OUTER BANKS MILEPOST: ISSUE 13.4

So Handy

ME? HANDY? HARDLY.

rearview

Can’t hammer a nail. Or fix a window. Couldn’t even draw a straight line if you paid me. (Despite what my college party buds might tell you.) I’m also not a realtor, town planner or coastal engineer. And yet I still know that nobody should build anything on the oceanfront that they aren’t willing to see get washed away. And I’ve known it for more than 30 years, well before Rodanthe started sacrificing houses to the Atlantic like some macabre pagan ritual.

Of course, back then, every Outer Banker reckoned we lived on borrowed time. In fact, we basically reveled in it. We joked about having to put pontoons on our pilings in a couple of decades — right about the time our decks became docks. Hell, the whole cultural zeitgeist was a mix of crazy commitment and gallows humor. Everyone knew we were goners — but we also knew we weren’t going anywhere. We’d rather go down like the Titanic’s orchestra, playing and singing ’til we splashed into the sea.

But something’s shifted in recent years. Ever since we first dumped

sand in Nags Head more than a decade ago, people think we can cheat death forever by just stroking checks. So much so that Dare County spent months actively pursuing $35 mil in federal money to replenish a paltry 1.5 miles of Rodanthe oceanfront — the most slippery chunk of sand on the whole East Coast — just to save someone’s investment property for another season or two. (They’re now hoping to secure funds to purchase and demolish about 20 threatened homes.)

Meanwhile, the General Assembly acts like the whole state is invincible, repeatedly refusing to update building codes, despite the global increase in weather catastrophes.

“EVERYONE KNEW WE WERE GONERS — BUT WE WEREN’T GOING ANYWHERE.

According to the New York Times, “Over the past 15 years, North Carolina lawmakers have rejected limits on construction on steep slopes...blocked a rule requiring homes to be elevated above the height of an expected flood; weakened protections for wetlands, increasing the risk of dangerous storm water runoff; and slowed the adoption of updated building codes, making it harder for the state to qualify for federal climate-resilience grants.”

That’s not just bad policy for new construction. It hurts every homeowner. As Governor Cooper warned in a late July press release: “It will become harder to find home insurance and we’re missing out on tens of millions of dollars in federal recovery funds. That’s a lose-lose for our state, particularly when storms hit.”

Three months later, Western NC bore the brunt of these shortsighted actions when Hurricane Helene killed at least 98 people and left behind a whopping $53 billion in damages — the worst storm since Florence dumped an estimated trillion gallons of water in 2018, which was just two years after Matthew flooded more than 100,000 structures. All three hurricanes wreaked more havoc inland than on our coast.

Imagine if our legislature had continually strengthened our building codes instead of undermined them? Would more houses remain standing? Would fewer lives have been lost? Nobody can say for sure — just as nobody could predict that Helene would wipe whole mountain towns off the map. But, for now, I’m happy that my home sits a good half mile from the ocean, and a full 10 feet in the air. Because while I’m no meteorologist or climate change expert, I do know one thing: when it comes to catastrophic weather, we all get nailed, eventually. — Matt Walker

Thank you for reading Outer Banks Milepost. We hope you enjoy it. If not — before chucking this issue into the nearest dumpster — please consider one of the following equally satisfying ways of expressing your disgust: grab a few stacks to prop up the pilings on your favorite, failing beach house — or stand on ’em to steal a better view of it washing away! Or just toss it on that six-month pile of newspapers you’ve yet to recycle. (Trust us, you’ll feel better.) Then, send any and all feedback — positive, negative or just plain confused — to: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com. We promise to find some way to re-purpose them.

You are here. Photo: C. White

“Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” — Benjamin Franklin “Let me glue ‘dat, glue ‘dat...and screw ‘dat, screw ‘dat...” — Weird Al Yankovic

Issue 13.4

Winter 2024/25

Cover: Armed & Dexterous

Henna: Alyssa Crespo

Photo: Ryan Moser

Reader

You

Brushes & Ink

David Beal, Carnell Boyle, Stephen Brewer, John Butler, George Cheeseman, Marcia Cline, Carolina Coto, Kim Cowen, Cloey Davis, Michael J. Davis, Fay Davis Edwards, Mary Edwards, Laine Edwards, Marc Felton, Travis Fowler, Adriana Gomez-Nichols, Amelia Kasten, Chris Kemp, Nathan Lawrenson, Dave Lekens, Tim Lusk, Josh McCraw, Elisa McVearry, Ben Miller, Dawn Moraga, Ben Morris, Holly Nettles, Stella Nettles, Rick Nilson, Barbara Noel, Holly Overton, Stuart Parks II, James Perry, Brad Price, Charlotte Quinn, Willow Rea, Meg Rubino, Shirley Ruff, Noah Snyder, Rob Snyder, Janet Stapelman, Alyse Stewart, Kenneth Templeton, Stephen Templeton, Shane Thomas, George Tsonev, CW, Christina Weisner, Chris Wheeler, John Wilson, Mark Wiseman, Bri Young, Mike Zafra Lensfolk

Nate Appel, Matt Artz, Nathan Beane, Chris Bickford, Russell Blackwood, Mike Booher, Don Bower, Aycock Brown, Mark Buckler, Jon Carter, Garnette Coleman, Rich Coleman, Marc Corbett, Kim Cowen, Chris Creighton, Mere Crockett, Benny Crum, Ryan Del Rosario, Jason Denson, Amy Dixon, Susan Dotterer Dixon, Lori Douglas, Julie Dreelin, Tom Dugan/ESM, Roy Edlund, Bryan Elkus, Ben Gallop, Cory Godwin, Treveon Govan, Chris Hannant, Katie Harms, Bryan Harvey, David Alan Harvey, Ginger Harvey, Bob Hovey, Biff Jennings, Jenni Koontz, Daryl Law, Mike Leech, Anthony Leone, Jeff Lewis, Jared Lloyd, Matt Lusk, Ray Matthews, Brooke Mayo, Mickey McCarthy, Nic McLean, Roger Meekins, D. Victor Meekins, Richard L. Miller, Dick Meseroll/ESM, Ashley Milteer, David Molnar, Rachel Moser, Ryan Moser, Elizabeth Neal, Rob Nelson, Candace Owens, Anne Snape Parsons, Crystal Polston, Daniel Pullen, Cal Ramsey, Ryan Rhodes, Terry Rowell, Cyndi Goetcheus Sarfan, Katie Slater, Tom Sloate, Wes Snyder, Aimee Thibodeau, David Thomas, Ed Tupper, Eve Turek, Chris Updegrave, Dan Waters, Kati Wilkins, Cyrus Welch, Jay Wickens, Cody Wright Penfolk

Ashley Bahen, Madeline Bailey, Sarah Downing, Ty Evans, Laura Gomez-Nichols, Jim Gould, Steve Hanf, Sam Harriss, Dave Holton, Sarah Hyde, Catherine Kozak, Katrina Leuzinger Owens, Dan Lewis, Michelle Lewis, Terri Mackleberry, Fran Marler, Amanda McDanel, Maggie Miles, Matt Pruett, Mary Ellen Riddle, Peter Graves Roberts, Arabella Saunders, Corinne Saunders, Shannon Sutton, Kip Tabb, Emmy Trivette, Kathleen Wasniewski, Hannah West, Clumpy White, Sharon Whitehurst, Natalie Wolfe, Michele Young-Stone

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Big Mouth In Chief Matt Walker

Blame It All On Suite P Inc. PO Box 7100 • KDH, NC 27948 Office: 252-441-6203 • Sales: 949-275-5115

Editorial: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com • Advertising: obmilepost@gmail.com

Outer Banks Milepost is published quarterly (sorterly) by Suite P Inc. All contents are the property of Suite P Inc. and do not reflect the opinion of advertisers or distributors. Nor do their contents reflect that of the creative types (who would never, ever sell out). Comments, letters and submissions are usually welcome. Please include SASE for return delivery of all snail mail, however, Milepost and Suite P Inc. still aren’t responsible for any unsolicited materials. And don’t expect much else to move much faster than IST (Island Standard Time). Oh yeah: if you reprint a lick of this content you’re ripping us off. (Shame on you.) To discuss editorial ideas, find out about advertising or tell us we blew it – or just find out what the waves are doing – call 252-441-6203 or email: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com; sales@outerbanksmilepost.com.

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“Untitled” Bill Marchitelli

Facebook.com/dunedaisyem

03 StartingPoint

Disposable thumbs.

06 UpFront

Houses tumble, Billy fumbles, and old folks boogie.

18 GetActive

Some real “red nose” fundraisers.

20 Punk’s Not Dead

Nevermind the Buffett, here’s the Clawbacks, Live Nude Surfers and M-60!

28 Graphic Content

Illegal use of hands?

31 So Handy

Meet four skilled locals with an extra-special touch.

40 FoodDrink

What’s all the buzz about mocktails?

43 GoCreate

Hands-on ways to salute a half-century of Dare Arts.

44 ArtisticLicense

A local sculptor steels his heart.

47 OutThere Tool time.

48 EndNotes

Get a grip on this winter’s events.

“This is the first rose I ever made. Basically, I saw one and thought I’d give it a try. But anything I make, I have to have a good look at it. So, I got a rose and put it in my garage, then I cut out three different sized leaves from a piece of metal. From there, I just attached them at the top — like a four-leaf clover — heated them, folded them, bent them, got them shaped the way I wanted. Then I worked my way down — heating, folding, bending — level by level. Then I put little welds on the stem and ground them to make thorns. Finally, I etched lines on the bottom leaves like veins. That’s really all there is to it. It took me four hours. Basically, I’m mimicking things. But sometimes — like with the osprey I’m making — I have to use pictures. Because I don’t think I want an osprey in my garage. That would be, uh, interesting.” [Laughs] — Bill Marchitelli

UNNATURAL DISASTER

Why do oceanfront houses keep littering Rodanthe beaches? Don’t blame Poseidon — blame poor planning and dated policies.

It’s like watching a scene from a disaster movie, on repeat. Season after season, another oceanfront home in Rodanthe collapses into the swirling Atlantic surf — ten in the last four years alone. It happens so often that a crowd routinely gathers during stormy conditions to see which compromised structure will crumble next — then plasters the internet with photos and videos — giving the whole Outer Banks a public relations black eye.

Or, as Rob Young, director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University, said in an interview, “At the moment, Dare County has become the poster child for shit falling on the beach.”

So why can’t they just remove the houses beforehand?

It’s a tricky answer. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been working with property owners to move or demolish the houses, but that is complicated by federal flood insurance regulations that don’t pay the claim — up to $250,000 — until the house falls. A standing house can be demolished for about $15,000 and leave behind a clean beach — but demolition costs are not covered by the National Flood Insurance Program. (A bi-partisan House bill was recently introduced that would allow homeowners to tap NFIP

funds to move or demolish a house before it falls, but it’s too soon to know whether it will pass.)

As a result, many homeowners wait for the inevitable to recoup what little they can of their investment. And there’s no mechanism in place to force them to do otherwise.

“Well, it’s complicated, because we don’t have a good legal framework for how any entity can order a house to be removed from the beach,” says Young. “If the National Park Service wanted to pull the trigger, I think they could legally order those houses to be removed. And, certainly, Dare County has not been motivated to try and condemn these properties. When you do so, you get sued. Local officials generally tend to be really nervous about things that might impact private property.”

Instead, once they fall, debris scatters for miles, often closing stretches of the beach while the homeowner hires a contractor to do the cleanup — which can cost up to $100,000. Park staff and public volunteers also assist in the immediate aftermath.

In their defense, many of these homeowners lack the funds to demolish a house ahead of time — much less buy a lot and pay to relocate it. And some long-term owners note that the beach was hundreds of feet wider when they purchased their

home; they did not realize how fast the erosion would accelerate. Furthermore, licensed North Carolina Realtors were only recently mandated, in July 2024, to reveal to prospective buyers information about flood risk.

Then again, you’d think anyone who’s familiar with Hatteras Island would recognize the inherent risks of owning oceanfront property along its north end.

Over the years, NC 12’s “S-Turns” stretch, leading from Pea Island into Rodanthe, has repeatedly washed out — despite efforts by the state’s Department of Transportation to protect it with sandbags. Finally, in 2022, the agency decided to solve the problem forever by bypassing the whole area with a soundside bridge.

And researchers sounded the alarm decades ago.

“Rodanthe is experiencing extremely high erosion rates along both the ocean and sound sides,” coastal geologists Orrin Pilkey and Stan Riggs, et.al. wrote in a 1998 paper, “The North Carolina Shore and Its Barrier Islands, Restless Ribbons of Sand.”

“THIS AREA IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED!” they wrote. (It was one of the few instances in the book using all caps.)

Today, the erosion is even more dire, with an average loss of about 15 feet a year on the ocean — the highest on the East Coast.

The situation is only expected to worsen with increasing sea levels and storm intensity due to climate change, which may explain why the county and parks began investigating a range of options.

For roughly two years, an ad-hoc task force of stakeholders, including park Superintendent Dave Hallac, met to hash out some possible responses. In August, it released a report, “Managing Threatened Oceanfront Structures: Ideas From An Interagency Work Group.”

According to Young, the most immediate and feasible remedy would be tapping available funds, such as agency grant programs, to buy out at-risk homes.

In a May 2023 report, Young analyzed the cost/benefits of buyouts versus nourishment and found that buying out the threatened houses is a comparable expense, and a more effective remedy.

Young’s report says it would cost about $43 million to buy out 80 selected properties at their assessed value, and with their removal, there would likely be a viable beach in Rodanthe for 15 to 25 years. Their total $171,068 in county property tax revenue for 2023 represents just 0.25% of the Dare tax base. No matter, the status quo would leave no property to tax.

According to the analysis, an advantage of the buyouts is they can be done quickly, but in a piecemeal approach, targeting the

highest risk properties first. As a result, the upfront costs would be significantly lower than nourishment.

“Of course, predicting the costs for shoreline protection and/ or property acquisition over the next couple of decades is not an exact science,” the report says.

““THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING THAT WE CAN DO IS NOTHING.”

“The ultimate costs depend on factors such as sea-level rise, storms, and market forces for high-risk properties.”

— DR. ROB YOUNG

Recently, the Seashore used a grant program to buy two threatened houses and demolish them, but additional funds are limited.

