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HODGE PODGE

Vol. 36 / Pub. 43 April 29-May 5, 2020

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MUSIC pgs. 10-11 • By Shannon Rae Gentry Charlotte musician Bradley Wik gets personal about his struggles with Asperger’s, depression and addiction. Courtesy photo

word of the week COVIDIOT (N.) A person who doesn’t care about science because they’re tired of staying home.

Jon has become a covidiot just because he wants to go to Walmart and Hooters.

COVER pg. 24

While essential workers are on the frontlines helping keep our nation safe and secure during this trying pandemic, other essentials are ramping up in use and as side hustles—like cannabis. Staff editor Jeff Oloizia talks to locals taking comfort in cannabis for its anxiety-reducing benefits, as well as those whose incomes have been bolstered by increased usage.

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief:

Shea Carver >> shea@encorepub.com

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FOOD & DRINKS pgs. 22-23 • By Joan Hoffmann Joan reaches out to local bartenders and chefs to find the perfect pairing of food and drinks in this week’s dining coverage. Photo courtesy Blue Shark Vodka

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Chief Contributors: Gwenyfar Rohler,

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EXTRA pg. 26 • By Brooke Suddeth Brooke profiles Braver Angels, a national citizens’ movement aimed at bringing liberals and conservatives together at the grassroots level.

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Live Local, pgs. 4-5 • Op-ed, pg. 7 • Cranky Foreigner, pg. 8 • News of the Weird, pg. 9 • Music, pgs. 10-11 Film, pg. 13 • Art, pg. 16 • Gallery Guide, pg. 17 • Dining, pgs. 18-23 • Extra, pg. 24-27 Crossword, pg. 28 • Horoscopes/Tom Tomorrow, pg. 29

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LIVE

Gwenyfar warns against getting lost in the COVID-19 fog

LOCAL

“I

’m going to walk down to Folks and pick up lunch; just let me put on a bra and a pair of shoes.”

I held up a hand to forestall any arguments from Jock. We both knew if Jock didn’t show up for an entire day at Folks Café, Juan and Tammi Paccini would be in a state of agitation—and possibly show up on our front porch.

Right then, Jock was in no condition to walk the block-and-a-half there, despite his insistence to the contrary.

The evening before Jock had fallen in the alley while catching Hilda, the canine love light. Our neighbor, Gordon, rescued them both. Now on crutches, Jock was admitting, finally, how much the foot/ankle actually hurt.

So, I was off to see Juan and Tammi and pick up lunch.

Located on 12th and Princess streets, Folks Café is the hub of our neighborhood. The idea we might lose Folks—that they might not survive the COVID shutdown—is too awful to contemplate. In an increasingly fragmented and divided

world, Folks Café is a true multicultural meeting ground in a neighborhood that includes Section 8 housing, gentrified blocks and industrial mixed-use projects.

It is also Jock’s office: He eats three meals a day there, in addition to taking two or three coffee breaks. Juan and Tammi are convinced I don’t know how to cook.

Sure enough, when I walked up to the newly erected takeout window at the front door, Tammi handed me a business card from someone who was looking for Jock.

Walking home, greeting neighbors and waving, I contemplated two isolated ideas connected in my head: our incredible neighborhood and the strange fog of the COVID-19 shutdown. Three blocks in the other direction from our house, on the corner of 17th and Princess, is Cedric Harrison’s office for Support the Port, in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Ormand Center. Support the Port has teamed up with PPEople Brigade to provide free face shields for those who need them. (They also have HEPA filter face masks for pur-

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chase on their website).

BY GW ENYFA R ROH LER

Cedric’s work in and around the Wilmington area is ubiquitous, but perhaps what he is most well-known for is the “Wilmington in Color” coloring books. The two-part series features people and locations significant to local African American history. During the pandemic, Support the Port has made both books available free for download to print and color.

They also offer a simple chart of organizations that help with food, diapers and healthcare during this time. The landing page on their website is clear, easy-to-use, complete with contact phone numbers.

Looking at the chart is a good reminder not to forget the needs of others. For me that looks like diapers. As a person who has never had an infant in her life, I tend to forget diapers are a key, ongoing expense

NEIGHBORHOOD FOLKS Tammi Paccini operates Folks Café on Princess Street during the pandemic, keeping a sense of neighborhood normalcy for patrons.

Photo by Gwenyfar Rohler

for many people. At a time like this, that hurdle alone can seem insurmountable without help. This is part of why people like Cedric are so important: They create a bridge of information between those in need and the resources necessary to make it to the other side. (No surprise

Support the Port logo features the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.)

I look at the two buildings bookending our immediate few blocks. I couldn’t imagine trying to find a way through this COVID-19 fog without them. Neither business can solve the big, overarching problems of the pandemic: They can’t get tests and vaccines made and distributed. Both still are essential to the fabric that weaves together our lives and makes community survival possible and desirable.

I have never understood survival for survival’s sake. There has to be something that makes life worth living—be it art or humanity.

In Folks Café there is a handmade sign on an American flag that says, “We The People will Defeat the COVID-19.”

Of course, in COVID-19, we the people face a public health crisis of a horrifying scale. We also face the economic terror of not being able to work or pay bills.

This is especially true for those who own businesses because it is not just their families they are looking out for but their employees’ as well.

And here’s the other thing: All of our concerns that existed before COVID-19 are still there. It is one of the strangest facets of grief I face. My world feels like it is ending as I grieve a loss, but events continue apace regardless. We still have a county commission that has declared war on its constituents, a community-owned hospital up for sale, a public transit crisis, the Project Grace plan to make the main branch of the public library a lobby for high-end apartments, and water that is not safe to drink. Our state government is still doing everything possible to keep people of color from voting or having equal representation in government—and this is a major election year.

It is so hard to remember all of that when a trip to the grocery store has become something you have to make a battle plan for: face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, etc. Trying to figure out how to get Jock’s ankle X-rayed was more involved than getting him ready to get on a plane to Africa. But, for all the fog and fear, we are operating in right now, the powers that be continue to move forward.

ordinating with the CDC, New Hanover County Health Department, and the health departments from surrounding counties— working to ensure the best possible support and conditions for staff on the front lines? We can’t get enough test kits to get an accurate reading of our population. Yet, somehow, we are ready to give up on our hospital?

The Save Our Hospital Group made a public statement that the financial position of the hospital has changed since the outbreak of COVID-19. For example, with the addition of federally pledged relief money, the deal is not the same deal offered four months ago. As any broker will tell you, it is perceived value you are paying for when you purchase a business and its associated real estate. Right now, the perceived value of the hospital in this community should be priceless.

One of the arguments early on in this charade is we simply can’t afford both rising healthcare costs and to care for patients without insurance. Mind you, we can still afford executive-level salaries for Gizdic and others. More so, they will continue to get paid when the hospital is sold to faceless executives far away. At least Gizdic lives and spends some of that money here.

But if there is one takeaway from the past six weeks, it is this: We must provide healthcare to the poorest among us. If we don’t, the ripple effects will impact all of us. Those ripples, which in the current situation can be so hard to remember or pick out, are monumental right now. We keep saying “when this is over” or “when we return to normal.” The fear is, while we are trying to survive this, the world we love will disappear.

I have faith and trust in the Cedrics and Tammis of the world, but they need the rest of us to stay involved, too. Thank you to everyone who makes this place so wonderful. Even in the COVID-19 fog, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or with any other group.

How is it possible the proposed sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center has not been put on hold? If nothing else, one has to wonder how New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s president and CEO, John Gizdic, has any time for this proposed sale. Shouldn’t every waking moment be devoted to COVID-19?

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PATHOGEN WRECK

How can we trust government labs testing emerging infectious agents?

“G

ain-of-function studies, or research that improves the ability of a pathogen to cause disease, help define the fundamental nature of human-pathogen interaction, thereby enabling assessment of the pandemic potential of emerging infectious agents.” This is according to the U.S. Government Public Health Emergency

ZZ Top going full blast.

site (October 2014).

Yes, you read that right. We are trying to improve “the ability of a pathogen to cause disease.” Like that oil rig in the Gulf, nothing could possibly go wrong.

On a happier note, according to Vox,

BY

My point is: We, as a group, are stupider than we would like to think. Wearing a lab coat does not automatically make you smart. And when it comes to pathogens THE CRAN KY FOREIG one-thousandth the diameter of your NER eyelash, a team is only as smart as its dumbest member. Given the astounding numbers of viruses in even a tiny sample, “Russia’s State Research Center of Virology, who will notice 10 million were removed in the city of Koltsovo in Siberia, has one of from the fridge for testing and not exactly the largest collections of dangerous virus- the same number are returned? es anywhere in the world. So lots of people I remember during the ‘60s when the were concerned when an explosion ripped “greatest nation on Earth” was in a fightthrough the facility on Monday.” to-the-death with the communist theme Probably someone left the gas on after park to the south; the CIA had developed a disease to kill sugar cane—it would be grilling some shrimp on the barbie. sprayed all over Cuba. This was considDuring the Cold War, large aircraft flew ered to be a “good idea.” Then someone over our heads, carrying hydrogen bombs. pointed out there were huge sugarcane Sometimes those bombs fell out of the fields in Louisiana and Texas, and winds planes by accident. Wilson, NC, comes to

“The two most common substances in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.”—Isaac Asimov mind. Sometimes, they were jettisoned because the plane was in distress, as seen in the wetlands near Savannah, SC. Sometimes, the plane just old-fashioned crashed, as seen in Palomares, Spain. After a while, it was decided these devices intended to supposedly make us safe might not have the desired effect. Better to leave them locked up on the ground.

From another government report: “In this observation, the CDC notes the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases had systematically failed to ensure implementation of biosafety and containment procedures commensurate with the risks associated with working with select agents and toxins.”

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The report goes on to describe how cleaning staff would enter ultra high-risk rooms at night and prop open both doors of the airlock to make it easier to move the trash out. I assume all that happened with

sometimes blow from south to north. Hurricanes come to mind. In any sane world, that would be the end of the discussion; however, the debate over whether to take the chance went on for almost a year.

The tales of stupidity involving high-end pathogens are endless. New people move into a lab and find an unplugged fridge full of abandoned smallpox samples. Now, none of us really knows where the first minuscule COVID-19 virus came from, and we probably never will. But do we want to “improve the ability of a pathogen to create disease” in the daytime, knowing the cleaning staff might be propping open all the doors and cranking ZZ Top at night?

Maybe nature has a plan for us. Maybe not. I trust my fate with her more than, say, a lab tech who, in October 2019, in the great city of San Diego, accidentally injected herself with smallpox.

THE CONTINUING CRISIS

LEAD STORY Early on the morning of April 15, an unidentified driver smashed his yellow Mustang into a fence in unincorporated Marin County, California, KPIX reported. California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay later recounted what followed: The driver tried to back out of the fence, but failed to realize he was in drive and crashed through a home instead. The homeowner came out to investigate and, noting the driver’s impaired state, removed the keys from the Mustang and returned inside to call police. The driver then discovered the keys inside the homeowner’s Toyota and tried to make his getaway, Barclay said, but he shifted the car into drive and barreled through the house once more, coming to rest alongside his Mustang. When the homeowner again tried to take the keys away, the driver allegedly hit him repeatedly, causing major injuries. CHP arrested the driver for suspicion of DUI involving drugs, battery and theft of a vehicle.

