Washington the Magazine July|August 2019

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small town STRENGTH Local cuisine beats Florence flooding

JULY/AUGUST 2019 WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 1

2 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

WASHINGTON AREA 239 W Main Street Washington, NC

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JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 3

In this issue

FEATURES & DEPARTMENTS LOCAL FLAVOR MANY HANDS: 28 Spoon River back to artful dining after Florence.

28 WORLD TRAVEL 34

CULTURAL WONDERS: In an ordinary looking home in Belhaven, a bed and breakfast holds treasures from around the world.

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 10 24 50 52 56 58 60 62 66

Publisher’s Note The Scene What's in Store Cast a Line What's to Eat Wine Column Dining Guide Travel & Leisure Calendar Why I Love Washington

34 HOMEGROWN AVIATOR 40

TOP GUN: For Navy test pilot Lee Watkins, it all started at Washington-Warren Airport.

40 CITY OF ART 46

46 4 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

PAST TO PRESENT: Arts in Washington grows more each years turning the city into a vibrant creative hub.

ON THE COVER Spoon River Artworks and Market staff member Sierra Johnson, 17, delivers dessert at brunch. The restaurant, known for its farm-to-table mission, has rebounded strongly after the devastating flooding of Hurricane Florence.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 5

A NOTE FROM ASHLEY

Take a Beaufort County A D V E N T U R E

S

ummer is in full swing, and that means plenty of adventure awaits.

Adventure, both near and far, can be found throughout the July/August issue of Washington The Magazine.

Take the family for quick road trip to Pine Knoll Shores, where an aquatic trip from the mountains to the coast awaits. One of North Carolina’s four aquariums, the facility wows visitors from a 50-foot waterfall to the underwater display of a real shipwreck. Read about this Outer Banks jewel on page 60.

One Washington native’s adventure of a lifetime started in a Cessna 182 at Washington-Warren Airport. From teen pilot to the U.S. Naval Academy to Navy test pilot today, Lt. Lee Watkins continues to fly high. Read more about his aviation experience on page 40.

Owners of Spoon River Artworks and Market did not set out for adventure — it came to them in the form of a devastating Hurricane Florence. Learn about the recovery and resilience of this home of artful dining in Beaufort County on page 28.

Belhaven’s Yvonne DeRuiz’s final adventure landed her in Belhaven as owner Belhaven bed and breakfast Bellport Inn, but what came before was a U.S. State Department career that sent her all over the world. Today, her museum-worthy collection of cultural treasures collected during her career is proudly displayed in bed and breakfast. Read about Yvonne’s worldwide adventure on page 34.

Art is an ongoing, evolving adventure, as is the art scene in downtown Washington. From the early days of plenty of artists but limited exhibit space, to even more artists and many downtown galleries, downtown’s transition to a haven for the artistic can be found on page 46.

There’s no shortage of adventurous times, adventurous places and adventurous people in Beaufort County and this issue of the magazine. We hope you enjoy reading about them — and find some summer adventures of your own, right here at home.

Ashley Vansant, Publisher

We would love to hear what you think about Washington the Magazine. Email us at news@

Write thewashingtondailynews.com or write to P.O. Box 1788, Washington, NC 27889. Letters chosen for publication to us may be edited for length and clarity. All submissions become the property of Washington the Magazine.

6 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Publisher Ashley Vansant Editorial Sabrina Berndt Matt Debnam Vail Stewart Rumley Mitchell Thomas Contributors Richard Andrews Mary Mehlich Joan Meyland Advertising Director David Singleton Marketing & Sales Cecilia Prokos Amy Whitaker Scott Williamson Distribution Sylvester Rogers Art Direction Elizabeth Reed Contact information Washington the Magazine P.O. Box 1788 Washington, NC 27889 Advertising inquiries 252-946-2144 Ext. 221 Subscriptions & change of address 252-946-2144 Washington the Magazine is published six times a year by Washington Newsmedia, LLC. Copyright 2019, Washington Newsmedia, LLC.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 7

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THE SCENE ARTS OF THE PAMLICO DONATION Arts of the Pamlico celebrated a major donation June 3, with a reception for past and present board members, AOP members and representatives from the Fox Theatre Foundation. The $50,000 check from the foundation for restoration of the Turnage vaudeville theater will be used to restore the circa-1913 theater’s roof, which is in danger of collapse. The donation also represents the first time the Georgia-based Fox Theatre Foundation has donated to an out-of-state project, a decision prompted by how intact the vaudeville theater remains—a rarity in the United States.

Heather Thienpont, Gayle Watson

Ed Mann, Lynda Lane, Sue Nicholson

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Jeffery Phipps, Virginia Finnerty

Debra Torrence, Curtis McLawhorn

John Wood, Emily Rebert

John Tate, Jeff Rumley

Rachel Isaacs, Thad Aley

THE SCENE IRON ‘EAGLE’ CHEF Foodies gathered April 30 at First Christion Church in Washington for the third-annual Iron ‘Eagle’ Chef competition. A major fundraiser for Eagle’s Wings food pantry, the event pits three local chefs against one another, each vying for top honors with a dish made of a surprise ingredient. Backwater Jack’s Tiki Bar and Grill, represented by Jessica Williams, Open Heart Country Kitchen and The Hackney were this year’s competitors at the packed event. This year’s ingredient was tuna fish from a can, and, working their magic, Backwater Jack’s took the popular vote and Open Heart Country Kitchen got the first-place nod from judges Jeff Furst, Rachel K. Midgette and Jordan Cantrell.

Betty Christian, Katherine Hall, Peggy Koonce

Ann-Marie Montague, Matt Engelbrecht

Jeff Furst, Bob Boulden

12 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Liane Harsh, Bill Staton

Cheryl McDaniel, Lynda Lane, Ginny Bracken

Gerda Rhodes, Susan Zachary

Rachel Midgette, Jordan Cantrell

Bill and Trish Litchfield

Marcia Griffin, Sarah Ninan

Amy Sims, Gina Lee, Melanie Thornton

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 13

THE SCENE N.C. ESTUARIUM ANNIVERSARY Twenty-six years ago, a one-of-a-kind museum opened up on the shores of the Pamlico River in Washington. The founders, staff and more of the North Carolina Estuarium gathered May 23 to celebrate the museum’s ongoing educational success, bringing together those instrumental in its creation and continuing mission. North Carolina’s First Lady Kristin Cooper joined the festivities, as did Tony Award-winning musician Bland Simpson, who gifted patrons with a riverside concert.

Mary and Mark Mehlich

Mary and Richard Brooks

Brent and Catherine Glover

Stewart and Brenda Rumley

Robin and Ray McKeithan

14 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Jerry Evans, Ed Booth

Erin and Matt Fleckenstein

Lou Hodges, April and Brian Alligood

Tommy Everette, Tom Payne

Shannon and Jonathan Russell

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 15

Donald and Alice Sadler

Frank Harmon, Jackie Woolard

Dorie and Tom Richter

Viki and Keith Kidwell, Hood Richardson

Aaron Adams, Courtney Woolard

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David and Cynthia Swanner

David Clegg, Natalie and Kristin Cooper

THE SCENE NAACP BANQUET On June 7, the Beaufort County NAACP celebrated its 38th-annual Freedom Fund Banquet. Celebrating a long history of advocating for civil rights in Beaufort County, the event drew hundreds of people in support of the organization and its mission of making society equitable for all people. Pastor Joneice Gorham Carroll served as the keynote speaker during the banquet.

