Moonlight Ghost Tour of
The Whalehead Club

Saturday December 5th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

Docent led tour of the Whalehead Club at
Currituck Heritage Park , Corolla, NC
Just past Milepost 11 on Rt. 12 North

Admission $14 per person, age 8 & under $7

Reservations Required: Call 252-453-9040 ext. 2

Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight as part of the tour is on the grounds.

Join Kitty Hawk Kites on Saturday, November 28th, 2009 to kick off the holiday season in the Outer Banks. Visit the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head (mp 12.5) around sunset for free hot apple cider and cookies. As the sun sets behind Jockey’s Ridge, Kitty Hawk Kites will illuminate the night sky with large kites, decorated in Christmas lights. Holiday music will play and the kites will soar through the air. This is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. For more information, call 1-877-FLY-THIS or email events@kittyhawk.com.

2009 Festival of Trees Schedule

Where: The Pearl Restaurant at the Sea Ranch Hotel, Kill Devil Hills
When: Dec. 3 – Dec. 6

• Thursday, December 3, Noon-9 p.m.

Trees and gifts available to view, Holiday Bazaar with Thrift Shop finds; musical performances by local groups all day.

Portraits with Santa (courtesy of East Carolina Bank) from 6:30-8 p.m.

Suggested donations: canned goods, household supplies or pet food for local food pantries and shelters. 

• Friday, December 4, Noon-9 p.m.

Trees and gifts available to view; Holiday Bazaar with Thrift shop finds; musical performances by local groups all day.

Outer Banks Extravaganza: New! A donated gift or service from local businesses will be on sale at bargain prices. Proceeds to benefit Outer Banks Hotline’s crisis intervention programs. A great opportunity to shop for holiday bargains and support Hotline at the same time. “Everything must go!” countdown begins at 7 p.m.

Suggested donations: canned goods, household supplies or pet food for local food pantries and shelters. 

• Saturday, December 5, Noon-2 p.m.

Trees and gifts available to view, Holiday Bazaar with Thrift shop finds for sale from noon-2 p.m.

Holiday Social, a ticketed dressy event, begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 each; heavy hors d’oeuvres; mellow jazz; cash bar.

Benefit Auction: sale of donated decorated Trees and Gifts, 8 p.m. until…; George Moore, Guest Auctioneer, Heritage Auction Company.

Suggested donations: canned goods, household supplies or pet food for local food pantries and shelters. 

• Sunday, December 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Brunch with Santa! Tickets on sale through The Pearl Restaurant.

Trees and items from last night’s auction will be on display; Santa and photos courtesy of East Carolina Bank.

The Festival is brought to the OBX by Hotline.  Hotline is dedicated to providing information and referrals, crisis intervention, temporary shelter, advocacy and prevention education services to residents of and visitors to the Northern Outer Banks. Their Mission is to promote a safe and compassionate community.

Congratulations to the 2009 Outer Banks Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K, Fun Run & 5K runners!

There were over 6500 participants this weekend…the biggest turnout yet!

It was a classic fall day on the Outer Banks with sunny skies, warm weather, and a light westerly breeze.  Possibly a bit warm for the runners, but not too bad, and the enthusiastic spectators definitely enjoyed the race and the weather.

Results: (Full race results)

Top Male Finisher
Ryan Woods    2:32:37.94

Top Female Finisher
Kelley Taylor    2:55:40.21

Top Master Male Finisher
Bill Shires         2:43:44.03

Top Master Female Finisher
Sarah Smith     3:10:31.97

Top Wheelchair Finisher
Angela Dykes   2:19:26

Here’s a great list posted by one of the runners after completing the marathon.

Good stuff about the OBX Marathon:

• Incredibly, most (meaning more than half) of the course is shaded, either in neighborhoods or on wooded trails or roads.
• There WERE spectators! And they were enthusiastic. I taught a few little kids how to high-five, or I could hear their parents teaching them after I had swished by with my hand out.
• There are some small, rolling hills on a road that goes through the woods, and there is a tall bridge, but otherwise it’s really quite flat.
• There is a REAL expo. Not a huge one, and some of the booths were selling real estate, but running gear was plentiful too.
• They started the race in corrals, honor system, two minutes apart, which worked fine. I like that, even with just 1800 runners. My corral started 10 minutes after the first one, but it was the right place for me.
• Transportation is an issue in point-to-point marathons, and they did it well. We parked at the finish and took a bus to the start, but you could do it the other way too.
• They had put out “Burma Shave” signs along the way, telling facts about the area (highest sand dune in the USA, first flight, whatever, even some bad jokes. If you don’t know what a Burma Shave sign is, your youth may be a minor hindrance in reading this blog
• Example series of signs:
  • First successful flight
  • in motor driven heavier
  • than air machines by
  • Orville and Wilbur Wright
  • December 17, 1903
  • Kill Devil hills, just south of Kitty Hawk
• There is a lot of history here, including the first powered flight and Roanoke Island. It might be worth an extra day (or several) just enjoying the Outer Banks. The beaches are delicious – be sure to get a motel with access.
• The race goes right through the Wright Brothers Memorial.
• And it goes along the waterfront for some distance (unlike Kiawah Island, you can actually SEE the water!).
• There is a swashbuckling pirate theme to the whole marathon (arrrrgh!).
• Nice booty bag (expo bag), nice long-sleeve tech shirt.
• People were very nice to my sweeties, even though they were near the end of the race.

