Her Magazine May 2021

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2021

ADVENTURE GUIDE WASHINGTON, NC • FOOD • ADVICE • HEALTH • READING GUIDE

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Her — May 2021

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Meet our team

Christina Ruotolo Editor

Christina Ruotolo is the editor of Her Magazine, Hot Dish writer, and a multi-media specialist at The Daily Reflector newspaper.

She is active in the community, is a part-time bookseller at Barnes & Noble and is a creative writing instructor. When not indoor skydiving, zip lining, attempting to kayak, or exploring North Carolina’s small towns enjoying great food, she is probably napping because she is tired.

Jasmine Blount is a graphic designer at The Daily Reflector. She enjoys sonic slushes and spending time with her husband & two sons, Dash and Jett. Contact her at jblount@ apgenc.com.

Jasmine Blount Designer

Kris Fay

photographer

Christy Jones

Kris Fay is a photographer and owner of In Bloom Studios/In Bloom Boudoir Studios. She is a graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in interior design. She utilizes her training and experience to capture an image that tells its own story. She specializes in portraits, maternity and first year, wedding and engagement photos, graduation photos as well as business development photos.

Christy Jones, also know as Coach Chris, is an improvement coach for leaders and helps them break free from feeling overwhelmed and prepares them to take their teams to high levels of performance. Contact her at www.beginmonday.com .

Contributor

Camila Calabria Contributor

Erin Tucci

Contributor

Dear Friends,

Spring is in full bloom and summer is right around the corner. It’s almost time to take some much needed vacation.

After months of hunkering down pandemic style, it’s time to spread your wings, my beautiful butterflies, and fly this summer. I know you still may be hesitant about venturing out, but all you have to do is hop in the car, by yourself or with your favorite people, and visit some of the amazing small towns that dot the landscape of North Carolina. No need to pull out the passport or book a flight; adventure lies just around the corner.

In this special summer issue, I am featuring some incredible and exciting adventures that are a short drive from Greenville, the entire family will enjoy, and won’t break the bank. I will introduce you to Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving and ZipQuest Waterfall & Treetop Adventure, both located in Fayetteville.

I will also introduce you to the beautiful waterfront town of Washington, N.C., located about 30 minutes from Greenville. I explore much of what this charming town has to offer from The Elmwood 1820 Bed & Breakfast, boat rides, kayaking, museum hopping, Harbor Market exploring, shopping, and culinary wonders at The Hackney and The Bank Bistro restaurants.

This issue also features a summer reading guide for those that prefer their adventures in chapters, a charity spotlight on The Service League of Greenville and much more. So dust off your North Carolina map from 1986, grab your sunglasses, your camera, an overnight bag, your favorite people, and let’s go exploring this summer!

Virtual hugs and happy travels,

Camila Calabria is finishing her dietetic internship at East Carolina University. She holds a bachelor of science in nutrition and dietetics and is pursuing a master’s degree in nutrition science at East Carolina University. Camila aspires to become a registered dietitian and work in the clinical/ community setting. She enjoys creating healthy recipes that are quick and easy to prepare.

Erin Tucci is a current dietetic intern, East Carolina Pirate, and group fitness instructor. Her passion for preventative medicine and holistic health fuels her pursuit of knowledge in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Her all-time favorite foods are sweet potatoes and blueberries, and she loves sailing and island camping trips. When not reading up on new nutrition or dermatology research, you can find her out on the tennis courts, on the mats practicing Jiu-Jitsu, or on the couch binge-watching some addictive Netflix show.

Contact Her

Christina Ruotolo

— editor

Contents Cover Story

4-6 Bucket List Summer Adventure

Inside

8 Her Health: Stack it to Pack it 9 Her Recipe: Southwestern Mason Jar Salad 10 Her Advice: Life... The Great Adventure 12 Her Charity Spotlight: The Service League of Greenville Continues to Thrive

15 Her Business Spotlight: Crystal Coast Hand Crafted 16 Eastern North Carolina Adventure Guide 17-25 Let's Explore Washingston 26 The Hackney 28 The Bank Bistro & Bar 30 Summer Reading Guide

Christina Ruotolo | Editor | 329-9532 Craig Springer | Advertising | 329-9632 Jasmine Blount | Designer | 329-9606 Email: cruotolo@reflector.com

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Her — May 2021

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Bucket List Summer Adventures

BY CHRISTINA RUOTOLO

F

or the past year after COVID caused the world to halt travel in its tracks, we stayed home. We cooked at home, we worked from home, we went to school at home, and travel was the furthest thing from our weary minds. We packed away our maps, travel journals, passports, and fun meter, and opted for homespun adventure which was usually going no further than our backyards.

Now that the world has opened back up, we need to dust off our bucket list and get out there and do some living. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life is short and we need to do the things now and not wait. We are promised today, but not promised tomorrow. We may not get that chance again, so live every day like it’s your last. Allow adventure in any form, to take your breath away in a good way, make you leap for joy, jump into the unknown with a parachute, or get an adrenaline rush from riding the largest roller coaster.

It’s OK to still be scared, to doubt yourself, or to alter your original bucket list to fit the new travel mold, but you have to start now and take back your life, one bucket list item at a time. I decided earlier this year that I was going to tackle a few items on my bucket list. I wanted to try new things that I have never done before. I wanted to be able to travel to the locations easily in the same state, I wanted the adventures to be affordable, and I wanted to do things that originally scared me. So, I picked two fun adventures and off I went with hesitation as my travel guide.

I know a guy who skydives. I am totally jealous, and wished

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Her — May 2021

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I had the guts to leap from a moving plane at 30,000 feet and soar through the sky like a bird in flight with no fear whatsoever. I wanted to be fearless like him, but here’s the thing; I am scared of heights, like hyperventilation scared of heights. I’m not a fan of flying in a plane unless it’s first class on Air France to Paris and the idea of hurling through the sky with just a small parachute, makes my stomach do flips. But, I found an indoor skydiving facility in Fayetteville, NC that provides the same experience of skydiving, with no planes and no parachutes required.

Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving is a world class indoor skydiving location just a few hours from Greenville in Raeford, NC. With one of the largest wind tunnels in the world, Paraclete has been providing indoor skydiving to the Fayetteville area since 2008.

Technology has finally advanced enough to where you no longer have to march towards the big door of an airplane and step out into the atmosphere to earn your flying stripes. Indoor skydiving involves a vertical chamber (imagine a massive silo with windows) that has the most powerful fans you’ve ever seen, blowing lots of air into the tunnel from below. All you have to do is lean into the airflow and take flight! That seems simple enough and when I looked at the website and saw that

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little children were doing it, well then it was settled, I was indoor skydiving. I drove the two hours and met with the instructors.

First, you are taken into an educational room and shown training videos on how to hold your arms and legs and taught how the tunnel works. All participants of Paraclete XP are required to sign a waiver form. All minors under the age of 18 must have parental consent signed by each individual's parent. It’s cost effective and you buy based on how many minutes you want in the tunnel.

After you get some pre-flight education, you also have to memorize a few hand signals for inside the tunnel because it gets really loud when the fans are on and you will be unable to hear because you will be wearing earplugs. Next, I was given a flight suit. Mine was black with red stripes, a helmet and safety goggles. You get to watch other individuals and/or teams inside the tunnel prior to your turn so you can see how they do it. It was so cool to watch some sky diving teams make a circular formation and I imagine it took a very long time to get that good.

Once I was suited up, my instructor and I were ready to fly.