Angela Lewis and Joenice Carroll

Gloria Williams, Brenda McKinney, John McClaney, Troy Moore Jr., Kenneth Williams, Delzora William and Carrie Carney

Charles Oden, Kyree O’Pharrow and Ethel Oden

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Mary Anne Burns and Mary Ellen Tyrrell

Paul Moore, Annie Hooker, Tamia Braswell, Clydie Moore and Mary Louise Crawford

Debbie Knight and Lee Parker

Myra Ricks, James Ricks and Tracy O’Neal

Hattie Askey, Carl Lee, Maggie Gray, Morris Rascoe, Debbie Brown, Dyreek Carter and Tyrese Williams

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 19

Patricia Moore, Judy Skinner, Charlotte Clark and Noah Clark

Sylvia Perkins, Georgia Smallwood, Emma Howard and Phyllis Moore-Johnson

Cecilia Roberson, Vicki Gorham and Myra Roberson 20 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Barbara Wilkins, Ida Boston and Gloria Tripp

Antwan Horton, Katelyn Horton, Madison Horton, Preston Albritton, Patricia Albritton and Quisha Horton

Shelia and Sylvester Rogers

Richard and Mary Brooks

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 21

THE SCENE PIRATE CLUB On May 13, the Beaufort County Pirate Club welcomed head football coach Mike Houston and athletic director John Gilbert among others to speak to club members. They offered a three-course meal along with beverages and time of fellowship prior to the speakers stepping up to talk about the state of the East Carolina University sports programs.

John and Marcia Haddock

Harold and Pam Byrd, Linda and Charles Hough, Margaret and Joe McKoy

Terry Walker, Steve Walker, Becky and Phil Perkinson

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Bill Hunnings, Julia Torbett (ECU volleyball coach), Jess Hunnings

Anderson Rish, Anita Rish-Hodgkins and Ethan Rish

Alan and Carolyn McCutchen

Joe Leggett and Chase Blake

Ray Dennis, Ed Noll, Lee Shaffer

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 23

WHAT'S IN STORE

A piece of

Washington WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELIZABETH REED

Ocean inspired One-of-a-kind wooden cutting board and spoons add a personal touch to river living, especially when they are made by local artist, Colleen Knight. The wood burned cutting board (a.) $135 and wooden spoons (b.) $12 each, can be found at Riverwalk Galley and Arts Center in downtown Washington. Love where you live with the embroidered North Carolina hand towel from Cottage Junkies, (c.) 16.95

a.

c.

b.

24 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

e. d.

f.

g.

Map of home Plant love Give your plants some personality with vintage utensil stakes from the Wander Co. (d.) $12.50.

Know where you live and travel with illustrated dishes and mugs for your home. Find the set at NautiLife in downtown Washington. Large tray (e.) $27.95, appetizer plates (f.) $27.95, North Carolina mugs (g.) $12.95.

h.

i.

j.

Tea time Carolyn Sleeper supplies the perfect tea set for your summer decor. Decorated with cardinals and summer clouds to hold sugar and cream, pair it with your favorite tea. Teapot (h.) $110, sugar bowl (j.) $58, mini pitcher (i.) $24.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 25

Dye for comfort Perfect for front porch lounging, these hand-dyed pillows come from KKO Studios in Wilmington to downtown Washington at the Wander Co. (k.) $42

k.

Sweet smell m.

The smell of Sweet Grace brings scents of summer into Washington homes.

Bridgewater Candle Co. comes to downtown Washington at Cottage Junkies. Find a soy candle (l.) $42.95, room spray (m.) $14.95, hand cream (n.) 12.95 and soap (o.) 14.95 that will make your home smell like summer all season long.

o.

l.

n.

p.

q.

Local art

Buzz off

Keep moments of Washington with various prints or originals made from local artists. Prints can be found in a variety of sizes (p.). Shown from left to right, “Jonathan’s Sunflower” by MJ Carbo, $20; “Summer Porch” limited edition print by Debby McCullough, $45; “Bird” by NK, $15; “Dragonfly” and “Just fisin’ ” by Gale Champion, $5; and “The Shed” by Myra Bowen, $25.

Find a natural way to keep the annoying summer bugs away with Moondance Apothecary Bugs Away spray. These 4 fl. oz. bottles of spray can be used for both children and adults and can be found at the Wander Co. in downtown Washington. (q.) $13

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WASHINGTON HARBOR DISTRICT

FINDING THE RIGHT POLICIES FOR YOU!

MANY HANDS Spoon River Artworks and Market owner Teresa Van Staalduinen (second from right, above) chats with am Iowan couple travelling through Belhaven on their way back from the Outer Banks, as Kelly Toppin waits on the table. Left and above right, a small, colorful sampling of the brunch menu at Spoon included fish tacos and handcut French fries and a generous slice of quiche with fresh-picked greens.

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Florence no match for the flair and flavor of Spoon River STORY AND PHOTOS BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

H

urricane Florence didn’t so much roar in. It was more of an ease: a gust of wind, then a stronger one; the steady creep of a river rising. For three days, she proved herself a force of nature, one with staying power, and for many, the power of this Category 1 storm stuck around for much longer than ever anticipated.

“It was the worst water we’ve ever had, the highest water we’ve had, but the most pleasant storm. We never lost electricity. The buildings flood beautifully here. The stuff, not so much.”

Teresa Van Staalduinen’s gaze takes in Spoon River Artworks and Market, landing here and there — no doubt seeing what was there, as opposed to what is there now. The Belhaven fine-dining establishment, known for its farm-to-table mission, was one of Florence’s victims: three and half feet of water wiped out its dining room, its fine-arts décor and the heart of the restaurant, its kitchen. Practically all that was left was the will to rebuild.

“It was like building a new restaurant. Everything was gone. All of our tables and chairs and all of the kitchen equipment. … Everything’s new. I have new ovens for the first time ever. I’ve never had new ovens,” Van Staalduinen laughed.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 29

It took seven months, the first three spent simply waiting for insurance money to come in.

In that time, Teresa Van Staalduinen and husband Mark kept Spoon River’s chef on salary; he and other staff members pitched in to the cleanup. The utter destruction prompted a different approach to reconstruction. What tables and chairs could be saved were restored. More were purchased secondhand and refurbished.

“When you do an audit, you realize how much money you spend on stupid stuff, like tablecloths.

So we painted the tables,” Van Staalduinen said.

After seven years of running the popular restaurant, market, event venue and art gallery, Van Staalduinen remains an artist, and in the cavernous space, her talent is truly expressed: in her paintings, and that of others, decorating the walls; lacquered tables painted with geometric designs; a mural reminiscent of Moorish design surrounding the portal from dining to kitchen.

Illuminating them all is an artistic project of astounding scope — one dreamed up by Van Staalduinen in the days after Hurricane Florence, but would ultimately involve an entire community.

At Spoon River, banks of lanterns hang high above the dining room. At first glance, it appears each is made from a series of round, rice-paper lamp shades of varying sizes. Another look, however, reveals that each “globe” is crafted from the pages of a book, meticulously folded and fanned out; their provenance, a friend whose husband’s affliction with Alzheimer’s led to multiple purchases of many, many secondhand books.

“It was two truckloads of books. A lot of them had already been through the Brown Library sale, no one was going to use them — they weren’t books you could reuse,” Van Staalduinen said.

When she and Mark embarked on a book-folding movie night, two hours later, they’d only folded the pages of two books, and, again, decided to take a different approach.

“Many hands make light work. We got all the community involved,” Van Staalduinen said. “I literally had the door open, and they could pick up books, and people who I’d never met before folded books for me.”

The result is a stunning display of light, provided by a stunning display of community. Many hands now have an artistic investment in Spoon River.

30 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Artful dining returns to Belhaven as Spoon River Artworks and Market rebounds from the devastation of Hurricane Florence, opening its doors to customers after seven months of recovery efforts.

ASHLEY VANSANT

Spoon River staff cleans up in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Three and half feet of water washing through the restaurant destroyed much of the dining room and all the kitchen equipment.

An artistic space, Teresa Van Staalduinen enlisted the help of the community in crafting these unique chandeliers made of pages of old books, folded and fanned out. Each light is surrounded not be glass, but plastic water bottles, purchased from Dollar Store and painted with gold and silver trim.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 31

Kelly Toppin has been a part of the Spoon River staff since she was 15 years old, and has worked her way up from runner to manager on the way to a degree in hospitality management.

“People come in and point and say, “I folded that one, I folded that one,” Van Staalduinen said.