[KPIX, 4/15/2020]

—The Washington Examiner reported on April 21 that some people appear to be spending their coronavirus stimulus checks on another kind of stimulation. The adult live model site Cams.com says it has seen a surge in traffic. “Since April 13, we’ve seen a 22% uptick in traffic to our livestreaming site, and tips to our models have increased by 40%,” said Gunner Taylor, director of strategic development for FriendFinder Networks, of which Cams.com is a part. Traffic from Washington state is up 204%, and it’s up 83% in Illinois, but it’s down in Washington, D.C., by 29%. [Washington Examiner, 4/21/2020]

Geauga County (Ohio) Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand told WJW his office was called to break up a large party of Amish late on April 18 in Huntsburg Township. “When we got there, there was a barn full of people and some of them ran,” he said. One partier was arrested for disorderly conduct, two were charged with underage drinking and another was issued a summons for violating the state’s stay-at-home order, according to the sheriff. “We won’t tolerate this,” Hildenbrand said, “and we have to keep everybody safe.” Amish people are reportedly continuing to gather in large groups, and the county health commissioner has sent a letter to Amish bishops about an increase in COVID-19 cases in that community.

[WJW, 4/20/2020]

NOT COVID-19 An unnamed 22-year-old Chinese woman has spent the last 14 years trying to discover the cause of her persistent cough, which started when she suffered a serious fit of coughing as a child, Oddity Central reported on April 22. Over the years, she has been misdiagnosed numerous times, but as she recently prepared for an unrelated surgery, the mystery was solved. Dr. Wang Jiyong at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine ordered CT scans that revealed a foreign object in her right lung

that turned out to be a chicken bone fragment just over half an inch long. Doctors said she had probably inhaled it at 8 years old, when the coughing started. [Oddity Central, 4/22/2020]

IGNORANCE WAS BLISS Elena Manighetti and Ryan Osborne, formerly of Manchester, England, followed their dream and have been sailing around the world on their boat since 2017. They were en route from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, where they planned to dock on a small island in mid-March, but were surprised to discover the island’s borders were closed because of a worldwide pandemic. “In February, we’d heard there was a virus in China, but ... we had figured by the time we got to the Caribbean in 25 days it would all be over,” Elena told the BBC. The couple had told friends and family they didn’t want to hear any bad news, but Elena is from the hard-hit Lombardy region of Italy and has since caught up with her family. “It’s a very macabre picture at home, there are no more coffins, no more cemetery space. ... My family is thankfully safe ... but people we’ve known for years have died,” Elena said. The couple was eventually able to dock in Saint Vincent, and they hope to head north before hurricane season starts in June. “We’re sandwiched between the hurricane season and the virus,” Elena said. [BBC, 4/21/2020]

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

At the Peace N Peas Farm in Indian Trail, North Carolina, owners Francie and Mark Dunlap have launched a new career for their 8-year-old mini donkey, Mambo, and their other horses. For $50, Mambo, Eddie, Zeus or other animals will make a 10-minute guest appearance to liven up your next videoconference, the Charlotte Observer reported. You can even give the four-legged interloper the on-screen name of a regular attendee: For instance, Zeus might become Paul, the guy who asks too many questions.

BRIGHT IDEAS The Dunlaps also arrange for their animals —Many hospital workers are self-isoto visit classrooms or happy hours. [Charlating to keep their families safe from lotte Observer, 4/19/2020] COVID-19 exposure, but Corpus Christi, Texas, emergency room doctor Jason REPORTS OF MY DEATH Barnes, 39, is taking a novel approach: Cancer patient Gladys Rodriguez DuHe’s moved into his kids’ treehouse in his arte, 50, was rushed to a clinic in Coronel backyard. Barnes told the Caller Times on April 20 that he’s lived in the treehouse for Oviedo, Paraguay, on April 11, after her about three weeks. If he needs something, blood pressure shot up, according to the he’ll shout down to the kids or call the Paraguay National Police. Two hours later, house. “(T)he Wi-Fi reaches the treehouse, Dr. Heriberto Vera declared her dead and so I have my laptop and my own little com- shared the news with Duarte’s family, but mand center here,” Barnes said. He uses a her daughter, Sandra, later told local mecamping toilet with disposable bags, and dia, “He assumed she was dead and ... they he either showers at the hospital or “my disconnected her and passed her off to the oldest son will rig up a water hose. ... Luck- funeral home.” The Daily Mail reported that ily, my fence is pretty tall.” As for when he funeral directors told investigators they can re-enter the house, Barnes said, “We’re were shocked to find she was breathing always looking at the CDC and Gov. Greg and moving around inside the body bag at Abbott’s decision, but the final determina- the funeral home. Duarte was immediately tor is the wife.” [Caller Times, 4/20/2020] transferred to another hospital for observation. [Daily Mail, 4/14/2020]

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FINDING HIS TRUTH Singer-songwriter Bradley Wik opens up about his latest EP in support of Autism Awareness Month.

Courtesy photo

OPTIMISTIC

BY SHANNON RAE GENTRY

“I

spent so many years trying to fight against being a ‘depressed alcoholic autistic person’ and that only made it worse,” muses Charlotte-based singer-songwriter Bradley Wik. “I convinced myself I was broken and I was the only person who felt this way. But I want people to know you’re not broken and you’re not alone.”

In support of Autism Awareness Month, Wik and his band the Charlatans released “music for depressed alcoholic autistic people” (all lowercase), a record which comprises stories of his own struggles with Asperger’s syndrome. The four-song EP explores everything from recurring night terrors of being brutally murdered in his dreams (“i started killing myself years ago”) to lines he wrote while falling heavy into alcohol and painkillers (“we are not alone”): “I can’t tell if I am real / this is the only thing I can feel / but I am not alone…”

“This song just fell out,” he remembers of “we are not alone.” “Having Asperger’s, medicine doesn’t affect me the intended way a lot of the time. Painkillers don’t really help me much with alleviating pain . . . but it’s basically like they disconnect my brain from my body. . . . A few pain pills and a bottle of wine, suddenly, I was free of all my pain, mental and physical. Predictably, a couple of pills and a bottle of wine turns into a couple more and another bottle of wine, and on and on.”

Over time Wik recounts nights where he didn’t feel anything. When it got to the point he was convinced he was not real at all (“at least in the physical sense”), he turned to self-harming. “I’d have to do something drastic to snap myself back to reality,” he tells. “That’s where the line ‘that’s when I felt the blood’ comes in. I still have scars from the final night I did that to myself.”

Nevertheless, it was important to end “we are not alone” optimistically, reminding the listener and himself no one has to traverse dark times alone. In fact, while Wik says making this record was his way of acknowledging and accepting himself

DETAILS

and why I write songs, etc.” He also plans to partner with Charlotte bars and venues for Instagram live shows (instagram.com/ bradleywikmusic) in May. encore spoke with Wik about his journey completing “music for depressed alcoholic autistic people.”

BRADLEY WIK Livestreaming: facebook.com/bradleywikmusic Thursdays, 8 p.m.

Instagram: @bradleywikmusic www.bradleywik.com for who he is, he hopes sharing his experiences through his EP can do the same for others.

Music and arts always have made Wik feel “a little less alone and a little less broken.” It’s helped him identify his own internal feelings through songs. From Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” and Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks,” to Neil Young’s “Tonight’s the Night” and Modest Mouse’s “The Lonesome Crowded West,” to Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” and others, music helps him process.

“I need someone else to explain these things because I can’t internally process very well because of the Asperger’s,” Wik explains. “With this record, I wanted to provide something that talked about really difficult topics honestly, simply and as candidly as possible. . . . I hope that, in making and talking about this record, I can start to normalize Asperger’s/autism for some people.”

Wik originally planned to have awareness/fundraising shows in support of the release until COVID-19 hit. For the time being, he’s hosting weekly live streams on Facebook (facebook.com/bradleywikmusic) on Thursdays at 8 p.m. “I’ve been playing songs and discussing themes related to the new record,” he shares, “like how Asperger’s affects my songs/storytelling, how

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encore (e): First of all, how are you doing during these times? Safe and healthy?

NOTE

Bradley Wik releases “music for depressed alcoholic autistic people” in support of Autism Awareness Month

Bradley Wik (BW): I’m doing OK, thank you for asking. I got knocked out pretty hard for a bit toward the end of February, so I may have already had my bout with the virus, but since we don’t know for sure, my wife, Brianne, and I are good with just holing up in our apartment. We’re both intro- making this record, but I had no idea what verts by nature, which can be very helpful shape it would take or what songs would end up on it. in times like these.

April came and went last year; I was e: As we talk about Autism Awareness Month, how do you think self-isolation, like hoping to put it out then. I had taken some we are experiencing, impacts friends, fam- time off after the previous album came out, so I was ready to get back at it. I had about ilies and neighbors with autism? a dozen or so songs recorded in various BW: Brianne and I have been together stages of completion. Only two of them for almost nine years now. I think the most would end up on the record—and I think I important thing I’ve learned over that time knew the story wasn’t complete yet. I had is how much my Asperger’s affects those to wait another year, which worked out in around me. I’m sure there have been some my favor anyhow, as I think the four songs rough patches, while people lament the on here are the right four. loss of their routines. I know I had a tough e: How much of your own personal extime when suddenly everything in my calendar got canceled. No more Wednesday perience with Asperger’s, depression and night band rehearsals, or Thursday, Friday drug/alcohol use informed the songs/lyror Saturday night shows; no more Friday ics? afternoon trips to the grocery store, or SunBW: With this record, I wanted to write day morning trips to the park to play bas- only true stories from my own experiencketball. There were days when all I could do es. Over the years, I’ve typically written was sit around with crosswords. My hope songs about things I’ve observed rather is, since we’re a little further along, some than things I’ve experienced. I know now new routines have started to build to help that’s likely because of the Asperger’s. I calm things down for all those affected. I wanted to do the opposite with “music for know that’s helped me (and Brianne) quite depressed alcoholic autistic people.” a bit.

Side note: not sure why this whole ree: Was it always the plan to release this cord needed to be written with lowercase EP now (timed with Autism Awareness letters, but it did. All the lowercase songs Month)? Or did it simply work out that way titles, lyrics, etc., are intentional. I’ve heard as these songs came to you? of other people with Asperger’s/autism BW: I always knew this was the next re- actually going through their thousands of cord I wanted to make, and I knew I had to songs on iTunes and changing all the text put it out in April. I became obsessed with to be lowercase. I’m not sure about the

connection but there’s something there.

I made a point to be as blunt as possible because I believe the more specific and personal a story you tell, the more helpful it can be. These songs/ stories were things I needed to hear but couldn’t find. e: Was any of this written in the middle of struggling with depression and alcohol, or is it more reflective of being in a recovery state?

BW: I’d like to say I wrote these songs after the fact, looking back on that period of my life, but I can’t honestly say that I’m no longer dealing with these issues.

Are things as bad as they once were? Of course not, but it was sort of written half and half: half on the tail end of the experiences and half as I was starting to somewhat level back out. “what are we supposed to do now that we’ve wasted our youth?” and “the promise (please don’t die tonight)” were the first two to come out. I started recording them right away, but then they just sat unfinished for months because I didn’t know what to make of them yet.

They were such a drastic departure from my typical rock ‘n’ roll songs/stories.

The last two were written a little while later, right before we moved across the country. Drunkenly one night, in a state of premature reminiscence, I opened an old “notes” page on my phone where I kept some unused lyrics/thoughts. “I

started killing myself years ago/I just haven’t finished yet” and “I can’t tell if I am real/This is the only thing I can feel/but I am not alone” were in there, waiting. After I went back and read the lyrics to “what are we supposed to do now that we’ve wasted our youth?” the lines suddenly took on new meaning and the songs came from that.

