editorial by: Shea Carver and Emily Rea

We’re into week three of announcing our Best-Of winners for 2010! It only took counting over 3,000 ballots, making 130 awards by hand, and throwing a party for 300-plus people at City Stage/Level 5. But we’ve made it—and with a lot of laughter along the way, thanks to our comedian hosts of the Best-Of Party: Jef Pollock, Sandy Vaughan, Anthony Lawson, Val Watkins, Jonathan Guggenheim, Cullen Moss, Madison Weidberg and Janna Murray. They made the awards ceremony so much more than boring speeches and prim-and-proper decorum.

Make no mistake about it, readers: Best-Of is not tabulated according to encore-staff picks; nor are its winners relegated only to encore advertisers. We award the folks who get the most votes between November and January, according to ballots the community fills out at www.encorepub.com. And to set the record straight: We don’t mind when people campaign for it either. (Hey, isn’t it the American way?)

Without further ado, the people have spoken, and here are the results for the Best-Of 2010. Congrats winners and voters!

take out

When Wilmington Japanese-food lovers want quick, reliable, quality service, without the time it takes to sit down at a traditional Japanese steakhouse, the in-and-out style of Hibachi Bistro on College Road (and now with a second location in Monkey Junction) is exactly what the hunger pangs order. Specializing in “authentic Japanese hibachi cuisine and sushi,” according to thehibachibistro.com, this unassuming little eatery packs a powerful punch in the quality of its food.

The menu at Hibachi includes such delectable items as Vegetable Tempura (for which guests can choose between two of the following: zucchini, sweet potato, green pepper, onions or mushrooms), Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura, the Hibachi Bowl, served with fried or steamed rice (and choice of meat, ranging from Hibachi Scallops to Teriyaki Chicken to Filet Mignon), Hibachi Noodles (wheat noodles with celery, green peppers, carrots, Soba sauce and meat of choice), soups and, of course, spring rolls.

The ever-popular sushi menu includes appetizers such as edamame and gyoza, nigiri (including smoked salmon, red snapper, yellowfin tuna, octopus and crab meat), sashimi (including shrimp, squid and eel), sushi rolls (including a Vegetable California Roll, Sunrise Roll, Sweet South Roll and Spider Roll), fried sushi and specialty rolls (including the Tiger Tail, Nessie, Ruby Roll, Fort Fishy, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Po’ Boy, Half Baked and Green Machine).

With so many delicious choices, all prepared by skillful chefs, and with the option to pick up or take out, it should come as no surprise that Hibachi Bistro is the Port City’s favorite take out for the second year in a row now.

Second place in the take-out category is Antonio’s Pizzeria and Ristorante, while third place goes to Nikki’s Fresh Gournet and Sushi.

ice cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream ... Is there ever not a good time for ice cream? Granted, the chilly confection might not be as welcoming during the winter months, but when we have an ice-cream connoisseur in town like Kilwin’s, no one can resist its smooth, sweet goodness year ‘round! That certainly applies to our Best-Of voters who sent Kilwin’s to the top of their lists!

When the name “Kilwin’s” comes to mind, it is without a doubt for the yummy treats for which the establishment is so well-known—but it is also because the name itself is one Wilmingtonians can trust. Family-owned by Bill and Kathy Williamson (owners of the two locations in Blowing Rock, too) and operated by longtime friend/Kilwin’s manager Jeff Brandon, Wilmington;s location first opened in the summer of 2001. Now going on 10 years strong, as it turns out, the franchise itself is family of nationwide confectionery shoppes, up and running from Rhode Island to Florida to Colorado and 10 states in between. The name is one patrons can trust—but the ice cream itself, well, it’s a pretty strong reason for repeat business.

The old-fashioned quality of the ice cream at Kilwin’s is simple and brilliant, untampered and purely indulgent. Although the shop can boast 500-plus made-in-store products, the ice cream is absolutely the favored treat here. As the Wilmington location site, www.kilwins.com/Wilmington, asserts, “It’s always about relationships and making people happy.”

Other happy ice-cream eateries that made our top-three list for the ice-cream category this year are Cold Stone Creamery and Boombalatti’s.

beer and wine shop
Every year in mid October, when the heat of summer has relented and the seasons boast a glorious change, there is a festival here in town that is just as well-known as any other the Port City hosts over the course of a year: the Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival. Locals and out-of-towners alike flock to the site of one of the greatest on-site beer and wine tastings in the area, all brought about by the infamous Lighthouse Beer and Wine, winners of this year’s Best Beer/Wine Shop.

“We’re a store like none other,” owner Jason Adams reflects. “We have the largest selection of specialty beers in eastern North Carolina, and we’re also the longest-running beer and wine shop in Wilmington, in business for over 12 years.”

A one-stop shop for wine, beer, cigars, and specialty-food items, a catering company and even a gift store (with everything from T-shirts to wine racks), Lighthouse has it all. “Our philosophy is making people happy,” Adams continues. “We have something here for everyone, from PBR to high-end Bordeaux. We have a really cool, eclectic wine selection and an on-premise beer garden which allows people to sample different beers. We also have monthly tastings.”

Beer lovers will appreciate their stock over 400 international beers, as well as hard-to-find microbrews. Another one of Lighthouse’s specialties is kegs, as they are home to one of North Carolina’s largest keg selections with hundreds of different beers available to choose from. All in all it begs to be said that Lighthouse shines the way to a good time.

Second and third are Cape Fear Wine and Beer, and Wilmington Wine and Beer.

martini bar

Sometimes, a girl just wants a martini. There is something about the fresh, spiked taste that slides down so easily and with a full force of flavor. There is something elegant, sophisticated and just plain fun about sipping on that tell-tale martini glass, perched atop a bar stool with girlfriends, as the fruity, sweet or bitter taste leads the way to friendly conversation.

When Wilmington locals want a good martini in their most favorite atmosphere, they head to The Dirty Martini, “where you dress up to get dirty,” according to its official site at www.ditrymartiniwb.com. The Dirty, as it is sometimes called, is a stylish and classy hot-spot, perfect for relaxing with friends, making new ones, dancing the night away or simply enjoying the lusty martini list. It is also a great venue for special, private parties, well-equipped with a spacious interior, and even a cozy, romantic outdoor patio.

But everyone knows they come for the good stuff. Special martinis at The Dirty include the Beachytini, Bikinitini, Sex in the City, Foxy Roxy, Lakeside Lemonade, Pomegranate, Key Lime Pie, Upside-Down Pineapple, Blue Crush, Bloody Mary Tini, Ultimate Chocolate Martini, Summer Tea, and Carmetini. The menu is worth a visit on its own, but The Dirty maintains a hoppin’ events schedule, including a Food and Wine Fest, benefit parties, and Business After Hours every last Thursday of the month. Going above and beyond, The Dirty Martini is much more than just a martini bar. But don’t misunderstand—they make a mean ‘tini!

Shaken and stirred at our number-two and -three spots this year are Caprice Bistro and Sofa Bar, and TreBenzio’s.

bowling alley

If there was ever an activity that has stood the test of time, relating to all generations, personalities, genders and levels of athletic ability, it’s bowling. Stripping us of all pretense and pride from the moment we slip on those goofy, multi-colored shoes, our main objective becomes to simply have fun. Whether we’re a member of a league or just hanging out with friends for a few rounds, bowling always seems to turn a boring night (or afternoon) into something completely enjoyable!

When folks in Wilmington want to bowl, the majority of our readers head on over to Ten Pin Alley on College Road. No stranger to our Best-Of polls, Ten Pin has truly become a staple in the Wilmington recreation scene. Open since 1999, Ten Pin is one of the largest bowling alleys in the greater Wilmington area. It boasts 24 lanes with state-of-the-art electronic scoring, tons of TVs, and an adjacent billiards room and bar, Break Time (Best Pool Hall).

Not only are the facilities at Ten Pin all we could want in a bowling alley, but the price is right, too. The daily daytime bowling special is just $6 for kids and $8 for adults, “all you can bowl,” and both include shoe rentals. Conveniently, Ten Pin’s friendly and prompt staff delivers service right to customers’ lanes at any time of day or night. Come on Mondays through Fridays from 6-10pm for nightly leagues, or come for open bowling with lane rental by the game or by the hour. There are also packages for birthday parties, and arrangements can be made for group gatherings.

