Mardi Gras Gala on the Outer Banks

Posted on January 31, 2011

Outer Banks Children @ Play Museum

The Outer Banks “Children at Play” kids museum opened in August, and it’s been getting rave reviews.

Children at Play is located in Kitty Hawk, (beside Papa John’s pizza) at Milepost 4.5. The museum features interactive exhibits where children can learn about the bigger world around them through play! Kids and parents can learn about fishing, and measuring their catch or lighthouses and lifesaving…just some of the exciting opportunities awaiting families on the OBX!

Admission is $5, and their website is: www.childrenatplayobx.com

As a non-profit, one of the challenges behind the creation of such a great space for kids on the OBX is getting enough funding to keep the doors open. To help with fund raising, the great minds at Children at Play recently announced that the 1st Annual Mardi Gras Gala is set for Friday, March 4.

Be sure to bring your dancing shoes and Mardi Gras spirit.

Music
Dancing
Dinner
Open wine and beer bar
Complimentary babysitting services on site (with advanced reservation)
One entry to the VIP raffle

Tickets are $50 per person, or tables can be purchased for $600 each (12 seats per table) and the sponsor will receive a “Helping Hand” on the sponsor wall at the Children’s Museum.

The Gala will be from 7 until 11 PM, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk. Tickets are available at Children at Play, 3809 N. Croatan Highway Unit G, Kitty Hawk, NC. Cash, check and credit cards are accepted.

Children at Play, is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit. For more information call the museum at (252) 261-0290 or check out their website at: www.childrenatplayobx.com

Outer Banks Art Show Award Winners

Posted on January 31, 2011

2011 Frank Stick Art Show - Best in Show - Owen Perry Sullivan’s “Resurfaced Vessel”

The 33^rd annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show opened on Friday, and awards were handed out on the opening night.

There were 146 entries into the art show, and more than 250 people attended the opening night reception. The show will remain open for viewing through February 25^th at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery, 210 E. Driftwood St., Nags Head. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

And the winners are…

Best in Show: Owen Perry Sullivan’s “Resurfaced Vessel”
Excellence Awards
- Holly Nettles, “Prime Time,” acrylic
- Fay Davis Edwards, “Miss Mamie & the Birthday Nails,” watercolor
- Haley Sullivan, “Open Field Vessel,” mixed media metals, peridot, wood
- Tracy Bell, “75 Cents per 100 Pounds,” acrylic
Honorable Mention
- Glenn Eure, “Seven Faces,” collagraph
- Randy Hodges, “Groovy Octopus,” iron
- Carol A. Robinson, “Solitude by the Sea,” photography
Excellence in Fiber Arts
- Katherine Wassink, “Dunrovin,” fiber
People’s Choice Award
- Gigi Wescott, “Apparition,” acrylic

Outer Banks Coastal Studies Institute Takes Another Step Forward

Posted on January 31, 2011

Outer Banks - UNC Coastal Studies Institute

Last April we wrote a post about the UNC Coastal Studies Institute that is being planned for Roanoke Island. At the time, a conditional use permit was issued to begin building, but as with most projects of this scale, it’s never quite as easy as it seems.

The vision has been over six years in the making, and it is still in the planning phase, but an important step forward was taken at the end of last week.

On Friday afternoon, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce posted the following on their Facebook page:

“This afternoon the NC Attorney General’s office approved the UNC Coastal Studies Institute project contract, thus encumbering the remaining $22 million in state funds to construct the research building and marine support facilities at the Skyco Campus on Roanoke Island. This allows them to move forward to collect and open bids. The bid date is 8 February.”

This project is estimated to cost $30 million and will include a 56,800 square foot building, a 9700 square foot building, two dormitories, a boat storage building, boat slips and parking.

The OBX has a strong “green” presence, and the campus will be no exception; it will include environmentally friendly equipment and methods of operation. Current plans call for a staff of 60 and 120 students that will be living on campus.

An exciting addition to Dare County…assuming the process continues to move along.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 1.31.11 – Adios January. Surf Tomorrow? 60′s on Wednesday?! Stripers are Biting!

Posted on January 31, 2011

Outer Banks - 1.31.11 - Pretty Morning in KDH

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, January 31, 2011.

This video was shot at 8:45 AM, at “Sea Haven,” just north of the Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills.

Pretty start to the day. Suns out, but could be overcast throughout the day. On the warm side though. 40′s today, 50′s tomorrow, and should hit 60 degrees for Wednesday.

A relatively stiff NE wind is adding some chill to the air today, but the wind should switch to the west tomorrow, which could help clean up the swell in the area. If the wind switches, we could see chest high, clean surf most of the day tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.