It’s strange, and I don’t really know how to describe it, but I don’t feel like I’m an active participant in songwriting. I’m often caught off guard by new songs. I’ll grab a guitar one night, and things will just come rushing out, usually two to three songs at a time. I used to think that was because of the old Bob Dylan theory of there being an ever-present river of songs and ideas flowing above us, and if we’re in the right place at the right time, with the right state of mind, the music can flow through us onto the page. I now realize it’s likely the result of my subconscious being able to decipher my experiences before my conscious (read: Asperger’s) brain can. e: How important do you think it is to have candid conversations like these in helping others?

BW: I believe it to be the most important piece in helping others. My wife is a business and life coach, and one of the biggest things she’s always talking about is learning how to accept yourself, faults and all. I think that’s all a lot of us want, to feel like we’re OK, so we can stop fighting against ourselves. For years, especially in the 25 years before I found out I had As-

perger’s, I thought I was broken. I didn’t feel the same way others did. I didn’t think the same way others did. I didn’t react to things the way others did. I didn’t know why. No one ever thought I might have autism or Asperger’s. I was seemingly “normal.” I went to school and got straight As. I played sports and had friends. But no one knew how I felt inside, not even me, really— and I wasn’t hearing anyone talk about the things I was hearing in my own head. Even brief glimpses of things that made me feel less alone were a godsend. e: When would it have been helpful for you to hear an album like this? Is there a person or persons whose openness about their experience helped you?

BW: I wish I could say the 22-year-old version of me needed this so he could have avoided all that transpired over the coming years. But I know he didn’t even have a clue about how he was feeling, had no idea he had Asperger’s and, if I’m being honest, probably liked he was messed up. It was very Kerouac- or Rolling Stones-like.

Some years later, I had grown tired of the chaos but didn’t have the impetus to pull myself out quite yet. Around that time, a podcast called “Man vs. Radio” came into my life and introduced me to an album that started me down the path I didn’t know I was even looking for. That album was Frightened Rabbit’s “Midnight Organ Fight.” When I heard “My Backwards Walk” and “Keep Yourself Warm” suddenly a lot of things made a lot more sense. It was

like the scene in Indiana Jones when he puts the medallion on the pole and the light hits it just right and the location of the ark is magically revealed. That’s what those songs did. They unlocked and revealed something I desperately needed.

As to who has been the most helpful over the years, the answer is easy: Christian James Hand. He is the host of the “Man vs.

Radio” podcast. e: What would you say to folks struggling with depression and alcoholism looking for support during this time?

BW: As I have not really moved past my own issues, I don’t feel equipped to divvy out advice. I will say I’ve noticed a lot of support systems adapt to these strange, new times. Groups have moved online to try and reach those in need. It’s easier than ever to connect to people remotely. I hope people are making the most of that and not trying to isolate themselves even further.

I feel lucky I’m not alone during this time.

My heart goes out to those that are. I know, based on my past, seclusion is a trigger and an easy excuse to act out in unhealthy ways. Over the years, I’ve needed to be reminded that just because there aren’t people around me, people still care about me and are thinking about me. So, I’ll pass that message along as well.

If you or someone you know is facing mental and/or substance use disorders, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

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MMM, DROP! Icons of the hip-hop movement, Beastie Boys, are the feature of a new documentary by Spike Jonze, now on Apple TV. Courtesy photo

LENGTHIER

BY ANGHUS

W

eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re living through a golden age for the documentary. The genre is as popular as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever been, thanks to the proliferation of streaming services dumping a thousand hours of programming every month. Sure, the vast majority of it is garbage, like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tiger King,â&#x20AC;? or hastily assembled â&#x20AC;&#x153;real crimeâ&#x20AC;? stories that have barely enough content to fill a single episode of Dateline NBC, yet stretch it out six hours.

While the documentary is at peak popularity, it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly pushed any boundaries lately. Director Spike Jonze tries to do something a little different with a live-performance/documentary hybrid mashup, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beastie Boys Story.â&#x20AC;?

For a generation of fans, the Beastie Boys represent a lengthy musical maturation. From their adolescent party anthems on â&#x20AC;&#x153;License to Illâ&#x20AC;? through the evolutionary funk filters of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boutiqueâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Check Your Head,â&#x20AC;? to a period of mainstream success that led to chart-topping hit singles, like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sabotageâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Intergalactic,â&#x20AC;? there are few bands that have had such a chaotic and cathartic journey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beastie Boys Storyâ&#x20AC;? tries to tinker with the traditional documentary formula, and the results are somewhat mixed.

The film tells the story of the Beastie Boys from the perspective of its two living members, Mike Diamond (a.k.a. Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (a.k.a. Ad Rock). They present their story live on stage, much like a TED Talkâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;dwarfed by a massive projection screen that allows for images, sounds and cutaway gags, as they lay out their journey to an audience in a two-man show. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of great personal moments and a nice overview of their career. Thankfully, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of time spent on their formative years, tracking how they went from punk rock-loving kids to a best-selling hip-hop testosterone-fueled freak show.

For those old-school Beastie Boy fans, there are a number of great stories sharedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; insights and personal moments that will no doubt delight those of us who grew up lis-

DETAILS BEASTIE BOYS STORY

MARINATION NEEDED

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high-energy retellings, as they play to an auditorium full of fans.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing wrong with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beastie Boys Story,â&#x20AC;? but it feels like a victory lap for pre-existing fans, not a film that will create new ones. Nor does it provide depth for super-fans to feel satisfied. Even calling it a â&#x20AC;&#x153;documentaryâ&#x20AC;? feels like a stretch. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a documentary the same way ketchup is classified as a vegetable. Technically, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tomato in there, but you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel comfortable using it to make a BLT. There are elements of documentary film-

Anghus takes on Spike Jonzeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light-handed Beastie Boys doc making here to tell a story. However, it lacks the comprehensive examination and perspective that makes a good doc.

Now streaming on Apple TV Directed by Spike Jonez TV MA â&#x20AC;˘ 1 hr 59 min tening to their music. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a finely executed, nostalgic hike through the highlights and lowlights of their career. For the uninitiated, the film is a little devoid of context. Audiences who know nothing of the Beastie Boys might wonder what exactly theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re watching or why exactly theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supposed to care.

One of the main tenets of documentaries is the use of perspectives to help shape the story and provide colors and textures of the world the subjects existed within. In the case of music docs, this is often achieved by cutting away to other prominent figures of the era discussing the music scene or hearing from other artists sharing their thoughts on the band.

For instance, did you know the Beastie Boys opened for Madonna on the singerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first tour? Super interesting. I would have liked to hear her perspective on their antics. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beastie Boys Storyâ&#x20AC;? feels like a slight retelling of the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story for only the most ardent fans. There are so many moments that feel like they could have greatly benefited from lengthier marination.

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We are missing all our customers and staff and can’t wait to see everyone on the other side of this!

Checkout our Facebook page for updates and some comedic relief.

Stay well and we will see you soon!

1174 Turlington Ave., Leland 910-408-1400 www.thejoyceirishpub.com

103 N Lake Park Blvd #B Carolina Beach, NC (910) 458-5226 elcazadormex.com encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 15

ARTISTS

UNITE Local leaders ponder the future of ILM’s arts community

F

or years Wilmington has been a haven for artists, hosting local film festivals from Cucalorus to Azalea Festival, not to mention numerous theatrical, dance and musical performances held at the Wilson Center and Thalian Hall, as well as a multitude of street artists and musicians across town playing weekly. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, arts events and the public platforms artists use to showcase their work have begun to dissipate.

Total losses for the arts community in North Carolina alone are reported at over $20 million. Now more than ever, there is a need for support for our local arts community, as artists’ livelihoods and their ability to continue to create are in jeopardy.

Last Thursday, April 23, Rhonda Bellamy hosted a virtual lunch through Zoom, on behalf of The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County to provide updates on the art scene and resources available during the pandemic. Topics discussed during the nearly two-hour meeting included precautionary measures organizations are taking with regards to reopening, artist relief funds, and vigilance within the community as a whole. Guest speakers included Arts Council director Rhonda Bellamy; Mayor Bill Saffo; New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple; Nate McGaha, director of Arts North Carolina; Margaret Haynes, Mayor Pro-Tem and member of NC Arts Council Board; Diane Durance, director of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Jerry Coleman, directory of CFCC’s Small Business Center.

Along with official guest speakers, over 50 members of the public were present to ask questions and share information about their own experiences in transitioning their events to online platforms. Among local artists on the call were Cordelia Norris, who

recently transferred her “Wild Cape Fear” painting series to Etsy after the opening was canceled at ACES Gallery. Also, Cucalorus Film Festival director Dan Brawley discussed transition of the Lumbee Film Festival to an online platform. Wilson Center executive and artistic director Shane Fernando talked about hosting Wilson Center’s new Ghostlight Series, too. Their collective voices seemed to be asking the same question: “What’s next?”

While there’s a communal desire to return to a normal way of life, Zapple clarified, “I’m not sure what normal looks like in New Hanover County or across our nation at this point.” In fact, no one is entirely sure what the future holds, as we navigate unfamiliar terrain. One thing was made clear from the meeting: Wilmington and the greater community will not leave artists to struggle.

BY LAUR EN SEAR S ARTISTS WHO LUNCH Members of Wilmington’s arts community discuss steps being taken to recover from COVID-19 during a Zoom meeting on April 23.

Screenshot courtesy of Rhonda Bellamy

in 87 cities and towns across North Carolina. The NC Artist Relief Fund is ongoing throughout the pandemic, focusing on providing fast relief.

“If you’re a small business owner, a sole proprietor, it’s tough during the good times,” said Jerry Coleman from CFCC’s Small Business Center. “So, if we drag this thing out for eight weeks or even longer, it Each speaker touched on areas of fund- will be devastating.” ing opportunities available for artist relief.

Arts NC has put together a formal reAlong with the second wave of the Pay- quest of $3 million to the NC General Ascheck Protection Program, funds are avail- sembly’s Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts able through the Small Business Adminis- Education. If allotted the sum would be tration (SBA), the NC Artist’s Relief Fund, distributed quickly to nonprofits and strugEconomic Injury Disaster Loan (EDIL), as gling art organizations across the state. A well as individual relief funds, like those call-to-action for the request is ongoing as hosted currently through the Wilson Cen- council urges members of the community ter. While great effort has gone into making to contribute insight as to why funding for monies available, obstacles lie in the sheer the arts is crucial. number of those in need. The longer this Amidst widespread closure, the NC pandemic persists, the harder it will be to community has shown unity. There is now recover financially. a plethora of community stories, engageArts NC, the statewide arts advoca- ment opportunities and education tools cy organization, reports $1,807,361 in available to artists and the public in generlosses from 1,239 artists across NC. As al. Nate McGaha shares Silver Lining Stoof April 25 the organization’s relief fund ries through the Arts NC web page, which has sent $60,590 to 310 artists residing demonstrates the power of the arts to

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build communities and economies. Each story highlights the innovation efforts of an artist or arts organization within North Carolina as they combat the effects of COVID-19.One such story features a collective community mask-making project in Brunswick County after a call from the county’s art council for fabric artists.

These stories are meant to inspire others to reclaim their craft during COVID-19.

“The impact has been immediate and devastating for the arts community, especially for artists who are subject to the vagaries of our gig economy in the best of times,” Bellamy said. “Much will depend on when venues can safely open and have the wherewithal to return to prepandemic programming.”

Fernando says the Wilson Center is already planning up to two years in the future with social-distancing tactics in mind.