Striking in at second and third places, respectively, are Cardinal Lanes and the new Thunder Alley in Leland.

place to buy musical instruments

There is no doubt that history and legacy runs rampant among our downtown establishments and streets. From the historic cobblestones of Water Street to the many old buildings preserved and renovated over the years, one thing the Port City isn’t lacking is character. And one of the best examples of one such business that epitomizes the character of downtown is Finkelstein’s Music.

Musical genres and trends may come and go, but the instruments themselves remain vital to producing it. And when Wilmington’s most musically inclined need something to play, they ask the folks they trust at Finkelstein’s. Yes, the word “trustworthy” might as well be engraved in the sign bearing this store’s name, as they have been in business and serving our town since 1906.

First run by Charles Finkelstein, it began as a general store that also sold watches, jewelry, clocks, musical instruments, trunks, cutlery, leather, sporting goods and clothing. As the store evolved over the years, it became known as a leading musical-instrument dealer in all of Wilmington. Today, they are still best known for the instruments they provide, including Fender and Martin guitars, a large selection of basses, amps for beginners up to professionals, drums and percussion accessories, audio equipment, DJ equipment, and keyboards. They also sell a large selection of jewelry. With such large collections, friendly service and a family-owned atmosphere, Fineklstein’s is to go-to spot for all music needs.

Chiming in at second and third are Music Loft and Modern Music.

theatre venue

With its grand, regal stature, huge white columns and “Old South” appeal, Thalian Hall stands today as one of downtown’s most historically captivating sites. And the best part? It’s still in use! Built in 1858, Thalian is still “one of the most significant theaters in the United States,” according to www.thalianhall.com.

Since 1963 the theater has been under the management of the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts (THCPA), which operates the Thalian Hall Main Stage, the City Council Chambers and Ballroom, the Studio Theatre, and the Center Box Office. THCPA produces the Main Attractions Concert Series, the Adventures in Art Series for families, and the Cinematique Film Series, not to mention the numerous plays held here by By-Chance Productions, Opera House Theatre, Thalian Association, Stageworks Youth Theatre and Theatre Exchange.

Its events range from music—featuring pop, jazz, folk and country artists—to ballet, to the finest in domestic, independent and foreign films. Thalian is also home to recitals, awards ceremonies, film festivals, lectures and charity events.

As an education center with a broad array of unique performances and programs, Thalian is a mecca for all arts-oriented folks in the greater Wilmington area and beyond. With its recent renovations under way, we’re sure to be celebrating another fabulous 150 years!

Coming in at the number-two and -three spots, respectively are City Stage and Red Barn Studio.

filmmaker

“And ... action!” It’s a phrase we locals may hear a lot around this town. With big-budget films, a well-known TV show and several local projects taking place all at once, Wilmington has been long been dubbed “Hollywood East.” Although we do get great national exposure, the heart of our film community here consist of the locals behind it. So when encore readers voted DV3 Productions as best, it was an honor to say the least.

“Our win probably has a lot to do with our trailer for Nevermore,” producer and business manager Larry Olson says humbly, speaking of DV3’s first full-length film they are producing. “We’ve made some shorts and so on, but this trailer, probably as much as anything, looked like a Hollywood trailer even though it was produced locally.”

Along with his director sons, Obin and Amariah, Olson has run DV3 for the past nine years, mostly doing commercial projects both high- and low-end. “If we get a local project, something more low-budget,” he continues, “we bring high-budget tools and techniques. So I think people are aware of that.”

Of his motto as a filmmaker in this highly competitive industry—something he would advise to other filmmakers—Olson says, “’Just do it,’ like the Nike slogan. It doesn’t mean anything until you actually do it. We felt like we could do something at the Hollywood level, and we just did it.”

Other local filmmakers deserving of praise and rounding out our top three are Southern Gothic and Eric Tomosaunas of Swirl Films.

web site

Not to toot our own horns or anything— Oh, OK, why not. We have won Best Local Web site, and we are proud of it! Our very own encorepub.com has taken top honors again this year, much to our delight and gratitude. We have to admit, we’ve come a long way in recent years, especially with new additions, such as getting the latest encore delivered straight to your Inbox every Wednesday! That’s right; sign up online and never be behind on what’s happening around town.

Our site is our virtual print product. We upload the same editorial that we print each week in the magazine, including years and years’ worth of archived editions. Check us out for film listings, movie reviews, art-gallery guides, recommendations for where to eat, op-eds, concerts and contests, free stuff, and so much more.

New this year encore has joined the ranks of Facebook and Twitter as well—so readers will never be out of the loop! Thanks for voting us the best, and keep logging on. We are happy to provide the latest arts and entertainment alternative news, whether it’s in print or online.

Runners up in the Web site category are Dog Club of Wilmington (www.dogclubwilmington.com) and WB Live Surf (www.wblivesurf.com).

alternative medicine

It is widely believed that our bodies are in their best conditions when we are most in tune with nature. Whether we relegate it to a substantially organic diet or simply make room in our schedules to forgo the busy life, and take walks in the park or on the beach, living naturally is proven to have great effects on our physical, mental and emotional well-being.

The folks at McKay Healing Arts understand this at their core. Providers of a truly integrative, holistic approach to health care, Leon McKay and staff provide a unique array of disciplines, including acupuncture, massage, counseling, cranio-sacral therapy, Reiki, Tai Qi, Qi Gong and complete herbal pharmacy. The staff specializes in pain and emotional-relief therapies, with individual concentrations including arthritis, back pain, herniated fisk, neuropathy and Carpal Tunnel; fertility and women’s issues; and workshops on personal growth.

Perhaps best-known for acupuncture, McKay is very well-equipped and experienced in this most ancient practiced medicine in the world, one that originated in China and whose professional practitioners don’t just treat diseases but the entire person. Leon has been practicing in Wilmington since 1999, and his clientele base know they can trust him for all their alternative-medicine needs. We expect to see his practice on our Best-Of lists for years to come; it would only be natural.

Second place this year in the alternative medicine category is The Center, while Tidal Creek took third.

fast food

If readers have ever been out and about at lunchtime anywhere in the Port City, chances are they have seen the lines of cars wrapped around the building of one of our six Chic-fil-A restaurants. With the most cheerful voices we’ve ever heard taking orders from literally hundreds and hundreds of customers each day (except on Sundays!), it’s a place we Southerners just can’t seem to get enough of. And how could we not with the “world’s greatest sweet tea”?

But at the helm of the entire Chic-fil-A franchise is the man himself who gives this company such a great foundation: Truett Cathy. With son Dan, the Cathy’s run a very successful chain of restaurants with integrity, focus on the community and never a compromise to their values. Truett opened his first restaurant in 1946, and by the 1960s he was credited with the invention of the boneless breast of chicken sandwich, as well as the official foundation of Chic-fil-A, Inc. Growing by leaps and bounds ever since—with the help of those renegade cows and their “Eat Mor Chikin” ads—the restaurants have spread across the country and stolen customers’ hearts faster than we can say, “Would you like fries with that?” And that would be waffles fries to be exact, Chic-fil-A’s signature cuts of potatoe that well complement a chicken sandwich ... or chicken nuggets ... with some of that delicious honey barbecue sauce ... and definitely a sweet tea .... and how about one of those brand-new yogurt parfaits?

Any way we look at it, Chic-fil-A knows exactly what hungry patrons want and need at mealtime and beyond—and we don’t expect those lines to dwindle any time soon.

Runners up in the fast-food category this year include Cookout and McDonald’s.

sub/sandiwch shop

It’s no secret that Wilmington, in all its Southern charm and coastal glory, is a major draw for Yankees. They come a cruisin’ over the Mason Dixon to make a home inside our leisurely abode, taking full advantage of a slower pace of life with the “shore” nearby to remind them of home. (Just experiment with paying closer attention to license plates across town to prove this phenomenon true!) And while locals still tout the hateful bumper stickers telling tourists and transplants to take I-40 West and use it, there is definitely a piece of the North around here that no one can deny having a good old-fashioned crush on: Jersey Mike’s Subs.

Jersey Mike’s began—where else?—in New Jersey in 1956 and offered a unique new product: the submarine sandwich. As its popularity grew over the years, so did Jersey Mike’s menus and locations, which today include our very own Port City. One reason remains the same for why customers at the very beginning were drawn to the franchise, and it’s also why Wilmington voters selected Jersey Mike’s as best: their subs.

