June 25th, 2021

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WALKABOUTS FOR THE ISLANDS COASTOBX.COM

Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

JUNE 25, 2021

Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

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Best Selection of Swimwear on the Beach!

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2000 S. Croatan Hwy., KDH

252.441.5338

Monteray Plaza, 801 Ocean Trail, Corolla

252.453.4862

Scarborough Ln Shoppes, 1171 Duck Rd, Duck

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3 Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

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Coastal Lifestyle Outfitters Huge Selection of Bogg Bags

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COROLLA 812 Ocean Trail Hwy 12 across from Food Lion Center 252.453.9116

DUCK 1180 Duck Road Lower Hwy 12 on the Soundside 252.261.4828

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NAGS HEAD 6803 S. Croatan Hwy. Milepost 16 Highway 158 252.441.3977

HATTERAS 58848 Marina Way Ferry Docks in Hatteras Landing

252.986.9970

Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Locally Sourced Seafood Steamer Dinners Salads, Sides, and Dips Steamed Shrimp & Crabs (252) 441-8808 | 101 Grey Eagle St. | Nags Head whaleboneseafood.com

The old Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station at Pea Island.

Put on the deep tracks Tribute bands and cover songs bring classic rock legends to Duck and Hatteras Island. PAGE 11

An Outer Banks walkabout Explore the nature trails, waterside boardwalks and multiuse paths that show off maritime forests, national seashore and wildlife refuges stretching from Corolla to Ocracoke. PAGE 8

We could all use a little

beach time.

OUTER BANKS VACATION RENTALS & REAL ESTATE SALES

Whether you are looking for the perfect place to vacation or seeking to invest in your own Outer Banks beach house, we offer unprecedented service in making your experience the best it can be. Kick off your shoes and stay a while!

Island food trucks Not all towns on the Outer Banks allow food trucks, but Hatteras Island is home to several that are revolutionizing the dining scene with international street food and eastern N.C. classics.

PAGE 5

ABOUT COAST COAST covers the people, places and characteristics that make the Outer Banks a beach destination for families, surfers and anglers from around the world. For more than 30 years, this publication has featured individuals making a difference in the community, highlighted the latest happenings and shared events that shouldn’t be missed – from live music to theatrics, food festivities, art shows, fishing, surfing, and more.

All local. All the time.

This is COAST.

joelambjr.com • joelambrealty.com • 800-552-6257

EDITOR Hannah Lee Leidy hlleidy252@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carrie Brothers, Dave Fairbank, John Harper, Sam Harris, Daryl Law, Maggie Miles, Mary Ellen Riddle ADVERTISE WITH US Find out how you can engage more readers with an integrated marketing program.

John“Ski”Miller, media sales manager, ski.miller@ virginiamedia.com; Elizabeth Catoe, senior account executive, elizabeth.catoe@ virginiamedia.com

THINGS TO KNOW During the summer season (May-August), when Coast is a weekly publication, information must be submitted at least 10 days in advance of an event.

During the shoulder season (September-October), when Coast is a monthly publication — with the exception of November-December and January-February, when two months are combined —information must be submitted at least 14 days in advance of an event.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information, visit coastobx.com; facebook.com/CoastOBX

5

OUTER BANKS ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS SHOP...SINCE 1967

It’s not just a store...It’s an experience!

Voted #1 Christmas Shop in North Carolina

Sharky’s BBQ & Seafood’s brightly painted truck pays homage to its island home. Try their popular pulled pork barbecue seasoned with their house-made sauce. CARRIE BROTHERS/ CORRESPONDENT

By Carrie Brothers

Correspondent

Sharky’s BBQ & Seafood Situated on the north end of Rodanthe is the island’s newest food truck. Serving just dinner, Sharky’s offers plenty of seafood along with freshly prepared pulled pork seasoned with their special hybrid sauce. While their core menu is small, they offer specials every day and always post them on their social media pages.. Past specials have included seafood tacos, chicken nachos, buffalo shrimp

pita, BBQ loaded fries and their crowd-pleasing homemade mac and cheese. In a hurry to catch the sunset over the sound? Call ahead, and they’ll even run it out to your car.

Where: 23532 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe Hours: 4-9p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Closed Sunday & Monday Info: 252-305-0656; Sharky’s BBQ & Seafood Facebook page

Taqueria Las Ahumaderas Located in a soundside parking lot on Highway 12 in Rodanthe, this brightly painted yellow truck offers a mouthwatering menu of authentic Mexican street food and fresh seafood, all served with a smile.

Family run and operated, Taqueria Las Ahumaderas was the first food truck to set up shop on the island. Like all food trucks, especially on this island, sometimes a busy

day or bad weather means they have to close early, so you can call ahead if you don’t want to wait by the water for your food.

Where: 24594 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday and Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday Thursday, Saturday-Sunday Info: 252-548-9145; Taqueria Las Ahumaderas Facebook Page

Anchor Grill Anchor Grill serves up local goods and a free show from their spot next to the Pamlico Sound in Rodanthe’s Camp Hatteras campground. Chef Jim and his sidekick John draw attention with the truck’s fresh seafood, huge sandwiches, tacos, burritos and daily specials. Ever had a Pirates P’Tachos? This unique dish is all your favorite aspects of

loaded nachos piled on top of waffle fries and topped with pineapple slaw and sriracha cream cheese. Online ordering coming soon.

Where: 24798 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.