At one point, the county was considering beach nourishment, but the geology is challenging. Coastal Science & Engineering, the county’s consultant, described the area as a “high wave energy zone,” where alignment of the shoals with rough northeasterly waves helps to funnel the highest waves towards the beach. The consultant’s updated assessment estimated it would require $40 million in funds for an initial project and a total of about $120 million over 15 years for maintenance — costs that county manager Bobby Outten said made nourishment not just

unaffordable, but unsustainable.

Instead, in early October, the Dare County Board of Commissioners agreed to apply for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to use towards buying out about 20 threatened ocean houses that are insured. However, it could take several years for the grant to go through, and it would still only solve a fraction of the problem. And it still lacks an enforcement mechanism.

“This needs a legislative fix,” says Young. “We also need someone to pony up to the bar with a funding source to start buying out these houses before they fall into the sea.”

To Young, a larger buyout program would be a logical beneficiary of some of the “enormous” amount of the coastal resilience funding allotted by the Biden administration. But the politics can be sticky, because it could be perceived as a handout to wealthy people and second homeowners.

On the other hand, when a house falls, it’s not just the private homeowner who bears the brunt. It’s the average citizen, whether it’s surfers dodging lumber in the lineup or beachgoers losing access to miles of national seashore — not to mention the tons of negative publicity that arises on social media from watching one house after another collapse into the ocean.

Which is why Young says “the absolute worst thing that we can do is nothing — which is where we are now, right?”

— Catherine Kozak

FRISCO DISCO

Tandy’s Place was Hatteras Island’s original hot spot.

The Outer Banks has a long history of partying down. Prior to the Civil War, guests at the original Nags Head Hotel were treated to live music and dancing. By the 1930s, Nags Head boasted two wellknown venues, the Casino and the Nags Head Beach Club, where patrons swayed on wooden dance floors polished smooth by sandy feet. Meanwhile, Kitty Hawk’s Pirate’s Den catered to folks on both sides of the recently opened Wright Memorial Bridge. (It later became the Carolina Beach Pavilion.)

However, down on Hatteras Island, boogie nights were harder to come by — until the 1940s, when Henry Erle Tandy opened his own club. Simply named Tandy’s Place, it offered locals a gathering spot to cut a rug and crack a cold one.

Built well before Oregon Inlet’s Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, residents were much more isolated, so it quickly became “a gathering place and center of nightlife for the whole of Hatteras Island.”

Tandy’s “real job” was overseeing Hatteras Island’s beach erosion, first for the Civilian Conservation Corps, then for the Works Progress Administration. Later, he was employed by the National Park Service as a labor foreman “in charge of the sand fixation project on Hatteras Island.”

Tales from his club are equally gritty, reflecting Hatteras’ rowdy rep. One Christmas night altercation in 1950 landed in court.

The colorful incident was recounted the following month before Judge Baum, in the case of State vs. Jethro Midgett, with several witnesses sharing their recollections of the scuffle.

Apparently, an intoxicated Mr. Midgett of Rodanthe asked one Mr. Styron, “You don’t like me, do you?” To which Mr. Styron responded, “No, I can’t say that I do.”

After the verbal exchange, the men started swinging.

Hatteras high life, circa 1952. Photo: Aycock Brown

Although it was difficult to determine who swung first, a witness later testified that Styron told Mrs. Midgett he “wasn’t going to hurt Jethro too much.”

The case took up pretty much the entire Monday court session, with over 70 people (chiefly from the “lower banks”) attending the trial at the Dare County Courthouse. Midgett was fined $10.00 and cost of court.

Nevertheless, business remained good at Tandy’s. And, within a year, Tandy decided to build a larger establishment a mile west of Frisco on the main road to Hatteras. It was just one of the new construction projects, along with the motels and cottage courts that coincided with the paving of the final stretch of Hwy 12 on Hatteras Island.

Billed as having “the biggest dance hall ever built on the Outer Banks,” the new 50-by100-foot brick building also featured luxuries, like restrooms and a snack bar. Opening festivities were equally grand, featuring a square dance with the Lazy

River Boys orchestra. Special invitations were issued to county commissioners and to those with island roots who lived elsewhere. It was hoped the event would “be something in the nature of a homecoming.”

“PATRONS SWAYED ON WOODEN DANCE FLOORS.

One can only imagine what the December 1953 election to ban beer sales on Hatteras Island did to the thriving establishment’s profits. However, according to Tandy’s daughter, Erlene Tandy Willis, it remained a hot spot for young people who gathered to play shuffleboard and pool while enjoying a soft drink. (Tandy’s was one of the only establishments that sold sodas.)

Henry Erle Tandy died in WinstonSalem in April 1961 after a two-month illness. Following his death, he received a

Open Books—Open Minds!

Citation for Commendable Service from the National Park Service for his years of dedicated work.

“Mr. Tandy was active in the project of revegetating the Outer Banks of North Carolina,” the citation read. “His knowledge and expertise with the soil and grasses of that area were extremely valuable. He inspired confidence in his associates and was well liked.”

The following year, Tandy’s widow Julia leased the property to George Fuller, Jr. Fuller operated a motel in the building and later a restaurant called The Captain’s Table. During the 1970s, the building had another go-round as a dance venue when a private club opened — The Frisco Disco.

As a private venue, beer could still be sold on “dry” Hatteras Island. Still, the night spot proved less catchy than its name. Instead, Tandy’s son-in-law, Harlan Willis, turned it into a short-lived seafood market.

In 1978, the building changed tacks entirely when the Ochs family remodeled it and opened the Quarterdeck Restaurant, a beloved establishment that lasted an impressive 45 years. (In 2023, it opened up under new management as the Frisco Bay Coastal Grill.)

It would take over 30 years before Hatteras Island restaurants could offer beer and wine. Liquor by the drink was passed in 2010 and 2011 in Hatteras and Kinnakeet townships, respectively. But when it comes time to “boogie down” late night, all the options are once more waiting “north of the bridge.” — Sarah Downing

Sources: “Big Opening of Tandy’s Place, December 8,” Coastland Times, Nov. 30, 1951; “Growing up in Frisco: An Interview with Erlene Tandy Willis,” Sea Chest Magazine Spring/Summer 1993; “Jethro Midgett Found Guilty of Assault,” Coastland Times, Jan.12, 1951; “Posthumous Awards for Henry E. Tandy,” Coastland Times, Feb. 23, 1962; “Road Prospects Cause Building on Outer Banks,” Coastland Times, Nov. 16, 1951.

LOOPING BACK

getactive startingpoint

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Add some loose jewelry to the list of historic items “lost and found” on Roanoke Island. In late Aug., we learned First Colony Foundation archeologists digging in Elizabethan Gardens discovered a copper earring that dates back to either the 1584 or 1585 visit by English explorers — as opposed to 1587’s “Lost Colony” expedition — making it among the earliest examples of contact between the Old and New Worlds. (No word on if they found it under the fridge or behind the sink.)

THANKS FOR THE MAMMARIES

Got breast milk? You probably do if you’re an Outer Banks baby — largely thanks to the Dare County Department of Health & Human Service’s Women, Infants and Children Program — which received the 2024 award for “Highest Breastfeeding

Duration Rates at Six Months in a Rural Setting.” It’s all part of a collective local effort that provides new moms with a constant flow of education and awareness — as well as breast pumps and other tools — so more newborns get healthy meals straight from the tap.

UNLUCKY NUMBER

Step aside “666.” We got a new set of digits to signify the end times. In Sept., LendingTree.com compared median home values and incomes to determine which 50 “micropolitan” areas had America’s most expensive real estate markets. And guess which local hamlet came in at number 13?

Not Southern Shores. Or Martin’s Point. Not even Nags Head. It was l’il ol’ KDH. Granted, they were only looking at towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000, but seeing the Outer Banks’ most rickety zip code beside places like Jackson Hole and Taos is still enough to make our heads spin (and puke).

SHOT OF LIQUIDITY?

Water enthusiasts are buzzing over news that the NCDEQ poured out roughly a half-million dollars in grant money so Dare can improve multiple beach and sound accesses, including: $114,010 for new restroom and shower facilities at Old Lighthouse Beach; $77,928 for a dune crossover at KDH’s Hayman Blvd; $95,738 to replace decking around the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse Pier; and $207,669 for June Street’s new ADA-accessible wooden walkover, a 16-foot octagonal gazebo, and an upgraded shower-station. Cheers!

THIS SUCKS

Can’t a guy get a break? In Sept., beloved community fixture Jordan Hennessy had to halt his company’s dredge work for a month after the Army Corps found that “98% of all dredging loads....were not compliant with permit conditions.” Then in Oct., we learned that the US Attorney’s Office had subpoenaed county records

related to EJE Dredging as part of a federal grand jury investigation — records that included the Oregon Inlet Task Force. Come on! All the former legislative aide did was generously help secure state funding from the General Assembly for a $15 million dredge, then selflessly start a brand new company to perform the work using said dredge — despite having no prior dredging experience whatsoever! And this is the thanks he gets?! We wouldn’t blame him if he never toiled behind the scenes on behalf of Dare County ever again. Like ever.

SET FEELINGS TO STUNNED

Shocked? Sad? Angry? Resigned? We’re not sure how to describe our emotions over the news that Dare County has installed “OpenGate” weapons detection technology at the entrances to all high schools and middle schools, as well as during athletics events. We get that we live in different times. And administrators

must make decisions out of an abundance of caution. Still, this daily reminder of America’s gun violence epidemic fails to make us feel any safer.

WHOSE BRIGHT IDEA WAS THIS?

‘Twas a time when twinkling constellations dominated the Outer Banks heavens from dusk to dawn — now every night’s horizon is a hazy glow of strip mall and security lights. Luckily, a range of Dark Sky initiatives have emerged to fight light pollution. Jennette’s Pier and Hatteras Seashore have installed bulbs and amber shields that are less disruptive to wildlife. Nags Head and Duck have adopted codes encouraging residents and businesses to adopt shields, motion sensors and timers. Even the Visitor’s Bureau is promoting sensible lighting as part of its push for sustainable tourism. (Now, if we could just kill that one porch light shining through the corner of your bedroom window, we’d be getting some place...)

WORKS BOTH WAYS

And finally, it looks like the much-debated Mid Currituck Bridge may have finally been greenlighted. And while it won’t break ground before 2026, it’s already an engineering miracle, as proponents promise it will boost the numbers of cars reaching Corolla — yet magically reduce traffic at the same time! And if you buy that, they’ve got another bridge to sell you — or better yet, some shiny piece of real estate to develop. (Perhaps some of the 5-parcel, 177+ acres of land that hit the market in Sept.? The one with enough space for 1,250 hotel rooms, 782 singlefamily homes and nearly 428,000 square feet of commercial space?)

For detailed reports on these stories and local news on a daily basis — plus plenty of local discussion — visit www.outerbanksvoice. com, www.islandfreepress.org, www. coastalreview.org, www.SamWalkerOBXNews. com, www.outerbanksnews.org, and www. thecoastlandtimes.com.

Sept. 17, 2024.

Handshake? Fist bump? Or high five?

Tianna Stathis, 43

Full-Time Volunteer

Kill Devil Hills

“After Covid, I pretty much always fist bump now; it feels less germy.”

Kathy Koplen, 65

Adventure Ambassador

Kill Devil Hills

“High five. I’ve just always done it that way. My kids are fist bumpers, though, so maybe it’s generational.”

Bo Raynor, 24

Professional Wave Slayer

Colington

“Handshake is the proper, more formal option. But I feel like I high five girls a lot, and then I fist bump my friends.”

Jessica Thai, 25

Slinger of Cocktails & Cottages

Kill Devil Hills

“I’m really good about doing the opposite of whatever is being offered. So, if someone goes for a high five, I fist bump it on accident. Or if they fist bump, I high five, and our hands end up looking like a turkey.” [Laughs]

Interviews and images by Tony Leone

TEAM RIDER: BRETT BARLEY

Love local seafood? This li’l fella will lift your spirits:

It’s crusty and salty — but don’t try to eat it.

Lives on the water — but can’t really swim.

Changes flavors based on location — but only bears a single name.

Think you’ve snagged the right answer? Drop a line to editor@ outerbanksmilepost.com — including your guess, name and phone number — by Jan. 10. We’ll fill up a bushel and pick one lucky winner, who’ll receive four free tickets to Taste of the Beach’s Performance Food Group OBX Chowder Cook-off on April 5. (For details and a full list of events, go to www.obxtasteofthebeach.com.)

(PS: Congrats to Stevie Mae for correctly answering last issue’s brainscrambler: a warty pumpkin. Name this colorful seafarer — win four tix to April’s OBX Taste of the Beach Chowder Cookoff!

Scaled back? Photo: Bob Daley

WHERE WEST MEETS EAST Latin Inspired Cuisine

CHRISTMAS CHEERS!

Two holiday-themed bar tours stand ready to toast the season — and help local causes.

The Grinch’s attitude. Charlie Brown’s tree. Rudoph’s nose. The holidays positively glow with stories about the transformative power of a little Christmas spirit. Add “The 12 Bars of Christmas” to the season’s list of magical tales.

gohunt rearview

“I was trying to create a Christmas economy,” recalls Mark Ballog, owner of Lucky 12 Tavern. He describes how Christmas week was always busy, but the other 3.5 weeks of December were a drag.

“I was like, ‘Man, I need to be busier in December just to help pay my people.’”

So, in 2019, he decked out his tavern in vintage décor, served up Christmasinspired food, cocktails and mocktails, put out a themed sign that said “Jingle 12” — then watched customers pour in. The response was so good Ballog could barely keep up. After a couple more solid holiday runs, in 2022 he convinced four more watering holes to do festive makeovers: Goombay’s became

Goombrrr’s, Mama Kwan’s became Mama Klaus, and Bonzer Shack became The Broken Candy Cane. Then, last year, they added eight more “pop-ups” from Kill Devil Hills to Manteo. And with that, Ballog’s Christmas miracle was complete.

“I’ve always had this vision to do, like, ‘The 12 Bars of Christmas,’” he says.

And what a vision it was. From Thanksgiving weekend until New Year’s Eve, they did huge numbers. And not just for themselves. Each bar sold $5 passports for patrons to fill — then donated those proceeds to the charity of their choice. By season’s end, they’d raised $18,000 for a dozen nonprofits, including Beach Food Pantry, NC Coastal Federation, Special Olympics, and Room In The Inn.

They’d also put smiles on a whole lot of Christmas fiends’ faces.

“I love to get all decked out and dressed up as much as I can,” gushes KDH’s Crystal Hall. “It’s just super fun.”

Chug one (or 12) for charity.

