May 11, 2011

VOL. 27 / PUB 45 / FREE / MAY 11-17, 2011

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bottling the magic

Good Vibes throws second beer fest on Pleasure encore |Island may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 1

hodgepodge| WhAt’s InsIdE thIs WEEk

contents vol. 27/ pub 45 / May 11 - May 17, 2011 www.encorepub.com

news & views ....................4-6 4 live local: Gwenyfar dives into the realm of the arts industry and its economic impact on

on the cover BOttLInG thE MAGIC pg. 29 second annual Pleasure Island Brewery Invitational

Shea Carver interviewed Paige Snow, founder of the local Good Vibes Brewery.

Joined by his wife Melissa and Good Vibes’ head brewmaster Ethan Hall, he invited 20 regional breweries to participate in the festival focusing on great beer, live music, art and fun. Featured breweries include Duck Rabbit, Thomas Creek, SweetWater and Natty Greene’s. The invitational takes place at Carolina Beach Lake Park on Saturday, May 14.

FrEE tICkEts! If you’re not already an encore fan on Facebook, you should be! We’re running a contest on encore’s Facebook page that is simply quite awesome. Also include which show you would like to go to, and we’ll enter you in our contest to win a pair of tickets to the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach. We’ll be randomly selecting the winner from the comments one week prior to concert dates. Don’t forget to tell your friends either.

If you don’t have FB, then log on to www. encorepub.com, click on “Web Extras,” and enter the contests for a chance to win!

LAtE-nIGht FunnIEs

“Osama bin Laden is in the ocean. How ironic. Once again surrounded by seals.”

—Jay Leno “Jacob and Isabella are the most popular baby names in the U.S. The least popular baby name: Donald Sheen bin Laden.” —Jimmy Fallon

our nation, and what that may mean for an Arts Council in Wilmington.

“Senator John McCain met with the CEO of Twitter today. At least that’s what he tried to tweet on his garage door opener.”

—Conan O’Brien “Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico defeating the French. Isn’t that like beating Sarah Palin on ‘Jeopardy’?” —Jay Leno “The identity of the Navy Seals that killed Osama bin Laden is being kept secret.

It’s for their own safety. It’s to keep them from being high-fived to death.” —Jimmy Kimmel “Hillary Clinton said that watching the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound was ‘38 of the most intense minutes.’ Which can only mean one thing: she’s never had to assemble a chair from Ikea.” –Jimmy Fallon “I don’t like this new Obama who hunts Muslim extremists. I like the old Obama who was a Muslim extremist.” –Stephen Colbert “Some top Republicans are giving most of the credit for killing bin Laden to former President George W. Bush. It’s kind of like when someone opens a pickle jar and you say, ‘Well, I loosened it.’” –Jimmy Kimmel

WOrd OF thE WEEk badinage : bad-n-AHZH, noun; 1. Light, playful talk; banter.

“The badinage was inconsequential, reduced to who knew whom and wasn’t the weather glorious in St. Tropez, or the Bahamas, Hawaii, or Hong Kong?”—author Robert Ludlum, “The Matarese Countdown”

6 news of the weird: Chuck Shepherd reveals the latest odd stories.

artsy smartsy ..................8-21 8-10 theatre: Gwenyfar Rohler awards ‘True West’ five stars, and Shea Carver reviews Red Barn Studio’s ‘God of Carnage.’

12 art: Lauren Hodges speaks with Ryan Lewis about his muti-art ventures with Obscura Productions.

13 gallery guide: Find out what exhibitions are hanging at local galleries.

14-15 music: Bethany Turner previews the first annual Mayfest, and Rachael Carscaddon gets the scoop on Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

16-18 soundboard: See what bands and performers are playing in venues all over town.

21 film: Anghus reviews ‘Fast Five.’

grub & guzzle .........22-29 22-27 dining guide: Need a few suggestions on where to eat? Flip through encore’s dining guide!

28 taste of wilmington: Shannon Rae Gentry finds out all about this StarNews ultimate chef cook-off.

29 cover story: The brewers of Good Vibes sit down with Shea Carver to talk about their upcoming invite-only, craft-only brewery festival.

extra! extra! ................. 30-39 30 book club: Tiffanie Gabrielse hopes ‘Like Normal People’ is a captivating look into a family overcoming adversity.

31 crossword: Brain teaser with Stanley Newman.

32 books: Daniel Kraus speaks with Anghus

Editor-in-Chief: Shea Carver // shea@encorepub.com is published weekly, on Wednesday, by Wilmington Media. Opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of encore.

Editorial Assistant: Bethany Turner // music@encorepub.com Interns: Rachael Carscaddon, Shannon Rae Gentry

P.O. Box 12430, Wilmington, n.C. 28405 email@encorepub.com • www.encorepub.com Phone: (910) 791-0688 • Fax: (910) 791-9177

General Manager: John Hitt // john@encorepub.com

about his first novel, ‘Rotters.’

33 fact or fiction: Winner of encore’s annual

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

creative writing contest, Ichabod C., offers part

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

40-47 calendar/‘toons/horoscopes/corkboard:

10 of ‘It Makes Me Wonder.’

Find out where to go and what to do about town

Chief Contributors: Adrian Varnam, Gwenyfar Rohler, Anghus Houvouras, Ichabod C, Jay Schiller, Lauren Hodges, Tiffanie Gabrielse, Tom Tomorrow, Chuck Shepherd, Christina Dore

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

with encore’s calendar; check out Tom Tomorrow

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

read your horoscope; and check out the latest

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

distribution Manager: Boykin Wright

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and encore’s annual ‘toons winner, Jay Schiller;

saucy corkboard ads.

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6 NEWS OF THE WEIRD

new & views|

4 LIVE LOCAL

hler

by Gwenyfar RoPromise of Peanuts...’ available Author of ‘The profits Front St., with at Old Books on t. ec oj Pr Full Belly benefitting the

live local. live small.

The economic impact and cultural gain of local arts are indispensable

I

n wIlmIngton , one of the recent hot

topics has been the viability of resurrecting an Arts Council. One of the many arguments in favor of the creation of such a council would be to have a unified voice to advocate for money and recognition for the arts in our area on a state and national level. One of the arguments against investing in an Arts Council is that, even without one, we have a flourishing arts community that people are passionately invested in! Why fix it if it ain’t broke?

I have been asked by several of my friends employed in the arts what the Live Local stance on a council would be. Once I got over the shock that they read this column, I responded that I wasn’t sure, but am open to both arguments and any auxiliary information they or anyone else would like to provide.

Given the financial aspect of a council, I decided to look into the real economic impact of the arts. Americans for the Arts, a non-profit Arts Advocacy Organization, produced the stats in 1994, 2002 and 2005, and is preparing to do so yet again. The lastest findings from the group’s research are fascinating.

2005 Economic Impact of the Non-profit Arts & Culture Industy (expenditures by both organizations and audiences): Total Expenditures: $166.2 billion Full-Time Equivalent Jobs: $5.7 million Resident Household Income: $104.2 billion Local Government Revenue: $7.9 billion State Government Revenue: $9.1 billion Federal Income Tax Revenue: $12.6 billion All this from a demographic frequently thought of as fringe, frivolous and marginal? For those of you who missed it, GE made headlines this year with the success of the tax avoidance strategies which have left them with no federal taxes to pay. The bohemian artist types who own and populate Acme Art in Wilmington pay more in federal taxes than the nation’s largest cor-

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

poration. Interesting, n’est pas?

In addition to the tax revenue generated from the arts, the cultural gain is priceless. I feel like a big portion of my week is spent advocating for Wilmington as a re-location site. Almost everyday I talk to someone in the bookstore who is visiting and “thinking of moving here.”

“This is a great place to live!“ I respond. “As a local, can I answer any questions? Help you find anything?”

Invariably someone asks if I like living here and why.

Where to begin? At least 30 live theatre companies at my last count, more film screenings than one can shake a stick at, the symphony, the choral groups, the poetry and literature readings, our incredible visual arts, and the music scene: blues, jazz, folk, country, rap, rock, noise and things I’m too old to know about.

“If you are staying home, it’s because you are choosing to,” I point out.

There are so many sides to this polygon that picking one to start with is difficult. Our area has a strong tourism industry. One of the biggest drivers of that is what could best be called our “Film Cred.” People come here to see the locations, tour the studio and are beside themselves with delight when they get to witness a movie or TV show shooting on the street. All these people need a bed to sleep in and food to eat while they are here, too.

We have just built a Convention Center and are trying to get a hotel to go with it. To truly position ourselves as a city worthy of conventions, there must be something to do here. Sitting in a cubicle at PPD is not a vacation activity for most people, and you can only visit the beach so often. There must be art walks, music, shows, activity to draw people not only here once but to bring their families back after the convention is over. Essentially, would you rather go to a convention in Raleigh or Austin, TX? Do we really have to spell out the reasons why the second is better? No one

has ever gotten excited about spending spring break in Raleigh, but they do about coming here— and it’s not just the beach.

At a time when so much of our economy is suffering from outsourcing work, artists are continuing to provide products and services made right here. Think about going to see a show at Thalian Hall: Opera House Theatre Company rents the Main Stage of the venue for a three-week run of a show. To do this they pay rent, box office fees, and the technical liaison fee (i.e., someone’s salary). They hire Scenic Asylum to design, build and transport a set to the theatre. They hire a costumer, lighting designer, technicians, stage manager, props builders, and, of course, actors. Posters must be designed and then printed (usually at Dock Street Printing), as must programs. Photos are taken, videos are made and an audience comes to the show.

All of these jobs are here, and with the exception of printing, would be very difficult to offshore to India.

Finally, when the annual season of charity fund-raising comes around, where does everyone turn for auction and raffle items? I don’t see a lot of donations from GE & PPD (Bid on a new drug trial for you and four of your friends! Or, up for auction: an original lump of enriched uranium!). But I do see beautiful paintings, incredible sculptures, autographed books, and lots of musical performances, as well as food donated by local restaurants— but not much from Sam‘s Club. Without arts and the artists of this community, one wonders what the fate of the Carousel Center that has a big fund-raising show at Thalian Hall every year would be?

How about Empty Bowls, an event to benefit Good Shepherd Soup Kitchen and Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, which pivots on the donation of hundreds of handmade bowls by local sculptors and potters?

I don’t know if we need an Arts Council or not in Wilmington, but I do know there is no question that we need the arts.

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NewsoftheWeird with Chuck Shepherd LEAD STORY Businesses typically resist government regulation, but in March Florida’s interior designers begged the state House of Representatives to continue controlling them, with a theatrically hamhanded lobbying campaign challenging a deregulation bill. Designers righteously insisted that only “licensed professionals” (with a minimum six years of college and experience) could prevent the nausea Floridians would suffer from inappropriate color schemes (affecting the “autonomic nervous system” and salivary glands). Also, poorly designed prison interiors could be turned into weapons by inmates. Furthermore, deregulation would contribute to “88,000 deaths” a year from flammable materials that would suddenly inundate the market in the absence of licensing. Said one designer, addressing House committee members, “You (here in this chamber) don’t even have correct seating.”

(If deregulation is successful, competition will increase, and lower fees are expected.)

Cultural Diversity The longstanding springtime culinary tradition of urine-soaked eggs endures, in Dongyang, China, according to a March CNN dispatch. Prepubescent boys contribute their urine (apparently with-

out inhibition) by filling containers at schools, and the eggs are boiled according to recipe and sold for the equivalent of about 23 cents each. Many residents consider the tradition gross, but for devotees, it represents, as one said, “the (joyous) smell of spring.”

The port town of Kumai, Borneo, consists of low-rise shops and houses serving a population of 20,000 but also many tall, windowless box buildings perforated with small holes. The structures are actually birdhouses, for the town’s chief industry is harvesting the nests of the hummingbirdlike swiftlet, constructed of its own saliva, which, properly processed, yields a sweet-tasting paste with alleged medicinal qualities and highly revered throughout Asia, according to a January BBC News report.

In January, while the Texas Legislature debated budget cuts that would almost certainly cost Allen High School (just north of Dallas) at least $18 million and require layoffs of teachers and other school personnel, construction was continuing on the school’s new $60 million football stadium. Noted a New York Times report on the stadium (which 63 percent of voters approved in a 2009 bond referendum), “(O)nly football supersedes faith and family (among Texans).”

Latest Religous Messages Former stripper Crystal Deans, who said she learned the trade at age 18 but later retired and turned to God for help through a rough patch of her life, now offers free pole-dancing classes in Spring, Texas, near Houston, expressly for Christian women. Her gyrations may be the same as when she was working, she said, but now everyone is clothed, and she dances only to “Christian music.”

Youth pastor Brent Girouex, 31, was urged to confess by his minister in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in February to an apparently lengthy series of sexual experiences with boys and young men, which he initiated by suggesting that ejaculating would help the victims gain “sexual purity” by (as he explained to detectives) “getting rid of the evil thoughts in their mind.” Eight victims reported multiple purification sessions, with one estimating as many as 100.

Questionable Judgments For Career Day in April at Shady Grove Elementary School in Henrico, Va., kids heard a local plastic surgeon describe his specialty, but not until afterward did parents learn that the surgeon had brought along as props saline breast implants (which he passed around for the kids to handle).

Many parents were outraged, and even one calmer parent commented, “Career Day sure isn’t what it once was.”

The End Is Near, But How Near? In March in Owensboro, Ky., James Birkhead, 52, was sentenced to 5 1/2 months in jail for making survivalist bombs to protect his family after he became alarmed by the movie “2012,” which portrays the chaos expected next year when the world ends (as supposedly foretold by the Mayan calendar). By contrast, Edwin Ramos of Vineland, N.J., is busy traveling the East Coast in his RV trying to warn people that the end will not be in 2012 but actually this month May 21, 2011. (The discrepancy would not exist if there had been a biblical year “0” after B.C. and before A.D.) Ramos’ father apparently does not share his son’s view because he accepted ownership of Ramos’ successful construction business as Ramos concluded that it had no future.

Marie Stopes International is a prominent London charity that robustly promotes a woman’s right to choose abortion, but a whimsical public service campaign in January has created unusually savage criticism. The organization partnered with the British comedy music band The Midnight Beast to

produce a video suggesting anal sex as a contraceptive of choice. Among the lyrics of one song, “One up the bum, and it’s no harm done/One up the bum, and you won’t be a mum.”

Least Competent Criminals A man stole Waltham, Mass., student Mark Bao’s notebook computer in March, but Bao used his automatic online-backup service to access the hard drive while the thief was using it, to discover a performance video of a man (presumably the thief) dancing (lamely, thought Bao) to a pop song. Bao uploaded the video to YouTube where 700,000 viewers showed it the proper disrespect and also tracked down the thief’s e-mail address and informed him of his new Internet “stardom.”

Shortly afterward, the still-unidentified thief turned in the notebook to Bentley University police with an apology to “Mark,” begging him to take down the video.

Recurring Themes Apple’s iPad 2 is in short supply worldwide, and so, coincidentally, are paper models of the device demanded by those of Chinese heritage at the Qingming Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Confucian tradition promises good fortune to the dead if their relatives burn impressive-enough offerings at graveside during the festival (as News of the Weird mentioned in 2006). Though local vendors offer paper models of first-generation iPads to burn, and paper Samsung Galaxy Tabs, some families fear that misfortune will ensue if they fail to burn the most advanced version of the iPad. (Lowtech families burn paper copies of money or paper shirts or shoes.)

Names in the News Arrested in Aurora, Colo., in January and charged with stalking his wife: Joseph Moron. Appointed to a senior executive position in January in the global communications firm Alcatel-Lucent: George Nazi.

Arrested for dealing marijuana in March in Fairfax County, Va.: Kevin Lee Cokayne. Appointed as interim chief medical officer of Newhall Memorial Hospital in Santa Clarita, Calif., in March: Dr. Richard Frankenstein. Arrested for DUI in April by a California Highway Patrolman (“CHiP”): Eric Estrada (not the actor). Posthumously rejected as the namesake for the new government office center in Fort Wayne, Ind., in March: former Fort Wayne Mayor Harry Baals (pronounced “bales” by his descendants but always “balls” by Mr. Baals, himself).

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by Gwenyfar Ro

21 FILM 14-18 MUSIC

artsysmartsy|

12-13 ART 8-10 THEATER

HHHHH

True West pt May 13 May 11-22, exce m. • $14-17 Wed.-Sun., 8 p. io Theatre Thalian Hall Stud .

310 Chestnut St com l. al nh www.thalia

genuine portrayal:

Cullen Moss rivals the performance of Malkovich in ‘True West’ Shane Callahan and Cullen Moss star in ‘True West,’ playing at Thalian Hall through May 22. Courtesy photo.

S

am Shepard ’ S

“true weSt” iS a play that speaks to young men. It is a show that young male actors hold in reverence and aspire to perform in. Shepard is a “macho” writer in every sense of the word, and “True West” is a macho show.

Like many of Shepard’s plays, it’s premier production was at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. However, the quintessential production remains Steppenwolf Theatre’s with John Malkovich and Gary Sinise, which was eventually filmed and aired on PBS. In Wilmington, Cape Fear Theatre Arts, a brand new manifestation of the production team from City Stage, is presenting the show in the Studio Theatre of Thalian Hall.

On the surface, “True West” is a story about two brothers locked in a primal battle on the symbolic court of their mother’s house, but that is just the trappings in which the struggle between the playwright’s id and ego comes to life. The younger brother, Austin (Shane Callahan), is house-sitting for their mother while she is in Alaska. Lee (Cullen Moss), the older brother, has shown up again after a sojourn in the desert and prison. Austin is on the brink of sealing the deal on a big film project he has been working on for months, and came down to LA for a quiet place to work and meet with the producer, Saul Kimmer (Nick Basta). He is not overjoyed when Lee appears, announcing his plans to rob their mother’s neighbors. From there, things begin to spiral out of control, and go from bad to worse when Kimmer is introduced to Lee.

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

Directed by Gil Johnson, this is not an ensemble production. There are two very minor roles: that of the agent and the mother. Both were very competently made corporeal by Nick Basta and Ann Donnell. The rest of the show consists of Lee and Austin on stage together—it is in effect a two-person cast.

Callahan’s journey during the course of the script is frightening. He is not a shrinking violet.

Austin has a healthy respect for the dangerous edge of his brother, whom he loves very deeply.

He does not just react to Lee and his physical impact on their environment. It would be a very easy choice for him to scurry away from his brother’s bullying tendencies, but Callahan stands up to him. Callahan’s Austin stakes out territory and claims it as his own. Having said that, like all younger brothers, he still wants to be cool in his big brother’s eyes. His ability to calm Lee down for quiet moments of introspection is the key to their relationship.

Like his character, Cullen Moss impacts his environment with every movement, leaving not surface nor dimension untouched. In Moss’ careful hands, Lee is teetering on the brink of inanity: flirting with it, coming back, failing and falling again. He has a very scary, manipulative and menacing side, but also compassion, generosity and genuine vulnerability. To take on a character that is known by theatre people as so completely John Malkovich is an overwhelming prospect for any actor. Malkovich in the role was a terrifying bully to everyone. Moss

succeeds in making Lee exasperated at times, yet still able to portray genuine concern for his younger sibling.

When we left the theatre, my escort turned and said, “It’s a shame we can’t go back in time and have Cullen play that role at Steppenwolf—then he’d be as famous as Malkovich.”

“You’re saying you thought he was better than John Malkovich in the role?” I asked.

“Didn’t you?”

