Lured by the Beach

Wow, it’s October 2nd on the Carolina coast, the air temperature is 72 degrees, the water temperature is 75 and it’s absolutely perfect outside–hard to believe it’s fall already!  Take a look at the photo below of current conditions at Wrightsville Beach.  The ocean’s calm as can be today with little to no wave action whatsoever but look at that water color!  Crystal clear turquoise!  Amazing!

(And obviously, the same can be said for Carolina Beach’s weather/water…that’s it there in the distance)

The ocean breathes salty at Wrightsville Beach

So I’m getting ready to go to my 4th beach wedding of the year…the previous 3 have all been in churches down here on at the beach but this one’s officially on the sand.  This definitely going to be a welcome change from putting on the old dark suit and getting out in the hot sun–a main reason I dread a lot of weddings.  This means wedding go-ers can tone it down a bit and dress a lot more casually.  I actually get to put on those white linen pants I’m too embarrassed to wear at any other time of the year and have them look appropriate and not like I’m trying too hard.  You gotta love being comfy and cool when going through the buffet line overlooking the Atlantic!

You know, if it were up to me linen pants, madras shirts and flops would be completely appropriate anywhere and everywhere all year round.

Thank goodness for Wilmington’s Downtown Business Alliance (DBA)!  These guys are on the ball!  Not only have they extended the wildly popular Downtown Sundown concert series held on the banks of the Cape Fear river downtown, but they’re also bringing other music events downtown as well!  Tomorrow in Riverfront Park (the same location as the Downtown Sundown concerts), there will be a Roots and Reggae all day festival.  The event runs from 3-11pm so, if you can’t make it early or can’t make it late, you’ll still have a chance to make it at some point.  Eventhough this one isn’t free (I believe it’s $12 pre-event and $15 at the gate), it’s sure to bring out lots of music-lovers.

I, for one, can’t wait.  Anything that gives me an opportunity to get outside in the great weather and listen to some cool reggae is tops in my book.  I know downtown’s businesses agree with me!

The past few years, Wilmington’s Downtown Business Alliance has organized a Friday evening concert series on the bank of the Cape Fear River on Water Street.  The series has grown from a few loosely organized events that drew passersby in the hundreds to full outdoor concerts which now draw in the thousands.  (I’ve been going to these since they started and they sure are a lot of fun and I look forward to them the entire year.  If you’ve not been, the concert stage is set up in front of the courthouse on Water Street between Market and Princess.)

The one problem I ever had with these events is that they didn’t last into the cooler fall months and ended during the searing heat of balmy August.  Well, mine (and I’m sure others’) wishes have been granted.  The DBA has announced that the concert series will now run through the end of October!  You can check out the remaining band lineups below. Past lineups have included a U2 cover band, a Rolling Stones cover band, Zoso (Led Zeppelin cover), Who’s Bad (Michael Jackson tribute) and The Breakfast Club,

I’m sad to say this past Friday’s concert which was to feature Appetite for Destruction, the world’s greatest Guns ‘N Roses cover band, had to be cancelled due to a certain uninvited guest (tropical storm Hanna).  It remains uncertain if this show will be made up or not.

Don’t forget!  Admission is FREE!

September 12th
The Big Payback
James Brown Tribute
www.myspace.com/thebigpaybackband

September 19th
Lil’ Brian & The Zydeco Travelers
Zydeco, Funk, Roots
www.myspace.com/lilbriandthezydecotravelers
Opening act: Rob Beauchene

September 26th
The Groove Train
70’s, Motown, Oldies
www.thegroovetrain.com
Opening act: The Fustics

October 10th
Hope Massive
www.myspace.com/hopemassive
Opening act: Jesse Stockton

October 17th
Key West
Jimmy Buffett tribute
www.keywestband.com

October 24th
Loose Lucy’s Presents: L Shaped Lot & The Barnraisers
Bluegrass, Americana
www.myspace.com/lshapedlot
www.myspace.com/barnraisers
Opening act: Madonna Nash

October 31st
Slice of Life and Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity70’s Halloween Party with Groove Spot
70’s disco
www.groovespot.com

Living on the coast, one undoubtedly will have to deal with tropical weather sooner or later.  Sometimes I think a stigma is attached to this area due to that fact which perhaps is a bit unfair.  People forget that no matter where you are, you’re going to deal with your own forms of natural disaster, be them floods in the Midwest, tornados in Kansas, ice storms in New England, wildfires in California or blizzards in Colorado.  North Carolina’s Russian Roulette just happens to be played with tropical storms and hurricanes.

Now, obviously these things are no laughing matter and should never ever be taken lightly but having been through countless numbers of these monsters, locals come to take them in stride, even to the point or reveling in their immediate approach.  Case in point, the offshore swells that are accompanying tropical storm (soon to be cat 1) Hanna have tons of people out in the water.  Right now, East Coast surfing is the best it’s been all year (head high as I type this) and only projects to get better over the next couple days.  I’ve even checked a couple surf reports that suggest it might get to double even triple-overhead sets.  Holy where’s my surfboard?!  Imagine 15 to 20-foot waves!  Obviously, once the sets are in this range, no one in their right mind would be out in the water as the storm would be imminent but up to that point the surfing would be spectacular for surfers accustomed to being happy with chest-high waves.

