions. As a tattoo shop, Peacock has been in this industry since 2001, cultivating and growing a tattoo parlor where clients can be comfortable and get more than body art. So it’s no wonder she’s collected yet another accolade for Best Tattoo Parlor. “It is a very special feeling and honor to have your readers feel this way about our business,” she says.

In addition to Artfuel’s five full-time tattoo artists, including Peacock, Brian Wren, Jesse Collins, and Michael Caldwell, they have one or two guest artists from across the country at any given time. They typically post guest artists and their work on their Facebook page for folks interested in booking appointments. It’s a practice that offers a constant stream of new creative minds to offer the most unique experience and body art.

“We really don’t follow trends, because that is what they are, just trends,” Peacock adds.

“We are to put our best custom foot forward all the time.”

As well, Artfuel’s mission includes community and charity. For example, Peacock works with breast-cancer survivors, creating nipples for women post-mastectomy. With more shows and charity events to come in 2016, Peacock says they wish to continue giving back to the community throughout the year.

Wilmingtonians also get inked at Jade Monkey Tattoo Studio and Hardwire Tattoo and Body Piercing.

Real Estate Company

Spring isn’t just a time when floral and fauna come back in full force. It’s also when various for-sale and open-house signs sprout up across ILM, as people search for new homes and new beginnings. Intracoastal Realty has won Best Real Estate Company for several years on our poll now as the number-one agency to help folks sell and buy homes in the Cape Fear, and this year brought another “e” win. “It means we’ve earned the respect of the community,” says Lake Slacum, vice president of marketing. “It’s exciting and humbling at the same time.”

Intracoastal has almost 300 agents and several sales offices dedicated to not only guiding clients in buying and selling homes, but overseeing property management for vacation homes and long-term rentals. Particularly exceptional agents, dedicated support staff and first-class customer service, are what keep Best Of votes coming year after to year.

Yet, 2016’s win doesn’t pose pressure that isn’t always there. “We never rest on our laurels,” Slacum says. “We strive to be the best every day of the year.”

In fact, Slacum says it’s Intracoastal Realty’s incredible culture and family atmosphere which make it a great fit for her passion in marketing and real estate. Their adaptability in a market continuously shifting to digital tools and resources keep them competitive as well.

Their website also is designed to give home buyers digital products far more accurate than

EVERYBODY’S ROLLING: John Canoutas and Tim Hughes of Auto Wholesale happily roll onto the poll for the first time with Best Place to Buy a Used Car. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

national portals. “Several new marketing and technology products will be announced in 2016,” Slacum adds. “Stay tuned!”

Runners up for Best Real Estate Company 2016 were Lanier Property Group and Keller Williams.

Print Shop

With collectively more than 115 years of experience among their staff, Dock Street Printing Company in downtown Wilmington continues to go above and beyond putting ink to paper for their customers. “One person’s business [materials] might be another’s masterpiece,” co-owner Cindy Meyers says after their 11th straight win for Wilmington’s Best Print Shop. “We feel very blessed that our customers and encore readers have had such positive experiences with us. . . . Winning

does definitely keep us on our toes, but even without the encore Best Of awards we would continue to take pride in what we do and offer a great experience.”

In addition to Dock Street Printing’s in-house typesetting and design services, Meyers says customers also now have more options to create their own artwork or find personalized designs from online providers. Working with customer-supplied files for short run, full-color projects has skyrocketed. “We find ourselves relying more on digital output to provide eyepleasing color, quickly and affordable as opposed to traditional offset printing that we also offer,” she adds.

While not every project is smooth sailing, Dock Street Printing Company does everything it can to deliver a positive experience.

Getting to know their customers while working on various projects with a courteous staff, combined with attention to detail, keeps locals coming back. “We pride ourselves on the consistent ability to satisfy our customers, which in turn generates great referrals,” Meyers says.

In 2016 Dock Street Printing will be working on a few behind-the-scenes projects to expand upon what they currently offer—to be officially announced at www.dockstreetprinting.com or social media feeds later this year. “The first thing we will likely roll out will be the launch of a stock design catalog to offer pre-configured designs for personalization on items like invitations and announcements

for all kinds of events,” Meyers details. “Family gatherings, cookouts, birth announcements and birthday parties are just a few examples of what we hope to have on offer.”

Also in the running for Best Print Shop were All Ways Graphics and PrintWorks.

Buy a Used Car

As a four-time winner of encore’s accolade for Best Place To Buy A Used Car, Auto Wholesale’s owner and general manager Paul Tracy says doing things right and hard work have really paid off. Open since 2003, Tracy’s been selling quality used vehicles from Audi to Ford, from luxury sedans to family SUVs. Folks will never have to make lemonade out of lemons at Auto Wholesale. It’s Tracy’s goal to ensure buying a preowned car at his dealership is an enjoyable experience that will garner recommendations or bring them back for their next purchase.

“I love cars and enjoy buying and selling them,” Tracy tells. “Better vehicles, better prices, doing business in a fair and transparent way [are what keep customers coming].”

Along with affordable prices, they offer financing as low as 1.9 percent and work with both local and national finance companies, including BB&T, Wells Fargo, Corning Credit Union, Coastal Federal Credit, and many more. “You always have to be at your best,” Tracy adds. “[And] hopefully [we’ll have] a bigger selection of vehicles [in 2016].”

Serving the Wilmington Area Since 1973 110 Dock Street Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 763-8476

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Auto Wholesale also houses a ASE certified tire and service center to ensure their cars are in excellent condition. As well, they use their facilities for oil changes, alignments, 30k-, 60k- and 90k-mile services, A/C work, and NC state inspections. Auto Wholesale’s website is easy to navigate, with a complete list of cars to narrow down to price range, make/ model or year preferences. “We are also trying to focus on social media and an online presence,” Tracy adds of their services and goals for the year. encore readers also shop for deals on wheels at Bruce Cavenaugh’s Automart and Bob King Pre-Owned.

Surf Shop

“Oh man . . . It’s been a lot of years in a row,” says Danielle Bourgeois, co-owner of Sweetwater Surf Shop, who’s trying to remember just how many times encore readers have voted them Best Surf Shop since they were established in 1976. Folks can see their “e”s hanging right by the front door. “We are so thankful that the community voted us as their favorite surf shop!”

Bourgeois has been working here with her family for a long time. Meeting new customers, cultivating relationships with repeat clients, and always putting them first in every way keeps the lights on and accolades coming.

Moreover, their friendly and helpful staff try to have what folks are looking for year round.

Surfers young and old, beginners and long-time pros alike can find pretty much anything they need amongst hundreds of boards in stock. They even offer trade deals on old boards for new ones. They carry surfing accessories, seasonal men’s, women’s and kid’s fashions in shoes, swimwear and more. From Vans, to sunglasses, to sunscreen, they’ve gotcha cover.

Not ready to buy? Rent paddle or surf boards for partial-day, five-hour, daily, or week-long.

More of a landlubber? Sweetwater also carries skateboards.

What really makes Sweetwater continue to rise above the rest is keeping stock of what’s new and trending across waters. “That’s what make us the best! We are constantly changing our inventory to keep it fresh,” Bourgeois continues. “A big trend right now is versatility.

People want value. Many clothing brands are offering pieces that can be worn during daytime to the beach, on the boat, etc., then also out for dinner.”

Skimming in for second and third place this year are Surf City Surf Shop and Bert’s Surf Shop.

Place to Buy Music

Vinyl is trending heavily these days, to which Gravity Records owner Matt Keen credits his business staying open since 2004. However, encore readers see Gravity’s

ITCHING FOR THE WIN: Poison Ivy, a.k.a.

Stephanie Denning—owner of Fairy Circle—and store manager Harley Quinn, a.k.a. Gina Wilkins, accept another award for Best Consignment/Resale Shop. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

products and services as more than trend, as they’ve voted it Wilmington’s Best Place to Buy Music for ten years straight.

“All of those encore awards in the window get a lot of looks and remarks from customers

Voted

both old and new,” Keen says after his latest win. “We are really glad that we won again this year, but we don’t feel as though we totally deserve it [because] there is so much more we want to accomplish.”

This past year came with big transitions, and with the positive changes they made in 2015, Keen says 2016 is to be their best year yet. They’re planning more in-store performances from both regional and national bands. Folks can expect an expansion with

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Gravity’s vinyl selection, as well as new and fully serviced pre-owned turntables, amplifiers and speakers.

“We are the only full-service turntable repair shop in Wilmington (as far as we know),” Keen tells, “and with decades of experience working on electronics, we can fix all makes and models of turntables.”

Keen says they’re also the most picky when it comes to the condition of used vinyl sold at Gravity. He’s scoured many selections of preowned vinyl from record stores across the state and 90 percent of the time the condition/quality is not up to Gravity staff’s discerning eye and standards. Keen says his hires, Karl Kuehn, Morgan Roberts and Ashleigh Phillips, are not only all well versed in music and vinyl as a format, but down-to-earth folks who are easy to talk to. “They are some of the best employees and friends a fella could ask for,” he adds.

Keen’s love for music sprouted at the tender age of 3, playing violin and studying privately until he was 20. By that time he’d started working on electronics and collecting vinyl. He got his first record store gig in 1999 and opened Gravity in 2004. “Music, the instruments that make it, and the electronics used to play it back, has been my life as long as I can remember,” he continues. “As for the rest of the staff they consist of musicians, writers and artists.”

Other top shops to buy vinyl and more are Yellow Dog Discs and Reggie’s Records.

Consignment/Resale—Clothes

The Fairy Circle has been in business for more than 13 years and have taken home the award for Best Consignment/Retail for almost as long. Their goods of gently used clothes, purses, jewelry, and other accessories are top notch at both locations on College Road and Monkey Junction.

Owner Stephanie Denning told encore after last year’s win she’s always loved resale shops. That, combined with wanting a job where her daughter could be with her, made opening a consignment shop seem like the perfect opportunity. It’s been a fruitful endeavor that Wilmingtonians praise every year. “It is gratifying to be acknowledged as being the

best at what we do,” Denning said in 2015.

“I love to hear [people say] this is the only place they shop.”

There are few stores out there where shoppers can buy a formal dress fitting for a gala that evening (yes, we’ve done it!) to shoes for work for less than $20. Add to that a dedicated, knowledgeable staff, and shopping at The Fairy Circle is a no-brainer. Their stock includes latest trends and fashions in anything from bathing suits to blouses, shoes to jeans, for men, women and kids. Both stores offer something for money-conscious customers of all ages, sizes and tastes.

The Fairy Circle also offers store credit to folks who bring in items to sale and donate unsold merchandise to nonprofits throughout the area, as well as gift cards to local fundraisers.

Other retailers who sell quality consignment at a good cost are Clothes Mentor and Vintage Values.

Their shelves also are lined with natural vitamins, cosmetics and bulk items of all sorts.

Tidal Creek’s commitment to community health has grown as well in partnerships with Feast Down East, Progressive Gardens and GRUB to name a few. They’re also working to relocate to downtown Wilmington as soon as they settle on a location. “We’ve seen a lot of Co-Ops having to expand—both their physical size as well as their product line—to better serve a wide array of customers,” Paul continues. “In our relocation to downtown Wilmington, we’ll be expanding in these ways, but also continuing to support local farmers and artisans and engage in community service and local giving initiatives.”

Also keeping Wilmington’s pantry’s full of healthy options are Lovey’s Natural Foods & Cafe and Whole Foods.

Food & Beverage Steak

Health Food Store

As one of Wilmington’s first communityowned, food cooperative, Tidal Creek Food Co-Op embodies the definition of small business. “We strive to meet the needs of our owners and keep resources in the community,” says Tidal Creek’s marketing coordinator, Shaylah Paul, after their latest win for Best Health Food Store. They’ve always had the best interest of customers and owners in mind, and with another accolade comes ambition to exceed expectations.