I have to say I wasn’t scared at first, more excited. I imagined it would be like stepping into a tornado, but the wind goes up and not around, so no worries here. The instructor walks in the chamber first and you step to the edge feeling the rush of wind in your face, put your arms out like you are going to dive in and the wind, which was about 110 mph for me, quickly lifts your whole body instantly. It was awesome! At first, I forgot most of the hand signals and felt the skin on my cheeks pull back from the force of the wind, so the fist few pictures of me looked like a scared pig. The instructor makes sure you are positioned correctly so you will go up instead of down and won’t hit the sides of the tunnel. It felt like a bird flying in the sky. You can feel the movement of wind on your stomach pushing you up and when you lift your chin up your body will rise.

I wanted to keep doing it because it was that exciting. After a few flights in the tunnel, I felt more relaxed and my body naturally went higher in the tunnel. The instructor will also take you much higher in a quick shoot up by increasing the wind speeds.

I was up for this, and with the instructor holding me, we flew up to almost the top of the tunnel and it felt like being sucked up by a natural gravitational force. Then, we quickly swooped back down and I closed my eyes the entire time, because of the whole heights thing. We did that one additional time and it was just as awesome. I went in the tunnel a few more times as I was beginning to get addicted to the weightlessness of it all. It was a total adrenaline rush and I can’t wait to go back and do it again soon. Who knows, I may even skydive for real one day. If you’re ready to give indoor skydiving a try, there’s no better place to experience the thrill of flight than Paraclete XP. The staff were educated, fun, and made me feel totally safe.

Since my first adventure involved heights, I figured I needed to continue to work on this fear, so I decided to do some zip lining right down the street at ZipQuest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure located in Fayetteville. ZipQuest Waterfall & Treetop Adventure Park is the premier zip line adventure facility in North Carolina. The property features a massive waterfall that allows incredible views from its zip-lines and treetop adventure park and offers something for all ages. For this adventure, I was scared. First, the heights went up to about 108 ft at the highest, the entire 2 ½ hour adventure was zip lining from treetop post to treetop post and you are literally zipping down a metal wire

Her — May 2021

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I JUST THANKED GOD I COULD ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE DAY AND FACE MY FEARS WITH A GROUP OF CARING AND SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE.."

at a pretty fast speed with trees whizzing by you and a waterfall under your feet. But, you are clipped in the entire time.

The first thing you do when you arrive is sign a waiver here too just making sure you know what you’re about to do. Then you must go to the bathroom because there are no potties in treetops. Thanks goodness I did not drink too much water that day as I think I was more terrified of having to go to the bathroom than falling. I selected the ultimate package, the Waterfall Expedition which consists of 8 tree-to-tree ziplines, 3 suspension bridges, 3 spiral staircases and a spectacular view of Carver’s Falls which is one Fayetteville's most exciting attractions. Go big or go home, that was my motto. And did I tell you, I don’t like swinging bridges either. No going back now.

Next, you pick a pair of thick gloves, a helmet and the instructors will help you put on your gear. Heading up our team of zip-liners I joined was our instructor Britt. She was funny, educated and made sure we were safely saddled up. Two additional instructors were part of our team. Humor is always good to lessen the fear. After we all looked like we about to climb a telephone pole as electricians, we were ready for the baby zipline for training. Here, you will learn how to place your hands, and use the gloved palm of your hand to brake when you are almost to the end of a zipline. I needed a few tries and I still think I may have never gotten it exactly right. Everyone enjoyed a good laugh as we headed out into the trees.

The first zipline was only about 50 feet up and was a quick

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zoom through the trees. I took a deep breath before hand, placed my hands in the correct position and away I went. I felt safe and secure, but note to self, don’t look down next time.

At each treetop, Britt told a funny story about the tree and its history or interesting facts about the park. Some of the trees were named Claire, Betty, and Pierre and some of the massive trees were Bald Cypress, Sweet Gum, and Tulip Poplar. But, I can’t remember everything they told us, because I was too busy holding the tree trunk and looking down and the massive drop to the forest floor below.

The spiral staircases were actually fun and felt like we were all living in the clouds. Now the suspension/rope bridges that seem to dangle and swing in the breeze scared me and I went super slow across holding on for dear life and silently praying my hand did not slip even though I was clipped in the entire time.

The sun peeked through the canopy of tress and sun-kissed our excited faces. Everyone was happy, and the staff make sure to take plenty of pictures so when we were done, we could see all the flying through the trees Tarzan adventure.

The setting for ZipQuest was breathtaking and at times, I just thanks God I could enjoy the beauty of the day and face my fears with a group of caring and supportive people. We laughed and zip-lined and when it was all over, I was happy but relieved too that I didn’t have to pee the whole time I was flying through the trees. I bought a T-shirt, got to see the pictures of my adventure and I looked happy. My cheeks were flushed and I looked relaxed. I will definitely zipline again and think it would be a lot of fun.

So for my summer bucket list, I faced some fears. I didn’t back out and I had fun. I went home exhausted and I couldn’t move my body for two days after, but it was worth it. I can now check those two things off my list. Now it’s your turn to dust off your bucket list and face your fears this summer, one bucket list item at a time.

Her — May 2021

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Her — May 2021

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HEALTH

Stack it to Pack it

BY CAMILA CALABRIA AND ERIN TUCCI

Do you have Mason jars (or even empty peanut butter containers) in the back of your cupboard? We have an idea for you! Mason jar salads are a fun, budget friendly, and convenient way to create healthy, personalized meals.

The key to keeping your leafy green base from getting soggy is to add greens last. Allow for other ingredients to act as a barrier between the dressing at the bottom and the other wet ingredients. For the art of layering, be sure to add a diverse array of colors and follow this order: 1. On the bottom: dressings/spreads (ranch, Italian dressing, olive oil/vinegar, hummus, honey mustard) 2. Hard vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, cooked beets, fennel, onion) 3. Grains, rice, beans, quinoa, pasta, tortellini 4. Cheese (cubes, brie, shredded, ricotta, mozzarella) and proteins (chicken, tofu, tempeh, meatballs, hard boiled eggs, shrimp, bacon) 5. Softer fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, avocados, strawberries, blueberries, sliced bananas, peaches, mushrooms) 6. Nuts, seeds, and toppings (pine nuts, ground flax and chia seeds, sunflower seeds, croutons, tortilla chips, pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts, peanuts) 7. On the top: Greens (romaine, arugula, spinach, mixed greens, Swiss Chard) 8. Simply flip and shake when you are ready to eat for an easy tossed salad.

Mason jar salads keep well in the fridge for 4-5 days. Environmentally friendly and reusable, the jars don’t contain BPA or Phthalates and are dishwasher safe. Travel tip – if your jar is at risk of being tipped, flipped or shaken during your commute, then you may want to pack the dressing separately or leave the dressing in your work refrigerator.

Mason jars aren’t limited to salads. They can be used in a variety of healthy and fresh recipes. They are well known for making overnight oats, smoothies and soups. These options are a good source of fiber and offer a variety of vitamins and minerals. You can even grow herbs and aquaponic plants in them! Here’s a recipe to get you started: Camila Calabria is finishing her dietetic internship at East Carolina University. She holds a bachelor of science in nutrition and dietetics and is pursuing a master’s degree in nutrition science at East Carolina University. Camila aspires to become a registered dietitian and work in the clinical/community setting. She enjoys creating healthy recipes that are quick and easy to prepare.

Erin Tucci is a current dietetic intern, East Carolina Pirate, and group fitness instructor. Her passion for preventative medicine and holistic health fuels her pursuit of knowledge in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Her all-time favorite foods are sweet potatoes and blueberries, she loves sailing and island camping trips. When not reading up on new nutrition or dermatology research, you can find her out on the tennis courts, on the mats practicing Jiu-Jitsu, or on the couch binge-watching some addictive Netflix show.

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BY COACH CHRIS As I was preparing for the writing of this article, I began to reflect upon the word “adventure.” Miriam Webster’s dictionary defines adventure like this: “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks; the encountering of risks; an exciting or remarkable experience.” My mind began to wander to try and collect the greatest adventure that I have ever experienced, and I was truly drawing a blank.