For the Van Staalduinens, the project only magnifies Spoon River’s greater sense of family, from its loyal customers to the couple’s employees, many who’ve been with them for years, weathering more than one storm.

One such employee is Kelly Toppin. On a whim, the then-15-year-old filled in as a food runner at the request of her older sister, Marci, then a part of the Spoon River wait staff. What started as a one-night job, has morphed through the years to management. Originally a theater major at East Carolina University, Toppin will graduate in 2021 with a degree in hospitality management with 32 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

a focus on the food and beverage industry, a decision prompted by her experience at Spoon River.

“I don’t think you can find another environment, as a customer or an employee, and feel (so) special, feel special working here. The people who own this place care about this place, and they put their blood, sweat and tears into it,” Toppin said.

With the blood, sweat and tears of Florence behind them, Spoon River Artworks and Market is once again dishing out healthy portions of food with a side of art.

Or art with a side of food — you decide.

“I don’t want to be fine dining. I want to be artful dining,” Van Staalduinen laughed. ⋇

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AROUND THE WORLD & back to Belhaven Local innkeeper brings global flavor to bed and breakfast

WRITTEN BY MATT DEBNAM | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

I

n an unassuming house on Main Street in Belhaven, the Bellport Inn is home to cultural treasures from around the world. Collected by inn proprietor Yvonne DeRuiz during the course of a 27-year career with the U.S. State Department, the inn boasts an eclectic décor, from Pakistani furniture and Chinese pottery to European artwork.

Taking a position with the State Department in 1982, DeRuiz started out as a secretary. Moving her way up over the course of 27 years, she ended her career in 2009 as chief of staff to the American Ambassador to France. All told, she served under four American presidents — Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

“Each person who works overseas for the state department is an ambassador,” Deruiz said. “You don’t have that rank, but you are there as an American and you are teaching those people who we actually are, whether it’s about our art, our food, our television, our music — cultural things. So all the time, because you’re American overseas, you’re showing them who we actually are.”

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This small jewelry box, handcrafted in Iran, is decorated with tiny fragments of inlaid camel bone, painted and placed to form gorgeous geometric designs.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 35

Over the course of those two decades, DeRuiz lived on four different continents for long periods of time, spending between two and four years in Pakistan, Portugal, South Korea, El Salvador, Slovokia, the Czech Republic and France. Adding to that short-time assignments in other countries, and it’s safe to say she’s seen a lot of what the world has to offer.

“I felt like every assignment was an adventure, and I wanted to know about those cultures,” DeRuiz said.

Her assignment in Pakistan, she said, would be especially eye-opening, as she experienced Islamic culture for the first time. This after being completely surrounded by eastern North Carolina Protestantism her whole life.

“When I left home, I don’t think I had ever met a Catholic, a Jewish person, a Muslim, a Buddhist or anything,” DeRuiz said.

Yet, world travel has a way of exposing people to new things and ways of living. Each culture she encountered offered something new and enriching, whether DeRuiz was soaking in the history of a particular area or enjoying some delectable foreign cuisine.

“I’m a real foodie,” she laughed. “So I love adventuresome foods and trying new things, so for me, that was one of the great things about this adventure.”

Returning to the States, a chance ride with her cousin in Belhaven would end up giving DeRuiz the opportunity to share those adventures with her fellow Americans.

“I had always wanted to have a bed and breakfast,” DeRuiz said. “The longer I stayed overseas, the more things I had collected. So I just decided that was something I wanted to do. Being a foodie, I like to cook for people. My cousin is a realtor here in town, and he calls me one day when I was visiting my mom. He says, ‘Let’s go for a ride and look at houses.’ My famous last words were, ‘I’m not buying a house.’”

By the following Friday, she had put in an offer on the circa-1920s home at 723 E. Main St., which offered the perfect floor plan for a bed and breakfast that could be easily managed by one person. With four rooms for guests, each is decorated in a distinctive cultural style — European, Asian, Latin American and one themed around the United States.

From cooking for friends and family to showing her guests handicrafts and art from overseas, DeRuiz has, in a sense, become an ambassador for those foreign cultures, right here in Belhaven.

“By collecting these things, and showing them in the house, it shows people what these countries have to offer, just a little tiny bit,” DeRuiz said.

For any American, DeRuiz says she would recommend 36 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Throughout the Bellport Inn, east meets west in perfect harmony, as seen in this ensemble. The hand-painted gold screen and ginger jar lamp both came from Hong Kong, while the fabric on the chair came from a Parisian upholstery warehouse.

Traveling to dozens of foreign countries during her 27-year career with the U.S. State Department, Yvonne DeRuiz brought back a unique collection of furniture and décor when she returned to Belhaven and established the Bellport Inn in 2009.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 37

traveling overseas, not just to learn more about other cultures, but to foster a greater appreciation of our own.

“Living in Karachi, Pakistan, which is on the Indian Ocean, the majority of the population lives on about a nickel a day,” DeRuiz said. “I said, ‘You know what? Every American should have to come here and live here for six months, and then they would have a better understanding of the wealth that we actually have.’ You learn how to be appreciative of who you are, where you were born and what we have.”

For more information on the Bellport Inn, visit www. bellportinnbnb.com or call 252-943-9910. ⋇

This hand-painted ceramic Japanese lunchbox, which DeRuiz purchased in Korea, is nearly 100 years old. It sits on shelves in the living room of the Bellport Inn, among other treasures from around the globe.

38 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

TOP GUN 40 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

For Navy test pilot, it all began at Washington-Warren WRITTEN BY MATT DEBNAM | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY FRED WATKINS III

Lee Watkins flies as a wingman in a flight of two combat-loaded F/A-18 Super Hornets in 2016.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 41

As part of his U.S. Naval Test Pilot School thesis, Washington native Lee Watkins evaluated the SAAB Gripen in Linkoping, Sweden in 2018. His evaluation was awarded the Empire Test Pilot School Award for best developmental test thesis.

H

is very first experience flying came at a young age during an open house at Washington-Warren Airport.

With pilot volunteers taking kids up in privately-owned airplanes, that first time off the ground would leave a lasting impression in a young Lee Watkins. Together with his father, Fred Watkins III, the future Navy test pilot enjoyed going to military airshows in his younger years, including the annual show at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock.

An experience in 2003 would ignite that interest into a passion. Setting out from Washington-Warren Airport in a Cessna 182 piloted by local attorney Chris McLendon, Watkins and his father had a birds-eye view of the destruction Hurricane Isabel had wrought on Hatteras Island.

“That kind of gave me a view of what was possible from Warren Airfield,” Watkins recalled. “I got to take the controls and fly around a little bit and it just basically was like, ‘This is something I can do in the next couple years.’”

So at 14 years old, before he could legally take the wheel of a car, Watkins had his first taste of flying a plane. It wouldn’t be long before he began the process of learning to fly on his own. For Christmas in 2004, his parents gave him the gift of flight lessons at Washington-Warren. Those lessons would begin in January 2005, with flight instructor Brian Wood teaching the teenager how to fly a Piper Cherokee PA-28. Watkins, at the time, was a sophomore at Washington High School.

A year and a half later, on April 26, 2006, Watkins, then a junior, made his first solo flight. Marked in big, bold letters in his logbook, the event marked a right of passage for the young 42 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

pilot.

“They had a tradition where they would douse you with water to ‘wet your tail feathers,’” Watkins recalled. “Whatever shirt you were wearing, they would cut out the back portion, down where your tail feathers would be. They wrote on there the date and your first solo, and they had them hanging in the airport.”

Just less than a year later, on April 14, 2007, Watkins passed his Private Pilot Check Ride and became a private pilot at age 18.

With this advanced level of experience at a young age, Watkins was a prime candidate for military service. With a senatorial appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 2007, he began his path to becoming a Navy pilot. Majoring in aeronautical engineering, Watkins graduated with honors in 2011, and was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy.