“It’s a nice reminder that we do have an extremely loyal and supportive group of people around us,” Paul says. “We hope it helps spread the word about the Co-Op to people who are new to the area and haven’t heard of us.”

As is the case with many co-op employees, Paul gravitated towards Tidal Creek because it’s place she felt was in-line with her personal beliefs and desires. As well, Co-Op’s are inviting places full of interesting people and good food. Tidal Creek offers more than farm fresh groceries, too. Their Co-Op Cafe serves up sandwiches, wraps and smoothies to order, or folks can raid the salad and hot bars daily.

Consistency is key in making an awardwinning steak. Having a CIA (Culinary Institute of America)-trained chef helps, too. “[With] Chef Matt Kahrs, our guests know their favorite dishes will be prepared with the utmost attention to detail,” says Port City Chop House general manager Brian Nave of their chef of more than 15 years.

With Kahrs, Nave and staff, Port City Chop

House has won honors for Best Steak over 13 times, including its most recent win in 2016. “encore is a huge part of people’s lives in this town,” Nave says. “That’s why we have our ‘e’ awards hanging in the foyer.” Of course it’s always nice to be rewarded for their efforts locally, but their goal has always been to provide an outstanding dining experience for each guest who walks through their doors.

Port City Chop House and owner Keith Hall will celebrate a 20-year anniversary in October and Nave says they’re all excited about reaching the milestone. He’s happy to celebrate with this unique and close-knit business as well. “In this line of work, you get to be a part of a multitude of families,” he explains. “I have literally watched children grow up and we have become a part of a lot of great families. Money is nice, but relationships that are built over the years give us a feeling of being part of the community.”

Aside from excellent steak and other menu offerings that keep up with people’s changing diets, wishes and needs, Nave says they’ll continue to offer gluten-free options in 2016.

As well, unoaked wines and bar specials are popular right now—enjoy them on the patio while listening to live music year round.

Not just a dinner destination, Port City Chop House offers lunch fare as well. Lunch for two at $22 is quickly becoming one of their most popular specials.

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SWEET VICTORY: Rob Cooley, owner of Apple Annie’s, scores Best Bakery and Best Desserts on the 2016 encore Readers’ Choice Poll. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

are Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Texas Roadhouse.

Fast Food

900 S Kerr Ave • Wilmington, NC 28403 34 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

When our aching bellies need food stat, there’s no time for sit-down, small-talk, slow eating. For some, there’s barely time to stop the car. What would we do to satiate our hunger in a hurry without fast food? encore readers know this, which is why they’ve continued to boast Chick-fil-A’s five various locations around Port City as Best Fast Food.

Their pickle-brined fried chicken is unmatched at breakfast, lunch or dinner, and their sweet tea goes with everything from their waffle fries to spicy Southwest chicken salad.

Yep, it’s not all fried, salty fare. There’s some consideration for health on Chick-fil-A’s menu in way of freshly made wraps and salads.

On the other hand, life is all about balance, so their milkshakes are on-hand anytime the sweet tooth calls.

Chick-fil-A’s drive-thrus are often packed and staff are quick to keep customers happy and returning. Several locations also offer backstage kitchen tours on Mondays, as well as party-planning options for kids’ birthdays and such. Though a national chain, they are often involved with local charity events and givebacks throughout the year. Local organizations are encouraged to check out their website in order to get information about give-back nights, where a portion of restaurant proceeds go to nonprofits. As well, they offer a Business of the Day option to potentially win free lunch for being a part of the Chick-fil-A community.

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Bakery and Desserts

Just last month, Apple Annie’s Bake Shop rolled a host of new delectable delights for all the sweet teeth in Wilmington. Savory cheese crisps with a hint of cayenne and French toast rounds made with olive oil and seasonings. And though these savory snacks will fight hunger pangs for days, the sweet stuff is what Apple Annie’s is hailed for on the encore poll in 2016, as they scored Best Bakery and Best Desserts.

“We’ve introduced our line of dark chocolate bark,” says marketing director Krissy Mingia. They’re available in five flavors: cayenne, Himalayan salt, espresso and toasted pecan.

“Peppermint will be available during the winter holiday months,” Mingia tells.

In fact, the shop is known for their seasonal treats. Last month they doled out their St. Patrick’s Day frogs, upside-down cupcakes made with buttercream icing and green fondant, as well as Irish soda bread and scones.

With Easter this weekend, they’ll be serving hot cross buns, babka, Easter bread (plain or iced), egg-shaped cakes and more. Their cakes are, mind the pun, the bread and butter of the biz.

“At Apple Annie’s everything is made right here in our kitchen daily as it has been for the last 30-plus years,” Mingia tells. “We are baking it fresh from scratch every day and it shows in our quality.”

With their focus on customers and community, they honor sheriffs, EMS, military personnel, and others with pastries and coffee. Plus, they donate proceeds from sales a few times a year to various organizations and nonprofits, including the Battleship NC. “They are our neighbors and friends,” Mingia tells. “The community allows us to play a part in the most important celebrations in their lives: weddings, birthdays, anniversaries. We

CROWDED HOUSE: Solar systems and planetary madness took over Brooklyn Arts Center on Feb. 27 as Pineapple-Shaped Lamps kept the crowd entertained at the annual awards party and fundraiser. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

University Square Mall. They’re open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Votes for the bakery category also go to Sweet n Savory and Wake N Bake.

honor these invitations and want to serve our Donuts They’re kind of a big deal on the southeastcustomers with the utmost respect, working ern coast of NC: donuts. Fluffy, fried dough tirelessly to exceed their expectations.”

They take specialty orders and always have rounds come glazed in a sugary bath of their baked goods aplenty filling the cases in sweet goodness.

And we dunk for more! the shop, located at 837 S. Kerr Avenue in

Carolina Beach’s 75-year institution, Britt’s Donuts, rakes in their first win on the encore poll (we should note we just introduced the category in 2015). Owners Bobby and Maxine Nivens will open their doors for the season this weekend, March 25 at 8:30 a.m.

Anyone who’s visited the Carolina Beach Boardwalk shop knows lines snake around the building for folks to buy their glazed donuts by the dozens.

The shop opened in 1933 by the Britts and the Wrights. But Mr. Britt sold it to the Nivens in 1974, along with Britt’s safeguarded donut recipe. The tradition has been going strong since, with the Nivens family, including daughter Lynn and granddaughter Halyn working behind the counter. In fact, Halyn Prusa and Daniel Norris authored a book about the shop’s history in 2014, which is now sold in the store for $19.99.

The shop has its own fan club, with a dedicated website, so folks can keep up with all of its dunkin’ updates (www.brittsdonutsfanclub. com). But fans have a limited time to munch on these sweet treats, as Britt’s only opens March through September, Monday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Known as the “sweetest place on earth,” Britt’s isn’t like modern-day, artisanal donut shops. They don’t offer stuffed varieties with a gazillion toppings. They stick to tried-and-true glazed in a single order ($1), by the half dozen ($5.50) or a full dozen ($8).

Other donuts keeping Wilmington diners happily on a sugar rush are Wake N Bake (another Carolina Beach shop) and WinstonSalem founded Krispy Kreme.

Italian Restaurant

For more than two decades, A Taste of Italy has churned out homemade Italian cuisine that would make any Sicilian grandmother kiss her fingertips in approval.

Brothers Chris and Tommy Guarino—owners of A Taste of Italy off College Road—thrive on family recipes shared with Wilmington diners. Not to mention, all family runs the delicatessen and restaurant. “We have been using the same family recipes for over 20 years,” Chris tells. “We take pride in what we do.”

Reared in a big, Italian family, the Guarinos always adored their mother’s homecooked meals. They’ve passed that on to their customers, who often praise their pasta dishes, delectable eggplant parmigia-

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na, homemade meatballs and mozzarella, sandwiches, and more.

“We have always kept the pressure on ourselves to keep our customers satisfied and happy with each and every one of their visits here,” Chris notes of their breakfast, lunch and dinner service. “Customers and friends continue to remind us of how our deli and food reminds them of the ‘good old days.’”

The deli takes pride in the community they serve, especially those who keep us safe.

They’re always offering discounts to police force, EMS and firefighters. They also do discounts for local schools looking for catering needs. In fact, not only do the Guarino brothers focus on the ins and outs of running a restaurant daily, their catering business helps keep families happy over holidays, for gettogethers and at various functions for businesses and the like. Plus, they do take-out meats and cheese, as well as pasta salads, antipasto salads and tons of homemade desserts from the bakery. Their market features the best in pasta and sauces, olive oils and wines, and more.

“It makes us feel great that we are able to be on top along with all the other great local businesses,” Chris says. “Hopefully our ‘e’ award this year will continue to expand to new customers who have yet to try us out, and just remind our returning customers that we are great because they continue to support us.”

Other Italian restaurants offering a few worthy mamma mias include Osteria Cicchetti and Roko Italian Restaurant.

Sushi Restaurant

When diners pass by 16 South Front St., downtown Wilmington, they may notice the home of Nikki’s Sushi Bar and Restaurant has undergone an aesthetic renovation. Now with light colors brightening up the space, the sushi bar has been expanded to ensure customer can get an up, close and personal view of the sushi chefs making their favorite items.

The Chen family, who operate the restaurant, has updated the Racine Commons spot, too, and also oversee the Independence Mall

AMERICANA SOUNDS: The Midatlantic served as the encore Best Of Party house band during the annual event and were runnersup for Best Band on the 2016 poll. Photo by Chris Brehmer Photography

and Carolina Beach locations, as well as the restaurant’s only Japanese steak house locale off Military Cutoff near Wrightsville Beach.

Though their menus extend beyond cuts of tuna, mackerel, salmon, shrimp, and more, it’s certainly the fresh fish that keep diners voting them Best Sushi Restaurant for numerous years on the encore poll.

Open for lunch and dinner, they always offer daily specials on sushi rolls, expanding beyond traditional Japanese expectations with creations that tempt the tastebuds.

Items include the smoky Japanese Bagel Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese and scallion), the biting K-Town Roll (spicy white tuna and crunchy tempura flakes inside with tuna, white tuna and jalapenos on top with Sriracha), and the plump Rockstar Roll (shrimp tempura, eel, crab meat, and avocado topped with black tobiko and drizzled with eel sauce and spicy mayo). But for folks who like their sushi simpler, they offer fare like tuna and avocado rolls and can even take special requests.

Chirashi may be the most appetizing for traditionalists who appreciate mere fresh cuts of seafood over tangy sushi rice. It’s also a hefty plate of food with 18 pieces of fish: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, eel, smoked salmon, white tuna, clam, octopus, shrimp, and crab. And for parties, they bring out the boat—a wooden serving vessel, beautifully decorated with cuts of sushi, sashimi and rolls, 39 pieces of fish to be exact.

Open seven days a week, diners who don’t like sushi can check their website for other offerings, like hibachi and teriyaki dinners, as well as tons of American, Mediterranean and vegan and vegetarian sandwiches, entrees, salads, side dishes, and the like.

Other sushi restaurants making the cut include Bento Box and YoSake.

encore | march 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 37

Arts, Entertainment and Media Concert Venue

As the weather heats up, Wilmingtonians are turning to the outdoor amphitheater at Greenfield Lake to enjoy the concert season. And many greats have already been announced, including the season opener on April 14 and 15, well-known reggae act Iration. Other performers have been announced for the spring months and into summer and include Nahko & Medicine for the People (April 23), BigSomething (May 7), St. Paul and the Broken Bones (May 14), Trampled

by Turtles and The Devil Makes Three (May 18), Willie Nelson and Family (May 24), and Donavon Frankenreiter (Aug. 20).