Photo: Crystal B. Hall

So much so, it took less than a week for Hall and her husband, Matt, to fill their first passports last year. When family came to town, they completed a second round in another three-to-four days.

“We’re overachievers,” she laughs.

This year, organizers hope $10 passports will yield more impressive results. Meanwhile, passport completers — in addition to receiving a keepsake ornament — are entered into a raffle drawing, where there are 12 prizes, then a grand prize of a $100 gift card to each restaurant.

It’s not just a drinking affair. Young’ns can also get involved with a new, youth-specific Kids Quest passport that only requires three stamps to be eligible for entry (with parental permission). The tour will also feature a host of special events, like Santa Claus and Grinch visits, Christmas markets and more, including Jingle 12’s take on “Toys for Tots.”

“You bring us a toy, we give you tater tots,” Ballog says. “I think last year I collected 260 toys.”

Now, with The 12 Bars of Christmas firmly established and entering its second year, Ballog says he had to turn down prospective collaborators.

So, an entirely different tour has emerged to fill demand: the “Misfit Bars of Christmas,” which has 15 locations, from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head. In this case, there will be $10 postcards for sale at each spot, with those proceeds supporting the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.

People who collect postcard stamps at all 15 locations are entered into a raffle, where three winners will receive goodies from all participating restaurants. Special food and drink menus will include both alcoholic and non-boozy options.

“I’m gonna do some mocktails for people,” says Jenn Crossman, the Misfits organizer and a bartender at Kill Devil Grill. “And I’m sure everybody else will do that as well.”

Crossman says that the tour will also feature different events and be “all-inclusive for everyone’s families and their pets.” In fact, in future years, she’d love to see even more restaurants participate.

“We want to make this an annual event,”

“ BY SEASON’S END, THEY’D RAISED $18,000 FOR A DOZEN NONPROFITS.

Crossman says. “Something that people can look forward to year after year, like the whole island of fun — like an island of misfits just celebrating Christmas.”

It’s already happening in Duck, where a third crawl — “Duck the Halls” — brings in golf carts to carry revelers around local stops and events on select Friday and Saturday evenings in December.

Almost makes you wonder if all these festive bar crawls might start turning folks a little green.

Not for the Halls. They, along with 18 friends, have already made reservations to ditch their cars and barhop via the OBX Party Bus. And that’s not including the tweener days where nothing could be more fitting for an Outer Banks holiday than enjoying a frosty cocktail among beloved friends — while feeding a local non-profit’s coffers.

“I just love Christmas,” she says. “So, having Christmas bars...it’s like a dream come true.”

— Corinne Saunders

Ready to join the party? The Misfit Bars of Christmas runs Nov. 26 through Dec. 31; the 12 Bars of Christmas runs Nov. 29 through Dec. 31. Learn more at www.12barsofchristmas.com or www.Misfitsobx.com or follow their social media feeds. Duck the Halls will run every Fri. & Sat., Dec. 6 to 21, from 5-8 p.m.

PUNK’s DEAD!

Fujiwara...Splatterblast...

Release...Three Quarter

Slug...Miyagi’s Army... Mudhustler...Underground District...Full Salvo...Mudd Flap Mafia...Pat Clark Project...Low Standards...Hot Signals...Non-Compliance... This Too Shall Burn... Mustache Whiplash...

For as long as there’s been punk rock, there’s been punk rock acts on the Outer Banks. (Almost.) And why not? This rough-and-tumble sandbar’s always been “anti-establishment,” from the first Hatteras Islander to pillage a foundering ship to the last college graduate who said “F*&k a cubicle, I’m going fishing.” It’s the kind of community that sneers at conformity — and unites behind fellow misfits whether it means rebuilding after a hurricane or storming local stages to push new sounds.

“The best thing about the underground music scene in the early 90s was it was tight,” says local punk pioneer, Steve Head, who, along with his wife, Betsy, fronted fierce acts like Splatterblast and Myagi’s Army. “Everyone supported everyone, because we were all playing the same small clubs.”

It started at Mex-Econos — then moved to the Pit. Maybe Van’s Pizza. As old spots closed down, new ones opened their doors, making room

for successive generations of bands and fans to throw some ’bows. In the 2000s, you might’ve seen Fujiwara at the Brew Pub or the Hot Signals at Ocean Boulevard. By 2019, it was the Clawbacks at Secret Island or NonCompliance at the Bonzer Shack.

“Those shows were awesome,” says Clawbacks’ drummer, John Graves. “They were late, so all the restaurant kids showed up — everyone having a blast and moving around. Just good punk rock energy. Then Covid kind of killed it.”

But these diehards weren’t about to let some little germ ruin all the fun. Instead, they joined forces and formed new mutations. Today, bands regularly share bills — and sometimes members — to keep the rabid punk scene frothing.

And another batch of venues is happy to help the cause. Salty dives like Avalon Pier. Hipster hangs like Swells’a Brewing. Even Jack Brown’s is rekindling the Mexi’s days. Hell, Goombay’s new owners are so hardcore they named their DBA “KDH Punk.”

“We actually did that because Kitty and Chris [Miller] and I all have a deep punk rock background,” laughs Tony Sipe. “But now there’s a little resurgence, so we want to support all this talent. Even if it’s just putting on a couple shows a year.”

The next one lands Dec. 13, when Goombay’s hosts a Christmas fundraiser called Punks For Presents, where the bill includes the Clawbacks, Live Nude Surfers, M-60, Richmond’s the Cretins, plus Steve and Betsy’s newest creation, Sikniks, which features members of Non-Compliance and Mustache Whiplash. It’s all just the latest iteration of the scene’s never-say-die spirit, where bands feed off each other’s energy to fuel fresh momentum.

“We’re having a resurgence for sure,” says Steve. “That punk rock camaraderie is coming back. And it’s coming back hard.”

Ready to hop in the pit? Read on to learn more about three local acts who are mixing things up. — LEO GIBSON

Photo: Ed Tupper

THE CLAWBACKS MAY PLAY “RAMONESCORE FOR THE SHORE.”

But that don’t’ make them pinheads. Oh, sure, their songs channel the boxy power chords and blunt refrains of punk rock’s NYC Godfathers. But their approach is as pointed and polished as the tip of a spear. And their songs are brainier than a Zombie’s diet, alluding to everything from authors like Herman Melville and Phillip K. Dick, to a pantheon of favorite influences.

“A lot of the songs are about books I like,” explains guitarist, singer, songwriter, and educator Matt Haskett. “Not necessarily books I teach, but books I’ve consumed. And a lot of Ramonescore is referential to other punk.”

Think Screeching Weasel, the Riverdales and the Queers artists Haskett’s loved since he was a highschooler playing the Pit in bands like FIA. A decade ago, he tapped drummer John Graves to start the Clawbacks. In 2017, they added Chris McArdle on bass. By 2019, they were playing places like Secret Island and Bonzer Shack, often sharing stages with punk-adjacent acts like Zack Mexico and Cor De Lux.

“We finally had a bunch of out-of-town gigs on the books, too,” says Graves. “Then, of course, Covid just threw a wrench in everything.”

But it couldn’t stop them entirely. When the scene broke back open in ’21, the Clawbacks were poised to strike, delivering blistering, relentless sets from the

the clawbacks!” “GIMME, GIMME...

Blue Crab’s backyard to Avalon Pier. No flourishy moves or angry interludes almost no punctuation at all beyond the occasional “1,2,3,4” to bridge songs or power stance between choruses.

In ’22, they went into the studio with The Queers’ Joe King. Three days later, they emerged with 18 tracks, including a dozen soon-to-be-released originals that blast through a range of hot-button targets. “Doublethinking” is a double-time, double-talking take down of misinformation in the modern age. (“The way you think it’s false will seem true to you”), while “Insane” skewers the fleeting loyalties of pop music’s fans and kingmakers. (“You’ll never see me on the cover of a website.”)

But perhaps most clever — and courageous — is “Special Needs,” which uses a loaded term to take aim at “individualized education” from the point of a student who’s dealing with the day-to-day pressures of being labeled. (“Shove your separate settings, extended time, these interventions feel just like a crime.”)

And yet Haskett insists he’s not being controversial. Or even taking a stand.

“A lot of punk rock songs are about high school and different aspects of it,” he says. “And one aspect of kids being labeled and marginalized is through the structures of school. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with

that stuff. It’s just to express a frustration that exists.”

In fact, Haskett insists the Clawbacks aren’t making any statements at all.

“We play songs that sound good and are fun,” he says. “Sometimes they’re smart and sometimes they’re stupid, but I don’t know if I like the idea of my songs having a message. I think they just paint a picture.”

But the band does have a couple strong opinions. Namely, that no punk set should last longer than 45 minutes. (“Nobody wants to see the same punk band play for three hours,” says Graves. “No matter how much you love them.”) And that this so-called “rebel” genre can appeal to about any audience — if they’re willing to truly listen.

“The best thing about our last show at Avalon was watching the people come out of the pier house with their ears covered at first,” says McArdle. “Then, slowly, their hands would come down...and they were like, ‘Yeah!’”

And for anyone who doesn’t like what they hear? Or worse — gets offended? They’re missing the most important point of all.

“There’s a line from Shakespeare that’s something like, ‘You can’t be insulted by a chosen fool’,” says Haskett. “It’s punk rock. You’re not supposed to take it seriously.”

BALLSY RIFFS...CHEEKY ANTICS...WEIRD-ASS TOPICS.

The more you examine Live Nude Surfers, the tougher they are to describe. Goofy ’tude like the Vandals with maybe some Viagra Boys swagger. The occasional slow-drive changes of Sunny Day Real Estate with some of the frantic energy of Angry Samoans. And don’t forget lots of pickslides and “whoas” courtesy of Pennywise and Offspring.

“That whole Epitaph vibe is definitely an influence,” says drummer Todd Kleban. “And growing up, watching bands like NOFX, they always had such a fun little presence. So, we try to keep that going on stage.”

Or as bassist John Graves’ deadpans: “It’s basically ‘dinner and a show.’”

Some of it’s the goofy banter — like how guitarist Mike Parthemore calls out Graves, who is also the Clawbacks’ drummer, for never fully adopting his step-instrument. (“John’s a virtuoso... he adds extra notes.”) Some of it’s more physical, like when Todd bobs his head like a chicken between singing verses. Or the slapstick way Mikey kicks John in the shins at least once per show, or casually runs his PBR down the fretboard, or just wears his Gibson Explorer slung extra, extra low.

“I’ve been training for this ever since I was a kid,” Parthemore jokes. “My first instrument was a tennis racket; I’d jump around in front of the mirror.”

But beneath all jokes lies some serious performance skills built on decades of playing with other bands — and a collective desire to keep things light. Just like they have ever since they started playing tunes and cracking beers as a “Covid pod.”

were rocking venues from Rodanthe’s Neptune’s to VB’s Chicho’s. Opening for 80s punk icons like Agent Orange at McHorney’s Odditorium; getting asked to play a touch longer by Danish psychobilly headliners Nekromantics. All thanks to overthe-top antics and a 99.9% original set list, where the next song can be short or long — frantically schizo or frighteningly controlled — with lyrics that range from hilariously scathing to ridiculously absurd to downright depressing, often with a decidedly local edge.

Take “Shoot the Pier,” which rips on meathead locals for nearly five minutes, using attitudes and words lifted straight from a crowded Jennette’s lineup. (“I lose all my manners when I cross the dune.”)

Or “Dave,” a 90-second eulogy for Parthemore’s former bass player in This Too Shall Burn. (“The phone rang, we all met, smoked weed until we wept.”)

By the time the plague broke, they were ready to play out. Soon, they

LIVE NUDE SURFERS!” “NEVERMIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE’S...

Or “Doctor, Doctor,” which dissects modern society’s pitiful pharmaceutical diet. (“Doctor, doctor, I feel diseased; prescribe me something to hide my reality.”) Too heavy? There’s always “Speedo Bike Wash,” which spins the stereotypical bikini carwash into fresh, frothy territory. (“Washing bikes with a couple of dudes...BMX, ten speed, beach cruiser, too...”) Or “The 50s Song,” a little doo-wop-inspired ditty about a sad-sack punker who sets his sights on a groupie, only to end up feeling used when she falls for another artist. (“I got you in for free... sexually active, just not with me.”) Stop laughing. Because this is a number where even the audience gets teased, as Parthemore leads off with the iconic intro to Ozzy’s “Crazy Train” only to dive into a distorted melody ala Green Day. Because if there’s a running theme to Live Nude Surfers, it’s keep the crowd glued in by keeping them guessing — and make sure everyone leaves grinning.

“I guess you’d call us ‘fun punk,’” says Kleban. “We’re not the heaviest out there. We’re not the fastest out there. But we know how to get up there and have a good time.”

Photo: Ryan Del Rosario

m-60!” “BACK INTO BATTLE... with

WARNING: M-60 LOVES TO DROP

F-BOMBS. And that’s half the fun. When frontman Larry Mezzacca’s not asking the bar to “bring out a f#$n’ beer!,” he’s spitting random insults at the audience — “Buy something ya cheap bastards! Or steal something! F#$k!” — before launching into the next ripping guitar riff. The more he gnashes his teeth, the more the crowd squeezes in. And the closer everyone gets, the more Mezzacca’s big grimace grows. Just like it has since 1981.

“Punk rock has always been this inclusive thing for me,” says the larger-than-life Jersey native. “We hung out in the dregs of New York City because, for whatever reason, we didn’t fit into school. So, you’d go to CBGBs, pay three bucks to see five bands, then dive off the stage onto your head. And if you fell down in the pit, we picked you up. It was family. That’s why I got hooked.” And stayed hooked, with a particular taste for English hardcore acts, like the Exploited and Stiff Little Fingers. In 1986, he helped found Niblick Henbane, fueling Garden State mosh pits for more than 20 years. In 2008, he moved to the Outer Banks and formed M-60,

rotating through a range of players before landing on the current rhythm section in 2020: veteran drummer JD Davis, who’s resume includes The Hot Signals; and bassist Chris Kyger, who didn’t know the first punk riff but came armed with deep classic rock roots — and a singular drive to rehearse.

“These two guys are the group I’ve dreamed of,” Mezzacca says. “Chris is full of ideas and has instilled this awesome discipline. And JD, I can lift my cheek and fart and wink, and he knows what to play. It’s the perfect combination of ability, ingenuity, and enthusiasm. It’s like a perfect storm.”