Reporting to flight school at Pensecola, Florida, he began his career as a Navy pilot, the culmination of a goal he had set when he was just a boy. Two years later, having earned his Naval Aviator wings, he began training to pilot F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. These were the planes he would fly during Operation Inherent Resolve, the military campaign to destroy the Islamic

Navy pilot Lee Watkins is reunited with his wife Noel and oldest daughter, Norah, and meets his second daughter, Marin, for the first time after an eight-month deployment in 2016. Photo by Brooke Newman JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 43

Lee Watkins gives a First Class Midshipman an incentive flight in 2017.

Midshipmen are allowed to fly in the aft seat during their summer training to experience tactical aviation.

Lee Watkins flies a glider in Tehachapi, California, as part of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 2018.

VFA-103 “Jolly Rogers” return to Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, after a 2015-2016 deployment aboard U.S.S Harry S. Truman in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

State terrorist group. Stationed on board the USS Harry S. Truman, Watkins flew missions over Iraq and Syria.

“It was rewarding to be able to make a difference and use that training to achieve an objective that was important,” Watkins said. “It’s just the culmination of all your training, coming into action and seeing a positive impact as a result of that training.”

With that portion of his service behind him, Watkins went on to graduate from Navy Test Pilot School in June 2018, and has spent his time since at Naval Air Station Patuxent in Maryland, where he tests F/A-18s, EA-18Gs and MQ-25 aircrafts. With his background in engineering, he provides feedback to help ensure those aircraft do what their pilots need them to do.

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“The test pilot is the bridge between the engineer and the operator,” Watkins explained. “It’s our job to have one foot in each world and make sure the engineers know what the pilots need and that the things that are being engineered are providing the capabilities the operators need.”

In his eight years as a naval aviator, Watkins has flown more than 1,200 hours in over 25 different aircraft and logged more than 180 carrier-arrested landings to date. Even in all that time, he still remembers fondly his beginnings, right here in Washington.

“I’ve flown over Washington quite a bit, on the way from Virginia Beach to Cherry Point,” Watkins said. “I always watch Washington go down below me. It’s kind of neat.”⋇

W

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252 D I G I T A L

Although Lemonade is mostly known as a retail space for local artists, co-owners Carol Mann (pictured) and Sue Beck host watercolor and pottery classes regularly.

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Since its creation 46 years ago, Arts of the Pamlico has actively supported the arts community in Washington through art exhibits and events, as well as offering space for meetings and performances.

THE

E V O L U T I O N OF ART IN WASHINGTON WRITTEN BY SABRINA BERNDT | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY FRED WATKINS III

W

hen you walk along downtown Washington’s historic streets, it’s hard to miss the abundance of art galleries and studios filled with local artists and craftsmen. Washington has become an art hub in recent years, with more than 12 galleries and studios and support from Arts of the Pamlico, but newcomers may not be aware of the history that made art so prominent in the community.

Arts of the Pamlico was created 46 years ago, but it was far from the nonstop program that the community knows today.

The arts council owned the only arts gallery in town, a room in the old train depot adjoining the Washington Civic Center which now houses Washington Tourism Development Authority.

The small room was the only option for local artists wanting to find an audience for their work. Then River Walk Gallery and Arts Center opened in September of 1997.

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Arts of the Pamlico bought the Historic Turnage Theatre in 2014, giving the nonprofit plenty of space to showcase all types of art, including theater and music.

The Contemporary Art Exchange is known for bringing in unconventional art exhibitions, and Menagerie, the national art show held in February, was no different.

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“River Walk was the first gallery and the Arts Council helped them get on their feet,” said Joey Toler, the former executive director at Arts of the Pamlico. “We were part of the process. We helped them set up a way to get their artists in there and figure out how their business model would look.”

River Walk opened local artists to the idea of selling and sharing their work on a larger scale, and it was a space for locals and tourists to find new artists without word-of-mouth. However, space was still limited and supply still exceeded demand for more than a decade.

Inner Banks Artisans’ Center, on the other hand, offered a home to about 80 local artists. Opened in 2009, the Center was a gathering place for artists of all kind, including the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association.

“Little Washington had a thriving arts community for as long as I can remember and I grew up in Washington,” Toler said. “There was always a lot of artists. They weren’t always necessarily out in public so much, but they were there. When Inner Banks came on (the scene), the artists began to see how they could show and sell their work more because they had gallery space for artists to rent.”

After Inner Banks Artisans’ Center foreclosed in January 2014, more than 70 artists were left feeling homeless. They watched on the steps of the courthouse as their gallery space was auctioned away in hopes that someone would bid, but no one did.

Many artists decided to move their artwork online, but others started looking for a more permanent home, like the owners of Lemonade Art Gallery.

Starting in 2015, the five owners of Lemonade— Sue Beck, Carol Mann, Jerry Bradley, Jan Lamoreaux and Doris Schneider—opened the gallery on 201 W. Main St. with the goal of featuring local artists that lost their retail space. Only Beck and Mann remain, but the two are still thriving and making “lemons out of lemonade.”

“Inner Banks kind of set the stage,” Mann said.

“When that broke up, the artists dispersed and started opening up little shops all over the place. It continues to grow and blossom as an art community.”

As the artists progressed, so did the arts council.

Arts of the Pamlico bought the Turnage Theatre in 2014, giving the public and local art scene a proper arts hub. Instead of the tiny baggage room, the arts council had plenty of space to display artists’ work and hold events that involved the community—all in downtown Washington.

“Because it was a higher profile, people were excited to see the Turnage open again, and it was not

Lemonade Art Gallery was created in 2015 as a result of the Inner Banks Artisans’ Center foreclosure in 2014. The five founders wanted to make lemonade out of lemons.

only for special performances now and then, it was open all the time,” Toler said. “There was always something going on. It became a place to gather.”

Today, Arts of the Pamlico continues to support local artists through year-round events, such as the Art Walk and fine art exhibits.

With more than 12 galleries, studios and boutiques that display local art, Washington’s art hub is hardly done expanding, and many new galleries are bringing new ideas and styles to the area.

Tina Jandrow opened The Contemporary Art Exchange in 2017 with a traditional gallery format and the goal to bring new artists to the forefront.

Many of the gallery’s artists are local, but are not already involved in the art scene, or are known for a different style of artwork.

“The whole point of what I do is to draw folks out of the woodwork that are already creating but are not showing here (Washington), to draw in folks that are interested but for one reason or the other are not coming downtown to look at purchasing local arts because of style or that sort of thing,” Jandrow said.

The definition of a gallery is getting more and more blurred in Washington, as restaurants and boutiques are prioritizing local art more and more, but one thing is for certain: the art scene will continue evolving, and some gallery owners are ready for changes.

“What I would like to see is more opportunity for artists to create in spaces that they can afford, and that the neighborhood and community supports, and that will come in time,” Jandrow said. ⋇ JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 49

CAST A LINE

Anglers aren’t the only ones feeling the heat STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY CAPT. RICHARD ANDREWS

E

astern North Carolina summers are hot and humid. The upshot is that fishing can be really productive. When the summer hits the Pamlico River, those on top of the water aren’t the only ones feeling the heat.

Speckled trout are usually found in deeper, cooler water in the sound, and they move up along the shallow banks to feed in the late afternoon, night and early morning. More northern, coldwater species, such as striped bass usually respond negatively to the summer water temps, but puppy drum and flounder do really well. When water temps rise, fishing live baits for all four species can greatly increase your success and consistency.

An effective live bait angler has to be intimately familiar with baitfish and their strengths and weaknesses.

Mud minnows are very hardy, easy to keep alive and easy to catch. They

also catch all fish well. Mud minnows are common in the summer and can be found around shoreline structure or grass, swimming near the surface near schools.

A minnow trap set with shrimp heads or broken up blue crab for bait works best. Set the traps where the minnows concentrate. With about a half hour of good soak time for a couple of carefully set and baited traps, you should have all you need for a day of fishing. If you don’t have a live well, don’t worry — they do just as well in a bucket in some water.