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater is located off Carolina Beach Road on Amphitheatre Drive and is surrounded by natural wildlife and lush greenery of the lake. From the hauntingly beautiful cypress trees and

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! s l a de

Spanish moss, to the neighboring alligators and turtles, as well as many gorgeous birds and fish, it’s a pathway of serenity around its 4.5-mile trek. Paired with the adjoining playground, skate park and paddle-boat tours, folks utilize the area for gatherings, sports, picnics, fishing, and exercising.

But it’s the growth of the amphitheater and its renovation a few years back which has made it a cultural hotspot in town for concerts, nonprofit events, networking functions, and live theatre, thanks to the annual Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green Festival held every May and June. The festival dates will be announced on April 15 for their youth production of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” (auditions on Mar. 29 and 30 at 5 p.m. at the Hannah Block Community Arts Center) and the adult company’s production, “Twelfth Night” (auditions on same dates as youth production, but at 7 p.m.).

Other concert venues turning up the volume on our list include Ziggy’s By The Sea and Brooklyn Arts Center.

—Shea Carver

Tourist Attraction

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has been connecting people with nature and animals for 40 years now. Locals and visitors alike go to learn new things in a fun way, and encore voters have named them

THANK YOU WILMINGTON! For voting Shelley Lancaster as

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BIG DREAMERS: The staff at DREAMS of Wilmington dress up in their sci-fi/Comic Con best for the 2016 encore Best Of Party and Fundraiser.

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Best Tourist Attraction. “There is so much to see and do in our area, it is an honor local families and out-of-town visitors choose to visit the Aquarium again and again,” says Robin Nalepa, public relations rep for the aquarium.

“The encore award . . . means our community recognizes the tremendous effort of aquarium staff and volunteers to create a wonderful, mission-driven attraction where we inspire conservation and appreciation of aquatic wildlife in a fun and engaging way.”

Aquarium staff take time to talk with guests. They answer questions and make visits memorable for each family, bus-load of school children or individuals who walk in. Moreover, there is always something new to see and do. While best known for aquatic wildlife, including alligators, sharks and sea turtles, Nalepa says for a short period of time guests can step back millions of years and experience “Dinosaurs!”

Featuring massive animatronic beasts who roar, spit and wow visitors, the aquarium’s outdoor garden houses a fearsome T-rex, a

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23-foot-long brachiosaurus and other lifesized, prehistoric creatures. In addition to “Dinosaurs!” Running until September, they’ll welcome back the “Butterfly Bungalow” on Saturday, April 23. Guests can walk amongst hundreds of free-flying, exotic butterflies for totally immersive experience, while learning more about the importance of butterflies and other insect pollinators. “Where else can you experience our beautiful beach location, hear the roar of a T-rex, enjoy butterflies landing on your arm, and get eye-to-eye with a sea turtle?” Nalepa adds.

Once upon a time, Nalepa’s childhood dream of living underwater with whales and dolphins morphed into a desire to become a marine biologist. “Unfortunately, my brain and abilities were more geared to words than science,” she quips. “Yet, nearly five years ago, my dreams and profession dovetailed when I joined the Aquarium family. Now I learn from the skilled and knowledgeable staff and share the good work they do caring for the animals living at the Aquarium.”

Tourist should also flock to Best Tourist Attraction runners up Airlie Gardens and the USS North Carolina Battleship.

—Shannon Gentry

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extra>>books

CARPE LIBRUM:

Richard III takes center stage again

Hollow Crown” this year, and Benedict Cumberbatch announced to play Richard III, it seems an appropriate time to revisit elcome to Carpe Librum, en- the story. core’s new biweekly book colThough both authors employ a thirdumn. Every other week I will person narrator, they focus the pointdissect a current title with an old book— of-view characters differently. Penman because literature does not exist in a looks at the story mostly (but not entirely) vacuum, but emerges to participate in a through the eyes of Richard, beginning larger, cultural conversation. I will feature with his childhood and his heroic, captimany North Carolina writers; however, vating older brother whom he worshiped: the hope is to place the discussion in a Edward. Plaidy moves through several larger context and therefore examine point-of-view characters but begins, interworks around the world as well. estingly, with Elizabeth Woodville. Woodville was a commoner who managed to secretly marry the King of England, EdThe Sunne in Splendour: ward IV, then bear him an “heir and a A Novel of Richard III spare”: the two princes (who died in the

by Sharon Kay Penman tower), Edward V and his brother, RichSt. Martins, 1982, 944 pages ard—named for their father and uncle.

The Sun in Splendour Penman does not believe Richard killed

by Jean Plaidy his nephews in the tower. As a well-trained Putnam, 1982, 365 pages lawyer, she does a good job arguing her In 1982 two books with the same title case, and by the time we get to the poson the same topic, were released. Jean sibility of the evil deed, her readers are Plaidy’s “The Sun in Splendour” was at firmly convinced of her hypothesis. In her least her 143rd, the 71st published under author’s notes, she describes in detail her the pseudonym “Jean Plaidy” (she was research methods and any liberties she also known as Victoria Holt, Philippa Carr has taken with the facts. She is quick to and Eleanor Burford). By contrast, Sha- say if in real life someone was staying at ron Kay Penman’s “The Sunne in Splen- a castle on the first Tuesday in May, then dour” was her first novel. She wrote it she has made sure in her books they are twice; the first copy of the manuscript was at that castle on that date. stolen from her car. After several years of Plaidy doesn’t so much try to exonergrief, she rewrote the book while she was ate Richard of the crime, as to illustrate practicing law full time. the court politics and family dynamics Both books are fictionalized accounts which make the princes’ deaths ineviof the life of Richard III, though the actual table. Whereas Penman writes scenes Sun in Splendour, to which the titles refer, and “shows” rather than “tells,” Plaidy was his older brother, Edward IV. With the is a storyteller—and she tells her story BBC releasing the second cycle of “The with pages at a time of no dialogue. For

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Plaidy it is the pageantry of the court, the beautiful setting and the struggles of the human heart that interest her the most.

She glosses over battles; they happened, that’s really all that needs to be said about that.

Penman, on the other hand, is more of a modern novelist. Lengthy battle scenes fill the book. It is a perfectly expected inclusion in a book about The War of the Roses. Battles covered the length and breadth of the island, and Penman is keen to make the impact of the aristocracy’s disagreements on the lives of the peasantry real. She shows the devastation to towns, lack of food and rampant pillaging. For her, Richard is a sympathetic character—a man who spent his life at the mercy of fate and others’ whims.

Plaidy almost sees Richard as an afterthought, which, compared to his larger-

than-life brother, is not an unreasonable perspective. Due to her interest in Elizabeth Woodville, there is more discussion of the Woodvilles and the maternal line of Edward V than one finds in Penman’s book. For Plaidy, Woodville is a quiet, placid figure, who raises her brothers to positions of importance in the government but doesn’t meddle in court affairs.

Penman on the other hand paints her as the classic scheming creature of the court—a danger to Richard and all who oppose her.

It’s fascinating the two books share a title, topic and year of release, yet are so vastly different in scope. If anything, to see the beginning of Sharon Kay Penman’s remarkable career as a novelist is wonderful. It may have taken 12 years and a lot of heartbreak to write—and rewriter per the manuscript theft—but clearly the book is worth her pain and effort.

For Plaidy, it is just another book in the middle of her six-decade career (which ultimately produced almost 200 novels).

If anything, the books confirm the endless fascination with the War of the Roses. George R.R. Martin has commented that the “Game of Thrones” books were inspired in part by the Plantagenets and the War of the Roses. The scheming of the court never gets old as a plot or topic of conversation. With the discovery and reburial of King Richard’s skeleton in the last few years, these novels are more timely than ever.

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happenings & events across wilmington

to-do calendar events ADULTS-ONLY EGG HUN

Why should the kids have all the fun? join Leland Parks and Rec on Thurs., 3/24 at 7pm for the second annual Adult Egg Hunt at Leland Municipal Park (102 Town Hall Dr.). Adults-only (21 and up) night will feature an ‘80s themed flashlight egg hunt, concert by ‘80s rockers The Breakfast Club, food available for purchase from Tasty Tee’s Snack Shack, drinks, prizes and more! Scour the park for eggs and win prizes from great local businesses. $5; townofleland.com/recreation or

at gate. Amy Ryan at (910) 332-4823 or e-mail aryan@townofleland.com. easter eggstravaganza

3/26, Beach Community Church is hosting their 2nd Annual Easter Eggstravaganza! This is fun for the whole family. Egg hunts will be held at 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm. There will be games, prizes, bouncy houses, a cake walk, crafts and more. The event is free, but we will be selling food and raffle tickets for a chance to win great prizes. You don’t want to miss this!

ILM BIZ CONFERENCE AND EXPO

The WilmingtonBiz Conference & Expo is the

Wilmington Region’s largest business-to-business conference, where professionals come to learn, network and grow their business. More than 100 exhibitors 1:15-7pm for a day of learning and new connections! Tickets: $5 expo only/ $40 keynote lunch (11:30am-1pm). Free seminars on a range of timely topics. After hours party 4:30-7pm. Wilmington Convention Center, 515 Nutt St. EVENING WITH GARRISON KEILOR

3/30, 7:30pm: Acclaimed host of “A Prairie Home Companion” brings his solo performance, “An Evening with Garrison Keillor,” to Wilmington.

This master story-teller shares hilarious anec-

dotes about growing up in the Midwest, the people of Lake Wobegon and “late-life fatherhood.” www.thalianhall.org. Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St.

charity/fundraisers 2016 Audi Cabriolet RAFFLE

Wilmington Symphony Orchestra is raffling a 2016 Audi Cabriolet convertible, in partnership with Audi Cape Fear. Only 999 tickets will be sold! The drawing will be held on May 7. Audi Car Raffle: $125 + $3.75 transaction fee. Raffle ticket to win the new 2016 Audi Cabriolet 2.0.

Raffle tickets will be sent to buyer via U.S. mail.

Must be 18 years old to participate. You need not be present to win, but we hope you will join us at the Kentucky Derby Party and drawing event on May 7, and all ticket sales benefit the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. The $125 purchase price of the ticket is not tax-deductible, but any amount in excess of $125 per ticket will be considered a contribution to the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. 600 tickets must be sold for the raffle to take place. In the event that the minimum is not met, you may choose to make this a tax-deductible donation to the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra or receive a full refund. wilmingtonsymphony.org.

COMMUNITY BIKE DRIVE

A Bike for Every Child is a non-profit organization requesting donations of used bikes for the benefit of the kids at The Brigade Boys and Girls Club.

Please drop off your used bikes at any Lowes Foods in Wilmington, Leland, and Hampstead through March 15th. Your donated bikes will be repaired by and given to the kids at the Brigade Boys and Girls club. We need all types of bikes, from tricycles to adult bikes for teens. Give your old bike a second life and donate it today! For more information go to www.abikeforeverychild. org or call the Donation Coordinator, Kelly Cascaden at (910) 431-9235.

5 PERCENT DAY

Shop at Whole Foods Market Wilmington on 3/23, 8am-9pm, and 5 percent of net sales will be donated to The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) to provide scholarships for economically disadvantaged youth in Southeastern NC. Funds raised will directly fund Education Without Walls programming—created for middle and high school students who are failing or at risk of dropping out of school due to barriers associated with living in poverty and/or chronic homelessness. Come see the NCOAE Team, 11am-7pm, at Whole Foods Market, 3804 Oleander Dr.