Thursday-Tuesday; Closed Wednesday Info: 252-564-4869; anchorgrillrodanthe. com

Stu’s Food Truck Located right at the entrance to the Avon Pier, Stu’s Food Truck is the perfect place to stop for breakfast on your way to catch some fish. Menu items include just-made biscuits and gravy, biscuit sandwiches and a variety of loaded breakfast tacos. Not a morning person?

Stu’s has you covered with lunch options like

North Carolina barbecue and hot dogs.

Where: 40396 N.C. Highway 12, Avon (at the Avon Pier) Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Closed Sunday & Monday Info: 252-242-0674; Stu’s Food Truck Facebook page

Old World Glass Byers’ Choice Carolers Possible Dream Santas Ginger Cottages

Christopher Radko Snowbabies Jim Shore Fontanini

Karen Didion Originals Hollywood Nutcrackers Disney Ornaments LED Lights

Visit Our General Store Candy, Fudge, Coffee & Delights Galore • Remember your visit to the Outer Banks with a personalized ornament • Browse among our Thousands of Ornaments Table Top - Home Decor • Jewelry - Engraved Gifts Halloween Haunted House On the way to the NC Aquarium, Festival Park & Lost Colony.

Hwy 64 in Manteo on Roanoke Island

252.473.2838 • OuterBanksChristmas.com OPEN DAILY AT 9:30 A.M.

Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

HATTERAS HOT LIST ISLAND FOOD TRUCKS

Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

6

TOP 10 EVENTS JUNE 25 - JULY 1

By Dave Fairbank Correspondent

Music: Bryan Campbell | June 2 7 Rundown Café, 5218 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, 6-9 p.m.

Sports/Camps: Coastal Soccer School | June 28-July 1 602 Mustian St., Kill Devil Hills, 9 a.m. to noon daily, 1½ or 3-hour sessions Outdoors: Family Fishing | June 28-July 1 Jennette’s Pier, 7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head; Family Fishing 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Camp, 9-11 a.m.

Music: The Wilder Brothers | June 28 Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills, 6-9 p.m.

Wellness: Free Beach Yoga | June 30 OceanBayBoulevardbeachaccess, Milepost8,KillDevilHills,6:30-7:30a.m.

Info: 252-449-4529 Music: Jeremy & the Generations | June 30 Fish Heads Bar and Grill, Outer Banks Fishing Pier, MP 18.5, S. Nags Head, 8-11 p.m.

$3.99

Daily Breakfast Specials 7 am - 2 pm

Luke Owens of Caroline County poses with a pinfish he during Family Fishing at Jennette’s Pier.

JENNETTE’S PIER

Music: Cole and Marianne | June 30 Roadside Bar & Grill, 1193 Duck Road, Duck, 7-10 p.m.

Races: Nags Head Village 5K/1 mile Race Series | July 1 Behind Outer Banks Mall, Nags Head, corner S. Links Drive and W. Seachase Drive, 8-10 a.m.

Markets: Dowdy Park Farmer’s Market | July 1 3005 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Music: Acoustic Sunset at Sanctuary Vineyards w/ Kyle Folsom | July 1 6957 Caratoke Highway, Jarvisburg, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Nags Head Village 5K_1 Mile Road Race Series. OBX RUNNING COMPANY

Look what Jolly’s doing this season!

June

2021 Events and Specials!

Karaoke Nightly with Hambone from 9 pm - midnight!

RESTAURANT & BAR

Gov’ment Cheeze on Thursday, June 3rd and 25th and Saturday, June 12th and 19th from 6 pm - 9 pm!

KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC

CALL FOR GREAT SPECIALS NIGHTLY

Pub Menu Specials Daily 4:00 - 6:30 (Dine In Bar Only)! 25¢ Shrimp • 99¢ Ribs • 79¢ Wings Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

1/2 PRICE BLOODY MARY’S AND MIMOSAS

Look for

$2 MUG

Breakfast

Discounts and

Free Dinner Coupons Great Drink Specials All Day!

Watch NASCAR with US Great Drink Specials NTN Poker Tournament 5 pm

in the Visitors Guide and Restaurant Guide Wii Bowling Tournament 6 pm

AND

$2 Wine ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT TILL CLOSING!

Wednesday

Temporarily Closed...

Help Wanted

TED

WAN

BRING Locals YOUR Sign up for OWN MUG! Birthday UP TO 16OZ

Club

Live Trivia Complimentary and Musical Dinner the month of your Bingo

6-8:30 pm

Birthday Also, a free Dessert!

Thursday

Friday

Lobster Mania!

NTN Poker

Tournament Live Music 6-8 5-7 pm

Visit our Gift Shop!

We also sell homemade italian, chocolate chip, and peanut butter cookies!

Saturday

10oz

Prime Rib

$15.95 w/seafood

$19.95

Best on the Beach!