Other popular live baits for summer fishing are finger mullet, menhaden, shrimp, croaker, spot and pinfish, all of which have their particular strengths and weaknesses. Finger mullet is probably the most popular and can be caught in a cast net with relative ease. Cast-net fishing is an art, but it’s not as difficult as most people think. YouTube has plenty of videos on how to throw one, and you practice in

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your yard. It won’t take long to learn how to “pancake” that cast net.

Most live baits are fished along the bottom on a weighted “Carolina Rig,” freelined in the mid-water column with no weight, or fished near the surface under a clip-on cork, popping cork or some other type of bobber. Incorporating all three of these strategies in deeper water is an excellent way to prospect the water column for fish. Because of the abundance of shallow-water habitat (less than 5-6 feet) in the Pamlico, most anglers fish a live bait under a cork. My favorite is the popping cork.

All curious anglers should explore their live bait options during the summer fishing season. Live bait fishing will add another dimension to your fishing, if you are mostly an artificial lure fisherman.

Even on the hottest of summer days, you might find you catch more fish and have more consistent success. ⋇

WHAT'S TO EAT

THE BOUNTY of Beaufort County

S

STORY, PHOTOS AND FOOD PREP BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

ummertime … and the living is easy.

And so are these recipes that make for tasty meals in the heat of summer. Beaufort County has no shortage of resources, from its land to its waterways. Take advantage of the earth’s bounty with homegrown vegetables, fresh from the garden—or the new Harbor District Farmer’s Market—with summer squash oregano or zesty corn on the cob, delicious side dishes perfect for any summer meal.

Visit area seafood distributors for fresh, local

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catch, take it straight from the river to your plate with sautéed shrimp and cheese grits, cheesy crab burritos or seafood casserole. With this batch of recipes, you can even add a little sweetness to your mornings with fresh-picked blueberries and blueberry muffins.

Enjoy these recipes and more, outside, under a Carolina blue sky this summer and give thanks for the bounty that is Beaufort County.

As always, these recipes are courtesy of the Washington Daily News’ Pamlico Pantry collection of local fundraising cookbooks. Enjoy! ⋇

SUMMER SQUASH OREGANO Mary Emily Moore “Plate & Palette,” Arts of the Pamlico, Washington

3 tablespoons butter, melted; 1 onion, sliced; 1 garlic clove, chopped; 1 green pepper, chopped; 1 tablespoon fresh oregano; 3/4 pound squash, sliced; 3/4 pound zucchini, sliced; 4 tomatoes, chopped; salt and pepper; Parmesan cheese.

Sauté onion, garlic and green pepper in butter until tender. Stir in oregano, squash, zucchini and tomatoes. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese lightly over top. Cover and cook 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

(Yield, 6 servings)

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CHEESY CRAB BURRITOS

SEAFOOD CASSEROLE

Evelyn Wise

Blair Edwards

“Second Heavenly Helpings,” Swan Quarter Baptist Church

“Time for Tea & Our Favorite Recipes,” Ephesus Free Will

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese; 8 ounces crab meat; 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded; 8 (10 inch) flour tortillas; salsa.

Mix cream cheese and cheddar together. Stir in crab meat. Spoon down middle of each tortilla; roll up tightly and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with salsa.

Baptist Church Ladies Auxiliary, Blounts Creek.

1 pound shrimp, cleaned; 1 pound crab meat; 1 package wild rice with herbs; 1/3 cup chopped onion; 1 cup chopped celery; 1 medium jar pimento; 3 cans cream of mushroom soup; 1 lemon, juiced.

Cook wild rice as directed on package. Mix well with all ingredients. Bake in prepared dish or pan for one hour at 325 degrees.

ZESTY CORN ON THE COB Deb Gurganus Hodges Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church, Chocowinity

8 ears of corn; butter; 8 slices of bacon; Mrs. Dash original seasoning blend; aluminum foil.

Coat each ear of corn in butter; sprinkle on Mrs. Dash seasoning. Wrap each ear of corn with a strip of bacon. Place each ear of corn in aluminum foil and cook on the grill for about 45 minutes.

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SAUTEED SHRIMP WITH CHEESE GRITS Nancy Winfrey “Plate & Palette,” Arts of the Pamlico, Washington

Grits: 1 1/2 cups chicken broth; 1 1/2 cups milk; 3/4 cups quick grits; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

Shrimp: 1 cup diced bacon; 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined; 1/2 cup thinly sliced strips green bell pepper; 1/2 cup thinly sliced strips red bell pepper; 1/2 cup slivered onion; sliced green onions and cheddar cheese for garnish; Tabasco sauce.

To prepare grits, bring chicken broth and milk to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in grits and salt; return to boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook 5 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in cheddar cheese. Keep warm.

To prepare shrimp dish, cook bacon in skillet until crisp.

Remove from skillet and drain bacon on paper towels; set aside.

Drain all but 2 tablespoons drippings from skillet. Add shrimp, peppers and onion; cook until vegetables are tender and shrimp turns pink, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with Tabasco sauce.

Stir in bacon. Serve shrimp mixture over warm cheese grits.

Garnish with chopped green onions and shredded cheddar cheese. (Yield: 6 servings)

“I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S TUNA” BALL Lydie Jennings “Plate & Palette,” Arts of the Pamlico, Washington

(1) 6-ounce can white albacore tuna, packed in water; (1) 8-ounce package cream cheese; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 2 teaspoons finely chopped onion; 2 teaspoons horseradish; 1/2 cup chopped pecans; 1/2 cup finely chopped celery.

Rinse and drain tuna thoroughly. Mix tuna and lemon juice, allowing tuna to absorb lemon juice thoroughly.

Blend tuna, cream cheese, onion and horseradish. Shape into a ball and roll in pecans mixed with celery. Serve with crackers. (Cook’s note: for a bit more zing, double the lemon juice and add some ground chipotle pepper!)

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS Nancy Hocutt

“If You Can’t Stand the Heat,” Bear Grass Fire Rescue Ladies Auxiliary.

1/2 cup sugar; 2 cups flour; 4 teaspoons baking powder; 1 cup milk; 1/4 cup oil; 1 egg; 1 cup blueberries.

Mix milk, oil and egg together. Add to mixture of flour, sugar and baking powder. Stir only until moistened. Gently stir in berries. Spray muffin tins with Pam and spoon batter into cups. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

Makes one dozen small muffins. You may add extra sugar if sweeter muffin is desired.

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WORD ON WINE

WINES for summer enjoyment WRITTEN BY MARY MEHLICH

F

or some obscure reason, some authorities seem bent on making the drinking of wine a ritual more complicated than chess.

They have succeeded in inhibiting a large section of the public and depriving them of one of the greatest pleasures known to man, the ability to relax and have a glass of wine.

Wine speaks to all the senses: the nose, the bouquet; the fingers and lips feel the coolness of the glass; the ears delight in the swishing of the wine in the glass; and last but certainly not the least, the tongue rejoices in the reward of the harvest.

As Louis Pasteur said, “Wine should be considered with good reason the most healthful and hygienic of all beverages.”

In this column, we are going to explore wine for summer enjoyment. It is the time of year when we spend a lot of time outside. It is the time of year for grilling, boating, camping and hanging out at the beach or on the river. So, let’s get started.

Remember drinking wine is about relaxing, enjoying family and friends, with a good meal or a glass on the porch or maybe just with a good book you’ve been wanting to read. It can play an integral part in your summer lifestyle.

French Champagne, Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava are the perfect bubbles to enjoy on a hot summer afternoon. They are light in alcohol and pair with lighter fare such as salad or a cheese plate, most delicious on its own as well. Nothing more refreshing than a cold glass of bubbly.

Mary Mehlich is the owner of Wine & Words & Gourmet in downton Washington. ⋇

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ALBARIÑO Thanks to improved aquaculture practices, the days in which people were advised to avoid eating oysters during months lacking the letter “R” are over.

You’ll have a hard time finding a better wine to pair with oysters than Albariño, a white grape grown in northwest Spain.