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Enter your events online by noon, Thursdays,

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www.encorepub.com 42 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

crossword Creators syndiCate CREATORS SyNDICATE © 2016 STANLEy NEWMAN

WWW.STANXWORDS.COM

3/27/16

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

WISE WOMEN: Reaching the same conclusions

by S.N. ACROSS 1 Measure off 6 “__ Mia” (15 Across tune) 11 Pastel shade 15 Swedish singing group 19 Present one’s case 20 Sci-fi staple 21 Winning streaks 22 Sheltered waters 23 Victorian Era actress 25 Pop singer superstar 27 Remarks 28 Tenth of a thou 29 Conditional release 30 Essence of some sushi 31 Moves a bit 32 Diamond tactic 33 Pressing 35 Eliot Ness nemesis 39 Not overly vocal 40 Ten times CCV 41 Nautical course 42 Cautions 44 Throw off 48 Apparel 49 Ten Commandments transportation 50 Term of endearment 53 Groundbreaker 54 Shade of yellow 55 Stewart’s Daily Show successor 56 Letters on tachs 57 Motivations 59 Person in servitude 60 One of the environmental Three R’s 61 Talk nonstop 62 Every other hurricane 63 “Goldfinger” singer 65 Whopper of a tale 66 NL West team 67 Casual shirts

68 At an angle 69 Bunch of buffaloes 70 Bylaw, for short 71 Storage rental 72 __ Adventures in Wonderland 73 Bygone bird 74 Big name in eggs 76 Hilary Swank biopic 77 Speak to sharply 80 Mythical river 81 Danced at Carnival, quite possibly 83 1993 Peace Nobelist 84 Half a figure eight 87 Far from convinced 88 Had a conference 89 Cherbourg’s region 92 Modest comment 93 Back to the Future hero 94 Before now 95 Unconcern 97 Havana’s __ Castle 98 Disconcert 102 The Lady Vanishes star 104 Celebrity biographer 106 Sporting sword 107 Isn’t up to par 108 Murkiness 109 Tenancy document 110 Audition, for instance 111 Proofreading mark 112 City north of Turin 113 Forgoes food DOWN 1 Square dance partners 2 Diva’s performance 3 Hostile, as a crowd 4 Square dance partners 5 Essence of some sushi 6 Quarterback brothers’ surname

7 Dan Quayle successor 8 Hands, so to speak 9 Unimportant 10 Vague amount 11 Huckabee’s home state 12 15 Across, e.g.

13 Biblical preposition 14 Sanctuary 15 Prez on a penny 16 Ballet rail 17 “Love will find a way” poet 18 Up to now 24 Overture follower 26 Durable hairdo 29 100% 31 Tapered tip 32 Leave It to Beaver novelist 34 __ plaid (woolen fabric) 35 Epiphanic, as a moment 36 Permit 37 Gymnast at the 1968 Olympics 38 Francisco’s farewell 39 Tex-Mex fare 42 Gondolas’ routes 43 Brides and grooms 45 British anthropologist 46 Hamper 47 Was a sub at the office 49 Enticement metaphor 51 Mitigated 52 People in general 54 Tex-Mex fare 55 Snapple competitor 57 Mooring places 58 Because of this, in legalese

59 Sandal part 60 Bad, as butter 63 Egg on 64 “Greatest Show” surname 69 Multitude 72 Lager descriptor 73 Two-fisted 75 Member of the board 76 February birthstone 77 Hungarian composer 78 Brewery product

79 Wee bit 82 See 83 Down 83 With 82 Down, Sondheim revue 85 Persian ruler 86 Old photo tints 88 Dollywood host 89 American Buffalo playwright 90 Visibly amazed 91 “The Highwayman” poet

93 Rototiller part 96 Take a crack __ 97 Pedometer measure 98 Leaping bug 99 Ancestor of “D’oh!”

100 Hearty enjoyment 101 Peering pair 103 Drizzly 104 Putin’s 1980s employer 105 Tolkien creature

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viction of Planned Parenthood’s guest speaker, Dr. Willie Parker. Dr. Parker, a Harvard graduate, and chair-elect of the board of Physicians for Reproductive Health. He is a powerful advocate for reproductive justice, but this was not always the case. Come discover why a successful OB/GYN in Chicago who had never performed an abortion in 12 years based on “moral grounds” left a thriving practice in 2009 to become an abortion provider in the South. He will be featured prominently in “Trapped,” a documentary debuting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, about eroding abortion rights. RSVP by 3/8. Suggested donation of $100 or more to benefit Planned Parenthood. Terraces on Sir Tyler Dr., 1826 Sir Tyler Dr. GOLF TOURNAMENT

4/1, 9am: The Friends of the Leland Cultural Arts Center is proud to host our 2nd Annual Golf Tournament at Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation to support the Town of Leland Cultural Arts Center.

Our event will feature 3 flights, Ladies, Men and Mixed, Shotgun Start and Captain’s Choice with team prizes. Compete for individual prizes in our putting, hole-in-one, longest drive and closest to pin contests. Registration at 9:30am on the day of the event. Sponsorship packages available to provide added recognition and business opportunities at the event. Reg: www.flcacgolf.org or email Cris Allen, at cja5wood@gmail.com or 571-319-9424. Call for pricing to play.

FASHION SHOW AND AUCTION

4/1, 11am: Southern Chic: 24th Annual Fashion Show & Silent Auction to benefit the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services. Come enjoy great food and support a wonderful cause while watching local celebrities, politicians, law

enforcement and fire fighters strut their stuff on the runway. Fashions and accessories are from our Vintage Values stores. All proceeds benefit Domestic Violence Shelter and Services. Tickets are $45 per person, $400 per table, and are available at www.domesticviolence-wilm.org or by calling 910-343-9969. Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 301 N Water St.

theatre/auditions TOP OF THE MORNIN’ TO YA

Through 3/26, Fri and Sat only; written & directed by Penny Kohut. $15-$32. Dinner theatre features Faith and Begorrah—this time they are covering the 2016 Elections. This Irish “Hoda & Kathie Lee” are taking every last “pun”ditty they can in this hilarious take on the American electoral race. All this is served with a heaping helping of deliciousness from Chef Denise’s kitchen for this St. Paddy’s Day themed show. TheatreNOW: 19 S. 10 St.

THE 39 STEPS

3/27-30, 8pm: Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have “The 39 Steps,” a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! Two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and

some good old-fashioned romance! Directed by Chandler Davis. Starring Jason Aycock, Christopher Rickert, Heather Setzler, & Brett J. Young.

Tickets: $20-$25, www.citystageco.com. City Stage Co., 21 North Front Street PAGE TO STAGE: WOMEN IN HISTORY

3/23, 6:30pm: Free and open to the public, donations appreciated, Cameron Art Museum, Weyerhaeuser Reception Hall, 3201 South 17th St. A series of staged readings of original, locally-written works offering a mix of comedy and drama with a different theme the fourth Wednesday of each month. Thought-provoking and lively oneacts and monologues will be presented in honor of Women’s History Month and CAM’s new exhibition “She Tells A Story” (on view 3/19-9/11).

Page to Stage pays homage to the everyday women who make history in their own businesses and homes, as well as paying tribute to a few

3/25: BIG JAY OAKERSON

Working as a bouncer for strippers and at children’s parties helped pay the bills while Oakerson was making his way onto the comedy circuit. Today he has put away his crossed arms and threatening poker face for a laugh or two doing standup routines, while opening for the likes of Dave Atell and ... wait for it ... Korn. Having appeared on “Inside Amy Schumer” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” he’ll make his way to Dead Crow Comedy Room this weekend. Tickets: deadcrowcomedy.com of the well-known, famous women from the past and present. Local actor/ playwrights Josh Bailey, Ron Hasson, Penny Kohut, Wesleigh Neville and Pam Smith will present their original works.

Join us for this contemplative and entertaining night, and feel free to bring friends along! facebook.com/pagetostageunlimited?_rdr=p.

WINNERS AND LOSERS AUDITIONS

3/28-29, 6pm-9pm: The Port City Playwrights’ Project, a community of writers for stage and screen, will hold auditions at the Hannah Block Community Arts Center, 120 S. Second St. PCPP is seeking a core group of male and female actors, 18 and older, to fill roles in the staged reading of five short plays. Successful auditioners will speak clearly, project well, and have the ability to play several different roles. Two to three rehearsals will be scheduled before the performance dates of 5/2-3 at Cape Fear Playhouse. portcityplaywrightsproject@gmail.com

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3/31-4/3, 8pm or Sun., 2pm, in the SRO Theatre, UNCW’s Cultural Arts Building: Show depicts the performance of a play written as a suicide note by fourth grader Johnny. Performing Johnny’s play are his classmates who assume the roles of themselves and portray the incidents in Johnny’s life that lead him to his sad conclusion. Providing audiences with a darkly curious story, 4th Graders gives the perspective of a troubled young boy dealing with bullies and depression. Dealing with very serious topics, 4th Graders will leave audiences baffled, but sympathetic to a story all too familiar for today’s youth. Tickets may only be purchased on the evening of the performance at the Cultural Arts Building box office, one hour before curtain. GA $10; students $ 3. http://uncw. edu/theatre/Tickets/tickets.html. 5270 Randall Dr.

comedy DEAD CROW

3/25-26, 7pm and 9:30pm: Big Jay Oakerson returns to the Dead Crow, coming off his taping of his hour-long special on Comedy Central in February. Jay has also recently been featured on This Is Not Happening with Ari Shaffir, Comedy Underground with Dave Attell, FX’s Louie, Inside Amy Schumer, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. • 3/29, 7pm: Andrew Bunting has given a lot to the Wilmington arts community and now it’s time to give back.

We’re putting on an all-out, all-hilarious night of comedy and music to raise money for our good friend to help him with his medical bills.

Cancer is nothing to laugh at, but let’s face it, Andrew is always laughing at inappropriate times. Admission: Any amount of money you can conribute to Andrew’s medical bills. Thank you so much! Dead Crow Comedy Room: 265 N Front St. www. deadcrowcomedy.com.

music/concerts UNCW COMMUNITY MUSIC ACADEMY

3/24, 7pm: Esteemed faculty of the UNCW Community Music Academy will perform selections

by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Piazzolla for a benefit concert in Beckwith Hall on the UNCW campus. Tickets: $5-$20 and available at 910962-3500. Proceeds will benefit the UNCW Community Music Academy. Faculty members who will be performing on this concert will be Danijela Zezelj-Gualdi (Artistic Director), Elizabeth Loparits, Jake Wenger, Natalie Boeyink, Justin Hoke, Paolo André Gualdi and Robert Nathanson. Photos and biographical information will be provided upon request. Wine is generously donated by Wilmington Wine. A silent auction provided by Salling & Tate and more. Pre-concert reception begins at 7pm and concert begins at 7:30. www.facebook.com/uncwcma. 5270 Randall Dr.

BEAU SOIR

An evening of French classical music by composers Claude Debussy, Francis Poulenc and Maurice Ravel, among others, performed by Paolo Gualdi on piano and Danijela ŽeželjGualdi on violin. www.cameronartmuseum.org.

Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St.

“This Machine,” Roy Zimmerman

3/31, 7pm: Roy Zimmerman is a one-man tour du force of music, biting social and political commentary and the great heart to keep you listening to the uncomfortable truths of life in these United States. If you’ve never seen him in concert, his infectious energy will cut through the din of your day-to-day and shake you awake! Join us for a very memorable evening! $18 or pay what you can. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wilmington, 4313 Lake Ave.

Contemporary Classical ConcertS

3/31, 7pm: Pro Musica Concert Series presents COLLAPSS (COLLective for hAPpy SoundS) a contemporary music and dance ensemble based in Greensboro, presenting unique experimental programs in non-traditional. Collapss (Emily Aiken and Brianna Taylor, dance, Steve Stusek and Laurent Estoppey, saxophones) with Robert Nathanson, guitar specializes in sound and movement, but also features spoken word, theater, video and visual art. www.collapss.com.