Try the Jersey Shore’s Favorite (provolone, ham and cappacuolo) or The Original Italian (provolone, ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni). Other favorites include the Albacore Tuna Fish, The Veggie, the Chipotle Cheese Steak, the Chicken Parm, and the Club Supreme (roast beef, turkey, swiss cheese, bacon, mayo, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, vinegar, oil and spices). Besides these cold and hot subs, Jersey Mike’s also offers wraps (including Buffalo Chicken, Baja Chicken and Chicken Caesar) and fresh salads. Using only the finest ingredients and offering catering, as well, it’s no wonder this northern staple has become a Port-City staple, too.

Second place this year goes to Subway, while Quizno’s takes third.

salads

“[For the French], cooking is viewed as a major art form: Innovations are celebrated and talked about as though they were phrases in the development of a style of painting or poetry. A meal at a truly great restaurant is a sort of theatre you can eat.”

So goes the Richard Bernstein quote on the official Web site of Brasserie du Soleil, a beautiful French café tucked away in a corner of Lumina Station in Wilmington. The quote could also be this eatery’s motto, as attention to quality and presentation are part of what makes it such a special dining experience. It’s the kind of place that locals might want to keep a secret, hoarding its revelries to themselves so as not to spoil the luxury of a getaway meal inside its doors. Such is the feeling of a Brasserie meal: a getaway, an escape to the heart of France where the luxe and comfortable atmosphere also famously serves beer, wine and simple, hearty food. While special interior features include a zinc bar, woodcarvings from a downtown church, tin-roof tiles and 6,000 feet of molding, what really draws Wilmington Best-Of voters back time and time again are the salads.

Salads at Brasserie are ordered a la carte, made to customers’ designs from a selection of over 30 fresh ingredients. Greens come in chopped romaine, baby spinach and mixed, while other ingredients include a variety of hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, shaved fenel, poached pears, candied pecans, toasted pine nuts, goat cheese, reggianno, crispy bacon, sliced ham, hard-boiled egg and the additional options of meats such as salmon, white anchovy and tuna steak. Dressings include a wonderful sherry vinaigrette, as well as a lemon variety, bleu cheese and Caesar. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday (11:30am-5pm), and dinner Sunday through Thursday (5-10pm) and Friday and Saturday (5-11pm), Brasserie du Soleil must be experienced to believe.

Coming in at second and third places, respectively, are Ruby Tuesday’s and Rucker John’s.

health food store

Do we know where our food comes from? When we shop the chain grocery stores, pick up food through a sliding door at the drive-thru or stand in line to choose from a generic menu, how do we know what’s really going into our bodies? Any member and/or shopper at Tidal Creek Co-op in Wilmington can answer that question with confidence.

The co-op is Wilmington’s cooperative market of natural foods where members own the entity, and the food is always fresh and locally grown. As the co-op’s official Web site, www.tidalcreek.coop, explains, “[We] work to insure a 100-percent GMO-free and hydrogenated oil-free shopping experience, make organically produced foods central to all departments, and purchase from small farms, local growers and companies with ethics and standards similar to the Co-op’s whenever possible.”

“Tidal Creek formed to meet the needs of its owners and community,” Jessica Burtt of marketing and membership services at Tidal Creek asserts. “[We have] quality, great food and excellent customer service.”

The Co-op Kitchen at Tidal Creek includes a café, deli and salad bar, while the food-market department includes groceries, produce, wellness, deli, bulk, and beer and wine. “[We are] focused on locally grown and produced products to support our local economy,” Burtt continues.

And, of course, as members know: Stimulating the local economy is not the only benefit to shopping Tidal Creek—it’s the assurance and healthfulness that comes from eating organic and local. Burtt says the greatest compliment received here is, “I trust the Co-op.” While great taste and service speak volumes, that trust is what keeps patrons coming back for more.

Coming in at the second- and third-place spots this year in the health food category are Lovey’s Market and The Fresh Market.

massage therapist

Oooh, ahhhh...

No, I’m not writing about watching fireworks. I’m writing about the amazing and addicting feeling of getting a massage. As the tension is released from our shoulders, necks and backs, all the way to our toes, a good massage is a spectacular way to spend any afternoon ... or morning ... or night! When Wilmington voters need a good rub-down and knead, they turn to the mighty and able hands of Richard Lascell, LMBT, at Bangz.

“I have been around for over 10 years as a massage therapist and have lived in Wilmington for over 18 years,” Lascell says. “I work at all hours. Providing for those after work for evening appointments, as well as providing office massages, donating to charitable events, and having a flexible schedule that is dictated by my clients. I stay busy!”

To accommodate the changing business-scape due to a receding economy, one move Lascell has made was to drop his prices to offer a $45 hour massage. “Decrease your price to increase production; that business will come,” he reasons.

But one thing Lascell never compromises is the quality of his work. “The biggest change,” he says of his work over the years, “has been having a more equal amount of male and female clients. Over 10 years ago, it was majority female; now it’s more 50/50.”

Providing excellent and beneficial therapy for relaxation or aches and pains, Lascell concludes that in his line of work (or any, for that matter) people must do what they like. “If you don’t like it, the people you work for will know it,” he says. Wilmington voters have spoken—Lascell loves and is great at his job.

Other hand-kneading, oooohs-inducing massage therapists rounding out our top three are Christina Letters and the students at Miller Motte.

—Emily Rea

hot dog

Relish, kraut and ketchup. Slaw, mustard and onions. Cheese, bacon bits and mayonnaise. Jalapenos and chili. No matter how the dog gets dressed, it always tastes good going down at Wilmington’s famed hot-dog joint: Trolly Stop.

Family-owned and operated, the Trolly Stop began as a meager stand in Wrightsville Beach, where schlepping dogs to beach-goers among warm summer days lead to a much greater franchise. Its popularity soared, in fact, leading it to open its downtown doors, followed by locations elsewhere in Wilmington and across the state. Today, a Trolly dog has become the epitome of not just summertime snacking but anytime gnoshing.

Serving Smithfield all-meat, Sabrett all-beef, Oscar-Meyer fat-free and even Lifelite veggie dogs, one and all styles of eaters can order from their menu. Add to it a slew of toppings, including the best homemade slaw and chili in town—a true Southerner’s toppings of choice—and the Trolly dog gets better by the minute.

In fact, those Trolly folks are so ingenuitive that they have even created their own hot sauce, which gives more zest to a Battleship, North Carolina, Nuclear or German dog—or any of their dogs, for that matter. And just in case die-hard Trollyheads crave the sauce outside of the restaurant, well, Lowe’s Foods on College Road carries the brand—even more reason to send mad props to our local dog heaven, serving Wilmington 30 years-plus strong.

Other hot dogs joints to score votes are Jeter’s and Paul’s Place

barbecue

It’s a Southern staple so ingrained in our culinary diet, we aren’t sure if the pig came before the sauce or the sauce before the pig. Either way, there are many local spots that cook the swine so fine, it tempts our taste buds over and over again with a vengeance. encore readers prefer Jackson’s Big Oak Barbecue, slowly cooked and hickory smoked nightly, just as the Jackson family has been doing since 1984.

Jackson’s Big Oak menu claims to serve barbecue that has a “balance of mild seasonings and vinegar,” a combination that most certainly gives it that distinct eastern North-Carolina flavor. Whether ordering ribs or pulled pork, on a sandwich or by itself, there is no wrong way to eat the barbecue at Jackson’s. Add to any order a side of their homemade Brunswick Stew—pulled pork, chicken, lima beans, corn, green beans and potatoes, in a rich tomato stock—or one of their many vegetables, and it’s like indulging in a feast for a Southern king.

If barbecue isn’t something suitable to the palate (gasp!), well, then Jackson’s weekday specials will titillate the taste buds, too, as Chicken and Pastry gets served on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. They also serve barbecue chicken, available in quarters or halves, along with fried tenders, chicken salad, grilled cheeses and even veggie plates for the meatless eaters. Just leave room for their homemade banana pudding!

Other places revered for their pig include Smithfield’s and Casey’s Buffet, Barbecue and Home Cookin’.

oysters

They do bakes in the North and roasts in the South. Some eat them raw on the half shell. Others prefer them smothered in cheese, parsley, butter and bread crumbs. Fried, steamed or in a stew, no matter how the pearls of the sea are indulged, our readers prefer getting theirs at Dock Street Oyster Bar, located downtown Wilmington on Dock Street, of course.