These tactics include distant seating arrangement plans, temperature sensing of guests upon arrival, improved cleaning methods for high-touch surfaces, and various precautionary front-of-house and backstage measures. However, one of the largest obstacles will be overcoming public trepidation.

Tourism is an essential part of Wilmington’s economy, bringing in over $500 million and indirectly supporting hundreds of independent artists and businesses that fall in its path. These revenue sources have largely disappeared since COVID-19’s outbreak, but the need for income has not. The community’s support of local artists and organizations during this time will directly affect the future of our community as a whole, from the artist’s survival to their craft’s appreciation.

The community already has shown countless ways of fighting back: online Zoom meetings and artistic workspaces, educational videos and uplifting virtual performances, even festivals. Until things are back to normal, the arts community will continue to do what it does best: innovate.

GALLERY GUIDE

art exposure!

22527 Highway 17N Hampstead, NC (910) 803-0302 • (910) 330-4077 Tues. - Sat. 10am - 5pm (or by appt.) www.artexposure50.com ArtExposure will be hosting “Metal and Fiber, a show featuring the metal work of Vicki Thatcher and the Fiber work of Jan Lewis. The show will run until the end of August. Check outartexposure50.com for upcoming events and classes!

ART IN BLOOM GALLERY

210 Princess St. • (484) 885-3037 Temporarily closed or call for appt. aibgallery.com Art in Bloom Gallery is temporarily closed except for appointments until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. View and purchase art via our website at https://aibgallery.com/product-category/group-exhibit/. Free delivery or shipping provided.

On view: “New Art by Helen Lewis, Debra Bucci & Naomi Jones with Photographer, Brian Peterson,” through April 19. The group art exhibit showcases original art in a variety of mediums. “Ancient Practice: Encaustic Art

by Helen Lewis” is a new body of work investigating new directions with an ancient practice fusing pigment and beeswax on wooden panels.

The group art exhibit showcases original art in a variety of media. “An-

cient Practice: Encaustic Art by Helen Lewis” is a new body of work investigating new directions with an ancient practice fusing pigment and beeswax on wooden panels.

ART IN BLOOM SATELLITE VENUES www.aibgallery.com

In addition to our gallery at 210 Princess Street, Art in Bloom Gallery partners with local businesses to exhibit original art in other locations.

However, due to COVID-19 “Ways of Wax” art exhibit at Platypus & Gnome is closed until further notice.

NEW ELEMENTS GALLERY

271 N. Front St. • (919) 343-8997.

Tues. - Sat. 11am - 6pm (or by appt.) newelementsgallery.com New Elements is temporarily closed until further notice per the COVID-19 pandemic.

WILMA DANIELS GALLERY

200 Hanover St. (bottom level, parking deck) Mon.-Fri., noon-5pm http://cfcc.edu/danielsgallery At this time CFCC and the Wilma Daniels Gallery is closed and will reopen once the COVID-19 pandemic passes and we are clear to get business back to normal.

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DINING

GUIDE

YoSak e Dow ntown Sushi L ounge 33 S Fro nt St. • yosake.c om • P hoto by Lindsey A. Mille r Photog raphy

AMERICAN

BLUEWATER WATERFRONT GRILL

Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of sailing ships and the Intracoastal Waterway while dining at this popular casual American restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. Lunch and dinner are served daily. Favorites include jumbo lump crab cakes, succulent seafood lasagna, crispy coconut shrimp and an incredible Caribbean fudge pie. Dine inside or at their award-winning outdoor patio and bar, which is the location for their lively Waterfront Music Series every Sunday April - October. Large parties welcome.

Private event space available. BluewaterDining. com. 4 Marina Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC. (910) 256-8500.

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

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Waterfront dining ■ MUSIC: Music every Sunday in Summer ■ WEBSITE: bluewaterdining.com

shellfish to pastas, sandwiches, and Certified Angus Beef selections. We offer half-priced oysters from 4-6 every Wednesday & live music with our Sunday Brunch from 11-3.

Whether you are just looking for a great meal & incredible scenery, or a large event space for hundreds of people, Elijah’s is the place to be.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11:30-10:00; Friday and Saturday 11:30-11:00 ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ILM; kids menu

PINE VALLEY MARKET

Pine Valley Market has reigned supreme in servicing the Wilmington community for

years, securing encore’s Best-Of awards in catering, gourmet shop and butcher. Now, Kathy Webb and Christi Ferretti are expanding their talents into serving lunch in-house, so folks can enjoy their hearty, homemade meals in the quaint and cozy ambiance of the market. Using the freshest ingredients of highest quality, diners can enjoy the best Philly Cheesesteak in Wilmington, along with numerous other sandwich varieties, from their Angus burger to classic Reuben, Italian sub to a grown-up ba-

nana and peanut butter sandwich that will take all diners back to childhood. Served among a soup du jour and salads, there is something for all palates. Take advantage of their take-home frozen meals for nights that are too hectic to cook, and don’t forget to pick up a great bottle of wine to go with it. 3520 S. College Road, (910) 350-FOOD.

PLEASE, CALL AHEAD TO MAKE SURE RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN

ELIJAH’S

Since 1984, Elijah’s has been Wilmington, NC’s outdoor dining destination. We feature expansive indoor and outdoor waterfront dining, with panoramic views of riverfront sunsets. As a Casual American Grill and Oyster Bar, Elijah’s offers everything from fresh local seafood and

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DURING THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN. SOME MAY BE DOING DELIVERY AND/OR TAKEOUT ONLY.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sun. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: South Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Daily specials and take-home frozen meals ■ WEBSITE: pinevalleymarket.com

THE TROLLY STOP

Trolly Stop Grill and Catering is a four store franchise in North Carolina. Trolly Stop Hot Dogs opened in Wrightsville Beach in 1976.

That store name has never changed. Since the Wrightsville Beach store, the newer stores sell hotdogs, hamburgers, beef and chicken cheese steaks, fries, hand dipped ice cream, milk shakes, floats and more.

Our types of dogs are: Southern (Trolly Dog, beef and pork), Northern (all beef), Smoke Sausage (pork), Fat Free (turkey), Veggie (soy). Voted Best Hot Dog in Wilmington for decades.

Check our website trollystophotdogs.com for hours of operations, specific store offerings and telephone numbers, or contact Rick Coombs, 910-297-8416, rtrollystop@aol.com We offer catering serving 25-1000 people.

Franchises available.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ LOCATIONS: Wilmington, Fountain Dr. (910) 452-3952, Wrightsville Beach (910) 2563921, Southport (910) 457-7017, Boone, NC (828) 265-2658, Chapel Hill, NC (919) 240-4206 ■ WEBSITE: trollystophotdogs.com

ASIAN INDOCHINE RESTAURANT

If you’re ready to experience the wonders of the Orient without having to leave Wilmington, join us at Indochine for a truly unique experience. Indochine brings the flavors of the Far East to the Port City, combining the best of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine in an atmosphere that will transport you and your taste buds.

Relax in our elegantly decorated dining room, complete with antique Asian decor as well as contemporary artwork and music. Our diverse, friendly and efficient staff will serve you beautifully presented dishes full of enticing aromas and flavors. Be sure to try such signature items as the spicy and savory Roasted Duck with Red Curry, or the beautifully presented and delicious Shrimp and Scallops in a Nest. Be sure to save room for our world famous desert, the banana egg roll! We take pride in using only the freshest ingredients, and our extensive menu suits any taste. After dinner, enjoy specialty drinks by the koi pond in our Asian garden. Located at 7 Wayne Drive (beside the Ivy Cottage), (910) 251-9229.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tues.- Fri. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Sat. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. for lunch.

Mon.- Sun. 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. for dinner.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: indochinewilmington.com

NIKKI’S FRESH GOURMET

For more than a decade, Nikki’s downtown has served diners the best in sushi. With freshly crafted ingredients making up their rolls, sushi and sashimi, a taste of innovation comes with every order. Daily they offer specialty rolls specific to the Front Street location, such as the My Yoshi, K-Town and Crunchy Eel rolls. But for less adventurous diners looking for options beyond sushi, Nikki’s serves an array of sandwiches, wraps and gyros, too. They also make it a point to host all dietary needs, omnivores, carnivores and herbivores alike. They have burgers

and cheesesteaks, as well as falafal pitas and veggie wraps, as well as an extensive Japanese fare menu, such as bento boxes and tempura platters. Daily dessert and drink special are also on order. Check out their website and Facebook for more information. 16 S. Front St. (910) 7719151.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Thurs., 11am 10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 12pm10pm. Last call on food 15 minutes before closing.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: nikkissushibar.com

OKAMI JAPANESE HIBACHI STEAK HOUSE

We have reinvented “Hibachi cuisine.” Okami Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse is like no other. Our highly skilled chefs cook an incredible dinner while entertaining you on the way.

Our portions are large, our drinks are less expensive, and our staff is loads of fun. We are committed to using quality ingredients and seasoning with guaranteed freshness. Our goal is to utilize all resources, domestically and internationally, to ensure we serve only the finest food products. We believe good, healthy food aids vital functions for well-being, both physically and mentally. Our menu consists of a wide range of steak, seafood, and chicken for the specially designed “Teppan Grill.” We also serve tastebud-tingling Japanese sushi, hand rolls, sashimi, tempura dishes, and noodle entrees. This offers our guests a complete Japanese dining experience. Our all-you-can-eat sushie menu and daily specials can be found at okamisteakhouse.com! 614 S College Rd. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon.-Thurs., 11am 2:30pm / 4-10pm; Fri., 11am-2:30pm / 4pm-11pm; Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 11am9:30pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ WEBSITE: okamisteakhouse.com

also 10-Midnight on Fri/Sat. Tuesday LOCALS NIGHT- 20% Dinner Entrees. Wednesday 80S NIGHT - 80smusic and menu prices. Sundays are the best dealdowntown - Specialty Sushi and Entrees are BuyOne, Get One $10 Off and 1/2 price Wine Bottles.Nightly Drink Specials.

Gluten-Free Menu upon request. Complimentary Birthday Dessert.

■ WEBSITE: yosake.com. @yosakeilm on Twitter & Instagram. Like us on Facebook.

BAGELS ROUND BAGELS

Round Bagels and Donuts features 17 varieties of New York-style bagels, baked fresh daily on site in a steam bagel oven. Round offers a wide variety of breakfast and lunch bagel sandwiches, grilled and fresh to order. Round also offers fresh-made donuts daily! Stop by Monday Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., and on Sunday, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Homemade bagels, cream

cheeses, donuts, sandwiches, coffee and more ■ WEBSITE: roundbagelsanddonuts.com

FONDUE THE LITTLE DIPPER

Wilmington’s favorite fondue restaurant! The Little Dipper specializes in unique fondue dishes with a global variety of cheeses, meats, seafood, vegetables, chocolates and fine wines. The warm

and intimate dining room is a great place to enjoy a four-course meal, or indulge in appetizers and desserts outside on the back deck or in the bar while watching luminescent jellyfish. Reservations are appreciated for parties of any size. Located at the corner of Front and Orange in Downtown Wilmington. 138 South Front Street. (910) 251-0433.

■ SERVING DINNER: 5pm Tue-Sun; open daily from Memorial Day through October ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING Sunday half-price wine bottles; Monday beer and wine flights on special; Tuesday Local’s Night $11/person cheese and chocolate; Wednesday Ladies Night; Thursday $27 4-course prix fixe; Friday “Date Night” $85/couple for 3 courses and a bottle of wine.