The result is an explosive arsenal of weapons-grade material. Distorted chords pop off like machine gun fire; melodies and leads wing the ears with screaming precision. Drums and bass rumble up the rear like tanks. With lyrics that growl like psychotic drill sergeants, saluting punk rock’s most timeless beliefs. Tenets like staying true to yourself (“Forget the haters...spit in their eye!”) and remembering the downtrodden (“He hopes for a better life, he scratches his lottery ticket...the jackpot never comes.”) And yes, the occasional nothing-butcurse-word chorus, just for kicks. (“F#$k this! Hell no!”) Throw in some surprisingly catchy hooks and melodies for extra shrapnel, and you get an infectious, all-fronts

sonic assault that is helping M-60 storm new territories, from NJ mini-tours to punk festivals, like Atlanta’s threeday Beer Olympics.

“We drove 1400 miles and 36 hours to play 25 minutes,” Mezzacca laughs. “But these motherfu#$ers did it anyway. God love them.”

And they poured just as much heart into their new release, a 10 song-collection of originals from then to now called Head Held High. Add some digital technology like Spotify and Facebook — and suddenly M-60’s invading even more foreign soil.

“I’m old,” Mezzacca laughs. “I’m still looking for telephone poles to staple flyers too. So it took me a while to embrace what I call ‘anti-social media.’ But now I’m hearing bands from Italy, Germany, Canada and they’re hearing us. And when a guy from Australia says, ‘I love what you guys do,’ I swell up inside — because it’s validation of what we do.”

That’s why the trio continues to beef up their digital presence, posting songs, doing interviews, building relationships with their beloved audience by throwing virtual ’bows. And whenever they make a new fan, they always mail a little thank you note.

“When I send out merch, or a CD, I’ll write a little message on the back of one of our flyers,” he grins. “And I always sign it, ‘F#$k you...Love, Larry.”

Photo: Ed Tupper

GAME NIGHT

Everyone’s a winner with Milepost’s Official Game Night Bar-Time Hand Signals.

It’s football season! Time to hit the bar, pound some beers, and cheer your team! (Or taunt your opponents.)

Only problem? Communicating and comingling over all that noise! That’s why we devised Milepost’s Official Game Night Bar-Time Hand Signals! Now you can never say a word and still run the show. Buy rounds! Bum smokes! Burn friends! All while never leaving your bar stool. (Until it’s time to pay the tab.)

out there go hunt rear view

So Handy

Complex repairs. Intricate designs. Cultural traditions. Four skilled technicians demonstrate the timeless art of digital dexterity.

PHOTO: DANIEL PULLEN

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IT’S YARDS OF SYNTHETIC TWINE AND TINY

KNOTS. Against miles of raging ocean teeming with fish. And all it takes is one small rip to lose pounds of precious mackerel, drum, flounder — or whatever species is in season. So, when commercial fisher Shannon Dunn spots a tear, she springs into action.

“If you’re just cutting a section out and sewing it back together, it’s easy to do that on the boat,” says the 36-year-old Hatteras Islander. “But if it’s a bad hole, I’m probably pulling most of it off and taking it back to my house, because it’s easier to spread it apart out there in the grass.”

Net fishing has been a way of life for Outer Bankers since indigenous tribes first dotted the sound with handmade weirs — underwater traps woven together with reeds, plant fibers and furs. When European settlers came to Roanoke, they introduced handknit cotton, hemp or linen nets called haul seines to make larger catches for local distribution. Today, most commercial outfits use gill nets to trap schools of fish.

The top part of the net — the float line — uses small buoys to ride the surface; the bottom part, or lead line, uses weights to pull the net down. In-between, a wall of holes awaits, sized to trap certain fish as they swim through. The smaller ones pass easily; the larger ones get caught as they struggle. And sometimes they tear free.

Centuries ago, fishers would fix holes with whatever was handy — seaweed, debris, snakes, even reeds. Today, they head out to sea armed with spools of synthetic twine and a wooden or plastic “net needle.” This A-shaped hand tool allows you to wind up yards of twine at the base, so fishermen can unspool the line and quickly make fixes at sea. Or, once ashore, they can “hang” them and make more sturdy repairs.

up watching him hang nets. In summer, she was often a second pair of hands to pull through a line while he fixed a net — or the other set of eyes needed to spot holes.

While she occasionally helped on their boat, affectionately named the “Shannon D,” she’d never planned on taking the helm. Instead, when she graduated college, Dunn moved to Costa Rica to teach English and, of course, surf.

But in 2014, Paul began having health issues, so Shannon returned to the Outer Banks to help at home and with the boat. When Paul passed away in 2020, she took over the business. Now she’s the one mending nets, and it’s her mother who provides some extra hands.

“It’s nice to have somebody to pull through the net when you hang it,” Shannon says. “So, I’ll come be like, ‘Mom, can you come out here?’ And I’ll have her pull the net through. Then she goes back inside while I fix it.”

“If it’s a bad hole, I’m probably taking it back to my house.”

Today, of course, technology seeps itself into every industry, and commercial fishing is no exception. Folks with extra cash can send their synthetic nets to be replaced with machine-made nets, or hire neighbors to do the job. Occasionally, Shannon gets so busy with her two kids — or having to go back to sea — that even she has to pay someone else to fix her nets. But for the most part, she mends them to control costs in an industry where other expenses are beyond her control.

“The price of everything — fishing, the fuel, the nets — has gone up tremendously over the past three years,” she explains. “And fish prices haven’t gone up at all. But I will definitely do this till I go broke.”

Shannon starts a 20-minute fix on land by feeding a rope through the top, then spreads the net out and lets it hang loose. Then she hunts for holes in the mesh, cuts the net webbing into two pieces, and uses needle and twine to weave the parts back together.

The process takes time, tolerance, and a set of keen eyes to sort out what’s been previously cut, connected or mended back to the net, and what hasn’t. Some fisher’s methods are even more meticulous.

“[They’ll] cut out a square piece around the hole, take another piece of webbing — a new piece that’s the same size — and sew that square into it,” Shannon says.

“My dad did this,” she adds, “but I don’t really have the patience.”

Paul Dunn bought a boat and started commercial fishing after he and his wife sailed up to Hatteras from Florida and never left. That was 1978. Shannon grew

But, so far, a life at sea keeps the family afloat; it also supports the lifestyle she loves on land.

Between trips chasing fish, Shannon can hunt waves at home. In rare moments, she’ll simply sit on the beach, melt back into a chair and just watch the water. She recalls one evening this past summer. She was chatting on the phone with a friend, relaxing away — until she saw a frenzy of fish cutting around in the shore.

So of course, she did the reasonable thing and ran back to her house to grab her surfboard and 15-feet of gill net, then paddled out past the breakers and started pulling...and pulling.

“I did not think it was actually going to be that much drag,” Shannon laughs. “I couldn’t believe how hard it was to pull; it ended up being like 50 pounds of bluefish.”

It doesn’t get much more locally caught than that.  — Emmy Trivette

PHOTO: DANIEL PULLEN

Old Soul

In a world of high-tech distractions, Ben Brown preserves Wanchese traditions.

PHOTO: ED TUPPER

WELL YOU KNOW. There are plenty of dubious ways for Gen Z’ers to keep idle hands busy on today’s Outer Banks. Ben Brown prefers to pass time by preserving treasured traditions — carving, whittling and painting decoys —relying on vintage methods and the engrained resourcefulness he learned from his father and other Wanchese “old-timers.”

“I’ve always heard all the old stories and learned all the old ways of making stuff work when you don’t have much to work with,” says the 21-year-old native. “But a lot of those old traditions are kind of fading out.”

Even the traditions that stick around aren’t really the same. Today, hunters can buy plastic decoys online with a click and a credit card. Ben secures his using sweat equity. He’ll head out after storms to search the shore for driftwood and shipwreck remnants; or wander the forest in search of the perfect tree, then take it home to block it up and let it dry. At the very least, he hits the lumber yard to choose the right piece of wood.

No matter how he sources it, Ben looks for juniper — aka North Atlantic white cedar — which has been the preferred medium of decoy craftsmen for as long as decoys have been around.

“Historically, North Carolina boats and decoys have both been built out of juniper,” says Ben, who made his first decoy at 15. “And so that’s what I like to try to stick to, because it’s kind of a traditional thing — and it’s really pleasant to work with. It’s soft and probably one of the best smelling woods there is.”

It’s an aroma that permeates his Wanchese shop. The floor is littered with wood shavings. The shelves are chockablock with logs and rough-hewn cutouts waiting to be finished. And the walls are lined with various templates and tools of his trade, from handsaws to hack through heavy logs to Dremels for attacking the finer details.

what started as a stump pulled from the sound gradually transforms into the sleekest waterfowl.

“You kind of take your time to watch the shavings that come off,” says Ben. “And you see the line start to form. Just turning a piece of wood into something that you would never have imagined — it’s a pretty cool feeling, especially once you put paint on it.”

When that time comes, Ben will delicately apply colors to mimic anything, from pintails to buffleheads. And while he says some craftsmen insist that only oil paint can produce a proper finish, he prefers acrylic.

“I’ve got a couple different ways of making decent looking finishes,” Ben says. “They say it dries like a plastic, so I don’t see how you could go wrong with that.”

If the decoys are going to be used for active hunting, he’ll put a weight on them. But his primary market is making decorative pieces. Due to the decline in commercial hunting in the 20th century, decoy-making has shifted from a necessity to a collectible folk art, with some antique examples selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

“I’ve had some folks tell me I could pass mine off as antiques,” Brown says with a humble grin. “But I’d never do that.”

“It’s a pretty cool feeling, especially once you put paint on it.”

But he will sell them for a fair price — usually $250 for a custom order — mostly to friends and family or through word of mouth. Sometimes, he’ll crank out a bunch and head to festivals like December’s 36th Annual Core Sound Decoy Festival. Not only is this Harker’s Island event one of the country’s most noteworthy gatherings, but it’s also the largest in North Carolina.

And while Ben admits some decoy makers give him a hard time for using power tools, he reckons his ancestors give him a pass.

“Old timers here on the Outer Banks would not have cared,” he says. “They used whatever they could to make them as fast as they could.”

Besides, how could they begrudge him when Ben still does so much by hand? From designing and tracing templates onto his reclaimed wood to building his own “shave horse” from foraged lumber.

Part vice, part chair, the “shave horse” is where every decoy starts to take shape. Ben’ll adjust the distance between the seat and the post, squeeze the freshly sawed silhouette inbetween, then sit down and get to work.

Grabbing his two-handed draw knife, he’ll pull across the grain, peeling off long corkscrew-shaped shavings — often into the wee hours of the night. And as he gets lost in his craft, the shape slowly emerges from the wood so that

“All the different carvers kind of hang out there,” Ben says. “Some of them will do demonstrations for carving and people can watch and learn something. Or, sometimes I let other people carve, and it’s pretty cool.”

When he’s not making decoys, Ben’s fishing on a traditional dory in the summer to pay the bills. When he’s not doing that, he’s restoring shad boats, a traditional vessel used on the Outer Banks, of which there’s now only a few left. He hopes to one day take people out for tours on these boats, explaining the Outer Banks’ rich history. A history that permeates every part of his life. One he always shares with a passion so that others will appreciate it — and hopefully preserve it.

“There’s a lot of people who come here from out of town who love to help the environment,” says Ben. “And there’s a lot of newcomers that change it and don’t even realize it. But when they see one of these decoys, they’re so fascinated they want one for their home. So doing it this way just means more to me. And it means more to the locals to see somebody carry on that kind of almost forgotten tradition.” — Maggie Miles

Alyssa

Crespo’s henna art is designed to dazzle — then disappear.

PHOTO: RYAN MOSER

CRAVING SOME BOLD BODY ART? But don’t want to commit to a permanent piece? Kill Devil Hills’ Alyssa Crespo specializes in the ancient artform of henna, a temporary skin adornment hand-drawn with a paste made from the henna plant. The proteins in its leaves attach to keratin proteins in the skin, leaving behind a stain that resembles an earth-toned tattoo. Depending on the strain of the henna plant, the color starts out a vibrant orange, red or purple, transforms into its darkest form within 48 hours, then disappears over a couple of weeks.

“Part of henna’s beauty is that it’s constantly changing and doesn’t last forever,” Alyssa says. “It’s a huge parallel with how life is; it’s a way to embrace the inevitability of change.”

The artform dates back at least 5,000 years, to hot, arid climates like Africa, India and the Middle East, where the plant grows naturally. It traditionally had functional purposes, like applying it to the hands and feet as a coolant, but it became a decorative expression among poor cultures who could not afford jewelry, as well as for use in rituals, weddings and celebrations. Each region developed its own style: Moroccan and Egyptian more tribal and geometric; Middle Eastern with flowery, asymmetrical patterns; and Indian very detailed and elegant with little negative space.

Alyssa prefers the more mystical Indian style.

“I was really into art in high school, and I had always been attracted to Indian culture,” she says. “I just love how they use henna for celebrations and rituals.”

A friend introduced Alyssa to Henna in her hometown of Buffalo, NY when she was 18. It quickly became her favorite medium. After practicing on herself and friends, she began charging for her designs and got a job working at a theme park, where she learned to quickly freehand.

shop owner in India and makes her own paste, mixing an enlivening blend of cajeput, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and wild orange oils (also sourced from India), plus lemon juice or water and sugar, which helps the ink stick to the skin.

“I value the fact that I make the paste myself, so it’s free of toxins and completely all-natural,” she says.

Alyssa packs the paste into small cellophane cones and stores it in the freezer to preserve the natural plant compounds. When it’s time to draw, she applies the paste to skin by squeezing it directly from the tube.

“It looks simple,” she says, “but it takes a lot of practice to figure out how to control the flow of the paste.”

At first, the paste sits on top of the skin, like a paint. The longer you leave it, the deeper it stains. Once it dries, it eventually flakes off, revealing a stained pattern on the skin.

Most of Alyssa’ clients are women, but men, children and teens are drawn to the art form as well. Some ask for a specific design and others give her complete artistic freedom.

“I wish they could last a little longer, but that’s not the point of henna.”

It’s a skill that serves her well today at larger gatherings like music festivals, VusicOBX concerts, or the Soundside Market. She also books private sessions, birthday parties, bachelorette parties, weddings, baby showers and other ceremonies. She named her business Henna Vibe, and her slogan is “where earth meets the soul.”

“The plant is of course of the earth” she explains. “And I feel like, by offering something beautiful, it also makes a healing connection. That’s actually one of my favorite parts of this, that I get to connect with the person.”