Shrimp & Grits

$15.95

APPETIZER Lobster tail or claw

$8.95 LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE Macaroni and lobster smothered in a 3 cheese pancetta sauce topped w/sliced tomatoes and seasoned bread crumbs served with 2 lobster claws

$19.95 TWO 1LB LOBSTERS

FATHER’S DAY SPECIALS

★ Free Gift for Dad at Breakfast & Lunch ★ After 4:00 pm, Dads get 50% OFF one dinner entrée listed below, if accompanied by family:

served with baked potato and cole slaw

$29.95

441-6530 • www.jollyrogerobx.com • MP 6 3/4 Beach Road, KDH

ITALIAN SPECIALTIES

Veal Marsala $17.99 • Oysters $19.99 Fettuccini Alfredo with Shrimp $21.99 Catch Of The Day (Market Price) Chicken Saltimbocca $17.99 Lasagna $15.99 • Manicotti alla Bolognese $17.99 Ravioli $13.99 • Chicken Parmesan $15.99 Spaghetti & Meatballs $15.99 Blackened Chicken Carbonara $18.99

Dinner Specials Start at 4 pm

STEAK EXTRAVAGANZA (served w/2 sides)

Prime Rib 10 oz $25.99 Beef & Reef - Prime Rib with 6 Shrimp $28.99 Rib-Eye Steak $25.99 Locals! - Nightly 20% OFF Dinner w/ Local ID

Locals! - Mon-Fri 20% OFF Lunch w/ Local ID

7 Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

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First Friday at Downtown Books...

Suzanne Tate Book Signing Friday July 2 5-7pm

The Bird Store

Oceanfront & Open Year Round at 11:30 AM

The Outer Banks Wildlife Art Gallery

Specializing in Catering Services for Weddings & Events Fresh Seafood

Steaks

Vegetarian

Kids Menu

We carry over 75 artists, and specialize in Outer Banks wildlife! Pelicans, shorebirds, herons, ducks, songbirds and wildlife carvings, seashore paintings and prints, lighthouse art, gifts, cards, and all styles of decoys - antique and decorative.

Our 35th year!

Sandwiches Wood Fired Gourmet Pizzas Homemade Desserts Full Service Bar

Outside Dining with Ocean Views

Wright Brothers Were Here MP 4.5 Beach Road, Kitty Hawk 252-261-3171 - blackpelican.com

252.480.2951

WWW.THEBIRDSTOREOBX.COM THEBIRDSTOREOBX@GMAIL.COM Oceanfront, Kitty Hawk • NC

MP 8.5 ON HWY 158 BYPASS (1/2 MILE SOUTH OF WRIGHT MEMORIAL) KILL DEVIL HILLS

8

By Carrie Brothers Correspondent

Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

V

isitors to the Outer Banks know all about the pristine beaches and fishing, surfing and kayaking. Less known, though, are the hikes and strolls through the vibrant and diverse ecosystems blanketing these ribbons of sand. Breathtaking natural environments surround some towns’ commercial centers.

In other areas, acres of preserved maritime forest teem with countless plant species and diverse, and often, rare or endangered wildlife.

The best part? The miles and miles of accessible walking trails and boardwalks lead you right into the heart of it.

Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve

Hiking the Outer Banks Trails at Nags Head Woods Preserve lead to the Roanoke Sound. CARRIE BROTHERS/CORRESPONDENT

Where N.C. Highway 12 ends at the northernmost part of Corolla, a hidden paradise of unspoiled estuary awaits. With the ocean to one side and the Currituck Sound on the other, the little slice of land gives visitors a coveted look into different beach, marsh and maritime forest habitats and the hundreds of species of flora and fauna they support. Keep your eyes peeled for Corolla’s famous wild horses, just remember to admire these special creatures from a distance (of 50 feet or more) for your safety and theirs. This threatened herd is unable to digest anything other than the area’s natural beach grass; feeding them anything else is deadly (and illegal!).

Take N.C. Highway 12 north until the pavement ends.

Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary A 2.5-mile Nature Trail leads through this lush, pristine sanctuary situated on more than 2,600 acres of marsh within a 5,000 acre portion of the Currituck Sound.

The trail follows the old dirt road that once connected Corolla and Duck and leads under a canopy of evergreen maritime woods, twisted live oaks and the Red Bay Shrub Swamp. Benches and rest stops along the way keep it accessible for all ages and abilities. The occasional overlook diverts visitors off the path for panoramic views of the Currituck Sound.

300 Audubon Drive, Corolla

9 Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

Springer’s Point Nature Preserve. CARRIE BROTHERS/CORRESPONDENT

Springer’s Point Nature Preserve

Ocracoke Village offers no shortage of charming shops or restaurants to explore as you walk through town. But venture off the beaten path to Springer’s Point, 120-acre site, a beautiful, undeveloped preserve. It was settled in the early 1600s; rumor has it, the beach was a favorite spot of Blackbeard. Take a wander through the maritime forest of ancient gnarled trees, through saltmarsh, and grassland to a soundfront beach. Along the way, you’ll see a donkey gravestone for the much-loved Ikey D., a 400-year-old live oak tree and rare flora and fauna species. Pirate ghost appearances, however, aren’t guaranteed.

104 Loop Road, Ocracoke

Duck Trail, Duck Boardwalk

A 6-mile multiuse path runs the length of Duck. Located primarily along the ocean side of Duck Road, it expands in the town’s commercial village to include both sides of the road. This is your golden opportunity to step off of the trail and onto the soundside boardwalk. The .78-mile boardwalk meanders along the Currituck Sound, through maritime forest and willow swamp. Access points along the way lead to the commercial village so you can enjoy the shopping and dining attractions, too.

Town of Duck — you’ll see it.

Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve

Away from the summer hustle and bustle along the U.S. 158 Bypass, 1,890 acres of maritime forest, marshland, and swamp await just steps away. The numerous trails through the preserve allow ample opportunity for hiking or birding.