■ MUSIC: Tuesdays & Thursdays, MayOct., 7– 9 p.m. (weather permitting) ■ WEBSITE: www.littledipperfondue.com

IRISH THE HARP

Experience the finest traditional Irish family recipes and popular favorites served in a casual yet elegant traditional pub atmosphere.

The Harp, 1423 S. 3rd St., proudly uses the freshest ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible, to bring you and yours the most delicious Irish fare! We have a fully stocked bar featuring favorite Irish beers and whiskies. We are open every day for both American and Irish breakfast, served to noon weekdays and 2 p.m. weekends. Regular menu to 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends. Join

SZECHUAN 132

Craving expertly prepared Chinese food in an elegant atmosphere? Szechuan 132 Chinese Restaurant is your destination! Szechuan 132 has earned the reputation as one of the finest contemporary Chinese restaurants in the Port City. Tastefully decorated with an elegant atmosphere, with an exceptional ingenious menu has deemed Szechuan 132 the best Chinese restaurant for years, hands down. 419 South College Road (in University Landing), (910) 799-1426.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Lunch specials ■ WEBSITE: szechuan132.com

YOSAKE DOWNTOWN SUSHI LOUNGE

Lively atmosphere in a modern setting, Yosake is the delicious Downtown spot for date night, socializing with friends, or any large dinner party. Home to the never-disappointing Shanghai Firecracker Shrimp! In addition to sushi, we offer a full Pan Asian menu including curries, noodle dishes, and the ever-popular Crispy Salmon or mouth-watering Kobe Burger.

Inspired features change weekly showcasing our commitment to local farms. Full bar including a comprehensive sake list, signature cocktails, and Asian Import Bottles. 33 S. Front St., 2nd Floor (910) 763-3172.

■ SERVING DINNER: 7 nights a week, 5pm; Sun-Wed. ‘til 10pm, Thurs ‘til 11pm, Fri-Sat, ‘til Midnight.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: 1/2 Price Sushi/Appetizer Menu

All good things start with wholesome ingredients. $5 Community Partners Box Lunch Catering & Delivery Online Ordering

(910) 795-4164

www.jasonsdeli.com 5301 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28405 encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 19

us for trivia at 8:30 on Thursdays and live music on Fridays – call ahead for schedule (910) 763-1607. Located just beside Greenfield Lake and Park at the south end of downtown Wilmington, The Harp is a lovely Irish pub committed to bringing traditional Irish flavor, tradition and hospitality to the Cape Fear area ■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenfield Lake/DowntownSouth ■ FEATURING: Homemade soups, desserts and breads, free open wifi, new enlarged patio area, and big screen TVs at the bar featuring major soccer matches worldwide.

■ WEBSITE: harpwilmington.com

SLAINTE IRISH PUB

Formerly Greenline Steaks and Pizza, but with the same great menu and flavors!

Philly Cheesesteaks

Mediterranean Pizza

Slainte Irish Pub in Monkey Junction has traditional pub fare with an Irish flair. We have a large selection of Irish whiskey, and over 23 different beers on draft, and 40 different craft beers in bottles. They have a large well lit outdoor patio with a full bar also. Come have some fun! They currently do not take reservations, but promise to take care of you when you get here!

5607 Carolina Beach Rd. #100, (910) 399-3980 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 11:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: South Wilmington, Monkey Junction ■ FEATURING: Irish grub, whiskeys, beer, wine, fun.

■ WEBSITE: facebook.com/slaintemj

ITALIAN ANTONIO’S

Chicken Wings

Fresh Salads

Serving fresh, homemade Italian fare in midtown and south Wilmington, Antonio’s Pizza and Pasta is a family-owned restaurant which serves New York style pizza and pasta. From daily specials during lunch and dinner to a friendly waitstaff ensuring a top-notch experience, whether dining in, taking out or getting delivery, to generous portions, the Antonio’s experience is an unforgettable one. Serving subs, salads, pizza by the slice or pie, pasta, and more, dine-in, take-out and delivery! 3501 Oleander Dr., #2, and 5120 S. College Rd. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sun., open at 11:30 a.m.)

■ NEIGHBORHOOD DELIVERY OFFERED: Monkey Junction and near Independence Mall ■ WEBSITE: antoniospizzaandpasta.com

THE ITALIAN BISTRO

Buy any large specialty pizza and get a medium cheese free!

• NEW DESSERTS! Nutella fruit pizza and s’mores pizza

• LUNCH SPECIALS

OFFERING FREE DELIVERY & CURBSIDE PICKUP 7134 MARKET ST. • 910-821-8191 STELLASPIZZAANDGRILLE.COM 20 encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

The Italian Bistro is a family-owned, fullservice Italian restaurant and pizzeria located in Porters Neck. They offer a wide variety of N.Y. style thin-crust pizza and homemade Italian dishes seven days a week!

The Italian Bistro strives to bring customers a variety of homemade items made with the freshest, local ingredients. Every pizza and entrée is made to order and served with a smile from our amazing staff.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Porters Neck ■ WEBSITE: italianbistronc.com

SLICE OF LIFE

“Slice” has become a home away from home for tourists and locals alike. Our menu includes salads, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, homemade soups, subs and, of course, pizza.

We only serve the freshest and highest-quality ingredients in all of our food, and our dough is made daily with purified water. Voted “Best Pizza” and “Best Late Night Eatery.”All ABC permits.

Visit us downtown at 125 Market Street, (910) 251-9444, in Wrightsville Beach at 1437 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 101, (910) 256-2229 and in Pine Valley on the corner of 17th and College Road, (910) 799-1399.

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

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, Downtown and Wilmington South.

■ FEATURING: Largest tequila selection in town!

■ WEBSITE: grabslice.com

MEXICAN ZOCALO

Zocalo Street Food and Tequila brings a modern version of cooking traditional Mexican street food through perfected recipes, with excellent presentation. Zócalo was the main ceremonial center for the Aztecs, and presently, it is the main square in central Mexico City. It bridges old school tradition with a twist of innovative cooking. Zocalo also has weekly events, such as their margarita and food tasting every Monday, 5-8 p.m., and a live taco station every Tuesday , 5-8 p.m. Live Latin music Is showcased every other Saturday and Sunday brunch begins at 10 a.m. Be sure to try Zocalo’s wide selection of the best tequilas! Owned and operated locally, locations are in Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC. Take out and delivery available through most apps.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER AND BRUNCH: Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m - 10 p.m.; Sunday brunch, 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; closes 9 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Pointe at Barclay ■ WEBSITE: zocalostreetfood.com

SANDWICHES J. MICHAEL’S PHILLY DELI

The Philly Deli celebrated their 38th anniversary in August 2017. Thier first store was located in Hanover Center—the oldest shopping center in Wilmington. Since, two more Philly Delis have been added: one at Porters Neck and one at Monkey Junction.

The Philly Deli started out by importing all of their steak meat and hoagie rolls straight from Amoroso Baking Company, located on 55th Street in downtown Philadelphia! It’s a practice they maintain to this day.

Their warm, inviting, atmosphere is perfect for “date night” or “family night.” Let them show you why “fresh, homemade and local” is part of everything they do. 8211 Market St. (910) 6867774

We also have a great collection of salads to choose from, including the classic chef’s salad, chicken salad, and tuna salad, all made fresh every day in our three Wilmington, NC restaurants. 8232 Market St., 3501 Oleander Dr., 609 Piner Rd.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sun brunch, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

■ OPEN: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday -Thursday,11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Friday Saturday.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Porters Neck, North and South Wilmington, ■ WEBSITE: https://phillydeli.com

SEAFOOD CAPE FEAR SEAFOOD COMPANY

Founded in 2008 by Evans and Nikki Trawick, Cape Fear Seafood Company has become a local hotspot for the freshest, tastiest seafood in the area. With it’s growing popularity, the restaurant has expanded from its flagship eatery in Monkey Junction to locations in Porters Neck and Waterford in Leland. “We are a dedicated group of individuals working together as a team to serve spectacular food, wine and spirits in a relaxed and casual setting,” restaurateur Evans Trawick says. “At CFSC every dish is prepared with attention to detail, quality ingredients and excellent flavors. Our staff strives to accommodate guests with a sense of urgency and an abundance of southern hospitality.” Cape Fear Seafood Company has been recognized by encore magazine for best seafood in 2015, as well as by Wilmington Magazine in 2015 and 2016, and Star News from 2013 through 2016. Monkey Junction: 5226 S. College Road Suite 5, 910799-7077. Porter’s Neck: 140 Hays Lane #140, 910-681-1140. Waterford: 143 Poole Rd., Leland, NC 28451 ■ SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER: 11:30am4pm daily; Mon.-Thurs.., 4pm-9pm; Fri.-Sat., 4pm 10pm; Sun., 4pm-8:30pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, north Wilmington and Leland ■ WESBITE: capefearseafoodcompany.com

CATCH

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

Dubbed “Modern Seafood Cuisine” we offer an array Fresh Seafood & Steaks, including our Signature NC Sweet Potato Salad. Appetizers include our Mouth watering “Fire Cracker” Shrimp, Crispy Cajun Fried NC Oysters & Blue Crab Claw Scampi, & Seafood Ceviche to name a few. Larger Plates include, Charleston Crab Cakes, Flounder Escovitch & Miso Salmon. Custom Entree request gladly accommodated for our Guest.

(Vegetarian, Vegan & Allergies) Hand-crafted seasonal desserts. Full ABC Permits. 6623 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405, 910-7993847.

■ SERVING DINNER: Mon.-Sat. 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Acclaimed Wine List ■ WEBSITE: catchwilmington.com

DOCK STREET OYSTER BAR

Voted Best Oysters for over 10 years by encore readers, you know what you can find at Dock Street Oyster Bar. But we have a lot more than oysters! Featuring a full menu of seafood, pasta, and chicken dishes from $4.95-$25.95, there’s something for everyone at Dock Street.

You’ll have a great time eating in our “Bohemian-Chic” atmosphere, where you’ll feel just as comfort able in flip flops as you would in a busi-

ness suit. Located at 12 Dock St in downtown Wilmington. Open lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. (910) 762-2827.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days a week.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Fresh daily steamed oysters.

■ WEBSITE: dockstreetoysterbar.net

2am, Historic Wilmington: Sun-Thurs: 11am10pm; Fri-Sat:11am-Midnight.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Carolina Beach/Downtown ■ FEATURING: Daily lunch specials. Like us on Facebook!

■ WEBSITE: TheShuckinShack.com

MICHAEL’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

SOUTHERN

Established in 1998, Michael’s Seafood Restaurant is locally owned and operated by Shelly McGowan and managed by her team of culinary professionals. Michael’s aspires to bring you the highest quality and freshest fin fish, shell fish, mollusks, beef, pork, poultry and produce. Our menu consists of mainly locally grown and made from scratch items. We count on our local fishermen and farmers to supply us with seasonal, North Carolina favorites on a daily basis. Adorned walls include awards such as 3 time gold medalist at the International Seafood Chowder Cook-Off, Entrepreneur of the Year, Restaurant of the Year and Encores readers’ choice in Best Seafood to name a few. 1206 N. Lake Park Blvd. (910) 458-7761 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 7 days 11 am – 9 pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Carolina Beach ■ FEATURING: Award-winning chowder, local se food and more!