All of Alyssa’s designs — from elaborate flowers to trees to mandalas, moons to spiders, mermaid tails to free-form patterns — are one-of-a-kind. She freehand draws intuitively, in the moment, never from a template. No piece is ever the same. When it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

“Some designs I really like, and I wish they could last a little longer,” she admits. “But that’s not the point of henna. I’ve gotten used to the fact that they won’t stay. It’s why I don’t have a permanent tattoo — I like switching it up.”

Alyssa sources her all-natural henna powder from a trusted

She’s painted a giant dragon across someone’s back, full arm sleeves, and designs that resemble jewelry. She gets a lot of Harry Potter requests — and a few kooky ones. One teenager at the theme park wanted a unicorn biting his nipple.

“I had a drunk guy at a wedding once ask me if I could draw Sarah Palin,” Alyssa laughs. “I’m always up for a challenge so I did it — and it looked pretty good.”

One of her favorite things is to paint an elaborate mandala on a pregnant belly.

“It’s like a blessing for health and safety of mama and baby,” Alyssa says, adding that she uses lavender oil, which is safe in pregnancy.

Some people use henna to test out a tattoo idea to see if they like it and can live with it — a service Alyssa would like to offer at the local tattoo shops — and some people use henna as a form of self-care.”

“It’s not a necessity for people, but it is about beauty and treating yourself, like getting your nails done,” Alyssa says, adding that henna is also known to calm the nervous system so it makes people feel relaxed.

It’s calming for people just to sit still, watch the process, and feel the cooling sensation on their skin while basking in Alyssa’s full attention.

“People love watching me work,” she says. “They often say ‘I feel zen.’”

For Alyssa, henna provides satisfaction on a lot of levels.

“It really lights up my soul,” she says. “I get to be creative. I love connecting one-on-one with each person. I love the reactions I get when people see my work. And it’s also very meditative for me. It definitely does not feel like work.”

— Terri Mackleberry

Tube the Doctor

Amp acting crazy? Schedule a bench session with

“Retro Rod.”

PHOTO: ED TUPPER

WHAT’S IT TAKE TO FIX A FUSSY AMP ON THE FRITZ?

Sharp eyes to scope out shaky wires. Deft fingers to solder tiny capacitors. And an experienced nose for sniffing out sneaky problems — while maybe soaking up some fringe benefits.

“This is gonna sound weird,” says Currituck’s Rodney Kroetsch. “But I love the smell of an old tube amp — particularly the 60s and 70s Fenders. I mean, I love it so much I’m thinking about getting an air freshener made.” [Laughs]

Once upon a time, all amps were “tube amps.” Even living room Hi-Fis used glass vacuum bulbs and glowing wires — and maybe some magic — to strengthen and transmit sound. (Picture the amber meter on grandpa’s old Pioneer, springing to life once the machine warmed up.)

The 50s introduced transistor radios, setting the stage for solid-state amps to arrive in the 60s. But tubes still sounded better, which is why they remained the call for professional musicians, powering a classic rock revolution with guitar tones that serious players still chase today — chords that “break up” into the most crunchy chunks, solos that ring with endless sustain, and a warm, natural timbre that listeners love, whether they realize or not.

“There’s a sonic character to vacuum tubes that’s easier on the ear,” Rodney explains.

“Even a solid-state amplifier running your stereo will give someone ear fatigue quicker than it would with a tube amplifier.”

Still, Rodney didn’t fall in love with tube amps until the 90s. Back then, the lifelong guitarist was living in Nags Head. By day, he sold beer and wine to local stores; by night he played in a band called The Tropics, filling local clubs with swelling rhythms from his vintage Fenders.

some are just plain fussy, screeching one second, crapping out the next, like a colicky baby, with no way of telling you exactly what’s wrong.

“There’s a lot of variables to cause problems,” Rodney explains. “From where you plug into, to all the electrical connections, solder joints, all the way to a loose speaker wire. So, half the time, I’m shooting in the dark.”

Luckily, he’s got a host of tools and tricks at hand. There’s a 50s tube tester made by the U.S. Navy. A Weller variable temp soldering pencil for affixing wires. Magnifying eyeglasses and tiny screwdrivers. But his best friend is a low-tech piece of wood.

“This chopstick is one of my most useful tools,” he says. “You get the amp fired up, then you tap up and down the circuit board to narrow down where the noise is coming from. But 80 percent of what I do is just sitting back and thinking about it.”

From there, Rodney reckons 30 percent are no-brainers. Sixty are head-scratchers. Occasionally, he’ll cry uncle if it’s too complex — or just not worth the expense. But once he dives in, he gives it a full inspection, from the leather handle to the rubber feet, making sure every component is up to the job and replacing all problem parts — without changing its character.

“I love the smell of an old tube amp.”

“Kind of like that ’79 Vibrolux Reverb,” he says, pointing a freshly lit ciggie at the corner of his shed. “It’s got two 10-inch speakers. Great reverb. Great vibrato. Just a great amp.”

But great ain’t perfect. Capacitors crap out. Resistors overheat. And glowing wires have a limited lifespan. Rather than drive to some Norfolk guitar shop and wait weeks for a fix, Rodney asked a fellow tube enthusiast for tips, studied books and schematics — then stuck his head under the hood.

“I used to work on my cars, back when they were simpler,” he recalls. “And these older amps are similar — there’s fewer parts and stuff’s easier to get to. They’re made to be serviced easily.”

When word got around the beach that Rodney could keep your amp humming — without actually humming — he made it a side gig. Thirty years later, “Retro Rod” has worked on about every local guitarist’s rig, big and small, from servicing Tim Reynolds’ Mesa Boogie — “The invoice for the tubes was billed to Dave Matthews Band LLC, Charlottesville, VA” — to local legend Bill Downing’s Fender Bassman — “That thing was crusty, crusty, crusty” — to random strangers who drop ’em off at Beach Music and Gifts.

Some are beat up from decades of beach weather and dirty power. Others just need some routine maintenance. And

“I’m a hopeless romantic, so I try to keep things as original as possible,” he says. “But a lot of my job is just good maintenance. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of your set and have it start crackling. And the last thing I want is for me to be the last one who was working on it.”

And that’s why local guitarists keep coming back. Even guys like Chris Whitehurst. After decades of running sound and ripping leads, Whitehurst knows his way around most any rig. But he still relies on Rodney for fixes — and plenty of them.

“I just brought him four Fenders with varying issues,” Whitehurst laughs. “That’s the thing about tubes. They’re temperamental. But it’s their inaccuracy — their inefficiency — that gives them their soul. So, it takes a bit of an electrician and a bit of a shaman to fix them. And Rodney’s got the scar tissue to know what to do.”

Scar tissue’s right. Rodney’s got crazy stories of circuit board screw jobs so tightly packed they drove him nuts. And he’s still spitting fire over one Hot Rod Deluxe that stumped him for years. But for every demon seed that broke his spirit or died on the table, there’s a dozen more he’s brought back to life. And when he plugs into the input jack, cranks the volume, and hears nothing but pure tone, his whole body glows like the glass bulbs in back.

“Yeah, when I get to the bottom of something and make it sound good again, I’m very happy,” Rodney laughs. “I’ll even hop up and parade around the shed a bit.”

And then?

“And then?” he grins. “Oh, then I play the hell out of it.”

— Leo Gibson

fooddrink

Dry January’s upon us. Hop “on the wagon” with a tasty mocktail.

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HURTING HEAD. Heavy regrets. The occasional dry heave. New Year’s morning ain’t always pretty. But that’s why “Dry January” is such a perfect opportunity to test drive the tee-totaling lifestyle. The holidays are packed and stowed tightly away. The next hard-partying summer high season is well over the horizon. Lots of time and motivation to tighten up — with fewer temptations to cut loose. But there’s no reason you have to fully suffer for the next 30 days. A finely crafted “mocktail” from a local watering hole can provide plenty of flavor and festive spirit — minus the hooch and associated hangover — whether you’re “kicking the habit” or just “sober curious.”

outthere gohunt gosurf

Keep life between the curbs with a “Wreck Diver” from Wheelhouse Lounge.

Photo: Ashley Milteer

THE BLUE POINT

Not sure where to start? Can’t decide which fruit to infuse in your next shrub — or confused about what the hell a “shrub” even is? (It’s a vinegar-based syrup that substitutes for citrus.) The Blue Point will gladly take you on a non-alcoholic taste tour.

“We’ve got a really nice N/A Sparkling Rosé that our patrons absolutely love,” says Wine Manager and Certified Sommelier, Kelly Donlin. “But where we really shine is getting creative with our customers and crafting a beverage that suits their flavor profile. It’s fun making drinks on a whim using fresh ingredients, like jalapeños and fresh citrus to mimic a spicy margarita or lime, mint, soda and simple syrup for a refreshing twist on a mojito.”

The bar menu also offers some mocktail suggestions throughout the year. Their Citrus Fizz is a recently tweaked fav, featuring orange, pineapple, lime grenadine, and club soda to give the perky mouthfeel of citrus — but it’s adding Aquafaba that truly elevates the experience.

“Aquafaba is an alternative to egg whites,” Donlin explains. “As a chickpea based liquid, it adds texture and foaminess to a beverage.”

Which is a great addition to mocktails. As Donlin says, mimicking the mouthfeel of a good spirit can be one of the trickiest aspects of crafting a mocktail.

“There is definitely a lot of trial and error,” she says with a smile. “Which is why the off-season is the perfect time to explore and try some new recipes.”

TRIO RESTAURANT & MARKET

Feeling adventurous? For daring spirits willing to conduct their own mocktail experiments, Kitty Hawk’s Trio has all the ingredients to fuel your creative instincts — without any inebriating ethanol. Just climb the stairs to Trio’s upper lounge, and you’ll find a full library of N/A beers, dry-hopped sours, spirits and syrups. Here, anyone can give the ol’ liquor cabinet an extreme makeover for a proper dry spell.

“We get our inspiration from our customers,” says coowner Kenny Hyman. “Five years ago, we really got a lot of folks coming in and asking us to order N/A spirits so they could experiment with making mocktails at home.”

Looking for something refreshing? Pick up a bottle of Seedlip Notas de Agave and try making a guilt-free Ranch Water. For those brown water fans, Kentucky 74 is a great option for an N/A bourbon, making all of your old-fashioned dreams come true. For all the G&T fans out there, Ritual should be your go-to gin replacement.

But being a wine bar, the Trio crew remains a big fan of Proxies, which replicate the characteristics of your favorite vintage.

“Proxies are made by blending wine grapes with fruit and then adding some tea, vinegar and aromatics,” says Hyman. “You get all the flavor of a nice wine, without all the alcohol.”

Blanc Slate is an especially nice alternative to a Sav Blanc, with a crisp, zesty mouthfeel and notes of green apple. And if all you want is for someone to pour you a notso-stiff one, pull up a stool and let the bartender work some magic.

“

““THE NAME ‘MOCKTAIL’ ALMOST DUMBS IT DOWN...I LIKE TO CALL IT, ‘MINDFUL DRINKING.’” — EMILY HOWELL

“We’ve also got a great Craft Mocktail list,” says Trio bar manager, Courtland Leggio. “Of course, we keep our fan faves, like our Lemon, Lavender and Blueberry Fizz, but we also offer seasonal rotations and bottled options like the St. Agresis Phony Negroni that is just as beautiful as it is tasty.”

WHEEL HOUSE LOUNGE

You might think Outer Banks Distilling would be the last call for a “fauxjito.” But the homegrown hooch maker does more than craft and ship cases of Kill Devil Rum. Their cozy Wheelhouse Lounge is stocked with crack cocktail mixologists — or, in this case, “mocktail magicians” — like Matt Joyner.

“It can be really hard to mimic a cocktail in texture and flavor, as alcohol has a certain mouthfeel that is very hard to translate,” says Joyner, who is the Wheelhouse Lounge’s Beverage Director. “The trick is to use fattier syrups to provide body, or even do a rice wash in the glass.”

Luckily, seven of the eight cocktails on their regular menu can easily turn into a mocktail.

Need a little vitamin C boost? Look no further down the list than the Golden Hour. Crafted with fresh tangerine, blood orange, lemongrass, ginger and bitters, this tasty and creative concoction hits all the marks on the taste bud meter. If warm and cozy is more your style, snuggle up to a piping hot mug of Banana Nut Hot Buttered No-Rum. This fun riff on a traditional toddy is a labor of love, but well worth it.

“You basically take whole bananas and cook them down with butter, sugar, spices and then hit it with an immersion blender,” Joyner explains. “The result is like a batter that we then freeze, scoop into mugs, and then top with hot water.”

Or just throw a little caution to the wind and let Joyner conjure up a special potion.

“Mocktails can take more effort and thought for sure,” he says. “But people are more health conscious. They care about what goes into their bodies. And we really want to give them a hospitable experience.”

HI-VIBE HOLISTICS

Hoping to not just lose the booze but boost your spirits? Hi-Vibe Holistics’ bottle shop serves tonics and herb-based elixirs — in both bottles and cans — that not only taste good and trick the palate, but also make your body feel better.

“I actually started this journey because of my MS diagnosis,” says owner Emily Howell. “I knew that I needed to find an alternative to alcoholic beverages. Looking back, I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner.”

An herbalist and true alchemist, all Howell’s creations and products are built on a single concept.

“Quality ingredients that benefit your body,” says Howell. “Whether it’s reducing anxiety, helping your nervous system, or promoting good sleep, I want to have options for everyone.”

Take for example the Curious Elixir No. 2. A smart little brown bottle that is the perfect combo of ingredients for those that love the punch of a Dark & Stormy with a bit of a nod to a pineapple margarita. Citrus and ginger give it punch, while the herb Damiana helps you unwind by reducing anxiety.

Beer your choice after a long day in the trenches? Swap that Bud out for an ice cold can of Bodhi Bubbles. Crafted by a former craft beer brewer and made with all natural ingredients like Holy Basil, Gotu Kola and Lion’s Mane, this tasty brew aims to relieve stress, anxiety and aid in mood regulation.

In every case, Howell says, the purpose is to not just replace a bad habit but foster a good one.

“The goal is to find a new way to enjoy flavors and explore new experiences,” she says. “The name ‘mocktail’ almost dumbs it down. They are elixirs that are so much more. I like to call it, ‘Mindful Drinking.’” — Fran Marler

FIFTY AND FABULOUS

Honor a half-century of Dare Arts by celebrating your creative side.