Big City Wine Warehouse
Native Vine Tasting Room
252-491-5311

This weekend will be the 4th Annual Holiday Tasting Fest.  This event has moved to the Point Harbor location this year.  Come by between 12-5 on Saturday or Sunday and taste approximately 15 wines that will match up well with the upcoming Holiday meals and festivities……all for ONLY $10!!  Please call for reservations to 252-491-5311 or just come on by.  On Friday night there will also be a reserve tasting at 6:30 pm for $15. 

On Friday, November 20th, Craig Baker will be back to lead a tasting of  Holiday wines as well.

On Friday, November 27th, there will be a reserve tasting of wines from the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2009!!

Now taking reservations for tastings at the end of December, which are looking like this:

Sat. December 26th 5pm Grand Reserve Tasting $35

Tues. December 29th 6:30 pm Grand Reserve Tasting $35

New Year’s Eve 6pm Ultimate Grand Reserve Tasting w/ Heavy Hors d’ouerves $60 pp

New Year’s Eve 8:30pm Super-Ultimate Grand Reserve Tasting w/ Heavy Hors d’ouerves $75 pp

The Know Your Park citizen science series for the North Carolina coast begins its third season with a discussion of Raleigh After Roanoke.

The National Park Service Outer Banks Group sponsors the series, which begins the new season Monday at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Visitor Center near Manteo. The president of the board of directors of the First Colony Foundation, Phil Evans, will speak.

Phil Evans’ presentation will compare maps to show Roanoke Island’s geography and terrain have changed. In addition, foundation archaeologists will update the audience on upcoming field excavations.

The foundation is conducting research with the goal of locating habitation areas of England’s first and second New World settlements sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1580s.

The Outer Banks tennis Association will be hosting the 2009 Outer Banks Pro/Am Invitational Doubles Tournament October 31 – November 1.

The Tournament will be hosted by Kilmarlic Health & Racquet Club.  16 tennis professionals will be traveling from different locations all over the East Eoast to compete for the $2600 prize money. 

No charge for spectators . If spectators wish to share in the appetizers and beverages, there will be a $15 charge. 

There will be a $60 charge for amateur participants. 

Light appetizers and beverages will be served.

Friday
6 pm-Pro/Am tournament

Saturday
9 am-round one matches
10:30 am round two matches
Noon-round three matches
1:30 pm round four matches
3 pm round five matches
4:30 pm-final round for the day

Sunday
10 am- Finals and presentation of the prize money

Outer Banks Harley Davidson has some great activities coming up in the next few weeks…

October 31, 2009
Halloween- Bayside Harley-Davidson
Pumpkin Carving, Parade of Costumed Bikes, Employee Costume Contest (YOU pick the winner!) Store-wide Savings, Bikers Brew & Treats

October 31, 2009
Salty Paws Howl-o-ween Outer Banks H-D
to Benefit Coastal Humane Society. Pet Costume Contest, Parade of Pets, Door Prizes. Goodies for all ages with 2 or 4 legs. $5.00 Entry or $10 for the entire Family. 2:00pm-4:00pm

November 7, 2009
Sweets for Kindness Food Drive Bayside H-D

November 7, 2009
Vertigo Tattoo Toy Run Registration at Outer Banks H-D

November 14, 2009
Outer Banks H-D GRAND RE-Opening at Harbinger NC

November 14, 2009
Outer Banks H-D Sgt Mac Memorial Foundation Wreath Ride
Starting at Currituck Welcome Center in Moyock NC 9am-10:30am $15
Live Music, Food, 50/50, Bake Sale, Vendors, Storewide Sales, Ride Pin

November 15, 2009
Blue Knights International TOY RUN-Registration at Bayside Harley-Davidson 9:30am $10- Run Pins to first 500 riders.

December 5, 2009
Sherriff Susan’s Toy for Tots Run-For more Information call Outer Banks H-D

December 18, 2009
Customer Appreciation Christmas Party at Bayside Harley-Davidson

All of the Outer Banks is invited to attend the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction.  At this annual fund-raising event, the Outer Bank’s leading chefs assemble their finest offerings in an array designed to satisfy the most demanding palate, all for the benefit of mothers and babies here.

The Signature Chefs Auction pays tribute to the culinary excellence of chefs and caterers in the Outer Banks who will present their signature dishes. Basnight’s, Black Pelican, Coastal Provisions, Lucky 12, North Bank Restaurant, The Sanderling, Marsha’s Great Cakes, Ramada Plaza/Hilton, Ortegaz, The Dunes, and Ocean Boulevard are the featured chefs at this year’s event.

In addition to a fabulous meal, guests will enjoy a silent auction and a live auction.  Participating Chefs compete for prizes.  Last year’s winners were: Best Dish – Basnight’s Lone Cedar, Dish of Outer Banks – Basnight’s Lone Cedar, Most Outstanding Presentation – Life Saving Station, Best Dessert – Lifesaving Station, and Best Decorated Booth /Most Creative Theme– Good Life Gourmet.

The Signature Chefs Auction is being held at The Ramada Plaza Resort and Conference Center in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina on November 15, 2009 at 5:30pm. Proceeds from Signature Chefs Auction will benefit the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign to help reduce the rate of premature birth.           

Tickets can be purchased on the Outer Banks at all RBC Centura, and Brew Thru Outer Banks locations as well as by calling the March of Dimes at 757-361-0000. Ticket cost is $45 per person.