Hailing from Galicia, Albariño is salty and everything a summer wine should be. Oysters are a preferred pairing, but most seafood will match splendidly with this lively Spanish varietal.

ROSÉ

GAMAY

Rosé wines may look similar in color, but there are a wide variety of flavors within this growing category of wine. The major differences of rosé wines result from the varieties from which they are made.

Not only are they refreshing and light in alcohol, they pair with a wide range of foods. The lighter Provencial rosés from France serve as a lovely aperitif. The Spanish and Italian rosés are a bit more fruit forward and pair with grilled salmon or pork. Rosé is even delicious with pizza.

Whatever your style of rosé, you can’t go wrong pairing it with summer cuisine.

Better known as Cru Beajolais, this is a light French wine from Burgundy. Gamay wines are bright and appealing, with aromas and flavors of cherries, dried fruit and spice. Some have a peppery note depending on the Cru they are from. There are 10 Grand Cru’s in the Beaujolais. These wines pair with a variety of foods ranging from grilled chicken or pork to hangar steak or grilled salmon.

GRUNER VELTLINER Grüner Veltliner from Austria is a summer hit that drinks way too easily for its own good. It’s bright and zippy, making it the perfect wine to pair with a salad of summer vegetables. Raw, grilled, steamed or otherwise, the Grüner will do an excellent job picking up the nuances of fresh summer produce, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better light beginning to a meal.

FRASCATI SUPERIORE DOCG This wine hails from Lazio on the outskirts of Rome. It’s golden-straw in color, with scents of hay, white peach, citrus and almond. This lovely white has great body, good minerality and a clean, crisp finish. It pairs with grilled seafood, chicken or pork.

RIESLING Rieslings are terrific partners for many types of cuisine. With their extraordinary range of sweetness levels and regional styles, it’s possible to find a Riesling for just about any dish. The key is to find the appropriate combination of sweetness, acidity, intensity and aromatic harmony (or contrast).

TEMPRANILLO This Spanish wine is made from a grape that was once thought to be a relative of Pinot Noir. Tempranillo is often blended to make Rioja wines, but on its own creates a wine that is lean and dry. It is medium bodied with red fruit flavors and a touch of spice. Making it the perfect pairing for tapas or a charcuterie board.

NEBBIOLO

CARMÉNÈRE Summer and steak go hand-in-hand.

Finding the perfect beverage pairing can play a huge role in how enjoyable the meal is. There are plenty of wines that pair well with steak, but few are quite as effective as Carménère. A Chilean red, Carménère is rich with flavors of violets and red cherries, allowing it to play perfectly off of a juicy, meaty steak. Reduce the wine into a sauce, and you’ll have one of the most harmonious wine and food pairings imaginable on your hands.

A floral wine with light, red-fruit aromas suggests Nebbiolo is much lighter than it is. Upon tasting Nebbiolo, you will experience gripping tannin and high acidity. Despite its tannic structure, the wine’s fruity flavors of cherry and raspberries, supported with aromas of rose and anise, always seem to shine through. It is the perfect wine for braised short ribs, grilled or roasted duck and other high fatty foods.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

PINOT NOIR The wine is renowned for its aroma of strawberries, raspberries and cherries.

It has a long, delicate finish with a little spice mid-palate. This wine pairs with grilled meats, oily fish and a good cheese plate. It is light and savory.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a food-world favorite, and it’s easy to see why. It’s tannic structure, coupled with its red and black-fruit flavors complement hearty dishes perfectly. Pair this wine with blue cheeseburgers, braised lamb shanks or a hearty charcuterie board.

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DINING GUIDE

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1901 Charles Blvd. • Greenville

252-756-1345 www.patioandhearthshop.com

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

SWIMMING with the fish WRITTEN BY MITCHELL THOMAS PHOTOS BY PINE KNOLL SHORES AQUARIUM

DESTINATION: PINE KNOLL SHORES AQUARIUM LOCATION: PINE KNOLL SHORES DISTANCE: 77 MILES TIME: 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES ADDRESS: 1 ROOSEVELT BLVD.

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T

here are only four aquariums in the state of North Carolina, a part of the North Carolina aquarium division under the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. All four aquariums as a whole were ranked seventh in the nation, according to USA Today’s Readers’ Choice awards. They were bumped up two spots after finishing ninth in last year’s rankings.

At Pine Knoll Shores, you’ll find the biggest aquarium in the state per square feet, and tons of adventures and special events outside of its walls to experience.

“Our aquarium is set up to where you can see all the different waterways from the mountains to the coast,” Danielle Bolton, the communications manager at the Pine Knoll Shores aquarium said. “Even people that have been here 1,000 times can find out something they didn’t know before, every time they come.”

Activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing are offered in the summer months, led by a tour guides spouting educational facts for the duration of the trip on the water. You’ll learn about the marshlands, coastal lines and have someone to point out the natural beauty that you might otherwise miss.

Upon entering the aquarium’s exhibits, you’ll be greeted with a 50-foot waterfall. The biggest manmade ocean habitat in North Carolina is filled with 306,000 gallons of water to showcase the “living shipwreck” exhibit, featuring a U-352 German submarine that the U.S. sunk off the coast of North Carolina in 1942.

From there, you’ll experience all types of wild life from fish, to alligators, to otters and, now, eagles.

“Eagles landing” will officially open up the weekend of July 4. About six months ago, two injured eagles were given to the aquarium for an exhibit. Visitors will be able to catch glimpses of the eagles until the weekend of the official opening, but caretakers are having to build trust with the animals before letting the public get up close and personal.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredit all of the NC aquariums, including Pine Knoll Shores.

They’re committed to saving animals locally and globally, with a focus on sea turtles, sand tiger sharks and Carolina gopher frogs.

Take a visit to Pine Knoll Shores aquarium; you can book your trip online at www.ncaquariums.com/ pine-knoll-shores. ⋇

Mushroom Cap jellyfish at Pine Knoll Shores aquarium floats majestically in its tank. These jellyfish can be found in North Carolina in the late winter to early spring.

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OUT & ABOUT

CALENDAR SUP Yoga

Music Jam

Inner Banks Outfitters 8 a.m., every Saturday. Basic yoga and stand-up paddleboarding combine for this hour-long class on the Pamlico River. No yoga or paddleboarding experience needed — just a sense of fun and adventure. Call 252-975-3006 to reserve a spot. $15 with paddleboard rental; $10 without.

Mainstreet Landing 6:30 p.m. Join fellow musicians and music-lovers for a friendly jam session. All are welcome. Belhaven Mainstreet Landing, 226 E. Main Street, Belhaven. For more information, call 252-945-7028.

ALL JULY & AUGUST Thursday Night/Saturday Morning Jams Turnage Theatre Open jam Thursday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Musicians and fans are encouraged to attend and play. No admission fee. Sponsored by Beaufort County Traditional Music Association. For more information, visit www.bctma.org or call 252-946-2504.

July 3

Street Dance Downtown Belhaven 8-11 p.m. Launch Belahven’s annual Fourth of July festivities at this street dance featuring the Greenville-based rock band Trainwreck. For more information about Belhaven’s events, visit belhavennc.us/ post/144/4th-of-july-celebration.html.

River Roving Educational River Tours North Carolina Estuarium Learn about the history and habitats of the Washington waterfront. These boat tours cruise the Pamlico River, Wednesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

No admission fee; advance reservations are required. Riders should check in 15 minutes in advance. Children must be at least 6 years old to ride; a responsible adult must accompany children under 16.

Call 252-948-0000 for reservations. Visit www.partnershipforthesounds.net/ for information.

Farmers’ Market Downtown Washington 8 a.m. to noon, every Saturday. The market begins May 11 and runs through October. The Farmers’ Market is fun for the whole family.

It is a great place to spend the morning talking with local farmers or searching for a unique present. Our market features local growers of fresh fruit, vegetables, plants and flowers. You never know what might find, the products are always changing! Call 252947-1487 for more information.

Rock the Pamlico Turnage Theatre 6:30-9 p.m. Join local musicians every Tuesday night to jam to some of the best rock music! Free. Call 252-946-2504.