Named in honor of the Outer Banks’ legendary artist, historian, conservationist, and founder of Southern Shores, this longest-running visual arts exhibit in Dare County remains its most prestigious. Creators in every medium — from paints to clay to photos to fiber — vie for blue ribbons. But you don’t have to be a master to make a statement.

“We get people who consider themselves all levels of artist to participate,” Jessica says.

And it’s easy to do. Just visit www.darearts. org for a prospectus in December. Pay $35 ($25 for members). Then schedule a dropoff time.

(Note: all work must be signed and for sale; see the website for more guidelines.)

Can’t paint a lick? Come paint the town red at Feb. 7’s opening reception, where seeing new works — and old friends – makes for the offseason’s best party.

“The opening night’s so fun because it’s the dead of winter and the locals are out and about,” Jessica says. “It just always makes for a great night.”

It was in Mollie Fearing’s living room that the vision for the arts council came to life — a more musical vision, at first.

“The children down here never were exposed to the symphony,” says Fearing’s daughter, Grizelle. “So, their first project, I believe, was getting the North Carolina Symphony.”

For two decades, Mollie Fearing remained a vital part of the arts council’s evolution. When she passed in 1997, the council created an annual event in her memory.

From May 4-31, local artists will honor her long-standing support by submitting a range of fresh works for a show that Grizelle says has “just gotten better and better.”

Once more, just pay a fee and schedule a drop-off. ($35/$25; find prospectus and guidelines at www.darearts.org.)

And once more, don’t miss the opening reception on May 4, as art lovers bask in a range of eclectic expression — and memories of Dare Arts’ colorful patron.

“Her birthday was in April,” Grizelle says of her mother. “She loved spring and flowers, so that was a great time to have it.”

It all started in a Manteo living room in 1975. A group of local arts enthusiasts gathered to form the Sea and Sounds Arts Council to bring a little culture to our rustic shores. Before long, the Dare County Arts Council was encouraging a vibrant community of Outer Banks creators via standalone exhibits and group shows. Recently, the long-standing non-profit rebranded as Dare Arts to reflect its expanding into film fests and workshops. But the mission remains the same as it did 50 years ago.

“To show the importance of what artists bring to this community,” says Executive Director Jessica Sands. “So that artists can live here and make their living here.”

But they can’t do it alone. Here are four events coming in 2025, where every creative soul — from household names to total newbies — can help celebrate a half-century of self-expression.

THE 26TH ANNUAL ARTRAGEOUS KIDS ART FESTIVAL

Once upon a time, Artrageous was fall’s hottest event. Starting in 1990, families flocked to Gallery Row, where local legends mixed with kids’ activities to foster future creativity. Later, it filled KDH’s Rec Park with art booths and laughter. But in 2017, it moved back to Nags Head, and shifted forward to May, to take advantage of spring’s looser calendar and Dowdy Park’s wide-open spaces — with plenty of help from the community.

“We bring in 15-to-20 other organizations who donate their time and materials to be there with us,” says Jessica. “We couldn’t do it without all of those partnerships.”

Today, it’s Dare Arts’ largest event, drawing up to 2,000 people. But they can always handle a few more!

So, on May 10, come out for a free day of hands-on activities and artistic displays — things like stained glassmaking, blacksmithing, fiber arts, culinary arts, and pottery, plus dance and music performances. Every piece sold encourages a future Picasso and proceeds help support the Artrageous Youth Scholarship fund.

“FRESH

FROM THE OUTER BANKS” PLEIN AIR EVENT

It’s not all about tradition. Fresh this fall is a “plein air” event, where artists get to depict an outdoor Outer Banks location of their choosing — then share it in a single setting.

“It’s brand new,” says Jessica. “And the really beautiful thing is that everyone has the same amount of time to paint.”

Here’s how it works: participants check in on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. From September 4-5, they set up and paint the location of their choice. On September 5, they take their work to Dare Arts, where it will be framed and instantly exhibited from September 5-27. (Fee TBD; find details at www.darearts.org sometime in summer.)

Plein air events are popular among artists who love to travel. So, while this may be the first artistic endeavor of its kind here, it likely won’t be the last, as it ties directly into future goals.

“We’ve talked about this becoming an arts destination,” Dare Arts President Richard Phillips says. “I think we’ve made some steps in the last 50 years to move us in that direction, and we hope to continue to do that.”

— Corinne Saunders

Ed note: That’s just part of the “big 50” festivities. From February 7 to March 1, a “Retrospective of Dare Arts Exhibit” will hang in the gallery before traveling to select locations; a self-guided tour highlighting local art galleries and art features will run through summer; and, come October, it’s time to “pARTy” with an epic 50th fundraiser gala at The Waterfront Trellis in Manteo. For details, go to www.darearts.org.

THE 47TH FRANK STICK MEMORIAL ART SHOW

THE 28TH ANNUAL MOLLIE FEARING MEMORIAL ART SHOW

Ephemera courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center.

Bill steels his emotions, one piece at a time.

Photo: Ryan Moser

PRECIOUS METAL

Soaring seabirds. Delicate flowers. Bill Marchitelli sculpts many natural wonders — and they’re all created for one special person.

Bill Marchitelli used to carve wood. For fun. For family. Sometimes for function. There’s the gorgeous pine goose he gifted his mom one Christmas. A cedar table beside the front yard’s koi pond. When he and his wife, Debbie, were still dating, he made her a happy little whale — it still hangs from a live oak 30 years later. Welding? That was strictly for work, whether he was cutting steel in the DOT’s ferry division or fabricating custom fixtures for fancy yachts.

“I’ve always been a marine welder,” says the 64-yearold KDHer. “My first job was at the Newport News shipyard in 1976. My last job was at Harbor Welding in Wanchese. I was there damn near 20 years.”

All that changed in September 2023.

“After Mary passed away, I quit work,” he says. “I said, ‘Life’s too short.’ It messed my head up, as you can imagine.”

Mary Marchitelli wasn’t just Bill and Debbie’s daughter, she was a vibrant spirit and fierce athlete. Growing up, if she wasn’t riding horses, she was playing volleyball, pitching softball or laughing with friends. When doctors diagnosed her with pancreatic cancer in 2022, it galvanized the Outer Banks community; when she passed the following September, at the age of 23, it ripped Bill and Debbie’s hearts to pieces.

Bill needed a way to deal with the emotional shrapnel. So, he grabbed a torch and hammer and slowly started piecing life back together.

“I gotta do something to keep my mind busy,” Bill recalls thinking. “So, I just started welding some little things.”

The first sculpture he made was a rose for Debbie. A dainty piece of steel wrapped in loving petals. Stem

as lithe as a dancer’s leg. From there, he moved on to sunflowers — only these were waist-high, with a dome of perforated stainless at the center instead of seeds.

One day, Bill thought, “Why not make a hummingbird to stick in the middle?”

And Debbie figured, “Why not post it on Facebook?”

“People were like, ‘Man, I want one of them,’” Bill says. “These things sold like crazy. Then I went on to bigger stuff.”

In under a year, Bill’s forged bird baths from old woks. Transformed horseshoes into Christmas trees. Turned an old truck spring into a tail-wagging dachshund. His biggest piece to date? A majestic bald eagle, armored with feathers, perched on a huge oak limb and poised to fly into the stratosphere.

“I took the branch out of the tree Mary used to climb,” he says. “And she’s also the inspiration for the eagle soaring.”

If there’s a running theme to Bill’s work, it’s flight. Dragonflies and butterflies dangle and glint in the sunlight. A fever of stingrays hovers in a line. Even his shimmering blue marlin looks caught in mid-air, ready to land in your lap.

“EVEN HIS SHIMMERING BLUE MARLIN LOOKS CAUGHT IN MID-AIR.

steel bugs. Rebar arches connect Debbie’s lush herb gardens; sturdy shelves hold dozens of plants. Even the zen garden’s rock waterfall rests on one of Bill’s sturdy boxes.

And you won’t believe what’s waiting in the garage.

“I built the frame, the gas tank, the whole damn thing,” Bill beams, unveiling a jet-black motorcycle he made from scratch in 2003. “Even the mirrors are polished stainless steel.”

At one point, the lifelong Harley lover got some loose parts to make a matching set of wheels for Debbie. Then one day he offered to deliver Mary to Manteo High. By the time his daughter hopped off the back, she was hooked — and the idea changed gears.

“After that, Mary wanted one,” Bill says. “Up until the time she passed, she’d say, ‘We’re gonna build that motorcycle.’ And I’d say, ‘Yeah, we sure are.’”

Sadly, that never happened. So, a few months back, he decided it was time to give those unfinished parts a second chance as a shiny pelican.

“I turned the tank into its body,” he explains. “Then, I took exhaust pipes and made the neck, and then the inside of the gas tank — where it goes down the frame — I took that out and beat it and beat it and beat it and made the bill for the bird.”

Bill left the fuel gauge on top as a tribute to its former life — then stuck the finished product on a trio of dock-pilings.

This past September, Bill was 90 hours deep into making an osprey, layering differently sized feathers across its three-foot wingspan, all individually cut and hammered from a steel drum for maximum realism. Despite that intricacy, he says getting the talons just right on the jumping mullet he added in was the toughest — and making the legs look legit.

“I didn’t realize ospreys had legs so long ’til I saw these pictures,” he says, pointing to roughly a dozen printouts hung up for reference. “But mostly I just play ’til I like what I see. And once I get an idea, I don’t quit.”

It’s not just metal. Strolling the Marchitellis’ yard is like visiting a museum of natural passions shared over the decades, fused together in a blend of fine art and functionality. Glassy greenhouses and painted sun silhouettes. Boxy, wooden bee hives and shiny

Within days of Debbie posting a picture of Bill’s creation, the old bike was bringing fresh joy to somebody totally new. And the couple says that’s exactly what Mary would want.

“Mary had such a big personality,” says Debbie. “And she always wanted for Bill to not work so hard and do this more on a full-time basis. So, this would definitely make her happy.”

It’s helping the Marchitellis move forward, too. Debbie’s slowly begun getting her herb garden back in place. Bill’s in the garage, working on some new creation to carry on his daughter’s immortal spirit. And while he never knows what his next project will be, he knows exactly where the ideas come from.

“Mary is always the inspiration,” he says. “She’s always in the back of my ear.” — Matt Walker

WHAT A TOOL...

view

From what I hear, some car repair shops use a left-handed monkey wrench to make mischief. Growing up in restaurants on the VB strip, our favorite gag was the ol’ “Number 7 Oyster Brush.”

This is strictly a winter prank, you understand. Summers are way too busy for such foolishness. But on a slow January night, when the place was empty, with nary a butt cheek on any bar stools or a single chit hanging over the heat lamps — not even any headlights on Pacific Ave —  if we had a super green kid in the dish pit, instead of making him clean out the walk-in or scrub the grease trap, we’d put him in charge of lifting our spirits by sending him on the wildest of goose chases.

“Shit!” Big Jim the cook would say in a way-too-loud voice that let everyone know what was happening. “What the hell happened to our Number 7 Oyster Brush!?”

That was Old Spanky’s cue to stomp though the door, red face bristling, eyes glaring.

“Say what!?” the burley, bushy-haired GM would yell.

“I said our Number 7 Oyster Brush is gone!” Jim’d bluster, making a big show of rustling around a pile of spatulas and tongs, clanging metal and cursing in frustration. “I got the six, and the eight, but the seven’s AWOL!”

“Thievin’ bastards!’” Spanky’d spit. “I know we had it last week — who’d we loan it to?”

He’d stand there a sec, twisting his walrus-y mustache — “Coco Loco, maybe?” Then he’d turn to the New Kid, who by this point was doing his best to hide behind the Hobart.

“Yo! Kid!”

Gulp

“Run across the street and ask ’em for our Number 7 Oyster Brush. Snap to it! Before the 10-o-clock rush hits!”

No sooner did the newbie race out the door, sneakers squeaking, we’d ring up Coco Loco across the street.

“Heads up! We just sent the new kid over for a Number 7 Oyster Brush.”

Click

New Kid would show up in Coco Loco’s kitchen seconds later, winded and panicked, saying something like, “Pardon me sir, I work over at Pepper’s, and I’m here for an, um...Number 7 Oyster Brush?”

“Ohhh...,” somebody’d slowly reply — perhaps the line cook — drawing a long pause to make them sweat, maybe scratching their chin for effect. “We loaned it to the guys down at The Cave. Go ask them.”

So, New Kid would race back across 17th Street to the Cave, just to find out they’d given it to Worrell Brothers a few blocks away — who’d asked the Elbow Room to bring it back our way. And on it would go.

Thomas McGrady RPH We are a full-service pharmacy aimed at providing an extraordinary customer experience. Our goal is to aid in the health and wellness of every customer.

Prescription Filling

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Immunizations

Veterinary Medications

Blood Pressure Checks

Healthy Visits/Med Checks

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“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO OUR NUMBER 7 OYSTER BRUSH!?”

Together, we’d send the poor sap zigzagging from one dead bar to the next — cracking up backs of the house for blocks around — ‘til we ran out of options or he wised up and marched home shaking his head.