Saxophones and electronics, featuring video and dance, composed by Maurizio Guerandi,

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Nick Rich, Andrew Weathers and Wei Dai. Rob Nathanson will play as a duet with Laurent Estoppey. www.cameronartmuseum.org. Cameron Art Museum’s Weyerhaeuser Reception Hall, 3201 S. 17th St.

dance CONTRA DANCE

Evening of energetic, contemporary American country dancing—exercise that’s actually FUN, done to live music by Box of Chocolates band—fiddle, percussion, guitar, dulcimer, bass, mandolin and more! Dress cool & comfortable, soft-soled shoes. 2nd and 4th Tues each month.

All ages welcome. United Methodist Church, 409 S. 5 Ave.

art

Annual, juried exhibition features student work.

Traditionally over 75 pieces are submitted, including drawings, watercolors, oils, photography, acrylics, ceramics, sculptures and experimental media. A UNC Wilmington alumnus/alumna or community member is selected to juror the show and selects the awards, including Best of Show, which is purchased for the University Union Permanent Art Collection. UNCW Boseman Art Gallery, 601 S College Rd.

topher alexander

Flytrap Brewing presents “Varied States” from local artist, Topher Alexander. He currently serves as the Assistant Gallery Director at UNCW CAB Art Gallery and teaches printmaking at the Cameron Art Museum School. Alexander’s artwork is driven by experimentation, and grounded in raw materials. On display through April 30. Flytrap Brewing, 319 Walnut St.

MARK HUBERT OPENING

ART INSTALLATION: NIKI HILDEBRAND

Experience an art installation of 150 glass leaves.

A soft opening for 4th Friday Art Walk Feb 26th and a seperate official opening on Wed., 3/2, 6-8pm with talk by artist Niki Hildebrand. The ArtWorks, 200 Willard St.

WINTER WORKS ON PAPER

ALL STUDENT SHOW

Take a reprieve from the hustle and bustle and enter a world of serenity and quiet that only a blanket of snow puts on the world. Sit down, relax and enjoy the soft restful solitude of winter.

Watercolors and monoprints on museum quality papers by artist Janette K. Hopper. Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess St.

3/23, 6pm: A Tasting Room in downtown Wilmington will host a reception to celebrate the hanging of a gallery from local artist, Mark Hubert. 19 South 2nd Street

FOURTH FRIDAY GALLERY NIGHT

3/25, 6pm: Fourth Friday Gallery Nights, Wilmington’s premier after-hours celebration of art and culture, is held 6-9 pm on the fourth Friday of each month. Fourth Fridays feature art openings, artist demonstrations, entertainment and refreshments. Administered by the Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover County, Fourth Fridays have made downtown Wilmington an arts destination as art-savvy locals and visitors flock to

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER BREAKFAST SERVED UNTIL 12PM EVERY DAY! 250 Racine Drive • Wilmington, NC Racine Commons • 910.523.5362 www.BlueSurfCafe.com 46 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

our art spaces, said Rhonda Bellamy, executive director of the Arts Council of Wilmington/NHC. CALL FOR ARTISTS

Call for Artists by Wilmington Art Association for 2D Visual and 3D Heritage Arts adults 50 and over—Statewide Art Competition plus Exhibition and sale for three days. -$15 to enter 5 pieces of art. No uploading images Deadline to enter April 25. www.wilmington-art.org

STRIKING A BALANCE

Striking A Balance opens at New Elements Gallery on March 25, 2016. This exhibit features new works from printmaker Donald Furst and painter Bob Rankin. Both artists share a clean, linear aestheric, but they differ in palette. Furst works predominately in black and white where Rankin plays with primary hues. New Elements Gallery will host an opening reception on 3/25, 6-9pm, in conjunction with Downtown Wilmington’s Fourth Friday Gallery Night. Striking A Balance will remain on view until 4/16. at 201 Princess St.

museums CAMERON ART MUSEUM

Exhibits: Through 6/5: Bones Of: Sculptures

by Dustin Farnsworth: New acquisition to the permanent collection in context of seven other works by this rising artist. Inspired by 19th century architecture of the theatre, Farnsworth reflects, “I create a lush, emotionally-charged rabbit hole to fall into and explore. These sculptures act as anthropological studies of cultural, familial and social heredity of a culture in the interim of post-industry and the coming age.” Farnsworth, a recent resident artist at Penland School of Craft (2012-2015) is now continuing his studio practice as a Windgate resident and Honorary Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (20152016). • Through 7/10: Raise the Curtain: Galleries become two working studios in this presentation of the original front curtain unveiled October 12, 1858 during the premier opening of Wilmington’s Thalian Hall. The 32’ curtain painted by Russell Smith, Hudson River-inspired Pennsylvania artist, undergoes conserva?tion treatment while local artists paint a 19’ x 32’ replica of the venerable scene, featuring arrival of Viking long ships to Apollo’s temple, as oracles are read on the eve of the Olympic games. • Through 9/11: She Tells a Story celebrates the work of women artists from CAM’s permanent collection and connects the art forms of visual and literary arts. Fifteen Wilmington-area women writers contribute text (of their chosen format) on select works from the exhibition. The juxtaposition of the artwork with the written word will illuminate how these artists and writers explore their experiences, perspectives and world views through their chosen medium.

• Through 7/17: Patchwork North America: Paintings by Virginia Wright-Frierson: From extensive travel by road and by air, Wright-Frierson has created over 100 paintings framing scenes, as if looking through a window, across the US and Canada. • She Tells a Story, see page 16. CAM Café hrs: Tues,-Sat,, 11am-3pm; Sun., 10am3pm; Wed.-Thurs. 5-9pm. 910-395-5999. www. cameronartmuseum.org. 3201 S. 17th St.

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH MUSEUM

Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, housed in the turn of the century Myers Cottage, exists to preserve and to share the history of Wrightsville Beach. Visitors to the cottage will find a scale model of Wrightsville Beach circa 1910, exhibits featuring the early days of the beach including Lumina Pavilion, our hurricane history and information about the interaction between the people

and our natural environment which have shaped the 100 year history of WB. (910) 256-2569. 303 W. Salisbury St. www.wbmuseum.com. cf museum

3/31, 7pm: In honor of Women’s History Month, take an intimate historical and artifactual tour with Museum Historian Jan Davidson and Museum Curator Barbara Rowe as they showcase the often-ignored role of women in the Lower Cape Fear’s history. First, Jan Davidson will tell stories of women’s contributions to our region’s rich history and culture. Then, Barbara Rowe will give the special tour group access to some rarelyseen objects in the Museum’s collection. Participation is limited to 15 persons. Advance registration is required and can be made by calling 910-798-4362 or email cfmprograms@nhcgov. com. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

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 Mondays at 10:30am, only $5 per family and access to entire Museum. Admission only $9.00 adult, $8.00 senior/military, $5.00 child age 2-12, and free under age 2. North end of downtown, 505 Nutt St. 910-763-2634, www. wrrm.org.

LATIMER HOUSE

Victorian Italiante style home built in 1852, the restored home features period furnishings, artwork and family portraits. Tours offered MonFri, 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. 762-0492. www.latimerhouse.org

CAPE FEAR SERPENTARIUM

World’s most fascinating and dangerous reptiles in beautiful natural habitats, feat. a 12-foot saltwater crocodile, “Bubble Boy.” and “Sheena”, a 23ft long Reticulated Python that can swallow a human being whole! Giant Anaconda weighs 300 lbs, w/15 ft long King Cobras hood up and amaze you. See the Black Mamba, Spitting Cobras, Inland Taipans, Gaboon Vipers, Puff Adders, and more! Over 100 species, some so rare they are not exhibited anywhere else. One of the most famous reptile collections on earth. Open everyday in summer, 11am-5pm (Sat. till 6 pm); winter schedule, Wed-Sun. 20 Orange St, across from the Historic Downtown Riverwalk, intersecting Front and Water Street. (910) 762-1669 or www.capefearserpentarium.com.

BELLAMY MANSION

One of NC’s most spectacular examples of antebellum architecture, built on the eve of the Civil War by free and enslaved black artisans, for John Dillard Bellamy (1817-1896) physician, planter and business leader; and his wife, Eliza McIlhenny Harriss (1821-1907) and their nine children. After the fall of Fort Fisher in 1865, Federal troops commandeered the house as their headquarters during the occupation of Wilmington. Now a museum, itf ocuses on history and the design arts and offers tours, changing exhibitions and an informative look at historic preservation in action.910-251-3700. www.bellamymansion.org. 503 Market St.

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encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 47

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48 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

LLOYD’S SALES AND STORAGE 6505 Market St., Wilmington

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Storage Dept. 910-791-4337 We Install Trailer Hitches For All Vehicles

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FREE Truck With Move In encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com 49

BURGWIN WRIGHT HOUSE

18th century Burgwin-Wright House Museum in the heart of Wilmington’s Historic District, is the oldest museum house in NC, restored with 18th and 19th century decor and gardens. Colonial life is experienced through historical interpretations in kitchen-building and courtyard. 3rd and Market St. Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm. Last tour, 3pm. • 3/19: Architectural Tour, 4pm: Built atop the walls of the 1744 city jail, the Burgwin-Wright House, circa 1771, is one of the finest examples of Georgian Architecture in the state. The tour focuses on the colonial features of the house and property and 1840 modifications.$10 plus tax ($10.70). Space is limited, so advance registration is required.info@burgwinwrighthouse.com (910) 762-0570. burgwinwrighthouse.com.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Mon, Little Sprouts Storytime, 10am, and Go Green Engineer Team, 3:30pm. • Tues., Kids Cooking Club, 3:30pm • Wed., Preschool Science, 10am; Discover Science, 3:30pm; and Mini Math, 4pm. • Thurs. StoryCOOKS, 10am; and StART with a Story, 3:30pm • Fri., Toddler Time, 10am; and Adventures in Art, 3:30pm • Drop off gently used books at our museum to be used for a good cause. Ooksbay Books uses book collection locations to help promote literacy, find a good use for used books, and benefit nonprofits.• www.playwilmington.org 116 Orange St. 910-254-3534

shorts! Fly to the heavens to explore eclipsing binary stars in Citizen Sky: Epsilon Aurigae.

Learn about our closest celestial neighbor in Flight to the Moon. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St. ANOMALISA

3/23 (4pm, too), 24-25, 7pm, $8: A man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary in this winner of many film festival awards that is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. This beautifully animated film follows an inspirational speaker (David Thewlis) who becomes reinvigorated after meeting a lively woman (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who shakes up his mundane existence. (Rated R, 1 hour 30 mins). Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St.

Dior and I

3/28-30, 7pm (4pm on 30), $8: Frédéric Tcheng’s solo directorial debut brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director-a true labor of love created by a dedicated group of collaborators. Melding the everyday, pressure-filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from the iconic brand’s past, the film is also a colorful homage to the seamstresses who serve Simons’ vision. (Rated R, 1 hour, 30 mins). Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St.

film

kids stuff

PLANETARIUM FILMS: CITIZEN SKY

SUPER SATURDAY FUN TIME

3/23, 11am and 2pm. Free for members or with general admission. Join CFM for two full dome

Appropriate for ages 4-10, but all ages wel-

come. Dock the Dog and Dock Street Kids for 10 exciting episodes of Super Saturday Fun Time, TheatreNOW’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 “nuggets.” Dock Street Kids and their always-hungry dog, Dock, solve adventures. Parents can even drop off kids ages 5+. Kid-friendly snacks and drinks available for purchase. We also do custom birthday packages with a chance to interact with all the characters and even step onstage and be a part of the action. /26: Mystery of Blackbeard Story Explorers

Cameron Art Museum, every Thurs., 1010:30am: 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.

SKY QUEST: SPRING CONSTELLATIONS

Show times: 1:30, 2:15, 3, 3:45pm, Free for members or with general admission. Explore the cosmos with Cape Fear Museum! Venture into space with a virtual tour of the stars and our solar system using the Museum’s digital planetarium. View planetary objects in incredible detail, discover the mythology inscribed in our constellations, and learn to be a backyard astronomer with Museum staff. Appropriate for all ages. Themes vary. Space is limited. Parental participation required. 814 Market St.