“Yes, but can I say that in print? Can I say I think Cullen Moss did a better job with a role John Malkovich made famous?”

“He did, didn’t he?”

The answer is yes.

Anyone feeling that statement is hyperbolic must go see “True West.” In act two, their mother comes home unexpectedly from her trip to Alaska.

She finds her house destroyed and her adult children shirtless, writing a movie script on her patio of dead flowers surrounded by toasters. Moss is drinking and bathing with a can of PBR when he notices her presence. The ability at that moment to embody a multitude of conflicting emotions and to communicate them so clearly to the audience and to Callahan with out speaking is proof of the above statement.

Between them, Moss and Callahan hit every nuance and note spoken and unspoken. It is breathtaking to see acting of this calibre live and in person. It is certainly an auspicious start for the Cape Fear Theatre Arts Season.

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encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

the art of the argument:

//THEATRE

‘God of Carnage’ will have you reaching for aspirin, maybe rum

“M

arriage and children—

the most horrible things God gave us.”

Words of wisdom or of fear? Leaving Red Barn Studio last Saturday afternoon after hearing this in Yasmina Reza’s 2009 awardwinning play “God of Carnage,” my theatre-companion, Mandy, who’s contemplating starting a family soon, assessed, “That makes me scared to have children.”

“But it’s not about the children,” I retorted.

“Unless, of course, you take into account our own juvenile tendencies as adults.”

The beauty of Red Barn’s latest production comes from watching aggressive words turn to actions and supposed virtues turn to the evil id of immorality. It all combats a well-to-do premise, which combusts by the play’s end. Michael and Veronica Novak (Jon Stafford and Michelle Gagliano) decide to hold an amicable meeting with Alan and Annette Raleigh (Mike O’Neil and Rachel Lewis Hilburn) to discuss their children’s violent playground fight. Over coffee and claflouti, they pursue a non-confrontational heart-to-heart about the Novak’s son missing a few teeth, thanks to a forceful stick swung by the hand of Benjamin Raleigh.

All is well at the beginning: The two married couples get along nicely. Then, Alan takes one of many phone calls about work, showcasing his incessant lack of familial concern; the comfort of the meeting fizzles. Alan’s wife Annette twists in her seat in embarrassment, emphatically apologizing for her husband.

Veronica and Michael, at first, smile coyly in forgiveness before becoming increasingly annoyed by Alan’s pomposity and incessant concern only for his client, a pharmaceutical company dealing with a drug-gone-bad.

Thereafter, it all starts its downward spiral, from amiable to amplified agitation.

Played by Rachael Hilburn Lewis, Annette’s unspoken sadness radiates through facial expressions. Lewis interacts with dramatic ey-

by Shea Carver God of Carnage

H H HH H

Red Barn Studio m.; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p. d Sun., 3 p.m.

Sat., 2 p.m.; an udiotheatre.com http://redbarnst

erolls and doe-eyed, dumbfounded looks at first. Her nonspeak is verbose—fully identifiable to any woman who’s dealt with an emotionally unavailable, aggravating man. Yet, in one sentence she manages to wrap her marital frustration in a nice, tidy bow: “It’s deathly—he avoids anything that has to do with house, garden or school.”

I imagine many women will relate to Annette’s plight. I also imagine Lewis’ version to be the dead-on melodrama of a woman tied up in knots over a failing marriage and unruly child (“savage” as he’s to be called).

Lewis clutches her woozy stomach, evoking pain felt by the audience. And in one fell swoop, she vomits live, propelling the show from “nice and tidy” into fiery liveliness.

The philosophical diatribes spouted from these couples find weight in the words of Mike O’Neil, who questions anyone claiming to be culturally or scrupulously righteous. “Sometimes it’s not good to hold yourself to morality,” he tells Veronica, a writer who specializes in Darfur and African culture, and whose pretentious attitude could turn anyone 10 shades of hell. O’Neil is a lawyer who speaks lawyer: condescending and point-blank—no fluff. He says what he means when he means it regardless of who’s around. He may be the most likeable character in the play only because he isn’t forgiving of being an ass; he has integrity for not hiding behind smoke and mirrors, or pomp and

10 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD: (l. to r.) Rachel Lewis Hilburn, Mike O’Neil, Jon Stafford and Michelle Gagliano in ‘God of Carnage.’ Photo by Kelly Starbuck

circumstance. While his character isn’t exactly admirable, it’s at least honest.

Gagliano as Veronica goes berserk for the audience. She steals the show with her “moderate,” albeit passive-aggressive, behavior.

She’s the caring mom, the judgemental wife, the naive caretaker and the idealist in denial of her true self. It’s impossible not to see her explosion coming a mile away after her first words are spoken: “Oh, you don’t prefer we say ‘armed’?” she tempermentally asks the Raleighs. “Your son did come ‘armed’ to the playground. How about ‘equipped’ or ‘furnished’?” She tries to be civil, but her boiling blood is palpable. When she does explode, it’s a fete in acting—I expected Gagliano’s head to turn on its axis.

Veronica’s husband, Michael, played by Jon Stafford, is a bumbling talker. Loquacious to the point of no return, he could be any bluecollar worker hiding behind a culturally refined woman, where he keeps fine rum and cigars on tap to indulge his only allowed vices. He ex-

ists best as he can amassed in artless triviality (discussions about commodes make him light up)—until he admits to being nothing more than a neanderthal. He proudly assesses his bigotry and hidden political stances in a feud with Veronica that strips all facades of their cozy, justso Brooklyn Heights lives.

Stafford commands so much with a simple hand motion or even an enlightened smile zapping his eyes. He knows how to take over a strong cast with overtone and grace. Though he throws around the very non-PC phrase “coon” when speaking of his wife’s subject matter, somehow, he’s the only one in the cast I would want to have a drink with.

The players in “God of Carnage” are exhausting—as they should be. They each bring high anticipation throughout 70-some minutes of intense altercations. Viewers won’t know whether they want it to end, mainly because so many funny moments prevail, insult after insult.

There are “Eureka” insights of predictability, too, when the “team mentality”sets in, as the women and men side with their own genders before switching back to their husband-andwife cocoons. It’s like watching a vortex of emotions unfolding, retreating and then powerfully disentangling again.

It’s enough over-action to make one reach for a bottle of aspirin and gin before contemplating whether the child’s play of war ever really leaves us. Adults can act out far more immaturely than any child, simply because we know the venom and repercussive nature that spews from negative speech and wild motion more wholly than any 9-year-old. While kids have cartoons and toys to gauge their barometer of happiness, adults have life experience and fully developed thought processes to interpret and read. The only resemblance is both have animation and lots of color.

“That was draining,” Mandy said as we packed in the car toward a well-needed glass of wine.

“Yea, but it’s fascinating to actually see how people argue.”

“Main Attractions”

Thalian Hall

Center for the Performing Arts presents

ORQUESTRA GAR DEL Friday, May 13, 2011 at 8:00 PM They’ve been called “a locomotive of energy on steel rails, with endless momentum and irresistible motion.” This 12-member beat-driven attention-getting band plays classic and modern salsa music with a sense of authenticity that music lovers crave.

Founded in 2006 by David Garcia, a professor at UNC Chapel Hill who specializes in Afro-Cuban music studies, and Nelson Delgado, a singer and seasoned veteran of the Triangle Latin music scene, Orquesta GarDel plays classic and modern salsa music rooted in the sound of the New York-Puerto Rico connection of the 1970s represented by artists such as Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Baretto, and Sonora Ponceña. Having established a book of classic salsa covers, GarDel is now writing original material that reflects the band’s own personality and modern sensibilities.

Prime Seating: $25. Choice Seating: $20. Gallery Seating: $14.

RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW! Thalian Hall Box Offoce (910) 632-2285 or visit www.thalianhall.org

Since 1858 • One of America’s Most Historic Theatres Media Partner

With additional Support from: encore magazine and

StarNews Media

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 11

//ART

marriage of chaos and minimalism: Ryan Lewis explores many mediums with Obscura Productions

A

nyone who knows About the

experimental group 910 Noise will be familiar with founder Ryan Lewis and his unconventional exploration of the arts. As with any original idea, there are those who adore it and those who scrunch their faces in confusion. Yet, Lewis is used to this reaction. As a small child, his flair for creativity was a headache for his parents.

He admits he used to draw on everything, from the walls to the furniture to the television set, in an attempt to incorporate his whole world into his artistic vision—and all before the invention of Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser! “I was just trying to make things more exciting to me,” Lewis says. “Making them more appealing.”

Though he wasn’t alone in that endeavor— surprise crayon masterpieces are the trademark of small children, after all—he worked to foster the creativity throughout his life, unlike many of his growing peers. “In my opinion, many people outgrow creativity as they must assimilate into modern society,” Lewis says.

As an adult, he succeeded in keeping that

s

by Lauren Hodge of Peacocks: A Visual Dialogue s Abstract Painting Presentation of p Tidal Creek Co-o 5/13, 6 p.m. • Drive, Ste 204 5329 Oleander t.com www.obscuraar

zest for beautifying the world around him.

The creator of Obscura Productions, Lewis set up the initiative to represent his paintings, a new film, 910 Noise and several music projects like the Hawaiian-style Food World and a bluegrass group, Baby Daddy. He first began Obscura as a way to express himself on a daily basis.

“It’s a small film, art and music venture of my own primarily just to express the things that were inside my own, heart and brain,” he notes. As a part of a diverse and inspiring art community like Wilmington’s, Lewis soon

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DANCE OF THE ILLUMINATOR: An abstract

by Ryan Lewis will hang as part of Art Soup’s latest show at Tidal Creek, “Visual Dialogue of Peacocks.” Courtesy photo.

found his personal experiment would benefit from the involvement of others.

“Luckily, by doing this, I have met and worked with some very amazing and intelligent people along the way,” he says. “This has made the voyage worthwhile.”

Lewis’ painting portfolio is a collection of abstract storms. Some are color explosions, and others are understated grays and whites. Their connecting feature is that they are all products of an attempt to give

shape to something invisible: sound.

“My mission as an artist is to get each and every vision, sound, word that I have to completion,” Lewis remarks. “It seems as though they are creating themselves, and I really am not in control at all. Most of my visual art has something to do with sounds in some shape or form.”

Translating his experiences to the canvas results in many layers. The paintings are tempting to touch. “It’s a diverse work of thicktextured, heart-felt and striking images; a visual marriage of chaos and minimalism.”

As for his film projects, the word “obscura” certainly fits. The short story entitled “Hayagriva” stars a man with a horse head, a meat baby and a suitcase full of colorful cassette tapes. The film is on Obscura’s website, www.obscuraart.com, and can be found as inspiration for many of his paintings, which are dotted with cassette tapes and film themselves. “It is inspired by the strength, power and joy of true love,” he says.

When asked where he comes up with his work, he simply answers: “I’ve always created since I can remember. I believe it’s a very natural human process to express one’s existence—it’s always there for absolutely anyone to explore.”

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12 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

galleryguide| Artfuel.inc 1701 Wrightsville Ave 910 343 5233 Mon-Sat, 12-9pm; Sunday, 1-6pm www.artfuelinc.com www.myspace.com/artfuel_inc Artfuel.inc is located at the corner of Wrightsville Ave and 17th street. Housed in an old gas station, we offer resident artists working in studios alongside a gallery space used to exhibit other artists work. We hope to connect artists with each other and offer many styles of work to fuel the public’s interest. Vol. 27: Works by Mike Brown, Eli THompson, Carissa Iris, Kit Furderer & Tiffany Walls.

Caffe Phoenix 35 N. Front Street (910) 343-1395 Monday-Saturday: 11:30am - 10pm Sunday Brunch: 11:30am - 4pm Our current exhibition (through May 14th) is a combined effort of Wilmington Early College and Isaac Bear Early College students. Mediums include watercolor, wax, charcoal, collages, Anime and pen and ink. We are excited to show the work of promising teenagers and hope you will join us to celebrate their wonderful talents.

Opening is on May 5th.

Crescent Moon 332 Nutt Street (910) 762-4207 In the Cotton Exchange Monday-Saturday: 10am-5:30pm Sundays: noon-4pm www.crescentmoonnc.com Crescent Moon is a retail gift gallery specializing in fine hand-crafted art glass and metal sculpture has new art and new artists premiering for the spring season. Introducing platters by glassblower, Jennifer Nauck, of AZ and fabulous fun fused glass jewelry from Laurel Yourkowski of OR. Local artist Ron Consalvo is premiering his wickedly welded motorcycle sculptures and Bobby Fuller adds his Bonsai tree sculpture or copper and stainless to our gallery of local hand-made craft. Remember: gift wrapping is free! Think of us for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and your own décor.

The Cotton Exchange offers free parking while shopping or dining. Follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook by searching Crescentmoonnc!

www.encorepub.com

Hampstead Art Gallery 14712 Hwy. 17 N. • (910) 270-5180 Mon.-Sat. 11am-5pm, or by appt.

Hampstead, NC “Beautiful; lots of variety.” “Love the place.”

“Beautiful art work.” “Very nice.” “Art rocks your socks, and you know that.” These are just what a few customers had to say about Hampstead Art Gallery. Come and tell us what you thank.

Affordable prices on prints and originals. Local artists with various styles and taste are just excited about having the opportunity to share their work with all art lovers. Our artists offer different sizes from what we have on display and low rates on commissioned work.

Owner Charles Turner invites all artists and art lovers to just hang out in our new Artist Lounge any time. Look for our upcoming Expos and Open House. Hampstead Art Gallery is located in Hampstead on the corner of Factory Road next to CVS Pharmacy.

New Elements Gallery 216 N. Front St. (919) 343-8997 Tues-Sat: 11am-5:30pm or by appointment www.newelementsgallery.com “Promises of Spring” featuring the works of Kristen Dill and Vicki Gates opening Friday, April 22nd. The bounties of warm weather and plentiful sunshine will be unmistakable in this luscious display of florals and landscapes. Raleigh artist Kristen Dill is well recognized for both her oil and watercolor interpretations of nature. Vicki Gates is a newcomer to the gallery, sharing her Charleston low-country landscapes and still lifes using pastel or water color. An evening reception will be held on April 22nd from 6 to 9 pm as part of the monthly event Fourth Friday Gallery Night in downtown Wilmington. The exhibition will remain on display through May 21st.

Sunset River Marketplace 10283 Beach Dr., SW (NC 179) (910) 575-5999 Tues- Sat. 10am-5pm Closed Mon. in winter sunsetrivermarketplace.com myspace.comsunsetrivermarketplace 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 framing, Creative Exchange lecture series and Coffee With the Author series are also offered on-site.

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910-777-2111

w il min g t o nh a mme r he a d s . c o m encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 13

may flowers, guitar power:

//MUSIC

First annual Mayfest celebrates music for a cause

B

ill Buchanan, the guitarist for

local modern-rock band Zukimoon has many acquaintances throughout our thriving music scene. From playing with members of rockabilly group Phantom Playboys, to jamming with saxophonist Roy Harper of Soul Power Posse, he’s learned there’s a great amount of talent just waiting to be unleashed to the masses of Wilmington.

“I know a fair amount of musicians in town, and they’re under-recognized,” Buchanan says. “Plus, we have a talented group of artists. I really want to bring everyone together for an art and music showcase.”

His idea for the showcase known as “Mayfest” brewed for quite some time before it came to fruition. Only a month ago did he begin to develop and promote the inaugural festival—something he hopes will become an annual celebration of Wilmington’s fine arts and wonderful springtime weather.

“It would be nice to make Wilmington a destination for a big music and arts event in

er

by Bethany Turn Mayfest Amphitheater Greenfield Lake day of • $12 adv/$15 May 14, noon .com www.mayfestilm May,” he says. “There’s not much going on after Azalea Festival, and it’s a great time of year and an attractive place to visit. I hope Mayfest can grow enough to bring in big names while recognizing local people, too.”

Several bands are on the bill for the very first festival, including Zukimoon. Their female vocalist, Audra Glyn Smith, belts out covers of Grace Potter and the soulful Adele. The group has also been known to play Guns ‘n’ Roses and Journey, among other tunes from classic bands. The remaining lineup consists of the Phantom Playboys, which kick the concert off at 1 p.m. Following the intense, retro-rockers is Frank Bruno’s Stable Hands

ZUKIMOON: A new local band headed by Audra Glyn Smith will play the first annual Mayfest, taking place this Saturday at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. Courtesy photo.

at 2:30 p.m. The Americana group toured with Bruce Springsteen throughout 2006.

Soul Power Posse takes the stage at 4 p.m. with Roy Harper, who used to play sax for the late, great James Brown. Add Zukimoon’s 5:30 p.m. performance, and the 7 p.m. show of reggae/beach band Bag of Toys, and Mayfest has quite the assortment of richly talented musicians. “I like all kinds of music,” Buchanan explains, “so I set it up for various genres.”

All five bands are playing basically for free, according to the festival organizer; Mayfest was designed to be a charity show, after all.

All proceeds will go to a different nonprofit each year. The 2011 selection is the Darrell/ Hill Defense Fund—an organization suited to take on Titan America.

The ongoing, three-or-so-year battle with Titan, and its plans to build a cement plant along the banks of the Cape Fear River, has come to a head. In fact, Kayne Darrell and Dr. David Hill are taking the brunt of the blow from the multibillion dollar international corporation. For voic-

14 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

ing their opinions and raising awareness about the negative effects this plant will have on our community, just as many concerned citizens have, Titan is suing the medical professionals for $75,000 plus punitive damages.

“Over 200 doctors in our community have signed a petition objecting to the likely health effects of air pollution from a cement plant, and many of them have also spoken out publicly on this subject and continue to do so,” Dr. Hill explains. “I can only guess that by suing me, Titan America hopes to silence all of us. As a private citizen of limited means, I have to worry that defending the suit, even if it is baseless, can easily cost me many times my net worth. The suit has already taken time away from my [pediatric] practice [and] my family.”

Monies raised from Mayfest will help alleviate some of the financial burden the two citizens will face should the case reach court.

“I personally know Hill and Kayne,” Buchanan says, “and they are only making people aware of the potential outcome of Titan. They are just caring citizens; it’s wrong for them to be sued. They were looking out for the community, so I feel they need help now.”

Dr. Hill voices gratitude for the assistance and encouragement he’s already received from his neighbors. “In the course of this struggle, I have come to appreciate as never before what a strong, supportive community I am fortunate enough to call home. I hope the concert gives everyone yet another chance to appreciate what a beautiful community we all share.”

Mayfest will be for everyone’s enjoyment.

A kid’s area will be set up for the tots to play, and the City of Wilmington is providing food vendors, as will Domino’s pizza and Chick-filA. Beer will be supplied from R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Company.

“I really want to stress that this is a family event,” Buchanan assures. “I encourage everyone to come out and bring their kids. It should be a lot of fun as we showcase local talent. There’s truly something for everybody.”

Tickets are $12 in advance, available at Gravity Records or Doublewide Skate and Surf. The price goes up to $15 at the door, which opens at noon, but children 12 and under are free.

USIC

//MUSIC

sweet home alabama: Country-soul sounds of the deep south fill Soapbox this Saturday

B

orn from a long line of

musicians, Jason Isbell has been surrounded by music since a young age. Though he plays mostly guitar, he admits that he would learn to play anything that was lying around.

“I played nearly every day with my grandfather and uncles,” Isbell says. “My dad’s family would gather and play [together] on most Sundays.”

