February 22, 2012

VOL. 28 / PUB 34 / FREE FEBRUARY 22-28, 2012

WWW.ENCOREPUB.COM

ON THE RECORD:

2012 Best Of winners are announced (week 2)!

hodgepodge|

contents vol. 28 / pub. 34 / February 22-28, 2012 www.encorepub.com

best of .........................4-17 4-16 cover story: Shea Carver and Bethany Turner speak with area winners, and introduce

WhAt’s InsIDE thIs WEEk Being #1 is hard....

...but someone’s gotta do it!

Best oF 2012 • pgs. 4-17 In this week’s edition of encore, our second issue dedicated to the 2012 Best Of winners, we’ll reveal the secrets behind the greatest pizza, non-profit, local band and so many more categories! From where do we get our stats for the top of the class?

You guys, of course! Our readers voted online from December through January on everything from the most fiesta-inducing Mexican to best tattoo parlor. Now that it’s all said and done, we bestow over 100 area businesses and organizations with well-deserved and revered “e” awards, which we handed out at our Best Of Party on February 10th at City Stage/Level 5, with our wonderful, funny hosts, (above; l. to r.) Madison Weidberg, Morganna Bridgers, Brandi Laney, Jef Pollock, Colton DeMonte and Zach Hanner (not pictured: Sandy Vaughan, Valerie Watkins and Steven Marcinowski). We’ll continue coverage of all winners through March 7th.

Cover and inside this week photos by Courtney Bridgers

win tickets!

If you’re not already an encore fan on Facebook, you should be! We have ongoing contests on encore’s Facebook page, as well as on our home page, www.encorepub.com. You can win a pair of tickets to music concerts, comedy sketches and theatre presentations all over the area, such as from House of Blues, Soapbox

is published weekly, on Wednesday, by Wilmington Media. Opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of encore.

Laundro-Lounge, Thalian Hall, Brooklyn Arts Center and more! We made it easy for you to see our upcoming contests, too. Just scan the QR code you see on this page! It’ll take you to our ticket information site, giving you a list of available tickets—and the dates when we’ll be running contests.

winners.

LAte niGHt FUnnies “President Obama is in Los Angeles today hoping to raise millions of dollars—which may be why I saw him in the audience line this morning at ‘The Price Is Right.’ Barack Obama, come on down!” —Conan O’Brien “The band Megadeth has endorsed Rick Santorum. I think I’m going to wait and see who Metallica likes.” —David Letterman “Rick Santorum’s approval rating is 33 percent. His sweater vest comes in at 17 percent. Here’s how he stacks up against others: Obama is at 50 percent positive. Mitt Romney is at 42 percent positive. Ice cream is ahead of both of them at 97 percent.” —Jimmy Kimmel “After disputes over its nuclear program, Iran is threatening to stop exporting oil. Which means the U.S. may have to tap into its backup reserve: Mitt Romney’s hair.” —Jimmy Fallon “Kim Jong Il would have been 70 years old today if he hadn’t died a couple of months ago.

But don’t worry. Osama bin Laden threw him a surprise party in hell.” —David Letterman

OOPs! Clearly, we had one-too-many cocktails at the Best Of party last week, which led us to a few errors in Best Of writeups: Apologies go out to Jerry Wine and family for our misnomer of the last name of his late wife, Alice. Mrs. Wine was a huge arts supporter, and after her passing Jerry and family donated monies to allow Thalian Hall to include a gorgeous chandelier in the theater venue, voted the best by encore readers in 2012. In her honor, it is simply named “Alice.”

We also regret the last-name spelling of Pat Koballa of Stevenson Automotive Group, winner of Best Place to Buy a New Car. InDesign spell-check (surprisingly enough!) picked up the religious spelling, Kaballah.

Editor-in-Chief:

General Manager:

Shea Carver // shea@encorepub.com

John Hitt // john@encorepub.com

Editorial Assistant: Bethany Turner // music@encorepub.com

Art Director: Sue Cothran // ads@encorepub.com

Interns: Brooke Kavit, Kaitlin Willow

Advertising sales: John Hitt // Downtown // john@encorepub.com

Chief Contributors: Gwenyfar Rohler, Anghus Houvouras, Jay Schiller, Tiffanie Gabrielse, Tom Tomorrow, Chuck Shepherd, Christina Dore, Justin Emery, Alex Pompliano, Fay Meadows, Kim Henry, Sarah Richter P.O. Box 12430, Wilmington, n.C. 28405 email@encorepub.com • www.encorepub.com Phone: (910) 791-0688 • Fax: (910) 791-9177

to Wilmington the second round of Best Of

Kris Beasley // Wrightsville Beach, N. Wilmington // kris@encorepub.com

17 list of winners: Check out all the folks who made it into the class of Best Of 2012.

news & views..............18-21 18 live local: Gwenyfar Rohler explores the prospect of minor league baseball in Wilmington.

20 views & news: Mark Basquill gets philosophical about space and time; Brooke Kavit speaks with Curtis Brown, founder of the Vote Against Project.

21 news of the weird: Chuck Shepherd shares the latest odd stories.

artsy smartsy ..........22-39 22-25 theatre: Kaitlin Willow gets all the info on UNCW Department of Theatre’s latest play, ‘Six Degrees of Separation’; Shea Carver finds love in all the right places with ‘Beautiful Thing’; Gwenyfar raves over Opera House Theatre Company’s ‘The Producers.’

30 art: Sarah Richter meets the creator of the first drawing machine.

31 gallery listings: Check out what’s hanging in area art galleries.

32-33 film: Folks can get fancy to benefit Cucalorus at their annual ‘An Evening at the Oscars’ fund-raiser party; Anghus says Denzel Washington is the saving grace of ‘Safe House.’

35 music: For nearly 30 years, The Saw Doctors have been creating Irish hits celebrated across the globe, and Alex Pompliano interviewed them in preparation of their upcoming show at BAC.

36-39 soundboard: See what bands and performers are playing in venues from Wilmington to Jacksonville.

grub & guzzle .............40-44 40-44 dining guide: Need a few suggestions on where to eat? Flip through our dining guide!

extra! extra!................46-63 46 books: Tiffanie Gabrielse revels in the ‘wildness’ of David Gessner’s ‘My Green Manifesto.’

47 crossword: Brain game by Stanley Newman.

48 fund-raiser: Bethany Turner talks to Adrian Varnam about why he’s throwing a

Shea Carver // Midtown, Monkey Junction //shea@encorepub.com

benefit for the American Red Cross

Office Manager: Susie Riddle // susie@adpakweekly.com

Jennifer Barnett // Jacksonville

52-63 calendar/‘toons/horoscopes/

Distribution Manager: Boykin Wright

// jennifer@encorepub.com

2 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

corkboard: Find out what to do in town with our calendar; check out Tom Tomorrow and

Thank You Wilmington for voting us “Best Local Book Store”

5,000+ books for $1.00 each “Open till 9 pm 7 days a week!

, s e e r T Save sed buy u books! encore

BE2S0T12OF

WILMINGTON 249 N. Front St. (910) 76-BOOKS (26657) www.oldbooksonfrontst.com Twitter @OBOFS encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 3

4-9 GOODS & SERVICES 9-13 FOOD & DRINK 13-16 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 16 HUMANITARIAN 17 LIST OF ALL WINNERS

on the record:

The 2012 Best Of winners are announced

T

he parTy is over, The lighTs have

bestof2012

dimmed, but the celebration is still going strong! It’s official: We announced the 2012 Best Of winners on Friday, February 10th, at our annual Best Of Party, held at downtown’s riverfront, rooftop hotspot, City Stage/Level 5. Our wonderfully kooky hosts—Zach Hanner, Sandy Vaughan, Jef Pollock, Brandi Laney and Valerie Watkins of Changing Channels, along with Steven Marcinowski and Colton DeMonte of Nutt Street Improv, and hottie encore girls Morganna Bridgers and Madison Weinberg—tore up the house with their bodacious hilarity and side-splitting laughter. In fact, aside from our much-swollen livers (thank you, one too-many Greyhounds), we’re pretty sure we left our voiceboxes behind, too. Ahh, but who needs it right now, any way? We have announcements to write and brains to explode with information so special, we just know our readers, advertisers, writers—heck, the whole community—will be cutting cartwheels and grandstanding for days to come.

All of you who missed out on the action—first off, shame on you!—must know we are dedicating the next three weeks of encore to writing about every, single winner in every, single category (last week’s writeups can be found online). Plus, we have the overall list of winners on page 17, which will run through March 7th just in case you need a reference point for that next haircut appointment, oyster craving or karaoke outing. Be sure to drop by some or all of these establishments for a little congratulatory high-five and a lot of super-fantastic customer service.

As we do annually, we want to clarify some of our Best Of ground-rules so everyone understands how we endure this three-month process annually—from scouring and revising the ballot, programming the online voting system, monitoring the process (we 4 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

and

by Shea Carver Bethany Turner Photo by Courtney Bridgers

got our eyes and ears peeled for cheaters!), designing and hand-building all awards, and pulling together the party and the talent to no avail! It’s work, people.

We don’t take it lightly (just with a few Xanax, that’s all). Here is how we play: • Ballots are collected through an online voting system from December through January.

• encore employees never determine the winners (despite what many assume or accuse); the readers of encore determine the outcome, plain and simple!

We do not choose our advertisers to win. It kind of goes against our cause to do Best Of, which generates consumer traffic to businesses and places throughout the entire community, and back to us.

• encore reserves the right to secure all voting information, including percentages and amounts of votes. With over 130 categories and weekly deadlines, we do not divulge numbers—not because we have something to hide but because 10 people run this paper and, well, time is of the essence to produce it weekly.

• Only one ballot per e-mail address is allowed to vote. When canceled e-mail addresses attempt to be used, guess what? We see it. It’s never confirmed. It doesn’t count. We do not use voter’s email addresses for solicitation of encore or Wilmington Media products, nor do we share the addresses.

• Voters must fill out at least 25 categories to have their votes counted; we monitor this, too.

• We accept that businesses campaign; though, we discourage any bribery for votes. We also secure the right to disqualify votes we feel were misrepresented or falsified in any way. Though we are not the NC Board of Elections, we try our best to play fairly!

Now, on with the show! Welcome the 2012 class of encore’s annual Best Of Reader’s Poll.

//Goods & Services ConsignmenT/vinTage shop (CloThes)

Here’s the thing: I have had multiple, great experiences consigning my clothes to Fairy Circle. First and foremost, they have been super to work with, from customer friendliness, to quick and efficient service, to down-right engaging in conversation.

Once a year, I do a closet sweep, and Fairy Circle has become the new home for my clothes. In return, I’ve received a stipend anywhere from $100 to $150. And off I go to replenish my closet again.

Racking up eight wins since they started the business nine years ago, Stephanie Denning aspired to own her own shop so she could bring her daughter to work. Along with her husband, Justin, they settled on the second-hand boutique model because of Stephanie’s thrill for bargain hunting.

“I’ve always loved second-hand stores,” she says. Thus, she took up her passion and formed a business philosophy: “Nothing’s work unless you’d rather be doing something else.”

When opening Fairy Circle, Stephanie located a small shop off Wrightsville Avenue and began with modest offerings and high quality. She always kept designer ware, something which is still a primary selling point today at her two larger locations on South College Road and in Monkey Junction. “Designer purses and jeans are always popular,” she shares, “and we keep a great selection, [among] ever-changing inventory.”

After opening the Monkey Junction location just a year ago, the Dennings have already had to double its size. Their popularity continues growing, and they’re even keeping their eyes peeled for location number three. Stephanie says, “It is always great to hear people say how much they love the store and tell their friends to shop with us.” encore readers

MARCH 21-28, 2012

t s o m e h t s ’ It k e e w s u o i c deli ! g n i r of sp

EncoreRestaurantWeek.com Our spring event will take place the third week in March at the following participating restaurants:

North Wilmington/ Wrightsville Beach> Nikki’s Japanese Steak House Fox and Hound Temptations Everyday Gourmet The Melting Pot South Beach Grill Catch

Midtown>

Hieronymous Seafood Nikki’s Fresh Gourmet & Sushi Bar Tandoori Bites Siena Trattoria Taste of Italy Cameo 1900

Hiro Japanese Steak House Temptations Everyday Gourmet El Cerro Grande Halligan’s Public House

Downtown>

Nikki’s Fresh Gourmet & Sushi Bar Yo Sake Mixto Little Dipper Ruth’s Chris Steak House Basics Pilot House The George Caffe Phoenix Elijah’s Eat Spot

Riverboat Landing Caprice Bistro Aubriana’s The Fortunate Glass Reel Café

South Wilmington> Pine Valley Market C-Street Mexican Grill Fish Bites Henry’s El Cerro Grande Thai Spice Eddie Romanelli’s

www.EncoreRestaurantWeek.com Restaurants can still join!

Call (910) 791-0688

SPRIN www.enco

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ENCORE

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Menu Gu ide on stand s March 7th!

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encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 5

clearly are among them.

Third and fourth alike belong to Bargain Box and The Wonder Shop.

Book Store

She was headed to Israel to take a job as an international journalist; her parents wanted her at home in Wilmington. So when Mr. Daughtry of Daughtry’s Old Books approached them, saying, “I want your daughter to buy my bookstore,” they listened. Better yet, the family convinced her to do so. In the end, it worked out for everyone involved, as Gwenyfar Rohler, owner and operator of Old Books on Front St., certainly makes book worms’ lives better, among readers of encore, thanks to her weekly Live Local columns and theatre reviews.

“The book store was founded in 1982 by Mr. Daughtry,” Rohler explains. “Our family began shopping there that year. We are now celebrating our 30th year in business!”

In honor of the milestone, they’re having special 30-percent-off sales on various genres monthly, including romance novels in February and books by Irish authors in March. Rohler keeps her store the talk of the town, through her many book clubs, from local authors to environmental to banned books. More over, she personally connects with every person who walks through the Old Books’ door.

“There are few things as incredible to me as the exchange of ideas and information,”

encore

BE20ST12OF

WILMINGTON

she says, speaking of the interaction often bourne of exploration that reading allows. “One of the Academynominated shorts this year is ‘The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,’” Rohler explains. “While we were sitting in Thalian watching it, Jock [Brandis] leaned over and whispered in my ear, ‘It’s a film about you.’ It really is exactly how I feel: Given the chance to resurrect an old classic by putting it in the hands of someone new. Even better, when someone walks in and says, ‘I just really started reading—can you help me find something good?’”

Always quick to remember a name and offer a hug, along with her famous last-spoken pick-me-ups—“Think happy thoughts!”—the independent bookstore owner puts extreme value on the customer and return of community participation. Thus, last year alone, she threw celebrations for many greats, including a Mary Shelley Birthday Party, Banned Books Week and a Bloomsday celebration, honoring the one and

We would like to thank Wilmington and encore for voting us “Best Place to Buy a Used Car”

WHY AUTO WHOLESALE? ✔ A quality car or truck at a fair price, with no gimmicks. ✔ Financing Available; Rates as low as 1.9% ✔ Our cars are the cleanest & best quality at the lowest prices. ✔ #1 in the Wilmington area for price, quality, and selection.

“I have bought my last 6 cars from Auto Wholesale. Hands down they are the best in Wilmington. They make car buying to easy. This is the only place in Wilmington I will buy a car. Rob remembers my name every time, even after its been 4 years since I have last been there.” — Adam D from Wilmington NC Auto Wholesale is the premier pre-owned car retailer in Wilmington, NC, in a truthful and honest manner, giving buyers what they really need:

6003 Market St. • (910) 792-6100

www.autowholesalenc.com

6 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

BOOKED FOR GREATNESS: Gwenyfar Rohler and her employee Seth Parham of Old Books on Front St. happily accept another win for Best Local Bookstore. Photo by Courtney Bridgers

only James Joyce. It brought out supporters of all ages and interests.

“It means a lot when people come in and tap the award on the front desk, then break into a grin: ‘Awesome! I voted for you!’” she mouths. “After 14 years we were the first independent bookstore to win this category. I think that when the public realized this, it made a small but real impact on how people thought about chain and independent bookstores.”

She’s constantly expanding sections, from art to local authors and local history, along with taking special orders and selling new books, as well as Dover Thrift Editions, allowing folks frugal buys on all the classics.

Rohler’s also launching New Books on Front, a publishing house which just released an anthology of poems, “Testing the Waters.”

Essentially, Old Books is a store straight from a Norman Rockwell painting: A place where a community gathers, pontificates and shares in each other the same joy the book in their hand cradles.

Other stores worthy of a few page-turners include Pomegranate Books and Two Sisters Bookery.

tattoo Parlor

There is ink and there is ink. The ballpoint to the page is as important here as the needle is to one’s skin. Imagery runs symbolic of a person’s life journey, a hopeful motto

or inspiration. When we speak of ink, encore readers fancy the new digs of Artfuel Inc. for their skin art as much as the fine artistic creations otherwise displayed.

Operating in Wilmington since 2006, Artfuel Inc. moved a few blocks over to a larger home off Wrightsville Avenue last November—a place that used to be a 1950s grocer.

Today, Sarah Peacock and her man-in-command, Dave Tollefson, have transformed and renovated the place into a home where they “successfully remain self-employed through tattooing and creating art.” The studio is a haven to skin-art enthusiasts because the staff truly inhabits artists. Plus, Artfuel is a staple among Wilmington galleries, hosting exhibits frequently, exposing genres of all styles.

“We shall continue our quarterly art shows,” Peacock tells encore, “and now that we have a larger space, we can showcase local bands alongside local artists. Makes for a good time!”

All of their shows are interactive, too, whether getting to hob-knob with local greats like Candy Pegram (whose work is now on display at Artfuel, along with Tammy Haraga and Raelyn Oliver, and Charlotte photographer Reid Bramhall) or musicians like No Dollar Shoes.

Extreme dedication is paid to every person who visits—whether someone is getting a new tat or approaching them about showing their own art work.

“We really focus on good customer service and consistent work,” Peacock says.

“We like to keep a very relaxed atmosphere so our clients are comfortable. [We] stay humble from realizing, [we] are only as good as [our] clientele!”

Which simply means, they’re the b-e-s-t!

Other tattoo parlors inking their way onto the poll are Jade Monkey and Hardwire.

Place

for

alternative Medicine

Modern medicine can be as much a baffling experience as a helpful one. Just like the many medicines we can be treated with to fix sinuses or cholesterol, there are alternative remedies many stand behind which have the same effects. McKay Healing Arts is here to help folks find better and supplemental ways to improve their health across various platforms.

McKay has been operating in Wilmington for 11 years now, healing the community and approaching the mind-body-spirit tableau in a less stringent, boxed-in form. “In our field, most practitioners are independent business owners who have a strong desire to help others achieve balance and well-being (health) through the most natural means possible,”

co-owner Debra Collins says. “Many people come to us after they have exhausted traditional approaches to illness or pain.”

McKay Healing Arts services various clientele, whether they are having fertility issues, are in need of acupuncture or massage, want to experiment with herbs and even hypnotherapy. By focusing on the body’s most innate way of healing, Collins and owner Leon McKay are putting control back into the patient’s hands.

“At McKay Healing Arts, we work as an integrated team,” Collins says. “We rely on each other’s knowledge and skill to create a high rate of success for our clients who take advantage of our complementary disciplines.”

By thinking with their hearts and feeling with their heads—a motto the company stands by—the practitioners here take notice of what locals want. Thus, winning the coveted “e” annually means the community is giving their stamp of approval, which means the world to Collins and McKay. “They are the people we serve!” Collins states. “We increasingly work with clients who are under the care of local M.D.’s, and [we] have more direct referrals from them now than in the past, but we are far from the mark on being recognized as legitimate adjuncts to treatment, let alone working together to achieve results. We continue to encourage clients to let their doctors know that they are using our services and inform them of the results they are having.”

In upcoming months, McKay and company hope to offer Saturday acupuncture and put emphasis on their Garden Studio space for educational workshops and programs.

They’ve also found success in Saturday massage hours, along with their weekly, inexpensive acupuncture sessions to help alleviate moderate pain and stress relief; better yet, no appointment is necessary. They’re building upon that “Urgent Care” model, where clients are serviced immediately if suffering from acute pain.

Other businesses ranking on our poll are Tidal Creek, with a tie for third going to Infinity Acupuncture and Insight Family Health Care.

LocaL Garden Store

Their dream was to get out of snowy New England and embrace the mild climate of Zone 8, with fertile ground welcoming zinnias and hydrangeas in happy azure. Tom Ericson and Allen Sabin opened The Transplanted Garden 13 years ago; today they’re one of the hottest gardening centers in our area, offering some of the most gorgeous plants and herbs, along with bountiful fertilizers, gardening tools, decorations and so much more.

“It is so nice to know all the hard work over the past dozen years has paid off,” Ericson says of his 2012 win. By focusing on new items trending in the garden sector, they’re able to keep clients new and old equally satisfied. “We provide as many unique options as possible,” Ericson notes, admitting to cutting back on higher-priced accessories as of late.

chiropractor

“We also assist customers in their decisionmaking process.”

The Transplanted Garden stocks their nursery year-round with varieties of plants perfect for our region. Ericson, once a landscape designer in Connecticutt, and Allen, once a department store buyer and gift-store owner, are combining their talents to secure the best of both worlds into a passion for beauty and design. They’re available for workshops and educational events, and they give the best advice to locals looking to create a natural world of fulfillment. Folks can also log on to their website, www.transplantedgarden.com, for information on garden insects and disease, plant profiles and even design tips.

Digging into second is Plant Place and third is Lou’s Flower Patch. —Shea Carver

the most luxurious brands like David Yurman, Tacori and Rolex,” Cahn shares. “Pandora Jewelry is the nation’s number-one jewelry brand. REEDS has the largest assortment and is the only jeweler in town that carries Pandora. REEDS is always adding new merchandise and designers.”

Those in the market for sparkling jewels also shop at Perry’s Emporium and Snowden’s.

“The world right now is in such desperate need for help when it comes to staying healthy, but too many people seem to be stuck in the old belief system that healthcare is only important when a person finally becomes sick or injured,” Dr. Brian Heer of Sito Chiropractic explains. “That was the main impetus for starting this clinic: to build a place where people could strive to boost their heath before they become sick.”

The doctors are testaments to their own beliefs. At Sito Chiropractic they witness everyday the effects their care has on patients—both those who are dealing with pain and those who are seeking preventative measures. “Chiropractic [care] is the exact opposite of traditional drug-based medicine.

It is a proactive form of care designed to protect the nervous system from damage, which of course has a huge impact on our ability to stay healthy,” Dr. Heer shares. “It is hard not to be passionate about chiropractic [treatment] when you see how it directly impacts the lives of suffering people, but it is the effects of the chiropractic lifestyle on ‘already healthy’ people that amazes us dayin and day-out.”

Excited that they can help change their patients’ lives, the Sito team seeks to aid and comfort as many people as possible. Dr. Heer says they offer the lowest rates on spinal decompression therapy simply because so many people require it to halt the degen-

JeweLer

When a hometown musician makes it big, touring cities across the nation, we celebrate his success. The same goes for our local businesses which are able to market themselves in national retail. REEDS Jewelers, a jewelry store with shops in 18 states, was founded by William and Roberta Zimmer in 1946 right in downtown Wilmington.

Even though the Zimmers expanded to Baltimore, Memphis and Honolulu, REEDS is still family-owned and operated. Their son Alan became the president and CEO of the company in 1985, ensuring that his parents’ practices of personalized, friendly service remain a value for every employee.

“Understanding that the trust and loyalty of their customers was their most valuable asset, the Zimmer family has carefully grown REEDS Jewelers into one of the largest jewelry store chains in the country,” Mitch Cahn, the director of marketing and business development, says. “At REEDS the customer is always right and always treated like family.”

Yet, it’s not just the welcoming atmosphere of this jeweler that attracts buyers.

Alan Zimmer seeks out the best quality diamonds, gemstones and metals. “Our products are unique, high quality, and we carry encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 7

eration of their spines, and charging the least means they can help the most clients.

“The net effect is that our practice continues to grow,” the doctor says. “More people get the type of results they are looking for, and less people wind up getting surgery or living on painkillers. It’s a win-win situation!”

With their motto is to serve for the sake of serving, they also want to educate their patients to help them make smarter decisions.

Thus, Sito holds monthly health talks on the most common ailments in relation to chiropractic care.

“We present the facts of each patient’s individual case and give them options and allow them to choose what’s right for their condition,” Dr. Heer explains. “We know that when you give people what they want, but at the same time refocus them on what they truly need to stay healthy, they respect you more and have the confidence to refer their friends and family members. We are delivering on the promise to raise the health of our entire community, one spine at a time.”

For chiropractic care, Wilmington patients also turn to Graybar Chriopractic and Friedman Chiropractic.

Mortgage CoMpany

As a full-service, local mortgage banker with in-house capabilities, such as processing, underwriting, closing and funding of a new home, Alpha Mortgage takes the reins and steers into first on our poll! Founded in

NEWBIES ON THE SCENE: Best Denist goes to the dapper and smokin’ hot crew of Bozart Family Dentistry—a first-time winner on encore’s Best Of poll.

Photo by Courtney Bridgers

1983 with only three employees—and the goal to help folks become homeowners— today the company has 34 corporate associates and three affiliated corporations, with offices from Wilmington to Lake Norman to Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

encore

BE2S0T12OOFN T WILMING

for voting us best jeweler Two years in a row!

In two independent polls.

Independence Mall 799.6810

I

Mayfaire Town Center 256.2962

Your Family-Owned Jeweler ~ Trusted for Generations 8 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

As well, this year brings the celebration of Alpha Mortgage’s latest branch opening in New Bern to serve more clients in eastern Carolina and the addition of an in-house credit repair department—something that has become a growing need in our economic climate.

“In the past year we have expanded to assist clients with less-than-perfect credit, allowing them to purchase a home,” Alpha’s, marketing director, Joey Milam, explains.

Alpha Mortgage offers a long list of special deals and programs, such as their best-rate guarantee, same-day approval plans and 10day closings. They even can accommodate self-employed borrowers who are creditworthy but cannot show traditional income to qualify elsewhere (just ask for a “No Income” loan), and they specialize statewide in superjumbo loans up to $5 million.

Plus, a slew of educational tools are available on their website, www.alphamortgage. com, for current and prospective homeowners, like credit scoring information, a mortgage calculator and a glossary (so the banker-speak isn’t so undecipherable). “We definitely believe that customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance in a successful business,” Milam says. “Winning [this] category is wonderful. It definitely shows us we are on the right track and are serving Wilmington to the best of our ability.”

Second place in mortgage companies goes to Wells Fargo, while Cunningham and Company takes third.

Dentist

It seems odd that one would compare a dentist’s office to the beach, but it’s precisely what people encounter upon first entering Bozart Family Dentistry. The waiting room is welcoming—a term not often associated with healthcare—with its beach cottage-like atmosphere, complete with brown wicker furniture and Carolina blue sky-colored walls atop cream beadboard, and even a calming aquarium to view.

This unlikely pairing—a warm and relaxing ambience in a dentist’s office—is kind of how Dr. Albert Bozart practices his medicine. With a Bachelor of Arts and Doctorate of Dental Surgery from UNC Chapel Hill, this Carolina native knows it’s providing the unexpected that makes a business. He believes the textbooks he studied in college did not answer every question, for they don’t acknowledge the patient’s time or financial constraints, personal desires or fear.

Thus, he and the other doctors in his practice, Dr. Lauren Francis and Dr. Philip Bald, focus on offering comprehensive dentistry— presenting every available choice and giving explanations of each option, so that their patients can make educated decisions about their dental care. And, ultimately, providing clients with the proper information earns their trust, which in turn allows the dentists to form respected relationships with patients to give personalized care.

Dr. Stephen Edgerton of Edgerton and Fisher, and Cory Williams Family and Cosmetic Dentistry also tend to the teeth of our town.

Hair salon

They always say that women with curly hair want straight, and chicks with straight locks want curly—but what it boils down to is that we really just need someone knowledgeable to shape our ‘dos into something that looks great regardless of what we were born with.

The stylists at Bangz Hair Salon and Day Spa do just that.

Opened by Frank Potter and Linwood Gainey, Bangz runs day-in and day-out by a dedicated crew of men and women, all educated in the latest styles and color treatments with classes from Redken, Wella and more. From Japanese straightening to keratin treatments, the designers can tame any wild fro, or put a pumped-up perm in a coiffure that otherwise falls flat. Can we get an amen, sister?

Aside from great hair, a lady’s (or gentleman’s) look is never complete without the proper manicure, pedicure and facial, all of which can be found at Bangz on 43rd Street.

Offering microdermabrasion and chemical peels, the salon’s skin artists can give a bright, youthful look to aging faces and even clear up troublesome skin. While we’re at it, better not forget the massage!

Second place in hair salon goes to Tangles, and third to Ashley Cahn of KeBu Salon.

Florist

At Julia’s Florist, floral design is more than a job; it’s sculpting compassionate architecture. From the staple of soft red roses to the bold look of spiky florals like the Bird of Paradise, there is no end to the possibility of arrangements. And understanding flowers are sent for the most delicate of reasons—love, laud and loss—the artists at Julia’s form every bouquet with care.

Though Julia’s is a local name, open since 1989, they make sharing bouquets with loved ones very easy. No matter the need,

SWEET WIN: The folks at Apple Annie’s, Wilming- simply engaging them. Likely, there wouldn’t ton’s Best Bakery, brought one impressive cake to the be too bad of a mess to pick up after (and the awards ceremony on the 10th at City Stage. It was as tip would improve, too). delicious as it was impressive. Photo by Kim Czornij At Red Robin in Mayfaire, their entire staff

folks can order online or by phone—or, of course, stop by and visit. They seek to get to know their customers, to the point that they will record every client’s special occasions and send reminders ahead of time, so anniversaries are never forgotten again.

Even new customers can call and give Julia’s their list, or register online at www.juliasflorist.com.

Another great benefit of being a Julia’s Florist client is Lucky Stems, a sort of lottery for flower recipients. Attached to every delivered bouquet or gift is a Lucky Stems card with a code printed on it. If the code, once redeemed online, is indeed lucky, the holder of it could win more flowers! Plus, those who bought the flowers earn rewards points, which translate to cash that can be spent at the florist. With reminders, giveaways and rewards, what more could any person ask for when shopping for a florist?

Those searching for the perfect bouquet also buy from Moxie Floral Design and Fiore Fine Flowers. —Bethany Turner

//Food & Beverage Family RestauRant

is well-trained on how to deal with families on every occasion, and their menu is one of the lengthiest for pint-sized customers, too. It’s no wonder they keep tabulating awards year after year as Best Family Restaurant.

“We offer a kids’ menu for guests 10 and younger with nine entrees and six side options, including healthier sides like apple slices, broccoli and baby carrots,” Brian Dunmire, general manager, says. However, they also know how to entertain their customers; hence avoiding alternative options like hiden-go-seek among tables of diners. They give kids crayons and games to play on the back of their menus. “As guests are leaving, they can also take a balloon for their child,” Dunmire notes.

While Red Robin includes the kids in the dining experience, the real gem is the staff’s willingness to know their clientele. They enjoy connecting with customers no matter age or size. “I have amazing team members that are like a family,” Dunmire states. “They know that when our guests choose to dine at Red Robin they in turn treat them like family.”

Red Robin rewards customers, too. Just last year, the Red Robin Red Royalty program started, offering incentives like free birthday burgers to registered diners. It’s just one special part of being in their family of players.

“In 2012, we will offer some new menu items and limited-time offers throughout the year,” Dunmire notes outside of their already stacked menu of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, entrées and salads. “Our Red Royalty program will be offering even more surprises and delightful awards to our guests.”

Sign up now, and say it with me: “Redddd Ro-bin. Yummmm.”

Families also appreciate the service and food from Casey’s Buffet and BBQ and Golden Corral.

I worked in the restaurant industry for years; I know the drill on both sides of the fence when it comes to waiting on families.

Often waitstaff with whom I worked would bemoan messy families whose kids spilled drinks and threw food everywhere but into their mouths, or made the dining room their personal playground. Yet, families appreciated when we would be especially understanding of the challenges that come with a mother and father trying to enjoy dinner outside of the house with three kids under the age of 10. My fix was always simple: Treat the muchkins with as much respect as the parents, BakeRy including them in conversation, playing and Though they lost their patriarch over New joking around with them when necessary and

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WINNING ENTREPRENEURS: Kathy Webb and Christi Feretti of Pine Valley Market take home two more wins for Best Catering and Best Gourmet Shop.

Photo courtesy of Pine Valley Market

Year’s, the Longordo family can rest assured their beloved Frank has left a legacy behind that keeps getting recognized for its greatness. Again in 2012, encore readers have voted Apple Annie’s Bake Shop the Best Bakery among the ranks of sweet stuffs, from cream-filled goodies to cakes to cookies and breads galore.

Having arrived in our port city in 1984, Apple Annie’s has been family-owned for five generations. Originally from Italy, specializing in homemade pasta, the Longordos immigrated to New Jersey, opening their bake shop and putting morefocus on breads. Once Frank moved south, to serve in the Marine Corps, they became an instant success and added sweets to the roster.

“We bake hundreds of different items daily,” Christine Longordo, daughter-in-law to Frank, says, “and use the best possible items in a cost-effective manner. We strive to make our products not only appealing to the eye but also delicious to taste.”

And they are. Apple Annie’s loads of cannolis, Italian cookies, decadent pastries and especially cakes have remained Wilmington favorites. Their cakes alone prove masterful not just in sinful flavor but aesthetic amazement, too. In fact, it’s what most customers are vying for nowadays.

“People watch baking shows on television [and] want elaborate cake designs,” Longordo says. “We are doing the best we can to accommodate this growing trend!”

The bakery focuses its ties locally by offering its breads to area restaurants. Many, such as Taste of Italy, utilize the family’s secret recipe, adding an Apple Annie’s flavor beyond its bake-shop doors. With two locations open to serve customers, Kerr Avenue and Military Cutoff in Landfall Center, folks

from all parts of the county can indulge in the Longordo classics.

Other bakeries sweetening the category include Sweet and Savory and La Gemma.

Catering & gourmet Store

Their 10th year in business is coming with a lot of updates and betterment already.

Pine Valley Market recently renovated their cozy, neighborhood café to become more open and user-friendy. Shortly after, they announced the opening of Johnnie’s Cafe in the Cameron Art Museum (coming in March). Improvement and growth stems from their desire to find happiness in food— something head chef and owner Christi Ferretti says comes from childhood.