TRY IT WEEK

Try something new! Explore the great outdoors, participate in fun hands-on experiments. Parental participation is required. 3/21: Dig it! Explore the world under our feet and examine the rocks, bones, and artifacts found underground.

3/22: Fly it! Watch your creations soar as you experiment with the forces of flight. 3/23: Build it! Discover your inner engineer as you conquer building challenges in the Museum Park. 3/24: Grow it! Celebrate the start of Spring and examine the budding plants at Cape Fear Museum.

3/25: Float it! Investigate the properties of water and practice water painting outside. Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

SKY QUEST: PLANET EXPLORATION

3/22, 24, 11am: Free for members or with general admission. Visit the planets of the Solar System and learn what makes each special.Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

EGG HUNT

3/24, 9am: Join the eggcitement at Halyburton Park. Programs and activities for the day include Animal Eggs, and Nests, Egglympics, Story time, and Spring Nature Hike. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Ages: 2-9. $5.

Halyburton Park, 4099 S. 17th St.

HAMMERHEADS SOCCER

The goal of the Wilmington Hammerheads and the Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department is to provide the highest quality soccer coaching program to the youth of our community. Hammerhead Players and Youth staff will teach the fundamental skills and advanced technical and tactical play necessary to enhance each player’s game. Continues through May 3. 1 Bob Sawyer Dr.

EGGCELENT EGG HUNT

3/25-26: Free with admission or membership.

Schedule: 10am, 3 years of age and under; 11am, all ages. Two huntsat The Children’s Museum of Wilmington! Bring your own basket and we’ll provide the rest! We can’t wait to see every-

50 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

one! 116 Orange St. 4TH ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

3/25, 4:30pm: Join us for the 4th annual Easter egg hunt! Kids ages 13 and under are welcome to attend. Remember to bring something to collect your eggs in. The Easter bunny will be here for pictures. Refreshments and door prizes will be given out. Egg hunt will begin promptly at 5pm. Capt’n Bills Backyard and Grille, 4240 Market St.

BUNNY BRUNCH AND EGG HUNT

3/26, 10am: Brunch with the Easter Bunny. We will have games and prizes, live bunnies, a brown bag lunch and an egg hunt for children of all ages. Please be sure to bring your own basket. Photo opportunities throughout the gardens and with the Easter Bunny. Admission is $7, and children two years old and younger are free. You can order your tickets online at: http:// www.nhcarboretum.org/bunny-brunch/.

Your email receipt will be your ticket. Tickets can also be purchased at the Arboretum office, MondayFriday, from 8:00a-5:00pm. All proceeds from this event go to support the projects and programs at the Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Dr.

KIDS COOKING CLASS

3/28: Does your child love to cook? Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation has stirred up something just for them, a FUN hands on youth cooking class! This program aims to teach kids creative and simple recipes that will encourage healthy living and good nutritional choices. It can help build self-esteem, team building, and even motivate them to cook for you! Kids will learn: Measurements, kitchen safety, identifying utensils, washing dishes, preparing meals and snacks, and much more! Ages 6-10. Participants will have fun learning a new recipe each week! 7-week class. 1 Bob Sawyer Drive

IT’S RAINING, IT’S POURING

3/31, 10am: 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. Parental participation is required.

Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St.

BACK TO ‘80S PERFORMANCE CLUB

3/31, 4:30pm: With nods to iconic 80s teen movies (like Back to the Future, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) thru playful skits, the Performance Club will entertain family and friends with a final rockin’ performance in the park that captures the hit sounds of the decade!

Wrightsville Beach Children’s Theater in the Park is a tuition based theater program directed by LJ Woodard of the Performance Club. No audition necessary; we learn by playing and play by acting in a stress free and positive environment!

All levels accepted and ideal for parents who seek an easy rehearsal schedule. Final performance at amphitheater is free for friends, family and the community! Min. 10 students is required and a maximum of 22 students is allowed for each class; K-8. Wrightsville Beach Parks and Rec Dept.,1 Bob Sawyer Dr.

lectures/readings GOING GREEN BOOK CLUB

First Tues of ea. month, 6pm. 2016 will feature a nice range of themes, plus a couple of back-ups just in case obtaining any turned out to be problematic. 4/5: Speaking for Nature: The Literary Naturalists, from Transcendentalism to the Birth of the American. Old Books on Front St., 249 N.

Front St. LATINO BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION

3/26, 3pm: For the month of March, Latino Book Club will discuss Yuri Herrera’s “The Signs Preceding the End of the World.” Copies available at Pomegranate Books, and LBC members receive a 15 percent discount. Anyone is welcome, and no Spanish speaking required!

Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave.

PEDALING FOR PAGES BOOK CLUB

Arrive by bike to receive the bicycle discount everyday. We do have a bike rack just outside the door and two more on the block. The group will read a selection that includes, fiction, biography, history, and memoir. Open to all levels of bicycle interest and ability. Meetings are last Thurs. of mo. at 6pm. March-Mud, Sweat and Gears by Joe Kurmaskie (bicycle tour across Canada with his family!); April-Fat Tire Flyer by Charlie Kelly (history of early days of mountain biking by those who lived it); May-Joyride by Mia Birk (National Bike Month so its a book about advocacy and working towards a more cycling friendly world); June: Half Man, Half Bike. The Life of Eddy Merckx by William Futheringhom; July: The Yellow Jersey by Ralph Hurne; August: Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk, and Triumph on the Path Less Traveled by Rebecca Rusch; Oct: Two Wheels: A Cycling Murder Mystery by Greg Moody; Nov: Bike Snob: Systematically and Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling

by BikeSnobNYC. Old Books on Front St., 249 N. Front St.

REVITALIZING DOWNTOWNS

3/24, 11:30am: A national leader at the forefront of the urban retail industry will speak at an upcoming event hosted by Wilmington Downtown Incorporated. Margaret McCauley, Principal of Seattle based Downtown Works, will be the keynote speaker at the Downtown Economic Series on March 24. Ms. McCauley has drawn on her deep experience and the resources and perspectives of retailers, private developers, corporations, urban planners, and design professionals to successfully transform downtowns into dynamic environments that serve the needs of residents, professionals, and visitors. She will share insights and observations about the state of downtowns across the country as well as opportunities and challenges facing local communities. WDI will highlight recent economic growth and new projects on the horizon. $50 per person, with tables of 10 available for $475. www.wilmingtondowntown.com. Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 301 N Water St.

LECTURE SERIES: JERRY GREENFIELD

3/30, 7pm: Jerry Greenfield and his longtime friend and business partner Ben Cohen are the men behind one of the most talked-about, and least conventional success stories in American business. Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc., Greenfield has helped to build a store front venture into an ice cream and business marvel by making social responsibility and creative management strengths, rather than weaknesses. Free for Students/faculty/staff $10 to the general public. UNCW, Burney Center, 601 S. College Rd.

Lecture with Dr. Monica Gisolfi

3/31, 6:30pm: Racism and the Politics of Confederate Memorialization.’ Lecture with Dr. Monica Gisolfi. We are collectively facing a national debate over the meaning of the Civil War and politics of Confederate Memorialization. This talk provides an examination of the history and context of confederate memorials in Wilmington, and provides a starting point for a discussion

about the implications of commemorating the Confederacy in our everyday landscape. Dr. Monica Gisolfi is a professor of history at UNCW. She is an expert on the history of the American South. Lecture is free. Donations appreciated.

Bellamy Mansion Museum, 503 Market St. Changing Your Behavior/Habits

3/31, 7pm: Art Markman PhD, author of BestSelling “Smart Thinking” and “Smart Change” and Leading Cognitive Scientist from Univ. of Texas will give a thought provoking lecture on the way our mind works and the motivational system that drives behavior. Learn the basic tools needed to empower you to make sustainable long-term changes in your habits. Consciousness Frontier Lecture Hall, 717 Orchard Ave.

classes YOGA FOR PTSD/SPECIAL POPULATIONS

Despite tough economic times, donations, volunteerism, and social activism are on the rise.

The Kunga Yoga Service Leadership Training is for yoga teachers, students, activists, community leaders, and anyone feeling the call to give back and help others. This training is for those that wish to make a difference but don’t know where to start, and also for seasoned activists needing to refill their cup. The Kunga Yoga Service Leadership Training offers the opportunity to explore the process of leadership development through self-inquiry and transformation, so as to become effective community leaders and outreach facilitators. From this foundation of leadership, and development of a personal purpose and mission statement, participants develop their own service project, and gain the specific “hard skillset” teaching techniques for working with trauma-sensitive and special populations.Thurs, 3/31-Sun, 4/3 9am-6pm. Wilmington Yoga Center, 5329 Oleander Dr., Ste. 200

use of weighted gloves, further toning the arms and maximizing cardiovascular health. Add to that fun dance moves for a workout that will tone muscle, burn fat and empower you both physically and mentally. 31 Fitness, 4209 Oleander Drive Suite 8 LEARN TO SEW: SMALL SCALE PROJECTS

Fear Paint & Wine class taught by exhibiting gallery artist Connie Wilkerson-Arp of Crooked Crow Studios. Saturday’s class will be 5:30 7:30. Includes some wine, a gorgeous view and a finished painting for you to take home.

River to Sea Gallery, 224 S Water Street, Suite 1A.

3/24, 6pm: Reg. for upcoming Continuing Edu- PREPARING THE GARDEN FOR SPRING cation courses. The following class begins April 3/24, 6pm: “Preparing the Garden for Spring” 14. Whether you would like to make your own Class at the NHC Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Dr. clothes or sew home décor items to suit your Class fee is $10 and pre-registration is required. personal style, this course will help you achieve Join us for this wonderful class on the correct your creative dreams. Go beyond sewing bamethods of “Preparing the Garden for Spring.” sics to learn how to select, cut, and stitch commercial sewing patterns. Choose between one household item (such as curtains) and one clothing item (such as a T-shirt). Students must know how to use a sewing machine and Needing help in organizing your finances? Want will need to supply their own matesome tips on how to pay your bills in a timely rials. Through May 5, Thurs., 6-8pm fashion? Well, sign up for a Budgeting Class at $55. Reg: www.cfcc.edu. CFCC, 411 N. Front St. the Disability Resource Center, 140 Cinema Dr.,

3/23: BUDGETING CLASS

BUDGETING CLASS

which takes place on the 23 at 1 p.m. You’ll

3/23, 1pm: Workshop is a great startlearn how to prioritize spending and track fiing point for any who feels overnances so money burdens aren’t weighing down whelmed by bills and paperwork standyour happiness.

Call to reserve your space now: ing between them and their financial 910-815-6618. freedom. Learn how to organize your spending and building the perfect budget, manage your bills and prioritize spending, The class covers subjects such as soil condiwhile tracking expenses. 910-815-6618. Distioning, weed control, and soil nutritition. Stop ability Resource Ctr, 140 Cinema Dr. by and register at the Arboretum Office, Mon.CAPE FEAR PAINT AND WINE Fri. from 8am to 5pm or for a printable registra3/24, 5:30pm: River to Sea Gallery hosts a Cape tion form to mail, go to: http://arboretum.nhc-

HOT YOGA

True beginners yoga. Teacher will tell you what you need to do in class and you can watch the other students. This basic series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, practiced in a hot room, is taught in a manner that allows the practice to be done by beginners, people with limited mobility, and people with chronic illness, but is also challenging enough for athletes.

Wilmington Bikram Yoga, 5424 Oleander Dr.

LIGHT YOGA W/LISA

Wed, 12:15pm: Gentle / Beginner Yoga. Be kind to the body, easy on the mind, good for the soul!

Exhale Yoga and Wellness Studio, 16 S. Front St.