Though his list of influences is long, including both great songwriters and novelists, Jason Isbell cites Neil Young, Randy Newman, Barry Hannah and Salman Rushdie (and his family, of course) as grounds for his sultry southern rock. On Saturday, May 14, Wilmingtonians are invited to hear the beats and lyrics of Jason Isbell and his band, The 400 Unit, presented by Soapbox Laundro-Lounge and 98.3 The Penguin.

People may be familiar with Isbell’s name thanks to his stint with the rock group Drive-By Truckers (DBT). But before he made it to the big stage with DBT, he performed at much smaller venues for events like talent shows. “I’ve been bested at battle of the band contests by John Paul White from The Civil Wars and the photographer Joshua Black Wilkins,” Isbell says.

In 2001 the spotlight appeared, however, when DBT picked up Isbell after their breakthrough album “Southern Rock Opera,” and Isbell quickly wrote his way into the hearts of band members Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. But in 2007 Isbell and the rock ‘n’ roll band sadly but amicably parted ways due to personal and artistic growth that left everyone with differing dreams and goals.

However, the split marked the beginning of Isbell’s solo career, and in 2007 he released his first solo album “Sirens of the Ditch.” An Alabama native, Isbell’s music began to branch away from the sound branded by DBT. His first CD is said to have a more bluesy-pop feel, and lyrics that are rooted deep in his hometown of Muscle Shoals.

One song, “Dress Blues,” touches on the death of a U.S. Marine from Isbell’s hometown who was killed in the Iraq war, and “Down in the Hole” relates the tale of an eccentric character from his locale.

From there, his gifts of an amazing set of pipes and the ability to produce gratifying melodies from a guitar and an electric key-

caddon

by Rachael Cars the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and or with Maria Tayl 2-15 ors 8 p.m. • $1 do Sat., 5/14 • o-Lounge Soapbox Laundr .

255 N. Front St m undrolounge.co la ox www.soapb board continued to create a smooth, country-soul sound for his listeners.

In 2009, Isbell became Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. He released his second solo album and the first with his band. “400 Unit,” a group made up of musicians all hailing from Alabama, may be an odd name. But just as his music touches home base, so does the name of the group. “It was the name of a mental treatment facility [in Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital] where I grew up,” Isbell explains. “Once a week, when they let some of the patients out for lunch, they reminded me of a rock band.”

Isbell has plowed on in his career, having just released his third album last month, entitled “Here We Rest,” named after his home state’s first motto. For this record, he continued with the concentration on his Alabama homeland. “As always, I was focused on writing good songs and not screwing them up in the studio,” Isbell explains. “I think certain themes emerged during the process but those weren’t intentional in the beginning.”

The songs on “Here We Rest” contemplate where Isbell lives and tells stories about the people who live there with him, letting the listeners sink into the points-ofview from the characters in the tales. The first track, which happened to be the first one they recorded, was “Alabama Pines.”

The song seemed fitting as the first spot, as it carried the common thread of appreciating where he is from and the desire to return to this place when he is emotionally exhausted. Isbell did just that after long months of touring with both bands.

“I think the album wound up being about resignation and recuperation, among other things.” Isbell says.

For those who want to hear the richly southern stories Isbell relays in his music, he’ll be taking the stage Saturday night, May 14, at Soapbox Laundro-Lounge.

Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $12-

$15, available from etix.com, or bought at the door the night of the show. Taking Soapbox’s stage with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit is singer/songwriter, and also Alabama native, Maria Taylor.

RAISED IN THE SOUTH: Jason Isbell, formerly of Drive-By Truckers and currently with The 400 Unit, sings soulful tunes reminscent of his Alabama home.. Courtesy photo.

Wilmington band serves up something for everyone! featuring John Glover:

Guitar and vocals

roy richardson: lead Guitar and Fiddle

Third Sunday @ 3 Sunday, May 15, 3 PM ChurCh of The Good ShePherd Corner of S. 6th and Queen Streets a block from Castle Street Art and Antique district

Collecting shoes for people in need thru Soles4Soles.org

leon Felton:

Percussionist and vocals

alex Glover:

Bass Guitar

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 15

BLACKBOARD SPECIALS

a preview of tunes all over town this week

Pub & Grille

Wrightsville Beach

Wednesdays

Ping Pong Tourney

Thursdays KARAOKE

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

Fridays $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

Singlefin with The Lamping Shades

Sundays

$2 Yuenglings • $2 Bud Lights $5 Jager Bomb • $3 Mimosas Free Pool & Shuffleboard after 9 pm 1/2 Off Late Night Menu @ 10 pm

Friday, May 13

OVERTYME 7-10PM

Saturday, May 14

ROB RONNER 7-10PM

Friday, May 20

JAH CREATION 7-10PM

Saturday, May 21

JOHN TOPPINGS 7-10PM

BanksChannelPub.Com

100 S. Front St. Downtown 251-1832 MONDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm $2 Budweiser • $225 Heineken • $3 Gin & Tonic OPEN MIC NIGHT TUESDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm $2 White Wolf $250 Redstripe $350 Wells 35¢ Wings at 8pm LIVE MUSIC WEDNESDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm, 1/2 Priced Wine Bottle $250 Blue Moons • $250 Corona/Corona Light LIVE MUSIC: ROB RONNER THURSDAY $250 Domestic Bottles, • $3 Import Bottles, $3 Rum and Coke LIVE MUSIC: MIKE O’DONNELL 50¢ Steamed oysters and shrimp after 6pm FRIDAY ROOFTOP OPEN! DJ Sir Charles 2nd floor $3 Landshark • $3 Kamikaze • $5 Bombs SATURDAY ROOFTOP OPEN! DJ Sir Charles on 2nd floor 10pm $2 Coors Light • $3 Fruit Punch shots SUNDAY $250 Corona Live Music L Shape Lot at 3pm Clay Crotts at 8pm

soundboard

May 15th

MARK ROBERTS & BREEZE May 22nd

SOUL POWER POSSE May 29th

OVERTYME

16 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

at the Don’t Flo m! a Mainstre WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 Gary allen’s acoustic open Mic —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 acoustic Jazz piano with JaMes Jarvis —Circa 1922, 8 N. Front St.; 762-1922 Daniel parish —Halligan’s Public House, 3317 Masonboro Loop Rd.; 791-1019 cary B —Live on Grace, 121 Grace St; 399-4390 Jazz JaM —Calico Room, 107 S. Front St. Wilmington, 762-2091 Kinlaw & Johnson BanD —Remedies, Market Street; 392-8001 the Get Down JaM with the casserole —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616 DJBe eXtreMe KaraoKe —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 sai collins —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115 Kersten capra, susan savia —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666 FreD Flynn Duo —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 live Jazz —Cameo 1900; 1900 Eastwood Rd.,910509-2026 JereMy norris —Buffalo Wild Wings, 206 Old Eastwood Rd.; 798-9464 live acoustic —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 KaraoKe with MiKe norris —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 open Mic niGht —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 roB ronner —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832

thirD tiME’S A ChArM: No Dollar $hoes presents a downhome sound, complete with three-part harmony and string instruments galore. The band plays at Goat & Compass on Friday, March 13.

Photo by Bethany Turner.

thurSDAY, MAY 12 FrieD lot —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115 DJ Battle —Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl; 509-1551 DJBe eXtreMe KaraoKe —Banks Channel Bar & Grille, 530 Causeway Drive; 256-2269 trivia with DJ —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,763-1607 acoustic Jazz piano with JaMes Jarvis —Circa 1922, 8 N. Front St.; 762-1922 trivia with party Gras DJ —Fox and Hound Pub & Grille, 920 Town Centre Dr.; 509-0805 live Jazz —Cameo 1900; 1900 Eastwood Rd.,910509-2026 MiKe o’Donnell —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 sea pans steel DruM BanD

—Holiday Inn Resort (Gabby’s Lounge), 1706 N. Lumina Ave.; 256-2231 the sounD Down shore, the auranauts, coleslaw & the chili DoGs —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616 DouG utton, KiM Dicso, sean richarDson, JiM ellis, trey haMlin, BoB Quintano, Dirty DaKotas —Live on Grace, 121 Grace St; 399-4390 pseuDo Blue & the MaJestics —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 open Mic with JereMy norris —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 DuelinG pianos —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 top 40 DJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 FireDance & DruMs @ DarK, DJ Mit psytrance (11pM) —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 KaraoKe —Yosake Sushi Lounge, 31 S. Front St.; 763-3172

Joy islanD, rocKy loves eMily, the aFter party, FreshMan 15 —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500

friDAY, MAY 13 KaraoKe —Gilligan’s; N.C. Hwy. 50, Surf City 910-3284090 Jazz with Benny hill —Caffe Phoenix, 9 S Front St.; 343-1395 house/techno DJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 DuelinG pianos —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 DJ willie stylez —The Toolbox, 2325 Burnette Blvd.; 343-6988 DJ Battle —Dirty Martini, 1904 Eastwood Rd, Suite 109 orQuestra GarDel —Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St.; 632-2241 KaraoKe —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 DJ

—Grand Union Pub, 1125 Military Cutoff;2569133 Medusa stone —Firebelly Lounge, 265 N. Front St.; 763-0141 no dollar $hoes —Goat and Compass, 710 N. 4th St.; 772-1400 Cary B —Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; 503-3040 Fred Flynn —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 JaCk JaCk 180 —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 a Full dish —Melting Pot, 885 Town Center Dr.; 256-1187 Get BaCk: Beatles triBute —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 Mike adaMs —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115 hellBroth —Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 thunderlip, predeCessor, Mortal Man, Children oF the reptile —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 the sChool Boys —Mayfaire Music on the Town, Mayfaire Town Center

SATURDAY, mAY 14 karaoke with dJ MiCk —The Harp; 1423 South 3rd St.,763-1607 dJ Battle —Dirty Martini, 1904 Eastwood Rd, Suite 109 house/teChno dJ —Ibiza, 118 Market St.; 251-1301 dJ kevin —The Dive, 6 N. Lake Park Blvd.; 458-8282 duelinG pianos —Hell’s Kitchen, 118 Princess St.; 763-4133 karaoke with Freddie —Remedies, Market Street; 392-8001 roB ronner duo —Holiday Inn Resort (Gabby’s Lounge), 1706 N. Lumina Ave.; 256-2231 asyluM GothiC niGht —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 redeMption —Firebelly Lounge, 265 N. Front St.; 763-0141 Grenoldo Frazier —Creekside Cafe & Grill, 6328 Oleander Dr.; 679-4493 sinGleFin, the laMpinG shades —Banks Channel Bar & Grille, 530 Causeway Drive; 256-2269 Jesse stoCkton & Friends —Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; 503-3040 kennedy park —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 BiG soMethinG —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088

the Brent Cates Band —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 MasonBoro sound —Sweet & Savory Cafe; 1611 Pavilion Plc.,256-0115 Jason isBell & the 400 unit, Maria taylor —Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 ponChos, politiCs oF ConFession, toMMie GriGGz —Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 MayFest: zukiMoon, phantoM playBoys, Frank Bruno’s staBle hands, soul power posse, BaG oF toys —Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

SUnDAY, mAY 15 perry sMith (BrunCh 12-2) — Aubriana’s; 115 S. Front St., 763-7773 Free Metal sundays — The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 Quilted sky (3-7pM) — Live on Grace, 121 Grace St; 399-4390 dJ Battle — Fibber McGee’s, 1610 Pavilion Pl; 509-1551 Galen on Guitar — The Coastal Roaster, 5954 Carolina Beach Rd.; 399-4701 the steady eddies, BiGFoot, JeFF MosBy — Palm Room, 11 East Salisbury St.; 503-3040 Mark roBerts & Breeze — Bluewater Grill, 4 Marina St.; 256-8500 l shape lot, 3pM; Clay Crotts, 7pM — Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832 daniel parish — Shell Island Resort, 2700 N. Lumina Ave., 256-8696 Charlie hunter — Soapbox Upstairs, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 dirty taCtiCs, swthrt — Soapbox Lounge, 255 N. Front St.; 251-8500 Benny hill’s Jazz JaM & JaMBalaya Feast For nC tornado viCtiMs — Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888

monDAY, mAY 16 open MiC with Josh soloMon —Liquid Room, 23 Market St.;910-343-3341 the selekt —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 dJ riChterMeister —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 open MiC niGht —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616 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 niGht —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832

TUeSDAY, mAY 17 karaoke with Mike norris —Katy’s, 1054 S. College Rd.; 395-6204 Cape Fear Blues JaM —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 aCoustiC Jazz piano with JaMes Jarvis —Circa 1922, 8 N. Front St.; 762-1922 karaoke —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616 live aCoustiC —Wild Wing Cafe, 1331 Military Cutoff; 256-3838 thunderlip, Future now —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 ColleGe niGht karaoke —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666 trivia with dutCh FroM 94.5 the hawk —The Coastal Roaster, 5954 Carolina Beach Rd.; 399-4701 indie MusiC niGht —Juggling Gypsy Cafe, 1612 Castle St.; 763-2223 Clay Crotts —Reel Cafe, 100 S. Front St.; 251-1832

WeDneSDAY, mAY 18 Gary allen’s aCoustiC open MiC —Rusty Nail, 1310 S. 5th Ave.; 251-1888 aCoustiC Jazz piano with JaMes Jarvis —Circa 1922, 8 N. Front St.; 762-1922 daniel parish —Halligan’s Public House, 3317 Masonboro Loop Rd.; 791-1019 Cary B —Live on Grace, 121 Grace St; 399-4390 the Get down JaM with the Casserole —16 Taps, 127 Princess St.; 251-1616 Jazz JaM —Calico Room, 107 S. Front St. Wilmington, 762-2091 kinlaw & Johnson Band —Remedies, Market Street; 392-8001 kersten Capra —Costello’s Piano Bar, 211 Princess Street; 362-9666 dJ p Funk —The Whiskey, 1 S. Front St.; 763-3088 shai hulud, endwell, lions lions, BroadCast 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.

BLACKBOARD SPECIALS 100 S. Front St. Downtown 251-1832

Monday Monday $2.50Budweiser Budweiser Draft Draft • • $4 $2.50 $4 Wells Wells 1/2 1/2 Priced Select Appetizers from 4-7 Priced Select Appetizers from 4-7 Tuesday Tuesday $2.50 All All Drafts Drafts $2.50 $4.50Absolute Absolute Lemonade Lemonade $4.50 Priced Select Appetizers from 4 ½½Priced Select Appetizers from 4 until 7 until 7 Wednesday Wednesday $2.50 Yuengling Draft $2.50 Draft $2.50 Yuengling Domestic Bottles $2.50Select Domestic Bottles ½ Priced Appetizers from 4 ½ Priced Selectuntil Appetizers from 4 7 until 7 Friday $3Friday Pint of The Day $3Saturday Pint of The Day $5 Sangria Saturday $5 Sangria Sunday $5 Bloody Mary’s Sunday $5 Bloody * Drink specials run Mary’s all day, but food

specials shown are from 4 -7 only. * Drinkappetizers specialsare runexcluded all day,from but food Certain special. specials shownWalnut are from 4Streets -7 only.

Front and CertainAcross appetizersfrom are excluded special.

CFCC from in the FrontCotton and Walnut Streets Exchange Across from CFCC in the 910-762-4354 Cotton Exchange 910-762-4354

Thursday May 12 Live Music Outside with

key liMe pie 6-9pm

Friday May 13 Live Music

Mark daFFer

MONDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm $2 Budweiser • $225 Heineken • $3 Gin & Tonic OPEN MIC NIGHT TUESDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm $2 White Wolf $250 Redstripe $350 Wells 35¢ Wings at 8pm LIVE MUSIC WEDNESDAY 1/2 PRICE APPS. 4-6pm, 1/2 Priced Wine Bottle $250 Blue Moons • $250 Corona/Corona Light LIVE MUSIC: ROB RONNER THURSDAY $250 Domestic Bottles, • $3 Import Bottles, $3 Rum and Coke LIVE MUSIC: MIKE O’DONNELL 50¢ Steamed oysters and shrimp after 6pm FRIDAY ROOFTOP OPEN! DJ Sir Charles 2nd floor $3 Landshark • $3 Kamikaze • $5 Bombs SATURDAY ROOFTOP OPEN! DJ Sir Charles on 2nd floor 10pm $2 Coors Light • $3 Fruit Punch shots SUNDAY $250 Corona Live Music L Shape Lot at 3pm Clay Crotts at 8pm

every Tuesday 8pm

World Tavern Trivia every Wed. 6-8pM

FaMily nighT Friday May 13

5.11 WEDNESDAY

karaoke night with dj be!

5.12 THURSDAY

trivia night 5.13 FRIDAY

jack jack 180 5.14 SATURDAY

the brent cates band

,ANDFALL #ENTER s 1331 Military Cutoff Rd

910-256-3838 wildwingcafe.com

MONDAY

$5 pizzas, and half price Nachos and Wings (in the bar starting at 6:00) 22oz. Domestic Draft ALL DAY

TUESDAY

Live Jazz in the bar • Half Price Bottles of Wine Absolut Dream $5 • Pacifico $2.50

WEDNESDAY

Live Jazz in the bar • Half Price Bottles of Wine Absolut Dream $5 • Pacifico $2.50

THURSDAY

Live Music with

Gran Martinis $7 • Red Stripe $2.50

JaM sandWiCh

Cosmos $4 • 007 $3.50 Harps Bottles $2.50 • Island Sunsets $5

8pm-12midnight

saT. May 13

Cornhole

9pm-1am

TournaMenT

206 Old Eastwood Rd. (910) 798-9464

5533 Carolina Beach Rd. (910) 392-7224

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Baybreeze / Seabreeze $4 22oz. Blue Moon Draft $3 Select Domestic Bottles $1.50

SUNDAY

Domestic Draft Pints $1.50 Bloody Mary’s $4 • White Russians $4 1:00 - Moo and Brew Special $7

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 17

BLACKBOARD SPECIALS ShowStoppers: Concerts outside of Southeastern NC

THE FUSTICS

Mixology Monday $5 Specialty Cocktails

FRIDAY 5.13 @ 10PM

Tues. - Thurs.

Selected Wine Specials

MACHINE GUN

Friday Live Jazz!

FRIDAY 5.20 @ 10PM

Sunday TV Sports Beer Specials and free bar snacks!

35 North Front Street Downtown Wilmington (910) 343-1395

FEATURE

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK SUN. BRUNCH 10am-1pm $ 99 5 LUNCH SPECIAL Mon-Fri 11:30-4pm Mon. 3 Micro Brews $

Tues. $3 Tall Bud Lights and Yuengling Drafts Wed. 1/2 price bottle of wines, $ 2 Miller Lite Thurs. Irish Pint Night $3 Irish Pints, $5 Irish Car Bombs Fri. $2 Coors Light Bottles, $4 Flavored Vodka, $5 Jager Bombs Sat. $3 Blue Moon, $2 Michelob Ultra, $5 Select Martini’s Sun. Brunch, Kick the Keg Sundays, $2.50 Domestic Pints, $5 Bloody Mary’s, $4 Mimosa’s

3317 Masonboro Loop Rd. (910) 791-1019

On the corner of Masonboro Loop Rd. and Pine Grove Road.