“Some of my best memories throughout life are around a dinner table,” she notes.

“My friends remember my house as the place to come for good food. No matter the time of day or what meal had just been put away, the counter was covered with a smorgasbord within minutes of the doorbell ringing. I am happiest when I am feeding people.”

Her co-owner Kathy Webb and their partner Smokey Masters, among a dedicated staff of culinary masterminds, ensure Pine Valley continues surpassing expectations on every front. Whether cutting the freshest meats in their butcher shop, serving quick, delicious lunches from their cafe’s kitchen, or providing locally shelved goods and a wide selection of quality wines, they better their services because of the community they love.

“These past few years have not been easy,” Ferretti notes of our nation’s and city’s economic hardship, “and I think our entire staff has come to realize just how important each and every customer is to the success of our business. Our personalized attention to our customers makes them feel as though they are coming home when they enter our shop.”

Ferretti and company energetically make time to become friends with people who trek through their doors, treating each as if

to 5 p.m., the restaurant owners not only have great food and products—ecofriendly ones at that, as their serve ware is compostable and made through Eco-Products—they often remember their customers on a first-name basis. It’s part of their business model: Take the customer’s name when he or she orders and put it in the memory bank thereafter; and if they forget upon a second or third visit (which is rare), their genuine sincerity makes up for it, followed by one delicious sandwich!

Other delis ranking our poll are A Taste of Italy and Long Island Eatery, while lunch stops also worth a bite are Sweet and Savory and Midtown Deli and sub/sandwich shops include Jersey Mike’s and Subway.

—Shea Carver

a part of their culinary family. And the family keeps expanding as their Best Of wins rack up year after year, ever since their first one scored in 2004.

“This recognition is one that we believe speaks louder than any advertising,” Ferretti says, “because it is dependent on customer satisfaction. I think that in today’s economic climate especially, it is imperative that people recognize and acknowledge locally owned businesses.”

Proponents of pairing with local vendors, PVM will build upon a devoted clientele daily. Likewise, they expect the same of Johnnie’s Cafe.

“We are looking to source a great deal of products locally and to change that menu seasonally,” Ferretti admits of this new venture.

Other catering businesses of recognition are Middle of the Island and Bon Appetit, while gourmet store nods also go t World Market and Temptations.

Mexican

For truly authentic Mexican cuisine, complete with bold spices and quintessential salt-rimmed margaritas, Wilmingtonians need look no further than El Cerro Grande. Although the restaurant ventured into the United States—specifically the port city—in 1991, El Cerro began in the small Mexican community of Degollado, Jalisco. Since its inception in Wilmington, it has expanded to about 15 eateries along the North and South Carolina coast. Among these are the UNCW,

Delicatessen, lunch & sub/sanDwich shop

Chop’s Deli has taken Wilmington by storm. Point blank. In fact, when Brad Corpening and his staff attended the awards ceremony on February 10th at City Stage, almost everyone in the audience went crazy in applause at the mention of Chop’s numerous wins. Dedication was made clear to those who had never heard of the famed lunch spot.

Corpening and his co-owner Chris Graham started Chop’s two years ago in downtown Wilmington. Lines began snaking out the door within a month, and return customers began spreading their praise.

Just a few months ago, Chop’s opened a second location in Monkey Junction. Their strengths are becoming abundantly clear to the rest of the Wilmington population: These guys know how to make a sandwich. And a mean cup of soup. And a salad if one should choose.

The simplicity of pastrami and Swiss on rye with brown mustard can be had, or

Monkey Junction and Military Cutoff Rd. locations here in town.

At El Cerro, the options range from vegetarian to seafood, enwrapped in tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more. From carne asada to mole ranchero, the entrées are served with rice, beans or guacamole salad prepared just as the pioneering owners in Mexico would have them. Perhaps the majority of locals’ favor the thick white queso into which tortilla chips are decadently dipped. Any meal at El Cerro is delicious when it begins with this creamy concoction.

El Cerro has become one of the top places to share a birthday dinner with friends—during most meals diners encounter the sombrero-laden, drum-wielding, zesty and energetic waitstaff who greet a birthday boy or girl with mariachi flare. What such fun says about El Cerro Grande is that it is a restaurant in which folks of any ethnicity can experience quality Mexican fare while reveling in the entertainment of a night out, complete with some of the most friendly staff in town.

Second place in Mexican restaurants is La Costa, while third goes to K-38/Tower 7.

Fast FooD

As a past employee of this chain for three years, I can attest that it is the best—not only offering up their satisfying staple, the original chicken sandwich, but also one of the best

MAN OF TOWN: Chop’s Deli owner Brad Corpening was a top winner on this year’s poll, scoring three wins for Best Delicatessen, Sub/Sandwich Shop and Lunch Spot. Photo by Courtney Bridgers

signature Chop’s items will titillate as well.

Many adore their gourmet remakes of mere turkey (Plymouth: oven-gold, smoked turkey breast, havarti cheese, thinly sliced granny smith apples, and chop’s deli cranberry relish, on multigrain) or roast beef (Bordeaux: rare roast beef, French brie, red onion and mushroom gravy on french baguette). Their soups are always zingers, whether indulging on a classic like New England clam chowder or something fancier like maple-glazed chicken and blue cheese.

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of alcohol sales, just so I can give their white pizza a try (the late night menu is limited for efficiency): garlic, ricotta, fresh basil, tomatoes, mozzarella and parmesan! Hey—it’s 4 o’clock in the afternoon—do you know where your slice is?

For pizza in the port city, seconds go to Mellow Mushroom and thirds to Pizzetta’s Pizzeria. Other late night menus to check out are Jimbo’s and CookOut.

companies for which to work: Chick-fil-A. It was my first job and, as such, taught me great lessons like superior customer service (it’s “my pleasure,” after all). Today when I need a good meal quick, I know I can hit the Chickfil-A drive-thru in nearly no time flat; plus I’ll be greeted by a friendly, smiling face and will leave with crispy waffle fries and juicy chicken that I know was always fresh, and breaded and fried just before I came to the drive-thru window.

Everyone who eats at Chick-fil-A knows they’re closed on Sundays (and isn’t that the day we want Chick-fil-A the most!), and most people know it’s because the founder, S. Truett Cathy, believed his employees should be able to save the day for worship or to spend time with family and friends. It’s been this way since he started Chick-fil-A under the name Dwarf Grill in 1946 in Atlanta, Georgia. Yet most folks don’t know that Chick-fil-A truly goes the extra mile for their employees, even beyond giving everyone a day off.

Cathy’s non-profit, the WinShape Foundation, provides $1,000 scholarships to each team member who works a certain number of hours, and up to $32,000 for eligible students to attend Berry College in Georgia. As well, the foundation branches out to offer camps for kids, retreats for marriage and leadership, and a safe home for children who are victims of abuse, addiction or worse.

So, patronizing Chick-fil-A is not only buying a tasty lunch—it’s funding some pretty amazing community contributions, too.

Quick eaters in Wilmington also like CookOut and McDonald’s.

Pizza & Late-Night eatery

On my 21st birthday, I was already wise enough to round my girls up for a surely raucous downtown adventure, and make sure my boyfriend was the DD. Though barely anyone can remember their 21st birthday, I still vividly remember one thing: the pizza. As I drunk-dialed my beau to have him pick us up from Slice of Life at 3 a.m., I ordered two pieces of their delectable pepperoni pies— one for me and one as a well-deserved gift for our chauffeur. Though as he arrived and we piled in, the large slice I got for him slid halfway off the plate, ensuring its grease would

hot Dog

ANNIE, GET YOUR AWARD! Cameron Art Museum’s new, lively director, Anne Brennan, thanks encore and waves her card as an “Alex Pompliano Fan Club” member (encore arts correspondant). Photo by Courtney Bridgers

run like sweat down my legs. It was by far the sexiest thing he’d ever encountered.

Yet, did he eat that slice and love every second of it? Of course he did—it’s Slice!

Its crunchy crust satisfies the craving for late night munchies and without a doubt has a line by 2:10 a.m., as drunk folks stagger from

nearby bars and into the small pizza haven.

Still, Slice isn’t just downtown and it isn’t just for the hammered. No, normal people (and, yes, even families!) can enjoy their piece of Slice for a mid-week lunch or even dinner, and they can do so on Military Cutoff Road or on the corner of 17th Street and College Road.

As well, it’s not just a pizza parlor either.

Folks can enjoy a quesadilla or pasta salad, a wrap or a taco. I once witnessed someone open a Slice of Life pizza box to reveal nachos piled high with chicken, tomatoes, scallions and jalapenos—needless to say, it blew my mind. And, I am determined to venture into a Slice of Life before the daily cessation

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I hope that my fellow locals can recall, as I do, the first time they had a hot dog from Trolly Stop (my guess is that, yes, they can). My grand experience was with the Surfer Dog at the Carolina Beach location sometime around the 8th grade. Though mustard, cheese and bacon bits seemed an odd mix at first, my taste buds proved my mind wrong with the first sensuous bite. It’s been puppy love with my Surfer Dog ever since.

I really enjoy introducing my out-of-town friends to Trolly Stop for their initial taste of the Cape Fear staple. For my sorority sisters, it was off to the Fountain Drive location between classes at UNCW. For days on the shore, it’s always fun to take someone inside the itty bitty Wrightsville Beach eatery. The typical reaction is confusion by the small space (it’s barely bigger than a closet, it seems!) and distrust that any cuisine coming from such a hole-in-the-wall could be something to rave about. But they should know it’s the original store—Station 1—and was founded by B.C. Hedgepath in 1976. Obviously, Trolly Stop made a lasting impression on this city!

We natives know that each of the Trolly Stop dogs are excellent, especially when washed down with fresh pink lemonade. Truly, it’s the perfect pairing during a weekend outing downtown, as that location is probably the best—quaint seating accommodates shoppers and river-viewers (plus they deliver!).

Of course, the delicious little dogs probably taste just as great in Southport, Jacksonville and Boone, the other Carolina sites.

Essentially, there’s nothing about Trolly Stop locals, transfers and tourists can’t enjoy, no matter the place and no matter the dog.

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Japanese

The restaurant that offers the best Japanese food in town—Hiro’s Japanese Steakhouse, according to encore readers—may just become the best place for Malaysian cuisine in 2012. Yes, that’s right; the eatery will be serving up culinary goods from the small neighbor of Thailand and Indonesia soon. Diners can expect a bit of spice, amongst other flavors, to grace their new menu. “[The biggest trend] was sushi, but now I think we are seeing many ‘fusion’-style cuisines becoming very popular,” owner Mei Ling Chau explains. “We will be bringing some new ideas and new food entrées into the market.”

New this year, Hiro’s will open its doors for lunch beginning in April. Chau hopes it will continue to bring in fresh faces to the restaurant year after year.

“My passion really has always been about the people,” Chau, a veteran in the restaurant business, says. “I have had a chance to meet tens of thousands of people over the years. This is what drives me every day.”

Working with her dad, who opened his own restaurant in Wilmington in the 1980s, began her natural progression toward a career in the industry. Seemingly, he taught her well, as Hiro’s has become a staple in this town for fine cuisine.

In the current economic climate, Chau cites a few rules she abides by, which allow her to continue in her efforts of delivering the best quality at the most reasonable price.

“You just really have to enjoy what you do, and believe that you are providing a level of service and value that is more than what the customer is paying for,” she notes. “It is very rewarding to have something that I have labored [over] become such a locals’ favorite over the years. I can never tell my customers thank you enough.”

For Japanese, diners also enjoy Nikki’s Hibachi Steak House and Sushi Bar and Yo Sake. —Bethany Turner

//Arts & Entertainment MuseuM

Cameron Art Museum is a hub of enlightenment on so many other levels outside of mere art. They hold concerts frequently, among poetry jams and slams, alongside classes and workshops, with people from all walks of life, local and afar. They’re an extension of what’s so great about Wilmington’s art scene: variance. And they’ve been around for 50 years to prove its impact on southeastern NC. Once located in an old warehouse before moving to St. John’s Museum of Art and then to its permanent space at Independence Boulevard and 17th Street Extension, in 2012 it’s celebrating 10 years at its current home. In doing so, they have a lot of newbies to welcome, including their newest director, Anne Brennan,

and new director of development, Bo Dean, as well as an eatery slated to open in March, Johnnie’s Cafe (which will be run by Best Catering and Gourmet Store recipients, Pine Valley Market).

“With a projected opening on March 31st, in tandem with the opening installation of Rise Up Wilmington community ladder project, the museum again responds to the requests from the region,” Kim Kelly, communications manager, says.

CAM offers so much more than superior exhibitions; they embark on programs for all folks, like Kids at CAM, which creates a familial experience of artwork creation. They schedule classes in The Museum School, which is seeing enrollment growth everyday. They also have a program called “Connections,” which reaches out to elders in the community.

“It provides those with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their caregivers a chance to experience our exhibitions one-on-one with museum docents and now a hands-on art making experience has been added to enhance this successful program,” Kelly explains.

Upcoming on February 25th is the seventh annual Civil War Living History weekend. Festivities include a ghost walk, so folks will better understand life then and what soldiers faced on a daily basis. They’ll also grasp the magnitude of service the United States Colored Troops had during the war.

“The live Civil War ghost walk dramatizes vignettes of those who walked the grounds during Civil War times,” Kelly illustrates, “giving participants an up-close experience of their stories.”

While the museum continues to grow, its patrons and supporters blossom with it. Folks looking to help can volunteer at the museum, and do what Kelly says is the most important aspect of their business: “Care about the people you are trying to reach.”

By collaborating with other museums, locals, artists and organizations throughout the community, CAM continues flourishing.

It’s an artistic expression unto itself, a representation of Wilmington’s appreciation for cultural enrichment.

Cape Fear Museum and Children’s Museum of Wilmington stack up second and third.

newscaster & newscast

May 31st will ring in a celebration for a woman deserving of praise! Frances Weller will meet her 30-year mark at Wilmington’s Best Newscast station, WECT. Yes, she has progressed through three decades of journalistic excellence, as has the station she calls home.

“As a news team, I think our viewers respect and appreciate the fact that we are the news team they can trust,” Weller notes. “If there’s breaking news, you can count on us to have it. You can also count on us to be fair and accurate; we never take a position on a story—just report the facts.”

It doesn’t mean she doesn’t get starry-eyed over certain instances. Her most memorable moments come from interviewing then Presi-

WECT WINS AGAIN! The fun-loving reporters and anchors of the newscast, including Best Newscaster, Frances Weller, accepted the award with smiles and gratitude. Photo by Shea Carver

dent Elect Barack Obama, and former First Lady Laura Bush.

“As journalists, we always want to get the big interview,” she says. “Both marked a significant moment in my career. I’m not really a political person, but in both of those instances, I felt truly honored to interview such important people.”

By remaining in constant communication, the reporters and news anchors of the station are in momentous interaction with the citizens and all major players of the communities they reach. Creative Services Director David Toma finds the job would be much more difficult without everyone playing their role in the village.

“Trust is not only important to our viewers but to the folks [from whom] we get the critical information,” he says, “law enforcement, the district attorneys, city and county managers, school officials and so on. We have earned the reputation with these people who

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are on the front lines every day.”

Though constantly mired by technological changes, i.e. the advent of the Internet, it makes the job challenging but also everevolving and interesting. WECT utilizes their lengthy website, smartphone app and other platforms to supplement their airtime.

“I believe social media is helping us reach the non-traditional TV news viewer and letting them know how important it is to have a working knowledge of what is happening in your community,” Scott Saxton, news director, says.

According to a Nielsen ratings report from November 2011, people are still tuning in. “In almost every newscast, [WECT] out-delivers the nearest competition three to one in total household,” Toma reports.

Though love for on-air personalities often plays a role in readers’ votes, Weller associates being an anchor with going beyond reading words. “A good newscaster is a communicator—a storyteller,” she says.

“Anyone can read a teleprompter. It’s how you deliver the content that separates good reporters from great ones. I try to focus everyday on talking to our viewers versus reading to them.

I like to think I’m talking to family and friends.”

Scrolling into second is WWAY, while FOX 26, WECT’s sister station also owned by Raycom Media, placed third. Jon Evans and Bob Townsend, both of the Raycom Media group, were second and third in the newscaster category.

tinue pushing the best out of local thespians and to please the community at large. In fact, that’s Briggs’ number-one thought in running the theatre company. “Everything we do, we do for our audience,” he says. “Their support and this tremendous acknowledgement means the world to us.”

Second place in Best Theatre Production of 2011 goes to “Cannibal: The Musical!” from Guerilla Theatre and “Hairspray” from Opera House Theatre Company. Other local companies taking second and third include Opera House Theatre Company and City Stage.

—Shea Carver

dJ

SHAPED AS THE BEST: L Shape Lot score another Best Band/Performer award from our reader’s poll. The team is planning a successful year of touring ahead. Photo by Shea Carver

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finale of last year came with a classic which everyone has sung along to in some form or another over the course of their lives: “The Sound of Music.”

The hills certainly came alive, and music reigned supreme as adults and children flocked to the stage in this family-fun classic. Featuring a strong cast, including newcomers Katie Sawhill and Stuart Pike who played lead roles Maria and Captain von Trapp, among their sweet, adorable children, played by Molly Lankford, J.J. Nieman, Kiera O’Reilly, Bradley Barefoot, Ashley Lauren Ochs, Samantha Woodard and Matalin Bloomfield, audiences were able to see supreme talent breathe life into this worldwide popular tale. “[We love] taking risks and not playing it safe,” Tom Briggs, artistic director of Thalian, says of his choices in production and who he chooses to help make them possible. “We have trusted our audience to follow us into the unknown, and sure enough that’s just what they’ve done.”

More so, they have found much to adore in Thalian Association’s constant promise to bring show-stopping productions to town.

From their amazing costume and set design, to music direction, and superb casting to a rousing love for live, local theatre, it maintains the essence of an artistically engaged and enlivened city.

“In the past six seasons we have presented 18 Wilmington premieres and our 19th, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone,’ opens next month,” Briggs continues. “Our audience really enjoys shows they haven’t had the opportunity to see before, and these premieres are bringing new audiences into the theater.”

From last year’s roustabout good-time found in productions like “All Shook Up,” as well as in the American foray of our varied history and past in “Ragtime,” the 2012-13 season promises as much excitement. Briggs plans to announce the bill soon. “There will be lots of surprises,” he states. “More premieres and some classics as well.”

Exacting his sentiments is a promise to con-

It’s true that music affects us in every emotional and mental aspect—it’s why commercials often employ fun or empowering tunes to encourage their positive imprint on our minds. Musicians know that major keys sound happy and minor keys have a somber appeal, and they use this to their advantage. Athletes pump the theme from “Rocky” during workouts, and lovers turn on the baby-making music of Usher when the lights go down. Music surrounds us, and it’s likely we all have a certain soundtrack to our lives.

Tapping into this, club DJs seek out only the sickest new beats from up-and-coming artists to keep their crowd moving, and it’s an art to have a fully stocked dance floor throughout the night. (My middle-school dances were always the most awkward when “Angel” by Shaggy came on—should we have moved fast or slow? No one knew, so we just split down the middle—oh, so graceless and embarrassing!)

Wilmington is lucky to call DJ Battle its own.

He masters the art of spinning for the dance floor and always plays for the people. “It’s less about me,” he says. “I let them dictate the direction the party goes in. If people respond to hip-hop, I play hip-hop. If it’s dance music, old-school or reggae, then I can do that. I can play to all different crowds.”

He proves as much is true by doing college nights at Brikhouse (previous Rox location) every Thursday, then catering to the sophisticated crowd at The Dirty Martini on Saturday nights. He spins to a mix of folks at Fibber McGee’s on Sundays and Wednesdays, not to mention his private events booked throughout the week. In 2012, DJ Battle is upping his game to include his own mixes in the club.

“I’m doing more studio work now than ever before,” he excitedly says. “I plan on releasing remixes and original music by the summer. I’ve already worked with some big names and great people. I once heard Russell Simmons say that he’s ‘never satisfied with any level of success.’

I always try to keep learning my craft.”

Second place for DJs is Dane Britt, and third is DJ Time.

Band/Performer

Last year in Floyd, Virginia, 36 bands took part in the Under the Radar Series at FloydFest 10, a competition that seeks out the best in lesser-known acts to pin them with the likes

of national names at next year’s festival.

The crowd gets to vote for the top group, with over 15,000 audience members each day for three days—that’s a lot of countin’ and a lot of winning-over for the musicians to do.

Wilmington’s very own high-energy bluegrass band, L Shape Lot, ventured to Floyd-Fest 10, vying for a spot on the main stage in 2012—and they won! Composed of Eric Miller (acoustic guitar, vocals), Alex Lanier (electric, acoustic guitar, vocals), Rick Williams (six-string electric bass, upright bass, vocals) and John Kovalski (drums, vocals), this homegrown band will rub elbows and hobnob with the best of ‘em. Headlining acts at FloydFest 11 include Michael Franti, Alison Krauss, Bruce Hornsby and Matisyahu, just to name a few. “That is definitely top of the list for 2011—and probably 2012, too,” Miller muses.

Though they’ll be taking off to play in the big leagues come July, they’ll still be looking to break into uncharted touring territory in Georgia and Tennessee this year. Searching for new fans, L Shape Lot will release its third CD in April— potentially at Soapbox on the 20th (we thank them for remembering the little people in the Cape Fear who loved them first!). The full band no longer books regular weekly gigs about town these days, but Miller and Lanier can be found picking acousti-

cally at Sweet and Savory every Thursday (under the name Fried Lot), and the boys are excited about playing their annual show at Airlie Gardens on May 4th.

“It is always an honor to be recognized, and it means so much to have our local community think of us,” Miller shares.

“Wilmington is our home base and always will be. We are grateful.”

Bibis Ellison takes second for local performer, and there’s an unheard-of three-way tie for third: Mike Blair and the Stonewalls, All Tore Up, and Machine Gun.

Writer

PUT THE NEEDLE ON THE RECORD: DJ Battle churns out tunes that packs dance floors across the port city weekly, from downtown to Wrightsville Beach. Photo by Courtney Bridgers

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“Pecans are not cheap, my hons. In fact, in the South, the street value of shelled pecans, just before holiday baking season, is roughly that of crack cocaine. Do not confuse the two. It is almost impossible to make a decent crack cocaine tassie, I am told.”

Such are the musings of Southern belle (or crude, honest and extremely hilarious writer) Celia Rivenbark, from her book “You Can’t Drink All Day if You Don’t Start in the Morning.”

Rivenbark had quite a good year in 2011.

Her sixth book to-date, “You Don’t Sweat Much for a Fat Girl,” came out in August and was the first of her works to land on the New York Times Best Sellers List. To this, we raise our glasses of sweet tea to cheers the slut! (What? Naturally, we mean “Southern Lady Up To Something”!)

Rivenbark is also the writer of a syndicated weekly column for the Sunday StarNews and in several other publications, from Sacramento to California to upstate New York. Penning humor comes natural to Rivenbark, as she’s also embarking on her seventh book, to be released in spring 2013—an etiquette book with a working title, “That’s Not a Salad Fork, You Stupid Bitch!”

“I love the part where you search for a joke, and it just shows up in your head right when you need it,” Rivenbark says. “It’s always a wonderful relief and a great surprise.”

As well, the ability to work both in essay books and columns (and she’s got a dark novel in progress, too!) has allowed her to stretch as a writer. “I like the freedom of writing books because I can get away with a lot more,” she says. “I’m pretty much a potty-mouth in real life, but the column has to be sanitized for a broad audience. That said, I like writing the column because it teaches me how to self-edit.

I’ve learned how to say exactly what I want to say, and it really forces you to cut out the fat.”

Other talented local writers include Zach McKeown and Gwenyfar Rohler.

ArcAde/GAme room & Pool HAll

When we talk about something locally owned and operated, we mean those in charge of our region’s businesses who put a lot of thought and sweat into making what they offer a truly great option for their customers. Often, they become involved in the

LIVE Civil War

GHOST WALK Sat. Feb. 25 at 6:30 & 8:00 PM FREE Register online: cameronartmuseum.com

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Mckayhealingarts.com encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 15

community outside of profit margins, too.

Blue Post and its owners, Barbara Weetman, Gil Johnson and Harper Peterson, embody the concept of local operation.

The trio built the innards of the bar/arcade/ pool hall/totally awesome hang-out from the ground up 13 years ago, using recycled wood and old doors for the bar face (before being green was “the thing to do”). Peterson owned Water Street Restaurant at the time, and Weetman, also a local actress, tended bar for years in New Orleans and L.A. “We all enjoy this kind of business,” Weetman explains. “It’s fun, always different, and always a challenge to succeed.”

Most importantly, the owners and staff choose just what goes into Blue Post—and it’s always been that way, from air-hockey games and Pac-Man, to the many pool tables housed throughout the place, including regulation tables.

“We pick our own music for the jukebox, decide what games to put in, and we treat each other like family—dysfunctional sometimes—but it works,” Weetman quips. “I think people enjoy Blue Post because there is a kicked-back vibe with a lot of things to do.”

The folks behind the bar are the sort of people a guest can make friends with rather quickly, and most of them have worked there for years. Aside from a keen eye for vintage video games, they stay up to date with trends in the booze business, too. Originally Blue Post served beer only but committed to

serving liquor a few years back. “It’s been a good change,” Weetman says. “And we are always on the lookout for new micro-brews.

With 14 taps and around 60 in the bottle, we love to try new stuff.”

Second place in arcade/game rooms goes to Jungle Rapids, with third being awarded to Ten Pin Alley. For billiards, folks also look to Breaktime and Orton’s Pool Room.

//Humanitarian Humanitarian & non-Profit

When I hear stories of people doing amazing, selfless things—like Jock Brandis traveling the world for his organization, Full Bully Project—I am not only in awe, but I am humbled. Brandis and Full Belly speak with farmers and families in Africa, Asia and South and North America to figure out how their simplified yet ground-breaking agricultural inventions can help provide more food and income to communities.

And, so, I ask myself: What am I doing on a daily basis to help others? Though my mother would say, “You’re bringing awareness to everyone about these charities,” my hands aren’t really dirty with the beautiful work put into helping others live more bountiful lives.

Yet, Brandis feels it is completely natural to be somebody’s hero.

“It makes me feel like I am being a per-

fectly normal person,” he says. “I assume everyone wants to provide a better quality of life [for themselves and others].”

Brandis is able to increase productivity in small villages through his creations, like the Universal Nut Sheller, for which the Peace Corps and other volunteers distribute molds (and lessons) for easy construction. According to Full Belly’s website, www.fullbellyproject.org, women in Africa spend about four billion hours shelling peanuts by hand, at a rate of a little more than two pounds an hour.

Brandis’ sheller passes 120 pounds of peanuts in one hour!

And he hasn’t stopped there.

He’s developed a mobile, solar water pump to help farmers distribute water more effectively, two other water pumps, a pedal platform for the Universal Nut Sheller to harness stronger force by way of human legs, a cacao sheller and a low-water hand-washing station.

Currently under development is the aflatoxin screener, a device which uses UV light to warn people of toxic fungus on their food, which will lower their immune system and increase their risk of contracting malaria or HIV. “[We are] field-testing it this summer in Guatemala in a project in partnership with Vanderbilt University,” Brandis explains.

He’s also in the process of designing modular school-room furniture for use in the Philippines, so that when a disaster, such as a tropical cyclone, occurs, classrooms can quickly be changed to dormitories. This spe-

cific project will be featured in the pilot episode of “Replan It,” an independent television documentary series and multi-part Web series that will educate viewers on sustainable development. “In six weeks we will have a final version of the 75-minute film about Full Belly Project and what [we are] doing around the world,” he says.

Folks looking to volunteer with Brandis can drop in on Saturday mornings at the Full Belly shop, the big blue building located at 1020 Chestnut Street. “We are looking for people with skills to share,” Brandis notes.

Other honorable humanitarians mentioned on our poll are Bo Dean, Paul Wilkes and Tim Milan, and noteworthy non-profits include The Salvation Army and American Red Cross. —Bethany Turner

More Best Ofs will be printed in coming weeks!

Stay tuned for the 2/29 and 3/7 editions!

Cruisers Car Wash and Detail Centers The Cruisers team sincerely thanks you, once again, for voting us the #1 Car Wash in Wilmington for the eleventh year running. We promise to continue our daily commitment to excellence.

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16 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

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201

meet the best of the best!

2012 class of Best Of winners //Food & Beverage Seafood: CatCh ItalIan: Osteria CiCChetti thaI, atmoSphere & reStaurant overall: indOChine JapaneSe: hirO Japanese steak hOuse and sushi Bar ChIneSe: szeChuan 132 IndIan: tandOOri Bites frenCh: CapriCe BistrO faSt food: ChiCk-fil-a pIzza: sliCe Of life vegetarIan: lOvey’s Market Soul food/Country CookIn’ & Buffet: Casey’s Buffet & BBQ BarBeCue: JaCksOn’s Big Oak SandwICh Shop, delICateSSen & lunCh: ChOp’s deli Burger & frIeS: p.t.’s Old-fashiOned grille rIBS & ChaIn reStaurant: Chili’s panInI: press 102 hot dog: trOlly stOp BurrIto: flaMing aMy’s BurritO Barn oySterS: dOCk st. Oyster Bar Steak: ruth’s Chris steak hOuse appetIzerS & deSSertS: CirCa 1922 SaladS: ruBy tuesday waItStaff: COpper penny dIner & BreakfaSt: dixie grill new reStaurant: the kitChen famIly reStaurant: red rOBin fIne dInIng reStaurant: Manna Bakery: apple annie’s Bake shOp Coffee Shop: pOrt City Java take-out: ChOpstix Chef: keith rhOdes (CatCh) wIngS: BuffalO Wild Wings ICe Cream: kilWin’s

SuShI:

nikki’s fresh gOurMet sushi Bar outdooor dInIng: BlueWater grill late-nIght eatery & pIzza: sliCe Of life medIterranean Seafood: OlyMpia wIne/Beer Shop: lighthOuse Beer & Wine gourmet Store & CaterIng ServICe: pine valley Market health food Store: tidal Creek CO-Op SportS Bar: CarOlina ale hOuse neIghBorhood Bar: duCk and dive Bartender: Megan lOux, Cape fear Wine and Beer Bar overall: satellite martInI Bar: dirty Martini wIne lISt: fOrtunate glass and

//Goods & Services plaCe to Board a pet: dOg CluB Of WilMingtOn ChIropraCtor: sitO ChirOpraCtiC plaCe for alternatIve medICIne: MCkay healing arts dentISt: BOzart faMily denistry veterInarIan: pOrter’s neCk veterinary hOspital plaCe to Buy a new Car: stevensOn autOMOtive plaCe to Buy a uSed Car: autO WhOlesale loCal Book Store: Old BOOks On frOnt st. florISt: Julia’s flOrist haIr Salon: Bangz tattoo parlor: artfuel inC. plaCe to Buy gaS: gOgas Jeweler: reed’s Surf Shop: sWeetWater surf shOp women’S ClothIng: edge Of urge men’S ClothIng:

BlOke Men’s apparel OnCe upOn a Child MOnkee’s hangers/WilliaMs Cleaners real eState agenCy: COldWell Banker sea COast advantage garden Store: transplanted garden vIntage/ConSIgnment for ClotheS: fairy CirCle homed deCor for ConSIgnment & antIqueS: the ivy COttage mortgage Co.: alpha MOrtgage apartment Complex: the reserve at Mayfaire Car waSh: Cruiser’s Car Wash tannIng Salon: trOpiCal tans gIft Shop: Blue MOOn gift shOps prInt Shop: dOCk st. printing hotel: hiltOn ilM riverside adult Store: adaM and eve BathroomS: auBriana’s movIng Co.: tWO Men and a truCk motorCyCle Shop: Britt MOtOrspOrts laundromat & lIve muSIC venue: sOapBOx dog groomer: ali’s k-9 Clips perSonal traIner: laMaine WilliaMs golf CourSe: COuntry CluB Of landfall gym: gOld’s gyM Spa: ki spa ShoppIng plaza: Mayfaire tOWn Center maSSage therapISt: Mary Beth redMan (tanglez) kId’S ClothIng: Shoe Store: dry Cleaner:

//Arts & Entertainment BowlIng alley: ten pin alley pool hall & arCade/game room: Blue pOst loCal attraCtIon: Battleship nC tour of wIlmIngton: ghOst Walk Of Old WilMingtOn Band/performer: l shape lOt

loCal dJ: dJ Battle danCe CluB: pravda/sputnik karaoke: BrOWnCOat puB/theatre Buy muSICal InStrumentS: finkelstein’s Cd/reCord Shop: gravity reCOrds art gallery: BOttega gallery & art Bar loCal artISt: ivey hayes muSeum: CaMerOn art MuseuM theatre produCtIon of 2012: the sOund Of MusiC theatre produCtIon Company: thalian assOCiatiOn theater venue: thalian hall theSpIan: zaCh pappas Comedy troupe: nutt hOuse iMprOv trOupe newSCaSt: WeCt newSCaSter: franCes Weller radIo StatIon: the penguin 98.3 radIo perSonalIty: Beau gunn, penguin mornIng radIo Show: fOz in the MOrning shOW, z107.5 fIlmmaker: JOe Cheshire Independent fIlm: the WatChers weBSIte: CapefearpasspOrt.COM wrIter: Celia rivenBark Blog: Just keepin’ it real, fOlks happenIng In Ilm In 2012: irOn Man 3

//Humanitarian nonprofIt: full Belly prOJeCt humanItarIan: JOCk Brandis envIronmental group: Cape fear river WatCh volunteer: heather purdin

encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 17

news&views|

18 LIVE LOCAL 20 AMENDMENT ONE PROJECTS & OP-ED ON TIME AND SPACE 21 NEWS OF THE WEIRD

live local. live small.

What if we had a community-owned baseball team? hler

by Gwenyfar Ro

ds

uts,’ with procee Promise of Pean he ‘T of or th Au ect Fully Belly Proj benefiting The

T

he boTTom line is: i don’T like base-

ball and I don’t want to pay for it,” my father grumbled.

Sometimes he can be shockingly pointed.

“OK, Daddy, I see that,” I responded. “But this is the flip side of all the people who say they don’t go see plays and don’t want to pay for the renovation of Thalian Hall.”