Serving seafood lovers since 1999, the folks at Dock Street always bring in fresh oysters daily, and, more impressively, they’re never fried. In fact, that was what the owners, Louise Forbes and Steve Maillard, had in mind when opening the seafood haven: They would specialize in seafood in its purest flavor, serving it only steamed or grilled. The concept has paid off, despite living in the South where even frying a Snicker’s bar is totally normal.

Dock Street has entreés, sandwiches and delectable appetizers. But, really, it’s their steamer menu that boast an impressive list of sea fare. Sweet crab legs, scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, crawfish and the oh-so-sweet oysters come by the dozen, pound, peck, or cluster. For a taste of everything, order the steamer platter, also served with corn and potatoes. It’s low-country fare that Southerners adore.

Other oysters shucked on our Best-Of poll come from Hieronymus and Shuck and Shack in Carolina Beach.

breakfast

“It’s the most important meal of the day!”—so my father always told me during my middle- and high-school years. “It’ll give you energy and keep you focused!” Today, breakfast is still something I eat consistently, thanks to Dad’s love for bacon and eggs, pancakes and fruit, coffee and juice. I am not alone either, judging by the many votes that came in for our Best Breakfast category. In Wilmington, one place continuously ranks high on our poll, and, well, she whistles Dixie.

Yep, Dixie Grill has swept through the grease and fire for years in our breakfast category, most likely because they churn out the best Louisiana hash in town: eggs, potatoes, andouille sausage and other stuff, all piled high and sizzling hot to the table. It’s an item on their menu they’ve mastered so well they sometimes run out of it—which is a true testament that it’s not only popular but made fresh to-order. In fact, so much from the Dixie is original, from their homemade sausage to their sweet potato pancakes (yes, that’s right!). They also make one mean bowl of oatmeal, according to my mother.

The coffee is fresh; the restaurant itself, always open to a new face. Just beware of the Sunday crowds—the line is often out the door.

Other breakfast spots encore voters frequent include Causeway Cafe and I-Hop.

chain restaurant

Aside from Wilmington’s many mom-and-pop eateries that our voters love so much, the occasional chain restaurant also has its place in tempting the appetite. The grub from Outback Steakhouse keeps our readers’ tastebuds happily dancing, whether indulging in their Bloomin’ Onion, Crab-Stuffed Shrimp or one of many steak specialties.

With the current financial woes many families across the nation are facing, Outback is making their food accessible to everyone, boasting 15 meals under $15, including their Outback Special sirloin, Teriyaki-marinated sirloin, a Filet Tenderloin and Stuffed Shrimp combination plate or their Outback Grillers. They also serve affordable sea fare, burgers and sandwiches, along with a host of freshly made sides.

Just leave room for dessert: The Sweet Sampler Trio will tantalize every sweet tooth, as three desserts, including the Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Pie, Classic Cheesecake and the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under, come in one heaping serving. Pair the experience with drink specials from their fully licensed ABC bar, and the meal is made for champions, just as the restaurant stakes claim in our 2010 poll.

Other chain eateries topping our list are Carrabba’s and Bonefish Grill.

lunch

I can attest Sweet and Savory is Wilmington’s Best Lunch. I eat there quite frequently, as their homemade breads and soups are the best in town. Collards and BBQ beef, turkey and dressing, tomato basil, chowders and stews of all varieties make their way on their soup specials, which boast up to five selections a day. Pair a cup with one of their sandwiches for the most satisfying midday meal. I personally love their Rawhide (roast beef and cheese on a pita, with mushrooms and onions), as well as the Miss Piggy (grilled ham and American cheese, roasted red peppers, red onions and a smoked tomato aioli on an English muffin) or the Hot Tamale (turkey, pico de gallo, Havarti cheese and jalapeños on multi-grain bread).

The bakery not only has a large sandwich menu, which includes many vegetarian and seafood options, they also do burgers, dogs and salads. Located on Pavilion Place, right before Airlie Road off Eastwood, Sweet and Savory bustles during lunch hours, as their reputation for serving quality food with friendly service keeps them top-of-mind among the Wilmington foodscape. But lunch isn’t their only claim to fame. They do outstanding breakfasts, which include so many flavorful homemade pastries that just walking in the restaurant early in the morning will send the senses into overload.

As of late, Sweet and Savory has also began doing a chef’s table during dinner, hosted by their finest hands in the kitchen thanks to Josh Petty. Every Thursday night diners can make a reservation for $40 a head, limited to 12 diners only, to indulge in fanciful and creative creations from Chef Petty. Having attended two already, the food does not disappoint, especially for those who enjoy indulging in fine cuisine with a flair. Scallop ceviche (served with habanero shaved ice atop—for real!), duck confit salad, monkfish, braised short ribs and raspberry creme brulée showcases one menu sample. From what I tasted, Chef Petty takes great pride in his food, flexing pristine culinary craftsmanship through his weekly Chef’s Table menus. One week, every course featured pork, including chocolate and bacon variety for dessert. The next week he did everything-duck, including a consommé with duck dumplings made from the fowl’s heart, liver and other innards. Sure, it sounds adventurous, but don’t knock it ‘til trying it; it was lovely on the palate. Just make reservations early, and enjoy dining family-style with other Wilmingtonians. It’s a great way to meet other foodies in town and enjoy a dinner party at one of Wilmington’s greatest restaurants.

Other lunch spots ranking on the Best-Of poll include Pine Valley Market and Temptations Everyday Gourmet.

wings

The drumsticks and wings at Buffalo Wild WIngs keep diners clucking about town like chickens with their heads cut off. It could be because their numerous sauce choices make BWW all the rage in our wing category—and we can see why. Mango Habanero, Asian Zing, Spicy Garlic, Teriyaki, Caribbean Jerk, Honey BBQ, or their traditional Mild, Medium, Hot and even Blazin’ sauces turn bland wings into something decadently different upon every bite.

While wings, whether bone-in or boneless, continue being the draw to BWW, that they’re a sports bar housed with gazilions of TVs and beer-on-tap means they know how to keep sports fans happy and fulfilled. Our locations, off College Road on Van Campen Boulevard, and on Carolina Beach Road in Monkey Junction, are committed to local and regional fanfare, always playing the Panthers’ games on the big screens, not to mention all the college basketball games that make North-Carolinians seem rather insane (Tar Heel, Blue Devil, Demon Deacon and Wolfpack fans alike). Hockey, baseball, wrestling, racing—it’s heaven on earth for sports fanatics.

Wings. Beer. TVs. Open Monday through Saturday, from 11am-2am, and Sunday, from noon to 2am, they always have a table waiting. Just come early on Wing Tuesdays and Boneless Thursdays, when they offer the best of their chicken at discount prices—35¢ apiece on Tuesdays and 50¢ apiece on Thursdays. Oh, and during major game days, again, come early; both locations tend to pack up pretty quickly. But nothing’s better than celebrating a win or two with like-minded sports (and wing) fans!

Kudos BWW!

Wild Wing Cafe and Katy’s Great Eats also topped our polls with encore votes.

performer

Her vocals have cascaded over audiences across Wilmington for the past few years. Most have been hypnotized upon first hearing her; others continue to be transcended by the powerful force of her words, as her soul seems to pour out of her vocal cords. Bibis Ellison began singing when she was “in the womb,” and it’s her singing that welcomed her first appearance on our Best-Of poll, scoring Best Band/Performer for 2010.

“It’s sort of overwhelming,” she told encore last week. “Wilmington’s been sort of overwhelming. I really love what I do and really, really appreciate how much people seem to enjoy it. The fact that people appreciated me back makes me want to work harder, sing louder and high-five everyone.”

Ellison performs cover songs with her Spare Change Band every Tuesday night at The Whiskey downtown, and they’re continuing to add to their schedule with monthly standing gigs at Grand Union Pub in The Forum and Fibber McGee’s near Wrightsville Beach (full schedule available at www.myspace.com/bibisellisonband). She also plays solo, original music, showcasing her talent as a songwriter, with a gig booked at the Soapbox on May 21st, when she’ll share the bill with a group of her friends, Mount Moriah from Chapel Hill.