I began to think about my travels and some of the places that I have been and some of the things that I have been able to see and do. In my young, ambitious teenage years, I once rode with a friend who was driving her mom’s car going at least 100 miles per hour just for fun down U.S. Route 17 (also known as the Dismal Swamp Road) —we could have literally lost our lives that night in the sake of fun. Talk about adventure involving danger! I have had the privilege of hiking in the beautiful Maroon Bells mountains on the border between Pitkin County and Gunnison County, Colorado —about 12 miles west of Aspen. The scenes were simply breathtaking, and the long hike was certainly an adventure for me, someone who has never been hiking and had no preparation gear! I have had the honor of standing where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream Speech” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. What an honor! As I continue thinking about the adventures of my life, I also have had the opportunity to sit with my uncle who was dying and watch him decline as he was moving toward transitioning from this life, which was sobering. You know, all these experiences (and I have had many more that I could highlight) have been quite adventurous for me. However, I cannot say that one has been better than the other for me. I would have to say that life, as a whole, for me has been the greatest adventure!

You see life, as I see it, is filled with good times, risk, danger, questions, frustrations, and exciting experiences. I am of the persuasion that one must take life and make it remarkable! You and I have so much potential and so much that we have yet to see and experience. I want to share with you a few of my core beliefs that I know can help you to live your greatest adventure called life! If you are going to live an adventurous life, I believe you must embrace three important things:

DREAM BIG! I know this sounds so cliche-ish but really, the ability to dream big can take you places you never thought you could go! You have to be able to see beyond where you are right now and look for something bigger. You have to know that you were made for more and that it is OK for you to dream — and dream big!

It costs you nothing to dream! Dreams can help you to come out of a pit and bring you into a place of productivity that is fulfilling and freeing! What is your dream? What do you see on the inside? Listen, it may not make sense to anyone else; that does not even matter. Remember this is your adventure, your dream, your life!

COLOR OUTSIDE OF THE LINES! In other words, stop playing it safe! Remember an adventure is “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks; the encountering of risks; an exciting or remarkable experience.” When you are creating an adventurous life, playing it safe and settling inside your comfort zone will not produce what you are looking for. You have to be okay with things getting messy, smudged and “all-over the place” from time to time. That is part of creating adventure! You are too brilliant, too bold, and too full of potential to simply settle for the safe! Get outside of your comfort zone and create the beautiful adventure that you have been dreaming about! I want to challenge you to get to refuse to get to the end of your life and have any “shoulda, coulda, or woulda” in the midst of your story!

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EXPERIENCE IT WITH FRIENDS! Life was not made for you to experience your adventure alone! You need people. You need relationships. You need friends! Gone are the days of the Lone Ranger, especially when the adventure involves danger and unknown risks. You have to understand that we all have blind spots, and we were not made to cover our own backs. I understand that relationships can be painful, and you can run the risk of getting hurt, but if the truth be told, at the end of the day we can overcome pain. No one gets to the end of life and asks for things; they generally ask for their family and friends and other loved ones to be surrounding them. Think about that. I want to encourage you, if you have taken the time to develop quality relationships, now is the time to do so. Your adventures in life are not going to be the best if you experience them alone!

I want to inspire you and encourage you to live this life; it is a great adventure! Take the good with the bad and turn it beautiful. Ride the waves, hike in the mountains, don’t get discouraged by the valleys, make the speech, go after the position, and leave your mark in this world. Let the people around you know that you were here! Until next time…enjoy your adventure!

Christy Jones, also known as Coach Chris, is an improvement coach for leaders and helps them break free from feeling overwhelmed and prepares them to take their teams to high levels of performance. Contact her at www.beginmonday.com.

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Her — May 2021

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CHARITY SPOTIGHT

THE SERVICE LEAGUE OF GREENVILLE CONTINUES TO THRIVE CONTRIBUTED INFO In the fall of 1938, a group of 40 to 50 women led by Mrs. Wyatt Brown (Trissie Brown) met and formed the Greenville Service League (now The Service League of Greenville). The ladies opened a Thrift Shop which supported their work, sponsoring a free hospital bed for the needy. This bed was dedicated in the name of Dr. Charles O’Hagan Laughinghouse, who

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had devoted himself to establishing a community hospital in Pitt County.

In 1939, a Benefit Ball was held in the college auditorium where couples were charged $1.50 to attend. During World War II, league members rolled bandages for the troops, collected sugar stamps, and made and sold cakes. In addition, the league gave a medical kit to a Coast Guard boat, which was equipped with only donated medical supplies.

As Pitt County grew, so did the number of people who needed assistance. When Pitt County Memorial Hospital opened in 1951 on Fifth Street Extension, the ladies of the Service League operated a small coffee shop to sell soup and pimento cheese and country ham sandwiches, which they made at home. Coffee, soft drinks and candy were also sold along with small sundries and cigarettes. When the larger hospital (now Vidant Medical Center) opened in 1977, the league opened a much larger gift shop and cafe. Today, the league manages three gift shops – one at the front entrance, one in the Children’s Hospital, and one in the new Cancer Center.

The league donated funds to purchase the first neonatal equipment at Pitt Memorial, sponsored the Vidant Interfaith Chapel, gave $1.5 million to the Children’s Hospital, and is providing $2 million to fund the Healing Garden at the new Cancer Center. This year, members agreed to donate another $2 million toward a Vidant Medical Foundation Cancer Care Endowment Fund for Essential Programs and Services. Total donations

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and pledges by the Service League to the hospital are now more than $13 million.

Each year, members of the league give approximately 16,000 hours in volunteer work to Vidant Medical Center, The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice House, the American Cancer Center McConnell-Rabb Hope Lodge and the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern North Carolina. Through the Service League’s Laughinghouse Fund, founded in 1939, members continue to help those who have medical needs and who are recommended by doctors for medical and dental help. Laughinghouse Funds are raised today by holding an annual Charity Ball. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s event was a “No Show Ball,” which continued to be successful due to support of businesses, family, and friends. Because of this, the league can continue to provide assistance to the hundreds of approved families who have lost insurance and need prescriptions or presurgical dental help. In the last two years, the league has also provided scholarship support to five students at the Brody School of Medicine, the ECU School of Dental Medicine, the ECU College of Nursing, and the ECU College of Allied Health Sciences.

During the pandemic, President Danette Pugh and league members have had to be creative in finding ways to support projects and the three gift shops. The league has offered curbside service at Vidant and had more than 100 members on Zoom meetings. Members have held drive-through meetings at Christmas and Easter to collect items for the Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House; have made donations to local food bank; donated 75 blankets made by members at home for patients at Vidant; and contributed items for Carolina Pregnancy Center, ECU OB-GYN, Pitt County Health department; and Hospice House.

After more than 80 years, the ladies in light blue or aqua blue coats are still at work at the hospital and the community.

The Service League of Greenville is a non-profit, all volunteer organization whose members have donated their time and talent for the benefit of their community. To find out more about this organization, visit www.serviceleaguegreenvillenc.org, or find on Facebook (Service League of Greenville NC and Vidant Gift Shops) and Instagram (slg_nc and vidant_gift_shops).

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Her — May 2021

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WASHINGTON BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

230 W. Main St., Washington, N.C. Washington, North Carolina’s shopping district on and around Main Street just a block from the waterfront is home to a variety of shops, boutiques, and businesses offering everything your shopping heart desires. Crystal Coast Hand Crafted is a new business that opened in March and strives to create an awesome product for all to enjoy! Inside you will find an Artisan’s Galleria featuring craft and vendor booths offering up wood creations, eclectic gifts, wine décor, handmade treats, handcrafted wreaths, CBD products, accessories, gifts, hand-poured container candles, soaps, and more. It’s a one-stop destination for all things hand crafted. Come explore the vendors that call Crystal Coast Hand crafted home.