Pets are allowed on leashes, and some trails are designated primarily for biking and horseback riding. The reserve includes sound access to the Kitty Hawk Bay for premier kayaking and paddleboarding. The reserve bumps up to the Woods Road in Kitty Hawk, that’s paralleled by a paved multiuse path for scenic walking, jogging and biking. The path connects to the commercial hub of the Southern Shore Marketplace and Walmart.

The Woods Road, Kitty Hawk (Parking available at Sandy Run Park, 4351 The Woods Road, and David Paul Pruitt Park, 5160 The Woods Road)

Nags Head Woods Preserve

This reserve is more than 1,000 acres of quiet paradise hidden in Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. Seven trails good for walking, hiking and trail running crisscross the preserve. They brim with opportunities to explore the maritime forest from steep dunes to the edge of the Roanoke Sound. The Center Trail takes walkers around a pond and through the woods while the more difficult Sweetgum Swamp Trail climbs sweeping dunes and meanders through the ponds at their base. Nags Head Woods also has an ADA Trail of wide concrete and boardwalk that loops through swamp forest, past marshland and around a freshwater interdunal pond.

701 W. Ocean Acres Drive, Kill Devil Hills Turn to Page 10

Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

10 from Page 9

Manteo Waterfront Boardwalk

Manteo’s historic town offers a leisurely 15 minute stroll past the town’s charming old buildings, waterfront, historic sites, shops and restaurants.

A waterfront boardwalk around the town’s commercial center, connecting to restaurants, shops, parks and dock slips for boats at the Manteo Waterfront Marina. Follow it to the picturesque, squat Roanoke Marshes Light, a working replica of the 1877 screw-pile lighthouse. Stop in at the Maritime Museum or rest at one of the built-in wooden benches to enjoy the sights and breeze. The northern side of the boardwalk leads over the Cora Mae Basnight Bridge to Roanoke Island Festival Park, a 25-acre historic site and home of The Elizabeth II, the Elizabethan replica ship.

207 Queen Elizabeth Ave., Manteo

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge

The northernmost 13 miles of Hatteras Island is dedicated to the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge. This birdwatcher’s paradise covers 5,834 acres of land, including beach, sound and marsh habitats, and 25,700 acres of water. More than 365 species of birds call the refuge home or a favorite stopover during annual migrations. The two wildlife trails are fully accessible and offer ideal opportunities to birdwatch or look for other animals, like river otters, that live in this special and dynamic habitat.

Look for the refuge’s designated parking areas dotting N.C. Highway 12 in Hatteras

Buxton Woods Reserve

Often overlooked, Buxton Woods Reserve comprises just over 1,000 acres near the Hatteras Lighthouse. It’s home to the largest contiguous tract of maritime evergreen forest on the East Coast and the world’s only maritime shrub swamp community. The reserve provides a premier glimpse of Hatteras Island’s ecosystem, which is the northernmost boundary for subtropical and temperate flora varietals, like the dwarf palmetto. Keep an eye out for mink, bald eagles, rare butterflies and the hundreds of other animal varieties that call these woods home.

The unpaved Old Doctors Road leads from Highway 12 to the eastern side of the reserve; Water Association Road leads from Highway 12 to the western side.

Left: Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve is home to the largest contiguous tract of maritime evergreen forest on the Atlantic coast.

Below: The old Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station at Pea Island. CARRIE BROTHERS PHOTOS

ON THE TOWN

11 Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

THURSDAY, JULY 1

Southern Accents: A Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Unless you’ve been living in a cave in Outer Mongolia, Tom Petty has been in your ears for more than four decades.

He’s a staple on rock and pop radio stations, with dozens of songs in heavy rotation.

And there’s a reason for that.

The late singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist (Petty died in 2017) was the ultimate craftsman, churning out timeless tunes that merged Southern rock with folk, country and blues, accented by lyrics with sharp observations about love, social issues and living on the edge.

Petty’s range was astounding, from the chugging, defiant “Don’t Do Me Like That” to the anthemic “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” and the wistful “Wildflowers.”

He also had great instincts, putting together the Heartbreakers, a backing band that hit all the right notes.

As Petty once told a reporter: “The real magic of rock and roll music is that it sounds so free.”

On Thursday, July 1, the Nashville-based Southern Accents (named for the 1985 Petty album) will pay tribute to the legendary artist at the Beach Klub at Koru Village in Avon.

The tribute band fondly recreates Petty’s music with a show that mixes the hits with lesser-known material.

In the former category are, among others, “Breadown,” “American Girl,” “The Waiting,” “Into the Great Wide Open” and “Refugee.”

A few of the deep tracks include “A Face in the Crowd,” “Dreams of Flying” and “Rebels.”

The outfit also has been known to remake The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” a nod to George Harrison, Petty’s buddy from The Traveling Wilburys.

So, get ready to sing along and put your hands in the air like you don’t care.

And, of course, have your cell phones fully charged to light up the night sky.

When: Thursday, July 1, 7 p.m.

Cost: $20 Where: Beach Klub at Koru Village, 41027 Highway 12, Avon (Hatteras Island) Info: koruvillage.com

Southern Accents: A Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, will perform at the Beach Klub at Koru Village on July 1. COURTESY OF SOUTHERN ACCENTS

The Hampton Roads-based twosome Fixity will perform at Tap Shack on June 29. COURTESY OF FIXITY TUESDAY, JUNE 29

Fixity

Imagine you have two good friends who happen to be superb musicians playing on your back porch. That should give you some sense of a Fixity performance.