MONDAY Military Appreciation 20% off all active and retired Military TUESDAY Ladies Night Out: $25 person four-course pre-fixe menu WEDNESDAY Wine Down: 1/2 off on all wines by the glass FRIDAY Music on the patio: 9pm-11pm MAY 13TH -A FULL DISH SATURDAY Lunch Menu: 12pm - 3pm SUNDAY Lunch Menu: 12pm-3pm KIDS EAT FREE with adult purchase of our Big Night Out for two ALL DAY! DOGS WELCOME ON THE PATIO 885 Town Center Drive MAYFAIRE TOWN CENTER (910) 256-1187

18 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

YOUR LIVE MUSIC FOOD AND DRINK SPECIALS! CALL 791-0688

YOU SAY LEE, I SAY LEIGH: Amos Lee, joined by Sonia Leigh, will play House of Blues and The Orange Peel this week. Courtesy photo.

HOUSE OF BLUES 4640 HigHway 17 sOUTH, n. myrTle beacH, sc (843) 272-3000 5/11: Third Eye Blind, US Royalty 5/13: Hostile Apostles (311 tribute), Soul’s Harbor 5/14: The Wailers, Duane Stephenson 5/17: Hollywood Undead, 10 Years, Drive A, New Medicine 5/18: Amos Lee, Sonia Leigh LINCOLN THEATRE 126 e. cabarrUs sTreeT, raleigH, nc 919) 821-4111 5/12: Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, featuring Tab Benoit 5/13: ZOSO (Led Zeppelin tribute) 5/14: Robert Randolph and The Family Band THE ORANGE PEEL 101 bilTmOre avenUe, asHeville, nc (828) 225-5851 5/11: Danzig, DevilDriver, 2Cents 5/12: Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven 5/13: Paul Thorn, The Greencards 5/14: Between the Buried and Me, Job for a Cowboy, The Ocean 5/15: Brent Dennen, Dawes 5/16: Junip, The Acrylics 5/17: Amos Lee, Sonia Leigh 5/18: Crash Test Dummies, Kellin Watson

AMOS’ SOUTHEND 1423 sOUTH TryOn sTreeT, cHarlOTTe, nc (704) 377-6874 5/11: Hawk and Cupcakes 5/13: 42 (Coldplay tribute) 5/14: ZOSO (Led Zeppelin tribute) 5/17: Apocalyptica, Soul’s Harbor 5/18: Memphis Mayfire, Decoder, Ten After Two, That’s Outrageous CAT’S CRADLE 300 e. main sTreeT, carrbOrO, nc (919) 967-9053 5/12: Thursday, Pygmy Lush, I Was Totally Destroying It 5/13: Lost in the Trees, The Toddlers, Towers 5/14: Tres Chicas, Great Big Gone, Lynn Blakely, Ecki Heins (NC tornado victims benefit) 5/17: Junip, The Acrylics 5/18: Dawes, Luego, Wylie Hunter & the Cazadores THE FILLMORE 1000 seabOard sTreeT, cHarlOTTe, nc (704) 549-5555 5/15: The Wailers 5/17: The Flaming Lips, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger 5/18: Blue October, special acoustic performance NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM 5001 cOliseUm dr., n. cHarlesTOn, sc dUrHam, nc (843) 529-5010 5/12: Dierks Bentley, Josh Thompson, Miss Willie Brown

n NC

sweetwaterbrew.com

TWITTER COM SWEETWATERNC s FACEBOOK COM SWEETWATERBREW 3WEET7ATER "REWING #OMPANY s /TTLEY $RIVE !TLANTA 'A

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Red Hot Chili Peppers encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 19

Tuesday - Thursday 5pm - Until | Friday & Saturday 5pm- 2am

WEEKLY SPECIALS Monday:

$2.50 Mexican Beers • $5 Burrito and Brew

Tuesday:

$2 Tacos • $2 Tequila Shots $2 Tecate • $2 Modelo Especial Draft

Wednesday:

1/2 Price Lunch Menu & Apps All Day $3 Casa Margaritas $2 Corona Lt.

piTcher Thursday:

1/2 Price Pitchers of Sangria, Margaritas, and Draft Beer SALSA NIGHT!!!

Friday:

Live Music! Paco & Friends • 6:30-9:30 P.M. Pura Vida!!!

sunday:

$8 Shrimp & Grits • $5 French Toast 5 South Water Street Downtown Wilmington 910-399-4501

20 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

Weekly Specials:

1/2 PRICE SUSHI 5-7pm Now Every Night of the Week!

k: On Our Open Air Dec

Monday

Every Tuesday

Dog, Dine anD Wine

Bring your dogs, eat or just meet and greet $5 glass pours on featured wines, weekly drink specials and dog treats.

Leashes required and HAPPY DOGS welcomed!!

7pm-10pm

Friday and Saturday live music - listing the musician every week, 7-10pm Sunday 1/2 price wines great spot to come out and enjoy the outdoors!! Cheese, chocolate and wine - mighty fine!!

Saturday May 14th

Friday May 13th

LYnDSeY BenneTT

BReTT RaMSeY

138 South Front Street 910.251.0433 www.littledipperfondue.com

Select Sakes Half Price

Tuesday

Locals Night -Service Industry Employees 20% off Menu Items, 7-10pm. Beer & Drink Specials

Wednesday

80’s Night $5 Glass of Wine

Thursday

Karaoke starting at 10:30pm

Sunday

1/2 Off Select Bottles of Wine 33 S. Front St. 2nd Floor (910) 763-3172 www.yosake.com

//FILM

fast cars, dumb plot: ‘Fast Five’ gets its thrills from speed

I

t’s dIffIcult to descrIbe the

success of “The Fast and the Furious” franchise. How can I boil down five films into just one or two words? The symphony of man mastering machine, the adrenaline surge that comes from being above the law, conquering the fear of death, defying the odds and the spoils that come with it?! I doubt even the most studied literary masters would be hardpressed to ... oh, wait! I got it: “car boner!”

“The Fast and the Furious” films have always been ridiculous romps that often end up being entertaining in spite of utterly incomprehensible plots and a monochromatic style of acting that would make Sir Laurence Olivier spin in his grave. What salvages “The Fast and the Furious” is its relentless pursuit to deliver kinetic thrills. There’s something to be said for a movie that abandons logic and reason for purely visceral reaction. Usually, that “something to be said” is, “Dear, God! Why?” I’ve found myself generally forgiving of such filth because of its lack of pretentiousness.

“Fast Five” is easily the best of the series because not only does it lack pretension, it goes out of its way to track it down and piss all over it. This is a fantastic piece of action cinema, but it’s stupid. No, no, no! Stupid doesn’t do it justice. Nor does moronic, idiotic or brainless. I feel as if I need to search for a word to convey the kind of hollowed-out, cerebellum that crafted the story for “Fast Five.” Let’s go with plebeian.

It sounds like I’m being critical of the logic-less world our heroes inhabit. In fact, the relentless commitment to entertain and complete abandonment of reason are what makes “Fast Five” far better than any traditional idiotic action film. This time around daredevil and criminal Dom (Vin Diesel) and his heterosexual life partner Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) are on the lam, trying to steal to survive in South America. They are being pursued

by Dobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), a testosterone-fueled FBI agent who is willing to destroy most of Rio de Janeiro to bring them to justice.

“Fast Five” borrows a lot from “Oceans 11.” They have turned the traditional car-race film into a car-race heist hybrid, where Dom and Brian have to assemble a team of drivers to pull off a $100 million vault job. This is a wonderful excuse to bring back every secondary character from the previous four “The Fast and the Furious” films. I wondered: How are a half dozen race car drivers going to steal a vault housed in a police station? Well, my friend: Because they drive real damn fast.

I liked the film. The three-star review will attest to that. It’s a fun, energetic and amus-

by Anghus Fast Five

H HHH H

ne

sel, Dway Starring Vin Die son ‘The Rock’ John

ing movie with a number of mind-blowing carchase scenes. But I would be remiss if I didn’t spend a few more minutes on the kind of insane reality these characters live in.

While putting together their “Danny Ocean”-style plot for robbing a local drug lord, Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), they decide to

I ask: Why remove the mask? The revelation is meaningless, aside from giving away an identity to a bunch of scumbags who can now shoot assuredly to kill.

A bit of insanity continues as Reyes’ henchman returns to his office to tell him about the robbery. He fills Reyes in on the details before Reyes takes a knick-knack from his desk and beats the Henchman to death.

I wanted to scream, “Wait ... what?

Why are you killing the guy who can basically pick out every guy on Dom’s crew?

The guy hadn’t quite outlived his usefulness just yet!”

More “what the what?” moments exist throughout the film—especially in the last 20 minutes, when physics and common sense are abandoned for one of the

reel reel this week in film Exit Through the Gift Shop Subversive Film Series Juggling Gypsy •1612 Castle St. (910) 763-2223 Sundays, 8pm • Free 5/15: A story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur filmmaker attempted to locate and befriend bonafied street artist Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. Excellent documentary, which showed at our own local Cucalorus Film Festival in 2010.

Certified Copy Cinematique Thalian Hall Studio Theatre 310 Chestnut Street • 7:30 p.m., $7 5/11: Starring Cannes-winner Juliette Binoche (pictured) and from legendary auteur Abbas Kiarostami, “Certified Copy” follows a gallery owner

BRAUN BUT NO BRAIN: Paul Walker and Vin Diesel start in ‘Fast Five’ a film easy on the eyes but not the intellect.

rob him so that in an act of desperation he’ll compile all his filthy lucre into one place. During the robbery, Dom takes off his ski mask and tells Reyes’ henchman that he wants his boss to know who robbed him. This makes sense because Dom and Reyes have a history. Dom is sending a signal. Then, everyone else proceeds to take off their masks, exposing their identities before burning a big pile of money and departing.

I understand why a couple of the characters would do this. But why would hired help go along with it—especially if they had no personal stake in the plan and the crazy gun-toting drug cartel had no idea who they were. So,

most awesomely unrealistic car chases ever filmed. Who knew a souped-up muscle car can not only tow a bank vault but hurl it like a weapon at enemy vehicles? Who knew someone could jump from a moving car doing 100 miles an hour and survive with little more than a couple of cuts and bruises?

Logic be damned! “Fast Five” is still enjoyable. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are still a lazy pairing; each have such a limited range.

Director Justin Lin is smart enough to stock the pond with enough personalities to keep the camera from having to focus on any one performer for more than a couple of minutes.

Dwayne Johnson is a nice addition to the franchise. The one thing the films have been lacking is this kind of menacing presence. A bald “Ying” to Vin Diesel’s bald “Yang.” Dumb has rarely been this much fun.

in a Tuscan village who attends a lecture by a British author (opera star William Shimell) on authenticity and fakery in art. 129 min; PG-13.

Coming 5/23-25: “Of Gods and Men’—Eight French Christian monks live in harmony with their Muslim brothers in a monastery perched in the mountains of North Africa in the 1990s. When a crew of foreign workers is massacred by an Islamic fundamentalist group, fear sweeps though the region. The army offers them protection, but the monks refuse. 120 min; PG-13.

Cucalorus Film Festival 815 Princess Street • (910) 343-5995 Call for entries!

Wilmington’s best film fest, as noted in the spring 2011 edition of MovieMaker Magazine as “one of the 25 best film festival investments,” is now accepting entries into their 2011 event, taking place November 10--13. All locals who enter can do so for free by 6/14. If you wait ‘til June, entry fees start taking effect.

Send in two DVDs, one inappropriate collage and an entry form. www.cucalorus.org.

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

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 21

grub&guzzle|

22-27 DINING GUIDE 28 TASTE OF WILMINGTON 29 PLEASURE ISLAND BREWERY INVITATIONAL

what’s for dinner?

Find it in the premier dining guide for the Port City

HALLIGAN’S ro Loop Road 3317 Masonbo 9 (910) 791-101

Traditional Irish fare at it’s best: Halligan’s Fish & Chips made with Atlantic Cod dipped in a Harp Lager Batter with Cole Slaw, Kettle chips and Sweet Potato Fries.

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 10am - 11pm; Sat & Sun 10am – 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

22 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

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

CHRIS’ COSMIC KITCHEN

Serving breakfast all day as well as lunch and handmade cheesecake, Chef and Owner Chris Lubben loves to make many of his menu items from scratch. Whether you’re in the mood for a fluffy 3-egg Omelet, Shrimp & Grits, Prime Rib Sandwich or Andes Mint Cheesecake, Chris’ Cosmic Kitchen is your “Out of this World” Breakfast/Lunch Destination. Evening restaurant rental is available, as well as a Personal Chef service. Chris’ Cosmic Kitchen is located at 420 Eastwood Rd, Unit 109, on the corner of Racine Dr. and Eastwood Rd. (910) 792-6720.

Follow us on Twitter @CosmicKitchen.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST & LUNCH: 8am

4pm; Tues-Sat.; Sun. Brunch 9am-2pm. Closed Mon.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Take out, call (910) 792-6720 ■ WEBSITE: www.CosmicKitchenOnline.com C.G. Dawgs

For great traditional New York style eats with Southern charm look no further than C.G. Dawgs. You will be drawn in by the aroma of fine beef franks served with witty banter and good natured delivery from the cleanest hot dog carts in Wilmington. Sabrett famous hot

dogs and Italian sausages are the primary fare offered, with a myriad of condiments for all of your mid-day or late night cravings.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: 11am– 5pm. Sat. at the farmers market. Thurs.- Sat. nights on Market St. between Front and 2nd St. from 10pm – 3:00am.

Fibbers on Sun. nights Until 3am.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD Downtown ■ FEATURING: Lunch time delivery downtown 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

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 23

CostCutters| Cost Cutters

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WEEKEND SPECIAL Buffet with Snowcrab Legs $2399 Buffet withouth Snowcrab Legs $999 Monday - Sunday Nights Only

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HALLIGAN’S

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

ner and drink specials, there is something that will make your taste buds sing. Full ABC permits. Located at 2012 Eastwood Road, (910) 256-3558.

■ MUSIC: Live jazz on Wednesdays.

■ WEBSITE: www.mellowmushroom.com

ASIAN

■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH &

tEMPtAtIoNS EVERYdAY GoURMEt

Now with two convenient locations to serve you, Big Thai features authentic Thai cuisine in a fun, relaxing atmosphere. Their delectable menu includes items such as Pineapple Fried Rice with Cashews, Roasted Duck in Red Curry, and several options for vegetarians and vegans. And don’t forget to try their famous Coconut Cake, made fresh in-house. You won’t regret it. Big Thai One (1001 N. 4th St. in the Brooklyn Arts District; 763-3035): Lunch M-F, 11-2. Dinner M-Th 5-9, F-Sa 5-10, Closed Sun.. Big Thai Two (1319 Military Cutoff Rd. inside Landfall Center; 256-6588)

DINNER: 6am-2am, seven days a week.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach ■ FEATURING: Working Man’s Lunch for

under $6 Mon.-Fri.. Lunch deliveries available in the Wrightsville Beach area.

■ MUSIC: Fri., Sat. and Sun. nights.

■ WEBSITE: www.kefilive.com

tHE LIttLE dIPPER

Wilmington’s favorite fondue restaurant! The Little Dipper specializes in unique fondue dishes with a global variety of cheeses, meats, seafood, vegetables, chocolates and fine wines. The warm and intimate dining room is a great place to enjoy a four-course meal, or indulge in appetizers and desserts outside on the back deck or in the bar while watching luminescent jellyfish. Reservations are appreciated for parties of any size. Located at the corner of Front and Orange in Downtown Wilmington. 138 South Front Street.

(910) 251-0433.

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

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.

Pine Valley Market has reigned supreme in servicing the Wilmington community for years, securing encore’s Best-Of awards in catering, gourmet shop and butcher. Now, Kathy Webb and Christi Ferretti are expanding their talents into serving lunch in-house, so folks can enjoy their hearty, homemade meals in the quaint and cozy 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.

HoLIdAY INN RESoRt

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Sun. –

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 KEFI

Founded in 1981 by a group of friends, has a longstanding tradition as a favorite local watering hole. This Wrightsville-Beach eatery is open at 6am for breakfast, offering everything from omelets and pancakes, to shrimp and grits. Take a break from the beach and visit Kefi’s, where their menu features a variety of salads and sandwiches. At night Kefi comes alive by serving dinner with a Southern flare. From the fried pickles appetizer to their the shrimp or oyster Po’boy to their nightly din-

Mon.-Fri.10am-7pm; Sat. 9am-6pm.

Closed Sun. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wilmington South ■ FEATURING: Daily specials and take-home frozen meals ■ WEBSITE: www.pinevalleymarket.com

MELLoW MUSHRooM

Mellow out and relax in the comfortable atmosphere that Mellow Mushroom offers. From the giant psychadelic ‘shroom located in the bar area to the Cadillac hanging on the wall, this restaurant is far from ordinary. The open kitchen brings live entertainment as pizza dough flies in the air. Their hand-tossed, spring-water dough brings new meaning to pizzas and calzones—healthy!! With 20 drafts and an array of microbrews, domestic and import bottles, Mellow Mushroom has an extensive beer list and full bar. 4311 Oleander Drive, (910) 452-3773.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Mon-Sat,11am-10pm; Sun., 12pm-9pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: lunch specials, a variety of sandwiches and vegetarian items.

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 and North Wilmington

■ WEBSITE:

www.temptationseverydaygourmet.com

■ FEATURING: An expanded dinner menu, at the Porter’s Neck location, which changes weekly.

tRoLLY StoP

Trolly Stop Hot Dogs is a family owned franchise with six locations. Since 1976 they specialize in homemade 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, 98% Turkey, and Soy. Sausages include Bratwurst, Mild Italian, Spicy Beef and Polish Kielbasi. Locations are: 126 N. Front Street Open seven days from 11am-4pm, late night hours are Thurs., Fri., and Sat. night from 10pm3am; (910) 343-2999, 94 S. Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach 11-5pm 7days a week, 6pm-9pm Sun-Wed, and 6pm-3am Th-Sat. (910) 256-1421; 4502 Fountain Dr., 452-3952. 11am-7pm Mon-Sun; South Howe St. in Southport, (910) 457-7017 (CLOSED FOR THE SEASON UNTIL EASTER WEEKEND); 103A Cape Fear Blvd in Carolina Beach, (910) 458-5778; 1250 Western Blvd., Unit L-4 Jacksonville, (910) 228-0952, opened Mon-Sun 11am-9pm. Catering cart available all year from $300. (910) 297-8416.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Throughout the Port City

■ FEATURING: Dog friendly locations

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

BIG tHAI ANd BIG tHAI tWo

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER: Open

for Lunch M-F 11-2:30; Dinner M-Th 5-9; F-Sa 5-10; Sun. 5-9.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown and North Wilmington ■ FEATURING: Vegetarian/vegan options.

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 HIRo JAPANESE StEAKHoUSE

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. 4pm-10pm; Fri. and Sat. 4pm-10:30pm and Sun. 11am-10pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Hibachi style dining.

■ WEBSITE:

www.hirojapanesesteakhouse.com/hibachi

INdoCHINE REStAURANt ANd 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

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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

CARIBBEAN JAMAICA’S COMFORT ZONE

Wilmington’s Authentic Caribbean Restaurant conveniently located at 417 S. College Road in University Landing. We offer exquisite Caribbean cuisine to satisfy your taste buds, whether they are for spicy Jamaican jerk chicken, mellow flavors of our curry chicken, curry goat or our ox tail skillfully flavored by our Jamaican chefs. Come in and enjoy our many menu selections, our warm décor, smoke-free atmosphere, excellent service and our smooth reggae music. Jamaica’s Comfort Zone is family owned and operated. Call us 910-399-2867.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: Sun., 3pm.– 8pm; Tues.- Sat. 11:45am – 9pm. Closed Mon. ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Breakfast served all day.