INTEGRATIVE HEALING ARTS

Gentle Beginner Yoga, 8:30-9:15am, with Lisa Keating. Bring yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing. Lisa will lead you through gentle yoga postures and breathwork as you find and connect with your inner self. • Workshops 9:30am4:15pm: Delve into information provided by knowledgeable teachers and learn about yourself through self-hypnosis, hand analysis, psychic and intuitive practices, physical movement, meditation, massage, and more. Learn to maintain the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body in a timeless condition of vibrant natural harmony. We offer four session with 19 different workshops to choose from. unitywil.com/news.

Unity of Wilmington, 717 Orchard Ave.

PILOXING SSP

Thurs, 6:30pm: A high-energy interval workout that uniquely blends the power, speed, and agility of boxing with the targeted sculpting and flexibility of pilates. Supplemented by the

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gov.com/preparing-the-garden. New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive KUNGA KIDS YOGA TRAINING

3/25-27, 5pm: Create and lead yoga practice for children, ages 2-18, that builds on the Kunga Yoga foundational principles. 18 hour training will equip certified yoga teachers, classroom educators and caregivers with the skills to incorporate breathing, asana, and mindfulness practices into playful, child-centered yoga classes.

Grounded in developmental psychology, Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, and yoga traditions, Kunga Kids yoga teacher training will engage participants in discussion, games, activities, songs, creative movement and guided visualization designed to stimulate yoga teachers’ creativity. Early bird rate of $350 by 3/11. Wilmington Yoga Center, 5329 Oleander Dr., Ste. 200

WRITING AND MEDITATION

3/26, 9am: Radically redesign our relationship with the word “focus,” (it’s not what you think!) and learn how to check in with ourselves in a true, raw, unedited way. All levels are welcome, but students who are new to meditation and writing often reap the greatest rewards. Bring a pen, a journal and an open mind. We won’t be practicing asana, but you should be prepared to sit comfortably. Early bird rate of $55 if you register

by Mar 25. Purchase both of Tatum’s Workshops and get 20 percent off. Wilmington Yoga Center, 5329 Oleander Dr., Ste. 200

beach bound boot camp

Mon/Wed classes, 3/28-6/6, 9-10am: Variety of feasible exercises including calisthenics, low impact cardio, and resistance training. Beach Bound Boot Camp seeks to provide a transfor-

mational experience through effective training while fostering relationships that will encourage success. Pre-reg. is rqd. Call the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Office at 2567925, visit our website www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com, or email parksandrecreation@towb. org. Call for price. 1 Bob Sawyer Dr. weight loss 101

Register today for an upcoming Continuing Education course. Class begins next week!

Discover how to establish a healthy approach to weight loss and weight management, and gain the skills to help you accomplish your nutrition and lifestyle goals. In this course, you will explore common chronic diseases associated with excess weight and learn how proper nutrition can decrease symptoms, as well as prevent future health complications. Additionally, this course will help you identify your individual needs with regard to weight loss and/or weight management by providing basic nutrition information, tools for self-evaluation, physical activity guidelines, and tips for navigating the current food culture. 10 contact hours. April 5-May 3, Tues., 6-8pm; CFCC Wilmington Campus. $75

ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS

3/31, 6-8pm: Annuals and Perennials for the Garden Class at the NHC Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Dr. Class fee is $10 and pre-registration is required. Join us for a class on annuals and perennials that grow well in our region. Topics such as color, planting designs and plant species. Stop by and register at the Arboretum Office, Mon.-Fri. from 8am to 5pm or for a printable registration form to mail, go to: http://arboretum. nhcgov.com/annuals-and-perennials. New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Dr. Your transition plan is your azimuth. Straying a

52 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

couple of degrees over a stretch of years can result in broken relationships, crushed dreams, financial ruin, lack of purpose, and despair. The longer you spend off-azimuth, the harder it is to get back – but it’s never impossible.

Raider Project Transition Seminar

4/1, 8pm: Your transition plan is your azimuth.

Straying a couple of degrees over a stretch of years can result in broken relationships, crushed dreams, financial ruin, lack of purpose, and despair. The longer you spend off-azimuth, the harder it is to get back – but it’s never impossible. We are excited to offer our first seminar and we’ve rallied some of the brightest minds that have served our men and women in their transition process. We set out on a mission to bring people together and equip them with the necessary tools to transition successfully. Seminar is for any service member that is separating within two years, or a veteran that is still in a transitional period. Wilmington Convention Center, 515 Nutt St.

clubs/notices 2016 CSB Outstanding Alumni Award

Winners are Charles Craft ‘79, David Pirrung ‘90, and Maurice Smith ‘79! Meet the recipients along with alumni and faculty at the CSB Outstanding Alumni Recognition & Speaker Breakfast Wed., 3/30. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased online until 3/27. Register: https://giving.uncw.edu/csbalumnibreakfast2016 before 3/27. • Winners breakfast: 3/30, 7pm: Meet the recipients along with alumni and faculty at the CSB Outstanding Alumni Recognition & Speaker Breakfast. $5/person. Reg.: https://giving.

uncw.edu/csbalumnibreakfast2016 before 3/27. alumni@uncw.edu. UNCW’s Warwick Center Ballroom, 601 S. College Rd. SPRING OUT FOR NATURAL BEAUTY

3/26, noon: Free event will feature the release of Bella Lynn Naturals’ 2016 Spring Line of 100% natural beauty products. Barb, owner and creator of Bella Lynn Naturals, will be in the gallery to discuss her new line and share product information with customers. Additionally, there will be free samples of her skin care line as well as the natural healing apothecary line! Stop and enjoy refreshments and learn about Bella Lynn Natural’s product lines. Eclipse Artisan Boutique, 203 Racine Dr.

Hfcf Discussion Group

Are Conservatives happier than Liberals? A recent Harvard study says ‘yes’. This will be the topic discussed on Monday night, 3/28, at 7pm at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 S. Second St., presented byHumanists and Freethinkers of Cape Fear. The discussion will be led by Mike Jordan, PhD. Free and open to the public. RSVP: www.meetup. com/humanism-182

STAMP ACT

3/29, 6pm: History Department and the local Stamp Defiance Chapter of the DAR are sponsoring this event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the repeal of the Stamp Act. The British Parliament withdrew the law after widespread protests against the tax broke out in the North American colonies. The event will open with a re-enactment of the Stamp Act protest in Wilmington, followed by a panel discussion

by UNCW History professors Chris Fonvielle, Ken Shefsiek, and Candice Bredbenner. UNCW

Bryan Auditorium Morton Hall YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF NHC

Meet the 1st and 3rd Tues. ea. month at the downtown public library, third floor, 6:30pm.

Ages 18-35.

COUPON CLUB

Wilmington Coupon Club meets monthly, second Monday, at 6pm Come exchange coupons and learn how to save money. wilmingtoncouponclub.com

NEW HANOVER NAACP MEETING

The New Hanover NAACP monthly meeting is Thurs., 3/31, 7pm, St. Stephen AME Church, 501 Red Cross St. Featured speaker is Candace Thompson, Interim Director of the Upperman African American Cultural Center at UNC-Wilmington. Members and friends are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 910-765-0102 or email nhcnaacp@gmail.com.

culinary PC BREW BUS

Port City Brew Bus offers public brewery tours that are open to anyone 21 years or older. Eat a hearty breakfast before the tour. We will have pretzels, snacks, and water but there isn’t a stop for lunch. Visit three breweries to experience their facilities, understand the brewing process unique to their beers and enjoy samples of their offerings. $55. www.portcitybrewbus.com. (910) 679-6586

SUNDAY SUPPERS: PINPOINT

PinPoint Restaurant will be launch a new Sunday Supper dinner series on Sundays to showcase area farmers and purveyors. The dinners will also benefit area charities for the entire month they are offered. For the first month, PinPoint Restaurant is showcasing local farmer Wholesome Greens—an artisanal suburban farm in Wilmington. The three course menu will feature some of the microgreens, herbs and produce grown by the farmer and will be served in a family style offering. Patrons can come dine on Sundays from 5-8pm for A special Sunday Supper menu—$25/person and $10 for kids 3-12. Lmited seating at 6:30pm for guests to dine specifically with the farmer and a representative of the charity at a special lo ng table in the restaurant that will be served as a true family style meal. 10 percent of all money raised during the March Sunday Supper series will benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina at Wilmington. www.pinpointrestaurant.com.

114 Market St.

ARIES (Mar. 21–April 20) When Orville and Wilbur Wright were kids, their father gave them a toy helicopter powered by a rubber band. The year was 1878. Twenty-five years later, the brothers became the first humans to sail above the earth in a flying machine.

They testified the toy helicopter had been a key inspiration as they worked to develop their pioneering invention. In the spirit of the Wright Brothers’ magic seed, Aries, I invite you to revive your connection to a seminal influence from your past. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to feed a dream that was foreshadowed in you a long time ago.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) “The task of a writer is not to solve the problem but to state the problem correctly,” Russian writer Anton Chekhov said. Whether or not you’re a writer, Taurus, it is your special task in the coming weeks. The riddle that has begun to captivate your imagination is not yet ripe enough for you to work on in earnest.

It has not been defined with sufficient clarity. Luckily, you have the resources you need to research all the contingencies, and you have the acuity to come up with a set of empowering questions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) The good news is if you eat enormous amounts of chocolate, you will boost your memory. Science has proved it. The bad news is, in order to get the full effect of the memory enhancement, you would have to consume so much chocolate that you would get sick. I propose we consider the scenario as a metaphor for what may be going on in your life. Is it possible you’re doing things that are healthy for you in one way but diminish you in another? Or are you perhaps getting or doing too much of a good thing—going to unbalanced extremes as you pursue a worthy goal? Now is a favorable time to figure out if you’re engaged in such behavior, and to change it if you are.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) When young director Richard Lester got his big break, he took full advantage.

It happened in 1964, when the early Beatles asked him to do their first movie, “A Hard Day’s Night.” Lester’s innovative approach to the project propelled his career to a higher level that brought him many further opportunities. Writing of Lester’s readiness, critic Alexander Walker said, “No filmmaker . . . appeared more punctually when his hour struck.” That’s what I hope you will soon be doing in your own chosen field, Cancerian. Do you understand how important it will be to have impeccable timing? No procrastination or hemming and hawing, please. Be crisply proactive.

tors syndiCate EASTER JAZZ BRUNCH

3/27: Easter Brunch with the Nina Repeta Jazz Trio, Doors open at 11:30am. Show 12-2pm.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) As a young man, the poet Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891) left his home in France and settled in Abyssinia, which these days is known as Ethiopia. “I sought voyages,” he wrote, “to disperse the enchantments that had colonized my mind.” You might want to consider a similar strategy in the coming weeks, Leo. From an astrological perspective, it’s going to be an excellent time both to wander free of your usual haunts and to disperse the enchantments that have colonized your mind. Why not find ways to synergize these two opportunities?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) At one point in his life, author C. S. Lewis had a rude awakening as he took stock of the progress he thought he had been making. “I am appalled to see how much of the change I thought I had undergone lately was only imaginary,” he wrote. I want to make sure something similar doesn’t happen to you, Virgo.

You’re in the midst of what should be a Golden Age of Self-Transformation.

Make sure you’re actually doing the work that you imagine you’re doing—and not just talking about it and thinking about it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) “There are questions that you don’t ask because you’re afraid of the answers,” wrote Agatha Christie. I would add there are also questions you don’t ask be-

cause you mistakenly think you already know the answers. Then there are questions you don’t ask because their answers would burst your beloved illusions, which you’d rather preserve. I’m here to urge you to risk posing all these types of questions, Libra. I think you’re strong enough and smart enough, and in just the right ways, to deal constructively with the answers.