“My original stuff and the Spare Change Band are like apples and oranges, who are good friends,” she explained. “I think they’re exciting in entirely different ways. The Spare Change Band is this fun, in-your-face, loud, party band—we’re people who love music, who play for people who love music, you know? My original stuff is sneakier. It’s quiet and more introspective; it’s the flip side of the band with just as much love. I like it that way, though. I like being thought of as multi-faceted—and being appreciated for both.”

Her fans flock to her shows to hear her renditions of Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield,” Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and U2’s “With or Without You.” They dance, they sing along and they cheers the band’s impeccable musicality. At the end of the day, they’ll be the same fans who bend their ears to hear Ellison’s originality shine through in her solo work.

“I will always have a special place in my heart for the song ‘Foxes,’” Ellison spoke of her catalogue of songs. “She’s a sneaky little thing, that song. I wrote her six years ago, and she meant something entirely different then than she does now, and I love that about her. People seem to really relate to that song in their own ways—and I like thinking that the song can be taken the way people want to take it. I’m proud of her.”

Next on the agenda: recording. “It’s official, you can punch me if I’m lying,” she quipped. “I did the song ‘I’ve Gotta Town for You’ for Americatown (congratulations to them on their Best Local Film win!) with Fred Champion at his house, and the song worked so well that I kind of stalked Fred for a little while about the idea of recording, and he finally caved. I like the idea of using natural sounds and a natural space for my music and I can’t think of a better spot. So at the beginning of March, we’re going to get started! I will safely say that the record will be out this year.”

Before she takes her show on the road, Wilmington music lovers should get out and support Wilmington’s finest talent. Straight from the horse’s mouth, she claimed, “I want to make what I do bigger and better.” No doubt, she most certainly will.

Paco Strickland and ASG scored votes on our poll, too.

movie

Americatown. It’s a place of only 1,000 citizens, where landmarks and conventions of America as we know it exist—just maybe in an off-kilter way. “For example, Americatown has a giant rock with faces of old people carved in it (Mt. Rushmore) right across the street from the world’s most awesome water park (Niagara Falls),” Kenneth Price, director of encore’s Best Local Film, 2010, told us last week. Currently in the red, white and neon blue country, its town’s tour guides, Roosevelt Microsoft and Plymouth Rayban, are working steadfast to keep it safe, while trying to understand why on Earth anyone would every want to leave.

Having filmed the feature-length comedy last year in Wilmington, before trekking across the “Land of the Free” with the stars of the film, the Superkiiids! Cory Howard and Jonathan Guggenheim, as well as local art director Chad Keith, they released an uncut version at Cucalorus back in November. “We were really lucky to land that screening, because I don’t think most filmmakers have the opportunity to get a couple of hundred people together to view something that isn’t finished and are willing to give honest feedback about what does and doesn’t work,” Price continued.

Since, they have been in the editing room, doing final tweaks. Price has added “an original soundtrack by Seth Moody, an amazing animated title sequence, about 10 minutes of the stuff that, for one reason or another, just didn’t work, and a bunch of stuff in 4D that will make the movie more into an interactive experience”—something he says will be akin to watching Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Shot over a 9,000-mile road trip, the motley crew of filmmakers saw America in a lot of its glory, from the Alamo to Hollywood Boulevard to Times Square. Even though they were hard at work, the fun and hijinks were never at bay.

“The afternoon we spent filming in the middle of the White Sands National Park in New Mexico was pretty special,” Price remembered. “We all almost passed out from the heat, Jonathan threw a smoke bomb directly up into the air that landed on Chad. and I was so blinded by the sun that I shot for about an hour with the lens halfway covered by the camera’s matte box. It was a crazy day, and I still have sand in the van but we ended up with some of the best footage from the film.”

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week (March 4th-6th), Americatown comes to the big screen at Jengo’s Playhouse. The production will start at 8pm and folks can get in for a mere $5. Best of all, it will be hosted by the one and only Superkiiids!

Other local films taking a spot in our poll include Nevermore and 4 Gin and Tonics.

comedy troupe

Nothing compares in life to having fun. It’s that simple. If having fun weren’t a priority, our lives would read like symptoms from an anti-depressant medicine bottle: irritable, moody, lack of interest in anything, extreme fatique...

Thanks to people like Wilmington’s very own Superkiiiids!, having fun always ranks high on the life-list—in fact, they have it down to a science. “The formula is as follows,” Jonathan Guggenheim, one-half of Superkiiids!, who also hosted encore’s Best-Of Awards ceremony at the beginning of February, said:

“HE = PI x C/T + BM

PI = personal involvement.

C = complexity of a joke. The higher degree of complexity, the better provided that your audience can solve the problem within one or two seconds.

T = time spent by a person solving a joke. The longer the time, the weaker the effect.

BM = background mood. A joker can have an advantage if an audience enjoys the show. However, a real good joke can ‘blow up’ the most dismal audience.

HE = humor effectiveness.”

Sharing the stage with Cory Howard, who has moved from Wilmington yet still remains here according to Guggenheim, thanks to his superpowers of practicing “The Resonance Theory of Simultaneous Existence,” the two often embark on gaggles of tricks and very physical skits that keep the laughs rolling. Their characters and jokes appeal to many, too, from young kids to 80-year-olds.

“We’re basically following Darwin’s model of the evolution of creative thinking,” Guggenheim explains. “Creative thinking is modeled as a re-linkage of connections among mental representations, occurring in relationship to gene-culture heterarchy, which is a system of causative and motivational connections among the individual, the innate regularities of cognitive development, and group behavior.”

Scientific mumbo-jumbo aside, the two connect like white on rice, coffee and cream, peanut butter and jelly. Their fame has lifted them to greater heights, too. “Whilst having a drink with a dear friend and fellow Superkiiiiiid! just last week, he said, ‘With fame I become more and more stupid, which of course is a very common phenomenon.’ Then he stuck out his tongue and I took a picture.”

Don’t miss the kiiids! at Jengo’s Playhouse March 4th-6th at 8pm for the screening of their latest feature-length comedy, Americatown. Cost is $5 at the door.

Changing Channels and Nutt Street Comedy Club performers came in second and third.

shopping plaza

Located on Military Cutoff Road is a haven for many shoppers. Miles upon miles of stores align the thoroughfare, beckoning all Eddie-Bauer lovers, Williams-and-Sonoma junkies, Banana-Republic fiends and J.-Crew addicts. Among the many stores are many restaurants, too, in a bevy of flavors: Tokyo 101, Brixx Pizza, Fox and Hound sports bar and Melting Pot fondue.

Mayfaire Town Center has become a must-stop on anyone’s scheduled shopping-spree date. “Mayfaire has brought something unique and different to Wilmington,” Paige McKenzie, director of marketing, told us, “all in an open-air, pedestrian-friendly setting reminiscent of small-town USA.”

Considered an “innovative retail lifestyle center,” Mayfaire “has embraced the mixed-use concept [to] continue to grow.” And they’re doing so in ways beyond simply serving shoppers. They reach out charitably, too, by being a part of Shop 2 Help Your Schools and partaking in many holiday promotions, “all [to] create a vibrant environment where people can live, work and play.”

McKenzie promises their dedication to continuously listen to customers to better their services and evolve. “We want to strive everyday to improve and provide a pleasant, unique and entertaining experience,” she noted. “By having flexibility to add, change and reconfigure existing structures, Mayfaire has the unique ability to be highly responsive to the market and tenant needs. And that’s why Mayfaire will continue to thrive, just as it was envisioned to do.”

Their win comes numerous years now consecutively, meaning they’re doing something right.

Other shopping centers to be recognized are Lumina Station and Hanover Center.

delicatessen

Nothing can be more satisfying than a hearty wedge or roll from Wilmington’s favorite delicatessen, Taste of Italy. In fact, the New-York family who runs the establishment has been doing a fine job at converting Southerners into the enjoying real Italian dining for years. They make the most outstanding meatballs in town (have it on a roll to enjoy what a true meatball sub should taste like), along with fresh ragout that would make Grandma proud. Pasta dishes transform a blasé lunch into something appetizing, and any of their fresh-cut meats (try the pastrami!) build a monstrous sandwich—literally, there’s, like, a pound of meat on them.