After a pause...

“Humph. Well, you’re probably right about that.”

To be honest, I did not grow up in a family that followed sports—outside of elections. Are they not America’s other form of competitive entertainment, which begins with brackets, ends with champions, has big leagues and minor leagues, and starts all over again in the spring?

By now, I am sure everyone knows our city council is in discussion to bring a minor league baseball team here. Since we are in the public commentand-discussion period, I would like to ask some questions. This seems to be getting talked about as an “either/or” scenario—either we are going to do this or not. In my very inexperienced mind, it doesn’t seem like that needs to be the case—sort of like the Zen quote from Suzuki Shunryu: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”

I had a couple of immediate responses to this news. The first: “Don’t we already have a team?”

The answer is yes; they are called the Wilmington Sharks, and they have been here for 16 years. I called Darrell Handelsman, co-owner of the Sharks, to see what was happening over at Buck Hardee Field. He began by telling me they had just signed a five-year renewal on their lease.

(Just to clarify, that’s rent paid into the city coffers—not paid out.) One can imagine when news of the proposed minor league team came in—after the negotiations for the Sharks’ lease renewal—it was a bit of a shock to Handelsman.

“We pay our taxes, we pay our rent—and now this?” he asks. “It’s gonna put us out of business.”

He pointed out that, in a weird way, they are victims of their own success. They have done well here, so others look to this market and say, “Why not?”

The next question I pondered was whether we

18 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

actually need this outside group. “Why can’t the community own the team, like the Green Bay Packers?” I asked. Several people were quick to respond of its impossibility. Whomever owned the major league team owned the minor franchises associated with it. I am stubborn; I don’t believe that is the case.

While we keep talking about the Atlanta Braves and Bobby Cox, we are really making a deal with Mandalay Sports Entertainment—who would own our minor league baseball team. The Braves would attach their name to it, and if any of the “talent” looked good, they would move up through the Braves structure.

I called David Morris with the Institute for Local Self Reliance to ask about community-owned sports teams, a topic he has been writing about for years. “Baseball prohibits fan ownership of teams in the major leagues,” he tells, “but not the minor leagues.” Apparently, it’s much cheaper to buy a class-A team (the Sharks are part of the Coastal Plain League, which is part of the collegiate summer baseball league) than to build a stadium. The price tag floating on the stadium is $35 or $40 million. Morris estimates that $12 or $13 million could buy a good minor league team for the area, which we would own.

Several minor league teams are owned by their communities, including the Syracuse Chiefs who just celebrated 50 years of community ownership. Other community-owned minor league teams include the Toledo Mud Hens (M*A*S*H fans unite!); the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of Appleton, Wisconsin; the Rochester Red Wings of Rochester, New York; and Burlington Bees of Burlington, Iowa. The Harrisburg Senators had been owned by Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, but the city sold the team to pay debts.

“It would seem to me the city should be doing an exploration of what teams are available at a much lower price,” Morris observes. Lynchburg, Viriginia, (from where the Braves would move their team to Wilmington) will get a new minor league team if this deal comes through—and at a much cheaper price tag than $40 million because they already have a stadium (which was actually built as part of the WPA Project).

Handelsman reports that the Sharks are averaging 1,600 tickets per game and that the number spikes on big nights, which include fireworks, and can reach capacity crowds. He recounts having a meeting with Wilmington City Parks and Rec about trying to get some of the much-needed repairs and improvements made to Buck Hardee Field; yet, he was told there was just no money available.

Imagine the shock he must have felt when later that day the press conference came with an announcement of intent to bring another team to town—and spend $40 million to build a stadium.

It doesn’t seem like a message that encourages good, community-minded, small business here, does it?

I wonder if we could take half that proposed money, say $20 million, raise it in a public stock issue, and instead of handing it to Mandalay, allow our community to become partners with the Sharks and move them up to a minor league team. If this is “what-if question time,” then, “what if?” They’ve certainly spent the time and commitment here.

Or if we insist upon buying a brand-new franchise from the minor leagues, what provision are we going to make to support the small family-owned team that’s already here? How can we do the honorable thing and keep some of this proposed tax-increase money? I’m not saying I am completely opposed to a tax increase, but I am opposed to it if it just leaves and doesn’t get spent here. I am curious how much will be spent on construction jobs in town, and if we have any interest as a community in creating provisions to use “Made in America” materials?

While I’m asking questions, I wonder: “Has anyone asked our county employees, who were forced to take furloughs for the last two years, and our city employees, who have seen benefit cuts, how they feel about having their taxes raised to build a stadium?” Especially since we seem to have trouble funding payroll.

Yes, it’s what-if question time. I’d like to see us, as a community, ask some more detailed questions, and think about alternatives and possibilities that have demonstrable results and long-term investment here. This doesn’t have to be “either/or”— let’s try some teamwork and see if we can’t arrive at an answer that makes us real winners.

al

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encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 19

far-a-when:

//VIEWS

Taking a philosophical foray into space and time

i

’m

no fan of february. mosTly be-

cause the day after Valentine’s Day a couple of lifetimes ago, a woman I loved had the talk with me—the one that ends, “I need some time.”

Last Saturday I took time from admiring the titillating crop of GOP candidates to drive my son downtown. His half-closed eyes didn’t see the morning sun dance off the spires of St. James—or that we stood within blocks of architecture from every era of American development, or that we stood across from pine forests that fueled a revolution. He definitely didn’t feel the gentle sea breeze that may help offshore windmills power the future.

We parked at Lulu’s Garage. When I stopped to gaze at the creek, the young lad looked miffed and distant in that impatient teen sort of way.

“When are you?” I asked.

“Don’t go there, Dad. I gotta get coffee, get to the Community Arts Center, go to practice, go back home, and go to a movie at Mayfaire. I’m not in a good place right now.”

My own Billy Pilgrim—answering a simple question about time with metaphors about place. It’s always been curious to me that we orient ourselves in place with ease, but can’t tell time without sundials or smartphones.

Human convention carves time into seconds, minutes, hours. The birth of Christ wasn’t really year zero, the beginning of time. In fact our many calendars are often powerful marriages of our love of myth with our addiction to measurement. (It’s 4710, The Year of the Dragon.) Without relying on products of our own intellect, we’re all on personal time, borrowed time, not Greenwich Mean Time. Time itself may be a product of the quantum physics of the human mind.

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ll

by Mark Basqui r to bu ri encore cont I chuckled, “May not be in a good place, but you’re not near ‘right now.’ When are you?”

“That’s the stupidest question I ever heard.”

The young lad has heard me ask some stupid questions, but I didn’t count this among them. “When are you?” isn’t going to replace “How are you?” anytime soon, but it might make more sense. I don’t know why writers concoct time machines when we have the penultimate contraption sitting right on our shoulders. We travel from the torments of the past to the hopes of the future thousands of times a day, as if time travel is not only possible but somehow normal.

I looked to the Battleship North Carolina.

It’s 1945. Victory has been secured! Some days it’s 1941. Security has been shattered.

The lad and I trudged back up Orange Street, turned on Front. A man in his midtwenties sat in a vintage Jeep Cherokee, smoked a cigarette in front of Barbary Coast.

He had a far-a-when look in his eyes.

He’s in 2008. Late February. His friend got it in an IED yesterday. His wife’s letter arrived this morning. The one that ends, “I need to take a little time.” (Must be a rule. Wait ‘til after Valentine’s Day to take the ‘time’ to break a heart.) He’s still waiting for the go sign to roll back into Baghdad’s Ottomeia neighborhood, and still hoping it’s his time.

We turned into the Italian Gourmet Market coffee shop. Two women in their early 20s tapped screens, sipped espresso and conversed in cryptic digi-log.

They’re 2212 A.D. in a Martian Polar villa.

All Earth’s problems are beneath them.

We ordered.

The first bite of my cinnamon roll took me to 1995. The young lad was still enwombed.

He moved toward his birthday and I celebrated each small step toward the birth of my degree with a pastry from a Philly bakery.

The lad’s worried voice rang out from the present. “Dad, I want to do so many things before I’m your age. I need to know if I’ll have time between now and then.”

I looked into his ancient eyes, “You’ll know when you get then. As far as I know the only way to get then is to really be now.”

“Cliché, but somehow cool.” The lad smiled. “I’m now again.”

“It’s about time,” I chuckled.

“So uncool,” he said. “So you.”

20 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

//NEWS

vote no!

Amendment One projects in progress

T

he music is pumping, The models

are changing backstage and the photographer is prepping his camera—no this isn’t the latest “Vogue” cover shoot—it is happening right here in Wilmington. The Vote Against Project is capturing smiles on the faces of participants in a romp of political activism meets tons of fun.

The Vote Against Project was founded after the NC General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that would ban legal recognition for all unmarried couples. On May 8th, voters will head to the polls to decide if Amendment One will be put into law. It all lead Raleigh photographer Curtis Brown to found the project with the hope that he could unite North Carolinians to defeat discrimination.

“From the beginning Curtis got all his friends together and really got us pumped about this project,” Lydia Kinton, recruitment coordinator for Vote Against, says. Brown and his network of volunteers travel all across North Carolina, holding free photo shoots.

Participants make a $20 donation to the project in exchange for a T-shirt that boldly reads “Vote Against” across the front and the opportunity to have their own professional photo shoot. All the photographs are posted on the project’s website and participants are encouraged to share them with friends on Facebook and other social media sites to raise awareness about the upcoming vote.

Brown says, “We’ve been quiet for too long. I wanted to utilize my talents as a photographer to raise awareness about such an important issue because it affects so many people, not just the LGBT community.”

The vague wording of Amendment One is unclear and could lead to a number of issues, including undermining current childcustody rights designed in the best interest of children and invalidating domestic-violence protection orders for all unmarried couples.

It would also prohibit North Carolina from ever passing legislation that would grant civil unions, bar the state for instituting domestic partnership rights, and strip the domestic partner insurance benefits, currently offered to employees by local governments in Chapel Hill, Durham, Greensboro, as well as Mecklenburg and Orange counties.

Within only 5 minutes of the official start of the Vote Against Project photo shoot at UNCW on February 10th, 10 enthusiastic participants lined up for their close-ups. “I’m here to support the LGBT community.” Mike Owens says before changing his T-shirt. “It’s a step forward in creating equality in North Carolina. I am a Christian man who has gay friends, and I want to show just how much I support them.”

His sentiments were echoed by many of the other participants and volunteers who filed

t

by Brooke Kavi encore intern

PHOTOG FOR A CAUSE: Vote Against Project founder Curtis Brown was at UNCW last week spreading the message. Courtesy of Vote Against.

in to the Azalea Coast Room throughout the day. “With all the injustices going on across the nation, it’s North Carolina’s turn to make a stand,” volunteer Royce Friou says. “We can get it right the first time and won’t have to deal with the issues that California has faced after Proposition 8. If it is voted down, we’d be the first in the south to say no to discrimination,” The Vote Against Project is just one of many creative ways that North Carolinians have found to raise awareness about the May 8th vote. Activist Jen Jones began running a marathon on January 27th in Asheville, and from there zigzagged her way across the state, traveling to town-hall meetings and gatherings to spread her voice of support. So far she’s racked up over 320 miles and her “Race to the Ballot” will end on Friday, March 2nd at 6 p.m. in downtown Wilmington. Her family and friends have invited everyone in Wilmington to greet her near Riverfront Park.

All of these clever campaigns mean nothing if voters don’t get out and vote though, Kinton says. “It’s a lot of fun to take a picture, but it means nothing if you don’t go to the polls on the 8th.”

To stay up to date on the latest Vote Against Project events go to www.voteagainst.org, and for information on Jen Jones’ return to Wilmington, see the “Race to the Ballot Finale in Wilmington” Facebook event page.

NewsoftheWeird with Chuck Shepherd LEAD STORY Sri Lanka has, as an “unwritten symbol of pride and culture,” the world’s highest per-capita rate for eye-donation, according to a January Associated Press dispatch from Colombo. Underpinning this national purpose is the country’s Buddhist tradition that celebrates afterlives. “He’s dead,” said a relative of an eye recipient about the donor, “but he’s still alive. His eye can still see the world.” Doctors even report instances in which Sri Lankans consider giving up an eyeball while still alive, as a measure of virtue. A new state-of-the-art clinic, funded by Singaporean donors, is expected to nearly double Sri Lanka’s eyeball exports.

The Way the World Works Melissa Torres was a passenger in an April 2011 auto accident in Texas City, Texas, in which the five people involved were reported “uninjured” by police, and indeed, Torres was released from the Mainland Medical Center emergency room after a routine evaluation (for which she was billed $4,850).

In fact, records from April 2011 until September showed her balance as $4,850. However, in December, Mainland learned that Torres had made an insurance claim against the driver and settled it for $30,000. The hospital quickly gainst Proj-“updated” her balance to $20,211 and filed a W last weekclaim against the settlement.

Against.

Hospitals, of course, are obligated to render emergency care to anyone who needs ghout the it, even to undocumented immigrants and iron across respective of ability to pay. However, various to make a state laws, such as New York’s, also prohibit “We can hospitals from releasing a patient who has ave to deal no safe place to be discharged to. A January aced after New York Times report noted that New York e’d be the City hospitals currently house about 300 of mination,” those “continuing care” patients, with many ne of many in the five-year-long range and one patient ans have now in his 13th year. (In some states, even, e May 8th the laws’ wording permits “pop drops,” in ing a marand from the state, gatherings o far she’s “Race to h 2nd at 6 family and mington to

ean nothe though, a picture, go to the

te Against gainst.org, return to Ballot Fit page.

which adult children leave “ailing” parents at a hospital when the children decide they need a break.)

A November Comtel airlines charter flight from India to Birmingham, England, stopped in Vienna, Austria, to refuel, but the pilots learned that Comtel’s account was overdrawn and that the airport required the equivalent of about $31,000 for refueling and take-off charges, and thus, if the passengers were in a hurry, they needed to come up with the cash. After a six-hour standoff, many of the 180 passengers were let off the plane, one by one, to visit an ATM, and eventually a settlement was reached.

Just Can’t Stop Himself Paul Rothschild, 40, was facing a Dec. 9 court date in Lake County, Ill., on a charge of indecent solicitation of a minor a charge that could have sent him to prison for five years.

Apparently oblivious of the imminent danger, Rothschild was arrested on Dec. 7 after a months-long campaign to entice another minor girl to engage in sex.

The Force Is Not With You In November, Rickie La Touche, 30, was convicted in England’s Preston Crown Court of killing his wife in a rage over her having allegedly destroyed the Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker memorabilia that he had collected since childhood. And in January, a judge in Portland, Ore., ordered a 45-day jail sentence, plus mental evaluation, for David Canterbury, 33, after he attacked Toys R Us customers with a lightsaber in each hand.

And in February in Brooklyn, N.Y., Flynn Michael expanded his search for his stolen $400 custom-made lightsaber. “I guess that’s the joke,” said Michael, self-pityingly.

“Some Jedi I turned out to be.”

Names in the News Recent Newsmakers: In a Christmas Eve alcohol-related auto accident in Buf-

falo, N.Y., the injured victims included Chad Beers, and the man charged was Richard Booze Jr. In Burnett County, Wis., in October, Scott Martini, 51, was arrested for suspicion of DUI, which would be his fourth offense. In Madison, Wis., in January, police filed weapon and drug charges against the 30-year-old man who had legally changed his name to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-BopBop. And charged with vandalism of a Rhode Island state troopers’ barracks in November was the 27-year-old Mr. Wanker Rene.

In 2011, for the first time in 10 years, Jose was not the most popular baby name in Texas (it was Jacob), but more interesting were the outlier names from the birth register examined by the Houston Press in December.

Among last year’s Houston babies were boys with the first names Aa’den, Z’yun, Goodness, Godswill, Clever, Handsome, Sir Genius and Dallas Cowboys. Girls’ names included Gorgeousg’zaiya, A’Miracle, Dae’Gorgeous and Praisegod. The newspaper had previously combed the register of convicts in Harris County (Houston) and found Willie Nelson de Ochoa, Shi’tia Alford, Petrono Tum Pu, Charmin Crew and Anal Exceus.

People Different From Us Bill Robinson, 66, of Decatur, Ga., was arrested on a misdemeanor firearm charge in December for gathering holiday mistletoe in the “best way” he knew shooting it out of a tree with a 12-gauge shotgun. The fact that the tree was in the parking lot of the suburban North DeKalb Mall (filled with holiday shoppers) apparently completely escaped his attention. “Well,” said Robinson to WGCL-TV, “about the time I did it, I got to thinking about it. ... I guess I assumed that everybody knew what I was doing.”

Least Competent Criminals Not Ready for Prime Time: Mostafa Hendi was charged with attempted robbery of the We Buy Gold store in Hendersonville, N.C., in December, but clerk Derek Mothershead stopped him. As Hendi reached for the money, Mothershead punched him in the face, momentarily knocking him out cold. He held Hendi down with one hand and called 911 with the other, and as the two waited for po-

lice, Mothershead handed Hendi cleanser and paper towels and ordered him to clean up his blood off of the floor.

Needed to Think It Through Better: Car salesman Frank Ready was showing his inventory to Pedro Prieto and Yordan Llauger at his lot in Austin, Texas, in December, and they had settled on a Nissan Maxima for around $9,000. “They asked if I took Visa,” Ready told KVUE-TV. “I said, ‘Yeah.’” The next day, Prieto and Llauger returned with 90 $100 Visa gift cards. Naturally, Ready called police, who later found at least 28 counterfeit credit cards on the pair and charged them and a third person with fraud and identity theft.

Recurring Themes Almost No Longer Weird: Fifteen firefighters on three crews (estimated cost per hour, the equivalent of $1,400) were dispatched to Norwich market in Norwich, England, in January to rescue a gull entangled on tree branches and, according to the animal rescue society, “in distress.” Women in Dado village on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao went “on strike” last year to persuade the men to stop their fighting over land disputes. (“If you do bad things,” a September Agence FrancePresse dispatch quoted one woman, “you will be cut off, here,” motioning below her waist.)

These sex strikes do not always work, but, reported AFP, this one did.

The Jesus and Mary World Tour (allnew!)

Recent Public Appearances of Jesus and/or the Virgin Mary: Wiltshire, England, June (Jesus in candle wax dripping from a church’s pulpit). Anderson County, S.C., July (Jesus on a Walmart receipt). Kinston, N.C., June (Jesus’ body on a cross formed by kudzu on a telephone pole). Orpington, England, December (Jesus on a sock). Fortitude Valley, Australia, January (Jesus on a tomato that had remained in an office refrigerator a little too long). Yuma, Ariz., August (Mary in a dried mango slice). Blue Springs, Mo., December (Jesus on crayons melted for a science class project (“(W)hat better sign to get than (one) right in front of you?” asked the student’s mother.).

COMING SOON

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35-39 MUSIC 32-33 FILM

artsysmartsy|

22-26 THEATRE 28-31 ART

consequence of action:

Latest UNCW production follows ‘Six Degrees of Separation’

by Kaitlin Willow Separation Six Degrees of ent of Theatre UNCW Depar tm 1-4 2/23-26 and 3/ ts Building Ar al UNCW Cultur n., 2 p.m.

Show, 8 p.m.; Su • 910-962-3500 Tickets: $5-$12

Senior theatre major Tre Cotton plays Paul in the UNCW Department of Theatre’s production of “Six Degrees of Separation.” Photo courtesy of UNCW Dept. of Theatre

W

hen i Was

10,

i met john c. reilly

(“Stepbrothers,” “Talladega Nights”). I didn’t know who he was at the time because I was not allowed to see any of his movies.

All I knew was that my dad worked with this guy whose sister was (and still is) married to John C. Reilly; they just happened to be visiting one day.

Somehow, by four degrees of separation, I could connect myself to one of Hollywood’s most revered actors. It’s a concept with which many are familiar, perhaps even grounding itself in the trivia of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,” which became a phenomenon in the early ‘90s. UNCW is bringing the same concept to life in its latest stage play, “Six Degrees of Separation” (1990), written by John Guare. Essentially, the play explores the idea that everyone in this world is connected by a string of no more than six acquaintances.

Director Ed Wagenseller had the privilege of seeing the play in New York many years ago and couldn’t believe it had never been performed in Wilmington. “The show has a briskness to it,” he says. “It gives me a lot of creative options as a director, and it allows a real sense of movement.

Plus, you can cast 17 students.”

Compared to previous plays he has directed, Wagenseller notes the cast size is definitely a change.

With every play he directs, new and different experiences often dictate success. “My approach to directing is a very organic one,” he explains, “so whenever I go into a production, I don’t try to recreate what I’ve done before.”

22 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

The extremely talented group of young actors has made the production so much easier according to the director. Their excitement for the material alone is inspiring. “College actors are so enthusiastic and brave and trusting,” he explains. “A lot of times you don’t find that when working with the more experienced.”

The eager bunch tackles the challenge of this very untraditional play. While it has its funny moments, it is primarily a philosophical endeavor. “It’s very appropriate for the world we live in today, in terms of how we’re all connected in one way, shape or form,” Wagenseller says, “how we don’t even know we’re connected to total strangers.”

The play follows Ouisa (Kelly Mis, junior theatre major) and Paul (Tre Cotton, senior theatre major), each of whom is focusing on their changing relationship. It’s a union which involves lies, betrayal, and unexpected emotional attachment. Of the leads, Wagenseller boasts, “Both have blown me away. . . . [It’s] hard to find students who can do it so effectively and so believably.”

The play itself is full of surprises and “WTF” moments. Originally inspired by a true story, the plot follows Paul, a man who is definitely not who he says he is, as he arrives on the doorstep of Ouisa and Flan Kittredge, claiming to be a classmate of their college-student children. He attempts to con the couple by playing the young and wounded card.

More conniving actions, some gay rumors and multiple victims later, Paul is forced to deal with the consequences of his actions.

With guest designer Randy Ward, from Virginia Tech, behind the set’s creation, it has added to the innovative pacing and movement of the production.

It would have been challenging to duplicate what was done with the original set on Broadway, which was constructed with a “thrust space.” Cast members sat in the very front row of the audience, and each walked directly onstage when it was his/her turn in a scene. “[It was] a very iconic set when it went up,” Wagenseller remarks. Ward has simply made it so there are numerous options for entrances and exits for the actors; though, UNCW’s version will not be done thrust.

There is no reason for Wilmington residents to not see this play. First, it’s short, lasting only 90 minutes. Secondly, it’s very affordable; student tickets are only $5 with an ID, and tickets for the general public are $12 each.

“I think the production value and the quality of productions we put on are often overlooked because of the amount of theatre in Wilmington—it’s so easy to get lost in the shuffle,” Wagenseller says. “I just want to make sure my students are getting the recognition they really deserve. It’s selfish of me, I guess. They’re just really, really good.”

“Six Degrees of Separation” will be performed February 23rd through 26th and March 1st through 4th in the mainstage theatre of UNCW’s Cultural Arts Building. All shows are at 8 p.m., with the exception of the 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. Tickets can be purchased through the Kenan Audtorium box office, (910) 962-3500, or 60 minutes before the show at the Cultural Arts Building box office.

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//THEATRE

a rollicking romp: Opera House’s ‘The Producers’ likely will sell out

I

t Is not surprIsIng that mel brooks

can put a smile on my face, no matter how bad of a week I have had. Thanks to Opera House Theatre Company’s first show of the year, “The Producers” comes with side-splitting laughter. Folks who want to see this show should buy tickets now; my prediction is that they’re going to sell out fast! More importantly, it should. It’s a romp of great entertainment.

“The Producers” is the long-awaited musical comedy of the 1968 film of the same name, written by Brooks. Some changes were made in the writing of the stage script but the basic plot remains the same: Max Bialystock (Anthony Lawson) is an aging has-been Broadway producer whose last few shows have been terrible flops, à la “Funny Boy,” the musical version of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet.” He raises money for his doomed ventures from a stable of little, old ladies who are desperate for male attention in their lives. Leo Bloom (Jason Aycock) arrives from the office of Whitehall and Marks to finish out the books on “Funny Boy.” For all of Bialystock’s outlandish catchlife-by-the-throat personality, Bloom is written to be his perfect foil.

Aycock’s cringing entrance communicates such clearly from the beginning of the play and what follows is the development of a beautiful friendship, as Leo “blooms” and Bialystock mellows into the kind-hearted rascal. While cooking the books for Bialystock, Bloom suggests producing a sure-fire flop, which could make more money than if it were a success.

Together, they set out to find the worst script ever written, hire the worst director, cast the most actors and close the show before intermission. They would then disappear to Rio with the $2 million that will have raised from “schtupping every little, old lady.”

After an exhaustive night of reading scripts, they find “Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden.” Bialystock and Bloom find playwright Franz Liebkind (Jason Hatfield) and a completely un-reconstructed Nazi living in a Greenwich Village garret, raising homing pigeons to send messages for the Third Reich.

Complete with helmet and lederhosen, Hatfield’s portrayal of Franz Liebkind must be seen to be believed. Upon leaving the theatr my escort commented it might be Hatfield’s best work to date. He has an amazing range—certainly the anti-thesis of Salieri in “Amadeus.”

I personally came very close to rupturing an organ while laughing during the Hatfield-Lawson-Aycock scenes. Oy vey! After taking the “Siegfried Oath” and dancing Hitler’s favorite dance, “Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop” (a truly magnificent parody of German folk dance and Vaudeville comedy) with Liebkind, Bialystock and Bloom, they secure his signature and set

hler

by Gwenyfar Ro s The Producer

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $22-$25 24-26, 8 p.m. •

2/ s, 3 p.m.

Sunday matinee 0 Chestnut St. Thalian Hall • 31 l.com www.thalianhal

off to find the worst director for the show.

This show doesn’t believe in “too much” or too many “over the top” scenarios. Hatfield is fearless in his pursuit of laughs. Even without the addition of his body language, costuming and totally outrageous accent, he still would be hysterical in his complete commitment to the sincerity of his cause.

Enter Roger Debris (yes, pronounced like a circumcision), played by Jeff Phillips, already in full drag for that night’s choreographer’s ball.

He signs on as director but only after Bialystock and Bloom agree to let him turn it into a musical with “lots of show girls.” Phillips is a most delightful ham. A long-time cabaret performer, he sings, dances, struts and works the audience like putty. When he’s in his element, there is no one else onstage. And, like Red Skelton, he loves his own jokes more than anyone else. I couldn’t help but smile and laugh at watching someone have so much fun.

Worn out, Bialystock and Bloom return to the office to find a Swedish beauty called “Ulla” (Heather Setzler), who is looking to audition. “For once I want to see someone on that couch under 85!” Bialystock fumes as Bloom tries to persuade her to wait until formal auditions will be held.

In case one doesn’t read the actor’s bios, Aycock and Setzler (whose characters fall in love during the show) are engaged in real life.

This lovely backstory adds a certain specialty to their scenes. Having grown up dancing, Aycock can surely cut a jig. When he takes Setzler in his arms during “That Face!”—the song to which they fall in love—it is beautiful to watch. Aycock is certainly a hardworking performer, who is always guaranteed to show up and make it look good for the cheap seats. Besides dancing, he can sing and sell a song as he demonstrates with great verve in “I Wanna Be a Producer.” With boyish good looks and sweet naïveté, it is easy to believe his character has never really lived life until now.

Anthony Lawson must channel the great Zero Mostel. He plays Bialystock as a fully formed character—not a parody of Mostel.

Still, he has so many of Mostel’s small mannerisms and body language—and looks so much like him—I found myself doing a double take.

During his big solo, “Betrayed” in act two, he recounts the entire show in about 8 minutes.

HALLMARKS OF PROFESSIONALS: The cast of ‘The Producers,’ including Heather Setzler as Ulla and Anthony Lawson as Max, bring to life a wonderfully timed comedy. Photo by Opera House Theatre Company

Though I have seen Lawson perform in endless musicals and even off stage (he did break the World’s Record for Karaoke singing a few years ago), I was struck by how much I love his voice. There is something truly magical about this performance.

He and Aycock are endlessly fun together onstage. It takes a lot of strength as an actor to hold up energy like Lawson’s; but to meet it and give it back has got to be taxing, too.

Aycock runs at Lawson with an uptight ferocity that is not just funny but makes his growth during the show believable.

In act two, things get more complicated and, if possible, funnier. The principals in this cast are fabulous, with great chemistry and wonder-

!

VER WE DELI

ful comedic timing. They are having a rollicking good time, and it is infectious. Though a punheavy script, “The Producers” shows why its director, Lou Criscuolo, loves sight gags. I can only imagine his conversations with costumers Juli Harvey and Debbie Scheu. The big gags— like the girls wearing schnitzels and beer mugs for “Springtime for Hitler”—were great but the assortment of details—like Bialystock’s endlessly pulled magician’s pocket handkerchief— are all the hallmarks of professionals.

As always Lorene Walsh’s orchestra spreads the icing on the cake; it was one of the best evenings I’ve had in a long time. Live music at performances is something we have learned to take for granted here, but we are very lucky to have such a talented team that shows up time and time again to make the actors look and sound good!

For a great night that is worth every penny and a show that is anything but a flop, check out “The Producers,” which runs one more weekend at historic Thalian Hall.

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an alternative love story:

//THEATRE

Gay acceptance gets its due time onstage in ‘Beautiful Thing’

W

e all can remember our first

loves. The adrenaline and excitement at the mere sight of them.

The coy, playful conversations that kept us up at night, as we relived word after word from an earlier conversation in our heads. Every interaction became another weight of blissful endearment. Its capacity to wipe the world away—its pain and indiscretions, alike—left us soaking in a rose-colored bath. Being young and being in love is a fascinating experience, even if marred in heartache and uncertainty.

Writer Jonathan Harvey highlights the nuances and awkwardness of firsts in his script “Beautiful Thing.” Written in the early-’90s, the play opened at the Bush Theatre in London, and since has been staged worldwide, from New York to Paris, Scotland to Australia. Now, it makes its debut at Browncoat Pub and Theatre in downtown Wilmington throughout February.

In 1995 “Beautiful Thing” became a screen sensation for gays who needed their own love story and place in literature to look toward for understanding and comfort. Harvey, who didn’t come out himself until he was 19, loosely based some of the dialogue on his own experiences—specifically his coming-out admission to his parents. Luckily, the love story aspect of the show proves positive, which has become its most affected selling point.

“Beautiful Thing” follows 15-year-old classmates Jamie and Ste, Jamie’s erratically spunky mom, Sandra, her neo-hippie artistof-a-beau, Tony, and their neighbor, Leah, all of whom live next door to one another in flats along southeast London. Their interactions often prove more dreadful than civil, creating brash speak dependent upon immature intent, and squishy and apathetic facial expressions.

The play’s “action” merely follows daily occurrences in life: going to (skipping) school, heading to work, daydreaming on the front stoop of a doorstep, watering plants, hanging laundry, getting drunk, etc. It relies solely on its characters to pull off the meat from its bare bones. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but the beauty of the play is its easeful attempt to create understanding among misunderstood people. It takes into account complexities of being gay without gay-bashing being part of its subtext.

Thank goodness the leads make this love story feel authentic. Wilmington theater has done little in the way of gay productions— aside from City Stage’s “The Little Dog Laughed” last year and Red Barn’s “Boston Marriage,” which opens Thursday. As in any love story, the importance of its believability solely rests on chemistry between the two

by Shea Carver Beautiful Thing

★★★★★

and Theater Browncoat Pub 111 Grace Street .

2/22-24, 8 p.m 5 p.m. at Sun. matinees Tickets: $8-$15

lovebirds. Here, Ryan P.C. Trimble as Ste and Kenneth Rosander as Jamie succeed.

Trimble’s Ste is a guy’s guy, in so much as he loves football (soccer), while Jamie, well, not so much. Perhaps it’s one of the bugged stereotypes of the play: that a guy who likes sports shouldn’t be gay and that a guy who’d rather play “Cagney and Lacey” would be. But Harvey wrote this in the ‘90s, so I suppose such clichés are timely.

Ste lives with an abusive, alcoholic father and drug-dealing brother, each of whom beat the crap out of him on the regular. Secretly in love with Jamie, Ste’s having a hard time accepting it because of fear of the opinionated “outside world.” But as Ste sleeps at Jamie’s night after night (“head to toe” in the same bed), to escape the fury in his own flat, among their talks, the two fellas begin to face and accept their adoration for each other as anything but wrong.

Trimble is adorable in his shyness, and when he strips his character of barriers, he shines with Rosander onstage in a kind, gentle way.

It contrasts nicely against the inherent anxiety Trimble otherwise gives Ste. His character is hashed out more fully than the rest simply from slight instances of worry he wears physically, avoiding eye contact and side-stepping conflict among them. Trimble brings subtle emphasis to Ste’s happiness as well: at the sight of Jamie or when he can just be a guy kicking around a football rather than a teen living with a kid-beating dad. He has an infectious glow during these moments.

Rosander as his counterpoint is more overzealous and carefree about his newfound love.

He’s also dreamy-eyed, and manages to make them twinkle at the hope of teenage fantasy.

Though I first questioned Rosander’s ability to pull off a 15-year-old, by the end of the play I was sold. One of the bedroom scenes shows his immaturity beckoning adult wistfulness, as he power balls questions at Ste upon lightsout. Rosander exacts needy excitement of not wanting their interaction to ever end. More so, he’s ga-ga without desperation, and it’s relatable to watch that innocent banter turn into exploratory kisses and makeout sessions.

26 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

LOVE, SHINY AND NEW: (center) Ryan Trimble and Kenneth Rosander are the stars in this ‘90s coming-out story. Photo courtesy of Stephen Raeburn.

We’ve all been there; there is no offense in it.

Yet, Rosander could have egged on his inner frustrations a bit more when onstage with his mum, Sandra, played by Terrie Batson. Their battles feel contrived—far from mired in emotional turmoil. Though Batson’s whackadoo characterization certainly fits the role, Sandra needs to feel more grounded in motherly protection, as much as struggling with being a 35-year-old barmaid who likes to party, serial date and beg back her youth. The subplot of a past beau’s domestic violence falls flat in resonance to the story. There is also an unnaturalness to many mannerisms of Sandra. She is more awkward than engaging, with stiff arms cocked without reference and glassy eyes that really feel more crazed than concerned or exhausted.

However, the true killer is the accent. I applaud the cast for attempting British dialect; again, Trimble nails it and Rosander comes in a close second. The rest vacillate in and out of sufficiency. It makes for comprehension issues, especially with Batson. She teeters on Cockney, appropriate to her character’s working-class roots, but when blended with American Southern charm, it’s just confusing.