Some days they strolled in the back door laughing. Other days fuming. One dude quit on the spot. But if they stuck around long enough, one day, there’d be some other teenage sucker picking his butt while the rest of us polished stainless. And that former patsy would be the first to pipe up:

“Yo,

Jim! Where’s the Number 7 Oyster Brush?” — C. White

Art by Josh McCraw

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Forget your hands, ladies! Move them feet — and maybe throw some ’bows — at Kill Devil Derby Brigade’s Open Recruitment Nights! Just head to Aviation Park the first Tues. of every month, 6-8pm, to pick up roller derby skills from the likes of “P-Nut Butter ‘n Jam” and “Burnsy B. Blazin. ” No dollars or experience necessary — but loaner gear is limited — so please bring roller skates, knee pads, wrist guards, elbow pads, helmet, mouth guard, and water bottle. 18+. Weather dependent. Email TheKillDevilDerbyBrigade@gmail. com. for more. • Better have your head on a swivel for Elizabethan Garden’s WinterLights. This annual holiday fave turns all ten acres into a whirling swirl of radiant LEDs, festive décor and crackling open fires on select nights from Nov. 22 – Dec. 28. 6-9pm. On Nov. 24, save a buck — and support hungry neighbors — when Virginia Dare Night waives admission for Dare, Currituck, and Ocracoke Island residents who bring nonperishable donations for the Roanoke Island Food Pantry and provide proof of residency. Check the website for tix, deets and possible live entertainment. Reservations must be made online. Illuminating deets at www.elizabethangardens.org. • Got less scratch than ol’ Bob Cratchit? Sign up for a free Beach Food Pantry Holiday Meal. Just go to www.beachfoodpantry.org, scroll the home page to “How We Serve,” and click “Holiday Meals” for more info. (And if you’re rich as Ebenezer Scrooge, click the “Donate” button and feed ’em a few farthings.) • On Nov. 23, sample a smorgasbord of fancy flavors with your fellow man when Trio’s Annual Harvest Fest lines up seasonal wine, beer and cider, as well as cheese and charcuterie. 3-5pm. $40. Call 252-261-0277 to reserve your spot. • Secotan Market is serving up back-to-back chances to score a cornucopia of locally farmed items for your Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 23 & 27. After that, they cut back to opening the first and third Sat. of the month from Dec. through Apr. 9am-12pm. More at www. secotanmarket.com. • Need something special for many special someones? Soundside Holiday Markets offer three chances to shop 60+ vendors: Nov. 24, Dec. 1 & Dec. 15. 124pm. Plus, kids can meet Santa (1-3pm) and the Grinch (3-4pm). And on Dec .15, everyone’s favorite festive trio, the Tillett Sisters, will sing a seasonal hit parade from 1-3pm. See www.soundsidemarket.com for details. • Don’t stop splurging now! KDH’s First Flight Holiday Markets return to Aviation Park, Nov. 26 (4-7pm), Dec. 7 (10am-2pm), & Dec. 17 (4-7pm), promising another gaggle of locally made goods, from sweet treats to sick art to smelly candles. (The good kind of smelly.) Find updates on the Town of KDH

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Bump shoulders with the Kill Devil Derby Brigade every “First Tuesday” at Aviation Park.

Photo: Ed Tupper

Facebook page. • From Nov. 26-27, get an extra helping of history — and purchase freshly harvested produce — when Island Farms’ Garden to Hearth demonstrates how 1850s Roanoke Island families preserved vegetables and smoked mullets, plus other old-school ways to prep for winter. 9am-3pm. $10 for ages 4+. Educate yourself at www.obcinc.org • Or just load up on drinks and apps — while helping nourish the Outer Banks Relief Foundation — when the First Annual OBX Misfit Bars of Christmas Crawl lines up an oddball assortment of 15 “pop-up” holiday bars and eateries, such as Kill Devil Grill, Swells’a Brewing, Noosa Beach Grille, Lost Colony Brewery and more. Starts Nov. 26 and carries on ’til New Years. Find a full list of participants at www.misfitsobx.com. • Rather just run from one beer to the next? On Nov. 27, race to the Outer Banks Brewing Station’s Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile, where joggers chug 10 oz. drafts every quarter mile. Prizes for fastest times and most creative costume. Check in and pre-game from 1010:45am. Race at 11. More at www.obxrunning.com • Then pre-burn all those turkey helpings — while ducking annoying relatives for a few hours — by bolting north to Corolla’s Thanksgiving Day 5K/1-Mile at The Whalehead. Check-in/late registration: 6:30-7:45am. Fun Run starts at 7:55am; 5K at 8:15am. Dash over to www.obxrunning.com for deets. • Or mosey south to Hatteras Village for Nov. 28’s Annual Surfin’ Turkey 5K & Puppy Drum Fun Run, where folks are welcome to race at their own pace — or even run at home and submit times online. No matter what, proceeds benefit the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund. Learn more at www.hatterasyouth.com. • Ocracoke’s scheduled a run-chill-shop triathlon for Thanksgiving weekend. Starts with a 5K Turkey Trot on the morning of Nov. 28, followed by an evening Parade of Boats around Silver Lake on Nov. 29, followed by an all-day Holiday Gift Market on Nov. 30. Find complete deets at www.visitocracokenc. com. • The homegrown gift hunting opportunities continue at Cape Hatteras Secondary School, when the Hatteras Island Arts & Craft Guild Holiday Show decks the cinderblock halls with dozens of locally made items, Nov. 29-30. Get times and updates on Facebook • Quench your thirst for creative goods — and wash it down with tasty craft beer — when Outer Banks Brewing Station hosts Brew & Arts in the backyard, every Fri. evening from Nov. 29- Dec. 20. 4-7pm. And every Sat. in Dec., the kids can meet and greet Frozen’s Anna & Elsa (while you cozy up to an ice-cold Olsch). 12-2pm. Hop over to www.obbrewing.com for more. • Then, from out on the beach road and bypass there arose so much clatter, we sprang from our beds...to discover the return of 12 Bars of Christmas! This year’s collection of cleverly named taverns and toasty times runs from Nov. 29-Dec. 31 — and includes everyone from “Goombrrrs” to “Poor Rudolph’s” — offering holidayinspired drinks and food for adults, plus a Passport Challenge to benefit local charities. Find participants, pop-up markets and themed parties at www.12barsofchristmas.com. • Then get the philate-ist on lickable collectibles when the Outer Banks Stamp Club meets the second Sun. of every month at the Grace Lutheran Church in Nags Head. 2:305:00pm. • On Nov. 29, Historic Corolla Park’s 9th Annual Christmas Craft Village fills the Whalehead lawn with sacks full of locally made wares for choosy adults — while fidgety kids enjoy free pony rides and a petting zoo. 11am-4pm. And the magical shopping experiences continue every Fri. & Sat., Nov. 29-Dec. 21, as Historic Corolla Village transforms into Corolla Christmas Village — a winter wonderland of hot cocoa and heartwarming holiday décor. 5-8pm. And if you think that sounds nostalgic, you should check out Whalehead’s Candlelight Christmas Tour. From Nov. 29-Dec. 21, Fri. & Sat. evenings offer a chance to revisit the 1920’s mansion’s vintage ways, including carols and a live piano on their one-of-a-kind Steinway. 5-6pm. $20. Tours sell out quickly, so call 252-453-9040 to reserve your spot. Travel to www.visitcurrituck.com for more. • Then chill with the North Pole’s coolest resident, Nov. 29-30, when Kitty Hawk Kites’ Hangin’ with Santa posts up at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. Kids can share lists and shoot selfies with Kris Kringle on Fri. (10am-2pm) and Sat. (1-4pm), while test driving potential toys. And on Nov. 30, fly over to the big dune from 4-7pm, as Kites With Lights illuminates all sorts of flying fabric in festive

Donations will benefit the Dare County Youth Orchestra

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 The Sting (1973)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Do the Right Thing (1989)

SUNDAY, MARCH 2 What’s Up Doc? (1972) SUNDAY, MARCH 9 Much Ado About Nothing (1993) All films start at 4:00 pm R/C Kill Devil Hills Movies 10 803 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills

Tickets $10 Available January 1, 2025 Tickets are limited to 80 for each screening so get your tickets early

LED displays, and the Jockey’s Ridge State Park Solar Christmas crackles to life at 5pm. (PS: be sure to help keep preserving our favorite sand pile by buying cocoa and cookies to support the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge.) Learn more at www.kittyhawk.com. • Just wanna knock out your gift list as quickly as possible? And maybe score some free goodies? On Nov. 30, the Outer Banks Entrepreneurs’ 12th Annual Holiday Bazaar fills Nags Head’s Comfort Inn South with 50 vendors’ worth of dazzling products, crafts, and services — then hands out door prizes throughout the day. 9am-5pm. More at www.obellc. com • Or stretch out the shopping fun — and support local food makers and artisans — over three Dowdy Park Holiday Markets: Nov. 30 (9am-12pm); Dec. 5 (5-7pm); and Dec. 14 (9am-12pm). Then feel the spirit of the season, free of charge, at Nov. 30’s Tree Lighting With Santa (5-7pm) and Dec. 11’s Candy Cane Hunt (5pm). Follow their Facebook page for details. • Just want to eat (a lot), drink (plenty) and be extra merry? Head to Sanctuary Vineyards’ Big Currishuck, Nov. 30, where AYCE steamed oysters, crabs, BBQ and sides — plus live music, bouncy hay rides and delicious wine samples — add up to a decadent day of epicurean delights. 11:30am-4:30pm. More at www.sanctuaryvineyards.com. • Kids get five chances to break bread with the season’s biggest benefactor at Blue Moon’s Dine with Santa: Nov. 30 (12-2pm); Dec. 5 (5-7pm); Dec. 7 (12-2pm); Dec. 12 (5-7pm); and Dec. 15 (12-2pm.) Meanwhile adults get four weekly chances to drink cheap all winter, thanks to Customer Appreciation Nights’ half-price beverages, whether it’s bottles of wine (Mon. & Wed.) or draft beers (Thurs. & Sun.). And music lovers can feast their ears on free live tunes thrice weekly, thanks to Bryan Campbell

(Mon.) Brad Privott (Fri.) and The Bar Cats (Sun.). 5-8pm. (Make reservations and find details at www.bluemoonbeachgrill.com.) • On Dec. 1, Currituck Light Station celebrates 149 years of brightening the coast by generously letting folks climb for free from 11am4pm. (PS: It’s also the last day they’re open ’til Mar. 22, so get to steppin!) More at www.obcinc.org. • But Hatteras Village Park’s Holiday Trail Light Extravaganza is just getting started! From Dec. 1-Jan. 4, dash down to Seabreeze Trail and enjoy a wondrous mix of natural beauty and glowing displays. Illuminate yourself further at www.hatterasonmymind.com. • What is this!? A fishing structure? Or an office space? Either way, Jennette’s Pier goes back to “regular business hours” from Dec. 2-Mar. 28, so you’ll have to do your thing between 9am and 5pm. More at www.jennettespier.net. • Gasping for air financially? The Community Care Clinic of Dare and Food Bank of the Albemarle offer Free Food Distribution Events the first and third Mon. of every month. Just head to 425 Health Center Drive in Nags Head by 2pm to get your randomly assigned number. Groceries flow from 2:30-3:30pm. (Or until supplies last.) Meanwhile, the clinic will continue to provide free and discounted medical and dental care for needy residents at their Nags Head location — by appointment only, Mon.-Fri., 9am-2pm. Or see the Frisco Clinic the 2nd Thursday of every month, from 9am-1pm. To learn about financial eligibility and to schedule a visit, go to www.dareclinic.org. • The bad news? On Dec. 3, Trio will close the restaurant and bar at 3pm. The great news? At 5pm, they throw open the doors on their Annual Holiday Market, where local vendors sell unique items — and the staff serves up one-of-a kind drink and food specials. More at www.obxtrio.com. • Fans

Jockey’s Ridge’s Solar Christmas Tree comes to life, Nov. 30. Photo: Wes Snyder

of Mother Earth team up to discuss pressing issues — while holding the occasional draft — when OBX Green Drinks brings leading local experts to Waverider’s Coffee, Deli, & Market, Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, & Mar. 13. Keep tabs on speakers and topics at www.nccoast. org.

• Rather commune with nature directly? From Dec. 6-8, Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival’s Encore Session enlists top bird nerds to lead tours and walks from Pea Island to Alligator River to Lake Mattamuskeet, all to support the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society. More at www.wingsoverwater.org. • Or just take a hike through Nags Head Woods, where cooler weather draws various migratory birds. Just be mindful of elusive predators, like the “Orange-Vested Archer.” That’s right, in order to maintain a healthy deer population, Bow Hunting Season runs until Jan. 1, 2025 — with an extended season from Jan. 11-Feb. 16 — so stick to the designated trails. (Or risk getting stuck.) Find maps at www.nature.org/nhw.

• Wanna see musket fire? Maybe get shot by a Civil War photographer? On Dec. 6-7, head to Island Farm’s Christmas Past, where historic interpreters relive holiday traditions from 1850s Roanoke Island, and guests enjoy making candles, ornaments and wreaths, savor cookies and cider — and perhaps get a visit from a vintage St. Nick — while portrait photographer Chris Morgan uses wet-plate collodion methods to capture it all. 2-7pm. Ages 4+, $10. More at www.obcinc.org. • From Dec. 6-7, Downtown Manteo does its best Norman Rockwell impression by creating a colorful weekend of oldschool holiday spirit. It all starts with Fri. evening’s Town of Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting, where the streets brim with festive carols, hot cocoa, cookies, and reindeer games from 6-8pm, while Mrs. Claus reads ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and Santa sparks a huge conifer. (PS: head to the Dare Arts Courtyard to hear the Tillett Sisters trio play holiday hits, then step inside to see photography by Ocracoke’s Robert Chestnut

before Dec. 21.) And come Sat. morning, the Town of Manteo Christmas Parade draws a dizzying procession of revelers, from marching bands to Lost Colony actors — capped off with the Fat Man himself riding a firetruck. 10:30am start. Find route and specifics at www. manteonc.gov. • Then march over to 108 Budleigh to buy tickets for the Manteo Preservation Trust’s 17th Holiday Tour of Homes on Dec.7. From 1-6pm, stroll a curated selection of Roanoke Island’s most culturally and architecturally distinct abodes, all decked out in festive décor. Advance tix and details at www.manteopreservationtrust.com. • Feeling festive — but got tired feet? Hit Duck the Halls: A Duck Christmas Crawl! On Fri. & Sat. evenings between Dec. 6-21, golf cart shuttles will serve as electrified sleighs from Scarborough Lane to the Waterfront Shops to Aqua and back, letting folks eat, drink and shop without breaking a sweat — unless it’s the “meat sweats.” (Or credit card stress.) Do the full route, win a special prize. 5-8pm. Follow social media for updates. • On Dec. 7, families pour into Town Park for Duck’s Yuletide Celebration for a visit from Santa, games and live music, and the lighting of the Crabpot Tree. 3-5pm. Then, on Dec. 12, Duck Church is the hotspot for a 6pm Holiday Concert by Elizabeth City State University Choir. And if you just want to bask in some creative spirit, pop into Town Hall any Mon.-Fri. by Jan. 22 — 9am-4:30pm — to enjoy the latest Rotating Art Show: Oil Paintings by Rick Nilson. (Holidays excluded, of course.) More at www.townofduck.com. • Hoping to give Hatteras Island some extra sparkle? On Dec. 7, join the NC Beach Buggy Association at Ramp 23 for an Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup from 9am-12pm. More at www.ncbba.org. • Afterward, make a pit stop at Swells’a Brewing for Dec. 7’s 39th Annual Starving Artist Party, where every work sold helps feed a one-of-a-kind Outer Banks creator. (PS: Come back every “first Saturday” to see which local genius will decorate the brewery’s walls for that month.) Follow