■ MUSIC: Live Music every First Fri. ■ WEBSITE: www.jamaicascomfortzone.net

EURO FUSION PRESS 102

Espresso. Panini. Martini. Rome and Paris meet Manhattan and San Francisco in this new Euro-American eatery and martini bar in the heart of historic downtown Wilmington. Nestled inside the Hotel Tarrymore on the corner of Second and Dock streets, Press 102 offers the finest espresso and French press coffee made exclusively from locally roasted beans and more Panini creations this side of Tuscany. Boasting more than a hundred different wine labels and an endless variety of freshly pressed fruit and herb inspired martini cocktails foodies also enjoy a sophisticated evening menu that includes shrimp and grits made with red-eye gravy and a perfectly grilled New York strip bathed in a basil caramel and white balsamic reduction. Glass tile and eclectic mirrors make for a cozy bar and bistro seating at Press 102 and up to 60 guests can also enjoy outdoor patio seating surrounded by flowers and passersby. Large parties of up to 120 are welcome in the Veranda Room overlooking Dock Street. (910) 399-4438.

■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH ■ ■ ■

& DINNER: Wed. - Sat. 8am - until and Sunday brunch from 9am-3pm, NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown FEATURING: Wilmington’s Best Panini, according to encore readers WEBSITE: www.Press102.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” three 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

Try something different to eat! 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. Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon treat, everything on the menu is available.

On the Savory side, the Uzès, the Quebec, the Tahiti or the Provencale are among the most popular. Their homemade Ratatouille or South France type subs like the Pain Bagnat or the Classics are worth the detour too. On the sweet side, The Versailles, St. Tropez or Crazy Nutella (with homemade Nutella ice cream) will make you come back for more! Beside crepe, they offer amazing all natural Homemade Ice cream and Sorbet, Chocolate Croissant and Croissant. Open all day with free WiFi and live French radio, Our Crepes & More is a pleasant yet casual place to unwind.

Our Crepes & More can accommodate large parties! COMING SOON! OPEN FOR BREAKFAST & LUNCH ON SUNDAYS

■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER: Monday, 9am to 5pm, Tuesday

through Saturday 9am-8pm. Closed Sundays ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Vegetarian and gluten-free options. Free Wi-Fi..

■ WEBSITE: www.ourcrepesandmore.com

ITALIAN 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.

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

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GIORGIO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Giorgio’s is a locally owned, one-of-a-kind restaurant.

Offering age-old traditions and timeless recipes, perfection is accomplished by combining the perfect cuisine and atmosphere for a dining experience that is not soon forgotten. With over 50 years of cooking experience under one roof, the smells of old-fashioned home cooking float through the air creating that comforting feeling of home-away-from-home! From old world style dishes to modern day creations, the menu showcases multiple flavors that will tempt the palate of the most discriminating connoisseurs. A Monkey Junction landmark for over 12 years! 5226 S College Rd.,Wilmington (910) 790-9954.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER:

Mon.- Thurs. 11am. – 9:30am; Fri. 11am-10:30pm; Sat. 12pm-10:30pm Sun. 11:30am – 9:30pm ■ 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 highest-quality ingredients in all of our food, and our dough is made daily with purified water. Voted “Best Pizza” and “Best Late Night Eatery.”All ABC permits. Visit us downtown at 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: 11:30am-3am, 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. Open Sun from 5pm-10pm.

■ 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 selec-

tions 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 produce, 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 GrassFed 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 1310 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., 10am-6pm.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: New bakery, fresh organic pies, cakes and bread. Newly expanded.

■ WEBSITE: www.loveysmarket.com.

TIDAL CREEK CO-OP

Tidal Creek Co-op Kitchen offers a wide array of exceptional and unusual organic foods, all of which taste as good as they are for you. The salad bar and hot bar incorporate flavors from around the world. Each item is prepared by hand, using fresh and local ingredients.

The chefs are constantly experimenting to create new and exciting dishes, with many vegan and gluten-free selections available. Choose from made-to-order smoothies with ingredients like almond butter and hemp milk, salads with locally grown greens, and special event cakes made from scratch to your specifications. Dining in is always welcomed, but you will also find freshly prepared entrees, salads, and sandwiches in the grab and go case. Whatever your tastes, The Co-op Kitchen is a place to rejuvenate the mind and body, while enjoying the company of a friendly and relaxed organic community. Located at 5329 Oleander across from Jungle Rapids, (910)799-2667, indoor and outdoor seating is available. Like Tidal Creek on Facebook for a daily post of “What’s for Lunch!”

■ SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH &

DINNER: Mon-Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 9am -8pm

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Hot Bar 11am-3pm, Salad Bar & Smoothie/Juice/Coffee Bar all day

■ WEBSITE: www.tidalcreek.coop.

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 “BohemianChic” 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 ecofriendly and offers light fare nightly. 275 Waynick Blvd.

Wrightsville Beach. (910) 256-2251.

SPORTS BAR CAROLINA ALE HOUSE

SUNDAY BRUNCH

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.

Sun.brunch.

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER &

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER & ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Wrightsville Beach.

■ FEATURING: Lobster menu on Fri. ■ MUSIC: Live music on Sat. evening and ■ WEBSITE: www.blockade-runner.com HIERONYMUS

Proving that excellent seafood isn’t just for the eateries at Wrightsville Beach, Hieronymus Seafood is the stop for midtown Wilmington seafood lovers. In business for 27 years strong, Hieronymus has made a name for itself by consistently providing excellent service and the freshest of the fresh in oceanic cuisine.

It’s the place to be if you are seeking top-quality attributes in atmosphere, presentation, flavor and ingenuity. Signature dishes include Oysters Hieronymus and the Scallops Fra Diavlo. Hieronymus has all ABC permits and also provides catering. Voted “Best Seafood” in 2007. 5035 Market Street; (910) 392-6313.

■ SERVING LUNCH & DINNER ■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: Fireside oyster bar.

■ WEBSITE: www.hieronymusseafood.com 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

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,” coowner 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.

LATE NIGHT: 11am-2am daily.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Midtown ■ FEATURING: 40 HD TVs and the biggest HD projector TVs in Wilmington.

■ WEBSITE: CarolinaAleHouse.com FOX & HOUND PUB & GRILLE

Serving up the best bar food for any local sports fan, Fox & Hound as 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 themed restaurant. For starters, Fox offers delicious appetizers like Ultimate nachos, gian Bavarian pretzels and spinach artichoke dip. In the mood for something more? Try the hand-battered Newcastle fish ‘n’ chips o rchicken tenders, or the grilled Mahi-Mahi served atop a bed of spicy rice. From cheeseburgers to and sirloins to salads and 12-inch 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 HELL’S KITCHEN

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.

Hair Nails Facials Waxing

■ SERVING LUNCH, DINNER &

Lash Extensions

LATE NIGHT: 11am – late. Sun. at noon.

■ NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown ■ FEATURING: Dueling pianos every Thurs.,

Massage Therapy

Fri., and Sat. nights. and 1/2 priced select appetizers m-th 4-7pm

■ WEBSITE: www.hellskitchenbar.com

Spa Packages Gift Cards available Wedding parties welcome INDEPENDENCE MALL 910/794-8897

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 27

//FOOD

taste the bon vivant!

Taste of Wilmington fourth annual event grows, crowns new Top Chef

W

hat started as a simple love

for food and the local dining experience has become a sell-out hit in the Wilmington community. It all originated from one friendly question: Who’s the best?

With the hit show “Iron Chef” in mind, Pam Sander, digital/print operations editor at StarNews and founder of the culinary gala Taste of Wilmington, explains how the competition grew.

“In planning Taste’s ‘Top Chef’ in the first year, we realized we couldn’t have an event in which folks watched the chefs cook for hours without getting some tastes. We also knew that local fine-dining restaurants could benefit from the exposure.”

Benefit they did. With tickets selling out each year, local foodies have enjoyed their exposure to new restaurants they may not have considered trying before. With a program guide in one hand, and wine glass in the other, guests each year continue to navigate from food to wine to music with ease and enjoyment.

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Criminal and Traffic Law Personal Injury 514 Princess Street Wilmington NC 910-763-8106 serving New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties

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Gentry

by Shannon Rae on Food gt Taste of Wilmin al and Wine Festiv p.m. - 9 p.m.

5 , 15 Sun., May 5 on Riverside • $4 Hilton Wilmingt tickets.com www.wilmington Each year the top three chefs are narrowed down from a larger voting pool.

The process has evolved over a short period of time, Sander says. “This year we fine-tuned it even more by incorporating stop-gaps to prevent folks from voting numerous times. We also asked readers for suggestions online in advance of going live with round one and included more chefs during that first round.”

Though some may argue the flaws of the voting process—and perhaps other ways to ensure accuracy—Sander is certain there will always be a gray area. When it comes down to it, “anyone who says those guys are not rocking it in the food world have not tasted their food.” The purpose of the festival is not simply to be the competition to end all competitions; it’s for the community, businesses and competing chefs to expose the best of our culinary scene.

In fact, each dish will be judged on its use of local goods. Produce and other ingredients for the competition have come from Lewis Nursery and Farms, Nature’s Way Farm and Seafood, Shelton Herb Farm, Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems, Motts Channel Seafood, Grassy Ridge Farm and Federal Point Farm. Festival founders have made it a point to tap local and seasonal sources, especially for the well-guarded secret ingredient the chefs are called upon to use during their cookoff.

Cactus was the focus the first year, while Duplin muscadines made an appearance in 2009 and garlic scape provided an interesting twist in 2010. In the past, the main ingredient used happened to be the popular purchase on the local market, leading Sander to be mindful of what they choose this year.

“We’re kicking around several possibilities for 2011,” she says. “One thing we talked about briefly sounded fabulous until local chef Tommy Mills said it could be poisonous if not cooked exactly right. While we were fine with the chefs showing what they could do with it, Betty Sue around the block may not appreciate the risk.”

The final three chefs this year include Marc Copenhaver, Kyle Lee McKnight and Keith

28 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

A fresh new tAke on delicious: Strawberry shortcake sliders were just one of the tantalizing tastes at last year’s festival. Photo by Jeff Janowski/StarNews.

Rhodes, all of whom have made careers of something that many people appreciate and enjoy: food. There is no doubt each of the talented individuals will bring something unique and delicious to the festival’s plate.

However, the deep-seated theme of the festival is not in competition or the food, or even the chefs themselves; it’s more about the community they serve.

Marc Copenhaver of Marc’s on Market earned the title of Top Chef when it all began in 2008. Certainly recognized for his restaurant’s innovative approach, he has garnered fans for his monthly cooking classes offered in the restaurant’s own kitchen. The dining community praises Copenhaver for perfecting every dish with nuance and offering a foodie experience that goes above the standard norm.

“You can have a passion for food but it has to be more than that” Copenhaver says. “[You must know] customers on a first-name basis and know the comfort level people have when dining at a restaurant with a creative and unpredictable nature. There’s a certain amount of familiarity of the food we make; Our approach takes a different twist on identifiable foods presented in unconventional ways.”

After 15 years in the kitchen, Circa 1922’s Kyle Lee McKnight has the knowledge and experience of a powerful competitor. As a

first-time finalist, McKnight’s hard work—and that of his staff—have been recognized by the public.

He says, “I personally don’t cook for notoriety; I cook to bring joy and happiness to others.”

The final contestant, Keith Rhodes of Catch Restaurant, also returns to the fire after his 2008 final showdown. Happy to be in the company of other chefs who take pride in their craft, Rhodes believes the event is more than just a championship round of skill and ingenuity.

“For me, it’s more about the community and not the competition…The community has really stood by us and we owe it all to them,” he says.

Rhodes is known for his restaurant’s use of local, organic foods—something he has praised long before the locavore movement became fashionable. It’s not simply his job but a lifestyle he wants to share. As he considers the festival’s progression, Rhodes would like it to eventually shift focus to the culinary education of the local youth community, too.

With the close proximity of Cape Fear Community College Culinary School, Rhodes says it’s important to get students more involved in the overall theme of the festival: local foods and community.“I’d really like this to focus on youth who are interested in culinary arts next year,” he divulges.

This year the festival features much more than the scrumptious scrimmage between these three amazing chefs. After the competition, chefs will get an opportunity to enjoy the festivities and greet their sated fans. Fine foods and beverages from top restaurants, wineries and breweries will be served alongside gleaming ice sculpture creations by Ice Sensations.

The harmonious and original music of local bands the Sea Pans and A Few Good Liars will add to the occasion’s joviality.

The actual competition between the final three chefs is free and will be held earlier in the day on May 15 from noon to 3 p.m. The location will be on the riverfront, behind Cape Fear Community College Culinary School on Water Street, beside the Hilton. It’s a much needed space for the growing attendance, vendors and entertainment.

Further details can be found at www. starnewsonline.com. Tickets are only $45, available at StarNews’ ticket page, www. wilmingtontickets.com.

//COVER STORY

bottling the magic: Good Vibes throws second beer fest on Pleasure Island

“R

ight now, beeR’s wheRe

it’s at!” Paige Snow, founder of local brewery Good Vibes, tells encore. Snow and his business partners, wife Melissa and head brewmaster Ethan Hall (former Azalea Coast Brewery owner), are unleashing their second beer festival along Carolina Beach Lake Park on May 14th. Here, they’ll welcome regional breweries to share their crafts and microbrews with the public.

“We only invite 20 regional breweries,” Snow says, “with a big emphasis on North Carolina beer. It allows them to be able to show more of what they can do, rather than just what a distributor can put on a shelf.”

Naturally, Good Vibes will have their own sips available, including their flagship beer, “The Experience.” Released in November, it offers an 8 percent Imperial Pale Ale flavor.

“Our purpose was to have an easy-drinking, high alcohol-content beer that was refreshing and could especially be enjoyed all year long,” Snow says. “We go to a lot of festivals, so we designed it to fit a live show/festival environment. We get a lot of calls about ‘something special’ in our beer, and, really, it’s a mixture of blood, sweat, tears and the experience of Good Vibes.’

Having started the company in January of 2010, the Snows and their partner began brewing beer out of their homes and friend’s garage as a hobby. This became the platform for generating flavors and ideas on starting a brewery. They launched the mom-and-pop shop in offices on Kerr Avenue and began brewing in Rocky Point. Currently, they’re in the process of finding a permanent brew spot in or around the Wilmington area as we speak.

Though they’re toddlers on the market, the response they’ve garnered in a little over a year has caught the attention of major players, including local distributor R.A. Jeffreys. In fact, the Anheuser-Busch company now services Good Vibes’ product needs.

“Being ‘picked up’ by R.A. Jefferys was huge for us,” Snow says. “They are now the fifth largest distributor in the nation. What that means for now is that they are able to sell more beer than we are able to produce.

For a small operation like ours, it means our growth is limitless.”

Good Vibes fills mugs across the Port City to no avail. With one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass taps signifying its pour, Cape Fear Wine and Beer, Catch, The Little Dipper, Duck and Dive, Crow Hill, Fox and Hound and Juggling Gypsy all serve the pale ale.

“There are over 25 hand blown glass tap handles in town so far,” Snow says. The taps are locally crafted at Lucky Seven Tattoo, which houses a glass-blowing studio as well.

The added connectivity to “going local” plays well with Good Vibes’ philosophy of treating

by Shea Carver onal Brewer y Invitati Pleasure Island . - 9 p.m.

May 14th, 3 p.m y of $30 adv/$40 da er tickets: $20 Designated driv Lake Park Carolina Beach brew.com www.goodvibes every honed craft with respect. “Beer is an art form,” Snow says, “and we want to portray that in our brews. Each handle is different and numbered.”

Last summer, Good Vibes held the first Pleasure Island Brewery Invitational to much success. With over 400 people showing up to test the goods, folks can expect the follow-up event to be as engaging. On tap will be Catawba Valley, Duck Rabbit, Mother Earth, Thomas Creek, Big Boss, Natty Greene’s, Sweetwater—which is making its debut in the Wilmington area—and almost a dozen more, including Good Vibes. There will be live music presented from funkadelic animators Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, as well as Root Soul Project and the Medlin Kidz.

“I want a true festival environment,” Snow says. “A professional stage and sound are provided from Modern Music, and there will be hula hoops scattered through the field, live artists doing paintings on site, and Juggling Gypsy will have a hookah bar set up, too.”

Food vendors abound, including revered Wilmington chef Keith Rhodes, who will debut a soft opening of his food truck. A contender for Wilmington’s Top Chef 2011 (see previous page), Rhodes will donate a portion of his proceeds to Autism Speaks. Likewise Good Vibes will donate to the Sea Turtle Project, which ensures preservation and protection of the animals.

“I believe that the more you add to the environment, the more magical the beer!” Snow

SENDING GOOD VIBES: The founders of Good Vibes Brewing Company (l. to r.) and the Pleasure Island Brewery Invitational, Ethan Hall, Paige and Melissa Snow. Photo by Bethany Turner.

notes. “It adds to the environment of hand craft. We have a grass-roots approach, and we seem to find friends to support the cause.”

Though more invitationals are sure to come—and maybe even some distilling of vodka and gin along the way, according to Snow— the kids at Good Vibes are immediately setting their sights on a new concoction to be released later in the summer. A small batch will come out called “The Hippie Killa,” a nickname which began as a spoof but seemingly caught on. “The beer will be large enough to fulfill the title,” Snow assures of the 22-ounce bottles.

“It will blow your mind!”

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One mile south of Monkey Junction across from Walgreens

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(Excludes Owner) encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 29

extra!extra!|

30 BOOK CLUB PREVIEW 31 CROSSWORD 32 INTERVIEW WITH DAN KRAUS 33 FACT OR FICTION 34-38 CALENDAR/TOONS/ETC.

new book club read: ‘Like Normal People’ explores the love and sacrifice of family

L

ast week i sent my mom a gift for

Mother’s Day, but I didn’t send a card.

There’s just too much I’d like to say, and sometimes I’m not the greatest with words—odd coming from a writer, I know.

My mom’s support is something monumentally moving. She’s ensured the comfort and normalcy of my life as her number-one cause—and that means the world to me, her handicapped daughter. My life constantly called for improvising already existing ideas of what is, “normal.”

So, I can’t imagine the challenges she faced, the stresses she endured—nor can I conceptualize the instances of ignorance she came in contact with during the process. I am endlessly grateful for her relentless fight at being the best mom.

STAY CONNECTED facebook.com/encorepub encorepub.tumblr.com twitter.com/encorepub

30 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

ielse

by Tiffanie Gabr ople Like Normal Pe er

by Karen E. Bend Mariner Books $16.95 Courtesy photo

A mom and encore reader, Eileen Clark. shares the same struggles. Currently, she is he goes trying to find an accepting school for her youngest child who lives with Aspergers, Tourette’s, depression and severe anxiety. Regularly, she and her daughter, Sam, face cruel judgment. Sam is discriminately and routinely taken out of school functions and even flatly denied appropriate aids.

While I wish there were more I could personally do, this month’s book-club selection, “Like Normal People,” is dedicated to courageous mothers everywhere, including my own and Eileen.

A Los Angeles Times bestseller, Port City author Karen Bender is well-known as a writer of timeless stories relevant to society. They’ve been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Mystery Stories and New Stories from the South: The Year’s Best. Her words have appeared within several heavy-hitting magazines like, The New Yorker, Granta, Ploughshares, Zoetrope, Story and The Iowa Review. A UNCW creative writing professor and co-editor of the nonfiction anthology, Choice, Bender has also won not just one, but two Pushcart Prizes and has been featured on “Selected Shorts” on National Public Radio. Now she brings encore book worms (and mothers) one of The Washington Post’s best books of the year.