Owners Robin Keech and Betty Jo Carowan started Crystal Coast Hand Crafted in 2020, a year none of us will ever forget.

Both nurses, they grew tired of the large corporate setting of healthcare and desired to do something creative and fun that could be enjoyed by others. Candles with a coastal twist, made the top of the list.

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EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

ADVENTURE GUIDE

SYLVAN HEIGHTS BIRD PARK One of the nation's premier avian conservation and education centers.

Tour the large aviaries housing rare and endangered waterfowl, parrots, flamingos, toucans, pheasants, and more. Children will enjoy feeding birds, seeing ducks hatch (seasonal) or many other hands-on activities.

The park features more than 2,500 birds, so don't miss an opportunity to enjoy this family-friendly adventure.

500 Sylvan Heights Park Way, Scotland Neck Open Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ~ 252-826-3186 www.shwpark.com

AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM The Aurora Fossil Museum was founded in 1976 by a small group of individuals who had a vision to introduce and educate the public on the vast scientific discoveries that were being unearthed at the neighboring phosphate mine. The museum’s mission is to educate the public about paleontology in an engaging manner while emphasizing the natural and cultural history of eastern North Carolina. The main museum houses a wide variety of Miocene and Pliocene marine fossils with most displays showcasing specimens collected from the neighboring Nutrien Phosphate Mine (formerly known as Texas Gulf Sulfur, PCS Phosphate, PotashCorp). Featured in the shark hall are the remnants of the terror of the Miocene-Pliocene seas, C. megalodon!

400 Main St., Aurora Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday (subject to change) (252) 322-4238 ~ www.aurorafossilmuseum.org

ZIPQUEST WATERFALL AND TREETOP ADVENTURE Zipquest Waterfall & Treetop Adventure Park is the premier zipline adventure facility in North Carolina. The property features a massive waterfall that allows incredible views from its zip-lines and treetop adventure park and offers something for all ages.

533 Carvers Falls Road, Fayetteville 910-488-8787 ~ www.zipquest.com

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PARACLETE XP INDOOR SKYDIVING If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing the freedom that skydivers have without taking the same leap, then indoor skydiving is for you. Technology has finally advanced enough to where you no longer have to march towards the big door of an airplane and step out into the atmosphere to earn your flying stripes. No planes and no parachutes here! Indoor skydiving involves a vertical chamber (imagine a massive silo with windows) that has the most powerful fans you’ve ever seen, blowing lots of air into the tunnel from below. All you have to do is lean into the airflow and take flight! If you’re ready to give indoor skydiving a try, there’s no better place to experience the thrill of flight than Paraclete XP. With one of the largest wind tunnels in the world, Paraclete has been providing indoor skydiving to the Fayetteville area since 2008.

190 Paraclete Drive, Raeford ~ (910) 848-2600 www.paracletexp.com

GOOSE CREEK STATE PARK Located just a short drive from the historic towns of Bath and Washington, N.C, Goose Creek State Park features 8 miles of trails through a broad range of coastal experiences — live oaks draped in Spanish moss, wetlands along the Pamlico Sound and a cypress swamp viewed from an extensive boardwalk. A visitor and environmental education center explains it all with detailed exhibits.

Getting into or onto the waters of the sound is easy at a sandy swim beach, a boat ramp or a separate paddling launch. A small tent-oriented campground offers solitude and a fun family excursion.

2190 Camp Leach Road, Washington, N.C. The Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Park hours are extended to 8 or 9 p.m. in spring and summer months.

To book a campsite, call 252-923-2191 www.ncparks.gov/goose-creek-state-park/home

NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES

From the mountains to the sea … feel the spray of a mountain waterfall.

Watch river otters play. Touch a stingray. Look a shark in the eye. Explore shipwrecks — without getting wet. See a rare white sea turtle. Thousands of aquatic animals take you on a journey from the state’s grand peaks to the open Atlantic, much like a raindrop makes its way to the ocean. Due to reduced capacity and demand for tickets, the aquarium requires guests and members to secure their arrival time and date before their visit.

1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores (252) 247-4003 ~ www.ncaquariums.com

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PANEL SMALL TOWN HIGHLIGHT

Explore

G

Pamlico Paper Company Print

BY CHRISTINA RUOTOLO

rowing up, weekend trips with my family consisted of pulling out the old-school map of North Carolina, grabbing the camera and some snacks, and we were off in search of adventure. North Carolina is a unique state offering thousands of locations that make for a perfect weekend getaway or day trip. Explore the beauty and slower pace that small towns provide and immerse yourself in their rich cultural history, go exploring, eat delicious food, shop for hidden treasures, enjoy the open waters, and meet local artisans and business owners.

Last month, I packed my bags and traveled to Washington, N.C., for two nights and three days to showcase some of the exciting and enjoyable adventures that this small town has to offer. Just a 30-minute drive from Greenville, Washington, has it all: a quaint shopping district, boardwalk overlooking the Pamlico River and a vast array of restaurants, shops, museums and adventures to be had. I am excited to share all of the adventures starting with my beautiful accommodations.

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Day One All great weekend getaways should include a bed and breakfast stay as they are cozier and you get a true feel for any small town when you stay at a B&B. The innkeepers will give you the lay of the land, shower you with incredible food and help guide you on the right adventures whether you came with the whole family, alone, or want to enjoy a much needed couple’s retreat.

The Elmwood 1820 Bed & Breakfast, located 731 W. Main St., is run by owners and innkeepers Richard Smoot and John Butler and has been open for five years. Upon first glance, the deep blue house with bright, black shutters takes your breath away with its high roofline and welcoming front porch that would many any Southern belle swoon. Two Koi fountains grace either side of the palatial, lush green front lawn that is adorned with stately trees, and a few fat bumble bees lazily buzz beside flowering pink azalea bushes.

The property was built in the 1820s, hence the name. The original owner was James Redding Grist, a businessman and planter, who was the oldest of 13 children. During the Civil War, he served as the second lieutenant in the Washington Home Guard. The house served as a Union headquarters and a hospital during the Civil War, after Union troops made advances. Grist ended up going back into farming both cotton and peanuts. At that time, he owned over 80 slaves, over 280 acres, making the Elmwood Plantation the largest plantation in the county in the 1800s. He died in 1876 at the age of 58.

Fast forward to the 1960s and a pediatrician bought the house and lived there with his family for many years. Richard and John looked at the house during a day trip to Washington and fell in love with the property. At the time, Richard was working in Washington, D.C., as an architect and John was working in marketing. They decided to settle in Washington, N.C., and bought the property in 2015. It took over a year of renovations to get it ready to be a B&B. It opened for business in 2016 and features four rentable rooms named the Gardner, Painter, Writer, and Explorer. They named the rooms these names because the majority of people who came to stay had these jobs, so it seems perfect. Each room has its own style and vibe. The winding staircase greets you upon entering the palatial front door which opens in a welcoming foyer, a dining room and a large gathering room featuring eclectic artwork, statues, and décor.

Each room tells a different story and features décor Richard and John picked up during past travel excursions. I stayed in the painter room on the second floor with its big bed, wooden rocking chair, an easel with art displayed. It even had its own separate sun-room with tall windows on three sides. The colors were vibrant like being inside an oil painting. The entire house was beautiful, and I wanted to wander around taking in the beauty each room offers. From an antique doorknob to porcelain tiles in the bathroom to the creaky wooden floors, it is both relaxing and enchanting. I was excited for my stay.