■ WEBSITE: MikesCfood.com

THE PILOT HOUSE

The Pilot House Restaurant is Wilmington’s premier seafood and steak house with a touch of the South. We specialize in local seafood and produce. Featuring the only Downtown bar that faces the river and opening our doors in 1978, The Pilot House is the oldest restaurant in the Downtown area. We offer stunning riverfront views in a newly-renovated relaxed, casual setting inside or on one of our two outdoor decks. Join us for $5.00 select appetizers Sunday-Thursday and live music every Friday and Saturday nigh on our umbrella deck. Large parties welcome. Private event space available.

910-343-0200. 2 Ann Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm and Sunday Brunch,. 11am-3pm. Kids menu ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Riverfront Downtown Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Fresh local seafood specialties, Riverfront Dining, free on-site parking ■ MUSIC: Outside Every Friday and Saturday ■ WEBSITE: pilothouserest.com

SHUCKIN’ SHACK

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar has two locations in the Port City area. The original Shack is located in Carolina Beach at 6A N. Lake Park Blvd.

(910-458-7380) and our second location is at 109 Market Street in Historic Downtown Wilmington (910-833-8622). The Shack is the place you want to be to catch your favorite sports team on 7 TV’s carrying all major sports packages. A variety of fresh seafood is available daily including oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and crab legs. Shuckin’ Shack has expanded its menu now offering fish tacos, crab cake sliders, fried oyster po-boys, fresh salads, and more.

Come in and check out the Shack’s daily lunch, dinner, and drink specials. It’s a Good Shuckin’ Time!

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Carolina Beach Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-2am; Sun: Noon-

CASEY’S BUFFET

In Wilmington, everyone knows where to go for solid country cooking. That place is Casey’s Buffet, winner of encore’s Best Country Cookin’/ Soul Food and Buffet categories. “Every day we are open, somebody tells us it tastes just like their grandma’s or mama’s cooking,” co-owner Gena Casey says. Gena and her husband Larry run the show at the Oleander Drive restaurant where people are urged to enjoy all food indigenous to the South: fried chicken, barbecue, catfish, mac‘n’cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken‘n’dumplings, biscuits and homemade banana puddin’ are among a few of many other delectable items. 5559 Oleander Drive.

(910) 798-2913.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Mon. & Tues.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Pig’s feet and chitterlings.

■ WEBSITE: caseysbuffet.com

RX RESTAURANT & BAR

Located in downtown Wilmington, Rx Restaurant and Bar is here to feed your soul, serving up Southern cuisine made with ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. The Rx chef is committed to bringing fresh food to your table, so the menu changes daily based on what he finds locally. Rx drinks are as unique as the food—and just what the doctor ordered. Join us for a dining experience you will never forget! 421 Castle St.; 910 399-3080.

■ SERVING BRUNCH & DINNER: Tues-Thurs, 5-10pm; Fri-Sat, 5-10:30pm; Sun., 10am-3pm and 5-9pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ WEBSITE: rxwilmington.com

TAPAS/WINE BAR THE FORTUNATE GLASS WINE BAR

Under new ownership! Tom Noonan invites you to enjoy his remodeled space, featuring a new sound system and new bar, in a warm, relaxed environment. Taste 40 craft beers, over 400 wines by the bottle, a wide selection of cheese and charcuterie, with gourmet small plates and desserts to go! And don’t miss their weekly wine tastings, every Tuesday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

SERVING DINNER & LATE NIGHT: Mon., Closed; Tues.-Thurs., 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.; Fri., 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. - 2 a.m.; Sun., 4 - 10 p.m.

NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown, 29 S Front St. WEBSITE: fortunateglass.com

Join The n Rebellio Today CURBSIDE AND DELIVERY! CHECK OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS FOR UPDATES ON MENU AND HOURS

• American comfort food, with a Southern twist • Handpicked bourbons and whiskeys • House-made barrel-aged cocktails • Excellent wine selection • 34 beers on draft Mon. 4pm-12am • Tues.-Thurs. 11:30am-12am Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-1am • Sun. 11:30am-12am

15 S. Front St. 910-399-1162 www.rebellionnc.com

encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 21

SIPS

AND

SNACKS

Cocktails and food pairings you can make at home 1 c Lime juice (fresh is best) 0.5 c Orange juice 0.5 c Mango nectar, or diced pineapple and juice 1 Red onion, diced 1 Red bell pepper, diced (try jarred roasted red bell peppers or roast your own) 1 Habanero or jalapeño (remove seeds and ribs for less heat) 1 Mango, peeled and diced (again, pineapple works) 1 oz Fresh basil, chopped 1 oz Fresh cilantro, chopped 1 tsp Sea salt

I

read somewhere it’s not uncommon to go through the stages of grief during this time of forced isolation: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. At any given moment I’m oscillating between anger and acceptance. Right now, for example, I’m angry I’m not at The Basics with my best friend Aimee, sipping mango mimosas and catching up, while we wait for something fabulous with a side of potato cake and a blueberry pancake to split because that’s our thing. But I accept that fact, so, instead, I’ll make myself a fried egg on a piece of brioche toast that my husband baked from scratch while I count my blessings.

BY JO ka doesn’t have a tasting room, but NC residents can find their spirits at ABC stores.

Rumor has it their 1.75L bottles are available for a pretty cool price of $38.95. (And if quarantine has taught us anything, it’s to get the bigger bottle.)

Chef Sam Cahoon, owner of Savorez, downtown’s lovely Latin American spot, has paired Blue Shark’s cocktail with his shrimp and mango ceviche. Sam can be tipped for his insight on Venmo: @Sam-Cahoon-3

Speaking of perfect pairings, this week I’ve upped the quarantini game to include accompanying dishes. Here are three fabulous recipes from local chefs paired with cocktail recipes from local spirit pros to In lieu of tips, readers can donate to make isolation a littler more bearable. Or at ncrestaurantrelief.com on behalf of Blue the very least, maybe we can add another Shark Vodka. stage of grief: eating our feelings.

BLUE SHARK VODKA + SAVOREZ Wilmington’s very own Blue Shark Vod-

SURFSIDE SIPPER 1 oz Blue Shark Vodka 1 oz Lillet Blanc 2 oz Fresh grapefruit juice

22 encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Fill a separate bowl with ice water. Blanch shrimp by submerging in boiling water 30-60 seconds, until just cooked through. Quickly drain or strain out of boiling water and place in ice water to stop cooking process.

Once cooled, remove from ice water and set aside until marinade is ready.

AN C.W

. HOFF

MANN

A SIPPING GOOD TIME Blue Shark Vodka’s Surfside Sipper includes Blue Shark vodka, lillet blanc, fresh grapefruit and a slice of orange.

Courtesy photo

Orange slice Fill glass with ice. Combine all ingredients and stir. Garnish with an orange slice SHRIMP AND MANGO CEVICHE 2 lbs Fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined (if fresh, cut shrimp in half lengthwise before blanching for a quicker cook time and for more even cooking)

Mix together mango nectar, orange juice, lime juice and salt. Once combined, add diced onions, peppers, mango and herbs.

Finally, mix in blanched shrimp. Serve with tortilla chips or something crunchy, and enjoy with your cocktail! Perfect for a warm, sunny spring day!

CRUST KITCHEN & COCKTAILS + THE SECOND GLASS Anyone else really craving a Dragonheart sammie with a side of disco fries and ‘90s hip-hop? That and an elegant cheeseboard with a cold glass of Viognier would cure all that ails me. Alas, we will have to park it at our own dinner tables for a yummy cocktail by CRUST’s own general manager, Tish Bass, alongside salmon parcels from The Second Glass’s executive chef, Ryan O’Janpa.

Bass can be tipped via Venmo: @TheTish-Bass

O’Janpa can be tipped via Venmo: @ Ryan-OJanpa CANTALOOP 1.5 oz Uncle Val’s botanical gin 1 oz Blood orange juice 1 oz Sour mix Floater of champagne Serve on the rocks, in a Collins glass.

SMOKED SALMON PARCEL 1 Sheet frozen puff pastry 1 Pack sliced smoked salmon 1 c Ricotta 1 Minced shallot 1 Cob corn, charred and cut off the cob 1 tbsp Butter 1 tbsp Minced basil 1 Beaten egg Thaw puff pastry, cut into 8 equal squares, set aside. Sweat shallot over medium high heat. Once translucent, add the corn and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add the tablespoon of butter, cut off heat and stir until butter is melted. Add the corn mixture, along with the minced basil, to the ricotta and mix thoroughly. Allow to

cool before assembling the parcels.

Curried Sour Cream: 1 c Sour cream 1/2 Yellow onion, minced 0.5 tbsp Yellow curry powder 1 tsp Ground turmeric 1 cup Vegetable stock For the sour cream, sweat the onion in a pan on medium low heat. When onion becomes translucent, add the curry powder and turmeric. Allow to toast for about a minute, then add the vegetable stock.

Reduce by 3/4 and whisk into sour cream.

Allow to cool completely before serving.

To assemble the dish, place 1 slice of smoked salmon in the center of each puff pastry and top with 1.5 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture. Brush a bit of water along the edges of the puff pastry. Fold up opposite corners of the puff pastry to touch in the center above the filling and pinch to seal. Fold up the other two corners and pinch together along the seams to seal the parcel.

Cool in a refrigerator for an hour before cooking. Brush each parcel with the beaten egg and cook at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, until a nice golden brown is achieved. Serve sour cream cold underneath the salmon parcels.

COPPER PENNY + POE’S TAVERN

Bartenders note: Readers who don’t like too sweet can cut it with some club soda.

What I wouldn’t give for a Chestnut 109 with a Wilmington Brewing Company Penny Pale Ale on a Tuesday afternoon with my friend Jarred. Or some tuna tacos outside, with a margarita and my best bud Ben, as the Wrightsville Beach breeze soothed our sunburned necks.

An at-home pairing will have to do for now. Devan Mitchell, front-of-house manager at Copper Penny, is summoning summer with his Deep Eddy concoction, which will pair lovingly Poe’s Carolina classic burger, courtesy of GM Sabrey Ball.

In lieu of tips, Mitchell requests readers contribute to the Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance Service Industry Workers Grocery Program: donorbox.org/service-industry-workers-grocery-program In lieu of tips, Ball encourages readers to purchase a Poe’s gift card via rallyforrestaurants.com.

DEEP EDDY BLUES First muddle a handful of blueberries 1.5 oz Deep Eddy Peach .5 oz of Cointreau

CAROLINA BURGER The Poe’s kitchen isn’t quite ready to share their secrets, so readers can try their hand at this “no recipe” recipe. Ball says, “Nothing says summer in the South like peaches and blueberries, so we paired the drink with one of our Southern creations!”

The Carolina Burger includes an 8 oz burger grilled to a choice temperature, topped with pulled pork, pickled red onions, and shredded cabbage. It’s a great way to use up some extra stuff hanging around the fridge.

Folks who want to zhuzh it up can toss the cabbage with a little salt, pepper, mayo and celery seeds, or make a quick barbecue sauce for the pulled pork with vinegar, brown sugar and cayenne.

SAVE UP TO

50% OFF AT LOCAL BUSINESS

Shake vigorously and top with some fresh lemonade.

encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 23

WEIGHING OPTIONS With stay-at-home orders in place around the country, cannabis is part of a larger conversation about which products should be considered ‘essential.’

Photo via Unsplash

HIGH

BY JEFF OLOIZIA

B

efore the COVID-19 outbreak, Wilmington graduate student Caroline says she would smoke a little cannabis before bed most nights to help her sleep.

Now, she starts smoking as early as 9 in the morning.

“I have the rolling down to a science so that my joint is ready at the same time as my coffee,” she says. “I usually light up again during the 3 or 4 p.m. slump, then finish that joint before bed. Sometimes I have my morning bud on Zoom or FaceTime with other friends who smoke. We pretend to pass our joints. We miss each other.”