I’m not saying you’ll be pleased with everything you find out. But you will, ultimately, be glad you finally made the inquiries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) If you are enmeshed in a jumble that makes you squirm, or if you are caught in a tangle that stifles your self-love, you have three choices. Here’s how Eckhart Tolle defines them: 1. Get out of the situation. 2. Transform the situation.

3. Completely accept the situation. Does that sound reasonable, Scorpio? I hope so, because the time has come to act. Don’t wait to make your decision.

Do it soon. After that, no whining will be allowed. You can no longer indulge in excuses. You must accept the consequences. On the bright side, imagine the new freedom and power you will have at your disposal.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Here’s a proposed experiment. Sidle up to a creature you’d love to be closer to, and softly sing the following lyrics: “Come with me, go with me.

Burn with me, glow with me. Sleep with me, wake with me.” At this point, run three circles around the creature as you flap your arms like a birds’ wings.

Then continue singing: “Rise with me, fall with me. Work with me, play with me. Pray with me, sin with me.” At this point, leap up into the air three times, unleashing a burst of laughter each time you hit the ground. Continue singing: “Let me get high with you. Laugh with you, cry with you. Make me your partner in crime.” At this point blow three kisses toward the creature, then run away. (P.S. The lyrics I’m quoting here were composed by songwriter Fran Landesman.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) In getting energy from food, we humans have at our disposal over 50,000 edible plants; yet, we choose to concentrate on just a few. Wheat, corn, rice, and potatoes make up two-thirds of our diet, and 11 other staples comprise most of the rest. Let’s use this as a metaphor for the kind of behavior you should avoid in the coming weeks. I think it will be crucial for you to draw physical, emotional and spiritual sustenance from a relatively wide variety of sources. There’s nothing wrong with your usual providers, but for now you need to expand your approach to getting the nurturing you need.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) “We teach each other how to live.” Poet Anne Michaels said that, and now I’m passing it on to you—just in time for the phase of your cycle when acting like a curious student is your sacred duty and best gift to yourself.

I don’t necessarily mean you should take a workshop or enroll in a school.

Your task is to presume everyone you meet and every encounter you have may bring you rich learning experiences. If you’re willing to go as far as I hope you will, even your dreams at night will be opportunities to get further educated. Even your vigils in front of the TV. Even your trips to the convenience store to buy ice cream.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) In her poem “Time,” Piscean poet Lia Purpura wonders about “not picking up a penny because it’s only a little luck.” Presumably she is referring to a moment when you’re walking down a street and you spy an almost-butnot-quite-worthless coin lying on the concrete. She theorizes you may just leave it there. It adds next to nothing to your wealth, right—which suggests it also doesn’t have much value as a symbol of good fortune. I urge you to reject this line of thought in the coming weeks, Pisces. In my astrological opinion, you’ll be wise to capitalize on the smallest opportunities. There will be plenty of them—and they “will” add up.

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$22/$12 children under 12. $10 show only seating. Ticket includes 3-course brunch and show.

Beverages and gratuity not included. Reserved seating. TheatreNOW, 19 S. 10th Street NATURE’S WAY GOAT FARM

3/26, 10am: Nature’s Way Goat Farm tour!

Nature’s Way supplies the coop with a variety of goat cheese.

Learn about the farm, meet the farmers, and feed and play with the baby goats. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Tidal Creek, $5-$10. Visitors can arrive at 10am and play with the baby goats, with the feeding starting at 11am. Farm tour will follow and wrap by noon. Farm fresh products available for purchase after the tour. 115 Crystal Ct., Hampstead.

FERMENTAL

Free tasting ever Friday, 6pm. Fermental, 7250 Market St.

FOODSCPAING SEMINAR

3/26, 10am: Brie Arthur, Professional Garden Communicator, will present at UNCW’s Watson College of Education about her signature design technique of Foodscaping, a landscape practice that embraces beauty and utility. Working with public school systems, retirement communities and suburban developments. She will cover the best edible and ornamental plants to create a purposeful landscape that engages people of all ages. https://www. facebook.com/ brienne.gluvna Limited seating.

Register early: (910) 798-7660 by March 14th.

Free seminar and parking. Watson College of Education, UNCW, 601 S. College Rd.

TASTE CAROLINA FOOD TOURS

Sample an eclectic assortment of downtown res-

taurants, enjoy food and drink, and meet some of the city’s best chefs. Public parking available.

Saturday tours include a 2:30pm Downtown Afternoon Tasting Tour ($50/person) and a 3pm Downtown Dinner & Drinks Tour ($65/person). A 10am Farmers’ Market Tour ($75/person), and cooking class also available. tastecarolina.net

3/26: NATURE’S WAY Wanna tour a local goat farm and learn how they make some of Wilmington’s most famed goat cheese? Head over to Tidal Creek to scoop up tickets to tour Nature’s Way. The farm, located in Hampstead (115 Crystal Ct.) offers tours on Saturdays at 10 a.m. Visitors will meet the farmer and the animals, and even get to play with baby goats! Tickets are $5 to $10. with tours starting at 10 a.m. and feedings held at 11 a.m.

WILMINGTON VEGAN POTLUCKS

Wilmington Vegan Supper Club Potlucks take place every first Thursday of every month at 6:30pm at Kitchen & Lounge at South Front Apartments, located on Greenfield Street at 2nd Street, across the street from Satellite. Bring a vegan dish to share, and swap recipes and socialize. Wilmington Vegan Lending Library will be there for you to grab a book as well. Bring a list of ingredients along with your dish (or even better, the recipe!. Dishes absolutely must be completely vegan—no meat, no fish, no dairy,

no eggs, no chicken stock, no honey, and so on. Bring a plate, utensils, and a drink. http:// wilmingtonvegan.com FISH FRY

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, such as Living Wills and Healthcare Power of Attorney forms, will be supplied so healthcare instructions can be legally documented.Jason Clamme at 796-7943 or jason. clamme@lcfh.org.

4/1, noon: Choice of Large Whiting Fillet or North Carolina Farm Raised Catfish Nuggets.

Each meal comes with Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Hushpuppies, Sweet or “Yankee” tea, $8.

Have an extra portion of fish for just $2 more.

Beer and wine is also for purchase in our NAMI WILMINGTON Canteen. American Legion Post 129, 1500 National Alliance on Mental Illness: “CFAC and Bridge Barrier Rd. Trillium Health Resources Working Together.”

The two organizations will discuss working toTASTING HISTORY TOURS gether to help people with disabilities. Mon., Tasting History Tours of Pleasure Island; guid3/28, 6:30 pm. First Baptist Activities Center, ed walking tours. From its beginnings as a tour1939 Independence Blvd. www.namiwilmingist destination, the island has weathered deton.org or 910-772-3074 structive fires, tragic hurricanes, naval battles

and more. Tasting History takes you through the streets of Carolina Beach and into a few of the restaurants to taste some of what the locals have to offer. Join us for an afternoon of in- LITERARY HISTORY WALKING TOUR teresting history and tasty eats. $32.50. www.

Ever wanted to meet authors living and dead, tastinghistorytours.com. 910-622-6046. and tour locations from books, poems, and plays? Explore the rich culture of our talented Southern town with a 90 minute walking tour of the literary history of downtown Wilmington, NC. Visit “The Two Libraries.” Walk the streets of your CELEBRATE RECOVERy favorite novels, and stand where Oscar Wilde Life Community Church, located inside Indedid when he lectured here. Saturdays, 1:30pm, pendence Mall, will have a Celebrate RecovOld Books on Front St. 249 N. Front St. www. ery meeting every Monday evening at 6:30 brownpapertickets.com/event/1282390 pm starting with fellowship followed by a large

tours

support groups

group meeting at 7 pm. Support groups for CONFEDERATE WALKING TOURS men and women follow at 8 pm. The meetExperience Wilmington’s people, history and aring is in the Extension located across from chitecture in the late antebellum period and durBranches bookstore and the church auditoing the conflict, conducted by noted Wilmington rium. For more information. contact Jodie at historian Bernhard Thuersam. Walk in the foot910-547-8973 , LifeCC office at 791-3859 or steps of George Washington, James Monroe, go to Lifecc.com. Life Community Church, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Robert E. Lee, Jef3500 Oleander Dr. ferson Davis, Alexander Stephens and more. Indepth 90-minute tours are by appointment only, TRANSGENDER SUPPORT GROUP Sunday through Saturday, call 910.619.4619 or Transgender Support Group, 1st Thurs./mo., bernhard1848@gmail.com for current prices.

7-8pm. For more information please contact Step-on and personalized tours downtown and Therapist Nova Swanstrom: 910-343-6890. You local forts available. Tour begins at foot of Marmust talk with Nova first before coming to a supket St. www.cfhi.net. port group meeting!

CHADD

GHOST WALK

BEGIN THE CONVERSATION CLINICS

OAKDALE CEMETERY FUNERARY ART

6:30pm & 8:30pm. Costumed guides lead Wilmington Area CHADD meets on the 2nd visitors through alleyways with tales of hauntMonday of every month from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at ed Wilmington. Nightly tours at 6:30pm and the Pine Valley United Methodist Church, 3788 8:30pm. Admission charge. Meets at Water & Shipyard Blvd., Building B. This free support Market streets. Reservations required: 910-794group is open to a growing group of parents, 1866; www.hauntedwilmington.com grandparents and individuals affected by AD/ HD who understand what it takes to face its daily HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE TOURS challenges. Free. Pine Valley United Methodist Narrated horse drawn carriage and trolley tours Church 3788 Shipyard Blvd., Building B. http:// of historic Wilmington feature a costumed driver www.WilmingtonCHADD.org who narrates a unique adventure along the riverfront and past stately mansions.Market and PFLAG Water streets. $12 for adults, $5 per child. (910) PFLAG Meeting is first Mon/mo. at UNCW, in the 251-8889 or www.horsedrawntours.com Masonboro Island Room #2010, 7pm.

Lower Cape Fear Hospice will host free Begin the Conversation clinics from 10-11 a.m. the third Friday of each month, at Phillips LifeCare & Counseling Center, 1414 Physicians Drive in Wilmington. These sessions, which are free to all adults age 18 and older, will provide attendees information and resources to think about and

Easter Sunday, 3/27, 2-4pm. The tour will be led by architectural historian, Janet Seapker, who will explain the evolution of the rural garden cemetery and the opening of Oakdale Cemetery in 1855. Janet Seapker will focus on the symbolism of Victorian funerary art. Tickets ($10) may be purchased at Oakdale Cemetery, 520 N. 15th St. at the beginning of the tour.

Enter your events online by noon, Thursdays, for consideration in print. www.encorepub.com 54 encore | march 23 – 29, 2016 | www.encorepub.com

CORKBOARD Available for your next CD or Demo

KAREN KANE MUSIC PRODUCTIONS 33 year veteran Producer/Engineer

200 album credits

Dreaming Of A Career In The Music Industry?

AUDIO ENGINEERING CLASSES Music Recording, Mixing, Pro Tools, Studio Production Classes offered in Jan., Apr. and Sept.

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FABULOUS ENTERTAINmENT Exotic Dancers

In-Out Calls • Casual Events Two Girl Show • Bachelor Parties 24/7 Dancers • Serious Inquiries Only Always Hiring

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Cape Fear Stage’s Closest Cocktail 9 North Front Street, Downtown Wilmington Bar ~ Concert Night Specials

FREAKY TIKI PRIVATE PIANO corner of 4th & Brunswick

Your Late Night Cocktail Bar Open Until 2am

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Acoustic Jazz Piano on Front St. with James Jarvis

Wednesday @ The Blind Elephant Saturday @ The Calico Room Sunday @ Old Books on Front St.

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PERSONAL TRAINER On Your Neighbors Lawn or Wherever It’s Comfortable

Pianist Barbara mcKenzie an expert, dedicated artist-teacher

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