As if the homemade eggplant or chicken parm, baked ziti or lasagne, stuffed shells or tortellini aren’t enough to captivate the taste buds, come for their many deli salads: macaroni, bow-tie, antipastos, cucumber-and-tomato or roasted red pepper. It’s the perfect accompaniment to any sandwich. With the large blocks of provolone and parmigiano-reggiano, casings of salami and loaves of bread available at the counter, it makes for a rustic, old-school New-York deli right among our Southern streets.

The sweets shant be passed over here either. They sell sinful brownies dusted with confectioner’s sugar and an assortment of Italian cookies in all varieties. And their retail side of the deli proves soul-feeding, offering pastas, olive oils, sauces and canned goodsof the finest Italian brand-names. But why try to reinvent the wheel? Just order from their catering menu and feed the family a true “taste of Italy”—then all that will be left to do are the dishes.

Other delicatessens in town that folks adore patronizing include Grouchos in Leland and Martions in Wrightsville Beach.

worst politician

That we still have this category humors me. Really, any one person in office could probably be featured here, but this year we have a bonafide winner: RC Soles, D-Columbus County.

Soles hits on a pretty high note of worst politician, but not for “bailing out” big businesses or having an affair with someone on the campaign trail or avoiding taxes on his home—no, no. Soles is accused of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury.

It was August 23rd when the senator and longest-serving legislator shot Kyle Blackburn, 22, in the leg at the senator’s home in Tabor City. Soles claims he only acted in self-defense after hearing Blackburn and an accomplice kicking in his front door. However, police said Soles stepped out into his front yard to shoot the perps. Thus, the bullet entries didn’t correspond with a self-defense plea.

Soles was indicted on January 7th and plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge on February 26th to avoid felony charges. He paid $1,000 in fines before being freed. The senator will not be seeking re-election.

Mayor Bill Saffo came in second, with Paul Knight (who ran for mayoral office in November and lost) ranking third.
—Shea Carver

Next week’s edition will feature the final installment of encore winners. Out March 10th!

by: Shea Carver

It happens every year like clockwork: The sun starts staying out a little longer. The days start progressively getting warmer. The residents go mad about town to partake in free stuff to do! Yep, that’s right—I said it: F-R-E-E!

The annual 2010 New Hanover County Residents’ Free Day, also known as “Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown,” continually comes to us at the cusp of spring, almost as if the folks over at the Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitor’s Bureau know exactly how to alleviate our cabin fever from winter’s breezy, cold temperatures. Like the many free-days that have come before it, 2010’s event will make for one hefty activity-filled Sunday, held March 7th at participating attractions and tourist stops all over Wilmington.

It’s the perfect time to breathe in fresh, warmer air and enjoy the outdoors, whether strolling through Airlie or taking a boat ride along the Intracoastal. There will be tours, live demonstrations and free stuff to do all day along our coast; just bring an ID proving New-Hanover residency (attractions allowing citizens from other counties are noted in the event paragraphs), and reap the benefits. Here is what will be offered: (Note: Some events require early reservations or ticket pickup).

Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Road • (910) 798-7566

Stroll through the winding paths of this century-old garden by the sea, where the foliage and views are always breathtaking. Open 9am to 5pm.

Arboretum at New Hanover County Co-op Extension
6206 Oleander Drive • (910) 798-7660.

Explore six or more acres of demonstration and trial gardens to discover the newest and best plants for area landscapes and gardens, from 8am-6pm.

Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
Hwys.17/74/76/421, on the Cape Fear River • (910) 251-5797.

From 8am-5pm, climb aboard the Battleship, and imagine being at sea during WWII, searching the sky for enemy aircraft, anticipating what may happen next. History comes alive. Free admission to New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender county residents with proper ID. Last boarding 4pm; closes 5pm.

Bellamy Mansion Museum
503 Market Street • (910) 251-3700.

Visit the formal areas and kitchen in the basement of the mansion, 1-4pm, and hear historical information about the original slave quarters and its restoration in the rear garden. Gift shop will also be open.

Blue Moon Gift Shops
203 Racine Drive • (910) 799-5793.

Open from noon to 5pm, Blue Moon features over 100 eclectic shops, showcasing works by artists and crafts-people. Tastings and craft/vendor demonstrations will take place throughout the day.

Burchetta Glassblowing Studio
and Gallery
201 Red Cross Street • (910) 399-7614.

See live glassblowing demonstrations and tour the gallery from 10am-4pm.

Burgwin-Wright Museum House
224 Market Street • (910) 762-0570

While the house will not be open, visitors may tour the historic gardens and visit the Colonial kitchen and the former jail. A self-guided garden tour is available, with layout, historic facts, plant identification, etc., all taking place noon to 5pm.

Cameron Art Museum
3201 S. 17th Street • (910) 395-5999

Southeast NC’s premier art museum will be open from 11am-5pm, featuring three exhibitions: Toying with Art (Galleria cases); KALEIDOSCOPE: Changing Views of the Permanent Collection (Brown Wing); and Recollection: The Past is Present (Hughes wing). Located at the corner of Independence and Shipyard boulevards.

Cape Fear Museum of
History and Science
814 Market Street • (910) 798-4350

Discover the history, science and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear, from 1-5pm. Visit the Cape Fear’s newest exhibits: Conservation Matters; Going to the Movies; and Cape Fear Treasures: Drinks.

Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill
4240 Market Street • (910) 762-0173.

Starting at noon and lasting until 9pm, Capt’n Bills will offer free volleyball! The grill will be open with food and drink specials, too!

Carolina Beach Lake Park
Atlanta & Lake Park Blvd
(910) 617-9793.

Located in Carolina Beach, Wheel Fun Rentals will offer free paddle boat rentals. to New Hanover residents only from 10am to 2pm.

Carolina Beach State Park
State Park Road • (910) 458-8206

For 12 hours, 8am-8pm. folks can head over to the Carolina Beach Park with a picnic and fishing supplies, and explore nature trails, the visitor center, or just enjoy the nature that surrounds them. (Marina closed for renovation/campsite rentals not included.)

EUE/Screen Gems Studio
1223 N. 23rd Street • (910) 343-3500

Screen Gems will give tours on Sunday at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm, but advance tickets are required! To tour Screen Gems, participants must pick up tickets on Friday the 5th at Screen Gems from 12-5pm. Tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis. No tickets will be handed out on the day of the tour!

Federal Point History Center
1121-A North Lake Park Blvd.
(910) 458-0502.

Enjoy exhibits and audio-visual presentations portraying periods in the Federal Point community, including pre-historic, colonial, Civil War and development of Carolina-Kure Beaches and Seabreeze as tourist attractions. Refreshments served; takes place 1-4pm.

Fort Fisher State Historic Site—Civil War Fort
Hwy. 421 Kure Beach • (910) 458-5538

Enjoy scenic views of the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean, from 1-5pm, upon visiting, tour trails, historic earthen fortifications, visitor center and Civil War museum.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
1000 Loggerhead Road, off US 421
(910) 458-5798.

Visitor center, free access to the 4WD beach and four-mile stretch of undeveloped beach for shell seekers, bird watchers. 4WD access free to New Hanover residents only, from 8am-5pm.

Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington
Meets at Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water streets • (910) 233-7630

Guided tours start at 5:30pm only. Reservations are required and on a first-come, first-served basis. Guides will take larger groups than normal, and tour will be somewhat abbreviated. Space is limited. New Hanover residents only!

Greenfield Grind Skatepark
Burnett Blvd, behind Parks and Rec offices • (910) 362-8222

Participants get free admission between 1-8pm. All participants are required to wear helmet and pads.

Halyburton Park
4099 17th Street • (910) 341-0075

From 8am-5pm take a hike, or ride a bike through the 58-acre tract of land, comprised of gently-rolling sandhills, wet pine flatwoods and lime-sink depression ponds, and discover the many plants and animal species living here.

Hannah Block Historic USO/
Community Arts Center
2nd & Orange streets • (910) 793-6393

Spend a WWII-history afternoon, 12pm-5pm, at one of the few remaining USO buildings. Tour the restored building, theatre, and WWII home front mini-museum. Meet local WWII veterans and home-front workers with wartime memorabilia to swap stories, pose for photos and share experiences. It’s an opportunity to say “thanks” to our version of the Greatest Generation.