JULY

July 4

4th of July Celebration Festival Park 6 p.m. Have a picnic in the park with several food vendors available and live music featuring Breadwine & Blooze Band and fireworks at dark. For more information, call 252-947-1487 or go to www.facebook. com/WashingtonHarborDistrictAlliance/.

IBXO Cycling Events Inner Banks Outfitters Sunday Morning Road Bike Ride, 8:30 a.m.; road bikes only; no drop; 20-30 miles; 14-18 mph average. Tuesday “Ladeez Road Bike Ride,” 5:30 p.m.; distance varies 10-20 miles; Wednesday “Slo Spokes” ride, 6:30 p.m.; all cyclists encouraged; 4-8 mph at a slow pace; perfect for those new to cycling or nervous to ride on road; very social. Thursday Evening Time Trial, 5:30 p.m. departure from shop; road bikes only; 12-mile course; stagger start according to previous times; every level of rider welcome, but contact shop if attending for the first time; Backwater Jack’s gathering after event. Helmets are required during all cycling events. Call 252-975-3006 for more information or to check for change in location/times.

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4th of July Celebration

Downtown Belhaven Music, food, vendors, fireworks, a parade and more fill out a roster of events for this annual celebration. Featuring the Pantego Mud Run, a major fundraiser for the Pantego Volunteer Fire Department and drawing mud-running participants from across the east! Visit belhavennc.us/post/144/4th-ofjuly-celebration.html for more information.

July 6

Washington Haunts: The Historic Ghost Walk Downtown Washington 8 p.m. Walks will begin at 8 p.m.; ticket sales start at 7:30 p.m. $15 per person, cash only. No reservations. Meet at Harding Square beside the Washington Visitors

Center at the foot of Market Street. The ghost walk is a 90-minute walk through three centuries of supernatural occurrences in the oldest town named for George Washington.

For more information, call Terry Rollins at 252-402-8595.

1836 Independence Day Picnic Bonner Point, Bath Bring your family, friends, and packed picnic basket to Bonner Point to celebrate Independence Day, 1830s style! Join in a round of town ball, listen to the reading of the Declaration of Independence, and enjoy interacting with costumed interpreters as we celebrate the first 50 years of our new nation. Free to the public.

hunterspointenc.com/Events.html for more information.

July 13

Wine and Cheese Paddle Inner Banks Outfitters 5 p.m. Join other kayakers and standup paddleboarders for this evening journey from Runyon Creek to Castle Island to watch the sun set. Toes in the sand, glass in hand and a guarantee to make a friend or five.

After an evening on the water, return to Backwater Jack’s for live music. Call 252975-3006 to make a reservation. Life jackets are required to be worn. $50 with kayak rental; $30 without.

July 14

Broadway on the Big Screen Turnage Theatre 2-4 p.m. Relive the musical magic of “Bye Bye Birdie,” one of America’s best-loved musicals. In this tuneful parody of Elvis Presley, Conrad Birdie is a wildly popular ’50s rock-n-roll star. Conrad’s manager, Albert (Jason Alexander) and his devoted secretary, Rosie (Vanessa Williams), arrange for Conrad to make a dramatic final appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” on the eve of his joining the Army. Presented for free with a suggested $5 donation.

Concessions available for purchase.

July 16

Open Mic Night

July 10

July Art Exhibit Opening Turnage Theatre 5:30-7 p.m. Arts of the Pamlico welcomes two new exhibits: Retrospective: Irene Glover Forbes’ Pottery Exhibit and The View through a Window: What’s on the Other Side?

Meet & Greet Boys & Girls Club, Washington 2-4 p.m. City of Washington Police and Fire Services sponsors this event for the whole family. Includes appearances by special guests and Level Up Mobile Gaming.

July 11

Senior Dance Washington Civic Center 7 p.m. Singles and couples over 50 are welcome to come and dance the night away.

Admission is $8. 50/50 drawing, door prizes.

No alcohol/no smoking/no children.

Turnage Theatre 7-9:30 p.m. Share your talent, test the market, grow your skills — musical, standup comedy, poetry recitation, dance — all forms welcome. Performers sign up for 10-minute-max slot at signup.com/login/ entry/757007295305526025. Free to the public. Arts of the Pamlico concessions will be available for purchase during the evening including beer, wine, soft drinks, iced coffee, water and snacks.

IC Improv Turnage Theatre 7-9 p.m. The IC Improv Troupe returns to the historic Turnage Theatre for a night of fun! Tickets are $7/$5 with cash discount.

Take part as the hilarity ensues at Arts of the Pamlico.

The Cratest Block Party Wine Crate 6-11 p.m. Join fellow revelers as Water Street is blocked off for the Cratest Block Party. Featuring music by DJ Captain Morgan.

July 21

Sundays in the Park Festival Park 2-4 p.m. Bring a chair, a blanket and a picnic for this afternoon of music sponsored by Arts of the Pamlico.

Featuring Smokehouse, a New Bern based band that plays southern, country and rock favorites.

July 25

Trivia Night Wine Crate 7 p.m. Join fellow trivia lovers for “Will and Grace” trivia night at the Wine Crate. Call 252-495-8485 for more information.

Variety Show Turnage Theatre 7-9 p.m. Join the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association for its monthly variety show, featuring fabulous musicians from near and far. The show is free; donations are appreciated. For more information, visit www.bctma.org.

July 26

July 20

Art Walk

Pirates in the Port Bath Historic Site Come and experience our 6th-annual meeting of the crews of both Blackbeard and Robert Maynard as they historically portray the daily lives of pirates and sailors in the Golden Age of Piracy. Demonstrations of 17th- and 18th-century daily sailor activities, cooking, weapons demonstrations, historical lectures, recruitment, pirate pardon, and memorial service for Maynard and his men.

Summer Sizzle Fun Shoot Hunters’ Pointe Sporting Clays Call 252-975-2529 or visit www.

Downtown Washington 6-8 p.m. Galleries stay open late, offering mini-receptions and new exhibits featuring local artists. You just might find music, prizes and more. Call 252-946-2504 for more information.

July 27

Dance Night Turnage Theatre 7-9 p.m. USA Dance Chapter 6046 hosts a dance night for an evening of couples and singles dancing and mingling! $7or $5 with cash discount.

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 63

AUGUST Aug. 3

welcome to come and dance the night away.

Admission is $8. 50/50 drawing, door prizes.

No alcohol/no smoking/no children.

Downtown Washington 8 p.m. Walks will begin at 8 p.m.; ticket sales start at 7:30 p.m. $15 per person, cash only. No reservations. Meet at Harding Square beside the Washington Visitors Center at the foot of Market Street. The ghost walk is a 90-minute walk through three centuries of supernatural occurrences in the oldest town named for George Washington.

For more information, call Terry Rollins at 252-402-8595.

Sidewalk Art Sale

Washington Haunts: The Historic Ghost Walk

Aug. 4

Summer Slam Festival Park 8 a.m. Washington’s premier CrossFit competition returns to Washington!

Sponsored by Fitness Unlimited and BoCo CrossFit. For more information, contact Manny Vidal at vidalpeakfitness@gmail.com.

Turnage Theatre Visit Arts of the Pamlico’s Turnage Theatre for its annual Sidewalk Art Sale in the Art Café Gallery. There’s tons of great art and deals to be had. Sale runs until Sept. 8.

Inner Banks Outfitters 5 p.m. Join other kayakers and standup paddleboarders for this evening journey from Runyon Creek to Castle Island to watch the sun set. Toes in the sand, glass in hand and a guarantee to make a friend or five.

After an evening on the water, return to Backwater Jack’s for live music. Call 252975-3006 to make a reservation. Life jackets are required to be worn. $50 with kayak rental; $30 without.

Turnage Theatre 2-4 p.m. For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs … who just happened to be there, too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. Presented for free with a suggested $5 donation. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Aug. 7

IC Improv

Aug. 17

Turnage Theatre 5:30-7 p.m. Arts of the Pamlico opens its annual juried photography show with a reception open to the public. Exhibit will be on display from Aug. 8 to Sept. 7.