“Like Normal People” follows main character Lena, a 48-year-old adult mentally trapped in child-

hood. When Lena escapes her residential home and goes missing with her 12-year-old niece, the novel travels with her day-long escape as her widowed mother, Ella, searches for them. In the process, Ella re-experiences her own life’s reveries and frustrations, like her marriage to a compassionate and loving shoe salesman; the unearthing of Lena’s handicap; and her endlessly painful fight to give her daughter a “normal” childhood.

A novel that will navigate readers through three generations, starting in 1978, in the course of 24 hours, “Like Normal People” will hopefully not bog us down with overwhelming deep meaning, but rather offer a hilarious and sentimental journey into the one concept that can be said to plague every human life. By illustrating subtle idiosyncrasies, nostalgia and adorations, while dexterously flowing into the mindfulness of three women at very dissimilar times in life, Bender promises to enlarge our sagacity of what it means to live in a world where normalcy is not only inflexible, but hard to maintain because of its judgmental society.

Cited by Publisher’s Weekly to “captivate readers with a freshness of observation and arresting imagery,” “Like Normal People” is a novel pledged to not only accurately depict a parent’s love and longing, adoration and acceptance, but also focus on the important ways families strengthen as they overcome adversity.

CREATORS SyNDICATE © 2011 STANLEy NEWMAN

WWW.STANXWORDS.COM

5/15/11

THE NEWSDAy CROSSWORD Edited by Stanley Newman (www.StanXwords.com)

EXISTENTIALISM: Starting off with wordplay

by Merle Baker ACROSS 1 Speedily 6 Cornerstone abbr.

10 Rio contents 14 Pageant winner’s wear 19 Invigorate 20 SF Giant, for one 21 Maryland athlete, for short 22 Everything, in Essen 23 Defeating actor Romano 25 In a lodge, maybe 27 Vouch for 28 Rusty hinge sound 30 The Princess Bride novelist 31 “Alley __!”

32 Rapids 33 Astronaut Slayton 34 Walk-__ (cameo roles) 35 Where Gracie Allen was often filmed 39 Sonora celebration 41 Wonderland visitor 42 Alphabetic trio 43 Martinique et Tahiti 45 __ podrida (miscellany) 48 Ill temper 49 Drink slowly 50 Push to sell hippie accessories 54 Hurly-burly 55 Friends character 57 Café order 58 Pouting grimace 59 Do a cobbler’s job 61 Club 63 Up in the Air star 65 Make light of composer Wagner 68 “T” sounds

71 72 76 77 79 81 82 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 94 97 100 101 102 103 105 106 110 112 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121

Capital of Albania Must Utah ski resort Small and mischievous “C’mon!”

W. Hemisphere alliance Unhinge an Untouchable Fr. holy woman Misprint Sicilian spewer Sphere starter HS department Sandbank Ripped off “Look out, it’s haunted!”

Houston of Texas Acapulco aunts Long-legged wader Hawk’s advocacy Geneses Cable channel, e.g.

Mexican shawls Put on lots of rings When bait is attached Preposterous Olympics blade Senator Hatch’s state Rodeo rope Neon and helium Like morning grass Explorer Hernando de __ Lean one

DOWN 1 PD alerts 2 Slight sound 3 Lhasa __ 4 Be unimportant

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 24 26 29 32 33 35 36 37 38 39 40 44 46 47 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 60 62 64 66 67

60 minutes of CSI Many an MIT grad Camera type Server on wheels Rehearsal Facing the pitcher Dweeb Internet address Orbital extreme Lazy Susan locale “Where Is the Life That Late __?”

(Kiss Me, Kate tune) Battle site of 1836 Supply with fresh personnel Orgs.

“Uh-uh” Chinese frypans Beast of Borden Questionable Frisbees, e.g.

Kid-lit elephant Leave out, in speech Farm structures Vivacity Lied to Apple-pie order Football passes Zodiac beast Flu symptom With husks removed Sheets and such Author Sholem Hodgepodge Napoleonic marshal Entreaty Interfere with Acquires Aus. neighbor Creme cookie Martinique or Tahiti Picture of health?

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Of the chest Vouched for Generous ones Pen sound Securely fastened Mount __ (Antarctic volcano) Decorative pitcher Ferber novel Sports stadium Mythical king

01 1 104 105 106 107 08 1 109 111 113

__-hole (refuge) Unit of heredity From scratch Neighborhood north of Piccadilly Johnny Carson predecessor Are: Sp. Antlered beast Tailless primate Dietary concern

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BREakfaSt SERVED aLL Day at the corner of 2nd and Grace, Downtown Wilmington • Open Monday - friday 9am - 4pm encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 31

//BOOKS

playing catch-up:

Former encore film critic releases new novel

F

ilmmaker and author daniel

Kraus is a familiar name to many in Wilmington. He spent a number of years here making movies, improving the artistic landscape with his presence, and even contributed regular film reviews to encore. He first burst onto the scene with the engaging and controversial 1998 documentary “Jefftowne,” a film-festival hit which raised a number of eyebrows.

Since, he has filmed a series of documentaries dubbed “The Work Series,” written regularly for magazines like Maxim and Cosmopolitan, and has penned several novels, the most recent published by Random House entitled “Rotters.”

I talked to Kraus last week in regards to his current scope of work and what has been keeping him busy in the windy city of Chicago.

Here’s our conversation. encore: Tell us a little about ‘Rotters.’

Daniel Kraus: It’s a little Stephen King, a little Indiana Jones, a lot creepy, moderately heartbreaking and sporadically disgusting.

It’s the story of a high-school kid named

vouras

by Anghus Hou Rotters

by Daniel Kraus Random House $16.99 us.com www.danielkra Joey who is forced to go live with his father in rural Iowa—a hermit who is revealed to be an esteemed member of an underground society of grave robbers.

Soon after, Joey discovers that the very qualities that make him an outcast at school make him especially skilled at this dark art.

He begins to learn the craft from his father, and together they embark upon a gruesome adventure. e: Every good story starts with a simple idea. What was the inspiring idea behind ‘Rotters’?

DK: I’ve told this story many times, but I’ll tell it again because it involves Wilmington. When I first moved there, I worked as a videographer

! n w o t n Best i

e: You’re both a filmmaker and an author.

What is the appeal of the written word over the filmed script?

DK: There are far fewer compromises in novels. I could go on all day about this. A script is a blueprint and a movie is, by its very nature, a thing that is compromised and impinged upon from the very first meeting. With books, I can, and do, anything I want. e: Speaking of films, anything on the movie horizon?

DK: “The Work Series” of documentaries is going strong. Last year, the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago did a retrospective of my films. My new film, “Preacher,” comes out later this year. All four “Work Series” films (including the TV premieres of “Professor” and “Preacher”) will begin airing in September 2011 on the Documentary Channel, available for all those with Dish and Direct TV.

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32 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

for a couple of years at WECT. One day I was trying to outrun a hurricane in a news van and passed by a flooded cemetery. I had this vision of caskets rising through the swampy mud and two men battling through the muck to find some valuable object. That image stayed with me for 10 years before I figured out who those men where and what they were after.

e: You left Wilmington for Chicago many moons ago. What’s your fondest memory of your time here?

DK: Not to get sentimental on you, but I kind of treasure the memory of when my future wife [ed note: And previous encore editor, Amanda Sawyer Kraus] waited my table at the good old Pizza Bistro.

MAN OF MANY TALENTS: Writer and filmmaker Dan Kraus releases first novel, ‘Rotters.’

Courtesy photo.

e: Is there any TV show/movie/author that’s really knocking your socks off right now?

DK: I haven’t really loved a TV show since “Twin Peaks.” Maybe the last movie that knocked my socks off was Harmony Korine’s “Trash Humpers.” Favorite recent author discoveries: Joe Hill, Rick Yancey, Justin Evans. e: You’ve been a regular contributor to a number of magazines. What’s the most bizarre article you’ve ever had to write.

DK: I’m going to go with the time that I tested infomercial products for Maxim. The ab belt, the spray-on hair, the Ding King, the Flowbee—they made me the man I am today. e: Is God so powerful that he could create a rock so large that Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan and a reanimated Rick James couldn’t smoke it?

DK: Ah, the omnipotence paradox. I defer to philosopher Peter Geach’s exploration into the four levels of omnipotence, and urge you to consider Anselm of Canterbury’s assertion that almightiness is not equivalent to omnipotence.

Regarding modern-day philosophers Sheen, Lohan, and James, and their theoretical ability to smoke said rock, one can only conclude that these esteemed fellows would fail, providing, of course, that one of them (most likely James) was not almighty Himself. Thank you for your question.

it makes me wonder, part 10:

//FACT OR FICTION

A day at the park

A

s mongo bAcked out of the

driveway, I wondered once more if I was making the right decision; a day with a Looney Tunes lady at a Looney Tunes theme park, or isolation and peace that would allow my thoughts a chance at betrayal? As we headed toward the rim of San Francisco, a view of sunlight dancing off the slowly rolling waves of the bay quelled all questions.

What the fuck! I’m already on my own looney tune adventure anyway.

The trip northeast to Vallejo was majestic.

Still, being on east-coast time I was wideeyed and awestruck. The sun patinaed off the Pacific, lining Highway 80 and glistened in the early California light. At times, I was a dog, hanging my head out the window to soak in views and enjoy a brisk breeze, giving me a sense of what the coasters would soon feel like. At other times, I lodged my head in-between Mongo and Founda who were lost in their own world half a car away, ignoring Divot and I who kept each other company.

Divot wasn’t so bad, actually, when buckled into a car seat, knowing she wouldn’t be on the loose. She had good listening skills, and her lack of human language left conversations decidedly one-sided, which turned out to be somewhat therapeutic. Among other things, we discussed whether this was the American Dream, gliding down freeways on a date with adventure.

No worries, no jive, blowing th’ highway at 55 on a race to a theme park where, in this country, it’s OK to spend hundreds of dollars on one day of fun.

Even in the face of the dream, I was still feeling an estrangement. I began to wonder if that mythic yearning would ever be filled.

Just as I was getting lost in darker thoughts, the cranking of coasters became distinct, lightly tiptoeing on wind. Soon, signs dotted the highway, advertising the park

by Ichabod C

re’s annual Winner of enco contest creative writing

was open for business. As we pulled close, though, we came to a crawl, waiting in a line with other summer travelers who had similar ideas. Even though it was only 10 a.m., cars were four lanes wide and five deep. Parking attendants hastily twisted and turned flinging tickets and sweat to paying customers.

I’m not even good at math, but if I multiplied $100 times every car that was in line I’d have enough money to rival Mongo.

Cranks and clatters called everyone’s attention. I was suddenly giddy as a child, even more than Divot who laid motionless, eyes rolling in the back of her head, asleep and completely unaware of what fun was at hand.

I was about to burst, but as we pulled into a parking space, Mongo and Founda sat continually whispering in conversation and mixing secret laughs—a joy the rest of us were not to be part of. Perhaps that meant “game, set and match.”

Touché.

Founda had captured my throne alongside King Mongo. As this recognition began to sink in, I vowed to still make the most of this day.

A credit to the many fine immigrants that manned attendant stations at the park, we were through in no time and stood just beyond the entranceway, ignoring the flood of humanity and trying to decide what to do first.

I argued my case for the V2: Vertical Velocity, a ride that supposedly whipped one so hard their innards flipped, and heart and stomach switched spots. But I knew I wouldn’t win the argument against a pussywhipped man and his dominatrix. Founda wanted to see a show because she was already hot—“and the theatres are air-conditioned!”

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Who th’ hell goes to an amusement park with dozens of rides that could flip, mame, or kill in an instant and decides to take in a show? With lackluster performers nonetheless?! Besides, I have my own hatred for theatre.

Once upon a time, I had a regrettable fling with a “performer” who always decided to bring drama home instead of leaving it onstage where it belonged. All the world’s a stage … and she can suck it.

Recalling such memories made me even less fond of Founda. But I didn’t let it show.

Instead, we agreed to do our own thing and meet up for an afternoon delight. Perhaps, we’d even do lunch since I’d traveled so far.

Truth is, I couldn’t really be all that upset.

In fact, I’d been bought off. In the dwindling conversations of the night before, I retold my plight to Mongo, and at breakfast this morning, as his lovely bride was fastening their lovechild into the yuppie wagon outside, he threw a grand on the table—told me that it was an investment in the American Dream. Although, I know it was only because he felt bad for me.

Maybe he thought I was going nuts.

What the hell! I’m alone and that by itself is enough to make men where we come from seem suspicious.

Guys my age were supposed to be married by now. Certainly while teaching held some validity, it was only a small byline of acceptance in the Man Code.

Owning your business—now that’s a man’s job. Teaching—well, that’s always for those who can’t, right? Whatever.

The distracting smell of warm cinnamon took me by surprise, and I looked around to find a churro stand. Immediately, I headed over and paid an ungodly six bucks for the most delicate churro I’ve had in years. The sweet soft bread crunched, then melted down my throat as I approached the V2, marveling at its angles and listening to the screams of those who thought their lives were over.

It twirled and whistled through dry heat, fanning the crowd beneath with the faint smell of Super Sorb vomit cleaner, mingling with perspiration and fears of those waiting in line. This could be just what I needed to shake some sense into me.

MAY 11

Third Eye Blind w/ US Royalty

MAY 13

Hostile Apostiles(311 Tribute)

MAY 14

The Wailers to perform Uprising with Duane Stephenson Revolt Tour 2011 feat. Hollywood Undead, 10 Years, Drive A & New Medicine Amos Lee w/ Sonia Leigh LG ONES TO WATCH presents Neon Trees

MAY 17 MAY 18 MAY 19

w/ Souls Harbor

The Limousines & Eastern Conference Champions

MAY 20

Appetite for Destruction & Slippery When Wet

FINANCING AVAILABLE

encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com 33

weekly calendar| Events MT PILGRIM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 7500 Carolina Beach Rd. Spring Revival Services: 5/11, 12 & 13, 7pm. Guest speaker for the week is Rev. James Brown, Pastor, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Riegelwood, NC. Sis. Ruby Freeman, 910-313-0494.

YMCA WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT Celebrate Great Women at the YWCA Women of Achievement Awards on Thurs., 5/12, 6pm, at the Historic Coastline Convention Center. Deadline for RSVP: Mon, 5/2. These awards will honor fortynine women and young leaders who demonstrate outstandingleadershipqualitiesandaccomplishments in their careers, schools and communities. See nominees:www.ywca-lowercapefear.org. 799-6820 THALIAN HALL Fri., 5/13: Orquesta GarDel—“a locomotive of energy on steel rails, with endless momentum and irresistible motion.” 12-member beat-driven band plays classic and modern salsa music rooted in the sound of the New York-Puerto Rico connection of the 1970s. main stage. www.thalianhall.org 910-632-2285 or 800-523-2820 310 Chestnut St.

WILMINGTON GREEK FESTIVAL May 13-15: Wilmington Greek Festival. Traditional Greek food, cooking demonstrations, music, dance & marketplace. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Wilmington. 910-392-4444; www. stnicholasgreekfest.com 2011 PARADE OF HOMES 5/14-15, 21-22, noon-5pm: 2011 Parade of Homes is the ultimate opportunity to view a variety of new homes built by talented local builders. This year, the parade is celebrating its 25th anniversary with homes representing the ability of Cape Fear area builders to make the desire of home ownership come true.

Whether you would like to live in New Hanover, Brunswick or Pender Counties, you’re sure to find the home of your dreams.

TASTE OF WILMINGTON See page 28.

BATTLE OF THE SHOPS 5/22, noon-6pm: 1888 Skate Club welcomes Battle of the Shops, feat. 10 shops from the tri-county area will compete for bragging rights in BAC’s spectacular indoor skate park. Some of the hottest bands in town will play throughout the day on BAC’s awesome stage, and there will be a killer sample sale—with skate brand reps on site—offering discounted samples

of their upcoming lines—shoes, gear, clothing, accessories. Brooklyn Arts Center: 516 North 4th St. Free admission w/club membership.

FARMERS’ MARKETS Weekly Farmers’ Markets: Riverfront Farmer’s Market Sat., Downtown Wilmington, Water St., 8am-1pm.

April-Dec. www.wilmingtonfarmers.com • Pleasure Island Fresh Market Sat., Carolina Beach Marina, through 5/7; 910-805-3014 • Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market Sat., Carolina Beach Lake, 5/14-9/3; 910-4587490 • Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market Mon., Causeway Dr., through 9/5, 8am-1pm. 910-256-7925 • Poplar Grove Plantation Farmer’s Market Wed., 10200 US 17 N., Wilmington, through 12/14, feat. plant, food and crafts vendors; live music w/Cindy Rhodes; Pender County Master Gardeners clinic 2nd Wed/ea. mo.; Grillin’ in the Grove cooking classes 4th Wed. ea. mo.(chefs: 5/25, James Bain; 6/22, Alexander Fouros; 7/27: Susan Boyles, Seasoned Gourmet); $30 pre-reg; 9:30am-12:30pm. RSVP: 917-969-2430. www.poplargrove.com.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ILM MARKETPLACE Historic Downtown Wilmington Marketplace, at corner of Market/2nd street every Sunday, is a citysupported event in conjunction with the Riverfront Park Sales Vendors Program. Artists, crafters and other vendors will join together each week to showcase

original handcrafted arts and crafts and locally grown produce. Musicians will also be on hand to perform. Through May, 2-6pm; June-Aug., 4-8pm.

For a fee of $50, sales permits are granted to artists, crafters and musicians who create and sell and their art in Riverfront Park throughout the year with the exception of Sundays and festivals. To learn if you qualify for an annual Riverfront Park permit or if you wish to participate in the Historic Downtown Wilmington Marketplace: Kim Adams, (910) 254-0907.

CF COMMUNITY CENTER ART EXPO 6/4: Third annual Cape Fear Community Arts Expo, w/portion of the proceeds from donated to the Community Arts Center to help with its much needed funding in a sour economy. Designed to feature and highlight a tasteful cross-section of the culturally rich and diverse offerings in visual art (paintings, sketches, photography), crafts (pottery, jewelry, glassworks), spoken word (poetry and prose), and music that the Cape Fear region has to offer. Guests who attend will have the opportunity to view and purchase works by local artists and craftsmen whose talents have reached many or only a few. Day-long expo of the arts and crafts, concluding with a concert of music combined with the spoken word. Day portion of the event will be free and open to the public and the evening portion will require patrons to purchase tickets to attend. Art show: 1-5pm; concert. 6-9pm, with El Jaye Johnson. 910-352-6527.

SHOP TO THE BEAT 5/19: Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Southport will embark on an exciting new event called “Shop to the Beat.”

Entertainment, shopping and dining. Bi-monthly event will take advantage of the traditional downtown environment in Southport positioning music or entertainment throughout the business district outside and near participating merchants. Participating merchants and restaurants will add to the evening by having specials or merchandising games. Held 4pm-6pm the first/third Thurs, ea. month, 5/1911/17.The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce is soliciting individuals, banks, churches, real estate firms and other non-retail businesses to identify and provide entertainment during the 13 events nights. In exchange for providing the entertainment, businesses have the opportunity to distribute business cards. Chamber is looking for both traditional and non-traditional entertainers.

Chamber Office: (910) 457-6964.