So I say, once all preliminary safety precautions are made and the hatches are battened down, grab your board and have a little fun!  Waves like this don’t happen that often! (Just be sure you’re smart about it, aka don’t be stupid/know your limits,  and obey all local authorities, including lifeguards, regarding the changing weather conditions!)

As Hanna approaches, Wrightsville Beach, NC surfers couldn't be happier

Still haven’t been to the new Hard Rock theme park in Myrtle Beach?  Don’t worry, it appears you still have time.  Looking at the posted schedule at www.hardrockpark.com, the park will be open on set days through the first weekend of November and then perhaps on a to-be-determined basis from then through December.  I’m definitely a little disappointed in myself for not having been yet–I guess I’m still a little depressed that I didn’t get word the park’s amphitheater was being christened by an Eagles concert upon opening several months ago.   Even so, I’m such a rollercoaster junkie that I should’ve been down there to check out the Led Zeppelin or Eagles-themed coasters by now, especially since it’s a hop, skip and jump down to the new park as opposed to the 3.5-hour drive to make it to Carowinds outside of Charlotte for decent rides.

C’mon!  Let’s all go eat as many hotdogs and funnel cakes as we can and then see what a ride called “Life in the Fast Lane” is all about!

I saw a one-page article in Details magazine awhile back regarding the now attainable art of sailing. Once thought of as a leisure time activity for the well-off, sailing’s now come within reach of those with only a modicum of disposable cash. For the price of a mid-size car, not only can you get a pretty sweet starter sailboat, but you’ll get a starter sailboat you can be proud of (and can still keep trailered). I wasn’t quite satisfied with the thumbnail size photos of the following 4 sailboat models within the article, so I decided to go out on the ‘net and get some larger versions to get a better view (see below). So for those of us boating purists, who think having a 20-foot Sea Ray is like having a Jeep with an automatic, here are a few models to get you started.

Catalina 22 Mark II	The Catalina 22 Mark II’s wide hull makes for smoother overnight on-the-water stays, perfect for those of us who don’t have our sea legs (or sea stomachs rather) fully adapted to life on the ocean blue. Length: 21′6″ Base: $18,029 Coolness Factor (based on 1 to 5 Maltese Falcons, 5 being the coolest. ): 2 Maltese Falcons
Precision Boatworks most popular model, the Precision 23 comes with standard features only available as options on most other boats in the same class. With cabin room for 4 adults, weekend island getaways are no longer a thing of pipe dreams! Length: 23′5″ Base: $28,295 Coolness Factor: 3 Maltese Falcons	Precision 23
Hunter 25	Now, for a little bit more than the Precision, the Hunter 25 gives you more than a foot of length and such a shallow draft (the depth of water it draws) that it’s a cinch to get it in and out of places most other 20ft+ boats can’t go. Couple that with its low-maintenance (it’s estimated that owning a boat will cost you essentially 10% of the boat’s cost each year in maintenance and upkeep) and you’ve got yourself a great first-time buy. Length: 24′6″ Base: $30,000 Coolness Factor: 3 Maltese Falcons
Finally, while the Jeanneau Sun 2500 is definitely a bit pricier than the other models, what it loses in price it makes up in coolness factor. This French-designed boat is the same length as the Hunter 25 and is foreign to most US waters. You’ll be the talk of the marina in this European-styled yacht with it’s wood grain cabin, available inboard or outboard diesel engine and separate head (restroom) compartment. Length: 24′6″ Base: $57,000 Coolness Factor: 4.2 Maltese Falcons	Jeanneau Sun 2500

Ok, so…now that you’ve picked out your boat of choice, what’s next? It sure doesn’t do much good to have a nice, snazzy new sailboat and no one to skipper it. Have no fear! There are plenty of sailing schools up and down both coasts that’ll have you off to Bermuda (and comfortable doing so) in as little as a week!

II Dolphins Sailing
Wrightsville Beach, NC
www.iidolphins.com
(910) 619-1646

Priority Sailing
Southport, NC
www.prioritysailing.com
(910)454-4479

Charleston Sailing School
Charleston, NC
www.charlestonsailingschool.com
(843) 364-4123

Annapolis Sailing School
Annapolis, MD
www.annapolissailing.com
(800) 638-9192

SailTime Virginia Beach
Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA
www.sailtime.com
(757) 480-7245

And once you’ve got your new boat and logged a few hours on it out in the open ocean, be sure to come back here and drop me a line. I’ll be more than happy to accompany you on your next offshore ocean regatta! I’ll even bring the margaritas!

Finally! It looks like the remnants of the tropical storm have fully pushed through.

Yes!  It’s finally that time of year.  Easily one of the most anticipated yearly events for Wilmingtonians (at least, those that like great beer like myself! ;-)), the 2008 Lighthouse International Beer Festival is just around the corner.  Sponsored by Lighthouse Beer & Wine and featuring countless breweries, tickets can be purchased from Lighthouse’s web site.