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@swellsa_brewing for the latest. • Having trouble channeling the Christmas spirit? Dial into Theatre of Dare’s “radio drama” production of Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, where a young girl expresses her doubts to a local paper, a struggling reporter looks for answers — and everyone rejoices in the end. Dec. 7, 12, 13 & 14 at 7:30pm; Dec. 8 & 15 at 2pm. Get tix at www.theatreofdareobx.com. • Then, on Dec. 8, tune into a free Bryan Cultural Series Christmas Concert at Nags Head’s St. Andrews By-The-Sea, where a TBD college orchestra will set the mood for many more days of merriment — and every donation supports the Dare County Youth Orchestra. Learn more at www. bryanculturalseries.com. • Or truck across the bypass to Grace Lutheran Church, where Dec. 8.’s Grateful Friends Benefit Concert will support Room in the Inn’s sheltering program for housing-insecure individuals on the Outer Banks. 4pm. Call 252-955-0706 for details. • You won’t find a merrier mosh pit than Goombay’s on Dec. 13, when KDH Punk presents Santa Can’t Surf, where Good Cretins, The Sikniks, The Clawbacks, Live Nude Surfers, and M-60 crank out the power chords to provide presents for l’il locals in need. Just bring a brand-new toy — or cash for the cause. Suggested donation and times TBD. For updates, follow @goombaysgrilleobx. • Cooped-up rugrats causing a ruckus? Haul ’em north to Corolla’s Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education Auditorium, Dec.1314, for twice-daily showings of the animated Christmas classic, The Polar Express: 3pm & 6:30pm. Admission is free, but you still need a ticket — just like the movie — so reserve your spot as www.visitcurrituck.com. • And Kris Kringle’s got a busy day Down South, Dec. 14. He starts the day meeting and feasting with fans at the Hatteras Village Civic Center’s Breakfast with Santa. (8-11:30am. Adults: $16; Kids: $8; 4-and-under: free.) Then at 2pm, he hops aboard the Hatteras Village Christmas Parade, where the community lines NC 12 for a procession of festive, candy-flinging floats — weather permitting — followed by an awards ceremony filled with hot chocolate and cookies. For more information, email hatterasevents@yahoo.com or go to www.hatterasonmymind.com. • And the sweet times continue at Dare County Airport, Dec. 14-15, with the return of the Candy Bomber! The fun starts Sat. at 9am, when the public can tour the classic WWII cargo plane. On Sun., show up by 12:30pm as the pilot pays tribute to Berlin Airlift hero Gail Halvorsen by parachuting chocolate bars to the kids below. And afterward, everyone heads inside for refreshments with Santa Claus. Want to help the cause? Send donations to Manteo Candy Drop, P.O. Box 1226, Manteo, NC, 27954. • On Dec.17, join a squadron of aviation enthusiasts at Wright Brothers National Memorial as they celebrate the 121st Anniversary of the Powered Flight with speeches and ceremonies starting at 9am —

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Girls, guns and oyster guts make Old Christmas great on Hatteras Island, Jan. 4.

Photo: Daniel Pullen

including the 10:35am flyover — and everyone enjoys free admission all day long. (Courtesy of the National Park Service.) Find a full itinerary at www.wrightbrothersday.org.

• Make sure Cindy Lou Who’s fast asleep before you slip over to Outer Banks Brewing Station’s Naughty or Nice Party on Dec. 20, where the Grinch plays a nasty, wasty master-of-ceremonies, DJs keep folks shaking their ringtinglers, and cash prizes guarantee an eyebrow curling display of wonderful, awful costume ideas.10:30pm-2am. More at www.obbrewing.com. • Holiday! Shell-a-brate! That’s how the 3rd Annual Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival rolls on Dec. 20-21. Starts Fri. with a poolside concert by Raygun Ruby at the KOA Resort from 5:30-9:30pm. Come Sat., the Shuck Town Art Market fills the grounds with artists and vendors starting at 1pm, and bands like Hot Sauce, Shade, Pspspsps, and Howell & Caswell play all the way ’til 10pm — all free of charge — plus the Oyster Cook-off Challenge from 1-3:30pm. But the real pearl of the party is the 3pm AYCE Oyster Roast where a small fee lets folks feast past dark — and proceeds benefit the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. $30 in advance; $40 day-of. Crack their Facebook page for all the salty tidbits. • Then be young, be foolish, be happy, when beach music legends The Tams shag their way into the Pioneer Theater, Dec. 22. 7pm start. Tix and deets at www.thepioneertheater.com • Still ain’t finished shopping? Better shake your tail over to the KDH Co-Operative Art Gallery’s Annual Holiday Man Sale on Dec.24, where favorite local creative types help clueless dudes select one-of-a-kind gifts every Christmas Eve — so they don’t wake up in the doghouse on Dec. 25. 10am-2pm. Peruse their list of a-list artists at www.obxlocalart.com. • “This booze ain’t gonna drink itself!” That’s why you gotta be at the Swells’a Duck Dive Kill The Bar Party, Dec. 27, where all the drinks will be half off — and Bar Jay Bar & Friends’ honky-tonk tunes will go full-tilt. Keep tabs on Instagram for updates. • Some traditions never get tired. Like Dec. 31’s 35th Annual Tortuga’s Lie New Year’s Unofficial Fun Run. No fees. No signups. No clock. Just bring a flashlight so you can see, a watch if you’re sweatin’ times — and be ready to run at 10pm sharp. Follow Facebook for updates. • Prefer to bridge the years with an enchanting meal to last the ages? Reserve a spot at Trio’s New Year’s Eve Dinner, where wine and cuisine — friends and atmosphere — all magically align to glide into 2025. Call 252-261-0277 for details and reservations. • Too tame for your tastes? Bust a move to Outer Banks Brewing Station’s New Year’s Celebration! Deets were still TBD at press time, but you can bet on three things: a packed dancefloor of boogying types; live bands or a DJ (or both); and a balloon drop and champagne toast when the clock smashes 12am. Keep tabs on www.obbrewing.com for an official lineup. • Or make it a family affair at Midnight Magic in Manteo, where moms and dads stroll the social district sipping libations and watching live music, while rugrats run nuts in the Kids Zone, and everyone converges to watch fireworks light-up the waterfront. Find all the colorful deets at www. manteonc.gov. • New year. New changes. Starting Jan. 1, the Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center will cut their days down to Sat. & Sun. But come Apr. 15, they’re back open from Tues.-Sun. 10am-5pm. Stay up to date by visiting www. nativeamericanmuseum.org • Ready to pack a couple tasty bowls? Head to Sanctuary Vineyards any Sat. in Jan., where Chowder and Chill(i) serves up two smoking styles of soup — plus cornbread and a glass of wine and plenty of live music — all for just $30. 123pm. Get the full scoop at www.sanctuaryvineyards.com. • Wait! The holidays ain’t over yet — at least Down South. On Jan. 4, Old Christmas returns to the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center. Back in the day, you might see two old salts settle grudges the oldfashioned way. Today, the family-friendly fun includes dinner, Santa, and live music. But the wild times continue with a 1pm “oyster shoot,” and, if you’re lucky, you still might meet Old Buck. Follow www.islandfreepress.com for updates. • The good-time community gatherings continue in town at Dowdy Park Winter Markets! Come out the second Sat. of every month — Jan. 11; Feb. 8; Mar. 8; and Apr. 12 — to find unique, local wares and lots of friendly faces. 9am-12pm. See Facebook for the freshest news. • Then it’s time to shop for our next homegrown superstar, when OBX Got Talent returns to the Pioneer Theater. SATURDAY

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Solo artists, duets and trios can try out Jan. 11, before judges whittle down contestants via two concerts, Jan. 25 and Feb. 22. After that, Mar. 29’s Grand Finale will reveal a winner. Learn more and sign-up at www.thepioneertheater.com. • Need some green for your environmental degree? Bread for culinary school? Copper for welding class? Online applications for Outer Banks Community Foundation Scholarships stand ready to help any local grad carry on after high school. Study up on what funds are available at www.obcf. org, then apply between Jan. 13-Feb. 21. • Just plan on marrying rich? Bring your significant sugar-other — and their checkbook — to the 2025 Outer Banks Wedding Weekend and Expo. From Jan. 18-19, explore all the sweetest vendors and venues in a single weekend (without breaking the bank). Get pricing and deets at www.obxwa.com. • On Jan. 18, go “behind the music” with Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts, as Evening in the Round invites super-hot Nashville songwriters Linda Davis, Lang Scott and Bill White to share songs, stories and humor with a downhome appeal. 7:30pm at First Flight High. Tix and deets at www.outerbanksforum.org. • Need more banjo? Bluegrass Island Nights will twang up Roanoke Island Festival Park’s Indoor Theater once a month with: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Jan. 25); Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (Feb. 22); The Malpass Brothers (Mar. 29); and Shadowgrass (Apr. 26). Doors open at 6:30pm; shows start at 7pm. More at www.bluegrassisland.com. • On Jan. 31, get twice the number of tinkling ivories when Dueling Pianos: A Night of Harmony and Giving comes to 108 Budleigh. This semi-formal Dare Education Foundation fundraiser pits two pianists in a battle of the songbooks — covering artists from Buffett to Metallica — to orchestrate extra dollars for our students, teachers, and schools. 6-10pm. 21+. Find the score at www.dareeducationfoundation.org. • Then watch Theatre of Dare take a whack at soundtracking history with Lizzie: The Rock Musical, where they not only tell the story of America’s most infamous 19th century axe murderer — Lizzie Borden — but they slice and dice through her possible motives. Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 6, 7 & 8 at 7:30pm. Feb. 2 & 9 at 2pm. Tix and deets at www.theatreofdareobx.com • Kick back and enjoy a Sun. matinee when the Don & Catherine Bryan Cultural Foundation Film Series brings four masterpieces to R/C Kill Devil Hills Movies 10: The Sting (Feb. 2); Do the Right Thing (Feb. 23); What’s Up Doc? (Mar. 2); & Much Ado About Nothing (Mar. 9) — then adds insights from ECSU prof Dr. Chris Palestrant. 4pm. $10 tix go on sale in Jan. More at www.bryanculturalseries.org. • Got silver hair? Want shiny medals? Registration for spring’s 2025 Dare County Senior Games runs from Feb. 3-Mar. 21. Categories run from swimming to bowling to pickleball — of course — and the games don’t start until Apr. 28, so you got time to train. Fill yourself in at www.darenc.gov/seniorgames • Then stay tickled pink over spring flowers when Elizabethan Gardens Camelia Tours run every Tues., Thurs., & Sat. in Feb. 10am & 2pm. More at www.elizabethangardens.org. • On Feb. 7, help celebrate a half-century of homegrown color when Dare Arts’ 50th Anniversary year kicks off with opening receptions for two dazzling displays: upstairs, it’s the latest installment of our county’s longest-running visual exhibit, the 47th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show; downstairs, a Dare Arts Traveling Retrospective will share

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From Feb. 7 to Mar. 1, Dare Arts celebrates a half-century of Outer Banks creativity with two fresh exhibits in Manteo: the 47th Frank Stick Memorial Art Show and the Dare Arts 50th Anniversary Traveling Retrospective. Portrait of Frank Stick by David Beal.

the organization’s origins, events, all-stars, and programs. Both receptions start at 6pm; both exhibits remain on display through Mar. 1. And both are just the beginning of many birthday events to come this year — including a Mar. 22 workshop with North Carolina’s Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. Find all the finer details at www.darearts.org. • Wanna work up a sweat with your sweetie, then bask in the afterglow while sipping vino? Dash to Sanctuary Vineyards 9th Annual Love on the Run 5K Run/Walk, where the climax includes a Valentine’s Day themed afterparty, two drink tix, a bottle of wine, and a souvenir glass. 9am-1pm. Make a move to www. obxrunning.com for more. • Kids see straight into the heart of our galaxy, Feb. 8, when Starry Nights brings the Morehead Science Center’ Portable Planetarium to Hatteras Community Building & Fire Station, along with space-themed snacks, crafts, and games. (1:30-4:30pm). Then, from 5-6:30pm, travel to the Civic Center for soup and bread, before heading out to the beach for detailed exploration of our actual night sky. More at www.hatterasonmymind. com. • On Feb. 15, crackin’ shells feeds the NC Coastal Federation’s coffers when the Hatteras Island Oyster Fest returns to Oden’s Dock. From 1-4pm, enjoy briny bivalves, clam chowder, cornbread — and a bake sale — plus live music and a silent auction. Tix available early Jan., but they get gobbled fast, so dig in ASAP. More at www.nccoast.org. • Still got an appetite for coastal culture? Dive down to the Hatteras Village Waterfowl Festival, Feb. 22-23, where Fri. evening’s Fin, Feather and Bourbon Social pairs delectable seafood with smoky spirits. ($75/person.) Come Sat., flocks of bird fans fly in for a free day of decoy carvers, artists and vendors — plus a live raptor show, duck calling competition and more. Deets at www. hatterasonmymind.com. • On Feb. 22, let world-class entertainer Steve Lippia guide you through a catalog of classic crooners like Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and Frank Sinatra, when Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts brings Simply Swingin’ to First Flight High. 7:30pm. Tix, deets and more at www. outerbanksforum.org.• On Mar. 1, Sanctuary Vineyards’ Cajun Occasion spices up Mardis Gras with a gumbo of bayou-inspired cuisine and live music by Just Playin’ Dixieland. 12-4pm. Find tasty deets at www.sanctuaryvineyards.com. • Then get a head start on St. Paddy’s Day by racing in Mar. 15’s Running of the Leprechauns 5K/10K. The race begins at 8am at Nags Head’s Satterfield Park — and tops it all off with an after-party full of Irish stew. (And beer, of course.) Register at www.obxse.com. • And on Mar. 16, line up on the Beach Road before 1pm, as the 2025 Kelly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade puts on a mile-long display of Irish pride — and local spirit — starring everything from lifted trucks to local pols. Even better, this year’s Grand Marshal is the biggest Outer Banks legend of all — Jockey’s Ridge State Park — as they honor the 50th birthday of our favorite sand dune with special floats and events. Follow Facebook for updates. • And finally, save room on your calendar for the spring’s favorite foodie events. From Apr. 4-6, Outer Banks Taste of The Beach 2025 will serve up everything from taps tours and beer tastings to chowder cook-offs. (Watch www.obxtasteofthebeach.com for tix and deets to pop-up by Mar.) And the Lost Colony Wine & Culinary Festival is fixin’ to fill the waterside theatre with tasty wonders, Apr. 12. Dig in at www.tlcwinefest.com.

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