Let’s Get On The Water With An Afternoon Boat Ride After I checked in my room and took a tour of the house, I headed out to the water, which is just a short five-minute walk. I wanted to start my trip exploring the natural wonder of the Pamlico River on an af-

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ternoon boat ride with Captain Scott Hammond of XploreIBX Charters, LLC. Scott is a professional and experienced boater with over 20 years of experience. He is twice retired from the N.C. Highway Patrol and the Army National Guard. He started this business because he loves showcasing the beauty that the Tar and Pamlico rivers have to offer. “I love entertaining on the water and educating people on the beauty of this part of the country,” he says. The boat used is a 26-foot 1966 U.S. Naval launch boat that has been restored and even has the original brass steering wheel. The boat used to carry sailors ship to ship or ship to shore for the Navy.

We started the tour on the Tar River side and lazily motored down toward the bridge where it turns to the Pamlico River.

Scott educates passengers on the wildlife that dot the landscape on either side. You are bound to see osprey, mallard ducks, hen ducks, seagulls, and, on occasion, an American bald eagle. As we motor under the bridge past the tracks from the Norfolk & Southern Railroad, to my left directly across from the boardwalk is Castle Island, a now uninhabited piece of land that dates back to the 1700s. Castle Island housed many businesses in the 1800s from a lumber and sawmill, to shipbuilding to a rumored brothel and site for gambling run by a woman who everyone called “the Queen of the Castle.”

We continue on and soon as we move into the estuarium, where the river meets the sea, you can smell the salt in the air and taste it in the spray coming off from the boat. Right past the North Carolina Estuarium, we see a local landmark of trees to the left called Monkey Tree. It is a fisherman’s landmark and features Bald Cypress trees sticking straight up and out like wooden arms and legs. Opening up into the Pamlico, the waterway widens, the sun peeks back out from the clouds and we can see an osprey nest atop a large wooden pillar with a mounted light. The osprey are preparing their nests in March, and, in April, baby birds will emerge and ready themselves for flights. The waterway is quiet other than a bird or two and a few anchored boats bobbing like a baby in an afternoon swing.

We turn to make our way back, and the sturdy engine vibrates under our feet. The trip back is enjoyable as a mallard duck finally appears and its green wings glisten in the afternoon sun.

The boat ride was a relaxing and educational experience you should take part in when visiting Washington. Call Captain Scott at 945-6059 to make a reservation. You can enjoy a daytime or sunset cruise.

Dinner at The Bank Bistro Restaurant After my boat ride, I got ready for dinner and headed over to The Bank Bistro located on Main Street. Joan Cannon Meyland and her husband own The Bank Bistro and Grub Brothers Eatery, located just a few blocks down the street. Check out the special feature devoted to my amazing dinner at the end of the article.

I ended day one in awe of the beauty around me in the ever-changing landscape, wildlife hugging the edge of the banks of the river, the beauty of a sunset as red and orange rays kiss the edge of the trees before it disappears. I enjoyed a hot, luxurious bubble bath and then sipped a cup of hot tea in my own private sun room wearing a soft white bathrobe. All great vacations include a bed that feels like a cloud, a great night’s sleep and knowing tomorrow is a whole new day of adventure.

Day Two Breakfast at Elwood 1820 was prepared by Richard Smoot and featured pancakes topped with a banana fosters butter sauce paired with bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits with homemade strawberry jelly and yogurt with scratch-made granola. I opted for breakfast on the massive front porch overlooking the Koi ponds and watched as locals walked their dogs and a few rode past on bikes. With a full belly, I decided to attempt kayaking.

Let’s Go Kayaking

Washington Waterfront

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About 2 miles from the B&B is Inner Banks Outfitters, owned and operated by Liane Harsh. Open since 2006, Inner Banks provides a range of services and products for the outdoor sports enthusiast. Inner Banks sells and services stand-up paddle boards, bikes and kayaks and also does rentals for bikes, paddle boards, and kayaks. Based at Washington's public boat ramp, it provides easy access to the water, located just steps

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from Backwater Jacks Bar and Grill, which serves up amazing shrimp and seafood and has live music.

I decided to start kayaking left, going with the current as the water was a tad bit choppy that day. I was greeted by sunbathing turtles on Cypress stumps sticking out of the water and Cypress trees all along my several mile journey. I realized I am not the best kayaker and found myself bobbing for a little while while turning myself around to head back. I wasn’t worried as the water was less than 2 feet deep and houses lined one side of the water, so I just put my head back and enjoyed the sun on my face and listened to the rustle of wind in the trees. A few minutes later, a kind group of people, Bob, Paula, and Marvin, kayaked past and realized I needed help and kindly towed me back as the winds were too strong for me to go back with my wimpy arm strength. If you want to brave the waters, bring your friends and enjoy all that Inner Banks Outfitters has to offer, even if you have to be towed back. Next time, I will paddle board. For more information, visit innerbanksoutfitters.com.

Tour of The North Carolina Estuarium I enjoyed a private tour of the North Carolina Estuarium with Russ Chesson, operations and educational specialist. The Estuarium has been open since 1997, and inside you will find over 200 exhibits, environmental artwork, living aquariums with crabs and other esturaine life, hands-on visual displays, and audio-visual presentations educating you on the estuary that lie just outside the doors. They also have historic artifacts on display from the Pamlico River. In case you didn't know, an estuary is where salt water meets fresh water. The result is brackish water with an ecosystem all its own.

In the main lobby, you will find a massive floor to ceiling sculpture called “The Water Cycle,” that was built by a local artist. It represents what home is on the river. It is also inspired by the osprey as they mate for life and come back to the same nesting place every season. Everything gets its start in the estuary, and this sculpture features driftwood that washed up after storms, pine cones, bottles and many other unique pieces. It has so many fascinating components to uncover. The money raised here through ticket sales and memberships help make the education and programming accessible to everyone. For more information, visit visitnc.com/listing/V67c/north-carolina-estuarium.

Before you head back up Main Street, next door is Cups & Cones Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, owned and operated by Rebecca Clark and Pat Williams Lewis. Make sure to enjoy a scoop of your favorite ice cream in an old-school cone, and walk to the waterfront and watch the boats go by enjoying the perfect weather. Or, you may want to have lunch at Parley’s Sip & Steam, located right across the street. The menu features all things seafood including classic shrimp cocktail, oysters steamed or baked, bacon wrapped scallops, crab cakes, Southern style shrimp and grits and low-country boils. Other lunch spots within walking distance include Down on Main, Rachel K Bakery, Grub Brothers, Bill’s Famous Hot Dogs and The Meeting Place Cafe & Catering. All have amazing menus and delectable options for lunch. Once you finish lunch, head back up Main Street for another museum tour.

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Tour of The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Right past the waterfront, at the corner of Gladden and West Main Street, is a bright orange 1960s Seaboard Coast train caboose that has been converted into the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum. Donations are accepted for a full tour with Co-founder and Executive Director Leesa Jones.

She is usually decked out in traditional garments as she takes you through the museum’s pictorial history of how the Underground Railroad functioned during a time of slavery in Washington and Beaufort County. The museum is also a National Park Service “Underground Railroad Network to Freedom” site. You will learn how slaves planned and carried out their escape to freedom via the Washington Waterfront.

Before the museum, Leesa was writing a book about slavery as her grandfather’s mother was enslaved in a plantation in Bath. She started to research slavery and found out that there were 143 plantations in just the greater Washington area alone. She had compiled quite a bit of information and thought it should be housed for all to see and educate people in this area. During Civil War times, there were two large slave markets in town, one was at Main and Market street. Tobacco, cotton, and rice were major cash crops in this area, and many slaves could be found working the fields in and around Washington.

As slaves worked toward freedom, many escaped via the waterfront, and Leesa educated me on the many “codes” or the unspoken language that was used to help them flee. Even their clothes, food, crops and songs contained secret messages. If there was blue on the collar of their petticoats, it meant help was going by water, green meant help was land based, and a gold stripe would mean escape would be by stagecoach. Freed Black men or abolitionists might scatter black-eyed peas along the waterfront to let someone hiding in the forest know "too many eyes are watching and to not come out” she said.