We had a beautiful OBX weekend. Sunny with temps in the low 50′s and almost no wind. Perfect weekend for fishing, and there was a lot of fishing going on. I heard numerous reports of boats heading back to Oregon Inlet as early as 8 AM already with their limit of stripers, and there was a large mass of boats just off the beach in Kill Devil Hills hitting a huge school of rock.

Adios January.

Enjoy!

Y Partnership REALLY loves Vacation Rentals – 11 Reasons You May Too!

Posted on January 28, 2011

Outer Banks - Big Mama's

A couple weeks ago we mentioned an article by Y Partnership (global marketing communications agency specializing in the travel, leisure, and entertainment industries) that highlighted vacation rentals. And now they are back with a great list of reasons why 2011 will be a fantastic year for vacation rentals.

I usually like to comment on info I share and highlight the most interesting points, but this list is so good that I’m just going to leave it as is.

Here’s to a great 2011 for vacation rentals!

From Y Partnership’s FaceBook page…

As the world enters a new decade, new data shows that American travelers are readying to discover one of the fastest-growing trip topics for the New Year and beyond: vacation rental homes, condos and villas. Following are 11 reasons vacation rentals will be front-of-mind in the years to come:

1. BOOMING INTEREST: More than 25 million American households are interested in staying in a vacation home rental or condominium resort as an alternative to traditional lodging during the next two years, which represents nearly half of leisure traveler households across the U.S.

2. EXPONENTIAL GROWTH: According to recent research, 20 percent of leisure travelers have stayed in a vacation home rental as an alternative to a traditional lodging during the past two years, and 22 percent have stayed in a condominium resort.* This shows an increase compared to past years, according to similar studies with differing methodologies. For example, in 2009, 14 percent of leisure travelers had stayed in a vacation home or condominium that they owned or rented during the previous 12 months, which was up from 11 percent in 2008.

3. MORE OVERNIGHT TRIPS PLANNED IN 2011: Of those interested in vacation rental stays during the next two years, nearly two in 10 are planning to travel more in the year ahead compared to 2010. Almost seven in 10 plan to take the same amount of vacations, suggesting together that 83 percent of upcoming vacation rental travelers are optimistic about the number of trips they’ll be planning.

4. MORE BANG FOR THE TRAVEL BUCK: Americans will continue to seek out more value in exchange for what they pay through 2011, which is why vacation rentals are growing as an attractive option. Some three-bedroom rentals sleep up to eight people versus one or two, and include amenities like fully equipped kitchens, game rooms, private pools/hot tubs, in-home fireplaces, free Internet access and more.

5. MEETING DEMANDS FOR QUALITY TIME: As the Great Recession continues into its third year, 86 percent of travelers agree “these difficult times have helped me to focus on the things that matter most in my life,” which for many translates into a renewed focus on family and friends. Trips taken with friends, children, grandparents and extended family represent one of the only consistently rising types of travel. As this “togethering” trend continues, Americans are selecting vacation rentals for convenient multi-bedroom accommodations and a sense of comfort under one roof.

6. EASIER TO FIND, BOOK VACATION RENTALS ONLINE: For the millions of travelers who go online when planning travel, booking a vacation rental has evolved into a convenient and secure process, as many professional vacation rental companies and websites offer secure Internet reservations systems, as well as photos, video tours, amenities and guest reviews of individual homes. Guests can often save time with immediate online availability and confirmations. All of the companies listed at http://www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com/ subscribe to a Code of Ethics and Practices in the management and renting of vacation properties.

7. FAMILY REUNIONS TRENDING: Family reunions have seen huge growth in recent years, a trend that’s expected to continue in 2011. Approximately three in 10 travelers named it as a type of celebratory trip taken during the past year. As reunions grow in popularity, so go vacation rentals as a top choice for group lodging.

8. WORD OF MOUTH: The recommendations of friends and family top the list of Americans’ most trusted information sources,* and the word is out; nearly nine in 10 past vacation rental guests said they would recommend the lodging option to friends or relatives.

9. WEEKENDS MADE EASY: As the habits and preferences of travelers change, the vacation rental category has adapted, as well. With nearly three-quarters of travelers having taken weekend trips in the past year, guests seeking a two- or three-night getaway can often find rental companies with flexible, little to no minimum stay requirements – especially in the off-season, when booking last-minute or even in specific rental properties.

10. NEW GUEST SERVICES AND SPECIALS TO BE FOUND: From new wedding coordination offerings to new properties, exclusive attractions privileges, travel deals, added values and beyond, professional vacation rental managers across North America, the Caribbean and Central America are providing new ways for travelers to enjoy the vacation rental experience.

11. AVOIDING AIRLINE BAGGAGE FEES: With ever-changing restrictions and added airline costs for taking a vacation, travelers are considering ways to pack less and, ultimately, spend less. Professionally managed vacation rentals often come equipped with in-home washers and dryers, free laundry detergent and bath-and-body amenities. Having such perks under travelers’ own vacation rental roof can allow them to pack half as many items.