The acoustic duo includes Sherri Linn on guitar, mando-

lin and vocals and Bernie Lee on guitar and vocals. They play outdoors every Tuesday at the Tap Shack in Duck.

The Hampton Roads-based twosome calls themselves “an Americana music machine” on Facebook, and they put an innovative spin on tunes by Joni Mitchell, John Prine, Gillian Welch, Johnny Cash, Bobbie

Gentry, Townes Van Zandt, Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton, among others. The duo also has a deep affection for the Grateful Dead and The Beatles.

Pretty much anything by the two bands is within reach, including “Here Comes the Sun,” “Ripple,” “I’m Only Sleeping” and “Friend of the Devil.”

Linn and Lee breathe life into

well-traveled material, such as “Jolene,” “Poncho and Lefty,” “Ode to Billie Joe,” “Walking After Midnight,”Paradise” and “Both Sides, Now.” When was the last time you heard those gems in a bar?

Fixity’s instrumentation is both casual and skillful, and Lee and Linn’s harmonies are crisp and close.

They are also first-rate songwriters. The duo’s original song “Lay Low” was featured recently on Paul Shugrue’s “Out of Box” program on public radio station WHRV in Norfolk, VA. When: Every Tuesday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Cost: No cover Where: Tap Shack, 1209 Duck Road (behind Coastal Cravings), Duck Info: Fixity page on Facebook John Harper has written hundreds of stories for Coast since 1994 on subjects ranging from food to art and history. His main focus is entertainment, primarily music.

He is a longtime broadcaster and radio program director, as well as an award-winning wedding DJ. Harper currently hosts “Flashback at 11,” which airs Saturdays on the internet station radiofreeobx.com.

13

12 Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

15 + varieties of New York Bagels

Hatteras Island Pirates ~ Puzzles ~ Games ~ John Deere

Homemade soups and lunch specialties Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, and more Cozy coffee shop Custom cakes and pies

Salt Water Taffy ~ Truffles ~ Fudge ~ Chocolates Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm, Sunday 12 pm - 5 pm Hwy 12 in Buxton right before the turnoff to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 252-995-7171 • 46928 NC 12 Buxton NC

Build your own breakfast sandwich

A Hatteras Island Tradition

ALL MADE FRESH DAILY

Avon, North Carolina Dine-in Seating (Including Larger Patio) or Carryout!

Ice Cream & Coffee Drinks

We offer a great family friendly dining experience, lively pub and unforgettable food from our scratch-made kitchen.

Our patio is dog friendly!

Our private dining rooms are perfect for large parties, special events and wedding receptions!

3 pm - 10 pm daily

Hatteras Island’s favorite brunch - Sunday’s from 10 am - 4 pm

Hawaiian Shaved Ice • Italian Ice Shakes • Sundaes • Smoothies

252-995-5550 • www.froggydog.com Open Year Round

Custom Ice Cream Cakes!

Call (252) 986-5109 | Open 6 AM - 4 PM

40146 N.C 12 in Avon

Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

The perfect place to start or end your day!

Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

14

Stop to smell the flowers at Water Street Studio

By Mary Ellen Riddle Correspondent

Fay Davis Edwards, a Manteo native, is a practicing artist with a strong interest in the environment.

Her studio partner and lifelong friend is Donna Mae Morrisette, who calls herself more a maker than an artist. Like Edwards, Morrisette is all about flowers.

“I was always excited when the jonquils started blooming,” she says looking back on her childhood in Stumpy Point.

Together, they are offering an eclectic mix of art, flowers and classes at their Water Street Studio in downtown Manteo.

Their mission aims to unleash creativity, preserve the environment and provide a safe space to bring people from all walks of life together.

The 52-year-old women have known each other since fifth grade, and their roots in the area run deep. The studio name is a nod to the past as it is located a stone’s throw from the water on Queen Elizabeth Avenue that once was called Water Street.

Their environment is welcoming with rustic double doors at the front and back of the studio that open to the fresh air and a “haint” blue ceiling overhead — the Gullah Geechee culture used this color as a form of protection to keep away haints, or spirits of the dead. The vibes already are seasoned as the studio first represented a working studio where Edwards created large scale paintings, projections and installations needed for grad school.

Add in the lifelong buddies’ joie de vivre and you have a refreshing wonderland filled with beauty, culture and inspiration.

Visitors to the gallery and workshop can buy flowers, art and organic tinctures — Bellemae Apothecarial potions made from Morrisette’s own recipes. They also can be active participants by taking lessons in watercolor, acrylic and encaustic painting, collage and recycled paperfolding and zine (book) making taught

by Edwards, whose own fine art paintings and multimedia art

Fay Davis Edwards, in back, and Donna Mae Morrisette, seated, at Water Street Studio, Manteo. MARY ELLEN RIDDLE/CORRESPONDENT

focus on social commentary, environmental protection and her love of crows.

Morrissette has always been surrounded by flowers and has a

natural flare for arranging them.

Her work has graced multiple weddings. At Water Street Studio, visitors can make flower arrangements from the cuttings in the

galvanized maple syrup buckets that line the working part of the studio.

She envisions people entering the gallery and picking up a

gathering basket, as if in a field.