Caroline is one of a large group of cannabis users who have seen their usage increase during quarantine. Just as alcohol sales have swelled as people are forced to stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19, cannabis sales have flourished, too. According to Fortune magazine, cannabis dispensaries across the United States saw sales soar by double digits in March. In some places people waited for hours in line to get their fix. After the stayat-home order was issued in San Francisco, marijuana sales increased more than 150 percent over the same period a year ago. And in the midst of a historic stock-market meltdown, stock prices for

cannabis companies have surged, in some cases doubling since the crisis began.

ries side here in the states, there’s definitely a huge spike in demand.”

“It’s pretty much ‘pick your poison,’” says local edibles dealer Erica, referring to the uptick in sales of so-called vice products. Like many dealers, Erica has seen her sales go up since Governor Roy Cooper announced North Carolina’s stay-at-home order on March 27.

He attributes that spike to a variety of factors. From a macroeconomics standpoint, it stands to reason, as physical retailers close, online sales will drive the bulk of people’s purchasing. Even accounting for that bias, “There’s still an additional spike to account for in the cannabis space specifically,” Sean says. “I think that has a lot to do with the fact people are bored and sitting at home.”

“It’s not that people are necessarily dropping by more often, but there are new people buying from me, and they’re buying in greater quantities,” she says. “I think people know at this point they’re in it for a haul.”

Erica offers contactless exchange of her brownies, which come in flavors ranging from mint to peanut butter and pretzel. Her prices are set to be affordable for the graduate students and young professionals that make up the bulk of her friend group: $10 for a single treat, or $140 for a batch of 15, with a sliding scale for people from marginalized communities who may be having a hard time.

Selling edibles is Erica’s side hustle; she considers herself lucky to have a day job that wasn’t diminished by social distancing. Still, she says, the 40% uptick in business has helped her put a little extra in her savings. “It’s a nice income boost during this time.”

Those in the cannabis accessories sphere have seen their incomes positively affected by the pandemic as well. Sean is co-founder and CTO of Smoke Cartel, a popular online head shop based out of Savannah, Georgia. (The site won the High Times Cannabis Cup “Best Glass” Award in 2018.) He is also director of e-commerce for a publicly traded cannabis company in Canada, where recreational cannabis is federally legal. After stocking up in preparation for COVID-19, Sean’s businesses have seen a five-to-six-time increase in the past two months.

“That’s on both sides,” he says. “On the consumable side in Canada, we’re seeing a very similar increase, and on the accesso-

24 encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com

Like Erica, Sean reports customers have been buying in greater quantities since the outbreak began—a pattern of behavior akin to “stocking up” on essentials, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer. He’s also seen a marked increase in new customers—another factor that might explain why the pandemic has been such a boon for the industry.

Nick, a prominent member of Wilmington’s arts community, considers himself “a fairly casual smoker.” He isn’t new to cannabis but has seen his usage go up since he began staying home. “I used to smoke maybe a few times a week,” he says. “Currently, I’m smoking almost every night.”

He recently began smoking before going for runs, and says marijuana can make watching movies or playing video games more exciting. He also smokes to cope with depression and uncertainty. “Weed certainly helps to turn the brain off after you go down the rabbit hole of COVID-19 magazine articles that day,” he says.

Among the most interesting conversations he’s had lately are those with non-smoker friends. They, too, have expressed an increasing curiosity and openness about their own potential cannabis use.

“I can’t quantify this, but my feeling is this has to do with a general reassessment of norms and comfort that a disaster like this can bring,” Nick says.

That mindset would appear consistent with a general relaxing of attitudes around

SEASON

While other industries take a hit, cannabis thrives under COVID-19 marijuana use in recent years. Over the past month, more than a dozen states have agreed to allow cannabis shops and medical marijuana dispensaries to remain open—recognition, perhaps, that for many cannabis is an indispensable product.

There’s also the pharmaceutical component: For millions of Americans, marijuana helps treat everything from chronic pain to Alzheimer’s disease to appetite loss.

As a result, the concept of the slacker stoner has become—if not obsolete— largely a thing of the past. Says Sean, “The social stigma is certainly a lot different nowadays than where we were years ago.”

Some experts predict support for federal cannabis legalization will increase dramatically in the wake of the pandemic. According to CNBC, the U.S. cannabis market is currently valued at approximately $56 billion, with about 90% of sales going untaxed on the black market. Federal legalization would, hypothetically, help stimulate an economy in free fall, while creating over a million new jobs.

As long as social distancing remains in effect, it’s clear cannabis use isn’t going to slow down any time soon. “If I’m working from home and don’t have much to do that day, it’s hard for me not to be like, ‘Huh, it’s 11 o’clock, I guess I could smoke a blunt now,’” says Erica. “A lot of people have shared that sentiment. You wake up, you do a couple of things, and sometimes you have the rest of the day, and then what do you do?”

Ed. note: Some names have been changed to protect anonymity of sources.

We’re not just hot dogs!

$5 Meal Deals

Offering philly cheesesteaks, burgers, grilled cheeses, frank ’n’ beans and more!

Offering hot dog cart service for catering, 60 or more!

Drop-off catering offered!

We ha Impos ve the s Burgeible r

WILMINGTON 4502 Fountain Dr Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 452-3952

11am to 6:30pm, 7 days a week

encore | april 29 - may 5, 2020 | www.encorepub.com 25

PURPLE-ISH Democrats and Republicans attend a National Braver Angels Red/Blue weekend workshop to engage in honest discussions.

Courtesy photo

BY BROOKE SUDDETH

I

n an increasingly red and blue world, voters are often drastically loyal to a political party. While democracy is supposed to promote healthy disagreement and debate on how to handle public matters, our founding principles don’t support personal modern-day political discourse. Today politicians and constituents focus on attack campaigns that belittle moral character rather than sticking to issues. 2020’s quickly approaching election has the potential to be one of the most polarizing yet, as voters have been social distancing and communicating very little with people who hold different political stances.

“I’m fairly certain this will continue for some period of time, but I also believe we live in cycles, and this cycle will dissipate and be replaced by a positive upswing in attitudes,” says Allen Quigley, area coordinator for the nonprofit Braver Angels.

The national citizens’ movement works to bring liberals and conservations together in an effort to help them understand each other beyond stereotypes. It also educates on institutional beliefs and enhances communication skills to promote respect and civility to possibly form alliances. “We need to be optimistic, else we’ll fall into a permanently polarized society,” Quigley expresses.

Known as “Better Angels” before a national campaign sought the name change on April 15, 2020, Braver Angels continues to grow at a steady rate. Quigley started the local chapter after learning of the group from Rotary International. Last October the chapter screened the documentary “Braver Angels: Reuniting America” and saw a successful 75-citizen turnout. Currently, they have 35 people who participate in regular communication to instill within the community political depolarization.

According to the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, 2016 polling found that 47% of Republicans said Democrats were more “immoral” than other Americans. 35% of Democrats held that same view about Republicans. Political leaders often practice polarization as campaigning has become more antagonistic. During

DETAILS BRAVER ANGELS braverangels.org Email Allen Quigley to join Zoom meetings: aquigley12@gmail.com the 1960 presidential campaign, only 10% of political advertisements aired were negative. By 2012 only 14% of campaign ads were positive.

“There are many reasons why this has happened,” Quigley claims, “but I would place much of the responsibility on the leaders in our community, news outlets, national and global organizations. They have the power to create and the ability to shift this focus. Citizens will follow those leaders, either by choice or through coercion, and allow that attitude to permeate everyday life. It could happen at work, home, church, social media, through the news—they all can have an impact on us, negatively and positively.”

Currently, some of the most polarizing public issues are climate change, environmental protections, gun control, immigration, government involvement in healthcare, increase/decrease of military forces, tax rates for those with higher incomes, and abortion rights. Better Angels approach depolarization by working to get people to listen to another’s perspective on issues and core principles.

“We aren’t asking anyone to change their minds (although, that does happen), but to listen respectfully and try to understand why someone might feel the way they do,” Quigley says. “We’re all influenced by our culture, family and upbringing, and because they’re all different, we’re bound to see through a different lens. We find, when we take this

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approach, individuals find more common ground than they thought possible. The end result is a civil discussion where we can find compromise.”

To accomplish their goal of educating the community, Braver Angels has constructed different workshops that break depolarization into a step-by-step process. Anybody interested can attend their Depolarizing Within Workshops, Skills Workshops, Better Angels Debates and Red/Blue Workshops.

Depolarizing Within Workshops consist of changing the internal communication of each party.

“Much of today’s polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side—creating our own ‘echo chamber,’” Quigley tells. “Participants will learn how to think critically without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population, and offer strategies for intervening constructively in social conversations with like-minded peers.”

Skills Workshops are designed to teach improved communication skills. The objective is to educate folks about how to effectively and respectfully communicate with those whose viewpoints differ from their own. These workshops offer insights into common communication barriers, information on core values and principles of the opposing party, and practice on how to talk about issues with someone with a different system of beliefs.

“The Better Angels Debate is a new way to discuss public issues, in a structured but lively debate format, where the goal is searching together for knowledge and solutions rather than scoring points or winning,” Quigley discloses. “After a well-done debate, everyone walks away with a broader awareness of the validity in opposing views and tighter community relationships.”

Braver Angels’ debates use a modified parliamentary-style format, with a debate chairperson. Everyone in the room can participate and people speak for themselves rather than for a specific party.

Red/Blue Workshops are the foundation of Braver Angels, as they gather an

CIVIL

DISCOURSE

Wilmington Braver Angels strive for depolarization in politics equal number of Republican- and Democrat-leaning individuals for a weekend of discussion and exploration. The weekend involves frank dialogue around each side’s view and analysis of how those views were established. Individuals explore their views and often end up discovering a level of commonality they share with their opposing party.

“Political opinions are only a portion of how we conduct our lives and shouldn’t influence how we treat our neighbors, friends and family members,” Quigley divulges. “Most attendees indicate a real concern about the fact they can’t even talk with their family over a Thanksgiving dinner without getting into heated arguments.

The skills they learn will hopefully teach them how to deflect some of that polarity, and teach others how to converse with civility and respect.”

Due to social-distancing mandates, Braver Angels has had to postpone their three previously scheduled spring workshops. The dates have not yet been rescheduled, as the organization is waiting to see what will unfold with COVID-19.

Folks who want to stay informed on upcoming workshops should email Allen Quigley to join the organization’s regular Zoom meetings.

“I believe those interested in improving this situation will participate with an open mind and heart,” Quigley says. “Those with no desire for compromise will not respond to us or attend our workshops. Maybe over time they’ll start to come around, particularly as the pendulum starts to shift back, and our leaders support this approach and demonstrate it in their personal and professional lives.”

e

BURNING

SENSATION

BY ANGHUS HOUVOURAS CHAPTER 7

A

t first, no one considered Vincent Stain and his army of shiftless dropouts a threat. They were a fascinating punchline; a literal musical movement that could be mocked by a world always looking for the next big thing to look down upon.

They continued to advance across the American Southwest, picking up mass at every small town they moved through.

By the time they reached Vinita, Oklahoma, they were half a million strong.

News of Vincent Stain’s cross-country tour had spread and become a word-ofmouth sensation as young people were abandoning their lives to show their independence by joining a massive movement featuring a fairly nebulous ideology. Throngs of surly teenagers clogged the highways and byways, creating human chains that stretched from Joplin to Tipton Ford, Missouri.