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 1.28.11 – Pretty Day. Fun Surf. Great Weekend Ahead.

Posted on January 28, 2011

Outer Banks - 1.28.11 - Pretty Day & Fun Surf in Kitty Hawk

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, January 28, 2011.

This video was shot in Kitty Hawk at “Luckie Tides” at 9:30 AM.

Beautiful day. Bright sun, blue skies, and a light west wind at about 10 MPH. The temps will be in the 50′s today, and the sun and warm temps will stay with us for the weekend.

The light west wind is keeping the surf real clean. We’ve had good surf the past couple days. Head high and clean on Wednesday, but the weather was rainy and overcast. Waist to chest yesterday. The swell should be dieing down, but today is bigger than I expected. Still fun waist high waves with some shoulder high sets coming through.

Great fishing still going on. A lot of reports of boats out of Oregon Inlet getting their limit of stripers. The past couple days have been slow because the boats couldn’t get out due to the fog, but they will be back at it today with the great weather. Unfortunately, still no reports of rock catches in the surf…but the year is still young.

I mentioned this on Wednesday, and I’ll probably keep mentioning it until July, but we have some fun fishing news getting attention. A group on FaceBook, Obx Fishing, has taken the initiative to start a movement to set two Guinness World records on the Outer Banks pertaining to fishing. 1. Most people surf fishing at one time and 2. largest fishing tournament. Guinness accepted their application yesterday, and the date is set for Sunday, July 3rd. We hope y’all can get involved…should be a lot of fun. Please keep an eye out for more info to come.

Enjoy!

Outer Banks Ready to Set a Guinness World Record?! Actually two OBX records?!

Posted on January 27, 2011

Guinness Book of World Records Logo

There is some interesting OBX fishing news gaining some attention. There’s a movement starting on FaceBook to try to set two Guinness World Records. One for the most people surf fishing at one time, and one for the largest fishing tournament.

You can find more information about the record attempts by searching “Obx fishing” on Facebook (or clicking that link). The Obx Fishing Facebook group has already been in contact with the Guinness Book of World Records, and an agreement to attempt the records is in the review process at Guinness. A snippet of the email from Guinness is below.

The plans are still being formalized, and additional feedback is still needed from Guinness, but the tentative plan is to attempt the records on July 4^th weekend.

The current record is 2,000 people surf fishing at one time and 796 participants in the largest fishing tournament. Both of these records seem very beatable on a busy Outer Banks weekend.

Here’s a snippet from the official Guinness Book of World Records email confirming the record attempts:

____________________________________________________________________

Agreement Regarding Record Attempt (‘Agreement’)

In relation to the record attempt (‘Record Attempt’) of: Largest fishing tournament & Most people surf fishing at one time.

This Agreement dated 27 January 2011

Between:

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS LTD (hereafter referred to as ‘GWR’/'us’/'we’), Company Number

00541295, of 3rd Floor, 184-192 Drummond Street, London, NW1 3HP UK and ‘you’ Obx Fishing, Outer Banks, North Carolina, United States

Dear Obx Fishing,

We are glad to inform you that your record application has been transferred to our internal system. You do not need to do anything at this stage. We will process your claim and to give you an answer in 4 weeks. At Guinness World Records, we take great care to evaluate every claim we receive. Before we accept or reject a new record proposal, we always carry out claim-specific research, which may require the expertise of external consultants

Once we have considered your record suggestion, we will contact you with our decision. In case of success, we will send to you the current world record, the guidelines you must follow and details of the evidence you must compile.

Thank you for contacting Guinness World Records.

Best regards
Records Management Team
Guinness World Records

___________________________________________________________________________

Kudos to Obx Fishing for organizing this event.

PS – Are you aware of the other Guinness World Record located on the Outer Banks?

The smallest waist on a living person resides on the Outer Banks!

Cathie Jung is the proud holder of the record. You can find more information about Cathie on her website (http://www.CathieJung.com/), and below is a great video about Cathie.

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Pretty at Hayman

Posted on January 27, 2011

Outer Banks - 1.27.11 - Pretty Day at Hayman. Surf's Up

Pretty day. Bright sun, blue skies. Temps in 40′s. Chest high surf. Waves will get smaller as the day goes on. Rock still biting. @ Hayman Beach Access

Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 1.26.11 – Good News/Bad News…

Posted on January 26, 2011

Outer Banks - 1.26.11 - Good News, Bad News at Avalon Pier

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Wednesday, January 26, 2011.

This video was shot at 8:30 at the Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, NC.

Good news/bad news scenario this morning. I usually like to hear the bad news first, so I’ll start there. It’s a rainy and foggy start to the day. A low pressure system is moving up the coast and send rain to the OBX. But the good news is that in addition to the rain and fog, the low pressure system is send warm weather with temps in the 50′s, swell in the head high range, and west winds.