The museum is full of artifacts, books, and framed newspa-

NC Estuarium

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Collen Knight

Jean Smith

per announcements, some from slave owners offering rewards for the safe return of their lost slaves. To learn more about slavery and the Underground Railroad, stop by for a tour Thursdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, call 833-0995 or 609-444-8974.

RiverWalk Gallery- Artist Spotlight Every small town has its own artists, from painters, sculptors and potters to jewelry makers. I visited RiverWalk Gallery,

Wine, Words & Gourmet

a charming group of co-op members and artists who are able to display their talents for us to enjoy and purchase. I met two amazing local artists. The first was Collen Knight. She is talented in the field of wood-burning, soft pastels and felting with wool to create adorable wool animals, bottle toppers, felt bags and other items. She has been an artist for six years and has lived in Washington since 2015. She showed me the most adorable felt mouse called Farmer Dan. He was exquisitely crafted over many hours. Collen was able to take felt and bring it to life, even down to the expressions on the animal faces. Her favorite part about what she does is how it centers her. “It makes me happy.

Last year was difficult. It brings me calm when the characters come to life, and it allows my mind to wander,” she says.

Next, I met Jean Smith with Charlotte’s Daughters. She along with her sister, Ann Hines, work with glass to transform it into various shapes and décor items. Jean has been an artist for over 20 years and is originally from Morehead City, and grew up in Tarboro. She cuts, grinds, shapes, fuses and kilns glass. Her favorite part of what she does is when she opens the kiln after it has fired a piece. “Opening the kiln to see what happens is when you find out if it turned out OK. Sometimes, it has turned into its own vision and it’s better than what I had imagined,” she says.

Wine Not? Let’s Have Some Wine There is no better way to immerse yourself in the food culture and the opportunity to meet new people than to visit a wine store in any small town you visit. I visited Wine, Word, and Gourmet owned by Mary Bell Mehlich. They sells wines from around the world, wine accessories, craft beers, used books, gifts, gourmet cheeses, and has a large specialty food section featuring scrumptious things like jams, chocolates, cheese straws, pastas, cooking sauces, teas, and coffee. Mary can educate you on what cheese goes with what wine and can help you plan the perfect wine pairings for your next dinner party. If you need help making a gift basket or a cheese board for your next book club or party, she can provide you with all the components to complete the task. Mary is knowledgeable and highly educated on wine and cheese.

Dinner At The Hackney & Distillery For my second night, I went to dinner and a gin tasting at The Hackney Restaurant and Distillery located right on Main Street.

Check out the special feature of the Hackney at the end of this article.

Day Three Breakfast at The Elmwood 1820 I enjoyed another incredible handmade breakfast by Richard Smoot. I savored a Dutch baby, which is kind of like a pancake, with lemon curd and blueberries, over medium eggs, savory sausage, and biscuits slathered with homemade jam. The front porch was so lovely. I wrote poetry and listened to morning bird songs, watched frogs sunbathe at the Koi fountains.

Tour and vendor visit at the Washington Harbor Market After breakfast, I headed to the Farmer’s Market. Every small town in eastern N.C. has a farmers’ market-style place where you can stock up on fresh produce, hand-made products, and find hand-crafted gifts. It’s like going to a church bazaar. You

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can find canned pickled beets, hand-made soaps, and old-fashioned candy you remember eating as a child. You can watch local craftspeople at work making necklaces and wooden boxes or crocheting blankets and meet vendors who each have their own energy and unique story and products to sell. I toured the expansive Harbor Market with Director Meg Howdy. They feature live music on Saturday morning that fills the market’s high ceiling with banjos strums, guitar melodies, and Southern songs; an ode to eastern N.C. There was such a beautiful energy. I met craftsmen, artisans, farmers, and market vendors.

Here are a few of the talented people I met: Betsy Dodson, owner of Sunny Day Farms, makes fresh honey and beeswax products. She has seven hives and has been in business since 2012. She also makes natural soaps made with either beeswax or honey and lotions (IBX Soaps).

Sam Taylor with Sam’s Rustic Shop has been a wood craftsman for over 20 years. He has hand-made more than 1,000 stools and chairs from sassafras wood and thatches the tops with sea-grass. He also uses other woods in projects from crepe myrtle, to yellow poplar. Sam grew up in Washington, is retired from 30 years in the Forest Service and has a degree in forest management from N.C. State. He loves walking in the forest, his second home, to forage for wood for projects. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge, and I could have talked to him for hours listening to the way things “used to be.”

Nicole and her husband, Chris Modlin, own Bear Grass Soaps.

They are from Williamston and have been making old-fashioned lye-based soaps for 13 years and offer over 40 different fragrances. They also make soaps from locally sourced goat’s milk. Lizzy Hall is the owner of Pamlico Paper Company. She creates custom watercolors and combines that with hand lettering to make gifts for any occasion. She has been in business since 2019. The prints can be customized, so you can select your favorite town or sports team and create a tailored print featuring items that represent that area or team. Locavore Market offers fresh produce, greens, pea shoots, carrots, baby kale, just to name a few plus make fresh salads and meals. Their produce and vegetables are all grown without pesticides right here in eastern N.C. These are just a few of the amazing vendors and local artisans that call the Harbor Market home.

is decorated with artifacts, costumes, and memorabilia of arts and entertainment through the years. The Turnage Theater is an arts hub in Washington and offers art exhibits, ECU collaborations, live theater, musicals, festivals, films, and workshops and classes for children and adults. It is a shining gem that each year polishes brighter and brighter. For more information, visit www.artsofthepamlico.org.

Tour of the Historic Turnage Theater

Main Street Shopping

After I enjoyed some shopping, I was given a private tour of the Historic Turnage Theater located at 150 W. Main St. My tour was given by Jeffery Phipps, the theater’s artistic director. A retired professor and costume designer from ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance, he is owner of Cabbage & Kings (a British-themed booth within Little Shoppes/South Market Antiques).

The original Vaudeville Theater on the second floor is in the middle of an incredible and exciting transformation. It dates back to 1913 and is over 5,000 square feet. Back during the early 1900s when it first opened, you would see musicals, jugglers, dancers, and others shows. In 1926, when talking movies started, there was too much noise from the street, so they built the Palace Theater downstairs at the back of the building, which seats 432 people. The Vaudeville Theater upstairs remained unused since the 1930s, but still retains its original plaster work, mezzanine level and wide-open space. You can almost hear the flapper dresses swishing and jazz music in the air.

Outside the theater downstairs is a red carpeted hallway that

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Now it’s time to shop. I visited an array of quaint shops that line the Main Street and anchor the boardwalk, and it feels like you just stepped into Mayberry. People stop to say hello, welcome you into their store and greet you as if you have known them for years. The multitude of shops and businesses feature beautiful clothing, furniture, jewelry, gifts, local art, antique treasures, and so much more that you could make a weekend out of just shopping. There is so much to explore.

Secret Garden Gallery and Boutique, owned by Bunny Wayt, sells beautiful clothes, accessories, and jewelry. Southern Nest Antiques sells an array of antiques and furniture, décor and everything you need to decorate your home with charm and nostalgia. Every time I visit, I find a treasure.

South Market Antiques/Little Shoppes, owned by Candace Dail, features over 18 shops all filled with unique treasures, antiques, and collectibles. I always see something that reminds me of my childhood like cobalt blue glasses. Last time, I bought a porcelain tea cup with pink roses on it.