Anna Gamel as Leah is a colorful and spunky neighbor and lost high-school dropout obsessed with Mama Cass. She looks perfect in a Euro-trash, Spice Girl-sort of way. Though I love The Mamas and the Papas, the thread of

connection—that Mama Cass too was different yet beloved by many—feels trifled, if not lazy. In fact, the Leah character clashes in the “being different is OK” connection to Ste and Jamie. She and Sandra’s beau, Tony, seem unnecessary to the story. Though played well (Charles Auten’s Tony beckons compassion from the audience with good intentions and awkward, oaf-like interactions), they bring comedy which doesn’t intensify the message or feel needed to break up the heavy-handed content. Maybe this is the show’s main fault: It attempts to lie in bed with British comedy rather than merely embrace its main interest— acceptance of all.

Browncoat’s set is one of the best I’ve seen in their theater in quite some time. The use of the upstairs bedroom and outdoor facade of the flats suits every character’s path of movement. Lighting and sound is also thoughtful, from the overhead birds chirping to signify early morning, to dim lights dictating late night.

I commend “Beautiful Thing” director Stephen Raeburn for bringing the show to town, and for doing so to shed light on the upcoming Amendment One vote in NC in May (banning legalized same-sex marriage/ civil unions). With states nationwide backing the unions—Washington, Iowa, New Hampshire, et al—let’s hope the South can prove civil rights important to every human’s freedom to love and happiness, and vote against the amendment as well.

And, really, why fight love, anyway? Isn’t that an oxymoron…right to love and happiness.

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unpredictable calculations:

//ART

Drawing Machine pulls art and mechanics together at UNCW

M

achines run our lives. they

manufacture and operate our cars, computers, furniture, clothes, plates, cell phones, electronics— practically everything. Having made our lives much easier, there is still mystery behind the machine and its secret, methodical existence. It has an unstoppable rhythmic monotony, which is fascinating.

The undeniable allure of machinery is something Asheville artist Hoss Haley reinterprets and translates into an aesthetic context. A conceptual sculptor and painter, Haley grew up on a farm in rural Kansas surrounded by farming equipment, which ignited a spark of interest.

“I had access to all sorts of tools but mostly metal-working tools,” he states. “I became enamored with working with metal and got very lucky [when] I found a material that spoke to me when I was so young.”

His work exemplifies a lifelong fascination with structure of the machine. They have become almost an extension of the self, considering the integral part they play in making our daily lives move and progress.

r

by Sarah Richte ing Machine aw Hoss Haley: Dr cture . - 5:30 p.m. Le 2/23, 4:30 p.m ption ce m. Opening Re 5:30 p.m. - 7 p. ugh March 30 Exhibit runs thro g ural Ar ts Buildin Free; UNCW Cult After spending several years as an apprentice to blacksmiths in Texas and New Mexico, he began to focus on creating metal sculptures. He travelled to Penland School of Crafts in Asheville where he took classes and eventually obtained a three-year residency. That was 10 years ago and Haley, falling in love with NC’s beautiful mountains, still resides there today.

Known for creating monumental, industrially influenced works, Haley has recently turned his efforts to the creation of a drawing machine. “Hoss Haley’s Drawing Machine [is] a large metal table with a robotic arm-like apparatus that generates drawings,” Courtney Johnson, assistant professor of art and art history at UNCW, says. Johnson also

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PRODUCT OF PI: Machine Drawing, enamel paint on steel, 48 x 48 x 2 inches. Photo courtesy of Hoss Haley.

directs the art gallery in UNCW’s Cultural Arts Building, where Haley’s works will show through March.

“The Drawing Machine is a carefully designed machine controlled by the numerical sequence of Pi.,” Johnson explains. “There is a motor that is constantly in rotation moving a stylus around on a painted steel panel.

The stylus scratches through the paint, exposing the steel below.”

The motors, all five of them, are called “actuators,” according to Haley. What follows is an algorithm which takes his art to a very different stimulus of engagement. Based on the Pi series, the actuators are assigned two digits each (1 and 2, 3 and 6, 4 and 7, 5 and 8, 9 and 0), with a variance of number sequences generated in five-minute increments.

“As each number comes up, the corresponding actuator is set into motion,” Johnson states. “Because Pi is an infinite number, the path of the machine is never the same,” Johnson states.

Haley says there has always been a mechanical aspect to his work. Having personally constructed the machines which assist him in his artistic creations, it’s a creative process people usually don’t see. Yet, it’s not easy to perpetrate. Haley says he often sits and stares at the machine, mentally willing it to etch in this or that corner, but it never does.

“For years I had this idea of a drawing machine,” he says. “I made several attempts but they always produced one-liner type drawings that were very predictable.”

While he often concentrates on the background—which is more craft-based than fine art-based—he feels it functions almost as hindrance. “Personally, I find that having a background as a craft artist is a bit of a burden because I know too well how to make things,” Haley says.

“Craftsmen pride themselves on having complete control over their material, and I wanted to create something I could perfectly construct.”

Haley’s work is predictable in the sense that it will always function within a provided area, but its pattern is erratic and free to do whatever it wills. His desire to create machinery stems from a career creating public art commissions.

“Large scale works all have to be planned very carefully and in some cases the work takes months to come to fruition,” he says.

“As an artist, you have to have complete control of these large-scale works and be able to predict what’s going to happen. Creating something like this [the Drawing Machine] is the complete antithesis of control, and that is refreshing.”

There is an obvious geometric element to the Drawing Machine, but what separates the works from each other is their individuality. Haley’s art work is not necessarily focused on the final product but actually the machine itself. He has created and given it a mind of its own to generate work that is different and unique each time. He has, in essence, created the art work, with the machine functioning as a robotic arm and an extension of the artist himself.

The Drawing Machine will be an integral part of Haley’s exhibit at UNCW in the gallery of the Cultural Arts Building. The exhibit will consist of the running machine, as well as eight panels of completed drawings.

There will be an opening reception on Thursday, February 23rd from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the work will be on display until March 30th, Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m.

Before the opening, Haley will give a lecture in room 2033 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. about his process, how a machine works, why it works like it does and what led him to his current body of art. Both the lecture and exhibition are free and open to the public.

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galleryguide| Artfuel.inc

2165 Wrightsville Ave. • (910) 343 5233 Monday-Saturday, 12-7 p.m. www.artfuelinc.com Artfuel.inc is a multimedia studio and art gallery, now located at the intersection of Wrightsville Avenue and Dawson Street.

Our 29th art show features the folk art of Candy Pegram, photography by Tammy Haraga and Realyn Oliver, and graffitti art by Switch.

Artexposure!

22527 Highway 17N, Hampstead, NC 910-803-0302/ 910-330-4077 Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or by appointment www.artexposure50.com From Wilmington, drive north on Highway 17 and you will encounter an art center unique to our area. Look for the big red barn! A large open space hosts 2nd Friday Opening Receptions each month at 6PM. We represent over 40 local and regional artists in our member’s gallery and offer local arts and crafts in our gift shop. ArtExposure presently has studio space rented to five working artists. In addition, there is a frame shop and art supply store.

Our show in March is our annual “Art of the Car”. This is an invitational to all NC artists. Admission fee is 30.00 and monetary awards for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention will be given. Information about this show and registration can be found on the website under “Opportunities for Artists”.

The deadline to register is February 29th and the show opens on March 9th, 2012.

At the end of March there will be a “Paint Out in the Park” on the 24th starting at Noon in Surf City. All work completed at the Paint Out will be exhibited at ArtExposure on April 13th at our regular 2nd Friday Opening Reception. No entry fee is required, but please call or e-mail to register your name if you want to participate.

Along with our regular art classes and studio time, yoga classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays at 6PM and Saturday at 9AM in the loft. Walk-ins are welcome to this gentle yoga class.

cAffe phoenix

35 N. Front Street • (910) 343-1395 Monday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday Brunch: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Gabriel Lovejoy unveils his newest series of “visual poems.” The theme for this body of work is carried throughout using symbolic and nostalgic images woven together with an illustrative style. Industrial, domestic, and

natural elements are all present, interacting with each other to create a visual dialogue.

The show will run through 2/29. www.gabriellovejoy.com

crescent Moon

332 Nutt Street In the Cotton Exchange (910) 762-4207 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday noon – 4 p.m. www.crescentmoonnc.com

Crescent Moon – want the unique gift for him? Or her? Come see the Drinking Dog Lying Down enjoying a Bud Light, one of many Yardbird’s junkyard dogs, cats and critters here. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah too! Wonderful handcrafted ornaments are arriving daily from artists throughout the USA. Trees, Santas, Holly, Angels and more! Menorahs, Mezuzahs and Dreidels add to our holiday ideas. Remember Gift Wrapping is always free. Located in The Cotton Exchange where parking is free while shopping or dining. Follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook by searching Crescentmoonnc!

Tues.- Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Closed Mon. in winter sunsetrivermarketplace.com

This eclectic, spacious gallery, located in the historic fishing village of Calabash, N.C., features fine arts and crafts by some of North and South Carolina’s most creative, successful artists. Almost every genre is represented here—oil, pastel and watercolor, clay and glass art, fiber art, turned wood, metal works, artisan-crafted jewelry and more. Classes, workshops, pottery studio, custom fra.m.ing, Creative Exchange lecture series and Coffee With the Author series are also offered on-site.

river to seA GAllery

225 S. Water St., Chandler’s Wharf (FREE parking) • (910)-763-3380 Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday 1p.m. - 4 p.m.

River to Sea Gallery showcases the work of husband and wife Tim and Rebecca Duffy Bush. In addition, the gallery represents several local artists. The current show is sure

to enthrall visitors with its eclectic collection of original paintings, photography, sculpture, glass, pottery and jewelry.

Our current exhibit “Morning Has Broken” features works by Janet Parker. Come see Janet’s bold use of color and texture to reveal local marsh creeks and structures. Experience Wilmington through the eyes of a local!

wicked GAllery

Wicked’s newest art show, “The Dangerous Type” opening on Feb. 24th, features some of the finest photographers and artists on the east coast. This show will concentrate on two things: the artful figurative form in contrast with how we look at nudity publicly, and our intense visions of what we find artful in the human form. As well, one of the things we love most here—the use in bones in artwork. We have a wonderfully talented artist from Asheville, Leslie Samuels, who wields dynamic creatures from skeletons and intertwines them with nature to create a dramatic and fanciful effect. And our resident bone hoarder will be creating a large-scale display for your perusal!

Also showcasing: Jl Joseph Beaulieu, Michael Dunn, Miranda Duncan, Ruth A. Whitaker and

new eleMents GAllery 216 N. Front Street (919) 343-8997 Tues.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or by appointment www.newelementsgallery.com

New Elements Gallery is moving! We will be temporarily closed while we transition to our new space at 201 Princess Street, but you may still reach us online. Visit our website at www.newelementsgallery.com and email us at contact@newelementsgallery. com . We should be up and running soon and will host our next Fourth Friday Gallery Night from the new location.

orton’s underGround Art GAlleries 133 N. Front • (910) 859-8441 Everyday after 5 p.m. www.ortonsuderground.com

America’s oldest pool hall and Wilmington’s finest bar are also the home of Wilmington’s newest art galleries. Gallery North is showing “Impressions of Wilmington” by Nick Mijak. The Gallery South is showing the artwork of artist Michael Marizzaldi. 10% of all art sales goes to the Full Belly Project.

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sunset river MArketplAce 10283 Beach Dr., SW (NC 179) (910) 575-5999

encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 31

basking in the oscar glow: Cucalorus throws third annual fund-raiser and party

F

or many, the oscars mean

one thing: pajamas, couch, ice cream.

Assuming this celebrity-studded, redcarpet gala is only for the nominees and Hollywood is complete bullocks! Just ask those lovely “Cucs” over at Jengo’s Playhouse.

Our own local film festival, Cucalorus, held this year from November 8th through 12th, has proven over the past three years that Academy Award nominations are as much for movie fans as anyone. They’ve held a fund-raiser the past few years to celebrate it with much crowd participation.

We interviewed the festival director, Dan Brawley, about the upcoming gala, taking place Febuary 26th, at Brooklyn Arts Center off N. Fourth Street. He gave us all the Cucy deets on one fabulous evening. So, stow away the Ben and Jerry’s and pull out your most creative duds—it’s time to impress. encore: What makes the 2012 Evening at the Oscars fund-raiser so special?

Dan Brawley: We’ve had lots of fun with this event, and we’re really excited about this year’s version. I think we’re most excited

by Shea Carver e Oscars An Evening at th s ent for Cucaloru Fund-raising ev ont St. nter • 516 N. Fr Ce ts Ar yn kl oo Br rg www.cucalorus.o Tickets: $100 • about the venue. The Brooklyn Arts Center is such a great, new addition to the cultural community and such a good partner for us.

We’re gonna drop a full dose of Cucalorus on it and see what happens; I’m guessing magic love bombs. And a few Oscars. e: Anything new you’re doing this year that wasn’t done previously?

DB: Our silent auction is devoted exclusively to vacation rentals—so you can get a super cheap deal on a house at Wrightsville Beach or Bald Head, while you’re sipping cocktails and watching the Oscars. There’s so much new stuff that my brain is, like, a little fireworks show. Lots of little surprises. Mostly hush-hush until the big night. e: Are any Cuc-y movies up for noms, as

some have been in previous years? And, if so, what’s your take on them—deserving of the Academy glow of gold?

DB: We dropped into a week of deep depression when “We Need to Talk About Kevin” star Tilda Swinton didn’t get the nom for best actress.

Cucalorus didn’t get any nominations— totally outrageous right? Sundance only got one, which made us feel better somehow. e: Who’s catering the event, and who are the hosts of the party?

DB: Angie of Chris’ Restaurant is blowing it out—she said there would be a “mountain of food.” I plan to double my body weight over the course of the evening which isn’t saying much. I only weigh about 50 pounds.

“Manna” is also adding their special touch with a menu of custom crafted cocktails made with Midnight Moon. Joel Finsel is the madman behind the bar.

It looks like Jess James will be selecting a panel of judges for the red carpet; we’ll be giving an award for best dressed male and female. We’re expecting some outrageous outfittings walking down the carpet this year; I’m leaning toward a revealing little black dress. The winners get passes to this year’s festival!

WWAY and Oliver Mellan are hosting the red carpet; they’ll be armed with mics and will be quizzing everyone. And our newly elected board chair Robert Sharp will be sweet-talking the audience for a few quick moments, but mostly it will be Billy Crystal, because we’ll be watching the Oscars! e: So, folks should expect a grand time, including a show-stopping entrance.

DB: It’s all about the entrance! We’ll have a gauntlet of red-carpet paparazzi snapping away, and WWAY anchors and Mellan asking about your most recent film or the dress

32 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

//FILM

pre

“Safe you’re wearing. (The smart people just nod, smile and wink without saying a word.)

At the end of the night, we will be announcing the winner of our Oscar predictions pool. We have ballots with all of the categories, so people can choose who they think will win in each category—like an NCAA bracket. They pay $20 per ballot and the person who gets the most right wins. Last year UNCW professor Mariana Johnson took home all the cash, but Ben Steelman is always the man to beat. e: Tell me your prediction of awards for the evening? Who do you most wanna see win and why?

DB: I’m kinda thinking “Hugo” will rake in a few statues. And Michelle Williams is ready for an Oscar, right? Her performance in “My Week With Marilyn” just blew me away; she devoted herself to that character with so much courage. I could watch her paint a fence and probably think she deserved to be president or something, though.

Christopher Plummer should win for his role in “Beginners,” which was one of my favorite films of the year. Of course, I’ll have to admit that my favorite films don’t usually get nominated—that’s what Cucalorus is for! e: How much money does Cucalorus raise from this event annually, and how does it help with your overall goal?

DB: Ticket sales and the silent auction from this event make up about 15 percent of our operating budget. That might not seem like a lot, but it comes at a critical moment in the process. The funds from this event are the initial investment that allows us to start planning and laying the groundwork for the November festival—like seed money on the old farm place. We think its a great investment in Wilmington and downtown and the arts.

predictable but effective: “Safe House” is a thrill thanks to Denzel Washington

D

enzel washington is a talent

who is often far better than the movie in which he stars. He is remarkably consistent. In just over 20 years, he’s amassed the kind of résumé for which most actors would kill. His career rarely includes awful films; sure, he had a few stinkers early on, like “Heart Condition” and “Virtuosity.”

Every once in a while, there is an uninspired big-budget blockbuster like “The Taking of Pelham 123” or “Unstoppable.” More often than not, Denzel Washington delivers far better performances than we deserve.

“Devil in a Blue Dress,” “Training Day,” “American Gangster,” “Philadelphia,” “Glory,” “Crimson Tide,” “Remember the Titans,” “Malcolm X,” “The Hurricane”— these are the kind of performances young actors should watch and absorb.

It’s very rare that I would equate any actor with perfection, but I think Denzel Washington is the closest thing we have in this country. There are a few Brits I think could be thrown into the mix; Gary Oldman comes to mind. Anyway, the point here is that Denzel Washington is an amazing actor who can sometimes end up in an average film, for which he’s capable of elevating to another level. He is the acting equivalent to hot sauce: He makes a good film better and a mediocre film tolerable.

I mentioned “Training Day” earlier, a movie which landed him an Oscar for Best Actor. “Safe House” feels very much cribbed from “Training Day.” There is the same kind of dynamic between leading men as in “Training Day,” when Ethan Hawke played the rookie who had to deal with the corruption and moral grays presented by his new partner. “Safe House” replaces Hawke with Ryan Reynolds. Instead of a conflicted cop, there is a a conflicted intelligence operative named Matt Weston, who helps run a government safe house in South Africa (yes, this is a movie where actors say the title of the film a lot). This is a film that would make a nifty drinking game. Take a shot every time somebody says “safe house”; drunk by the second reel (old-timey film reference).

Fortunately for audiences it turns out this safe house isn’t very safe at all. It may be the most ironic film name since “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey,” which turned out to be anything but. It’s not just the one safe house that has security issues; every safe house in this movie has so many breaches in security, I began to question our national safety. Apparently, there is no place to safely house criminals or agents. No agent can be trusted

by Anghus Safe House

★★★★★

Washington, Starring Denzel Vera Farmiga Ryan Reynolds,

reel reel

//FILM

viving the hit squad, has Weston made himself a suspect?

“Safe House” works as a potboiler. It’s a very tightly wound film that does a great job of creating a sense of impending dread.

There’s never a moment where the characters feel like they have their footing. I give credit to its director, Daniel Espinosa, for

this week in film Until the Light Takes Us

Subversive Film Series Juggling Gypsy •1612 Castle St. (910) 763-2223 • Sundays, 8pm • Free 2/26: “Until the Light Takes Us” chronicles the history, ideology and aesthetic of Norwegian black metal—a musical subculture infamous as much for a series of murders and church arsons as it is for its unique musical and visual aesthetics. Free, 8pm. Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St., (910) 763-2223

Carnage, A Dangerous Method

Cinematique • Thalian Hall 310 Chestnut Street • 7:30pm, $7 2/22-23 (Note: Wed.-Thurs. screenings): “Carnage” (pictured) is a razor-sharp, biting comedy centered on parental differences.

After two boys duke it out on a playground, the parents of the “victim” invite the parents of the “bully” over to work out their issues.

DANGER! DANGER! Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds discover there’s no safe house for government protection and national security. Courtesy photo

because they will no doubt go rogue and end up selling America’s most closely guarded secrets to our enemies. Much like the Jason Bourne films, “Safe House” creates a morbid and, frankly, depressing take on our government’s tasks of protecting our way of life. They spend so much time turning on one another I wondered exactly how they had time to prevent terrorist attackers from blowing up underwear bombs on transatlantic flights.

Reynolds plays the “housekeeper” of this secret CIA base, which is currently housing one of America’s most wanted, Tobin Frost (Washington). He’s the kind of cold, calculating threat which thrives on the mind-fuck.

His reputation has made him feared among his peers. After the safe house is compromised by a kill-squad, Weston has to take Tobin and try to secure the very dangerous prisoner. Frost begins to play mind-games with Weston. Trust comes into play. By sur-

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creating a world of cloak-and-dagger that genuinely felt as if there was no safety net.

It’s a brutal, highly effective thriller—one greatly improved by the presence of Washington and Reynolds.

The ending lives on the corner of Predictable Boulevard and Convenient Court. The third act reveal is so obvious and so telegraphed that only the most attention-deficit wouldn’t see it coming. The movie’s biggest failing is how predictable it becomes: a novel setup that quickly devolves into a well-constructed but fairly unoriginal affair.

Planned Parenthood

Starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, and John C. Reilly. Directed by Roman Polanksi. Rated R. 1 hr. 20 min.

2/27-29: On the eve of WW I, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from truelife events, the movie explores the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), the beautiful but disturbed young woman who comes between them. Rated R, 1 hr. 33 min.

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New Patients Only 1925 Tradd Court • (910) 762-5566 Expires 1/31/11

The Vow

Mayfaire Cinema • 900 Town Center Dr. Call for times: (910) 256-0556 Tickets: $6.75 - $10 Based on the true story of a newlywed couple recovering from an accident that puts the wife (Amy McAdams) in a coma. She wakes up with severe memory loss and can’t remember any of her life with her new husband (Channing Tatum) ... so he has to fight to win her heart all over again.

All AreA movie listings And pArAgrAph synopses cAn be found At encorepub.com.

encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 33

for

Irish

Wilmington’s World-Class Concert Venue L I V E @ B AC

THE SAW DOCTORS Monday, February 27th Doors 7pm, Show 8pm General Admission Balcony- $35 / $40 day of show General Admission Floor - $25/$30 day of show Available online at www.brooklynartsnc.com and Gravity Records.

For Tickets and more information

BrooklynArtsNC.com 910-538-2939 There is abundant FREE PARKING on North 4th St., or you can park in Historic Downtown Wilmington, two minutes away, and take the free trolley.

516 North 4th Street | Historic Downtown Wilmington, NC 34 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

COLT FORD

Sunday, March 4th Doors 7pm, Show 8pm General Admission Balcony- $30 / $35 day of show General Admission Floor - $22/$26 day of show Available online at www.brooklynartsnc.com and Gravity Records.

//MUSIC

for the people: Irish music makers keep it fresh after 28 years

T

he saw docTors are The very

definition of the people’s band. With over two decades in the business and a cult-like following akin to that of The Grateful Dead, they’ve established a special relationship with their audience regardless of consistent media popularity and limelight (though they’ve had their fair share of it).

Although they draw inspiration, lyrically and musically, from their parochial Irish background, the Docs’ catchy repertoire of songs are transferable and give universal expression to particular aspects of Irish culture. Since they’ve formed in 1986 in the small city of Tuam, Ireland, The Saw Doctors have racked up 18 Top-30 singles in their homeland, whilst holding the record for the country’s alltime biggest-selling single,“I Useta Lover.” It topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and made the Docs a household name for everyone in Ireland.

Currently, The Saw Doctors are about to undertake their biggest tour of the U.S. and Canada to date, playing 29 shows across 27 cities until the end of April. Kicking off in Florida, the tour also marks the debut of the band’s new drummer, 21-year-old Rickie O’Neill, who took over the drum stool at the start of 2012.

Amid the tour, the band’s recent album, “The Further Adventures of The Saw Doctors,” will finally get its U.S. release nationwide on March 13th. Following the North American tour, the Saw Doctors will head to the Middle East in April for shows in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and in August they will headline the Cropredy Festival in England. encore caught up with founding member and lead guitarist Leo Moran in Ireland before he and the band head to the States. encore (e): Your latest single, a cover of “Downtown” with Petula Clark, spent some time at the number two spot on the Irish charts. How did this collaboration come about?

Leo Moran (LM): We have a song called “Hay Wrap” that we play at the end of the night, and in that song we have a slot that we can insert a piece of another song that refers to the day of the week or wherever we’re at— if we’re in New York, we’ll play a Ramones song, or in Jersey we’ll do a Springsteen song. One night we did “Downtown,” and it was quite obvious that people loved it, so we thought, It’s a great song that hasn’t really

no

by Alex Pomplia s The Saw Doctor ry 27th ya br Monday, Fe nter Ce Brooklyn Ar ts reet 516 North 4th St ow 8 p.m.

Doors 7 p.m.; sh $30-$40 day of $25-$35 adv. or s.com www.sawdoctor

IRISH SWEETHEARTS: The Saw Doctors hav receivd a Lifetime Achievement Award in their home of Ireland after 28 years in the industry. Courtesy photo.

been overplayed or overdone over the years.

We talked about releasing it as a Christmas single, and our producer actually knew Petula Clark’s manager and he said, “Oh, I’d like to sing along with you.” So we recorded it in London together. e: Are there plans in the pipeline for a new album?

LM: Yes, but we really have to take a little time off after the tour and make sure we record a few songs so we have something to work from. We’ve been a bit lazy in that department—we’ve got a new drummer, so that’s taken a little work to bring him into the situation. But we’re looking forward to bringing him on his first American tour. It’ll be lovely having someone with a fresh set of eyes and ears with us. e: Needless to say, the band was around long before the Internet, but it seems you’ve adapted seamlessly into the online age of music and embraced it, even; you’re on

Twitter, run a blog, and give away digital singles on your website.

LM: Well, we like to let people know that we’re still movin’ around. If you don’t keep doing stuff, people forget you very quickly.

Modern media is wonderful for that, because it’s a really fast way of getting to people. The blog is great when I’m bored, and it’s great writing practice as well. I think pop music has always embraced technology, from the seven-inch [vinyl] to the 33 to the 45, tapes, CDs—it’s always been a part of creating music, as you have to stay up with how people will listen to us. e: Back in the early days, you must have been a little surprised by how quickly the band gained popularity.

Almost overnight, you had Ireland’s biggest selling single of all time and you broke into music markets worldwide. Was it strange having the spotlight thrust on you suddenly?

LM: It was very, very strange.

Our ambition was only to release a single, and the first one, “N17,” did OK, but didn’t really make any major waves. The second one was part of our contract; we signed to release two. At the time, we were just fulfilling the contract and the second one, [“I Useta Lover,”] happened to go to number one and stayed there for nine weeks, which was completely daft. It was like hitting fast forward for the following months, and the single allowed us to go America; that’s how we began to build our fan base over there. e: Beside the biggest selling single accolade, what do you feel has been the pinnacle of your career to date?

LM: Well, we got a Lifetime Achievement Award a couple of years ago in Ireland. It was lovely that people noticed we’d been touring and trying to stay fresh over the years, so it was nice to get recognition for that. But the pinnacle is always just getting the next gig or writing a new song. e: A huge milestone must’ve been selling out the Royal Albert Hall in London in ’98.

LM: That was unbelievable. It was just . . . yeah. [Laughs] I just wish my grandmother were alive ‘cause she would never believe that one.

sound bites shows of the week NC Symphony Orhcestra Kenan Auditorium, UNCW • 601 S. College Rd. 2/23, 8 p.m., doors at 6:30 p.m. $40-60; $10 for UNCW students

For those who enjoy a more classical music setting, the North Carolina Symphony will be performing at UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium this Thursday. Under the musical direction of Grant Llewellyn, some of the most extraordinary talents of the state will be showing off their skills. Renowned pianist Stephen Hough is at the center of the night’s events. He has been the recipient of some of the most prestigious music awards and has performed with many major American and European orchestras.

Dubtown Cosmonauts The Whiskey • 1 S. Front St. 2/24, doors at 9 p.m., $5; 21+

Southeastern NC’s funk/rock band, The Dubtown Cosmonauts, is coming to The Whiskey on Friday, February 24th. Currently, the band is comprised of 10 musicians, including members of local favorites Singlefin and Sci Fi. They will perform an impressive number of original tunes, as well as some sure-to-please covers by famed stars like The Allman Brothers Band or Stevie Wonder. The show starts at 11 p.m., but get there early to help celebrate band member Justin Heter’s birthday.

They promise a night full of cookie cake, tequila craziness and “flippidy dippity”—whatever that may be.

All weekly music is listed on the soundboArd pAges.

encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 35

BLACKBOARD SPECIALS Celebrate “St. Practice Day” Fri., Feb. 17th with

THE GREAT GUINNESS TOAST 2012 1 pm

LIVE MUSIC Gabby’s Lounge 7-10pm

Friday, February 24

LIVE MUSIC with Blarney Brogues Our famous GUINNESS BRISKET

Corned Beef slow-cooked with Guinness.

Served with potatoes, carrots, cabbage & a roll.

FREE STUFF AND MORE!

L SHAPE LOT Saturday, February 25

MIKE O’DOnnELL Friday, March 2

OVERTYME Saturday, March 3

It’s all good.

DowntowLocation 131 N. Front St. 910-343-8881 www.fatpub.com

MONDAY $3 Sweetwater 420, $10 Bud/ Bud lt Buckets, $4 Jack, Captain, and Even Williams Trivia From Hell at 7:30 TUESDAY $1 Tacos (4pm-close), $3 Dos XX Amber, $4 Cuervo, Lunazul, Bacardi, Jack and Jim Beam WEDNESDAY 1/2 price wine, $3 Pints, $4 Bombs, $5 Martinis THURSDAY Live Music (10pm-1am) 1/2 Price Wings (4pm-close), $2 Domestic Pints, $4 Jack, Jager, Fireball, Sailor Jerry, $5 Bombs FRIDAY & SATURDAY $4 Shooters, $5 Hell’s Cocktails $10 Party Pitchers SUNDAY Service Industry Night $2.50 Domestic Pints, $4 Jack, Jameson, Jager, and Crown $5 Bombs DUELING PIANOS Every Friday and Saturday Night @ 9:30 1/2 Price apps M-Th (4pm-7pm) Sunday (9pm-close) Now showing: NFL Sunday Ticket

DAnIEL PARRISH 1706 North Lumina Ave. (910) 256-2231 877-330-5050 • 910-256-2231

Nightly Food Specials starting at 5:00pm

$5 appetizers

EVERY WEEKDAY 5:00-7:00!

NIGHTLY SPECIALS MONDAY Pulled Pork Nachos $5 $2 Draft - $3 Well Drinks TUESDAY Eat Spot Burger $7 Bottle Beer $2 Domestic - $3 Imports & Micros WEDNESDAY Tacos $5 $4 Margaritas THURSDAY Ribeye Special $12 1/2 price bottle of wine FRIDAY Draft Day- $2- $3-$4-$5 SATURDAY Carolina Brews $3 SUNDAY Steak & Eggs $8 (all day) Bloody Mary – Mimosa $4

TheEatSpot.com 34 North Front Street (corner of Front and Princess)

910-763-5366

36 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

soundboard a preview of tunes all over town this week the t a lo F ’t n Do m!

Mainstrea WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 KaraoKe with hellz Belle —Marina Cafe, 110 S. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 938-2002 acoustic Jazz Piano with James Jarvis —Calico Room, 107 S. Front St. Wilmington, 762-2091 KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001 DJ Jay —Sharp Shooters, 2109 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 346-2677 DuB steP —Hooligans Pub & Music Hall; 2620 Onslow Dr., Jacksonville, (910) 346-2086 Josh solomon & cary BenJamin —Black Sheep Tavern, 21 N. Front St. (basement); 399-3056 DJ sir nicK BlanD —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2776 KaraoKe with DJ rich Delux —Orton’s Underground, 133 North Front St.; 343-8878 wilmington icon singing contest with cash granD Prize —Fox and Hound Pub & Grille, 920 Town Center Dr.; 509-0805 Benny hill —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc., 256-0115

DON’T BE BITTER: On Friday, February 24th, Bitter Resolve takes over Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern with their heavy progressive rock—like a mix of Tool and Ozzy Osbourne, but the band is forging its own style all the way from Carrboro, North Carolina. They’ll be joined by Beard of Antlers for the concert. Courtesy photo

DJBe extreme KaraoKe —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 Jeremy norris —Buffalo Wild Wings, 206 Old Eastwood Rd.; 798-9464 KaraoKe with DJ Brewtal —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341

—Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2776 the casserole, olD you —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 trivia with DJ —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,763-1607 DJBe extreme KaraoKe —Locals Tavern, 6213 -D Market Street; 523-5621

gary allen’s acoustic oPen mic —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888

DJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499

the auranauts —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

live acoustic —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133

KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

coDy canaDa anD the DeParteD, statesBoro revue —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500

all my rowDy FrienDs (triBute to hanK williams Jr.) —Brikhouse, 208 Market St.; 523-5833

live acoustic —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838

thURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23

team trivia with Dutch hawK —Orton’s Underground, 133 North Front St.; 343-8878

oPen mic night with sean gerarD —Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 roger Davis, ron wilson —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 7633737

nc symPhony —Kenan Auditorium UNCW Campus; 313-2584 DJ lorD walrus

college night with DJ Battle —Brikhouse, 208 Market St.; 523-5833

FrieD lot —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,2560115 trivia with Party gras DJ —Fox and Hound Pub & Grille, 920 Town Center Dr.; 509-0805 KaraoKe —Banks Channel Bar & Grille, 530 Causeway Drive; 256-2269 KaraoKe with DJ Damon —Yosake Sushi Lounge, 31 S. Front St.; 763-3172 DJ sweat —Sharp Shooters, 2109 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 346-2677 Dirty mega —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 Dennis walton —Playhouse 211, 4320 Southport Supply Rd. Ste 1, St. James; 200-7785 FireDance & Drums at DarK, secret

dJ at 11 —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 toP 40 dJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 oPen mic with Jeremy norris —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 dJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499 dueLinG Pianos —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133

friday, fEBrUary 24 KaraoKe with ashLey —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 styLes&comPLete —Hooligans Pub & Music Hall; 2620 Onslow Dr., Jacksonville, (910) 346-2086 chiLL’n dixie —NC Tarheel Opry House, 145 Blue Creek School Road, Jacksonville; (910) 347-4731 oLd you —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 sinGLeFin —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 Lie caPtive, museum mouth, Pretend surPrise —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 Port city trio —Ted’s Fun on the River, 2 Castle St. dean’s List (coLLeGe raP) —Brikhouse, 208 Market St.; 523-5833 dueLinG Pianos —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 dJ BattLe —Dirty Martini, 1904 Eastwood Rd, Suite 109 house/techno dJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

763-2223

—Level 5/City Stage, 21 N. Front St.; 342-0872

dJ dane Britt —Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.; 689-7219

house/techno dJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301

suPer reGGae man —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832

BiG somethinG —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

dJ dr. Jones —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2776

dJ dane Britt —Beach House Bar ‘n’ Grill, 7219 Market St.; 689-7219

dJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499

Jesse stocKton —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832

L shaPe Lot —Holiday Inn Resort (Gabby’s Lounge), 1706 N. Lumina Ave.; 256-2231 sPencer schoLes —Firebelly Lounge, 265 N. Front St.; 763-0141 Bitter resoLve, Beard oF antLers —Reggie’s, 1415 S. 42nd St.