Charity/Fund-raisers BLOOD DRIVES New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Cape Fear Hospital are hosting Community Blood Drives on Tues., Wed., 5/11, 10am-3pm, at NHRMC’s 17th St. campus. Open to the public.Carole Sacco at 343-2545, or for Cape Fear Hospital or Nancy Kafina at 452-8110. www.membersforlife. org/cbsr/schedule.

MUD RUN Registration open for Mud Run MS Carolinas, a fundraiser hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society- Eastern NC Chapter. 10K (6.2 mile) adventure course, w/ camp-style obstacles that are surrounded by or consist entirely of mud. Event: 9/24, Camp Butner in Stem, NC (just north of Raleigh/Durham). Reg: $50, www. mudruncarolinas.com.

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SPRING CYCLING FOR GOOD SHEPHERD 5/13, 8:10p,: Good Shepherd Center will host first annual Twilight Ramble, an evening cycling event, just four days before the full moon, Fri., 5/13, 8-10pm.

Mayor Bill Saffo will lead the ride, which begins and culminates at the First Baptist Church Activity Center on Independence Blvd. and Canterbury. Families, groups, and individuals of all ages are encouraged to participate in an effort to help achieve the center’s mission of combating homelessness and its effects.

Lisa Andree: lisadandree@yahoo.com

OUR HUNGER FOOD DRIVE 5/14: Place nonperishable food items in a bag and leave at your mailbox. Your letter carrier will pick up these donations and deliver them to the Food Bank!

Last year, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive raised over 38,000 pounds locally. Volunteers are also needed the day of the event from 2p-6p to help the letter carriers unload. Johnny Simpson: 251-1465 x2202. jsimpson@foodbankcenc.org.

AUTISM AWARENESS Join runners and walkers on 5/14, at the Mayfaire Town Center in the event field in front of Try Sports for the Coastal NC Run/Walk for Autism. 5K race, 8:30am, and a one mile fun walk at 9:00am. Proceeds from the 5K event benefit the programs and services supported by the Autism Society of North Carolina and GHA,Inc. in Coastal NC. To register or donate, visit www.coastalncrunwalkforautism.com FREE TO BREATHE GOLF CLASSIC North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership is committed to decreasing deaths due to lung cancer and helping patients live longer and better lives through research, awareness and advocacy.Particpate in an outing filled with a day of great golf along with a group of lung cancer survivors, family, friends and advocates to create change for lung cancer. Form your team now to positively impact the lives of those affected by this disease, Mon, 5/16, Cape Fear Country Club for Free to Breathe Golf Classic. All net proceeds from this event will support the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership’s research programs. Reg: www.

FreetoBreathe.org or 919-784-0410. Event day reg, beginning at 10:30. Form a team of four for $500 or participate as an individual for $125 and join a team.

Mail-in must be received by 5/6.

SKEET SHOOT Cape Fear Literacy Council presents Skeet Shoot, Sat., 5/21, 9am. $40/person, incl. 2 ronds of skeet.

Full day of shooting at privat Pender County CLub. Brind shells, guns and lunch. If don’t have gun, one will be provided. All ages; assistance offered.

Cape Fear Literacy Council: 1012 S. 17th St. 910251-0911.

WAIT, WAIT, DON’T TELL ME Carl Kasell of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me and NPR News fame is coming to the Wilmington Convention Center to speak and entertain at a WHQR “funraiser” luncheon on Tues., 5/24. Carl’s quick wit and entertaining stories, as well as experience as a newscaster for Morning Edition from its inception in 1979 until 2009, and UNC’s Journalism Hall of Fame inductee, will entertain. Host a table: Mary Bradley, mary@whqr.org;910-343-1640. Carl will also be our guest at a private cocktail party on Mon, 5/23, Leadership Circle ($1,000 and above donors). Pledge online: whqr.org.

TOYOTA’S CARS FOR GOOD Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public beginning 5/9. Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will showcase five non-profit organizations each day for 100 days on Toyota’s Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota. Visitors to the page can vote once a day for the organization that they feel is most deserving of a new Toyota vehicle. www.toyota.com/community.

Theatre/Auditions

CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT 5/20, noon: Second Charity Golf Tournament at Cape Fear National Golf Club in Leland. A cash bar reception, luau party and silent auction will follow.

Fee: $125, and includes golf, lunch, range balls, 2 mulligans, a raffle ticket for a surprise drawing and Luau party following the tournament, with complimentary beer, soda and wine. Tickets $35.

Janie: (910) 579-4707.

BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY THEATRE Brunswick Little Theatre will hold auditions for the musical “Oliver!” at Building F on the campus of Brunswick Community College at 7 pm, 5/12; 3pm, 5/15, for adults ages 16 and up. 3pm, 5/14 for all children ages 15 and under. Performances will be 7/19-31 and 8/5-7. www.brunswicklittletheatre. com. Jen Iapalucci: 910-269-1518 or jiapalucci@ ec.rr.com.

WOUNDED WARRIORS Wounded Warriors Ballroom Dance Workshop Weekend, 5/20-21. Fri. evening and Sat. dance workshops w/10 pro dancers, including ball performers. Teachings in American Rhythm and Smooth, International Latin and Standard, Argentine Tango, Salsa and Country-Western. Presented

by Azalea Coast NC Chapter of USA Dance.

Appreciation Ball on Sat. evening, with net proceeds to benefit our nation’s military wounded warriors.

Night includes champagne reception and dinner, ballroom dance performances by the pros, dancing to Andrew Thielen Big Band, and more! At Burney Center, UNCW. Tix RSVP or to make donations: (910) 799-8566, azaleacoastdance@aol.com. www. azaleacoastncusadance.org.

RAGTIME Thalian Association presents the Wilmington Premiere of the award winning musical Ragtime, 5/19-29 at historic Thalian Hall; Thurs/Fri/Sat, 8pm, and Sun, 3pm. Based on the award winner novel

by E.L. Doctorow, Ragtime has a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, all of whom won Tony Awards for their work on the musical. directed by Michael WaltonJones with choreography by Debra Gillingham and music direction by Jonathan Barber. Starring Cindy Hospedales, Kevin Lagasse, Colby Lewis, Katherine Rudeseal and Troy Rudeseal. Set in 1906, Ragtime follows three families of differing ethnic and economic strata whose lives become inextricably entwined as they pursue toeholds in the shifting sociopolitical landscape. $25 with senior, student and group discounts. (910) 632.2285 or online at etix.com.

PAWS-ABILITY 5/20, 1pm: Carol Weaver, paws-abilitynews@atmc. net. Paws-Ability, the nonprofit organization that raises funds for the animal shelters and rescue groups in Brunswick County, North Carolina, has scheduled its 2nd annual Charity Golf Tournament for Fri., 5/20, at Cape Fear National Golf Club in Leland. Cash bar reception, Luau party and silent auction will follow the tournament. $125, and includes golf, lunch, range balls, 2 mulligans, a raffle ticket for a surprise drawing and Luau party following the tournament, with complimentary beer, soda and wine. Tickets: $35. www.paws-ability. org/Events.html o HOLY GROUNDS Calvary Chapel of Wilmington at 2831 Carolina Beach Rd has a non-profit coffee house to minister and serve as an outreach post to the community. We are seeking to give food away to families or individuals in need every Sat. Donations welcome, 7am to noon, Mon-Fri any week. Coffee house is non-profit and all proceeds go right back into the Food Pantry budget to keep the pantry stocked. Schedule: 5/20, 6pm, Open Mic night.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF GREATER ILM Assistance League of Greater ILM holds fundraiser on Fri., 5/20. Jeans & Jewels Blue Jeans Ball at the new Wilmington Convention Center, 6-10:30pm. Buffet dinner, dancing to The Schoolboys, a silent auction and a cash bar. $60/person ($600 for a table of 10).

Judi Scott: (399-1117)

BIG DAWG PRODUCTIONS Big Dawg Productions: 6/2-5, 9-12, 16-19—“The Hallelujah Girls,” the story of a group of Southern women who decide to open a day spa in an abandoned church and the hilarious complications that ensue. Tickets: $18 general admission ($12 Thurs performances) $15 seniors/students. 910341-7228 or www.bigdawgproductions.org. Cape Fear Playhouse, 613 Castle St. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNCW presents Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, captured live in high-definition during a performance at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway in New York City, Thurs., 6/2, 7pm, UNCW’s Lumina Theater. The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy about class, courtship and mistaken identity, which ridicules codes of propriety and etiquette.

Tony Award-winner Brian Bedford directs and stars as Lady Bracknell in this trivial comedy for serious people. Tickets: $20 General Admission, $18 OLLI Members and $12 Youth/Students. uncw.edu/olli or 910-962-3195.

PEFORMANCE ARTIST NIGHT Performing Arts Night 2011, hosted from Carolina Beach Arts and Activities , to provide opportunities for local performing arts to reach the public, 6:309pm, first Fri. of month through October 2011 on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Local talent holds

free performances that include acting, singing, various instruments and dancing. People who want to share their talents with our community, contact p.a.n.carolinabeach@gmail.com or Facebook PAN Carolina Beach. Admission always free.

PORCH THEATRE DINNER THEATRE Murder in the Library: 5/12, 19, 6:30pm. 5/16, 1pm.

10/13, 20, 6:30pm. The characters in the books come alive at night and frolic till the sun rises. Annie Oakley may have had too much fun. Sherlock Holmes said the game is afoot, especially when Huck Finn has disappeared. There are multiple colorful characters, which could have murdered Huck, but It is up to the audience to decide who did it! All shows presented while audiences eat a 3-course meal at Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St. Reservations req., (910)2326611. www.porchtheatre.com.

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK Brunswick Little Theatre Presents “Songs from the Great American Songbook,” featuring works of composers Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers. Performances will be at 8pm, 5/20-22 and 27-29 at Franklin Square Park in Southport.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the music under the stars. For more information, go to www. brunswicklittletheatre.com.

Comedy PORT CITY’S TOP COMIC Port City’s Top Comic contest championship. 48 competitors over 5 shows. Port City’s Top Comic will hold four preliminary rounds at Nutt Street Comedy Room and the finals at City Stage all in Downtown Wilmington, NC. The winner of Port City’s Top Comic will go on to open for Cape Fear Comedy Festival headliner Kyle Grooms on 5/21, during festival. Official dates: Fri/Sat, through 5/21 at Nutt Street Comedy Room, 255 N. Front St.; 8pm nightly. http://www. portcitystopcomic.com BROWNCOAT PUB OPEN MIC Every Wed, 10pm, Open Mic Comedy Night at the Browncoat Pub and Theatre 111 Grace St. Anyone welcome to come out and tell all your best jokes because at this comedy club. You can tell however many jokes you like and stop whenever you like.

Hosted by local actor and comedian Kameron King.

910-612-1018 NUTT ST. COMEDY ROOM 5/13-14: Mary Mack from Comedy Central. Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm. Tickets: $12/$15 • 5/18-21: 2nd Annual Cape Fear Comedy Festival (Improv, Stand-up). Headliners this year are Marc Price (Family Ties) May 20th, and Kyle Grooms (HBO, Chapelle Show), May 21st. VIP passes available.

• 5/27-28: Comedic Music/Songs for We Fest! • 6/3-4: D’sean Ross (Comic View) Doors at 7pm.

Show at 8pm. Tickets $8/$10 • Every Wed. Nutt House Improv Troupe, doors 8pm, showtime 9pm, no cover charge. • Every Thursday Open Mic Stand Up, doors 8pm, showtime 9pm, no cover charge. 255 N. Front St, basement of Soapbox. www.nuttstreet. com. 910-520-5520

Music/Concerts STONE SOUP CONCERTS Stone Soup Concerts presents Doug Utton, Kim Dicso, Sean Richardson, Jim Ellis, Trey Hamlin, Bob Quintano and Dirty Dakotas for free at Live on Grace, 121 Grace St. Free. www.stonesoupconcerts.com

Fresh from the Farm

The Riverfront Farmers’ Market is a curbside market featuring local farmers, producers, artists & crafters.

• Fruits • Vegetables • Plants • Herbs • Flowers • Eggs • Cheeses • Meats

• Seafood • Honey • Baked goods • Pickles • Jams & Jelly • Candy • Art & Crafts • Entertainment

May 14th

RAPHEAL NAME The Farmers Market takes place on Sat., April 16 - Dec. 17 from 8am-1pm downtown on N. Water Street between Market and Princess Streets.

For more information call

538-6223

or visit www.wilmingtonfarmers.com

CAROLINA VOCAL ARTS ENSEMBLE Carolina Vocal Arts Ensemble, directed by Stephen Field presents “Hallelujah for Handel,” with Elizabeth MacKay Field, soprano; Wes Rickard, tenor; Benjamin Horrell, baritone; Sat., 5/14, 8pm.

Winter Park Baptist Church, 700 Wrightsville Ave. In celebration of the great music of Handel,CVAE and chamber orchestra will perform a Chandos Anthem, ”O Be Joyful in the Lord,” and selections from “Messiah.” Tickets: $10 ($5 for students). www.carolinavocalarts.org or at door.

SPRING CEILIDH The Scottish Society of Wilmington presents its annual Spring Ceilidh (say “kay-lee), Sat., 5/14, 6:30pm., in The Beam Room at Front Street Brewery.

9 N. Front St. Dancing, merriment and music with Celtic tunes from Gaelstrom and the Port City Pipes

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ACOUSTIC SOUP 5/29, 6pm: Acoustic Soup: a day of art and music.

One year anniversary to feature a multitude of entertainment: contemporary folk, Brazilian jazz, Americana, world music, comedy and more. Artists will sell their work, in a festival-like atmosphere with jewelers, painters and sculptors. Light hors d’oeuvres; Art Ball machine will be on site. $2 suggested donation appreciated. 910-620-2047 or www.art-soup.org. 16 Taps Bar & Lounge, 127 Princess St. www.art-soup.org

Dance BABS MCDANCE May schedule: Turns Technique, Mon., 7pm. • Broadway Jazz, Mon., 8pm. • Bellydance, Tues., 7pm.

• Waltz, Wed., 7pm • Cha Cha, Thurs., 8pm. • New Class: Hard Core ABS with Leah. Every Tues/Thurs., 5:15pm. • Graduation Theme Party, 5/13—A night to celebrate great accomplishments and relive the glory days of high school and college! Come in a cap and gown or dressed as your favorite professor!

Dance lesson at 8pm; open dancing at 11pm. www. babsmcdance.com WILMINGTON SINGLES CLUB 5/13: The Colors Band. Am. Legion Post 10. • 5/20: Tony & Diane. Am. Legion Post 10 • 5/27: DJ Baby Boomer. Am. Legion Post 10. DJ dance admission: Members $8; Guests $10. Band dances: $10/12. No shorts, miniskirts or denim jeans. Music 8-11pm. & Drums.Doors at 6:30pm. Music at 7pm. Cash bar and special dinner menu available. Help us raise money for an important cause in our community and enjoy a slice of Scottish culture with us! Members: $5.

Public $10. Ron McCord at 910-256-3798 or email rjmccord@ec.rr.com. www.wilmingtonscots.org A FULL DISH 5/15, 3pm: Classic acoustic rock and country by A Full Dish at Church of the Good Shepherd’s 3rd Sunday @ 3 concert. Free, refreshments afterwards,

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and shoes are being collected to send to Soles 4 Souls (www.soles4souls.org), a Tennessee-based charitable organization that redistributes new and used shoes to people in need. 910-763-6080 or 3rdsundayconcerts@gmail.com.

NC SYMPHONY NC Symphony, led by Resident Conductor William Henry Curry and featuring the Symphony’s very own flutist and harpist, Mary Boone and Anita Burroughs-Price, brings to life Mozart’s charming Concerto in C Major for Flute and Harp at Kenan Auditorium on the campus of the UNCW, Fri., 5/20, 8pm. Performances of Beethoven’s Consecration of the House Overture and a show-stopping finale in Schumann’s masterful Symphony No. 4.$25-45, with $10 tickets for students. www. ncsymphony.org or by calling 800-732-3643.

Kenan Auditorium.

MUSIC OF BOB DYLAN Stone Soup Concerts presents the Music of Bob Dylan in honor of his 70th Birthday. Sun., 5/22: The entire Nashville Skyline Album performed at Live on Grace, 121 Grace Street. Afternoon performance

by Jeff Sanchez’s band and guests • Mon., 5/23: Open mic, all Bob Dylan music at Live on Grace, 121 Grace Street, 7:30pm until Free and open to the General Public. • Tues., 5/24: Bob Dylan’s 70th Dream – an evening to honor Bob Dylan on his 70th Birthday The Reel Café Rooftop Bar. 25 musicians will be performing 2 songs each, all different Bob Dylan, all night. Birthday Cake, Bob Dylan Movies playing on the wall across from the bar. 7pm until. Free and open to the public.

BELLY DANCE SHOWCASE 5/13, 9pm: Juggling Gypsy Café hosts a belly dance show case each month witha diverse mixture of belly dance styles and skill levels. This show case features Vatra Gitana, but also presents other talented belly dancers, which includes students from area classes and visiting artists. Come and enjoy the hauntingly beautiful belly dancing as we rock the Goth for this Friday the 13th. 9pm/$10. 1612 Castle St. CONTRA DANCE Tuesday night dance at the 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.

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

Art PRIMITIVE PICTURES 5/12, 8pm-10pm; Sat., 5/14, 10am-4pm: Primitive Pictures’s open casting calls for narrative short ‘Anhedonia.’ Modern fairy tale about a CEO who offers a fortune to whoever can prove to his daughter Anhedonia that life’s worth living. The Dance

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36 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

RYAN LEWIS See page 12.

SPECTRUM ART GALLERY Fri., 5/13, 5-7pm: May Open House & Wine Tasting, w/featured artist Nancy Noel May. “French Twist” features paintings of Marseille, Paris and Avignon, bursting with color, energy. 1125-H Military Cutoff Rd. http://www.spectrumartandjewelry.com NANCY NOEL MAY 5/13, 5pm: Inspiration from a recent trip to France has resulted in vibrant newpaintings from artist, Nancy Noel May. Each canvas is bursting with color, energy and the flavors of Marseilles, Avignon and Paris. Music will be furnished by local musician Phillip Pennington. Spectrum Art Gallery: 1125-H Military Cutoff Rd. (910) 256-2323 SEASIDE COTTAGE Kathryn Ipsen, a Australian artist is teaching art classes, The Seaside Cottage Consignment Boutique at 3605-A Carolina Beach Rd. Kathryn and her husband moved to the USA about 3 years ago. She has taught many styles of acrylic art, and many people over the years. Learn to paint on fabric, furniture, or canvas. Classes will be about you, what you want to learn. Wed., 10:30, $20/lesson. (910)799-4699.

WINE AND DESIGN Wine and Design offers fun and relaxed acrylic painting classes every Wed-Sat, 6:30-8:30pm. Our local artist-instructors walk you step-by-step through that day’s design and you walk home with a 16 x 20” masterpiece. No art experience required! Sign up at www.wineanddesignnc.com, grab a bottle of wine, a friend, and we’ll provide the rest. We are a new, and unique alternative for a creative night out.

Summer kids’ class schedule. Private parties: 910313-2600.