Next, they choose stems from the buckets. The concentration will be on flowers with big heads, and Morrisette can identify them for the guests. They head to the workstation, glimpsing the small paintings of crows dotting the walls.

“We will help them with designs, color matching, composition — all basic design skills,” Edwards says, applying her experience of working with multiple art degrees.

While helping folks with their arrangements, the women envision memories of their hometown flowing freely with their guests and will include stories of Morrisette’s granny’s jonquils and Edwards’ childhood friendship with a crow.

With an eagle eye on protecting the earth, there will be no synthetic materials used in the arrangements. The duo is collecting bottles from three local businesses to use as vases and cut down on landfill waste. The women cut off the bottle necks to enlarge the openings. A repurposed Crown Royal bottle, filled with a spray of fresh flowers, sits in the middle of a table where the women excitedly chat about their joint venture. The clear container no longer resembles a liquor bottle but an objet d’art.

The recycling part of their venture is not to be trendy, the women say, but to do what is close to their hearts. Their altruism also includes offering Free Art Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. during the summer. Folks can come in and do a quick activity, such as making a folded paper book or box or creating a print.

“I think it’s important to share making techniques and knowledge,” Edwards says. “Create a safe space for members of all communities to come and create and be themselves and have dialogue and share stories.”

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15 Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

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Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

16

Tips for Pedestrians

Always use crosswalks when crossing the road. When crossing U.S. Highway 158 (referred to as the Bypass), never use the center lane of the highway as a stopping point. With the high volume of traffic, it is very difficult for motorists to see a pedestrian in this location until it is too late.

Pedestrians crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

(General Statute 20-174.a) Use designated walking paths when possible.

Wear bright colored clothing and flashers on your body when it is dark outside. The narrow lanes and shoulder on Virginia Dare Trail (often referred to as the Beach Road) are very dangerous for pedestrians at night. Sand along the shoulder may cause pedestrians to lose footing and step into the roadway. Please be extra cautious and always wear clothing and flashers to ensure visibility at dusk and at night.

Pedestrians should always walk against traffic.

Look both ways when crossing the road.

Cyclists and pedestrians share the sidewalk, and those on foot always have the right of way. TOWN OF DUCK

From the cradle to the crosswalk

By Maggie Miles

Correspondent

Around 17 pedestrians and 26 bicyclists are injured on the Outer Banks every year.

Five are killed.

Locals come to expect the tragic, recurring incidents: Man struck crossing the highway while walking home from bar; parents hit walking down bike path with their family, teenager killed prom night while crossing highway to stargaze at Jockey’s Ridge.

For people who live here, it becomes ingrained in our psyches: Never. Cross. The Bypass. The danger, though, is less apparent to out-of-towners.

Those who know the Bypass well - especially during the summer - share a sense of anxiety and fear when we see a family, a young woman or a couple, ladened with beach gear and attempting to cross an unmarked stretch of the highway during

rush hour.

This island’s unique geography and the influx of summertime visitors creates distinctive challenges for pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles on our roadways.

Detective Captain John C. Towler Jr., of Kill Devil Hills Police Department, says that the amount of engineering and thought that goes into modern road construction is pretty impressive.

“Long gone are the days of, ‘Let’s just hack a path through here,’ ” he says. Traditionally, road safety has not been an issue as far as design is concerned. For some places, the Outer Banks included, topography limits road choices and long-existing roadways were designed before more modern engineering considerations - particularly those regarding pedestrian safety - were developed.

There have been multiple campaigns

over the years. A group of concerned citizens started the Outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition in January 2013 after several collisions with pedestrians and cyclists occurred across the Outer Banks. They and Dare County have released many training and awareness-raising videos to the public as well as outlined guidelines to promote biking and pedestrian safety.

But why, then, with all the educational campaigns and guidelines reminding people to do what’s been ingrained into us - like, look both ways before crossing the street and cross only in crosswalks are there so many deaths? Is it pedestrian negligence, driver negligence or the fact that there is simply no agreed-upon way to make the Outer Banks’ roads more pedestrian/cyclist friendly?

In addition to road design, another factor that contributes to people’s risky

approaches to the roadways is necessity.

For a lot of these people, such as foreign exchange workers, walking or biking along the highway is their only option to get to work.

Additionally, many tourists and workers come from cities and places that are more biker/pedestrian friendly. Their decision to walk down the road is made without knowing the increased level of danger here.

“There’s no short and pat answer,” Towler says. “Some of it is ignorance. Some of it is laziness. Some of it is an unfamiliarity with the law or believing they are doing right.”

So, what can we do?

The Outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition offers this suggestion as a start. And though these guidelines may seem like common sense, it’s always good to refresh your memory and remember what to do and not to do when walking or biking on the Outer Banks.

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Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

18

BEYOND THE MUSIC

Live music in 2021:

Getting back in the pool

By Scott Sechman Correspondent

So…here we are, a month into the “season.” Many of our local musicians and singers are working now, thanks to venue owners who managed to get through the pandemic in the black and are also ready to bring music back to the stage.

Now, the duties of supporting live music and musicians rests on the shoulders of the visitors and residents who love it. Or, at least, tolerate it (insert “winkie” emoticon here).

There’s not a one-stop way to find out who’s playing where and when anymore.

But with an Internet connection and the desire, the answers are often a quick Google search away. Musicians playing on the beach right now will appreciate any effort you make to find them and attempt to reward you for it…musically, of course.