SatUrday, fEBrUary 25

travis shaLLow and Friends —Goat and Compass, 710 N. 4th St.; 772-1400

wes dixon and wiLLie coPPaGe oF my heart BeLonGs to BuFFaLo —Orton’s Underground, 133 North Front St.; 343-8878

mayLene and the sons oF disaster, Lionize, sumerLin, viLLain —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500

dJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499

SUnday, fEBrUary 26

John harrison, matt LonG —Satellite Bar & Lounge, 120 Greenfield St.; 399-2796

susan savia —Elijah’s, 2 Ann St.; 343-1448

wes warren —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 7633737 dueLinG Pianos —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 dJ sir nicK BLand —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2776 dJBe extreme KaraoKe —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,763-1607

avilion Plc.,256- dJ miLK —Pravda; 23 N. Front St., Wilmington

dJ BattLe —Dirty Martini, 1904 Eastwood Rd, Suite 109

Jazz Jam session 20 Town Center —S.W.A.C. Lounge, 723 N. 4th St.; (843) 276-8164

FiLthy saturdays with dJ FiLthy —Brikhouse, 208 Market St.; 523-5833

dJBe extreme KaraoKe —Lazy Pirate Sports Bar and Grill, 701 N. Lake 0 Causeway Park Blvd., Carolina Beach; 458-5414

ront St.;

ne Blvd., Jack-

KaraoKe —Sharp Shooters, 2109 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 346-2677

dJ sweat —Sharp Shooters, 2109 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 346-2677

acoustic Jazz Piano with James Jarvis —Calico Room, 107 S. Front St. Wilmington, 762-2091

KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

dJ P FunK —Level 5/City Stage, 21 N. Front St.; 342-0872

nt St.; 251-8500 Jazz with Benny hiLL —Caffe Phoenix, 9 S Front St.; 343-1395

no doLLar $hoes rt Supply Rd. —Goat and Compass, 710 N. 4th St.; 772-1400

K, secret

Guitarist marK Lynch (10:30 a.m.-1:30 P.m.)

—Saltworks II, 4001 Wrightsville Ave.; 392-1241

traGic maGic —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.;

dJ Jay —Sharp Shooters, 2109 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 346-2677 cLay crotts, inside 9 P.m.

—Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 KaraoKe KonG —Black Sheep Tavern, 21 N. Front St. (basement); 399-3056

KaraoKe with heLLz BeLLe —Marina Cafe, 110 S. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 938-2002 KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001 heavy Pets, KaLeiGh BaKer Band —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 sateLLite BLueGrass Band —Satellite Bar & Lounge, 120 Greenfield St.; 399-2796

MONDAYS

Poker Night 7pm & 9:30pm

TUESDAYS LIVE

TEAM TRIVIA

8pm

dJ BattLe —Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl; 509-1551 Perry smith (Brunch 12-2) —Aubriana’s; 115 S. Front St., 763-7773 Benny hiLL and Friends —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 tyLer Perry Presents —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223

BaLd Fury —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838

monday, fEBrUary 27 steven comPton —Barbary Coast; 116 S. Front St., 762-8996

2.22 WEDNESDAY

karaoke night with dj be!

2.23 THURSDAY

trivia night 2.24 FRIDAY

live music with

old you

2.25 SATURDAY

bald fury

Landfall Center • 1331 Military Cutoff Rd

910-256-3838 wildwingcafe.com

VISIT WWW.RUCKERJOHNS.COM FOR DAILY SPECIALS, MUSIC & EVENTS

reGGae sundays with dJ dr. Jones —Brikhouse, 208 Market St.; 523-5833

chiLL’n dixie —NC Tarheel Opry House, 145 Blue Creek School Road, Jacksonville; (910) 347-4731

dJ

MONDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm $2 Budweiser • $225 Heineken $3 Gin & Tonic TUESDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm $2 White Wolf $250 Redstripe $350 Wells 35¢ Wings at 8pm WEDNESDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm, 1/2 Priced Wine Bottle $250 Blue Moons $250 Corona/Corona Light THURSDAY $250 Domestic Bottles, $3 Import Bottles, $3 Rum and Coke 50¢ Steamed oysters and shrimp after 6pm FRIDAY DJ Sir Charles 2nd floor $3 Show Day • $3 Kamikaze $5 Bombs SATURDAY DJ Sir Charles on 2nd floor 10pm $2 Coors Light • $3 Fruit Punch shots SUNDAY $250 Corona / Corona Light $350 Bloody Marys and Mimosas $4 Margaritas Clay Crotts inside at 9 p.m.

miKe o’donneLL —Holiday Inn Resort (Gabby’s Lounge), 1706 N. Lumina Ave.; 256-2231 miKe BLair and the stonewaLLs —Calico Room, 107 S. Front St. Wilmington, 762-2091

Fema reGion iv (PsychedeLic rocK) —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223

100 S. Front St. Downtown 251-1832

danGers oF stereo —Firebelly Lounge, 265 N. Front St.; 763-0141

the BeachBiLLy Brothers —Satellite Bar & Lounge, 120 Greenfield St.; 399-2796

aLvin atKinson (Jazz) —Kenan Auditorium UNCW Campus; 313-2584

BLACKBOARD SPECIALS

WEDNESDAYS

MONDAYS

POKER NIGHT 7pm & 9pm WEDNESDAYS

LIVE TEAM TRIVIA 8PM - 10PM followed by

PINT NIGHT

Live Music on the Patio

2.75

10PM-12AM

ALL PINTS

JEREMY NORRIS

Monkey Junction 910.392.7224

206 Old Eastwood Rd.

$

(by Home Depot)

910.798.9464

MONDAY 22oz. Domestic Draft ALL DAY $5 Pizzas TUESDAY LIVE JAzz IN THE BAR Half Price Bottles of Wine Absolut Dream $5 • Pacifico $250 WEDNESDAY Miller Light Pints $150 Coronoa/ Corona Lite Bottles $250 Margaritas/Peach Margaritas $4 THURSDAY Appletinis $4, RJ’s Painkiller $5 Red Stripe Bottles $250 Fat Tire Bottles $250 FRIDAY Cosmos $4, 007 $350 Guinness Cans $3 Island Sunsets $5 SATURDAY Baybreeze/Seabreeze $4 22oz. Blue Moon Draft $3 Select Domestic Bottles $2 SUNDAY Bloody Marys $4, Domestic Pints $150 Hurricanes $5 5564 Carolina Beach Road, (910) 452-1212

encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 37

BLACKBOARD SPECIALS Pub & Grille

Wrightsville Beach Pool ° Darts ° Foos ° Pong

Moxology Sun. & Mon. $5 Specialty Cocktails TueSday $2.00 Blue Point Draft 13 - $5 Wines per glass / $20.00 per bottle WedneSday & THuRSday $3.00 Seasonal Draft 13 - $5.00 Wines per glass / $20.00 per bottle Sunday $5.00 Mimosas $5.00 Bloody Mary

Wednesdays

2.8 WEDNESDAY

$3 Microbrews ∙ $10 WIne Btls $3.50 Moonshines ∙ $4 CCP Shot

with dj be!

Thursdays

karaoke night 2.9 THURSDAY

trivia night 2.10 FRIDAY

L shaped lot

Fridays

live music with

2.11 SATURDAY

homemade wine

doWnToWn WilMingTon

(910) 343-1395

$2 Coors Light • $2.50 Shock Top $5 Martinis • $4 Flavored Bombs

Saturdays

$2 Miller Lite • $2 Budweiser $4 Rum & Coke • $3 Surfer on Acid

Monday - THuRSday ½ price Apps from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Served at the bar only 35 n. FRonT ST.

KARAOKE

$2 Red Stripe ∙ $4 Margaritas $4 Jose Cuervo ∙ $4 Captain

Sundays

Landfall Center • 1331 Military Cutoff Rd

910-256-3838 wildwingcafe.com

$2 Yuenglings • $2 Bud Lights $5 Jager Bomb • $3 Mimosas Free Pool & Shuffleboard after 9 pm 1/2 Off Late Night Menu @ 11 pm

BanksChannelPub.Com

NFL SuNday TickeT $3 Domestic Schooners $2 Domestic Drafts $9.99 All You Can Eat Wings at the Bar 1/2 Priced Select Appetizers at the Bar

MoNday NighT FooTbaLL $3 Domestic Schooners $3.50 Margaritas TueSday-kidS eaT Free NighT $3.50 LIT’s • $2.00 Domestic Drafts WedNeSday $3 Domestic Schooners $3.50 Margaritas ThurSday $3.50 LIT’s • $2.00 Domestic Drafts Friday-TgiF $3.50 Cosmos $2.00 Domestic Drafts SaTurday-coLLege FooTbaLL $3 Domestic Schooners MoNday- Friday 1/2 Priced Appetizers from 4-7 pm & 9 pm -close at the bar Free Appetizer of the Day with purchase of a non-refillable beverage from 5-7 at the bar.

4126 Oleander Dr. (910) 792-9700

Bar & Comedy Room

WedNeSdAY Nutt House Improv 9pm

ThurSdAY Open Mic Stand-up 9pm

Fri. & SAT. NATIONAL HEADLINERS 8 p.m.

February 24-25

MAtt FuLchiRoN

MONDayS 108 Walnut St.

Downtown Wilmington OPEN MIC (910) 762-1704 NIGHT

Join us for live music and some EVERY THURSDAY laughs with some of the finest Open Mic up-and-coming Nightand musicians with comics in town!

Plan B

HBO Comedy Festival

8$5 p.m.Jager - 11:30and p.m.

March 2-3

flavored bombs Friday,

NEAL BRENNAN Chapelle’s Show and Half Baked

January 13th Free Pool

Live Music $1.50 PbrS driftersofwilmington.com

38 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

Every Wednesday Bottomless Cheese and Chocolate

$20

per person

W h at e cou ld br ? bett e 885 Town Center Drive MAYFAIRE TOWN CENTER (910) 256-1187

Join us on Tuesdays!

Karaoke

at 9 p.m.

All 36 drafts only $2.50 all day long!

Wednesdays

FOX ICON Karaoke Contest Cash Grand Prize!

KaraoKe —Sharp Shooters, 2109 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 346-2677

the Penny DreaDFuls —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223

acoustic Jazz Piano with James Jarvis —Calico Room, 107 S. Front St. Wilmington, 762-2091

Wednesday, FeBRuaRy 29

KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001 Dance Party with cheDr seleKt —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 KaraoKe with DJ @-hole —Level 5/City Stage, 21 N. Front St.; 342-0872 DJ richtermeister —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 Pengo with Beau gunn —Mellow Mushroom, 4311 Oleander Drive; 452-3773 Brett Johnson’s Jam —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 oPen mic with Josh solomon —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341 the saw Doctors —Brooklyn Arts Center, 516 N. 4th St.; 538-2939

tuesday, FeBRuaRy 28 caPe Fear Blues Jam —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888

KaraoKe with hellz Belle —Marina Cafe, 110 S. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 938-2002 acoustic Jazz Piano with James Jarvis —Calico Room, 107 S. Front St. Wilmington, 762-2091 Josh solomon & cary BenJamin —Black Sheep Tavern, 21 N. Front St. (basement); 399-3056 wilmington icon singing contest with cash granD Prize —Fox and Hound Pub & Grille, 920 Town Center Dr.; 509-0805 DJ sir nicK BlanD —Red Dogs, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach; 256-2776 KaraoKe with DJ rich Delux —Orton’s Underground, 133 North Front St.; 343-8878 DuB steP —Hooligans Pub & Music Hall; 2620 Onslow Dr., Jacksonville, (910) 346-2086

KaraoKe with miKe norris —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204

KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

KaraoKe —Browncoat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace St.; 341-0001

Jeremy norris —Buffalo Wild Wings, 206 Old Eastwood Rd.; 798-9464

KaraoKe with DJ Party gras —Fox and Hound Pub & Grille, 920 Town Center Dr.; 509-0805

DJBe extreme KaraoKe —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838

“it taKes tuesDays to tango” lessons 7-9 P.m.

—Orton’s Underground, 133 North Front St.; 343-8878

chamPion oF the sun —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

inDie music night —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 trivia with Dutch From 94.5 the hawK —The Coastal Roaster, 5954 Carolina Beach Rd.; 399-4701 catheter, olD Painless, no tomorrow, morteDemetano —Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 wynton marsalis (Jazz) —Kenan Auditorium UNCW Campus; 313-2584 the violet lights —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

920 Town Center Dr. Mayfaire Town Center (910) 509-0805

DJ Jay —Sharp Shooters, 2109 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville; (910) 346-2677

live acoustic —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 college night KaraoKe —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666

live acoustic —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 DJ —Charley Brownz, 21 S Front St.; 254-9499 Benny hill —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,2560115 gary allen’s acoustic oPen mic —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 KaraoKe with DJ Brewtal —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341 5th weDnesDay BanD —Bottega Gallery, 208 North Front St.; 7633737

All entertainment must be sent to music@encorepub.com by Wednesday for consideration in the weekly entertainment calendar. Venues are responsible for notifying encore of any changes, removals or additions to their weekly schedules.

astle St.;

UARy 29

ShowStoppers:

255 N. FRONT STREET DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON WWW.THESOAPBOXLIVE.COM

Concerts outside of Southeastern NC

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE & AT THE SOAPBOX OFFICE OPEN DAILY NOON-2AM

ne Blvd.,

910.251.8500 FOR MORE INFO

vd., JacksonJamES JarviS Wilmington,

nJamin nt St. (base-

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25 MORTAL MAN / SALVACION & MORE BENEFIT FOR LITTLE LUCIA ILM’s BIGGEST DANCE PARY BRIGHT FUTURE FUND DOORS: 9:00 / DONATIONS DOORS: 9:00 / $5 (18+ ONLY) WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 29 LIE CAPTIVE CATHETER / OLD PAINLESS / NO TOMORROW MUSEUM MOUTH/PRETEND SUPRISE MORTEDEMETANO DOORS: 9:00 / $3 DOORS: 8:00 / $5 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22 FRIDAY MARCH 9 THE DREAM (UPSTAIRS) CODY CANADA & THE DEPARTED RIVER CITY EXTENSION / LAST YEAR’S MEN THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23 (LOUNGE) DIRTY MEGA DANCE PARTY SATURDAY MARCH 10 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25 THE “BEST OF” PEEP SHOW CABARET LIE CAPTIVE / MUSEUM MOUTH / PRETEND

DIRTY MEGA XXVI

ContESt

UPSTAIRS

20 Town Center

Wrightsville

ux rth Front St.;

620 Onslow Dr.,

11 Grace St.;

astwood Rd.;

Cutoff;

63-3088

t.; 763-4133

t.; 254-9499

avilion Plc.,256-

En miC 251-1888

10-343-3341

ont St.; 763-

LOUNGE

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23

‘WHISKEY ON A SUNDAY’: Flogging Molly will play The Fillmore in Charlotte on Sun., Feb. 26th—as well as Myrtle Beach’s House of Blues on Feb. 25th, and The Orange Peel in Asheville on Feb. 28th. Courtesy photo

AMOS’ SOUTHEND 1423 South tryon StrEEt, CharlottE, nC (704) 377-6874 2/24: Badfish, Sun Dried Vibes, Of Good Nature 2/25: Styles&Complete, DJ Soden, Rob Banks THE ORANGE PEEL 101 BiltmorE avEnuE, aShEvillE, nC (828) 225-5851 2/22: Dark Star Orchestra 23-24: Yonder Mountain String Band, The Infamous Stringdusters 2/25: Bonobo, Paper Set 2/26: Badfish, Lionz of Zion 2/28: Flogging Molly, Black Joe Lewis, The Devil Makes Three CAT’S CRADLE 300 E. main StrEEt, CarrBoro, nC (919) 967-9053 2/23: Corey Smith, The Piedmont Boys 2/24: Saul Williams, CX Kidtronik 2/25: Martin Sexton, Rayland Baxter 2/26: Tristen 2/28; Zee Avi, Curtis Eller NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM 5001 ColiSEum dr., n. CharlESton, SC (843) 529-5000 2/24: Miranda Lambert 2/25: The Broadway Boys

LINCOLN THEATRE 126 E. CaBarruS StrEEt, ralEigh, nC (919) 821-4111 2/23: Cody Canada and the Departed, Statesboro Revue 2/25: Who’s Bad, LiLa 2/27: Badfish, Scotty Don’t 2/29: Randy Rogers Band, Thompson Howell Band NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE 511 E. 36th StrEEt, CharlottE, nC (704) 358-9298 2/23: Brody and Choch, Shinobi Ninja, Soul Khan 2/24: Cody Canada and the Departed, Statesboro Revue 2/25: Satisfaction 2/26: Tommy Emmanuel

SURPRISE (UPSTAIRS) SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26 MAYLENE & THE SONS OF DISASTER/LIONIzE/ SUMERLIN/VILLAIN

TUESDAY MARCH 13 CRUNK WITCH / D&D SLUGGERS THURSDAY MARCH 15 GRAHAM WHORLEY

FRIDAY MARCH 2 HITCHA OFF PRESENT CHRONIC BOOM

FRIDAY MARCH 16 DIRTY GUV’NAHS

SATURDAY MARCH 3 TRIBAL SEEDS / FORTUNATE YOUTH/ REDEMPTION

SATURDAY MARCH 17

SUNDAY MARCH 4 PAPADOSIO / PH FACTOR / FUTEXTURE

TUESDAY MARCH 20 THE DELTA SAINTS

TUESDAY MARCH 6 LANGHORNE SLIM /JON LINDSAY / J KUTCHMA

WEDNESDAY MARCH 21 THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7 NiTGRiT / 2 FRESH

SUNDAY MARCH 25 TREVOR HALL

NEGATIVE NANCY / MONKEYKNIFEFIGHT / AMERICAN AMERICANS

HOUSE OF BLUES 4640 hwy. 17 South, n. myrtlE BEaCh, SC (843) 272-3000 2/25: Flogging Molly, Black Joe Lewis, The Devil Makes Three 2/26: Tyga, Y.G. THE FILLMORE 1000 SEaBoard StrEEt, CharlottE, nC (704) 549-5555 2/24: Dark Star Orchestra 2/26: Flogging Molly 2/27: Tyga

WWW.THESOAPBOXLIVE.COM

encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 39

grub&guzzle|

40-44 DINING GUIDE

what’s for dinner?

Find it in the premier dining guide for the Port CIty AMERICAN BLUEWATER

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 Sun. during the summer months. Large parties welcome. Private event space available. BluewaterDining.com. 4 Marina Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC. (910) 256.8500.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Fri 11am - 11pm; Sat & Sun 11am – 11pm.

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

CATCH

Serving the Best Seafood in South Eastern North Carolina. Wilmington’s Native Son, 2011 James Beard Award Nominee 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 & Conch Fritters to name a few. Larger Plates include Plancha grilled Painted Hills Steaks, Blackend Red Drum Filet, Charleston Crab Cakes, Tempura OBX Scallops, Flounder Escovitch & Pan roasted Queen Trigger fish. Custom Entree request gladly accommodated for our Guest. (Vegetarian, Vegan & Allergies) Hand Crafted seasonal desserts from Alan DeLovely. Full ABC Permits. 6623 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Fri 11am-2pm and Mon. Sat. 5pm-9pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: North Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Acclaimed Wine List

BUFFALO WILD WINGS 40 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

If you’re looking for good food and an atmosphere that’s fun for the whole family, Buffalo Wild Wings is the place! Award winning wings and 20 signature sauces and seasonings. Plus…salads, wraps, flatbreads, burgers, and more. Tons of Big screen TVs and all your favorite sports. We have daily drink specials, a HUGE draft selection, and Free Trivia all day every day. Come in for our Weekday Lunch Specials, only $5.99 from 11am-2pm. Visit us for Wing Tuesdays with 50 cent wings all day long, or Boneless Thursdays with 60 cent boneless wings all day long. Buffalo Wild Wings is a great place to dine in or take out.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT: Mon-Sat 11am2am and Sun 11am-2am ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: 2 locations-Midtown (910-798-9464) and Monkey Junction (910-392-7224) ■ MUSIC: Live music every Friday and Saturday in the Summer ■ WEBSITE: www.buffalowildwings.com

THE GEORGE ON THE RIVERWALK

Drop your anchor at The George on the RiverWalk, your destination for complete sense indulgence. Watch the historic Cape Fear River unfold before you while you enjoy the best in Southern Coastal Cuisine. The menu combines elegance, creativity and diverse selection of steak, pasta, salad and fresh seafood, including the best Shrimp n’ Grits in town. Warm in the sun on the expansive outdoor deck sipping an exotic, colorful martini, or unwind at the spacious bar inside boasting extensive wine and martini lists along with weekday appetizer specials from 4:00pm-6:30pm.

Don’t forget to try downtown’s best kept secret for Sunday Brunch from 11am-3pm. You are welcome to dock your boat at the only dock’n’dine restaurant downtown, grab a trolley, or enjoy our free, front door parking (ask for pass!) Why satisfy when you can indulge? Find the George on the Riverwalk at 128 South Water Street, 910-763-2052.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tues. – Sat. 11am – 9 pm.

Enjoy Sunday Lunch and Brunch 11am – 3pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Sunday Brunch / Wilmington’s only dock’n’dine restaurant.

■ WEBSITE: www.thegeorgerestaurant.com

HALLIGAN’S PUBIC HOUSE “Failte,” is the Gaelic word for “Welcome,” and at Halligan’s Public House it’s our “Motto.” Step into Halligan’s and enter a

THAI SPICE ach Road 5552 Carolina Be (910) 791-0044

world of Irish hospitality where delicious food warms the heart and generous drink lift the spirit. Be sure to try Halligan’s house specialty, “The Reuben,” number one with critics and of course our customers. One bite and you’ll understand why. Of course, we also serve a full selection of other delicious entrees including seafood, steak and pasta, as well as a wide assortment of burgers, sandwiches(Halligan’s Cheese Steak), and salads. And if you are looking for a friendly watering hole where you can raise a glass or two with friends, new and old, Halligan’s Public House boasts a comfortable bar where fun-loving bartenders hold court daily and blarney fills the air. Stop by Halligan’s Public House today, “When you’re at Halligan’s....you’re at home.” With 12 beers on tap and 16 flat screen TVs, you can watch your favorite game and enjoy your favorite drink.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

7 Days a Week Mon-Wed 11:30 am - 2:00 am Thurs-Sun 11:30 am - 2:00 am ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Masonboro Loop ■ FEATURING: THE Best Rueben in Town!, $5.99 lunch specials, Outdoor Patio ■ WEBSITE: www.halligansnc.com

HENRY’S

A local favorite, Henry’s is the ‘place to be’ for great food, a lively bar and awesome patio dining. Henry’s serves up American cuisine at its finest that include entrees with fresh, local ingredients.

Come early for lunch, because its going to be packed. Dinner too!

Henry’s Pine Room is ideal for private functions up to 30 people.

Henry’s is home to live music, wine & beer dinners and other special events. Check out their calendar of events at HenrysRestaurant.com for details. 2508 Independence Boulevard, Wilmington, NC. (910) 793.2929.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun. –Mon.11am-10pm; Tues.- Fri.: 11am – 11pm; Sat.: 10am – 11pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Daily blackboard specials.

■ MUSIC: Live Music beginning at 5:30pm ■ WEBSITE: www.henrysrestaurant.com.

HOLIDAY INN RESORT

Oceans Restaurant located in this oceanfront resort is a wonderful find. This is the perfect place to enjoy a fresh Seafood & Steak dinner while dinning outside overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Chef Eric invites you to experience his daily specials in this magnificent

setting. (910) 256-2231. 1706 N Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.-Sat..

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Waterfront dining ■ WEBSITE: www.holidayinn.com

Street. (910) 251-0433.

■ SERVING DINNER: Tues.- Sun. 5pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: 70s menu every Friday ■ MUSIC: Fri. & Sat. in summer ■ WEBSITE: www.littledipperfondue.com

K’s Cafe

PINe VaLLeY MaRKeT

Visit us in our new location on the corner of Eastwood and Racine - 420 Eastwood Rd, Unit 109. “Where the people make the place” If you’re looking for a warm and friendly atmosphere with awesome home-cooked, freshly prepared meals, you can’t beat K’s Cafe. Serving Breakfast (from $3.50) and Lunch (including daily entree-and-two side specials for $6.95), and dinner. K’s Cafe is the best deal in Wilmington. They offer chargrilled burgers, including their most popular Hot Hamburger Platter smothered in gravy! They also offer great choices such as fresh chicken salad, crabcake sandwich, soups, and even a delicious Monte Cristo served on French toast bread. K’s also offers soup, sandwich and salad combos and a great variety of homemade desserts.

On Sundays they offer a great brunch menu which changes every week. A variety of choices will be on the menu such as Shrimp and Grits and Eggs Benedict. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Give K’s Cafe a try...you won’t be sorry. 420 Eastwood Rd., Unit 109, 791-6995. Find us on Facebook or on our website, www.ks-cafe.net.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH: 7 DAYS A WEEK. Open for dinner Wed. thru Sat. evenings ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Ever-changing brunch

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

Pine Valley Market has reigned supreme in servicing the Wilmington community for years, securing encore’s BestOf 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 ambience 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 banana 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. ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

Mon.-Fri.10am-7pm; Sat. 9am-6pm. Closed Sun. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South ■ FEATURING: Daily specials and take-home frozen meals ■ WEBSITE: www.pinevalleymarket.com

TeMPTaTIONs eVeRYDaY GOURMeT

Temptations Everyday Gourmet draws diners in by droves thanks to their creative menu selections, an extraordinary inventory of fine wines (over 300 varieties all without restaurant markups) and trained staff that go beyond culinary excellence. Recognized as Best Lunch Spot by WWAY in 2011, as well as having its chef, Michael Comer, touted among the top three best chefs in Wilmington, according to StarNews’ Taste of Wilmington 2010, Temptations offers two locations to serve Wilmingtonians. Located in Hanover Center for 25 years, signature items include

their Homemade Chicken Salad and Turkey, Brie and Apple Sandwich, as well as their Porter’s Neck location’s Pimiento Cheeseburger. The Porter’s Neck location also serves an expanded dinner menu, which changes weekly.

Their daily features, including specialty soups, salads, quiche and paninis, keeps patrons busy choosing healthy, fast foods whether dining onsite or back at the office. in fact, ask Temptations about their Office Party Menu for your next gathering. Their gourmet retail shop provides unique gourmet gift items featuring many locally made specialty foods, chocolates and goodies.

■ SERVING LUNCH: Hanover Center, 3501 Oleander Dr., Ste 13. Mon.-Sat., 11am – 6pm (Closed Sundays) ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Porter’s Neck Center, 8207 Market St., Ste F. Mon. Wed., 10am-8:30pm; Thurs.-Sat., 10am-9pm. Dinner features begin at 5pm.

(Closed Sundays) ■ NEIGHBORHOODS: Midtown & North Wilmington ■ WEBSITE: www.temptationseverydaygourmet.com ■ FEATURING: An expanded dinner menu, at the Porter’s Neck location, which changes weekly.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Throughout the Port City ■ FEATURING: Dog friendly locations

TROLLY sTOP

HIRO JaPaNese sTeaKHOUse

Trolly Stop Hot Dogs is a family owned franchise with six locations. Since 1976 they specialize in storemade chili, slaw and sauces, and as of more recent – a variety of gourmet sausages and burgers (at participating locations). The types of hot dogs include Beef & Pork, All Beef, Smoked Sausage, Fat-free Turkey (at participating locations), and Soy. Sausages include Bratwurst, Mild Italian, Spicy Beef and Polish Kielbasi. Locations are: 121 N. Front Street open Monday thru Saturday 11 a.m. ‘til 4:30 p.m. CLOSED SUNDAYS; (910).251.7799. 94 S. Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach open Wednesday thru Friday 11 a.m. ‘til 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. ‘til 4 p.m. CLOSED MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS. (910) 256-1421. 4502 Fountain Drive, (910) 452-3952. open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Sunday; South Howe St. in Southport, open Tuesday thru Fri. 11 ‘til 3, Sat. 11 ‘til 4 CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS (910) 4577017. Catering cart available all year from $350. Call Steve at (910) 520-5994.

When you want the best,

we got you covered...

at Wrightsville Beach and Downtown Wilmington. Buy a hot dog, we’ll throw in an extra for your pooch. (Without bun.)

■ WEBSITE: www.trollystophotdogs.com

ASIAN 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

What better way to celebrate a special occasion or liven up a dinner out than to dine in a place where every meal is an exciting presentation. Knowing that a meal should be more than just great food, Hiro adds a taste of theatre and a amazing atmosphere to everyone’s dinning experience. Also serving sushi, Hiro surprises its guests with a new special roll every week and nightly drink specials to complement it. From 4-7pm enjoy half-priced nigiri and half-priced regular makimono. Nigiri makimono combos are only $7.50, while early-bird specials last from 4-6pm, where diners can choose two: shrimp, chicken or steak.

Located at 222 Old Eastwood Road (910) 794-1570.

■ SERVING DINNER: Open Mon. thru Thurs. 4pm10pm; Fri. and Sat. 4pm-10:30pm and Sun. 11am-10pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Hibachi style dining.

■ WEBSITE: hirojapanesesteakhouse.com/hibachi

Thank you encore readers for voting Chili’s “Best Ribs” and “Best Chain Restaurant!” encore

BE2S01T2OF

WILMINGTON

Chili’s Grill & Bar Restaurant 819 South College Road (910) 313-1477

www.chilis.com Mon - Thu: 11:00 AM-11:00 PM Fri - Sat: 11:00 AM-12:00 AM Sun : 11:00 AM-11:00 PM encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 41

INDOCHINE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

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. 11am- 2pm; Sat. 12pm – 3pm for lunch. Mon.- Sun. 5pm – 10pm for dinner.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Balinese dancer every Fri. night.

■ WEBSITE: www.indochinewilmington.com

THAI SPICE

From the flavorfully mild to the fiery spiced, Thai Spice customers are wooed by the dish that’s made to their specifications. Featuring a tasteful menu of traditional Thai standards to numerous delectable house specials, it’s quickly becoming the local favorite for Thai cuisine. This family-run restaurant is sure to win you over. If you haven’t discovered this gem, come in and be charmed. Whether it be a daytime delight, or an evening indulgence, your visit will make you look forward to your return. Located in Monkey Junction at 5552 Carolina Beach Rd., Ste. G. (910) 791-0044 ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tue.-Th.: 11:30am – 9:30pm; Fri.-Sat.: 11:30am – 10:00pm; Sun.: 11:30am – 9:00pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South ■ WEBSITE: www.ThaiSpiceWilmington.com

FRENCH CAPRICE BISTRO

Wilmington’s finest French cuisine can be found at Caprice Bistro, a small informal neighborhood restaurant, serving hearty food in generous portions at affordable prices. Simple is the atmosphere in the bistro, as plain white plates and tables dressed in white paper make up the decor. However, the food is far from simple, as a combination of fresh ingredients and innovative preparation delight the taste buds with a plethora of unique appetizers, entrées and desserts. The service is fast, efficient and non-intrusive, and the ambience is friendly and unpretentious. After dinner, be sure to venture upstairs into their cozy and relaxing sofa bar for an after-dinner martini, or enjoy your meal there, as a light-fare and full menus are served. Art is always on display in the sofa bar, so be sure to inquire frequently about their artist show receptions.

Voted “Best French Restaurant”seven years in a row! 10 Market Street, downtown Wilmington, (910) 815-0810.

■ SERVING DINNER: Sun.- Thurs.

5:00 – 10pm.; Fri. and Sat., 5pm – Midnight.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Upstairs sofa bar serving cocktails and lighter fare.

■ WEBSITE: www.capricebistro.com

OUR CRÊPES & MORE

The Crêperie of Wilmington !Our Crêpes & More a family owned and operated French Crêperie, is serving authentic, homemade French cuisine to dine in or to go. Everything on their menu is under $10, and is a healthy alternative, while eating a savory meal or sweet treat. Open at 7 am Tuesday through Friday, and 8 am Saturday & Sunday, Our Crêpes & More offers a delicious variety of breakfast combos, quickly served or to take out. A must try: the Nutella Croissant! On the Savory side, the St-Malo, Quebec, Forestiere Royale or Tahiti are among the most popular. Their

homemade Ratatouille, South France type Sub like the Pain Bagnat are worth the detour too! On the sweet side, The Versailles, Mt-Blanc or Crazy Nutella (with homemade Nutella ice cream) will make you come back for more! They also serve Fresh Salads or Soups depending on the seasons, amazing all natural Homemade Sorbet & Ice Cream, Croissants & Chocolate Croissants. With free WiFi and live French radio, Our Crepes & More is a pleasant and casual place to unwind. Our Crepes & More can accommodate large parties!

■ OPEN: TUESDAY – FRIDAY 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

SATURDAY & SUNDAYS 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

(Monday Closed.)

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, 3810 Oleander Drive (at the corner of 39th Street) ■ FEATURING: Vegetarian and gluten-free options. Free Wi-Fi. ■ WEBSITE: www.ourcrepesandmore.com

INDIAN TANDOORI BITES

Located on College Road, just opposite Hugh MacRae Park, Tandoori Bites offers fine Indian cuisine at affordable prices.

Try one of 74 dishes on their lengthy menu, featuring a large range of side dishes and breads. They have specialties, such as lamb korma with nuts, spices and herbs in a mild creamy sauce, as well as seafood, like shrimp biryani with saffron-flavored rice, topped with the shellfish and nuts. They also have many vegetarian dishes, including mutter paneer, with garden peas and homemade paneer, or baingan bharta with baked eggplant, flamed and sautéed with onions, garlic and ginger.