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Visit the many decorated crabs aroud town

Some of the other shops that call Washington home are Lemonade Art Gallery featuring pottery, woodwork, artwork, wearable hand painted silk, and offers jewelry and painting classes; Cottage Junkies; Bloom Clothing Boutique; Nauti Life featuring all things nautical; Southern Grace clothing store; Flying Pig Provisions, which has a variety of unique gifts and specialty foods; Stewart’s Jewelry Store; and Lane Blu, which features high end kitchen cookware. This is just a sampling of the wonderful shops that grace Main Street in Washington, Make sure to wear your comfy shoes and bring plenty of money to bring back gifts for yourself to remind you of your travels.

Before you leave, you have to stop in and see artist, Art Tyndall, who is a plein air painter and can be found painting every day in his studio. His paintings feature nature, water, and landscapes of eastern N.C.

Don’t leave Washington empty-handed Or hungry I strolled the boardwalk overlooking the Pamlico River watching the sun rays touch the water and light it up and sipped fresh-squeezed lemonade. I did not want my vacation to end, so I made one last stop to stock up on food for the drive home.

I ended my journey with delectable carryout treats and picnic favorites for lunch at Carryout by Chrislyn, owned by Chrislyn Wedderien. Her food is handcrafted, unique, and always tasty.

Chrislyn makes incredible quiches, pies, Cowboy cookies, sandwiches and entrees, so you don’t have to cook and can cater your next wedding or event.

My three-day trip to Washington was an immersion into a town only 30 minutes from my house, but it felt like a fancy holiday. The quaint, down-home, friendly vibe was evident in the local shop owners, servers, and staff everywhere I went. I owe the city a huge debt of gratitude for allowing me inside its homes and stores. Now back to reality and work, but, oh, what a wonderful time to take some time and explore the small towns that make eastern N.C. a true treasure. Washington has welcomed me and made me feel like family. It truly is a small town with deep roots in history where you meet people you feel you have known for years. Thank you for coming along as I discovered the rich and vibrant history and beauty that this town offers.

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BY CHRISTINA RUOTOLO Washington, N.C. is home to a wide array of incredible restaurants, and many are hidden jewels within the city. One such diamond is the Hackney and Distillery located at 192 W. Main St. Stepping inside, it reminded me immediately of a Paris restaurant with its high ceilings, massive bar on one side and buttery, velvet-covered banquettes that run the entire length of the middle of the room. There is space, but at the same time, the seating feels intimate and cozy, oozing sophistication.

Owners are Nick and Suzanne Saunders. A British Nick met Suzanne in college in North Carolina. They married, moved to London for 25 years and lived in Paris for five years. In January 2019, they moved back to Washington, N.C. and opened the Hackney. Within the first year, they finished their gin distillery, located within the same building. It took Nick and Suzanne three years to develop their award-winning gin, called 1000 Piers Gin. This gin is an 88 proof London dry gin that goes beyond typical flavors of juniper. This gin uses 22 different botanicals including ginger, campari lime, and galengow, which is similar to turmeric and ginger, just to name a few.

It was awarded the U.S.A. Spirits Ratings Gold metal in 2020. Their gin received 96 points.

Make sure you order a bit of gin to start your meal. The gin is crystal clear, and the first thing to notice is the aroma of bright citrus and warm spice. Add in floral and fruity notes on the top of the tongue, and get ready to enjoy the slow-warming burn down your throat. The back finish is an anise flavor, which tastes like black licorice and seizes the tongue but brings it alive with flavor at the same time. It’s like they lit a cozy fire next to my dinner table. It was so unique and satisfying; it’s no wonder their gin is one of the top ranked in the U.S. and the world.

Other handcrafted cocktails are made on site at an enormous and welcoming bar. A few unique cocktails include the Washington Sunset, featuring 1000 Piers Gin, cranberry cordial, lemon, mint or maybe the Low Tide made with 1000 Piers Gin, Lillet Blanc, Crème de Violette, and lime.

The Hackney also features Fever Tree flavored tonics. The wine list is just as impressive. I sampled the Field of Dreams made with 1000 Piers gin, local honey, ginger, lemon, and rosemary. It was a beautiful, soft straw color and upon first sip was belly-warming and rich on the tongue. You can taste the sharp ginger bite mixed with herbaceous rosemary. The flavors changed with each sip and the layers of warm, spicy, and herbal flowed around each other. If you’re not a drinker, you’re in luck, the restaurant features an array of British teas, and illy dark Italian espresso that is rich, bold, without any bitterness.

The immersive menu features a modern and fresh British/American cuisine with locally sourced ingredients from Deep Roots Farm, Washington Southside Farms, Chocowinity Beaufort County Organics, and Blounts Creek IBX Agronomics. The menu is set up like most European menus where appetizers are the “start,” the entree is the “middle,” and the end of the meal is simply called “end.” Then there is a cheese selection, because cheese is like a religion in many European countries. The menu offers a wine pairing for each option and allows customers to know ahead of time if the dish contains and allergen such as milk, shellfish, nuts, or egg.

Here are some of the amazing options on their menu. Starts include fried or baked oysters and N.C. Burrata or Shrimp Pozole. Some of the middle

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options include Blackbelly Rosefish, featuring pan-roasted rosefish, peas, onions, bacon, carrots, and onion soubise. The Hackney Beef Wellington features a filet mignon, puff pastry with mushrooms, confit potatoes, and creamed local greens.

The Catch & Grits features shrimp, white grits with hoop cheese, sausage, roasted tomatoes, fennel, and crispy pork.

The Hackney Wagyu Burger features Ovoka Farms, Va., wagu beef, house-made sauce and pickles, Gruyere cheese, and a house-made sweet potato bun paired with triple cooked chips. You can end your meal with a variety of sweet treats with a British influence.

Before your meal, you are given complimentary slices of freshly baked bread such as sourdough accompanied by a berry whipped butter and amuse bouche, which is a one-bite starter featuring a smooth and velvety rutabaga puree. For my tasting, I started with the Tuna Tartare, featuring fresh, sliced tuna mixed with avocado puree, tomatoes, sesame ginger dressing and pickled shallots served with a side of thinly sliced lavash crackers. This dish was umani all the way, hitting sweet, sour and a touch of salty ocean. It was also clean and creamy, and a the lavash was the perfect vehicle to spoon this nautical nod in your mouth until none of it was left; it was that good.

Next, for my middle dish, I tried the N.C. Fried Fluke. If you are wondering what that is, it’s a summer flounder that has been lightly dredged in a breading and fried to a delicate gold color. It’s placed atop Carolina gold rice featuring pulled pork, black-eyed peas, and a bright green parsley puree. This dish was a French Impressionist painting, and each color had its

own vibrancy on the plate. The fluke flakes beautifully with a think crust and meaty, bright, white inner flesh. It melts on your tongue. Mixed that with savory and smoky Carolina rice, and it’s a North Carolina dinner party on a plate.

I ended my meal with a classic British dessert, the Sticky Toffee pudding topped with an Irish Whiskey toffee sauce, dollops of fresh cream and ice cream. I have always wanted to eat Sticky Toffee pudding and after my first bite, I’m transported to a cafe in London. It was transcontinental, elegant, and far beyond any experience I have had in a long time. Have you ever eaten a bite of something so amazing, that you think you might cry? It tasted like what I imagined the inside of a fairy tale to taste like. Other desserts include Banana Foster or Chocolate Sachertorte.

The Hackney also serves an afternoon tea on Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. You must reserve by Thursday, there is a minimum two people, and the cost is $35 per person. This includes savory tarts, four types of finger sandwiches, scones, jam, butter, cream, three seasonal tea cakes/pastries all made by their in-house pastry chef. Offerings vary based on the season but include items like a lemon curd tart with a lavender Panna Cotta, duck egg salad crostini, country ham tarts, and chocolate truffles and other pastry bites. A selected tea from their Dammann Freres Tea Range is included. The afternoon tea would be perfect for a British book club or ladies’ brunch.