Haunted Pub Crawl at
Fat Tony’s Italian Pub
131 N. Front Street • (910) 343-8881

Get a “taste” of the Haunted Pub Crawl, from noon-6pm, and hear eerie tales that will both shiver ye timbers and make ye laugh out loud; starting at noon on the hour every hour with the last one at 6pm. All ages welcome; stories censored to suit audience. Prizes for kids.

Hollywood Location Walk
of Old Wilmington
Meets at Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market and Water streets • (910) 233-7630

Guided tours start at noon only. Reservations are required on a first-come, first-served basis. Guide will take larger groups than normal, and tour will be somewhat abbreviated. Space is limited, and for New Hanover residents only!

Hugh MacRae Park & Nature Trail
Oleander Drive and S. College Road
(910) 798-7181

From 8am-10pm, Hugh MacRae’s playgrounds (5-12-year-old playground is lighted), lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, picnic areas, nature trails, etc., can be enjoyed. And it’s free everyday (except for shelter, horse ring, baseball fields and garden rentals). Baseball fields must be reserved in advance. Walk the 1.55 mile trail right in the park or visit the Hugh MacRae Nature Trail located across the street behind the New Hanover Senior Center.

Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park
5320 Oleander Drive • (910) 791-0666

Offering a choice of one of the following activities to each participant, from 1-4pm: A free round of Jungle Golf—or—a free go-kart ride—or—a free wall climb.

N.C. Military History Museum
116 Air Force Way, Kure Beach
(910) 477-0499

Visit from noon-4pm, and see artifacts, memorabilia, displays from WWI through Desert Storm, with photos, documents, letters, uniforms, fieldgear, hats, helmets, gift shop and more.

Special Guests at Riverfront Visitor Information Booth
Cape Fear Riverwalk, Water and
Market streets • (910) 341-4030

With weather permitting, from 1-3pm, team and event mascots will greet residents, hand out schedules/flyers, pose for photos, and sign autographs. Confirmed guests include “Salty Dawg” (Wilmington Sea Dawgs pro basketball team) and “Sharky” (Wilmington Sharks baseball team); Azalea Belles (courtesy of the Cape Fear Garden Club); and storyteller/musician John Golden from 2-3pm. Educators from the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s outreach classroom will share information about marine life found along NC’s coast. Stop by to meet the special guests, get a “Hometown Tourist” sticker, and a list of attractions/tours offering free admission!

The Black Cat Shop
11 Market Street • (910) 251-6663

Aye, mateys, ‘yer looking for a bit of adventure in the Port City? Drop by to see some magic, hear some true Wilmington pirate stories or to have ye fortune told, from 1-5pm. Space is limited and we will entertain first-come, first-served.

UNCW Arboretum Campus
601 S. College Road • (910) 962-3107

Explore this institutional arboretum campus with plant identification signs, from 7am-5pm, Three areas are of particular interest: “The Heritage Garden” at the front quadrangle; “The Campus Commons” in the center of campus; and “The Bluethenthal Nature Preserve,” located off Price Drive behind the University Union.

Victorian Gardens at Latimer
House Museum
126 South 3rd Street • (910) 762-0492

Enjoy a self-guided tour of garden only (brochure available at site, weather permitting) from 1-4pm; the house will be closed.

Wheel Fun Rentals
107 Carolina Beach Ave. N
(910) 617-9792.

Free bicycle & specialty product rentals for New Hanover residents only, 10am-2pm.

Wilmington Ice House
7201 Ogden Business Lane (next to Ogden Park off of Market Street)
(910) 686-1987.

Free skate rental only, 1-4pm! Admission $7 per skater and $ if under 5yrs. Offer good to New Hanover residents only!

Wilmington Railroad Museum
505 Nutt Street • (910) 763-2634

Railroad history and heritage are joined by a traveling exhibit of spectacular photographs by O. Winston Link, 1-4pm. Features for all New Hanover residents’ ages.

Wilmington Trolley
Downtown Wilmington • (910) 763-4483

The trolley will offer free shuttle service, 1-4pm, between the participating attractions in the downtown area. This is shuttle service only, not tours.

Wrightsville Beach Museum
of History
303 W. Salisbury Street, Wrightsville Beach (910) 256-2569

Visit this 1909 beach cottage and feel what life at the beach was like 100 years ago, 1-5pm. See our model of Wrightsville Beach in 1910 and learn about the trolley system linking town and beach.

Wrightsville Beach Scenic
Tours and Taxi
Banks Channel across from Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach
(910) 200-4002.

Offered at 2pm and 3pm only, with advance reservations required, folks can enjoy a one-hour free ecological tour. Topics include salt marsh function, native birds and barrier island ecology. Space is limited.

For more information on hours of operation for attractions, contact them individually. In case of rain, call attractions to confirm outdoor activities. Also visit www.capefearcoast.com/hometown.

by: Shea Carver

San Juan Cafe
3314-16 Wrightsville Avenue
Mon. – Sat.: 11am–2pm; 5pm–10pm
Closed Sundays
(3 1/2 stars out of 4)

With its roots planted across the globe, from Spanish to African, Asian to Native-American influences, Latin-American cuisine has its fair share of tantalizing ingredients: coriander, cumin, chiles, garlic, plantains, even the exotic culantro (a more pungent cilantro). Though Wilmington may not exactly border Puerto Rico or Cuba, we have been known to welcome some of their flavors in and out of our coastal corridors.

Newest to our culinary map is San Juan Café on Wrightsville Avenue (in the building where the Moroccan café Nagilia once lived). Owned and operated by Danny Keegan, a Puerto-Rican native whose Johnson-and-Wales degree served him well at local eateries Osteria Cicchetti, Brasserie du Soleil and NOFO, San Juan boasts a menu of Caribbean flair suited to both vegetarians and carnivores, all of which meld traditional with experimental. In fact, something as simple as arepas get a fancy facelift on Keegan’s watch, served with duck confit, Columbian masa cheesecake, caramelized onions and cashews.

One word: Y-U-M!

Last Friday afternoon, upon hearing many praises per word-of-mouth from my lovely culinary friends, I decided to check out the eatery for myself. It’s not that I don’t trust their opinions, it’s just that new restaurants beckon my attention first-hand—especially since dating a chef maintains we keep our dining-out expense account padded rather nicely.

It wasn’t busy in San Juan, sans a friend, also a local beer-and-wine representative, John Burke, who was dining at the bar. He stopped by our table to say hello and warn us of the deliciousness that are the bacalaitos, a deep-fried mixture of bread, white fish, cilantro and onions. San Juan serves them to every table as a starter—kind of like a Mexican restaurant’s pre-emptive basket of chips and salsa. Mr. Burke was right. Oh, were they good! Paper-thin crisps tasted zesty and sweet, with just the right amount of cilantro and onion, only enhanced by a mild fish background. While Matthew and I probably could have passed over more appetizers in favor of more bacalaitos, we decided instead to order more food than we could handle.

Starting off with a Latin-American classic, chile rellenos, and one of San Juan’s interesting salad offerings, the ensalada de aguacate, we sipped our drinks and took in the atmosphere upon our short wait. The teracotta walls are adorned with cast-iron wall-hangings, making the place cozy against the dark-wood tables and bar. Yet, occasional tropical remnants pepper the decor, a la the bright green border spanning the walls and resembling the back of a dragon, or the parrot-inspired art. The bursts of color make it clear that diners are preparing to indulge in Caribbean-inspired fare.

Once our starters arrived, we began to critique. The black-bean paste served underneath the chile rellenos was palate-awakening: earthy yet embracing just the right amount of heat to make the chiles dance nicely in their crusty cornmeal and queso-fresca filling. The peppers were a little dry from the abundance of cornmeal coated on them, but the flavor was unstoppable.

The ensalada de aguacate, basically translated as “avocado salad,” offered a perfect lightness to the rellenos. Crisp romaine provided a base for the creamy garbanzo bean puree and homemade chicken salad served atop it. Stacked with avocado and tomato, the salad could be a large meal on its own, so order with the intent to share if also indulging in something else.

I was ready to stop at this point, but the aroma of fresh garlic and cumin wafted past my nose as our lovely server placed the daily special in front of me: Lamb Piononos. Ground-anything is something I can usually never get enough of, but ground lamb in particular captivates my attention on any menu. I’d never had the Puerto-Rican specialty piononos, wherein plantains and eggs are used, layering a savory filling. In this case it was like a picadillo of ground lamb, tomato, cumin, garlic, and green peppers and onions.