Join their cozy eatery, where a far east escape awaits all diners, among a staff of friendly and helpful servers, as well as chefs who bring full-flavored tastes straight from their homeland. Located at 1620 South College Road, (910) 794-4540.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Tue-Thu 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm; Fri 11am-2pm, 5pm-11pm; Sat 11:30am2pm, 5pm-11pm; Sun 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-9pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown.

■ FEATURING: Lunch buffet, which now serves South Indian cuisine ($7.95 daily) ■ WEBSITE: www.tandooribites.net.

ITALIAN A TASTE OF ITALY

The authentic Italian cuisine served at Taste of Italy has scored them Best Deli in the Port City for years running now.

The Guarino family recipes have been passed down from generation to generation to brothers Tommy and Chris, who serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to hungry diners. They also cater all events, from holiday parties to corporate lunches, including hot meals, cold trays, handmade desserts and an array of platters, from antipasto to cold cuts. In addition, Taste of Italy sells Scalfani products, Sabrett hot dogs and Polly-O cheeses in their market, all the while serving topnotch hot and cold items from their delicatessen. Located at 1101 South College Rd., P. 910-392-7529, F. 910-392-9745 www.ncatasteofitaly.com Open M-F 8:00am – 8:00pm, Sat. 8:30am-7:00pm, Sun. 11:00am – 6:00pm.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Ponatone, Pandora, Torrone and gift baskets of all sizes!

■ WEBSITE: www.ncatasteofitaly.com

EDDIE ROMANELLI’S

is a family-friendly, casual Italian American restaurant that’s been a favorite of Wilmington locals for over 16 years. Its diverse menu includes Italian favorites such as Mama Romanelli’s Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Rigatoni a la Vodka and, of course, made-from-scratch pizzas. Its American influences include tasty burgers, the U.S.A. Salad and a 16oz. Marinated Rib Eye Steak. Romanelli’s offers patio dining and flat screen TVs in its bar area. Dine in or take out, Romanelli’s is always a crowd favorite. Large parties welcome. 503 Olde Waterford Way, Leland. (910) 383.1885.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun.- Thurs. 11am – 10pm.; Fri. & Sat. 11am – 11pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South.

42 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

■ FEATURING: Weekly Specials ■ WEBSITE: RomanellisRestaurant.com.

ELIZABETH’S PIZZA

A Wilmington favorite since 1987! At Elizabeth’s you’ll find authentic Italian cuisine, as well as some of your American favorites. Offering delicious pizza, salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, beer, and wine. Elizabeth’s is known for their fresh ingredients, where even the bread is baked fresh daily. A great place for lunch, dinner, a late night meal, or take out. Elizabeth’s can also cater your event and now has a party room available. Visit us 4304 ½ Market St or call 910-251-1005 for take out.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

Open 10am-Midnight every day ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown (Corner of Market St and Kerr Avenue).

■ WEBSITE: www.epwilmington.com ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South ■ FEATURING: Daily specials, kids menu and online coupons.

■ WEBSITE: www.giorgios-restaurant.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 highestquality 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 122 Market Street, (910) 251-9444, in Wrightsville Beach at 1437 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 101, (910) 256-2229 and our newest location in Pine Valley on the corner of 17th and College Road, (910) 799-1399.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT: 11:30am3am, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown, Downtown and Wilmington South.

■ FEATURING: The largest tequila selection in Wilmington ■ WEBSITE: www.grabslice.com

LATIN AMERICAN SAN JUAN CAFE

Offering the most authentic, gourmet Latin American cuisine in Wilmington. With dishes from countries such as Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Cuba you’ll be able to savor a variety of flavors from all over Latin America. Located at 3314 Wrightsville Avenue. 910.790.8661 Follow us on Facebook/Twitter for live music updates!

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon Sat. 11am-2:30pm and from 5-10pm. Closed Sunday.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Nightly specials ■ WEBSITE: www.sanjuancafenc.com

ORGANIC LOVEY’S MARKET

Lovey’s Market is a true blessing for shoppers looking for Organic and Natural groceries and supplements, or a great place to meet friends for a quick, delicious and totally fresh meal or snack. Whether you are in the mood for a Veggie Burger, Hamburger or a Chicken Caesar Wrap, shoppers will find a large selection of nutritious meals on the a la carte Lovey’s Cafe’ menu. The Food Bar-which has cold salads and hot selections can be eaten in the newly expanded Lovey’s Cafe’ or boxed for take-out. The Juice Bar offers a wide variety of juices and smoothies made with Organic fruits and vegetables. Specializing in bulk sales of grains, flours, beans and spices at affordable prices. Lovey’s has a great selection of Local produce and receives several weekly deliveries to ensure freshness.

Lovey’s also carries Organic Grass-Fed and Free-Range meats and poultry. Wheat-Free and Gluten-Free products are in stock regularly, as are Vegan and Vegetarian groceries. Lovey’s also carries Wholesome Pet Foods. Stop

by Lovey’s Market Monday through Friday 9am to 7pm; Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm. Located at 1319 Military Cutoff Rd in the Landfall Shopping Center; (910) 509-0331. “You’ll Love it at Lovey’s!”

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Café open: Mon.-Fri.,

11am–6pm; Sat. & Sun., 11am-6pm(salad bar open all the time). Market hours: Mon.-Fri., 9am-7pm; Sat., 9am6pm; Sun., 10am-6pm ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Organic Salad Bar/Hot Bar, New Bakery with fresh, organic pies and cakes. Newly expanded.

■ WEBSITE: www.loveysmarket.com.

SEAFOOD 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 business suit. Located at 12 Dock St in downtown Wilmington. Open for 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: www.dockstreetoysterbar.net

EAST

The Blockade Runner offers an array of seasonal seafood specials, certified Angus beef, lobster menu on Fri. evening plus a spectacular Sun. brunch. Romantic al fresco dining is available on our dinner deck located in the center of a lush garden overlooking the ocean far away from the traffic and noise. Our lounge is eco-friendly and offers light fare nightly.

275 Waynick Blvd. Wrightsville Beach. (910) 256-2251.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & SUNDAY BRUNCH ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach.

■ FEATURING: Lobster menu on Fri. ■ MUSIC: Live music on Sat. evening and Sun.brunch.

■ WEBSITE: www.blockade-runner.com

HIERONYMUS

Hieronymus Seafood is the midtown stop for seafood lovers. In business for over 30 years, Hieronymus has made a name for itself by constantly providing excellent service and the freshest of the fresh in local seafood. It’s the place to be if you are seeking top quality attibutes in atmosphere, presentations, flavor and ingenuity. Sugnature dishes include Oysteronymus and daily fresh catch specials. Hieronymus has all ABC permits and also provides catering services. Voted “Best Seafood” in 2011. 5035 Market Street; 910-392-6313; hieronymusseafood.com ■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Fireside oyster bar.

■ WEBSITE: www.hieronymusseafood.net

OCEANIC

Voted best seafood restaurant in Wilmington, Oceanic provides oceanfront dining at its best. Located in Wrightsville Beach, Oceanic is one of the most visited restaurants on the beach. Choose from a selection of seafood platters, combination plates and daily fresh fish.

For land lovers, try their steaks, chicken or pasta dishes.

Relax on the pier or dine inside. Oceanic is also the perfect location for memorable wedding receptions, birthday gatherings, anniversary parties and more. Large groups welcome. Private event space available. Family-style to go menu available. 703 S. Lumina Avenue, Wrightsville Beach. (910) 256.5551.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Dining on the Crystal Pier.

■ WEBSITE: OceanicRestaurant.com

SMALL PLATES THE FORTUNATE GLASS

The Fortunate Glass Wine Bar is the perfect place to explore the beauty of wine while tasting a variety of tapas in an intimate environment. The wine menu focuses on wines from all regions, with 50 wines by the glass and approximately 350 wines available by the bottle, including some of the best boutique and cult wines, to everyday values

encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 43

that work with any budget. There are over 30 beers available featuring some of the best craft selections. The serene ambiance of The Fortunate Glass, created by the beautiful wall murals, the elegant copper and glass tile bar, castle-rocked walls and intimate booths enhances the experience of any selection you choose.

The Fortunate Glass Wine Bar also presents a small menu of creative tapas, global cheeses, cured meats and decadent desserts to accompany and compliment any wine selection.

■ SERVING EVENINGS: Tues.-Thurs. 4pm-12am Fri. 4pm-2am; Sat. 2pm-2am; Sun. 2pm-12am ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Free Wine Tasting: Tues. 6-8pm. Sparkling wine specials and halfprice select bottles: Wed. & Thurs. Monthly food & wine pairing events.

■ WEBSITE www.fortunateglasswinebar.com

SOUTHERN 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 11am to 9pm and on Sundays from 11am to 8pm.Closed Mon. and Tuesdays.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING:For adventurous palates, pig’s feet and chitterlings.

SPORTS BAR CAROLINA ALE HOUSE

Voted best new restaurant AND best sports bar of 2010 in Wilmington, Carolina Ale House is the place to be for award-winning food, sports and fun. Located on College Rd. near UNCW, this lively sports-themed restaurant. Covered and open outdoor seating is available. Lunch and dinner specials are offered daily, as well as the coldest $2 and $3 drafts in town. 317 South College Road, Wilmington, NC. (910) 791.9393.

YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear

Women of Achievement May 10, 2012 • 5:30 PM Hilton Wilmington Riverside

YWCA Lower Cape Fear’s signature event celebrating outstanding women and young leaders.

For more information regarding the event, visit: www.ywca-lowercapefear.org or call 799.6820.

This is downtown Wilmington’s Sports Pub! With every major sporting package on ten HDTVs and our huge HD projection screen, there is no better place to catch every game in every sport. Our extensive menu ranges from classics, like thick Angus burgers or NY-style reubens, to lighter fare, such as homemade soups, fresh salads and vegetarian options. Whether meeting for a business lunch, lingering over dinner and drinks, or watching the game, the atmosphere and friendly service will turn you into a regular. Open late 7 days a week, with free WiFi, darts, and did we mention sports? Free lunchtime delivery on weekdays; we can accommodate large parties. (910) 763-4133.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT: 11am-2am daily ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Dueling pianos Thurs., Fri., and Sat. nights. and 1/2 priced

select appetizers M-TH 4-7pm

■ WEBSITE: www.hellskitchenbar.com

44 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

The 2nd Thursday of every month at 10pm • tickets $5

Special Rocky Horror Show With Shadow Cast MARCH 9 • 10pm

Something Wonderful: The Musical Genius of Rodgers & Hammerstein This fifty member choral group performs with worldclass soloists and an orchestra of musicians.

Sat., March 24 • 8pm Winter Park Baptist Church

Tickets: $15 • Available at www.carolinavocalarts.org

Wilmington’s Premiere

Sketch Comedy Show

2012 CAPE FEAR Wildlife Expo

February 23 March 1, 22, 29 April 5 May 3 Doors Open 8:30pm Shows a 9pm

Written by Jonathan Harvey Directed by Stephen M. Raeburn

March 16-18

February 24 & 25

Shows at 8am | Sunday Shows at 5pm

Fri. & Sat. 9am-6pm Sun.: 10am-5pm Wilmington Convention Center & Coastline Conference Center

Tickets: $5

Tickets: $15/ $8 students

111 Grace St. Wilmington

111 Grace St. Wilmington

910-341-0001

910-341-0001

FOX & HOUND PUB & GRILLE

HELL’S KITCHEN

Picture Show

Stephen Field, Director Presents

~ GUERILLA THEATRE PRESENTS ~

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & LATE NIGHT: 11am-2am daily.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: 40 HD TVs and the biggest HD projector TVs in Wilmington.

■ WEBSITE: CarolinaAleHouse.com

Serving up the best bar food for any local sports fan, Fox & Hound has appetites covered. Located next to Mayfaire Cinema 16, it’s no question that Fox is a great place to go on date night, or to watch the big game on one of the restaurant’s six large projection screens and 19 plasma televisions. Guests can also play pool, darts or video games in this casual-theme restaurant. For starters, Fox offers delicious appetizers like ultimate nachos, giant Bavarian pretzels and spinach artichoke dip. In the mood for something more? Try the hand-battered Newcastle fish ‘n’ chips or chicken tenders, or the grilled Mahi-Mahi served atop a bed of spicy rice. From cheeseburgers and sirloins to salads and wood oven-inspired pizzas, Fox has plenty to choose from for lunch or dinner. Finish the meal with a 6-inch Great Cookie Blitz, a chocolate chip cookie baked fresh to order and served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and Hershey’s syrup. 920 Town Center Drive, (910) 509-0805.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 11am– 2am, daily ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: $5.99 lunch specials and free pool until 2p.m. and $5 cheese pizzas after 10 p.m., both Mon.-Fri. ■ MUSIC: Trivia with Party Gras Entertainment DJ every Thursday at 9pm ■ WEBSITE: foxandhound.com

Rocky Horror

Boston

HISTORIC WILMINGTON FOUNDATION PRESENTS:

Marriage

Azalea Festival

2012

Home Tour

February 23-26 March 1-4, 8-11, 15-18

Saturday, April 14 from 1pm-6pm and Sunday, April 15 from 1pm-5pm

“A drawing-room comedy about desire, deception & very bad manners.”

Featuring houses in downtown Wilmington, NC that are full of individual appeal and architectural or historical significance.

See WilmingtonTickets.com for Showtimes Red Barn Studio 1122 S. Third Street (910) 762-0955 Tickets: $23 & $25

Tickets: $25 www.historicwilmington.org

mccoll-associates.com/wib

February 23, 2012 11:30am - 1:00pm Press 102 S. Second Street

S.O.U.L.FUL Living is Mindful Living It’s All About Energy!

Presents:

David Mamet’s

33

MATT FULCHIRON

Friday, February 24th and Saturday, February 25th Comedy Central Presents • Live at Gotham • Last Comic Standing • The HBO Comedy Festival- Las Vegas • The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 8pm Show | Doors 7pm | Admission: $15

255 North Front Street

Wilmington, NC 28401 • 910-251-7881

rd Annual

Wilmington Woman’s Club

Coastal Living Showcase Making Life Better in 2012

Nicoa Dunne President & Chief Relationshop Rover Roving Coach International

Tickets ickets $40 • Includes Lunch 910.350.1211

Saturday, March 17th • 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday, March 18th • 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM Schwartz Center Cape Fear Community College 620 N. Front • Wilmington, NC 28401 www.wilmingtonwomansclub.com

Covering the Arts, Theater, Music, Festivals, Dance & more in Southeastern N.C. StarNewsOnline.com/theWAE

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www.HalfOffDepot.com/Wilmington encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 45

extraextra!|

46 BOOKS 47 CROSSWORD 48 RED CROSS FUND-RAISER 52-62 CALENDAR, TOONS, ETC.

picking a fight:

Gessner finds much to battle for in his manifesto on new environmentalism ielse

by Tiffanie Gabr Charles esto: Down the if an M n ee Gr y M entalism a New Environm of t ui rs Pu in r Rive r

by David Gessne

A

s A writer who trAvels frequently

from our port city to Boston, Massachusetts, I’m constantly looking for ways to join the two cities I call home. Luckily enough, I never have to look too far. In most cases the union is simply a matter of scanning a local book store.

February led me to Old Books on Front Street’s Going Green Book Club; their selection was “My Green Manifesto: Down the Charles River in Pursuit of a New Environmentalism” by UNCW professor David Gessner.

“The key message to the book: Everything starts with a joyous interaction with a place we love and then fighting to protect it,” Gessner opens up about his work.

Author of several titles such as, “Soaring with Fidel” and “The Tarball Chronicles,” “My Green Manifesto” is part essay because of its proposed ideas of urban wildness and roots within the semi-annual journal, “Ecotone,” which Gessner oversees at UNCW, merging the literary and environmental world. It’s part memoir due to its true, unyielding first-hand account of the author’s travels on the River Charles. It’s also part war and love story because of its strong ethic toward fighting for what one believes in.

Gessner takes readers on a canoe journey with friend, mentor and fellow environmentalist Dan Driscoll (a native to Newton, MA). Together they paddle down what many consider to be the very life blood of Boston: Charles River (also called the River Charles). Known for its rowing, sculling, sailing and holiday celebrations, the Charles River is unfortunately notable for having 46 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

exceptionally dirty water. So, it seems appropriate Gessner would choose this waterway as a focal point to battle his case toward conservancy and ecology. However, the major undercurrent in “My Green Manifesto” isn’t just about protecting our environment; rather, it’s more so about finding the wildness in our own backyard— realizing we don’t need exotic places to dictate our love for nature. It also means we need to fight for cleaner water, better air and pristine upkeep for our own environments.

“The Charles River seems to me to be emblematic where we are in terms of the natural world, because it was so dirty,” Gessner tells encore. “It’s the social focus of Boston.”

Originally from Worchester, MA, Gessner followed his heart to UNCW where, for the last eight years, he has been a professor of creative writing.

Among his impressive magazine and journal credits, “The New York Times Magazine,” “Outside,” “The Georgia Review” and “The Harvard Review” included, “The Boston Globe” spotted “My Green Manifesto” in President Obama’s possession as he stepped out from the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore during a Martha’s Vineyard vacation.

Hailed from notable critics all over the media and across the world—National Geographic Traveler even highlighted “My Green Manifesto”—the book is a thin yet charming and inspirational work.

Throughout every turn of its pages, readers will lose the sense they are in the middle of a bustling city, home to millions of people. Instead, they will find beauty as if they were scouring uncharted land. Coupled with poignant environmental issues of today, such as climate change, and our Earth’s overcapacity and over-consumption issues, readers will become inspired to start making small changes themselves.

As Gessner and Driscoll endure an ever-grow-

ing leaky vessel on its pages, they fix it with a simple sandal. This symbolizes the overwhelmingly negative idea that our environment is too hazardous and interconnected to solve. As Gessner strongly believes, there are two very important threads tied throughout “My Green Manifesto.”

The first is the journey which Gessner and Driscoll took to become environmentalists and the importance they put on appreciating a sense of place.

The second weaves itself around the concept of having common sense, humor and picking small fights for the places we respect and regard. By doing so, the overwhelming doomsday philosophy can be conquered: Environmentally our society’s scope of thinking and needs, along with Earth’s already scarred body, are irreversible.

“It was an imperfect trip on an imperfect river,” Gessner remembers. “We were literally paddling inside a canoe full of muddy water. It felt like the cracked imperfect world we live in, but we kept going.”

Gessner’s book celebrates something beyond nature; it opens up the fire within to see how far one would go for what they believe. It’s what Gessner calls “wildness.”

“And when I say ‘wildness,’ I’m not suggesting the wilderness,” he explains. “I am talking about having wildness in your fight to protect the places you love. The wild world is accessible to us. It doesn’t take a super human to fix (our environment). There’s hope in small nature and small fights. We need to just find a place we love, have a larger project beyond ourselves of that place and fight for it.”

For more information, please visit www.davidgessner.com. “My Green Manifesto: Down the Charles River in Pursuit of a New Environmentalism” is available for purchase at local books stores, including Pomegrante Books and signed copies at Old Books. Old Books’ next read as part of their Going Green Book Club is Woody Pasch’s “Slow Money.”

Creators syndiCate CREATORS SYNDICATE © 2012 STANLEY NEWMAN

WWW.STANXWORDS.COM

2/26/12

THE NEWSDAY CROSSWORD Edited by Stanley Newman (www.StanXwords.com)

TAKING THE CAKE: In various apt ways

by Fred Piscop ACROSS 1 Dean’s List fig.

4 La Scala city 9 Thunder sound 13 Part of CSI 18 Java brewers 20 Potato source 21 Too hasty 22 Carried on, as war 23 The cake-loving bat __ 27 Warehouse platforms 28 Chill out 29 Ukrainian city 30 Test for freshness 31 Low-lying land 33 Tyre changer 34 Longtime NASCAR sponsor 36 Flow slowly 37 Hi and __ (comic strip) 38 Scroogian expletive 41 FWIW part 44 The cake-loving egotist __ 49 Upper limits 51 Thick carpets 52 PED __ 53 Get exactly right 54 “Yeah, sure!”

55 He’s next to Teddy on Rushmore 56 Tones down 57 “Get outta here!”

58 Not a whit 59 Solid yellow billiard ball 60 Scratches up 61 Up to, in ads 62 The cake-loving dog __ 70 Watched Junior 71 Right-angle shapes 72 Bewitch

73 Make uniform, in a way 74 Church doctrine 77 Jude Law remake of 2004 79 Sleep acronym 80 Rebuke to Brutus 81 “__ further review . . .”

82 Grazing lands 83 Autobahn autos 85 View as 86 The cake-loving quitter __ 91 Transport cos.

92 Work undercover 93 Nuisance 94 It may be scenic 95 Univ. aides 97 “Is!” rebuttal 98 Apathetic 100 Football-helmet attachment 104 Sudden growths 107 Hotel employee 108 Noble group 110 The cake-loving hen __ 115 Warbucks’ ward 116 Barely beat 117 Chicago hub 118 Isn’t going to 119 Burden bearer 120 Zorro’s marks 121 Yolk surrounder 122 Utmost degree DOWN 1 Large swallows 2 Iliad king 3 Low joint 4 Catcher’s glove 5 Altar exchanges 6 “Well, __-di-dah!”

7 “Caught ya!”

8 René’s refusal

9 Ruthless 10 Become void 11 Support staffer: Abbr.

12 Frat letter 13 From Uppsala 14 Citadel student 15 Clash-prone things 16 Late developments 17 Author Ferber 19 Flies off the shelves 24 Triangular formation 25 Flip-chart diagram 26 Column style 31 Marsh plant 32 Hoses down 33 Baseball great Wade 35 Mac alternatives 36 Navy builder 37 Short note 38 Withstand 39 Himalayas’ home 40 Skipper’s spot 41 Cake surrounder 42 Verboten 43 Shelled out 45 Acknowledge in an Oscar speech 46 Outlying towns 47 Itsy-__ 48 In the envelope 50 Members of a blended family 56 Popular bonsai tree 57 Test the tea 59 Start of the fourth qtr.

60 Stubborn 61 Ranch moniker 63 Novelist Fleming 64 Skim, as soup 65 Stock market index, familiarly 66 Confine 67 Say out loud

68 Gunpowder ingredient 69 Back-of-band instruments 74 Removes from the roster 75 Each, slangily 76 Way too interested 77 VIP roster 78 Gave for a while 79 Delhi money 83 Warts and all

84 87 88 89 90 96 97 98 99 101 102

PD rank Nickname Thickly packed Slip away from Studio stand Scarecrow’s center End of MGM’s motto Canal craft Drink garnishes Blouse fabric Catalyst

103 Western Australia’s capital 104 Ear cleaner 105 Plexiglass sheet 106 John McCain’s sch.

107 Arrived in time for 108 Dessert wine 109 Sporting blade 111 Aladdin’s hat 112 Use your scull 113 “Zip your lip!”

114 Mai __ cocktail

Reach Stan Newman at P.O. Box 69, Massapequa Park, NY 11762, or at www.StanXwords.com

5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700 n loS AngeleS, CAlif. 90045

n

tel. (310) 337-7003

n

fAX (310) 337-7625

The Best Place in Town!

GEL LCN, PINK & WHITE, SHELLAC, ACRYLIC, PEDICURE, MANICURE, WAXING, FACIAL 1043 S.College Road

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910-392-7055

Mon-Sat :9:30am-7:30pm • Sun:12am-5pm encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 47

at the (red) crossroads:

//EXTRA

House fire turns catastrophic, but leads locals to give back er

by Bethany Turn oss Benefit Cr American Red .

•106 N. 2nd St Five Star Tavern ! ed d Cross accept Donations for Re noon-’till Live music from

W

hen

his

home

caught

fire, Adrian Varnam had just finished working at his bar, Five Star Tavern. He was sitting at the computer, when an employee from Mugsy’s Pub, who had heard of the flames in the Orange Street apartment complex, rushed in to alert him.

“When a third party tells you something as bizarre as, ‘Your house is on fire,’ you really don’t know what to think,” Varnam recalls. “What does that mean, exactly? How bad is it? It’s never good news, but I imagined it could’ve been something small and isolated or as devastating as a full-blown catastrophe.”

Unable to comprehend the words he’d just

48 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION: The Hufton Brothers are one of many musicians slated to perform as part of an American Red Cross fund-raiser on Saturday at Five Star Tavern. Courtesy photo

heard, Varnam did what he could—calmly taking hold of his belongings, he headed toward the building which was not only his home but housed four other apartments.

“When I got to my block I realized it was closer to the latter,” he says.

Fire trucks lined Orange Street from 8th to 9th streets, while police, neighbors and bystanders filled the block. Though they were still working in and about the property, the fire department had brought the blaze under control.

“All I could do was stand and wait,” Varnam remembers. “There were no answers yet—Can I get inside tonight? Is it a total loss?—but I could tell that it was going to be a life-changer.”

That night the residents sadly learned their upstairs neighbor lost her two cats. “No matter what happened to the house itself, losing animals trumps it all in my opinion,” he says.

According to Varnam, in what seemed like only minutes, four or five representatives from the American Red Cross arrived, ready to help those displaced by the fire. They collected Varnam’s information, set him up with a motel room for the next three nights, provided him an emergency debit card to buy food and essentials, and gave him an overnight bag with toiletries. He was astonished, thinking prior to this night that the Red Cross only responded to larger disasters and organized blood drives.

Speaking with others, he wasn’t alone.

“I had no idea they operated at the community level like this—and so efficiently and thoughtfully,” he shares. “They responded with compassion yet were there to do a job,

and that was to take care of strangers in need. I’m extremely grateful.”

Varnam, a musician and former writer for encore, is lucky to have a support system of family and friends who offered to share their homes with him. Yet, he says having a place to go, already taken care of by the Red Cross, was the greatest gift.

“I could go somewhere immediately to clean up, decompress, and have the peace and quiet to figure out what to do next,” he explains. “It allowed me to get my head back on straight.”

Instead of sleeping that night, however, he kept wondering where he would have gone if he had been new in town—a stranger here— without the American Red Cross. Varnam only was able to recoup his musical instruments and some clothes. He lost family photos that can’t be replaced, among other items of special interest. However, he remains thankful to be safe, along with his fellow neighbors. “This to me was government-in-action, the right way,” he says. “This is what it’s there for: to help our fellow citizens in times of need, to allow us the opportunity to brush ourselves off with dignity and compassion, and to give us a fighting chance to move forward after something really unfortunate happens.”

With the help of Wilmington Unplugged, Varnam is hosting a benefit for the Red Cross at Five Star Tavern on Saturday, February 25th. Beginning at noon, local musicians will give a concert throughout the day and night.

Featured acts include Brent Stimmel, Andy Bilinski, Brad Heller, Hufton Brothers, Jim Ashley, Ted Crenshaw, Ponchos from Peru, Rick Tobey and Laura McLean. Comedian Tom Walsak will also perform. Other artists may sign up by contacting Billy Mellon at wilmington.unplugged@gmail.com.

Donations will be accepted for the organization, and local agents will be on-site to share information about renters’ insurance, a policy Varnam didn’t have. Ultimately, he wants to pay forward everything the Red Cross did for him and his neighbors.

“I can’t think of a better and more established organization than the American Red Cross to be there in times of need,” Varnam says. “If giving back to them means more resources to help others in the future who will face circumstances similar to mine, then I want to do whatever I can to help.”

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encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 49 2/10/2012 1:45 PM

UNCW SPORTS

BASKETBALL

SoFTBALL – SEAhAWK CLASSiC

WomEn’S BASKETBALL vS ToWSon 7 p.m.

KAnSAS vS FAirFiELd 10 a.m.

KAnSAS vS GArdnEr WEBB 12:15 p.m.

UnCW vS FAirFiELd 2:30 p.m.

UnCW vS GArdnEr WEBB 4:45 p.m.

February 23

(Game Sponsored by OrthoWilmington)

WomEn’S BASKETBALL vS GEorGiA STATE 7 p.m.

(Game Sponsored by Creative Ads and Linprint) Comfort Socks – bring a 3 pack of socks and your ticket is just $3

TEnniS

February 25

WomEn’S TEnniS vS GEorGiA STATE 11a.m. mEn’S TEnniS vS BELmonT Noon

February 24

February 25

GArdnEr WEBB vS FAirFiELd 10 a.m.

UnCW vS KAnSAS 12:12 p.m.

SEmiFinAL 2:30 p.m. & 4:45 p.m.

February 26

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w w w. u n c w s p o r t s . c o m 50 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

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encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 51

events

2/25: WINE AND BEER WALK

DOWNTOWN WINE/BEER WALK Downtown Wilmington Wine & Beer Walk, Downtown Business Alliance is bringing back their famed 2/25, 1-6pm, the Wilmington Wine & Beer Wilmington Wine and Beer Walk, allowing folks a tour of Walk invades Downtown Wilmington once some of downtown’s greatest establishments while indulging again. $15/each, or 2/$25; Etix.com or at a few spirits. Folks can buy a ticket for $15 or two for $25, the following businesses: The Fortunate Glass 29 S. Front St. 910-399-4292 (cash which allows two samples of select wine or beer at each only) Front Street Brewery 9 N. Front St. venue. They’ll get a map of participants and an official ID, 910-251-1935 (cash only). Walk begins at and can mosey place to place at their leisure. Tickets can be the Wine Walk Headquarters, 109 Market bought ahead of time at The Fortunate Glass or Front Street Street, where folks check in (ends 3pm) and receive “official” Wilmington Wine and Brewery. Check-in at 109 Market Street ends at 3 p.m. the Beer Walk ID and a map of the particiday of the event; bring ID and cash to tip bartenders. pating establishments. Receive two samples/venue of wine or beer. for Themselves: North Carolina’s Black Soldiers Be responsible; tip your servers! in the Civil War Era, which explores the stories of All participants must be at least 21 years of age, black soldiers from four regiments raised in NC. and have a valid ID readily available for establishNorthside High School cafeteria; Jacksonville, NC. ments to verify. www.wineandbeerwalk.com or 910-455-7350 www.onslowcountync.gov/library.

CoolWilmington.com BLACK CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS In celebration of Black History Month, Onslow County Public Library will host a community celebration of Onslow County Black Civil War Soldiers and Sailors. Rediscover the personal stories and journeys of local African Americans, as they served in the Civil War and beyond. Program features performances of the Union Soldiers’ Statement of Voluntary Enlistment and a vignette taken from the life of an Onslow County Black Civil War soldier.

Keynote speaker: Richard Reid, author of Freedom

RIVER ROOM BAZAAR River Room Bazaar takes place once a month for local home-based business or businesses in need of more exposure. Connect with community and network! 10 vendors for March include Agape Market, Rock ‘N Hott Hair, My Porch Dawk, North Kerr Spalon, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Holly Price Personalizations, Hilary Walker Photography, Twenty Three Split and Nicole Wilkinson. Five more vendors welcome to sign up! Event from 5-9pm; free to the public. $1 prize raffle with donations to a local charity;

$5 catered plates also available. Melissa Mendoza: (910) 251-8902 TheRiverRoomEvents.com HOBBY GREENHOUSE 3/3, 9am: Annual Hobby Greenhouse Tour, free, self-guided tour of localgreenhouses, including member and non-member greenhouses andcommercial and institutional greenhouses. Tour starts at the New Hanover County Arboretum, with greenhouses in Pender and Brunswick counties as well.

9am-5pm. www.hobbygreenhouseclub.org www. hobbygreenhouseclub.org. Jennifer Keeling: hobbygreenhouse@aol.com

charity/fund-raisers HAPPY BUMS Happy Bums is a local, nonprofit diaper drive created to address this problem in the Wilmington community. Donations will be accepted during the month of March at six different locations. Community support is essential for the program’s success.

Folks interested in donating or becoming a drop-off location, contact Robin Riggs: 910-470-6121 or robinriggs@ellajean.com.

PAJAMA PARTY 2/24: 2nd annual Pajama Party for Breast Cancer Awareness—charity fundraiser for The Pink Ribbon Project. Celebrity M/C Kimberly the “Night Nurse” of Reggae Redemption, Pig’Pickin food provided by A&G BBQ and US Foods, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority of UNCW, Odysea Surf and Kiteboard School will be donating some great raffle prizes, surf lessons and such along with many other vendors as well, Sheila’s Wig’s will be here with the “Look Good Feel Better Program.” Ostara Belly and Fire Dancer performances throughout the evening—drummers welcome, Sydney Perry, Miss NC USA 2012, Kelly Keenan, Miss Southeastern NC 2012, Amber Lewis, Miss Pleasure Island. Wear your best PJ’s, sexiest (but tasteful) PJ Contest at midnight for grand prize. The Lazy Pirate, 701 N. Lake Park Blvd. (910) 458-LAZY. DAYTONA 500 PARTY Daytona 500 Party, 2/26, 12:30pm. Benefits the Guardians of the Ribbon, Cape Fear NC Chapter. $15 or $20 after 2/12 and at door. Food, beer, wine, soda and the race on the big screen. Raflles, silent auction and 50/50 held. Super raflle pays up to $2500 in case; tickets, $20. VFW: 2722 Carolina Beach Rd. No outside alcohol allowed. www. pinkhealscapefear.org. Duane Eastmond: (910) 604-4031; duane@pinkhealscapefear.org.

CAPE FEAR LITERACY COUNCIL Casablanca Gala 2012: Wander through a Moroccan bazaar, play casino-like games, dance to Blivet, and bid on fabulous auction items. Gala proceeds provide crucial financial support to CFLC’s local adult literacy programs. 3/3, 6:30pm, The Hangar at Air Wilmington. $100/ticket or $175/ pair or $700/8. Preferred attire: Classic 1940’s or black tie. (910) 251-0911 or www.cfliteracy.org.

1012 S. 17th St. CARDINAL STRUT RUN 3/3, 8:30am: 3rd annual Cardinal Strut Run on a fast, flat course through Holly Tree Neighborhood. Pre-Race Packet Pick-up: Omega Sports in

52 encore |february 22-28, 2012| www.encorepub.com

Hanover Center on March 1 from 4-7 pm and at the Relay for Life Spaghetti Dinner at Holly Tree Elementary School Cafeteria on 3/2, 5-6:30pm.

Race Day Registration from 7 to 8am at Holly Tree Elementary School. New for 2012 Birds of a Feather Flock together for the Cardinal Strut Team Challenge. 5 or more runners /team. Registration closes: 2/27. Team name required; top 3 awarded.