If you are in Washington and are looking for an elegant escape for dinner, or a quaint, cozy meal with friends, check out The Hackney, it will not disappoint. For more information, call 623-2368 or visit reservations@thehackneydistillery.com

TRUTH

HONOR

INITIATIVE

For over fifty years, Arendell Parrott Academy has offered the finest educational experience in eastern North Carolina. Our focus is academic excellence. At the Academy, students will find a challenging curriculum, an experienced, well-qualified faculty, extensive fine arts offerings, an extremely competitive athletic program, and many support services including college advising, an extended day program, and on-site tutoring.

To arrange a tour, please call the Admissions Office at 252-522-4222 ext. 202 or email admissions@parrottacademy.org.

We look forward to meeting you and helping you make the best decision for your child and family.

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BY CHRISTINA RUOTOLO THE BANK BISTRO, 216 W. Main St., Washington, N.C., has been delighting customers with culinary magic for the last five years. Joan Cannon Meyland and her husband, Roger own The Bank Bistro and Grub Brothers Eatery, located just a few blocks down the street.

Before we talk about the incredible food, you have to learn about the roots of the building that date back to the mid 1800s.

Bank of Washington, West End Branch (now the Bank Bistro) is a historic bank building built around 1854. It is a two-story, stuccoed brick temple-form building in the Greek Revival style. The front facade features a terastyle ionic order portico with four Roman style columns. These features give it its elegant exterior appearance as a stately presence on Washington Main Street.

The Bank Bistro building lies within Washington’s West Main Street Commercial District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The restaurant is a destination spot for locals and out-of-towners and is a perfect dinner stop for a great meal. The restaurant is only one block from the waterfront, so you can come to dinner by boat or enjoy a short walk down Main Street.

The best part about owning a restaurant for Joan is the social side. “I love to watch customers come together and enjoy a good meal together and the full experience sit-down dining has to offer,” she says. “You can see it in their faces when the eat something they love, and when they come back and sup-

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port you time and again. Our customers are our family, people we know on a first-name basis, we even name our drinks after them, that is how important our customers are to us.”

When you walk inside, you are welcomed into a wide and open space with high ceilings and a bar that backs up to two bank vaults that still remain as a reminder of the restaurant’s history. One vault holds wine, and the other houses liquor.

You can dine on the front patio or pick a high-top table by the front windows and “people watch.” The menu features fresh seafood selections, great steaks, pastas, soups, appetizers, and other hand-crafted dishes from chef Jonathan Schatz, as well as salads and fresh produce from local vendors including micro-greens from Locavore Market. The bar menu features a wide array of wines and expertly crafted cocktails and spirits with a lot of drinks named after customers. The restaurants offers brunch once a month, every Thursday is prime rib night, and there are wine dinners throughout the year. Both on-site and off-site catering is available. A lot of weddings have happened within these walls over the years, due to the locations exterior and interior charm and top-notch menu.

Let’s start with a cocktail. The pear martini features champagne, cranberry juice, St. Germain Pear Vodka, and Absolute Pears Vodka. The color was pastel purple and was soft and luscious on the tongue. The pear brought mellow and floral notes to the drink, making for a great starter.

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Next, I tried the fried green tomatoes with creamed corn.

There is nothing more Southern that a fried green tomato delicately battered and fried to a beautiful golden color. They were lined down the plate and topped with a corn salad called maque choux made with creamed corn and tomatoes. Lastly, the top was drizzled with an Ashe County Hoop Cheddar cheese and horseradish cream sauce with dollops of basil oil.

This dish looked and tasted like a perfect summer day. The velvety sweet corn flavor bursts in your mouth, paired with hit of soft acid from the tomato, a bit of back heat from the horseradish and peppery bright basil mixed with sharp cheddar cheese. This delectable appetizer was a simply Southern dish with class and sophistication.

For the main entree, I selected two dishes to showcase the range of cooking abilities of the chef. For seafood, I selected the Cajun seared tuna paired with seared lemons, root vegetable hash and a sweet chili and horseradish drizzle. The tuna was cooked ahi-style with a soft, pink inner flesh and a crisp sear on the outside, creating a golden crust and topped with fresh, local micro-greens. The dish was earthy from the root vegetables hidden under the tuna and the fresh vibrant citrus pop from seared lemons. The sweet and heat notes of this dish were divine.

Other seafood options include pan-roasted scallops and shrimp paired with a white wine cream sauce, pork belly lardons and sweet peas. Buttery scallops and a salty hit from the rendered lardons mixed with a cream sauce make for seafood bliss.

For the second entree, I went for the rib-eye special which was a 12-ounce strip steak paired with a corn and snow pea succotash with a blackberry vinegar reduction drizzle. The steak has a crisp sear, tender middle and savory flavor. Paired with the sweet and slightly tangy Blackberry reduction, it was elegant

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and bold. I ended my meal at The Bank Bistro with the most delicious chocolate creme brulee I have ever eaten. The crisp torched shell of sugar cracked like glass and unveiled a rich and creamy chocolate custard underneath. My meal was enjoyable from first sips to last sweet and dreamy bites.

When you travel to Washington, make sure to visit The Bank Bistro and Bar. Before you leave, don’t forget to go to the back of the restaurant and have your photo taken with the massive white angel wings that are hand-painted one of the walls. For more information, call 948-9000, or visit their website, http:// thebankbb.com.

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SUMMER READINGS

Sometimes all you have to do is visit your local library, local bookstore, or bookshelf to find an adventure that you want to take.

Happy reading!

All books below can be purchased at Barnes & Noble. Visit barnesandnoble.com for more information.

The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff It’s 1942 and Sadie Gault is 18 and living with her parents in the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous tunnels beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers. Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans.

While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding.

Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds.

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan When Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski, she's shocked. The ship sank after a boiler explosion in 1838, and the wreckage was just discovered, 180 years later. Everly can't resist the opportunity to try to solve some of the mysteries and myths surrounding the devastating night of its sinking. Everly's research leads her to the astounding history of a family of 11 who boarded the Pulaski together, and the extraordinary stories of two women from this family: a known survivor, Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth, who was never found, along with her child. These aristocratic women were part of Savannah's society, but when the ship exploded, each was faced with difficult and heartbreaking decisions.

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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Poppy and Alex have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown. But every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven't spoken since. Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. So, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together, put everything on the table and make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees. Now she has a week to fix everything.

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews After she discovers her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her fashionable New York City townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain she knows who did it: Tanya’s ex; sleazy real estate entrepreneur Evan Wingfield. So Letty grabs her sister’s Mercedes and hits the road with a trunk full of emotional baggage and her wailing 4-year-old niece Maya. Letty is determined to out-run Evan and the law, but run to where? Tanya, a woman with a past shrouded in secrets, left behind a “go-bag” of cash and a big diamond ring — but only one clue: a faded magazine story about a sleepy mom-and-pop motel in a Florida beach town with the improbable name of Treasure Island. She sheds her old life and checks into an uncertain future at The Murmuring Surf Motel. As Letty settles into the motel’s former storage room, she tries to heal Maya’s heartache and unravel the key to her sister’s shady past, all while dodging the attention of the owner’s dangerously attractive son Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective. Can Letty find romance as well as a room at the inn — or will Joe betray her secrets and put her behind bars?

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Hidden in the depths of 18-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious 12-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries. Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her 10th wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London 200 years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate.

Float Plan by Trish Doller

Heartbroken by the loss of her fiancé, adventurous Anna finds a second chance at love with an Irish sailor in this riveting, emotional romance. After a reminder goes off for the Caribbean sailing trip Anna was supposed to take with her fiancé, she impulsively goes to sea in the sailboat he left her, intending to complete the voyage alone. But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.

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