On our beach we have great food of every kind, some very incredible musicians and people who love to make other people happy. Whether you’re vacationer or a longtime resident, there’s something for you.

Behind the scenes, those owning and managing these dining and crooning establishments deal with some crazy stuff when it comes time to provide “beach” entertainment, not even counting dealing with the musicians themselves. It’s a constant considerations game for venue owners: How do they maximize their budgeted entertainment dollars in a way that guarantees to bring in some business?

Will the rapidly changing daily weather patterns affect their ability to get folks to leave their vacation rentals and come to their venue to dig some tunes? (Especially those venues that only feature outdoor seating and music). If it rains, do we pay the players? If there’s a threat of heatstroke, (as a heat index above 100-degrees can be life threatening). What happens when they have a musician or band in full stage-garb with no place to go because of these concerns?

What about the demographics of their clientele? Will the music appeal to those whose contemporary music of their youth Performing outdoors brings lots of unforeseen challenges. SCOTT SECHMAN/CORRESPONDENT

Turn to Music, Page 22

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Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

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Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

20

CURRITUCK COUNTY Small Business Spotlight

Corolla Business Has It Made in the Shade

Sun Ease Rentals helps OBX beachgoers stay cool and comfortable week, will increase, and so will the need for beach equipment.

What are the biggest challenges?

Some of the biggest challenges begin with finding suitable workers who have the drive to wake up early, move quick, and set things up nicely.

Handling finances, bookings, workers, and customers all at once has been a lot to learn and has definitely been a process of trial and error.

What are the biggest rewards?

Eyan Eagle is the owner of Sun Ease Rentals in Corolla, NC Can you describe the business?

Sun Ease Rentals offers high quality beach equipment for rent in Corolla.

We offer sturdy 10’x10’ commercial-grade beach tents, comfortable wood frame reclining beach chairs, wood frame beach umbrellas, Yeti coolers, outdoor bluetooth speakers, and beach games like Kan Jam and Bocce Ball. We have tent packages along with beach chair and umbrella packages to choose from, and also offer custom packages to meet the needs of our customers.

Talk about the decision to start your own business.

I was a lifeguard with Corolla Beach Rescue, and a common question was “Where can we get beach chairs, umbrellas, etc?” I looked into the businesses that already existed. They all seemed to be thriving, and none were lacking customers. This got my attention and started the process.

“I love this business because it requires hard labor, but it’s all out in nature... I get to watch the sun rise over the ocean...”

Why do you do what you do?

I love this business because it requires hard labor, but it’s all out in nature.

I get to watch the sun rise over the ocean as I set up the equipment for a group of people or a family who are happy about where they are. The majority of people I work with are very happy about where they are and it’s a good feeling to work in that collectively positive vibration.

Why did you choose Currituck?

I believe that Currituck County, and Corolla in particular, could be at the beginning of an economic boom. With the Mid-Currituck Bridge scheduled to begin construction in the spring of 2022, the number of potential customers could sky-rocket. Virginia Beach will go from nearly an hour and a half away to a 30-minute drive. Day trips, as opposed to booking a whole

The biggest rewards are working on the beach itself and being my own boss. Having the ability to add certain items or change the way we operate without dealing with push-back from anyone is amazingly rewarding.

What sets you apart?

Affordable comfort. There’s a gap between pricing and quality in Corolla.

There are tent packages for cheap, but you get a flimsy tent and chairs. Then there are expensive packages that have good equipment, just not at the price they are offered. I’m trying to even the playing field by offering high quality equipment at a reasonable price.

Any advice for someone starting a business in Currituck County?

Stick with it, pour all your effort into it, make it your #1 passion and don’t let anything stop you. Set the roots now to prepare for what is coming to Currituck in the next few decades.

Sun Ease Rentals (252) 999-0307 www.suneaserentals.com

Larry Lombardi, Director (252) 232-6015 M: (301) 237-8951 Larry@ThinkCurrituck.com www.ThinkCurrituck.com

21

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Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

22

Music

from Page 18

is now pigeonholed as “classic rock?”

Those folks have, in many cases, a willingness to eat, drink and have a good time and many have big families in tow. Or, will they use the live music to draw in the youthful partiers whose enthusiasm knows no bounds and — despite not necessarily having the means — will find a way to get on board the party train and ride it until the sidewalks are rolled up?

It’s a tough business and is sure to keep us all on our toes. But you, dear reader, need not worry about any of it!

All you need to do is pick a restaurant and let management take care of satisfying your entertainment itch. They have diligently compiled musical data annually and to help them curate their shows to what the clientele wants to listen to. They are more than ready to ensure your plates are full of local delicacies and your ears are tickled with the varying musical genres to compliment the dining experience. The musicians are ready, too. We are a pliable and compliant tribe. Ready, at the drop of a guitar pick, to cater to your every musical desire.

You need some Jimmy Buffet?

There’s not a one of us that can’t whup out a note-for-note version of “Margaritaville” in a New York minute.

If you want to hear stripped-down versions of the latest and greatest hits from the unending list of musical sales charts on an acoustic guitar, you got it.

Unfortunately, for fans of hip-hop and rap, we’re still trying to invent some combination of the X-rated lyrics and acoustic guitars. We aren’t there yet, but have no doubt…we’re on it.