Team Spirit Award, so dress to impress for our Cardinal Judges; Team Participation Award for team that the most birds in their flock. 5K Walk or Strut for a reduced price. T-shirts to the first 300 registrants Finish Line Celebration with refreshments, music, awards, a bounce house and more. Sydney Jones: familyjones3@yahoo.com CHEERS AND BEER PUB CRAWL A charity fundraiser to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Carolinas Chapter, 3/8, 5:30-9:30pm. Kickoff Party at Hell’s Kitchen, and finish the night at the Cheers & Beers Raffle Party hosted by Goodfellas Nite Life for some food, fun and great raffle prizes. Participating Bars include The Eat Spot, Caffe Phoenix, and Fat Tony’s.

Tickets: $10, and include entrance to the Cheers & Beers Kickoff and Raffle Parties, food specials and other deals. www.facebook.com/CheersAndBeersPubCrawl

theatre/auditions RED BARN STUDIO Imaginary Theater Company and Red Barn Studio Theatre presents David Mamet’s “Boston Marriage,” a drawing room comedy about desire, deception, and very bad manners. Anna, who has taken a male lover in order to provide for her livelihood and that of her friend Claire, is shocked to find that Claire has fallen in love with a much younger woman. Funny, sharp period piece features Barbara Weetman, Rachel Lewis Hilburn and Anna Stromberg and is directed by Mike O’Neil.

Through 3/18, runs Thur-Sun, 8pm with Sun. matinees at 3pm. $23-$25: Wilmingtontickets.com or (910) 762-0955. 1122 S. Third Street. redbarnstudiotheatre.com FRAKTURED FAERY TALES Journey Productions presents part deux of this series of tales, “Super Nanny saves the Ole Woman in the Shoe,” Cinderella is the stepsister to a Kardashian/Jersey Shore-like family with a reality show, Al Adin is a picker that finds a magic lamp with a redneck genie in a Carolina barn, The Hare is a shameless self-promoter with a poor work ethic that just might cause him to lose to the Tortoise and the Pied Piper is a DJ that lures the hipsters out of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, not VA). 2/24-26, 8pm with 3pm Sun. matinees. $11. 910-632-2285 LTC SCHOOL OF ARTS With arts in all forms being taken out of our public school systems, Legacy Theater Company is on a mission to bring the arts back to our students.

LTC’s School of the Arts welcomes ages 5-18 for sign-up to be a part of our theater classes. Open enrollment for another round of classes 4/5-5/24.

Our first round has been wildly successful; 20 students (ages 8-13) are rehearsing for opening night of their show, “Fairytale.” Children who are pas-

sionate about music, acting and dance, and would like a safe environment where they can develop and show their gifts, School of the Arts is here! 910545-2296.

UNCW THEATRE DEPT See page 22.

comedy THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE “TNL” sketch comedy show by Pineapple-Shaped Lamps returns for a new season at Browncoat Pub and Theatre. The troupe feat. over a dozens members performing tons of no-holds-barred skits, with funny. memorable characters. The show also includes their parody newscast, “PSNews” with Rachel Boydston and Ryan P.C., along with additional correspondents. Doors at 8:30pm; show at 9pm. $5 at door, with show running every Thursday for eight episodes. 111 Grace St.

important and distinctive pianists of his generation, Hough has been awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, nicknamed the Genius Grants, as well as Northwestern University’s Jean Gimbel Lane Prize and the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist Award. He has appeared with most major American and European orchestras, including a recent performance with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle that was televised worldwide.

The symphony opens the concert with Liszt’s feisty Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, based on the Hungarian national dance, the Czardas, and performs Liszt’s passionate tone poem Mazeppa, among other operatic highlights. Tickets start at $40; students receive $10 tickets. www.ncsymphony.org or 877-627-6724.

BROWNCOAT PUB AND THEATRE See page 26. • All shows are $15 GA, $8 student pm and at admission. 111 Grace St. • 3/8-24: “A PSL OrigiHolly Tree nal Comedy,” opening Gala on 3/8, at 8pm. Fri/ 5-6:30pm. Sat, 8pm; Sun., 5pm. Fri/Sat., 8pm; Sun., 5pm. m at Holly Doors open half-hour prior to show. www.brown2 Birds of a coattheatre.com Strut Team NUTT ST. COMEDY ROOM RegistrationCITY STAGE Tickets; $8/$10. Schedule: 3/2-3: Neal Brennan Spring Awakening, 2/24-26, 3/23 awarded.

SPIRIT OF AMERICA for our Car- 4 and 9-11. Winner of eight Tonys, Spirit of America: Popular Songs of ConflicBuilding rd for team the show celebrates the unforgettable F on the campus of BCC, 3-5pm, Sun., 3/11 and Walk or Strut journey from youth to adulthood with a 18. The show is a collection of popular songs from t 300 regis- power poignancy, and passion that you will the various periods of war and conflict in America.

City Stage presents the eight-time Tony-winning, rock opfreshments, never forget. Adapted from Frank Wedekind’s The show will be performed at Franklin Square ore. Sydney 1891 expressionist play about the trials, tears, era, ‘Spring Awakening.’

The show follows teen love from and exhilaration of the teen years. Starring Park in Southport, NC at 8pm, 5/18-20 and 25exploratory infancy into passionate adulthood. Starring Morganna Bridgers, Max Korn and Jeramy 27. Auditions will consist of singing one of these Blackford. Directed by Carson Capps. Tickets: the wonderfully animated Morganna Bridgers, as well as familiar songs. Stanley Mandell at 914-805-0553 nal Multiple $18-$24. City Stage: (910) 262-0490 or www. or Jonathan Richmond at 910-368-9073. www.

Max Korn and Jeramy Blackford, and directed by Carson hapter, 3/8, citystagenc.com brunswickcc.ed.

Capps, City Stage’s latest premiere captivates audiences itchen, and OPERA HOUSE THEATRE COMPANY SOUP TO NUTS LIVE Raffle Party with ground-breaking music and stellar acting into a 2/23, 6:30pm: Soup to Nuts Live! A Special Persome food, See page 25. journey of powerful teen poignancy and angst. Tickets formance by No Dollar Shoes at the MC Erny ng Bars in-LEND ME A TENOR AUDITIONS are $20 to $24 and can be bought at citystagenc.com.

Gallery at WHQR, 254 N. Front Street, third floor Fat Tony’s. 3/10, 11am: Opera House Theatre Company downtown Wilmington. $5 donation. Take some the Cheers announces auditions for “Lend Me a Tenor.’ classic country, add some bluegrass, sprinkle it od specials Roles are available for women and men in a wide with punk, and you’ve got No Dollar Shoes. NDS CheersAnd- range of ages—no roles for children. Auditions will consists of Wilmington natives (and twins) Carson consist of cold readings from the script. Auditions (co-creator Chapelle Show) • Every Wed. Nutt and Jesse Jewell (guitars and vocals), and Benjawill held at the Lucile Shuffler Center, 2011 CaroliHouse Improv Troupe, doors 8pm, showtime 9pm, naBeach Rd. Rehearsals will begin Monday, Marcy no cover charge. • Every Thurs. Open Mic Stand 26. operahousetheatre@yahoo.com Up, doors 8pm, showtime 9pm, no cover. • Nutt St Comedy Room announces the opening of The PERFORMANCE CLUB STUDIO Studio at Nutt St. We provide a community workPerformance Club Studio Theater needs Kids Ages shop program for actors, comedians, improv, and Barn Studio 5-teen who can rap and move well. Seeking 14 rappublic speaking. Workshop provides actors and oston Mar- pers and 30 ensemble members for International comedians the ability to develop their skill levels out desire, Library Hip Hop Superstar Melvil Dewey music and participate in multiple workshops. Beginners Anna, who video! Auditions in late February TBA; Shoot Date workshops available. All ages are welcome. Timmy vide for her in March • Classes are on-going for ages PreK to Sherrill: 910-520-5520. 255 N. Front St, basement is shocked Teen! Voice, acting, movement, scene study, musiof Soapbox. www.nuttstreet.com. 910-520-5520 with a much cal theater, audition and on-camera technique, even piece fea- glee! Classes are after school M,T and W! • Home Hilburn and School Drama every Friday, 11-12noon at the PerMike O’Neil. formance Club Studio Theater. Ages 5-10yrs. Regh Sun. mati- ister: www.PerformanceClubKids.com. Director LJ kets.com or Woodard (910) 338-3378; email performanceclub@ NC SYMPHONY redbarnstu- me.com. www.PerformanceClubKids.com Award-winning English pianist Stephen Hough joins the North Carolina Symphony for “Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.” Kenan Auditorium, UNCW, 2/23, 8pm. Widely regarded as one of the most x of this seOle Wompsister to a ith a reality magic lamp n, The Hare r work ethic Tortoise and hipsters out 24-26, 8pm -2285

2/24-26: SPRING AWAKENING

min Smith (bass and vocals.) Their first CD, Extra Medium, has already hit the streets.

THE SAW DOCTORS See page 35, ART GARFUNKEL AND NC SYMPHONY Pop music legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Art Garfunkel joins Maestro William Henry Curry and the North Carolina Symphony for a concert tribute to the very best from his 50-year career in music at Meymandi Concert Hall, in the downtown Raleigh’s Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 3/2-3, 8pm Revisiting some of the most popular works from his career: Angel Clare, Breakaway, Scissors Cut and more.$45-$100: www.ncsymphony.org or 877-627-6724.

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK The Great American Songbook concert performance w/stories behind the songs written and narrated by Philip Furia and illustrated by Laurie Patterson from archival images of songwriters: Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter and more. Local vocalists, as well as some musicians, include Julie Rehder, Jack Pendell, Cindy Hospedales, Troy and Kathy Rudeseal and more. $35, concert only (8:30pm), or $150 for dinner and concert (6:30pm) with Grenoldo Frazier on piano in Thalian Hall Ballroom. Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. 910632-2285.

WINE, ART AND MUSIC Wine Art and Music (WAM!) at The Coastal Roaster, 3/8 7-9pm. Featuring the creative and beautiful photography of T. J. Dreschel and the music of Susan Savia. Wine tasting, delicious food. Free!

Located in the Beau Rivage Marketplace, Sanders Road and Carolina Beach Rd, Monkey Junction.

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SERVINGBREAKFAST, BREAKFAST,LUNCH LUNCH SERVING ANDDINNER DINNER AND DineInIn••Take TakeOut Out••Catering Catering Dine www.encorepub.com |february 22-28, 2012 |encore 53 53 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

Benefit for the American Red Cross

...a thank you from Adrian Varnam and others who have received their kind, expedient help.

On Wed., Feb. 8th, musician, writer and downtown business owner Adrian Varnam endured the misfortune of a house fire. Though physically safe, Adrian and his neighbors lost their home—but not the hope and faith in the folks who immediately reached out to lend a helping hand. To show his thanks to the American Red Cross for providing shelter, gift cards and other immediate necessities, Adrian and his friends welcome all to attend a fund-raiser on their behalf.

Saturday, Feb. 25th noon ‘til

• Live performances from Brent Stimmel, Andy Bilinksi, Brad Heller, Hufton Brothers, Jim Ashley, Ted Crenshaw, Ponchos From Peru, Rick Tobey, Comedian Tom Walsak, Laura McLean & more * • Donations welcome throughout the day for American Red Cross • Local insurance agents will be on site to educate the public on renter’s insurance

* Musicians who would like to donate their time to play should contact Billy Mellon: wilmington.unplugged@gmail.com.

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54 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

7-DAY BUDDY PASS See staff for specific details about membership and package savings.

FREE CHILDCARE FREE ZUMBA FREE TANNING

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS PURMOTION SUSPENSION FITNESS BOOT CAMP KETTLEBELLS PERSONAL TRAINING ASSESSMENT SMOOTHEES SUPPLEMENTS PROFESSIONAL STAFF

PORTER’S NECK - 7979 Market St. • 910-686-1766 LONGLEAF MALL - 4310 Shipyard Blvd. • 910-350-8289 RACINE (NEXT TO HOME DEPOT) - 200 Racine Dr. • 910-392-3999

DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 3/15: Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, two of the finest American singer/songwriters join forces for an “unplugged” performance. On sale now. DPACnc. com, 919-680-2787 ,123 Vivian St., Durham, NC

Carousel and others. The evening will feature the Ensemble, accompanied by a full professional orchestra and joined by guest soloists. Tickets: $15 and are available for purchase online at carolinavocalarts.org. 910-960-SING [7464].

WILMINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 3/17, 8pm: Possibilities...An Evening with Linda Lavin guest artist With the Billy Stritch Trio. Awardwinning star of film, television and the stage, Linda Lavin makes a return appearance for an unforgettable evening of great jazz and cabaret. Accompanying and collaborating with Linda is pianist Billy Stritch, himself a gifted and dazzling performer. Kenan Auditorium, UNCW. • 4/28, 8pm: Season Finale: Beethoven’s Ninth. The Wilmington Symphony concludes its ambitious, multi-year Beethoven Symphony Cycle with the grandest of them all - the spectacularly rousing Ninth Symphony, with its lifeaffirming “Ode to Joy.” All concerts at Kenan Auditorium. For tickets call Kenan Auditorium: (910) 962-3500. www.wilmingtonsymphony.org

CHAMBER MUSIC ILM All tickets at Kenan Box Office, 910-962-3500. www.chambermusicwilmington.org. 4/15, 7:30pm at Church of the Servant Episcopal at 4925 Oriole Dr. Kontras Quartet, who follows in the footsteps of Degas and Frye Street quartets as the current Resident Quartet with the Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory.

GYM CLASS HEROES UNCW Association for Campus Entertainment presents Gym Class HeroesUNCW Kenan Auditorium, 3/22. Doors 7:30pm; show: 8pm. Hip-hop, funk, reggae and rap. Tickets: UNCW Students $12 or $15 day of; UNCW Faculty/Staff $15 or $17 day of; General Public $18 or $20 day of. etix.com CAROLINA VOCAL ENSEMBLE 3/24, 8pm: Carolina Vocal Arts Ensemble, under the direction of Stephen Field, is pleased to announce that the group will present a concert called, “Something Wonderful—the genius of Rodgers and Hammerstein,” at Winter Park Baptist Church.This performance will include music from beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals such as Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music,

COASTAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY CHOIR Coastal Carolina Community Choir concert, 5/7, 7pm. Angels Watchin’ Over Me, Brookwood Baptist Church, 903 Henderson Dr. Jacksonville, NC. Program will consist of spirituals arranged by Dawson and Dilworth including Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Ain’-a That Good News!, River in Judea, My Good Lord, Jordan’s Angels; and Haydn’s Little Organ Mass. Dr. Ayumi Nakamae at 910-9386227 or nakamaea@coastalcarolina.edu. Free and open to the public.

WYNTON MARSALIS 2/28, 8pm: Jazz trumpeter/band leader Wynton Marsalis performs with the internationally acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Admission charge. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. 910-962-3500; http://uncw.edu/arts/jlco.html. Sold out!

dance WILMINGTON SINGLES Wilmington Singles: 2/24: DJ Robert Clemmons, Am. Legion Post 10. Music plays 8p.m.-11p.m. Ad-

mission: DJ dances $8/10; Band dances $10/12.

No shorts, miniskirts or denim jeans.Dale Thompson: (910)619-1054 BABS MCDANCE 2/27: West Coast Swing/ DC Handdancing workshop, 7-8:30pm • 2/28, Free Hafla: Not sure what that is? Come find out! 7-8:30pm • 2/29: Lindy/ Bal-swing workshop, 7-8:30pm • 3/1: Shufflin/ Urban Electro workshop, 7-8:30pm • 3/3: Bolero, 12-1:30pm • 2/25: The Imitations at Babs McDance! Doorsat 7pm. Cash bar and tasty snacks.

Lots of entertainment and dancing! $12/adv. and $15/door. $10/adv. for Babs McDance Studio members 6782 Market St. (910) 395-5090

TANGO WILMINGTON Tango classes and social dancing, Fridays, Carolina Lounge of Ramada Inn. 5001 Market Street (between College and Kerr). 7:30-9:30pm. $5 lounge entrance includes beginners’ lesson, 7:30.

• 2/25:Milonga features DJ Jack Levy, Steve’s Pad. ($5) 9pm-1am. • 3/17 Cecil & Iryna, 4-5.30pm, and 9pm-1am, Verna’s Ballroom Dancesport • 3/24: Jae, 4-5.30pm, and 9pm-1am, TBA • 4/21: Cecil & Iryna, 4-5.30pm, and 9pm-1am, Verna’s Ballroom Dancesport • 4/28: Jae, 4-5.30pm, and 9pm1am: TBA, Verna’s Ballroom Dancesport: 4523 Franklin Ave, $10/person per class. Ellen Bethune: 910-352-1219. eb18781@hotmail.com

LINE DANCING Get ready for weddings, concerts in the park, birthday parties and other events with the knowledge of popular line dancing. Since you dance on your own in an ensemble, line dancing is ideal for singles and for partners of non-dancers. Session 2: 3/4, 11, 18, and 25, 2012. Day and Time: Sundays, 4-5pm. Preregistration is requested. 256-7925. www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com.

76’ERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB Modern Western Style Square Dance. Club meets Thurs. nights at 7pm at the Senior Center for a new workshop on square dancing. Info: 270-1639 CAROLINA SHAG CLUB DJs play favorite beach music and shag tunes every Sat, 8pm to close. $4/members; $6/guests. Carolina Shag Club, 103 N. Lake Park Blvd. Carolina Beach, NC 620-4025

BALLROOM LATIN DANCE LESSONS New classes in bginner ballroom starting Tues 2/28 and Sun 3/4. 4th Sat Dance 2/25, $10,$5 w/Id. Ballroom DanceSport. Less than 1 mile from UNCW, 4523 Franklin Ave. Across from Cinema Dr. Corner of Kerr & Franklin. Singles/couples.

Group and private lessons. www.BallrooomDanceSportNC.com. 799-2001

SURFER TANGO Salsa on 2 NYC style, Thurs, 7pm, $5/person at Calico Room Front St. Lesson at 7pm; all welcome and no partner needed. • Waterford Tango at the Clubhouse, Fri. at 7:30 • Magnolia Greens Tango, Thurs, 7:30pm, Aerobics Room • Cape Fear Country Club Tango, Sun., 5pm. • It Takes Tuesdays to Tango, Tues., at Orton Underground, downtown; 7pm free lesson • Brunswick Forest Tango starts in Feb. • Live tango demo with Brunswick County Big Band on Valentines Day at St. James.

All classes are $10 per couple per class fun, professional, positive instruction. surfertango@gmail. com www.surfertango.com

SHAG LESSONS Shag Lessons, Session 2: Thursdays, 3/29-4/19.

No partner is needed. Beginner 6:45-7:45pm. Intermediate 7:45-8:45pm. Fees: WB Residents $35, Non-residents $45. Fran Russ Recreation Center.

Pre-reg. requested. 910-256-7925.

www.encorepub.com |february 22-28, 2012 |encore 55

CONTRA DANCE Tuesday night dances, 5th Ave United Methodist Church on South 5th Ave at Nun, 7:30-9:30pm.

Social dance for all levels; singles and couples, families, college and high school students and folks of all dancing abilities are invited to come. $4. (910) 538-9711.

art/exhibits WAA SPRING ART SHOW AND SALE The Wilmington Art Association’s 2012 Spring Art Show and Sale runs in conjunction with the NC Azalea Festival, 4/13-15, in St. James Episcopal Church’s Perry Hall at 25 S. 3rd Street. WAA is accepting entries for this juried, 30th Anniversary show through 3/5. Juror-judges, Lois Griffel of TheCape Cod School fame (painting/mixed media), and Brownie Harris, noted celebrity and corporate photographer. Non-refundable entry fees are $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

The show’s official “Prospectus,” including detailed guidelines is available through the website. www. wilmingtonart.org.

ARTFUL LIVING GROUP Artful Living Group located at 112 Cape Fear Blvd., 910-458-7822. info@artufllivinggroup.com. Feb. D.S. Starr & Halt’s “Cast No Stones” w/10% of sales going to Carolina Beach Rec Ctr and American Leukemia Society. • March: Mossy’s Most Wanted Salvage Art, feat. Mike Driver’s Metal Furniture. Opening, 3/1, 6:30-8:30pm EMERING AND KNOWN ARTISTS The Thalian Association present an exhibition featuring the work of eight emerging and known art-

ists from our area. Feat. an unusual installation that presents the art in harmony with the WWII artifacts in our lobby museum. View the exhibition daily at the HBHUSO/Community Arts Center during regular business hours until 3/23. Our Community Gallery will be open from 6-9pm for the Fourth Friday Walk on 2/24. Free and the public is invited to attend and meet our artists. Corner of Orange and 2nd streets.

Nancy Noel May, Norma Dinsuelo, Joan Mclaughlin. Paula Faraday: 910-792-0362 OUT OF POCKET Out of the Pocket: iPhonegraphy by Dorian Hill, Lynn Casper and Morgan Kenny, WHQR 91.3fm Public Radio’s new art exhibit at the MC Erny Gallery. Wilmington’s first exhibit of iPhone photographic art. Meet the artists and the WHQR staff and on-air personalities, while enjoying great food and wine. Hangs through 3/9. Portion of the proceeds from any sale of art benefits WHQR. Third floor of The Warwick Building at 254 N. Front St.

The Creative Exchange, local artists sale and swap, 2-5pm. • Every 3rd Friday: Live Bossanova w/Raphael Name, 7p-11p. • Every Fri/Sat: Live Music, 8-12am. Free unless noted otherwise. 910763-1197, theprojekte@gmail.com, www.theprojekte.com. 523 S 3rd St.

BOTTEGA EVENTS Bottega Gallery presents The Artists of Thrive Studios, feat. a wide spectacular variety of draHOSS HALEY DRAWING MACHINE matic works. Participants include: Scott Ehrhart, See page 28..

Gaeton!, Lance Strickland, Mike Watters, Sarah RIO JORDON Garriss, Jason Jones, Zak Duff, G. Scott Queen, Harry Taylor looks at the present as if it is the past; JANUARY 2012 ARTIST EXHIBIT Zachariah W. Weaver, and Rob Fogle. Exhibit “Rio Jordan” is a collection photographic artifacts Thalian Association, managers of the HBHUSO/ runs through 3/18, w/ closing reception on Fri., of the Cape Fear region. Use of “wet-plate” pho3/9, 6pm, with most artists in attendance. Fourth tographic techniques and tintypes and historic Friday Gallery Night: 2/24. • 3/23: The fantasprocesses that examine the memory of a river. tic Gabriel Lehmen will be returning for a solo Taylor earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Phoexhibit for two months. • Mon: Closed through tography, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, winter • Tues (4pm-midnight): Starving artist Want to see the latest works from area artists hanging at PA in 1992. 621N4TH Gallery, 621 N 4th night and open paint • Wed (4pm-mid.): Weekly downtown galleries and other business spaces?

Fourth Friday Street, downtown ILM. Hangs through 2/29. wine tastings, 7pm • (Sat 1pm-2am; Sun., 1pmGallery Night features downtown spots, where artist openings mid.) • Sun 2/26: “Buy You A Drink” Comedy ART SUBMISSIONS WANTED and receptions take place between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., along Night. bottegaartbar@gmail.com. • 208 N. Front Artists are invited to submit their work for rewith discussions, demonstrations, live music, wine, food and St. 910-763-3737, www.bottegagallery.com. view in order to be selected for the fourth vol-

2/24: FOURTH FRIDAY

fun! Participants include: 621N4TH, Acme Art Studios, Botume of “International Contemporary Artists”, FOURTH FRIDAY GALLERY NIGHT tega, Calico Room, Cape Fear Native, Caprice Bistro, Checker a series of international art books. Book proFourth Friday Gallery Nights 2012 are free monthvides an in-depth look at global art, appealing ly events where local galleries, studios and art Cab Gallery, Five Star Tavern, Golden Gallery, MC Erny Galto professional and emerging artists, opening lery (WHQR), New Elements, Old Books on Front Street, Opera spaces open their doors to the public in an afterout the world of art to a wider audience. Pubhours celebration of art and culture. Self-guided Room, Port City Pottery & Fine Crafts, Projekte, Riverside lication is already in progress; early submistours feature exhibitions of various artistic Dental Arts, Wicked and Wilmington Wine. Free! sions are recommended. Includes paintings, genres, as well as opening receptions, artist sculptures, installations, digital art and photogdiscussions, demonstrations, live music, raphy, showing in each page the individuality of wine, food and other traditional and nonCAC, are proud to announce the January Artists each artist and different styles of expression as traditional art-related activities. Dates: 2/24. www.

Exhibition feat. the work of eight emerging and well. Juried committee selects artists, who thenm wilmingtonfourthfridays.com. known artists from our area, incl. Barbara Bear will be presented in the book in a one-page layJamison, Lynette Ashby, Ronald Williams and othout, to include images of his/her work, an essay ers. Exhibit runs through 3/23. Media in painting, or statement and his/her contact information. basket-weaving, mixed-media, photography and www.incoartists.com more represented.

NC BATTLESHIP KRISTIN GIBSON PROJEKTE 2/26, noon-10pm: Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Kristin Gibson is feat. artist at Spectrum Art GalNow showing: “Black & White” a Thrive Studio Club will operate from the Battleship Nc during lery through March, fetauring spirited paintings group exhibit showcasing new black and white the North Carolina QSO Party. This annual “HAM and scarves stirred from elements of daily life. artworks by Thrive Studio artists Scott Ehrhart, RADIO” event allows amateur radio operators Open house, 3/9, 5-7pm. Kristin will hold a paintZachariah Weaver, Lance Strickland, Gaeten Lowworldwide to contact as many of NC’s 100 couning demo 3-5pm. 1125-H Military Cutoff Rd. www. rie, Jason Jones, Zachary Duff, Geoffrey Scott ties as possible. Morse code communications will spectrumartandjewelry.com Queen, Drew Swinson, Miranda Welborn Duncan, originate from the TDE transmitter, placed in serARTISTS FOR CHARITY Emily Russell, Trek Matthews and Michael Watters. vice aboard the Battleship in 1944, and restored to Artists for Charity announces its 2012 Art Show for • Now open: Coffeehaus and Antiques, w/assortoperating condition by Club members in 2005, afcharity to be held at the Caffé Phoenix, 35 North ment of homemade sweets and specialty brewed ter a 50+ year slumber. Jack Jacobs: 791-1566 or Front St. Grand Opening and Meet-the-Artists rejava. Opens 1pm Tue-Sat. • EVENTS: Mon/Tues/ wd4oin@arrl.net. • 3/7: Power Plant Tour: Details ception: Thurs., 3/8, 5pm. Show running until the Sat/Sun: Yoga, PWYC, 6.30-7.30pm. Wed: Figure about the ship’s boilers, turbines and reduction end of April. Particpants include: Robin Chapman, Drawing, $10/class, 6-8pm. First Wed of each gears, steam and diesel powered service turbo Gail Henderson, Roz Hancock, Dauwlene BugMonth: DivaMade Collective, a meet n greet for generators, along with electrical distribution, wanatto, Caiden Kenny, Joan Geisel, Barton Hatcher, creative women, 7.30-9.30pm. Every other Thur: ter distillation, and steering mechanisms. • 10/13: William Hubbard, Tran Thi Ha, James Kelly, BarUNCW Film Nite, sometimes political, always conGo behind the scenes of the Battleship and exbara Jamison, Gail Smith, Todd Corrigan, Ann Hair, troversial, 7.30-11pm. Second Sat of each month: plore un-restored areas not open to the public.

910-251-5797 or www.battleshipnc.com. Jct of HWYs 17/74/76/421, on the Cape Fear River.

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CAMERON ART MUSEUM EXHIBITS: Murrinis Within a Crystal Matrix: The Poetic Glassworks of Richard Ritter,” “Mark Peiser: Reflections on the Palomar Mirror “and “Penland School of Crafts: Evolution and Imagination.” Both Richard Ritter and Mark Peiser are honored as 2011 North Carolina Living Treasures.

Thematically tied, both Ritter and Peiser attended Penland School of Crafts. The school is an international leader in the evolution of craft education located in western NC. This exhibition explores Penland then and now, featuring examples of some of the finest work from the school. Hangs through 4/1. • Civil War Era Drawings from the Becker Collection, through 5/6. Feat. 127 “first hand” drawings depicting colorful aspects of life and action during the Civil War era. Original draw-

ings by artist-reporters for the Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper were used to inform a reading public consumed by the need to know what was happening throughout America as it struggled to establish its national identity. Curated by Judith Bookbinder and Sheila Gallagher with Boston College. The traveling exhibition is organized by Curatorial Assistance Traveling Exhibitions, Pasadena California. • Jazz at the CAM Series, in partnership with the Cape Fear Jazz Society, through 4/2012, 6:30-8pm. CAM/CFJS Members: $3/ non-members: $55, students: $20. Indv seats: $7 for members, $10, nonmembers and $5 students w/ID. 3/1: The Wahl Project performs bebop and beyond • 4/5: Benny Hill Quartet. www. capefearjazzsociety.org. • 2/16, 8pm: COAST Poetry Jam; $3-$5. Music by Eclectic Soul. Produced by “Yo Girl” Sandra and hosted by Bigg B. For information call the COAST radio studio line: 910-763-0973 or listen to them at 97.3 FM. • 2/25, 10am, 2/26, 11am: 7th Annual Civil War Living History: Reenactors, Battle of Forks Road skirmish, period arts, crafts, activities and more.

The weekend’s activities include the 2nd Annual Ghost Walk with Halyburton Park. • Kids @ CAM, 2/25-26: 11am-2pm: Free! In honor of our Civil War Living History Weekend, we will have Civil War era games and activities! Make art you can take home, explore our exhibitions. Fun for the whole family! Parental supervision required. No pre-registration necessary.• CLASSES, ETC: Life Drawing every Tues., 6-9pm. Group meets in Reception Hall.

Participants provide own dry drawing materials and watercolors. $70/6-wks. • Hand and Wheel Pottery Techniques: Mon/Wd, 3/19-5/9, 9am-noon, or Tues/Thurs, 3/20-5/10, 5:30-8:30pm. CAM Members: $250; Non-members: $300. Hiroshi Sueyoshi teaches handbuilding, wheel throwing, glazing and finishing techniques. Class size is limited. Open to all skill levels, ages 16+. • Museum School: A new selection of exciting and creative classes. Winter Session II starts week 2/20. www.cameronartmuseum.com/adult.php or call 910-395-5999 (ext.

1008 or 1024).• Call for Yoga, Rumba and Tai Chi class schedules. Corner of South 17th St. and Independence Blvd. Tues-Sun,11am-5pm; Thurs: 11am9pm. Museum members free, $8 non-members, $5 students with valid ID, $3 children age 2 -12. www. cameronartmuseum.com or 910-395-5999.

NC AQUARIUM Exotic Aquatics Gallery has added white-spotted jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata) to its collection.The Exotic Aquatics Gallery traditionally features nonnative marine species. Guests can learn more about the life cycle of a jellyfish while viewing these beautiful animals. Educates the public on the importance of well-balanced ecosystems. • Events: Aquarist Apprentice, Behind the Scenes Tour, Breakfast with

the Fishes, Mommy and Me, Canoeing the Salt Marsh, Surf Fishing Workshop. Pre-reg. classes.

910-458-8257; www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.

900 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Mon, Little Sprouts Storytime, 10am, and Go

2/25: CAPE FEAR MUSEUM Embrace the learning opportunities during the last few days of Black History Month by heading to the Cape Fear Museum. They’ll offer an African Art program on the 25th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (free with admission). Folks will discover the geography of Africa and its many origins, including the art of low-country basketry. Participants will also be able to make their own art using African-influenced designs in the style of local legendary artist Minnie Evans. 814 Market Street.

Green Engineer Team, 3:30pm. • Tues., Leading to Reading Literacy Class , 9am, and Kids Cooking Club, 3:30pm • Wed., Preschool Science, 10am; Discover Science, 3:30pm; and Mini Math, 4pm.

• Thurs. StoryCOOKS, 10am; and StART with a Story, 3:30pm • Fri., Toddler Time, 10am; and Adventures in Art, 3:30pm • Sat, Discovery Fitness, 4pm; Sun., Acting Club 2pm. • Drop off gently used books at our Museum to be used for a good cause.

Ooksbay Books uses book collection locations to help promote literacy, find a good use for used books, and benefit nonprofits. www.ooksbaybooks. com. www.playwilmington.org CAPE FEAR MUSEUM EXHIBITS: Through 7/15: Cape Fear Treasures: “Shoes” takes a glimpse into a selection of footwear from Cape Fear Museum’s permanent collection. 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries featuring spectator oxford pumps, lace-up boots, satin slippers, Air Jordans and more! • Through 3/18: Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art—Highlights the beauty of coiled basketry and shows how a basket can be viewed simultaneously as a work of art, object of use and container of memory. Features more than 50 baskets and related objects and images of Africans in America from the 17th century to the present. • EVENTS: Volunteer Open House held first Wed. of mo. Opportunities are available in museum store, working with the historic collection, and as an education docent. • New Hanover County Resident’s Day: Residents admitted free first Sun. ea. mo. • 2/25, 1-4pm: African Art, free

for members or w/admission. Discover the African influences in Lower Cape Fear art and culture. Explore the geography of Africa, and uncover the origins of Lowcountry basketry then make a basket to take home. Create your own art using Africaninfluenced symmetry and design in the style of local artist Minnie Evans.• Explore the Civil War, 3/3, 10, 1-4pm; all ages. Investigate the contents of a Civil War soldier’s haversack and consider how the items compare to your own daily life needs. Learn how to create and crack secret codes; try on reproduction Civil War clothing and play a Blockade Runner board game. Museum admission. • Cape Fear Skies: Moon Madness, 3/18. 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30pm. All ages. Examine the moon to uncover the “secret” behind the lunar cycle. Museum admission. • 3/20, 6:30-8:30pm: Cape Fear 101: Discover regional history and science topics of interest, Downtown Wilmington, Past and Present. Adults; $5/members or $7/non-members.

Explore the history of Wilmington’s downtown with City of Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Planner, Maggie O’Connor, as she looks at how shopping in the downtown has changed through the years. Hours: 9am-5pm through Labor Day, TuesSat; 1-5pm, Sun. $7 for adults; $6 for students with valid ID and senior citizens; $6 special military rate with valid military ID; $4 for children 3-17; and free for children under 3. Museum members admitted free. 814 Market St. 910-798-4367. www.capefearmuseum.com.