Those who felt ostracized by society for their appearance, choices in clothing or the annoying way they spoke came from cities and towns across America, but mostly the suburbs. The poor souls felt sidelined by a world whose beauty standard had no room for the fat, slovenly and socially apathetic. They did not adhere to norms adopting the identities of outsiders because it gave them a purpose. The rules had become too restrictive, and they would no longer idly sit by and watch as beautiful people of the world continued to get their way.

Now, they had an organized school of thought, thanks to Vincent Stain’s extremely lengthy suicide note. It began to circulate from town to town with the kind of grassroots commitment normally employed by religious devotees or multi-level marketing schemes. Copies were mailed like chain letters to random individuals, who were asked to pass it along. Quotes from his ridiculously oversimplified worldview were painted on walls, highway overpasses and the

An Eddie Inferno rock ’n’ roll adventure

bathrooms of rest stops along the highways of the American Southwest.

Vincent became intoxicated by the adulation of his growing army of unwashed teens. He would watch them each day from the high peak of his scrap-metal tower, erected from road signs and vacant strip malls, pulled from town to town with massive lengths of rope and chain. Each day his followers would wake, congregate and seek out resources for survival. Like a plague of locusts, they devoured everything in their path, completely decimating small towns and emptying out convenience stores. A steady diet of snack food and cheap beer had made them increasingly surly, while lack of hygienic supplies created an odor, which could be detected by olfactory sensors a full day before Vincent Stain’s motorcade of malcontents rolled through.

At night Vincent would descend from his perch to perform for an eager audience, flanked by his obsidian-cloaked backing band—a mélange of mind-numbing music that would mesmerize devotees. It was like a nightly religious service, except his parishioners were not gathering in the hope of saving their eternal soul but pledging their allegiance to a new messiah of maleficence. On Thursdays he would forego musical accompaniment in favor of stream-of-consciousness spoken word sessions that even his most dedicated fans would admit were self-indulgent.

At the conclusion of his performances, Vincent would gather six to eight of his female fans to congregate at the zenith of his makeshift citadel. A precious chosen few would get the kind of access his growing legion would gladly murder another living being to experience. His inner sanctum was a sight to behold, adorned with furniture acquired from low-end chain retail outlets: the finest futon and rod-iron shelving units his acolytes could acquire, carpet made from a patchwork of black and gray supermarket floor mats.

His most passionate female fans were willing to indulge any fantasy Vincent could imagine—carnal delights that frequently occurred behind close doors in

began to build toward the chorus.

“The only state we’ll ever know,” continued Vincent, as he engaged his diaphragm to declare, “DESPAIR!” The orange lava-like veins throughout his body glowed and pulsated while black and red tentacles emerged from the depths of his gullet, like radioactive projectile vomit that weaved through the crowd and connected all of them: One mind, one body, one purpose. Then, with the power of Vincent Stain flowing through them, they began to mosh. One million arms swung. One million legs stomped. One million heads banged. Vincent’s army was no longer a parasitic organism feeding on society. They were an angry, raucous human catastrophe with the power to level a city with their unfocused rage.

Power channeled by their dark savior was ready to be unleashed onto an unsuspecting world. The good people of Jefferson City were unprepared for the epic donkey punch they were about to receive. City leaders gathered and drafted a strongly worded resolution, expressing their complete lack of interest in hosting Vincent Stain and his followers while making a second declaration of their hopes that the human maelstrom would redirect to the Hallsville Fairgrounds.

the fast fornication frenzy of furious rock ‘n’ roll fusion. Surprisingly, Vincent’s most intimate fantasies involved long discussions about his music. Rather than animalistic ravaging, Vincent sought more cerebral pleasure, engaging in long, meandering conversations about the meaning of his music, aggressively fishing for compliments and asking for feedback on There were few living witnesses to the his new songs. The collective consensus razing of Jefferson City—a handful of pain these makeshift focus groups ranged parazzi and rock reporters assigned to from “confused” to “disappointed.” cover the tour. The most apt description On the 28th day of his emergence, came from renowned photographer Early something changed. For nearly a month, Moses, who readily admitted traditional his mobile music festival had gained mo- camera technology could not capture the mentum, nearly one million worshipers largess of pure insanity he witnessed. in his crazed congregation. Vincent an“A tidal wave of flesh and leather,” he nounced he would be taking his music in explained, “a hurricane of humans worka new direction, debuting a new collaboing together to tear down everything and ration. His lascivious legion eagerly waitanything that stood in its way. Buildings ed the premiere of the new track. Within fell. Some people were absorbed into the moments of beginning to play, there was moving mound of mayhem, while the less something different about Vincent. The fortunate were sucked underneath and heavy beat shook the earth beneath their crushed, leaving a blood-red smear in its feet, and the sound-raging guitars tore wake.” through the air molecules around them, Vincent Stain had changed the game. creating a palpable heat. His followers began to undulate in unison, their body His groundswell of fan support transmovements awkward and unmotivated. formed into a human horde, tearing He watched from his perch as his person- through terrain like an angry child with a al army of sycophants fell under his spell. napkin, rapidly gaining speed as it headed towards its final destination: Detroit.

Vincent licked is lips and gently wrapped his fingers around the microphone to sing the first words to this new track: “If only Anghus is encore’s 2020 fact or ficthey had listened,” he whispered softly. “If tion writer, featuring the serialized piece, only they had cared.” The crowd of ardent “Burning Sensation.” Read the prologue followers began to move like a rising tide, and previous chapters at encorepub.com. swaying and rocking back and forth to the sound of Vincent’s raspy, unfiltered voice.

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CROSSWORD

THANK YOU WILMINGTON! Great Burgers and Hand-cut Fries

Established 1990

Voted “Best Burger” and “Best Fries” 6 Locations in the Cape Fear

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ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) I always hesitate to advise Aries people to slow down, be more deliberate, and pay closer attention to boring details. The Rams to whom I provide such counsel may be rebelliously annoyed with me—so much so they move even faster and with less attention to details. Nevertheless, I’ll risk offering you this advisory right now. Here’s my reasoning, which I hope will make the prospect more appealing: If you commit to a phase in which you temporarily invoke more prudence, discretion and watchfulness than usual, it will ultimately reward you with a specific opportunity to make rapid progress.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20) Is there an area of your life where you would like a do-over? A chance to cancel the past and erase lingering messiness and clear a path for whoknows-what new possibility? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to prepare—not to actually take the leap but rather make yourself ready for the leap. You will have God and fate and warm, fuzzy vibes on your side as you dare to dream and scheme about a fresh start. Any mistakes you committed once upon a time could become irrelevant as you fantasize practically about a future breakthrough.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) In 1855 Gemini-born Walt Whitman published his book of poetry “Leaves of Grass.” A literary critic named Rufus Wilmot Griswold did not approve. In a review, he derided the work that would eventually be regarded as one of America’s literary masterpieces. “It is impossible to imagine how any man’s fancy could have conceived such a mass of stupid filth,” Griswold wrote, adding Whitman had a “degrading, beastly sensuality” driven by “the vilest imaginings.” Whitman’s crafty Gemini intelligence responded ingeniously to the criticism. In the next edition of “Leaves of Grass,” the author printed Griswold’s full review. It helped sell even more books! I invite you to consider comparable twists and tricks.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) In your efforts to develop a vibrant community and foster a vital network of connections, you have an advantage. Your emotionally rich, nurturing spirit instills trust in people. They’re drawn to you because they sense you will treat them with care and sensitivity. On the other hand, these fine attributes of yours may sometimes cause problems.

Extra-needy, manipulative folks may interpret your softness as weakness. They might try to exploit your kindness to take advantage of you. The challenge for you is to be your generous, welcoming self, without allowing anyone to violate your boundaries or rip you off. Everything I just said will be helpful to meditate on in coming weeks, as you reinvent yourself for the future time when the coronavirus crisis will have lost much of its power to disrupt our lives.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Now is an excellent time to take inventory of your integrity. You’re likely to get crucial insights if you evaluate the state of your ethics, your authenticity and your compassion. Is it time to boost your commitment to a noble cause that transcends your narrow self-interest? Are there ways you’ve been less than fully fair and honest in your dealings with people? Is it possible you have sometimes failed to give your best? I’m not saying you are guilty of any of those sins, but most of us are indeed guilty of them, at least now and then. If you are, Leo, now is your special time to check in with yourself—and make any necessary adjustments and corrections.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) I predict you will have more flying dreams than usual in coming weeks—as well as more dreams in which you’re traveling around the world in the company of rebel angels and dreams in which you’re leading revolutionary uprisings of oppressed people against tyrannical overlords and dreams of enjoying eight-course gourmet feasts with sexy geniuses in the year 2022. You may also, even while not asleep, well up with outlandish fantasies and exotic desires.

I don’t regard any of these likelihoods as problematical. In fact I applaud them and encourage them. They’re healthy for you! Bonus: All the wild action transpiring in your psyche may prompt you to generate good ideas about fun adventures you could embark on once the coronavirus crisis has ebbed.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky believed the cleverest people are those who regularly call themselves fools.

In other words, they feel humble amusement as they acknowledge their failings and ignorance—thereby paving the way for creative growth. They steadily renew their commitment to avoid being know-it-alls, celebrating the curiosity that such blessed innocence enables them to nurture. They give themselves permission to ask dumb questions! Now is a favorable time for you to employ these strategies.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) What wonderful improvements and beautiful influences would you love to be basking in by May 1, 2021? What masterpieces would you love to have as key elements of your life by then? I invite you to have fun brainstorming about these possibilities in the next two weeks. If an exciting idea bubbles up into your awareness, formulate a plan that outlines the details you’ll need to put in place, so as to bring it to fruition when the time is right. I hereby authorize you to describe yourself with these terms: begetter; originator; maker; designer; founder; producer; framer; generator.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) If I asked you to hug and kiss yourself regularly, would you think I was being too cute? If I encouraged you to gaze into a mirror once a day and tell yourself how beautiful and interesting you are, would you say, “That’s too woo-woo for me.” I hope you will respond more favorably, Aquarius. In fact, I will be praying for you to ascend to new heights of self-love between now and May 25. I will be rooting for you to be unabashed as you treat yourself with more compassionate tenderness than you have ever dared to before.

And I do mean ever!

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) In the coming weeks, I’d love to see you get excited about refining and upgrading ways you communicate. I don’t mean to imply you’re a poor communicator; it’s just you’re in a phase when you’re especially empowered to enhance the clarity and candor with which you express yourself. You’ll have an uncanny knack for knowing the right thing to say at the right moment. You’ll generate blessings for yourself as you fine-tune your listening skills. Much of this may have to happen online and over the phone, of course. But you can still accomplish a lot!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) It’s time to work your way below the surface level of things, Libra; to dig and dive into the lower reaches where the mysteries are darker and richer; to marshal your courage as you go in quest of the rest of the story. Are you willing to suspend some of your assumptions about the way things work, as to become fully alert for hidden agendas and dormant potentials?

Here’s a piece of advice: Your fine analytical intelligence won’t be enough to guide you through this enigmatic terrain. If you hope to get face to face with the core source, you’ll have to call on your deeper intuition and non-rational hunches.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) When was the last time you researched the intricacies of what you don’t like and don’t desire and don’t want to become? Now is a favorable time to take a thorough inventory. You’ll generate good fortune for yourself by naming the following truths: 1. goals and dreams that are distractions from your primary mission; 2. attitudes and approaches that aren’t suitable for your temperament and don’t contribute to your maximum health; 3. people and influences that are not in alignment with your highest good.

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