Turnage Theatre 7-9 p.m. The IC Improv Troupe returns to the historic Turnage Theatre for a night of fun! Tickets are $7/$5 with cash discount.

Take part as the hilarity ensues at Arts of the Pamlico.

Aug. 8

The Cratest Block Party

Summer Regional Concert Series Turnage Theatre 7-9 p.m. Sponsored by the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association, the talented duo of LaNelle Davis and Tommy Edwards sing and play wide range of traditional music and instruments. Free; donations appreciated. Visit www.bctma. org for more information.

Senior Dance

Washington Civic Center 7 p.m. Singles and couples over 50 are

Aug. 18

Sundays in the Park Series Festival Park 2-4 p.m. Bring a chair, a blanket and a picnic for this afternoon of music sponsored

by Arts of the Pamlico. Featuring Guitars & Friends, a musical group made up of A-list musicians playing saxophone, flute, keyboard, percussion, combined with soulful solo vocals, three-part harmonies and, of course, guitars. The group covers many genres including pop, jazz, blues and folk.

Aug. 11

Broadway on the Big Screen

Beebe Memorial Park 6-8 p.m. National Night Out is an event celebrated all over the U.S., bringing the community and law enforcement together to fight against crime in our neighborhoods.

It is also an opportunity for law enforcement and the community to interact in a positive setting. Featuring food, games, giveaways and other items. For more information call Kimberly Grimes at 252-943-1715 or email kgrimes@washingtonnc.gov.

Photography Show Reception

Mid Atlantic 12/24 Washington High School 7 a.m. A unique cycling event that tests the stamina of cyclists. Call Melissa Maxwell at 252-945-9495 for more information. www. midatlanticultrasports.com.

Aug. 10

Wine and Cheese Paddle

Aug. 6

National Night Out

dance the night away to the popular soulful tunes of The Main Event Band. Beer and wine cash bar. For tickets, call 252-946-4171 ask for Melissa or Helen.

Wine Crate 6-11 p.m. Join fellow revelers as Water Street is blocked off for the Cratest Block Party. The music for the night will be announced by the Wine Crate.

Making Memories Dinner Dance Washington Civic Center 6-11 p.m. 2019 Making Memories Dinner Dance and silent auction fundraiser to benefit Dementia Alliance NC. Enjoy a fabulous dinner provided by Keyzer Catering.

Bid on a variety of auction items and then

64 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Aug. 20

Open Mic Night Turnage Theatre 7-9:30 p.m. Share your talent, test the market, grow your skills — musical, standup comedy, poetry recitation, dance — all forms welcome. Performers sign up for 10-minute-max slot at signup.com/login/ entry/757007295305526025. Free to the public. Arts of the Pamlico concessions will be available for purchase during the evening including beer, wine, soft drinks, iced coffee, water and snacks.

Aug. 22

Trivia Night Wine Crate 7 p.m. Join fellow trivia lovers for “Parks & Rec” trivia night at the Wine Crate. Call 252-495-8485 for more information.

Aug. 24

Dance Night Turnage Theatre 7-9 p.m. USA Dance Chapter 6046 hosts a dance night for an evening of couples and singles dancing and mingling! $7or $5 with cash discount.

Aug. 31

Summer Sizzle Fun Shoot Hunters’ Pointe Sporting Clays Call 252-975-2529 or visit www. hunterspointenc.com/Events.html for more information.

ADVERTISER INDEX 252 Digital

59

Ace Cleaning Services

45

Ag’s Home Solutions

59

Ameriprise Financial

65

Arts of the Pamlico

8

AssureVest Insurance Group-Ryan Whitford

33

Backwater Jack’s

11

Beaufort Equipment Co.

67

Beth Wilder/United Country Realty

11

BB&T Scott & Stringfellow

9

Big Bargain Furniture

2, 27

Bloom Women's Apparel

27

Carolina Wind Yacht Brokerage

27

Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty

3

Century 21

8

Century 21/Selby

49

Copper Canyon

45

Cottage Junkies

27

CresCom Bank

8

Daughtridge Patio & Hearth

59

Dellinger's Pawn

45

Diane Edwards/Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty

9

Dowry Creek Marina

51

El Charrito

58

Executive Personnel Group

65

Feyer Ford

5

Gail Kenefick/Coldwell Banker

45

G.W. Walker & Sons

27

Hunter's Pointe Sporting Clays

59

Inner Banks Outfiters

59

Jones & McKinney

59

Kelly O Crisp/Edward Jones

39

King Chicken

9

Marabella Italian Restauurant

58

Mauri Evans State Farm Insurance

33

Miracle-Ear 49 Mi Fiesta

39

Nan McLendon/The Rich Company

39

NERSBA 33 Robinson Jewelers

9

Servpro 59 Scott’s Apothecary

39

Sloan Insurance

27

Steamers Carpet Cleaners

49

Stewart's Jewelry Store

7

Tayloe's Hospital Pharmacy

17

The Rich Company

38

The Southern Nest Antiques

27

The Tavern at Jack's Neck

58

United Country Respess Real Estate

27

Vidant Medical Group

68

Washington Civic Center

33

Washington Crab and Seafood Shack

59

Washington Daily News

45

Washington Funeral/Hillside

17

Washington Yacht & Country Club

59

Watsi Sutton

27

Wine & Words ... & Gourmet

17

WHY I LOVE WASHINGTON

S U R R O U N D E D

by Southern hospitality WRITTEN BY JOAN CANNON MEYLAND | PHOTOGRAPH BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

M

y family moved to Washington, North Carolina, from Pennsylvania in 1982. We moved into a house in the Smallwood neighborhood. On move-in day, when we took a muchneeded break from unpacking, my father loaded us into the car and took us on a tour of Washington.

When we returned home, we were surprised to find our kitchen counter and table covered in fresh pies and friendly notes welcoming us to the neighborhood and the town of Washington. This was “Southern hospitality” at its best — and the pies were tasty, too!

Through the years. I have made many great friends and met the love of my life. My husband and I own Grub Brothers Eatery and The Bank Bistro. We have employed a lot of people who have become my “work family.” I enjoy meeting and welcoming new people, those who come to work with us, those who live here, those who are moving here and those just passing through. Everyone in Washington is so friendly and always willing to pitch in and help their friends and neighbors when they are in a time of need.

I have owned and operated four businesses, all located in the heart of the historic downtown area, and through the years, I have met and been supported by lots of fine folks. Many of these people have become true friends, people I can call and count on whenever I need anything.

And then there is the Pamlico River. Fishing, swimming, kayaking, boating, bicycling, the wildlife and beautiful sunsets — activities enjoyed by and shared with the of best people.

I love Washington, not only because I live here and I work here, but because our Pamlico River will always be surrounded by Southern hospitality. ⋇

66 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2019

Left to right: Anthony Canino, MD, Bonnie Corley, MD and Jake Shaffer, MD

We’re going further so you don’t have to Expert OB/GYN care that’s convenient and close Being a woman means being an expert at staying busy. From family schedules to work and errands you do it all, typically with a smile, because you know others are depending on you. Your time is valuable, and that’s why for women in Beaufort and surrounding counties, Vidant Women’s Care in Washington is a trusted source for obstetrics and gynecology right here in your hometown. We’re going further on the path to personalized care so you don’t have to.

Look to Dr. Anthony Canino, Dr. Bonnie Corley and Dr. Jake Shaffer to offer leading-edge services for adolescents to seniors including annual physicals, family planning, maternity care, infertility evaluation and management, management of cervical disease, menopause symptom management and treatment and minimally invasive gynecological surgery.

We realize that women are different. Your health issues require a specialized, sensitive approach. As a plus, you have the confidence of being part of a system of care that includes Vidant Beaufort Hospital as well as Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, the region’s only academic medical center.

To schedule an appointment, call 252-975-1188.

1210 Brown Street, Washington VidantHealth.com