We, as local purveyors of the fine arts, usually work out a deal with the employers that contract us. The best places, in my mind, will not only provide monetary compensation for our efforts, but also allow the welcome perk of a comp meal of the same caliber you, the dining and listening public enjoy. Yet in recent years, outdoor venues are providing singers with what I refer to as “in-flight snacks” — the ubiquitous, yet eerily tasty midge.

As of late, these tiny little flying objects with a 24-hour lifespan congregate wherever they can find a light. By the end of the evening at an outdoor venue, I’d inhaled and otherwise ingested so many midges that I didn’t even feel the need to collect my negotiated takeout meal. I was stuffed.

But today, here it is Friday afternoon, and I’m prepping to hit the Bypass and scoot out to tonight’s gig.

Sadly, no Midge benefit at this indoor show, but a “world-famous Rueben” awaits. It doesn’t get better than that.

Does it? So get on out there and hop in the musical pool, y’all! The water’s fine.

A boatload of memories Crafts from glory days of duck hunting to be displayed in new Currituck County museum

By Jeff Hampton

Staff Writer

COROLLA, N.C. — A new museum will house wooden boats that plied the Currituck Sound when world-class duck hunting and bass fishing were livelihoods for local watermen and passions for the wealthy.

The 10,000 square-foot, $4.3 million facility in the shadow of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, is set to open next month.

“It tells of a way of life that’s not around anymore,” said Currituck County native Wilson Snowden.

Currituck is a Native American word meaning “Land of the wild goose.” For about a century from the mid-1800s, the Currituck Sound was renowned for duck hunting when millions of waterfowl wintered here. In the mid-20th century, the sound also was known for excellent largemouth bass fishing.

The bounty created industries that served as the beginning of tourism here.

Plush hunt clubs sprung up along the sound to meet the demand of wealthy industrialists who came to hunt and fish.

They hired locals to guide them. Men became experts at building boats and carving decoys.

Before federal law prohibited market duck hunting in the early 1900s, watermen would shoot hundreds and sell them to be shipped to northern restaurants. A single canvasback duck sold for $6 in 1900, equal to $157 in today’s money, according to a museum exhibit.

The Currituck Maritime Museum fulfills a dream of Snowden and the late Travis Morris, both of whom collected vintage boats for years and stored them in sheds and barns. The nearly tropical climate of eastern North Carolina took its toll even though the boats were made from hardy juniper grown in nearby swamps.

Morris and Snowden lobbied county and state officials for years for a place to preserve them and tell the story of the people who built and used them.

“We never thought we had a chance,” said Snowden, 78, who has hunted on the sound since he was 10 years old.

In case the boats might never be saved, students from East Carolina University documented them with descriptions and architectural drawings that were stored in the Library of Congress. In 2008, Morris and Snowden won a national award for their efforts, sponsored by The History Channel.

Just before Morris died four years ago, he learned the museum was likely to happen, said Chandler Sawyer, the museum’s manager. Currituck County commissioners voted to fund it three years ago using occupancy taxes charged for beach

Aaron Meekins, (background) Jay Hooper and Luke Meekins of South Side Services and Towing load an wooden skiff more than 100 years old into the Currituck Maritime Museum.

JEFF HAMPTON/STAFF

rentals and motel rooms.

“I’m glad he knew this was in the works,” said Sawyer, who is Morris’ grandson and learned hunting from him. “This wouldn’t be here without him and Wilson.”

Construction began two years ago.

COVID-19 caused a year’s delay. Sawyer, who has a degree in hospitality, has tagged fish for the state and run the Pine Island Hunt Club for years.

The museum’s focus is on a dozen boats preserved by Morris and Snowden, Sawyer said. The oldest is a flat-bottomed skiff, built more than a century ago, that could ride the shallow shorelines and fit within a narrow blind to hide from incoming ducks.

The boat’s operator propelled it by sticking a long pole into the bottom of the sound and shoving. It was hard work poling a boat loaded with decoys.

“That one was built before they had boat motors,” Sawyer said.

The boat’s last owner was the late Earl Slick, developer of the Pine Island subdivision in Currituck on the Outer Banks. Its builder was a game warden once charged with murder for killing a man believed to be poaching ducks in the private marshes of the Pine Island Hunt Club. He was acquitted and the case was never solved.

The largest on exhibit is a 33-footlong vessel owned by the late Ambrose

“Hambone” Twiford. He was a large, square-jawed man with massive, workworn hands accustomed to pulling nets, lifting boat motors and carrying shotguns.

An enlarged photograph of Twiford on the museum wall shows him holding a string of freshly caught largemouth bass.

One display shows Martha Kay Helms, a cook at one of the hunt clubs, accompanied by her recipe for sweet potato biscuits, a staple of the large meals prepared for hunters.

Another panel highlights Joseph P. Knapp, one of the industrialists who came here to hunt. He learned to love the people and location, and locals returned the affection. He donated thousands of dollars to local causes including the fledgling school system. One of the county’s schools and a bridge is named for him.

Knapp owned and managed a duck preservation area on Knotts Island that eventually grew to become Ducks Unlimited, a national organization that preserves waterfowl breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada.

Much of Knotts Island is a national wildlife refuge that preserves habitat for the Currituck Sound waterfowl.

Jeff Hampton, 757-446-2090, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com

23

COROLLA CORK &CRAFT Weekly Wine, Beer & Craft Mixer

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Coast | The Virginian-Pilot | Friday, June 25, 2021

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Friday, June 25, 2021 | The Virginian-Pilot | Coast

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