Baked to perfection, with a crisp top and soft, sweet and savory center, I couldn’t help but relish every bite. White rice and red beans, stewed with olives and onions in an rich broth, gave it a lovely dose of made-from-Grandma’s-kitchen.

Matthew had a classic that most all Latin-American menus boast today: sandwich Cubano. The panini was pressed with roasted pork, ham, pickles and swiss cheese on slices of Cuban bread and served alongside a culantro mayonnaise. The sandwich oozed its layers, bite after bite. Though it may seem sacrilege to even go here, I can’t help but mention San Juan’s fries. “French” as they may seem, what has become an American food group on its own accord is mastered in this Latin-American eatery. The potatoes were perfectly crisp, golden and hand-cut, sprinkled with their own special seasoning.

“Can you imagine how much greater they’d be if they were cooked in duck fat?” Matthew rhetorically asked.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Keegan went that route. After all, his culinary skills are honed well, and his distinctive palate really has an outlet to let loose now that he’s running his own restaurant.

Matthew and I already have planned our next dinner date to San Juan. Items like the pollo ajili mojili (half marinated chicken in mojito served with baked sweet potato, French green beans and chimichurri) and the chuleta (a grilled pork chop, bacon and plantain mofongo—i.e. mashed together—served with tomato and pepper escabeche) beckon our attention. They’re unlike any other item on a Wilmington menu, and that, to us, makes this restaurant all the more exciting.

by: Lauren Hodges

Piecing It
Back Together
Featuring the art work of
Erica Morgan
Edge of Urge, 18 Market Street
March 4th • 7-10pm

Faced with sudden loss, most of us go through the seven stages of grief: shock, guilt, anger, depression, adjustment, reconstruction and acceptance. For some, a few of the stages are harder to conquer than others. Local artist Erica Morgan was hit with the shock of her life when her younger brother died last year. Anger was a long process that was difficult for Morgan to overcome.

“I detached myself from friends and family,” she says. “I stopped making art, had no creativity or drive, and started questioning the reason for my loss. No reason, in my opinion, was worth the cost of such an innocent and good-hearted life that was taken.”

Before the tragedy Morgan was a promising and hard-working artist. She had a solo show at the Wabi-Sabi Warehouse featuring her signature environmentally focused work. Her most moving piece was made of organic cloth, soaked in motor oil, and over time showed the damage done to nature by a man-made substance. The dark, greasy oil slowly spread throughout the bright, clean material, darkening the color and filling the creases. In hindsight it was an ominous foreshadow to Morgan’s struggle.

“In the weeks and months passing, death became very, very real to me,” she recalls. “I was abruptly made aware that everything—and I mean everything—only ends in death. So what was the point? My thoughts about life and death, purpose, coincidence . . . fell apart. I couldn’t make sense of anything, not even love, because to me, none of it mattered since it was all going to end in death anyway.”

Slowly and painfully Morgan made her way into a period of reflection. Her art had been neglected since the tragedy, but somehow all of the make-you-think messages featured in her previous works had not completely left her mind. Morgan’s talent for insight in art was going to be her saving grace. She began the stage of adjustment, which required, in her words, “to stop dwelling on the who, what, why and how of the death I was dealing with, and to realize no matter how much I focused my energy on all of those [things,] he wasn’t coming back. Nothing was going to change that. So I started seeing beauty in the world and people around me again.”

Without really looking for materials, Morgan found herself amongst a new body of work naturally. She began with a fabric collage on a piece of cardboard and incorporated metal objects. She found a grate from an old grill and started to tie the whole piece together with clumps of frayed threads. It was pure improvisation, since she says she wasn’t actively seeking materials or picturing a finished product. The threads were left to hang freely from the work, which was meant to symbolize impermanence.

“My struggle to work with what I knew about life and death, in order to cope, is mirrored in this body of work by only using material I had,” Morgan says. “It forced me to learn about myself and what I’m capable of, both with making art and dealing with my brother’s death.”

Having entered the sixth stage, reconstruction, Morgan was reminded of her previous commitment to environmentally conscious messages. She found that the process of recycling was a perfect metaphor for her new beginning.

“I’m piecing back together objects that would have otherwise been discarded . . . allowing the environment to feel a little relief,” she notes. “Since all my materials are found, reclaimed and recycled, there is no impact on the environment. So in a sense, I’m giving life back to the environment—or at least extending the life of [it.]”

Today, Morgan has found herself in the seventh stage: acceptance. As she prepares to re-enter the art community, with an upcoming show at Edge of Urge, she hopes her message of hope will be contagious. “These works are a manifestation, or documentary, of my exposure to the multidimensional loss of life,” she says “Each piece is contrived of several components, some of which are in obvious conflict with the others and are fighting for priority or attention, but remain still connected whether loosely or permanently with each other and the whole—very much the same way the stages and levels of grief network with one’s mind.”

by: Anghus

Shutter Island
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio,
Michelle Williams and Mark Ruffalo
(4 stars out of 5)

Martin Scorsese knows how to make a movie. Is there a more obvious sentence in existence? Let me take a crack at it.

“Sarah Palin is not smarter than a fifth grader!”

“Someone got an STD from the cast of ‘Jersey Shore.’”

“John Holmes was well endowed.”

“‘One Tree Hill’ is not very good.”

Martin Scorsese has been making damn-fine films for the past four decades. The name alone should by now be synonymous with “quality cinema.” There aren’t enough words to properly honor a man whose career has been both a tribute and contribution to the art of the motion picture. The only negative that comes from a man with such a résumé is the assumption that every film he releases has to be “a classic.”

It’s a common critical response when a legendary director puts together a new project. Once someone has ascended to the level of “cinematic God,” where is there to go? Each subsequent film is compared to an entire body of work. It’s difficult to bring up a name like “Scorsese” and not spend a hefty chunk of the review comparing a single film against an entire body of work. But that’s always been the failing of most mainstream critics: lacking the ability to view a film as an individual piece rather than the latest entry on an ongoing résumé. Every film has to be grouped into a period or decade.

Shutter Island is a damn-fine film. The fourth consecutive team-up with leading man Leonardo DiCaprio. Personally, I’ve enjoyed the collaborations. The Aviator is a film I hold in high regard; The Departed is about as strong a crime film as a viewer will ever see. Shutter Island is something completely different—a strong psychological thriller. Strong choices. Strong performances. Strong character actors. This is not the stuff of subtlety, my friends. This is in-your-face filmmaking.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Marshall Edward Fuller, a fedora-wearing law man with a gun in one hand and a cigarette clenched between his teeth. He and his partner are brought to the incredibly creepy Shutter Island, which houses the craziest killers to walk to the face of the earth. This is where the untreatable fractured minds are sent. One of the prisoners has escaped, and everyone at the prison is doing a pretty poor job of covering up a vast and incomprehensible conspiracy. Edward knows something is terribly wrong.

His investigation brings some old demons to the surface. Edward’s own state of mental well-being is questionable. He cannot suppress the violent images of concentration camps he witnessed in the World War II. And his dead wife shows up every so often for some disturbing conversation.

There are no real twists in Shutter Island. Scorsese plays his hand within the first two reels. Everything is off-kilter; nothing feels right. Conversations are unnecessarily tense. Situations feel forced. The entire film is like a puzzle where the wrong pieces are forced together; however, this seems very much Scorcese’s intention.

Shutter Island plays out like a spool of yarn that is slowly woven into a garment. It’s obvious what’s going on when it’s finished, but it’s not known when looking at the pile of string. The “why” of it all is answered in the film’s final moments, when everything begins to make sense. A second viewing almost feels like an obligation.

Leonardo DiCaprio continues to impress me. I know a lot of people who don’t care for his particular brand of whimsy, but I think the guy has the goods. He plays Edward off balance and abrasive. He’s a man driven to madness in his pursuit of the truth—the lone voice of reason on an island filled with people intent on covering up the truth. It’s another fantastic performance for DiCaprio who is blessed with a gift of portraying damaged protagonists.

Michelle Williams is equally fascinating, once again showing a penchant for choosing exceptional material.

This is a big win for film fans—the kind of Scorsese movie I love: unpretentious, unrelenting, and infused with manic energy. I don’t know how many more films Marty has left in him, but I can guarantee I’ll be there every time.