All of that means that the surf could be great today and tomorrow. The wind is still light out of the north this morning, but it should switch to the west by early afternoon, 1 or 2 PM. The swell should pick up throughout the day, and we should see some clean, head high OBX surf this afternoon. The surf should continue tomorrow but get smaller throughout the day. The wind should stay out of the west into the weekend, but the surf will die down tomorrow, from chest high tomorrow morning to knee to waist by Friday.

As for fishing, we still have a lot of stripers in the area, but I’m not sure if the boats will get out today due to the heavy fog.

We also have some interesting news about OBX fishing. There is a movement starting on FaceBook to try to set the Guinness Book record for most surf fishing at one time. You can find more information by searching “Obx fishing” on Facebook. The current record is 2,000 people surf fishing at one time. This seems beatable on a busy Outer Banks weekend. They are still waiting for more info from Guinness, but the they are thinking July 4th weekend could be a great time to shoot for the record. Stay tuned for more info.

Enjoy!

Katy Caroline – Local Outer Banks Artist Brings Natural Ability & Hard Work to the Canvas…but More Importantly, She’s Super Nice!

Posted on January 26, 2011

Katy Caroline - Close Up Passionvine

We’ve mentioned Katy Caroline a couple times on this blog (here & here), and I’d like to congratulate Katy on her continued success. The Outer Banks Voice recently wrote a great article about Katy, and it highlights many of the reasons that Katy is gaining recognition as a great artist…on and off the OBX.

I’ll recap some of Katy’s history, but to start I’d like to mention an intangible that the Outer Banks Voice article doesn’t mention; Katy’s great personality.

As the article mentions, prior to diving into painting head first, Katy spent much of her time working at the Nags Head Animal Hospital. During the time Katy was working there, I was fortunate enough to trick one of Katy’s fellow employees into marrying me. So I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Katy through my wife since her Animal Hospital days, and I can unequivocally say that Katy’s success with painting has as much to do with her natural ability as it does with her exceptional personality.

Katy always has a smile on her face, and her upbeat energy is contagious and lets you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is happy to see you. This personality shows in her paintings through the bright colors and the happy scenes her brush strokes create. Her personality and the personality of her subject seem to come together in a soup of happiness that jumps off the canvas.

Katy Caroline - Putting the Steak on the Grill

Katy’s personality also shines through on the business side of painting. The business side of art can be somewhat draining for the artist, but Katy embraces it with the same enthusiasm she dedicates to her painting. The article mentions Katy’s “Sip and Dip” painting classes, and there’s no question that these classes are so popular not only due to Katy’s great instruction but also because people like to be around Katy. She keeps life simple and fun…just the way art should be.

As a side note, shhhhhh, don’t tell anyone just yet, but Katy is going to join our Club Seaside 2011 lineup of events. The details are still being ironed out, and I’ll leave the focus of this post on Katy, but please keep an eye out for our Club Seaside announcement coming soon.

Now on to some more about Katy’s background. I think Katy’s art speaks for itself, but she has a pretty cool story, so it’s worth taking a quick look in the “way back machine.”

Katy Caroline Gullett was born on June 18^th 1981, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She ended up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 1997, where she eventually graduated from high school in 1999.
After graduating, she went out west to Colorado to pursue snowboarding when, after her third winter there, she was diagnosed with Lyme’s Disease and was told to rest for two years.
So, back on the Outer Banks “resting,” she decided to get her associates degree at the local community college.
In an effort to satisfy her art requirements, she took a painting class. Her instructor quickly noticed her talent and began to encourage her to paint on a regular basis.
Along with this encouragement, she earned best in show at the art competition held by the school that semester.
It was in that moment, when she first saw that purple ribbon on her painting, she knew that being a painter could be an attainable dream.

Katy’s life has never been the same. Immediately following that purple ribbon she landed her first commissioned job, and she hasn’t looked back. Since then, she has done many commissioned works from murals, to trompe l’oeils, to illustrations. Last fall she finally got the opportunity to paint what she wants and has been painting to her heart’s content. She has said when she looks around she is like a kid in a candy store; taking in colors and textures, all in new perspectives. Her visual senses have been awakened to a new level that stimulates different thoughts and feelings.

Can you imagine discovering such a great skill in your 20’s…by accident?! Kind of gives us all hope. Maybe you are the next great painter….probably worth signing up for one of Katy’s “Sip and Dip” classes to find out!

Katy’s career is just taking off. And with her natural charm, plus her natural painting ability, the sky is the limit…oh yeah, not to mention her exceptional dedication to her craft.

Congrats Katy! We’re looking forward to seeing a big 2011 for you.