OPENING THE CREATIVE DOOR 5/19, 6-8pm: The disAbility Resource Center is a private non-profit in Wilmington, NC. We provide free services of information and referral, advocacy and peer to peer mentoring to any individual with any disability. Art show and sale will benefit both the artist and the disAbility Resource Center, with 50 percent of the sale going to the artist and other half of the sale to the dRC. 140-C Cinema Dr. PROMISES OF SPRING Promises of Spring, New Elements Gallery, feat. the works of Kristen Dill and Vicki Gates The bounties of warm weather and plentiful sunshine will be unmistakable in this luscious display of florals and landscapes. On display through May 21st. 216 North Front St. www.newelementsgallery.com LADIES OF THE CAPE FEAR 25th anniversary celebration, Kenny Barnes Studios will present “Ladies of the Cape Fear—A Southern Tradition Exhibit” on Thurs., 5/21, 6-9pm, at St. Thomas Preservation Hall. Kenny Barnes has created portrait paintings of 14 prominent Wilmington women, with the support of Isabella Grape Boutique and Paradigm A Fine Salon. 14 exhibit participants: Rhonda Bellamy, Wanda Copley, Paula Corbett, Kaye Graybeal, Susi Hamilton, Jenni Harris, Helen Lewis, Bambi MacRae, Ashley Miller, Connie Parker, Celia Rivenbark, Renee Saffo, Penny Spicer Sidbury, Frances Weller. Tickets: www. kennybarnes.com or by (910) 392-4214. Tickets are $40 each or $75 for a couple and must be purchased prior to Wed., 5/20. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served, cocktail attire is requested.

FOURTH FRIDAY GALLERY NIGHTS Free monthly event feat. downtown galleries, studios and art spaces open after-hours in celebration of art and culture. Dates: 5/27, 6-9pm, fourth Friday of each month. Self-guided tour; exhibitions of all types, opening receptions, demonstrations, artist discussions, live music, wine, food and other traditional and non-traditional art-activities. www. wilmingtonfourthfridays.com

COMMERCIAL • AUTO • RESIDENTIAL SAFE SHOWROOM • KEYS

• Deadbolts & Locks Sales & Installation Five N.C. Licensed • Safes Opened & Repaired Locksmiths • Auto High Security Auto Chip Keys & Remotes #0508 • Get By Box Store Pricing from a local expert 799-0131 • 2803 CAROLINA BEACH RD. ( O NE

Cooperative,118 South 17th St. Many parts for all ages; head shot and resume needed. Shooting will take place in ILM first week of June. No pay, but a DVD copy will be provided and the film will be entered into film festivals. Cathy Meriam: 910-2626209/cathmeriam@yahoo.com.

B L O C k s . O f s HIp yA R D B Lv D .)

AN EVENING OF AESTHETICS 5/25, 7:30pm-midnight: “An Evening of Aesthetics” will be returning to Paint-n-Play again on Wed., 5/25, for a night of artists, craftsmen, and collectors to come together, hang out, buy art, and have a good old fashioned fun time. With around 20 artist at

Nuclear. Mechanical. Motion. Gravitational. Thermal.

Electrical. Discover different types of energy and how we use them to do things for us—light and heat our homes, bake cakes, freeze water, move cars, play music and more. Visit hands-on science stations to experiment and explore green technologies with local scientists. Last ticket sold at 2:30. $3 members; $5 nonmembers. Hours: 9am-5pm Tues-Sat. and 1-5pm, Sun. Museum closed Mon. until Memorial Day 2011. Admission is $6 for adults; $5 for students with valid ID and senior citizens; $5 special military rate with valid military ID; $3 for children 3-17; free for children under 3. Museum members are always free. 814 Market St. CAMERON ART MUSEUM EXHIBITS: Fritzi Huber: A Circus Life, on view through 8/2011. Feat. biographical artifacts, artwork, and ephemera relating to the art and family life of Wilmington artist Fritzi Huber. A hand papermaker for over 20 years, Huber has exhibited around the world from Switzerland’s Musee du Pays et Val de Charney, Gruyere, Suise to Brazil’s Bienale International de Artes—and her work was also exhibited at St. John’s Museum, Wilmington, North Carolina. EVENTS: Theatre Culture and Community, 5/28, 7pm, and 5/30, 2pm. Members, $5/Non, $10.

UNCW students studying the practice of “devising” theatre with Dr. Anne Berkeley present original, short performance pieces. In devised performance work actors build from scratch an artistically engaging performance text with music, dance and drama. • Film screening/discussion: Richard Leder and Lee Lowrimore, “Regular Kids” (2010, 12 min.), Thurs., 5/12, 7-8pm. CAM mem/student: $5; non-members: $10. Richard Leder recently wrote and directed Rag+Bone, a short comedy, and directed Regular Kids. Lee Lowrimore, screenwriter, actor, recently directed Around the World in 80 Days on the main stage at Thalian Hall. Regular Kids, a family story is his first filmed screenplay. Held in conjunction with the exhibition Fritzi Huber: A Circus Life. • Annual Member Meeting., 5/16, 5:30-7:30pm: “State of the CAM: Past, Present and Future” Annual Meeting.

Light refreshments will be served after the meeting with music provided by Duke Ladd. • CLASSES: Life Drawing every Tues., 6-9pm. Group meets in Reception Hall. Participants provide own dry drawing materials and watercolors. • ONE4$1, The Mysterious Madame X, w/Nan Graham; Wed., 5/18, 1-1:30pm.

Mon. , 5/23, 6-6:30pm. $1. Meet the notorious Madame X, muse to John Singer Sargent, the toast of Paris and eventually ... a ruined woman. • Classes: Hand and Wheel Pottery Techniques, Mon/Wed, 6/1-8/1, 9am-noon. Members: $250; non, $300.

Tues/Thurs., 5/31-7/28, 5:30-8:30pm: CAM Members: $250; non, $300. Hiroshi Sueyoshi teaches handbuilding, wheel throwing, glazing and finishing techniques. Class size is limited. Open to all skill levels, ages 16+. • Kids @ CAM, 5/21, noon-3pm. $3/child (members), $5/child (non-members), adults free. Day of creativity and imagination. Make art you can take home, explore our new exhibitions. Fun for the whole family! Parental supervision required. No pre-registration necessary.• Tai Chi, Wed., noon; $5, members; $10, non. • Yoga, Thurs., noon; $5, members; $10, non. • Corner of South 17th St. and Independence Blvd. Tues-Wed and Fri-Sun., 11am-5pm; Thurs: 11am-9pm. Museum members free, $8 non-members, $5 students with valid ID, $3 children age 2 -12. www.cameronartmuseum.com or 910-395-5999.

Sports/Recreation SEA DAWGS Sea Dawgs games: 5/20 vs. Cary. College night w/students, staff and faculty w/college ID admitted free. • 5/27 vs. Birmingham. God and Country night w/active/retired military personnel w/ID free; and church bulletin/newsletter dated May allowing $1 entry (one ticket per publication). Sea Dolls perform at half time. Games at 7:05pm; doors at 6pm.

MARATHONS, TRIATHALONS, ETC. 5/21-22: Seaside Soccer Classic. Cape Fear Regional Soccer Park & others, Wilmington. 910-392-0306; www.soccerincollege.com/TTIntro.aspx?tid=TZ017 7&tab=1&sub=0 • 5/31: Wilmington Sharks Baseball Season Begins! www.wilmingtonsharks.com WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH SCENIC TOURS Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours and Masonboro Island Shuttle. www.capefearnaturalist.com. 910-

200-4002 • Masonboro Island Tours and Shuttle, Departs Daily and Weekends On The Hour, Sunset at 6:30pm,$25 per passenger • Drift Fishing(everything included)-Departs Daily and Weekends at 9am, $30 per pass • Pirate Tresure Hunt or Cruise, Daily and Weekends On the Hour at 4pm, or any time by reservation,$30 adult, $20 kids • Eco-Birding Excursion, Daily On The Hour,and Weekend,$35.

ADVENTURE KAYAK CO. 5/21, 8:30-noon: Kayak with the Adventure Kayak Company: Paddle the scenic blackwaters of the Lockwood Folly River and learn a little history of how the waterways were used for shipping and transportation. Hear tales and folklore associated with one of the oldest named rivers in North Carolina.

Claire Aubel: claire.aubel@ncdcr.gov or 252-7287317 x21 FUN RUN Fun Run: Sun., 5/22, Halyburton Park. $25 for adults, $15 for kids under 16.All proceeds to go the Grey Ribbon Crusade. Reg: http://walktoendbraintumors. org/. Kristen Daly: 910 431-7703.

SPRING CHALLENGE Spring Challenge: Through 5/22—Fun way to build your confidence for the warmer weather and really dive deaper into the Pilates method! Reward reception at The Little Dipper, Sun, 5/22, 6pm, for all participants whether you complete the challenge or not. Cheese, chocolate and a great evening with your friends at In Balance! www.pilatesinbalance.com • Also: New Mat Class (possibly!) w/Karen Train, 6:30 or 7am, Tues or Fri. • Teacher Training: In Balance Pilates Certification program is holding another training this Fall. Certified instructor and graduate of IBPC, Jenny McGaha, will be facilitating this program.

WILMINGTON YOGA CENTER Tamal Dodge’s Power Vinyasa and Kirtan Workshop, 5/27-29: Participants of this workshop will be challenged mentally and physically, learning to open spiritually to the boundless power that resides with the highest Self, beyond the ego’s thoughts, emotions and judgments. Participants will also be invited to share in the ecstatic, participatory live music experience of Kirtan, a devotional practice that originated in India, to even further cultivate surrender to the Universe. 5329 Oleander Dr # 200.

(910) 350-0234 4-ON-4 OUTDOOR BASKETBALL LEAGUE Signups for the Wrightsville Beach Summer 4-on-4 Outdoor Men’s Adult Basketball League are going on now. Games are played on Mon-Thurs evenings, beginning 5/31. $450/team. Wrightsville Beach Park Office: 256-7925.

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH REC CLASSES Bridge lessons and workshops, shag lessons, Bridge workshops, tennis lessons for youth and adults, yoga, pilates, boot camp for adults and youth, tone & stretch, low impact aerobic classes and youth camps, 910256-7925 or www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com.

Film CINEMATIQUE See page 21.

SUBVERSIVE FILM SERIES See page 21.

PRIMITIVE PICTURES 5/12, 8pm-10pm; Sat., 5/14, 10am-4pm: Primitive Pictures’s open casting calls for narrative short ‘Anhedonia.’ Modern fairy tale about a CEO who offers a fortune to whoever can prove to his daughter Anhedonia that life’s worth living. The Dance Cooperative,118 South 17th St. Many parts for all ages; head shot and resume needed. Shooting Wilmington the first week of June. No pay, but a DVD copy will be provided and the film will be entered into film festivals. Cathy Meriam : 910-262-6209/ cathmeriam@yahoo.com.

ANY GIVEN FRIDAY “Any Given Friday,” documentary feature on Thurs., 5/15, 3-5pm. Screening at Southport Community Building. South Brunswick Cougars were the laughingstock of their high-school football conference. The team had never won a playoff game in its 32-year history, and basically served as a perennial doormat for its opponents, game after game after game. $5/person

38 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

MOVIES AT THE LAKE Every Sun. night in the summer, the Carolina Beach Lake Park welcomes families, and their lawn chairs and blankets, to spend an evening under the stars watching some of the best hit movies around. Each week, the Chamber of Commerce will also be hosting a food drive benefiting a local charity; bring a non-perishable food item for donation. Films are free and open to the public. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, cotton candy and other popular concessions for sale. 5/29: The Karate Kid. CUCALORUS FILM FESTIVAL ENTRIES See page 21.

Kids Stuff THE VELVETEEN RABBIT The Dance Element presents ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ summer dance camp. Auditions on 5/21. Camp begins 7/11; performances on 8/5 an d6. www. thedanceelement.com. 7211 Ogden Business LN. 910-685-3787.

GREENFIELD GRIND SKATEPARK Greenfield Grind Skatepark at Greenfield Lake, located behind 302 Willard St. Pre-reg rqd: 3628222. Beginner clinics for youth ages 7-12. Class split into small groups to facilitate personalized instruction. Each clinic will be taught by Skatepark staff. $15/participantp; includes a pass to skate free for that day plus two free day passes.5/21, 6/4, 18, 7/16, 30 and 8/13, 27, 10:30am-noon.

HAPPY LITTLE SINGERS Happy Little Singers, an early childhood music and movement program for children ages 6 months to 6 years. Learn through sing, dance and play! $10 per family, drop ins welcome. Carolina Beach Parks and Rec Bldg, Monday 11:15 a.m., Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. and Thursday, 4:45 p.m. Community Arts Center/Hannah Block Historic USO, Tues, 9:15am, and Thurs, 9:15am. www.happylittlesingers.com 910-777-8889.

Classes/Workshops PAINTING CLASSES 5/22, 9am: Day trip to Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet SC for creative inspiration with a private group tour of sculpture collection and gardens, then 2 1/2 hour afternoon plein air painting class with Niki Hildebrand. $90 includes round trip transportation from Wilmington, entrance fees to Gardens, private group tour and class tuition. 5 to 10 students per class . Students bring supplies for their preferred medium. (910)524-7770 or exitlanetours@yahoo. com. RSVP 5/15 for 5/22. www.exitlanetours.com HALYBUTRON PROGRAMS Pre-reg. rqd. 4099 S. 17th, 910-341-0075 or www. halyburtonpark.com. • Digital Photography for Kids w/Roxanne Turpen: Instructs kids on basic functions of how a camera works and will learn how to develop their eye as a photographer. 4 2-hr. classes, $60 w/$10 material fee, ages 8 -11: Aailable 5/19, 17 and 24.

Ages 12-16, Thurs., 4-6pm, 5/12, 19 and 26. • Yoga w/Stephanie “Goo” McKenzie: Experienced dancer and performer, Goo’s playful approach to life spills into her teaching. Ongoing weekly, 1-hr. classes Wed/Fri, $5 per or $40/mo. unlimited. Ages 12 and up; Wed/Fri, 11am and 12:30pm. • Kids Art w/Erin Hinson: Multi-media class designed to provide all children with basics of art. Ongoing, weekly 1.5-hr. class, $20/class, ages 5 to 12. Tues, 3:30-5pm. • Piano w/Jonathan Barber: Available Mon-Thurs, for all ages and experience levels. Mr. Barber: 910-619-0383.

35/half hour. • Modern and Technical Dance w/Kevin Lee-y Green. Mon/Tues/Thurs., 5:30-7pm, all ages. $10/class. • Intro to Broken Plate Mosaic w/Mary Beth Cook: Workshop teaching students to break plates and reassemble them, creating a beautiful and functional counter top trivet. 3 2-hr. classes, $60, w/$30 material fee. Students need to provide themselves with heavy rubber gloves, a 3-5 gallon bucket, plastic containers with lids for plate pieces, rags, measuring tape, old utility knife, sponges with scouring pad on one side and craft paints (Colors TBD after first session). Ages 15 and up; Sat., 10amnoon, 5/7. • Silk Painting w/Lee Spivey: Students will begin with creating silk scarves, to be worn or made into wall hangings. Can also be incorporated into other accessories such as bags, hair bows or

even into shirts and other pieces of clothing. 4 2-hr. classes, $55, w/$45 material fee. Ages 18 and up; Wed., 7-9pm, 5/11, 18 and 25; second session 8/3, 10, 17 and 24.

LANDING A JOB 5/12, 4pm: Learn how to create a powerful, effective resume that gets attentionand interviews. Whether you’re just out of college, changing careers or getting back in the workforce, this free webinar is for you.

• 5/19, 4pm: Do you know the latest interview styles and techniques?Free webinar will show you what to do and what not to do during your next job interview.

Space limited. Reg both classes: www.nhclibrary. org or 910-798-6352. Main Library, 201 Chestnut St. Stephanie Carver: scarver@nhcgov.com PINE NEEDLE COILING 5/14, 10am: Learn the basic art of pine needle coiling on a gourd. The wheatstitch will be taught as well as the wrapped stitch and floating coils.

Embellish this pretty gourd with a sliced shell and beads if you choose. Choice of gourd color offered. www.ArtfulLivingGroup.com. Janet Knott: janet@ artfullivinggroup.com INTRO TO MANDALA DRAWING 6/1, 6:30pm: Meg McGrew, art therapist, facilitates mandala drawing session; stress management in a non-judgmental, accepting and open environment, reflecting the core aspects of mindfulness. Artful Living Group, 112 Cape Fear Blvd., Carolina Beach.

Janet Knott: janet@artfullivinggroup.com

Clubs/Notices CFCFI BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED 5/12, noon: The Cape Fear Center For Inquiry (CFCI) is currently looking forcommunity members to fill a vacancy on their board of directors. CFCI is a public charter school located in Wilmington, NC. As a charter school we are funded by the state of North Carolina and do not charge tuition. We are not a part of New Hanover County School System, but rather function as our own small school system. David Ball: dball@ cfci.net BENGAL’S MIDGET CHEERLEADERS Bengal’s Midget Cheerleading Quarter Auction: 5/14, 7-9PM. To raise money for uniforms, competition fees, travel fees, etc. Previews starts at 6:30pm. Northside Baptist Church Life Center, 2501 N. College Rd. kimorjoe@bellsouth.net or 910-686-1488 CAPE FEAR RIVER WATCH 5/14 Cleanup: Tibutary of Smith Creek, “Hurst Branch.” CFRW will be teaming up with Lola James to clean the creek; meet at Maides Park, 9am.

Finished by noon. • 5/15, 11am-4pm: Meet at Castle Hayne Community Center for two paddle options.

1) For more experienced paddlers we will arrange a shuttle so you can make the 10 mile trip from the Bridge at Hwy 210 downstream to the Castle Hayne Community Center. 2) For folks who want to paddle some, but maybe not 10 miles, bring your boats to the community center for “out and back” trips.

We will also have some boats for you to borrow if you don’t have your own. For folks who are not interested in paddling at all we will have a few small skiffs available to make trips. Food, music, and fun afterward in Community Center. Carrie at 762-5606 or carrief@cfrw.us. • 5/21: Paddle the NE Cape Fear River: We paddle together on the third Saturday of each month. www.cfrw.us.

10% CAMPAIGN Center for Environmental Farming Systems initiative is designed to encourage NCs to spend 10 percent, a little over one dollar a day, of their existing food budget on foods produced locally. Effort would have a $3.5 billion impact on the state economy. www. feastdowneast.org CAPE FEAR ROWER CLUB Cape Fear River Rowing Club’s classes for beginners: Two, three-hour morning sessions, from 8-11am, on Sat/Sun. Students will become familiar with the boats and equipment, learn proper technique on a rowing machine, and then experience onthe-water rowing instruction. No previous rowing experience is necessary, but students must know how to swim. 5/21-22, 6/25-26, 7/23-24, 8/27-28, 9/24-25, and 10/22-23. Wilmington Marine Center, 3410 River Rd. $60/two sessions. Limited to five students. Reg: Morris Elsen, morris.elsen@gmail. com. 910-343-3381.

2 miles of books!

10,000 books $ for 1.00 each 3rd Street

2nd Street

Grace St. Front St.

Chestnut St.

249 N. Front St. • Downtown Wilmington

910-76-BOOKS )

Go online and check out our Voted “Best Book Store” and “Best Business over 25 Years Old”

extensive book catalog! www.oldbooksonfrontst.com

Open 7 Days a week ‘till 9 PM!

40 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com

2 miles of books!

10,000 books $ for 1.00 each 3rd Street

2nd Street

Grace St. Front St.

Chestnut St.

249 N. Front St. • Downtown Wilmington

910-76-BOOKS )

Go online and check out our Voted “Best Book Store” and “Best Business over 25 Years Old”

extensive book catalog! www.oldbooksonfrontst.com

Open 7 Days a week ‘till 9 PM!

40 encore | may 11-17, 2011 | www.encorepub.com