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH MUSEUM The Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, housed in the turn of the century Myers Cottage, exists to preserve and to share the history of Wrightsville Beach. Visitors to the cottage will find a scale model

of Wrightsville Beach circa 1910, exhibits featuring the early days of the beach including Lumina Pavilion, our hurricane history and information about the interaction between the people and our natural environment which have shaped the 100 year history of Wrightsville Beach. 256-2569. 303 West Salisbury St. wbmuseum.com. (910)256-2569 WILMINGTON RAILROAD MUSEUM Explore railroad history and heritage, especially of the Atlantic Coast Line, headquartered in Wilmington for more than 130 years. Interests and activities for all ages including historical exhibits, full-size steam engine and rolling stock, lively children’s area, and spectacular scale models. Housed in an original 1882 freight warehouse, facilities are fully accessible and on one level. Groups receive special guided tours. Facilities can also be booked for meetings or mixers, accommodating groups of up to 150. • Story Times designed for younger visitors first and third Mon, 10:30am. $4 per family is charged to cover program costs and includes access to the rest of the Museum. • 9/28, 7pm: The Wilmington Railroad Museum hosts a visit from author Theodore Kornweibel, Jr. He has written “Railroads in the African American Experience,” a remarkable review of the significant contributions of African Americans to the building, maintenance, operation, and profitability of the American railway system. A free community presentation and reception will be held at First Baptist Missionary Church, 520 N. Fifth Avenue, at 7 pm. • Museum admission only $6 for adults, $5 for seniors/military, $3 for children 2-12, and free under age 2. Located at the north end of downtown at 505 Nutt St. 910-7632634 or www.wrrm.org.

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Wilmington Water Tours

photo by Alan Craddick

RIVER CLUB

WE WILL HAVE RIVER CLUB @ THE DOCK ONLY 3 MORE WEEKS, THEN WE WILL TAKE THE MUSIC TO THE RIVER. AS OF MARCH 15TH...OUR ACCOUSTIC SPOTLIGHT ON THE RIVER RETURNS... WE FEATURE A DIFFERENT LOCAL MUSICIAN FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT AND HAPPENING AT AN EARLIER HOUR.

BAR OPENS @ 5:30 PM MUSIC STARTS @ 6:30 MUsICIans sChEdULE FEB. 23 - Jesse stockton MaR. 1 - alex Ball MaR. 8 - Mark Lynch APPETIZER MENU PROVIDED BY ELIJAH’S RESTAURANT....

NOW FEATURING LOCAL MICRO BREWS Forget a boring, fixed venue for your next party …enjoy a cruise on the Cape Fear River with all the trimmings…from your favorite libations, heavy hors d’ouvers and even Live Music. All Customized especially for you ! Call for more info...

Leave the driving to us.....

COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PARTIES OF 10 OR MORE FOR OUR BLACKWATER ADVENTURE, SUNSET CRUISE & OUR CAPTAIN’S LAZY DAY CRUISES. PICK UP & DROP OFF AT 1 LOCATION...CALL FOR MORE DETAILS

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Visit us on the Riverwalk!

212 S. Water Street

For a complete list of scheduled Tours, Excursions, and Fees, visit

wilmingtonwatertours.com handicap accESSiblE

58 encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

BAR ON BOARD WITH ALL ABC PERMITS

stored home features period furnishings, artwork and family portraits. Tours offered Mon-Fri, 10am4pm, and Sat, 12-5pm. Walking tours are Wed and Sat. at 10am. 126 S. Third St. Adults $8, children $4. 762-0492. www.latimerhouse.org CAPE FEAR SERPENTARIUM Cool down in front of “Anaconda Splash” exhibit in the indoor tropical jungle. See, photograph and even touch rare animals assembled from all over the planet in beautiful simulations of their natural environments. Meet colorful jungle birds, crocodiles, king cobras, black mambas and many more.

Open from 11am-5pm, Sat. from 11am-6pm. 20 Orange Street at Front Street on historic downtown riverwalk. (910) 762-1669 or www.capefearserpentarium.com.

BELLAMY MANSION One of NC’s most spectacular examples of antebellum architecture, built on the eve of the Civil War by free and enslaved black artisans, for John Dillard Bellamy (1817-1896) physician, planter and business leader; and his wife, Eliza McIlhenny Harriss (1821-1907) and their nine children. After the fall of Fort Fisher in 1865, Federal troops commandeered the house as their headquarters during the occupation of Wilmington. Now a museum, itfocuses on history and the design arts and offers tours, changing exhibitions and an informative look at historic preservation in action. • 2/27, 7pm: African American Troops in the Revolutionary Era, w/Tom Massey, History Instructor of CFCC, as part of 3rd year of the “Monday’s at the Mansion” Speaker Series. “Give me liberty or give me death” is a cry of defiance that has been credited to Patrick Henry, a slave-owning American patriot from Virginia.

It is a cry that affected many people during the Revolutionary Era. It greatly affected the American

colonists as well as African Americans, those who were free as well as those who were slaves. • 3/15, 6:30-8:30pm: Join the HPC, YWCA and the Bellamy Mansion at the “Meet the Help” book signing with Bertha Todd and Rhonda Bellamy. The anthology was inspired by Kathryn Stockett’s best seller “The Help.” Reception following. • 3/19, 6/4, 9/17 and 12/17: Spring Tea at the Bellamy, 2pm. Tea service with finger sandwiches and sweets while listening to the romantic music of Susan Savia. $35; 10% discount at gift shop that day and access to the Tim Buchman photography exhibit at the Bellamy. RSVP: 910.251.3700 ext. 103. Proceeds go to operations of Bellamy Mansion Museum. www. bellamymansion.org. 503 Market St BURGWIN WRIGHT HOUSE 18th century Burgwin-Wright House Museum in the heart of Wilmington’s Historic District, is the oldest museum house in NC, restored with 18th and 19th century decor and gardens. Colonial life is experienced through historical interpretations in kitchen-building and courtyard. 3rd and Market St. Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm. Last tour, 3pm. Admission rqd. (910) 762-0570. burgwinwrighthouse.com.

sports/education WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH PARK FITNESS Yoga: Tues/Wedn, 6:30pm.• Beginner Pilates, Tues/Thurs, 7:30-8:15am. • Pilates 50/50, Mon/ Wed/Fri, 10:30-11:30am. Combines the stabilizing and strengthening benefits of pilates with the flexibility and postures of yoga. • Low-Impact Aerobics: Mon./Wed./Fri., 8am-9am and 9am-10am. Geared for seniors, suitable for any adult and all fitness levels.• Tone and Stretch, Tues/Thurs, 8:30-9:15am.

Geared for seniors, suitable for any adult and all fitness levels. • Boot Camp: Tues/Thurs, 6-7am; Sat., 8am-9am, (January-October). 910-256-7925.

ALTHEA GIBSON TENNIS COMPLEX Cardio Tennis: Mon, 10am; Wed, 5:30pm. $10/clinic. • Double Positining/Strategy Clinic (for 3.5/4.0 players) Mon, 11am-noon, $10. Pre-reg: 341-4631.

3405 A Park Ave. www.empiepark.com PILATES CLASSES Body Aligned Pilates Studio, 3308 Wrightsville Ave. Equipment and Mat Classes: Monday Mat, 5:30pm; Thurs. Tower 5:30pm; Fri. Reformer/Tower 6am; Sat. Tower 9am; Mat 10am. 910-279-7294 or visit www.thebodyaligned.com CAPE FEAR FENCING ASSOC. Cape Fear Fencing Association (CFFA) will offer its next beginners’ fencing class on 3/6., 6:30pm, for six weeks. Taught by Head Coach Greg Spahr Tues/Thurs and costs $50. The class will meet in the lower level of Tileston Gym at St. Mary’s on the corner of 5th and Ann streetsl; al equipment is supplied by the CFFA. Beginning fencing classes include the basic elements of fencing, the history of the sport, foundational techniques, conditioning, refereeing, and tournament strategy. Graduates will have the option of continuing to fence with the CFFA which offers fencing Tues/Wed/Thurs, 7:30pm. www. capefearfencing.com NC BIRDING TRAIL NC Birding Trail Hikes, a driving trail to link birders with great birding sites across the state and local communities. Ea. mo. explore different site along Coastal Plain Trail in Southeastern NC. Appx 2 mil. hikes; transportation from Halyburton included. Ft. Fisher, 3/15, 8am-noon, $10; Lake Waccamaw, 4/19, 8am-noon, $10. (910) 341-0075.

OAK ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE RUN 4/21: Oak Island Lighthouse Run, 10k run/walk, 5k and new this year, 1/2 marathon! All runs will now begin and end at the N.C. Baptist Assembly, Fort Caswell. The changes to the Oak Island Lighthouse Run are designed to eliminate logistical challenges with the growth of the event and to alleviate traffic congestion created by past closings of the G.V. Barbee Bridge. 910-457-6964 or www.lighthouse10k.com TENNIS LADDER Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation offers the Men’s & Women’s Singles Tennis Ladder each summer. All players will be combined into a single ladder. Registration: 4/2, Play begins 5/21 and ends 8/31.Wrightsville Beach Parks and Rec: 910-256792. www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com FLAG FOOTBALL Flag Football Spring season begins 2/12. Reg. now in the park office, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Last day to register: 2/2. Each team must provide the registration form, the team fee of $450, and the initial roster. While Wrightsville Beach Flag Football League works in cooperation with the Wilmington Flag Football League, there are slight differences in the administrative procedures and the rules which will be reviewed at the mandatory captains’ meeting. 910-256-7925. parksandrecreation@towb.org.

film CINEMATIQUE Plays weekly at Thalian Hall main stage, 310 Chestnut St. 7:30pm, $7 (unless otherwise noted) • Carnage, 2/22-23 (Note: Mon, Wed, Thur screen-

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ings): A razor-sharp, biting comedy centered on parental differences. After two boys duke it out on a playground, the parents of the “victim” invite the parents of the “bully” over to work out their issues. Starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, and John C. Reilly. Directed by Roman Polanksi. Rated R. 1 hr. 20 min. • A Dangerous Method, 2/27-29: On the eve of WW I, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from true-life events, the movie explores the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), the beautiful but disturbed young woman who comes between them. Rated R, 1 hr. 33 min.

CASTING FOR MOVIE Casting is now under way for a new untitled documentary about the local high school baseball season. Anyone with a love or connection of the summer pastime (fans, coach, player, ump, groupies, etc.) is encouraged to send a well produced (technical quality is an absolute necessity) one minute video about their love of North Carolina baseball and why they are the ONES to star in this new and provocative pilot brought to you by Dorsey Levens (former Superbowl Champ and All-pro NFLer) and Nick Basta (local director,professor & actor). Their last project entitled Bellrung has received major press, including Outside the Lines and CNN (directed by local Zach Hermann). Please submit videos and questions ASAP: wilmingtonbaseballproject@ gmail.com CAPE FEAR ENVIRONMENTAL FILM/FORUMS Cape Fear Environmental Film Forum schedule will consist of three film blocks with expert discuss panels, and will be presented 2/25, 10am-7:30pm, encore

BE20ST12OF

WILMINGTON

7 years in a row

King Auditorium on the UNCW Campus. Intent is to inspire and motivate participants to go out and make a difference for the environment in their communities. Mix of films and panels addressing environmental issues such as reconnecting with nature, sustainable food systems, biodiversity, alternative forms of energy, and the protection and restoration of wild lands and waters. Schedule: 10am, short films and panel of experts discussing activism and filmmaking; 2pm, midday forum and feature film, “Play Again,” about how new media technologies have improved our lives, yet hinder it, too. Panel discussion with film’s producer and local experts; 5pm, short, “Food Not Bombs” and feat., “Dive!

Living Off America’s Waste,” a documentary about dumpster diving and the hunger crises which faces our world. Panel discussion with short director and representatives of Food Not Bombs local chapter and Food Bank. Free, open to public.

SUBVERSIVE FILM SERIES 3/4: Happiness—The lives of many individuals connected by the desire for happiness, often from sources usually considered dark or evil. One of Todd Solondz’s (Welcome to The Dollhouse, Storytelling) most controversial films, starring Jane Adams, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Dylan Baker and Lara Flynn Boyle. • 3/11: The Last Mountain is a feature-length documentary film directed by Bill Haney and produced by Haney, Clara Bingham and Eric Grunebaum. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and went into general release on 6/3. The film explores the consequences of mining and burning coal, with a particular focus on the use of a method for coal strip-mining in Appalachia commonly known as mountaintop removal mining. • Free, 8pm. Juggling Gypsy, 1612 Castle St., (910) 763-2223

Thank You Wilmington!

Voted “Best Print Shop 2012”

Making Good Impressions for You Since 1973 FREE OFF-STREET PARKING

Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00

kids stuf

lectures/readings

YOUTH TENNIS CAMPS The Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Department is offering several tennis programs for youth at the Wrightsville Beach Park Tennis Courts.

Tennis pro Jackie Jenkins will instruct the various programs. Fees/times vary depending upon age, call (910) 256-7925 or check out www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com for more details.

OLD BOOKS ON FRONT STREET Next month’s Going Green Book Club features “Slow Money,” which is of course available at Old Books. Next meeting: 3/6. • Wendy Kowalski is opening the first 2012 Fourth Friday Art Show at the store on the 2/24, 6pm,. Wendy’s work is incredible and always worth a second look. • Medafo Lloyd Wilson, the legendary storyteller, has moved back to town and will perform as part of Old Books’ participation in “Be a Tourist in Your Home Town,” Sun., 3/4, 3pm. Medafo will demonstrate several traditional African instruments. • “Script Frenzy”— another project of National Novel Writing Month— takes place through the month of April, so if you have a script you have been trying to start or finish, come write at Old Books! 249 N. Front St. (910) 76-BOOKS. www.oldbooksonfrontst.com.

KIDS GONE WILD 3/16: “Kids Gone Wild” offers interactive workshops following standard course of study in science, math, and creative writing to middle and high school students—scavenger hunt, wildlife trail and other interactive activities. Wilmington Convention Center and Coastline Convention Center, free if pre-reg. Bus parking also free. Otherwise, $7 seniors/military, $10 adults, kids 10 and under, free w/adult. Reservations accepted on a first-come basis. Send e-mail to: ncqdma@yahoo.com or call Judy Gardner at 919 5552-449. www.capefearwildlifeexpo.com.

CAPE FEAR COTILLION Sessions include lessons in ballroom and popular dance along with invaluable etiquette and social skills needed for all occasions. Skills learned will last a lifetime. Ends with a party where students will have the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned! Tuesday, 4/10; pre-cotillion (ages 3-7) 4-4:45pm. Cotillion (ages 8 – 12) 5-6pm. Preregistration is required. 256-7925 or www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com.

Nails The Right Way

way Y L N O e h t Where way! Valentines Day T H G I R e h t is

is right around the corner and we want to help make it special!

Bring your “sweetie” or best friend in for a double pedicure for only $40 for two!

That is $10 off of the original price! Or simply come in, purchase a gift certificate and keep it to pamper yourself or that special someone in your life, and we WILL honor the Valentines Day special!

PRINT • COPY • DESIGN SERVICES

MULTICOLOR & PROCESS COLOR • LASER COLOR COPIES PRINTED PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

(910) 763-8476 FAX (910) 763-6919

110 Dock Street • Wilmington, nc 28401 www.dockstreetprinting.com 60 encore |february 22-28, 2012| www.encorepub.com

WOMEN IN BUSINESS Join McColl & Associates, Inc and area women in business for the 2012 Women in Business (WIB) Speaker Series on 2/23, 11:30am-1:30pm, Press 102, downtown Wilmington. Guest speaker Nicoa Dunne will energize the room with her energetic style on the topic of “Energy Leadership.” Women in business will learn about Seven Levels of Energy are all about and take away a new understanding of her responsibility as a leader, peer, employee, mother, spouse, and friend. Attendees include a mix of business owners, presidents and CEO’s in addition to healthcare, customer service, financial professionals and more. Tickets: $40 and can be purchased by calling McColl & Associates at 910350-1211. www.mccoll-associates.com/wib. Seating is limited.

21 South 2nd St., Downtown Wilmington (910) 399-4880 • (910) 338-6981

www.nailstherightway.com

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FRIENDS OF LIBRARY SPEAKERS Local authors Rhonda Bellamy and Bertha Boykin Todd will speak at the Northeast Library on Tues., 2/28. continental breakfast served at 9:30am, after which the authors will discuss their new book, Meet the Help. Free event, but limited seating; RSVP. Dorothy Hodder: 910-798-6323 or dhodder@ nhcgov.com. Meet the Help is a collection of 40 reminiscences by and about men and women who worked in domestic service, inspired by the bestselling novel The Help.

CHARLES C. MANN Charles C. Mann, bestselling author of 1491, will speak on “Uncovering the New World Columbus Created,” at 7:30pm, Wed., 2/29, in the Warwick Center at the UNCW. Lecture and book signing, hosted by UNCW’s Honors College; free and open to the public. 1493 explores the impact of the Columbian Exchange on the world, looking at its effects on ecology, biology, trade and anthropology. A three-time National Magazine Award finalist, Mann has received writing awards from the American Bar Association, the American Institute of Physics, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Margaret Sanger Foundation and the Lannan Foundation. His work has been featured on NPR’s Fresh Air. NEW HANOVER PUBLIC LIBRARY New Hanover County Public Library is now accepting performer applications for Story Extravaganza 2012! This 2nd annual storytelling festival is scheduled for Sat., 5/12, 10am-1pm, at Northeast Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Rd. 20 performances by local artists or groups will be featured at Story Extravaganza. Performances will each be five minutes long and based on the children’s book of the performer’s choice. Performers are not paid but may register for a free table in the vendor area where they may promote services and sell products. Interested local artists are invited to submit an application by 3/1.

Questions to Scooter Hayes (shays@nhcgov.com; 910-798-6367) .

classes/workshops MUSIC LESSONS Piano and guitar lessons for all ages and skill levels.

Learn to play by ear, improvise, and have fun playing everything from classic rock to current hits. Ideal for songwriters and others interested in making a CD or performing live. Also scheduling auditions for singers interested in recording in a world-class studio. With extensive stage/concert management for numerous Grammy-winners, all with a dedicationfor musical excellence are welcome. 269-9276 COASTAL HORIZONS CENTER INC Crisis Intervention Services of is sponsoring a Dream Workshop. Contact Buffy Hughes,P-LCSW or Page Rutledge, 615 Shipyard Blvd. 910392-7460. Pre-screening is rqd. Workshop times: Meets for 3 weeks, once a week for 2 hours. Final dates to be announced.

BIRDING IN THE NEW YEAR Cape Fear Naturalist guides you on an open water exploration of the Intracoastal Waterway, inlet passages, and sandy barrier islands local to Wilmington proper. Come discover the avian diversity that coastal North Carolina has to offer while relaxing on a catamaran style boat. Topics on the trip will include shorebird identification and ecology as well as coastal salt marsh function. Masonboro Island, Bradley Creek , departs from Blockade Runner dock, Wrightsville Beach, Mon.-Sat., 9am, 12pm, 2pm; 1 1/2 hours. $ 25/individual. WB Scenic Tours: 910-200-4002. www.wrightsvillebeachscenictours.com

ADULT AND YOUTH TENNIS Tennis lessons are offered for adults, youth ages 9-12, and we now offer QuickStart for ages 6-8.

Group lessons meet on Mon/Wed $55-$70. Other days are available for group of 6 or more. Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Deprt: (910) 2567925 for session dates and more details. www. townofwrightsvillebeach.com WINE CLASSES All classes Thurs, 6:30pm at Taste the Olive; must be at least 21 years of age w/ID. Space limited; RSVP rqd. Schedule: 3/1: Temparnillo and Beyond!—We will explore the various wine producing regions of Spain and taste some true value wines made in the classic European style. $25/person • 3/15/2012: South American Malbec–. We will explore “new world” pure Malbec and blended varieties from Argentina and Chile, which offer fantastic values. $25/person. 910-256-OILS(6457)for policies/details.

BRIDGE LESSONS The Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department is offering Beginner II Bridge lessons and workshops with Marie Killoran. Bridge II Lessons: Thurs., 3/1, 8, 15, 4/5 & 12. Beginner II Bridge is from 9:30-11:30am. Bridge Workshops are open to anyone with basic bridge knowledge and play experience. Different topics covered each week, 3/10 & 17, 2012, 9:30-11:30am. All sessions will consist of discussion and practice hands. 910-256-7925. Prereg.: (910) 256-7925.

ART CLASSES Professional instruction with Lois DeWitt, MFA. Over 30 years of art teaching experience. Small classes, individual tutoring available. loislight@ bellsouth.net. Four weeks, $80. Watercolor: Mon, 11am-1pm; or Sat., 3-5pm. • Collage: Mon, 3-5pm. • Mixed Media, Tues., 3-5pm. • Acrylic Painting, Wed., 11am-1pm. • Oil Pastel, Wed, 3-5pm. • Basic Drawing, Sat., 11-1pm. • Watercolor, Sat., 3-5pm.

clubs/notices TIDEWATER CAMELLIA CLUB SHOW & SALE 2/25,12:30pm. An American Camellia Society juried show with approximately 1,000 blooms and education forums. Free admission. Arab Shrine Club (4510 S. College Rd.), www.tidewatercamelliaclub.org

future scopes

line: 3/1, 5pm. 799-6820.

NC SOROSIS RUMMAGE SALE NC Sorosis will hold a Rummage Sale, 3/3, 7am2pm, at the Sorosis Clubhouse, 20 South Cardinal Dr. Patrons at the sale will be able to bring their gold, silver, and platinum to be evaluated by an Encore Gold Professional who will be authorized to purchase the items. Coins dated before 1964 will also be subject to evaluation and sale. A percentage of the sale of these items will go to NC Sorosis to support their philanthropic efforts. Corner of Cardinal Drive and Eastwood Road provides something for everyone. Refreshments for sale; individuals interested in being paid top dollar for their gold, silver, platinum, or coins, as well as those interested in bargain prices of clothing and household items are urged to attend.

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING RALLY Verizon Call Center hosts Electronic Recycling Rally, 3/8, 7:30am-2pm. The zero-tolerance policy requires that all materials are reused or recycled with some components stripped down to their essential materials and metals which are then distributed for re-use. Verizon hosts another rally, welcoming items like laptop and desktop computers including all monitors, televisions, computer cables, mice and keyboards, gaming consoles, telephones and answering machines, stereo and audio equipment, paper shredders, alarm clocks, printers, cameras, conferencing equipment, remote controls, earphones, small electronic appliances (such as coffee makers, toasters, toaster ovens and can openers), and electronic toys, without batteries. Standard glass, plastic and aluminum materials will also be accepted. Hard drives will not be wiped. Converse Drive

with Fay Meadows

ARIES (21 Mar. – 20 April) Even though you have the gift of gab right now, care should be taken not to be “taken” in by someone else with the same gifts!

TAURUS (21 April – 20 May) A great time for those tasks that require concentration; tasks that have many distractions are likely to drive you over the edge GEMINI (21 May – 20 June) Feeling restricted leaves you desiring something more, something different. Those around you should hold on, it could be a wild ride as you find your way.

CANCER (21 June – 21 July) Hearing from a long-lost friend is just one of many unexpected events to be watchful for; flexibility will be necessary to keep your cool while the Universe makes things happen.

LEO (22 July – 22 Aug.) Relationships are already work and right now more so than usual. Putting lovers on a pedestal increases your disappointment and discouragement.

CAPE FEAR PARROT CLUB Cape Fear Parrot Club meets monthly. Schedule: 3/10, Housing your pet bird, short video then social time. Ces Erdman: 910-386-6507 or cesnc1978@ hotmail.com

VIRGO (23 Aug. – 22 Sept.)

Time is not on your side if you are counting on it to give you what you want; instead you are going to have to be assertive and go get it.

GIRL SCOUTS COOKIE SALE The Girl Scouts’ annual, and much anticipated, cookie sale is here! Sale dates through 3/11, cost is $3.50/box in 8 varieties, with new lemon shortbread flavor. Cokie booths kick off Super Bowl weekend, and customers can use their credit card to buy cookies. Customers who don’t want to purchase cookies for themselves, but want to support Girl Scouts, a troop, and our military troops can do so through Operation Cookie Drop, where monetary donations are allowed. www.girlscoutcookies. com or www.nccoastalpines.org.

LIBRA (24 Sept. – 23 Oct.) Success! This is a good time to complete large, complicated projects at work and to receive the credit. Dealings with the opposite sex through work go well and that good feeling carries over.

SCORPIO (23 Oct. – 21 Nov.) Time to go after the things that you have been secretly longing for; being shy and hoping someone will notice what you want is not a good plan.

Creators syndiCate

WILMINGTON KIWANIS CLUB 2/25, 8am-2pm: First annual “Get Out and Gear Up” yard sale at The Brigade Boys & Girls Club, 2759 Vance Str Shop tools, fishing gear, sporting goods, yard tools, camping needs, canoes/kayaks and more! Donation Drop-Off sites: Sat., 2/18, 9am-4pm, in Parking Lots at BB&T at Hanover Center—First Federal at The Forum - Lowes Foods at Monkey Junction. Proceeds benefit: The Brigade Boys and Girls Club and CFCC & UNCW Scholarships. Frank Grady: 919-880-9257.

NOMS FOR WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT Nominations are now being accepted for the YWCA Cape Fear Women of Achievement Awards to honor women and youth who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities, as well as excellence, accomplishments and commitment in their careers, schools and communities.. Women in Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties may be nominated in nine categories: arts, business, communications, education, environmental, health and wellness, public service, volunteer and the Rachel Freeman Unsung Hero Award. Seniors in high school are nominated in the Youth Leader Category (these awards include a $1,000 scholarship). Dead-

WILMINGTON PRIDE BOARD MEETINGS Wilmington Pride Board meetings, 3rd Tues/mo. at BuenaSpace, 7:30-8:45pm

SAGITTARIUS (22 Nov. – 21 Dec.) A few too many gossipy stories have you wondering about the workplace; keep your focus on the job at hand and your own future will go much smoother.

CAPRICORN (22 Dec. – 20 Jan.) “It’s now or never,” as the song goes, and now is the time to show others how well you can shine!

Being proud of your accomplishments is the only way that some will see your abilities.

AQUARIUS (21 Jan. – 19 Feb.) A little me time will go a long way towards rebuilding a little of the self confidence that you are lacking lately. Once your confidence returns, it is a fast track to a happier you.

PISCES (20 Feb. – 20 Mar.) Your temper flares much faster than usual, which is rare enough, but when it does, those around you need to look out. Don’t worry, this is a quick phase and you will be back to your usual cheery self soon.

www.encorepub.com |february 22-28, 2012 |encore 61

FWIW (41 Across) is the online chatroom abbreviation for “for what IT’S worth.” Jude Law (77 Across) has played earlier roles of Michael Caine in two remake films,

Voted

BEST PLACE To Buy A New Car! 12 YEARS IN A ROW!

STEVENSON HONDA

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NOW! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

S. College Road, Wilmington 395-1116

WILMINGTON

GAMBLER’S ANONYMOUS MEETING Gambler’s Anonymous Meeting of Wilmington.

Meets every Tuesday, 6:30-8pm. Ogden Baptist Church: 7121 Market St. 12-step meeting for people that have or think they may have a compulsive gambling problem. Contact: Casey 910-599-1407

CAPE FEAR CAMERA CLUB BLOCKADE RUNNER EAST Club meets third Thurs. each month, Sept thru A Night in Italy Wine Dinner, Sat., 3/10, 6:15pm.

June, 7pm at Cape Fear Community College.

Five courses, five flights of wine $55/person. Includes carpaccio of yellowfin, homemade pasta, lobster-stuffed calamari, chocolate mousse and more!http://blockade-runner.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/07/A-Night-in-Italy. pdf. 275 Waynick Blvd. 910-256-2251

HONDA encore

Front St. Brewery hosts homebrew competition for brewers from local churches for charitable cause.

Raising money for Hospice while embodying a historical Christian attitude toward moderate use of alcohol as a blessing from God. Asst brewer Christopher McGarvey (recent seminary graduate and canto at St. Basic, Great Orthodox Church) will host a series of free beginner brewing classes, Tues, 6-8pm at Front St. Basics of brewing taught to church brewing teams who will submit beers to be judged in Sept. and winning beer unveiled to public in Nov. Christopher McGarvey: (910) 2516353 or christopher.fsb@gmail.com

TRANSGENDER SUPPORT GROUP Transgender Support Group, 1st Thurs./mo., 7-8pm. For more information please contact Therapist Nova Swanstrom: 910-343-6890. You must talk with Nova first before coming to a support group meeting!

StevensonHonda.com

FoodCorps, an arm of AmeriCorps, is now asking for volunteers who wish to join their team to apply for paid positions by March 25th. Folks will help underserved communities learn about better food choices, in an effort to combat childhood obesity and food insecurity. Leaders will dedicate a year of full-time public service to the cause, helping in school food systems, expanding hands-on nutrition education and building and tending school gardens. Apps online now!

FOOD CORPS FoodCorps, a national organization addressing childhood obesity and food insecurity in underserved communities, opens applications for its second annual class of service members. The selected emerging leaders will dedicate one year of full-time public service in school food systems, expanding hands-on nutrition education programs, building and tending school gardens, and sourcing fresh, healthy, local food for school cafeterias. Paid positions. Applications due 3/25: http://foodcorps.org/become-aservice-member.www.foodcorps.org

www.capefearcameraclub.org

culinary

! n w o t n Best i

CULINARY ADVENTURES TOUR Eat your way through Wilmington’s food history and delights! Culinary Adventures Tour with food writer/ chef Liz Biro; under a mile, wear comfortable shoes.

Top Chef Farmers Market Tour and Cooking Class, Heart of Downtown, Drinks Downtown, Downtown Brunch Stroll, Foodie Shopping Tour, Custom and Special Group Tours and more! $25 and up! www. lizbiro.com. 910-545-8055 RESTAURANTS NEEDED! Attention: Seafood Chowder Chefs! Enter your best seafood chowder in the 16th Annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-off, Sat., 4/14, at the Lake in Carolina Beach. Local restaurants compete for the “glory” of the People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice.

Fun and festive atmosphere with thousands of spectators. 910-458-8434.

WHAT WOULD JESUS BREW?

A TICKET TO TASTE 4/27, 6:30-10pm: A Ticket to Taste offers a night sampling Burmese and Iraqi cuisine. Second annual spring fund-raiser for Interfaith Refugee MinistryWilmington, a refugee resettlement agency. Tickets: $25; 910 264-7244 or ticket2taste@gmail. com. Also feat. musical performances by supporters of Interfaith Refugee Ministry-Wilmington and the Burmese Karen Choir of Wilmington. Learn about the refugee experience from people who have fled persecution in their homelands to journey to the U.S. in order to rebuild new lives of hope and freedom here in Wilmington. Interfaith Refugee Ministry-Wilmington provides resettlement services to legal refugees who come to the United States at the sponsorship of the State Department of the United States. The Wilmington sub-office opened its doors January, 2010. Since 2010, we resettled 106 refugees from Burma, Columbia, Cuba and Iraq. St. James Parish Episcopal Church Perry Hall, corner of Dock and S. 4th sts. 910-264-7244Ticket2taste@gmail.com

WINTER SALE!

10-50% STOREWIDE HYPERFLEX 3PC WETSUIT PACKAGE Full suit, boots and gloves Pro skateboard $3999 decks on sale

Open for Lunch and Dinner steaks

wings

ribs

salads

In the Cotton Exchange Downtown Wilmington

o! r the ladies to NEW VANS - fo

762-4354 FREE PARKING www.paddyshollow.com

62 encore |february 22-28, 2012| www.encorepub.com

Hwy 421 & Winner Ave., Carolina Beach

5740 Oleander Dr. (910) 392-4501

Hwy. 210 Surf City

10% OFF UNCW Students (with valid ID) Excludes surfboards www.bertsurfshop.com

CORKBOARD Available for your next CD or Demo

KAREN KANE MUSIC PRODUCTIONS 33 year veteran Producer/Engineer

200 album credits

Dreaming Of A Career In The Music Industry?

AUDIO ENGINEERING CLASSES Music Recording, Mixing, Pro Tools, Studio Production Classes offered in Jan., Apr. and Sept.

(910) 681-0220 or mixmama.com It’s NOT Regular Babysitting!

.ARTSITTER. Babysitting with an Art Agenda!

Schedule Your at Home Art Adventure Today! myArtSitter.com

FINKELSTEIN MUSIC 20 BUCKS GETS YOU one of the following...

One Kyser Capo Two Guitar Stands Five Pair of CB DrumSticks

6 S. Front St., Downtown 910-762-5662 When you need a lawyer, you’ll be really glad you have one!

Any time you have a legal problem or question, you can have access to a quality law firm through a LegalShieldSM membership.

Now the services of a capable lawyer and preventive legal care are just a phone call away!

Skeptical? Call us now and find out more!

Steve McGough • Independent Associate 910 216-2293 • pauls11.legalshield.com

GIRLS WANTED for exotic entertainment

910-726-5323

CERAMIC TILE Installation & Repairs

•Kitchens •Bathrooms •Entryways •Fireplaces •And More Free Estimates

910-616-0470

EXOTIC

Lucky’s Sweepstakes

Hancrafted beers only at tHe brewery. mug of tHe day $1.99

New Players Receive $10 in FREE Play with 1st $20

Front Street Brewery 910.251.1935 9 North Front Street, Downtown Wilmington FrontStreetBrewery.com

15200 Hwy 17, Units E & F Hampstead, NC 28443

Are YOU reAdY tO tAke it tO the Next LeveL?

A Sweeter View

• adult martIal arts • graPPlIng

- No Contracts - Drop In Rates Available

910-270-8836

FeaturIng a huge selectIon oF dVds, magazInes, and toys, along wIth a Full VIdeo arcade.

adult

910-386-6846 www.dynamicmartialarts.webs.com

6213-C Market Street 910-399-7369

want to get tHe word out about your business...

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encore | february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com 63

encore

BE2S01T2OF

WILMINGTON

Thank You Wilmington!

for voting us as Best Gourmet and Best Caterer of 2012!

Come by to see our new look!

3520 S. College Rd.

910.350.FOOD(3663)

64 encore |www.facebook.com/pinevalleymarket february 22-28, 2012 | www.encorepub.com

Coming soon: Our second location inside Cameron Art Museum.