Are we losing beach music?

Thanks to the power of social media, some friends and I had a very nice time the other day reminiscing about beach music and the memories that those songs conjure up. Songs like "With This Ring" and "Carolina Girls" and " You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book" and so on. Beach music is arguably the one style of music that is most synonymous with the Carolinas. The Shag dance itself, some say, originated off the Carolina Beach boardwalk.

For some of the older folks in the discussion, the conversation took them back to times shaggin' in Myrtle Beach or Atlantic Beach. For me, it was more about thinking back to the songs we listened to while spending summer evenings in my grandparents' cottage on Topsail Island and then, later, enjoying concerts at various college events featuring General Johnson and the Chairmen of Board, the Embers and even Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts. (My wife and I even learned the Shag for our wedding reception.)

But the discussion also touched on something else: is beach music dying? As one person commented on Facebook, "My big thing is how much all this great stuff has faded into history. The new generation needs to be educated. How about we form a 'Beach Music Revival Society?' "

Thankfully, through conversations like this and through events like the North Hills Beach Music Concert schedule in Raleigh, beach music continues to live on. (The N.C. State University marching band even plays "Hey Baby" in-between the third and fourth quarter of football games, which results in a stadium singalong.) Even some of those same bands continue to tour and perform. But let's do our part to keep it alive. In fact, we've created a Spotify playlist that is open; feel free to add appropriate beach music songs.

In the meantime, enjoy these oldies and (definitely still) goodies.

N.C.'s best food tourism spots?

This may come off as snooty, and it's really not meant to, but since I live in Raleigh, I don't necessarily have to leave my city to enjoy great restaurants. The Capital City has come a long way over the past two decades or so in offering a veritable cornucopia of culinary delights. But that doesn't mean I don't look for those hot spots or "must-hit" spots around this great state. And there are plenty. Some are a short drive away, while others ... not so much.

In fact, a random conversation among coworkers a couple of weeks ago about favorite haunts around the state got me thinking: Just how far will you go for "food tourism?"


My grandparents, many moons ago, used to fly friends (in a small plane) from Clinton to Raleigh, just to have an evening at the Angus Barn. These days, I know a fair number of folks who can make a day or two out of heading to Kinston to see what Vivian Howard is cooking up at The Chef and the Farmer. People also sample the goods at Mother Earth Brewing as well. (Both of these are on my own personal "food tourism" bucket list.)


WRAL's Scott Mason, the Tar Heel Traveler, recently put out a map of some of the more popular restaurants in the state. Not surprisingly, many of these would qualify, in my mind, as food destinations: Britt's Donuts in Carolina Beach, the Roast Grill in Raleigh, Sherry's Bakery in Dunn (a personal favorite of mine).  We ARE in North Carolina, so BBQ places also made the cut (thank God!). And I know of people who have made the trek to Siler City just on the off-chance that they can enjoy a burger from Johnson's Drive-In before they run out of beef. Another place that I don't think made Scott's list but seems to be a sort of Mecca for some is the Beefmastor Inn (note the 'o') in Wilson County.

So a couple of questions .... what are some of your favorite food tourism sites in North Carolina? And how far are you willing to drive JUST to enjoy food? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Johnson's Drive-In image from Our State; Beefmastor image from greenolivemedia.blogspot.com

'Tar Heel Traveler' does the food tour

WRAL's Scott Mason may have the best gig in the state. He gets to travel all over North Carolina as part of his "Tar Heel Traveler" segments, taking him to interesting locales, meeting unique people and discovering the varieties of culture in this beautiful state.

Mason's most recent "Traveler" was a 25-minute-long exploration of some of Nawth Cackylacky's culinary hotspots. (Although, truth be told, very few of these places are probably recommended by heart doctors.)

Among the places noted in the special are Britt's Donuts in Carolina Beach, the Sunnyside Oyster Bar in Wilson and Flo's Kitchen -- home of the "Cathead Biscuits."

Nothing to fear along N.C. coast

From the Toronto Sun:

Cape Fear. The mere name conjures images of shipwrecks, churning seas and plundering pirates. Indeed, this rugged coastal region of the United States delivers all three, plus more -- an ideal playground for vacationing families.

Located about one hour north of the hustle and kitsch of Myrtle Beach, S.C., North Carolina's Cape Fear coast offers a quieter version of wide beaches and pounding Atlantic surf, paired with an eclectic history of sunken ships, smugglers and genteel southern charm.

Early settlers named the coast for the havoc it wreaked on approaching ships. Shifting sand shoals made it tricky for merchant vessels to navigate the Cape Fear River, which snakes inland from the Atlantic to Wilmington (once a major trading centre), striking fear in the hearts of captains and crews. Pirates in shallow-draft boats took advantage of the wrecks, plundering the ships and selling the pilfered goods in street markets.

One of Cape Fear's most feared pirates was the infamous Stede Bonnet, known as The Gentleman Pirate because of his vast collection of books aboard his pirate ship. Bonnet was hanged for his crimes in 1718, but not before escaping prison at least once dressed as a woman!

What will you be dropping (or raising) this New Year's?

New York has perhaps the most famous "dropping" on New Year's Eve when the Big Apple descends on, well, the Big Apple. But what other things get dropped across North Carolina on New Year's?

Here in Raleigh, we are quite proud of our giant acorn.

Mount Olive drops a pickle while Carolina Beach -- appropriately enough -- drops a beach ball.

They like to shoot in the air in Cherryville.

Charlotte will be trying something new this year. The Queen City's First Night event will climax with the raising -- yes, raising -- of a crown.

[T]he Queen's lighted crown will be hoisted 25 feet just before midnight Thursday to part the curtain on the new year [says the Charlotte Observer].

"We like the symbolism of hope's rising," said Moira Quinn, spokeswoman for Charlotte Center City Partners, the organization producing the festivities. "It's the rising of a new year, and shutting the door on a year that was tough on a lot of people."

So what about your city or town? How will you ring in the new year?

Remembering the Fort Fisher Hermit

I can remember a class trip to Fort Fisher/Kure Beach in eighth grade or so (that would've been, oh, 1988 or '89) when the adults on the trip were swapping tales about once spotting the Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert E. Harrill.

Harrill, according to Carolina Beach Today, lived in a bunker and lived off the land, eating plants and animals.

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher will be showing the documentary, "The Fort Fisher Hermit: The Life & Death of Robert E. Harrill," May 31 (3 p.m.) and June 13 (8 a.m.).

The movie "explores this unique individual through a series of interviews, photographs and vintage film footage.

“We are ecstatic over the amount of visual documentation that has been collected” said Scott Davis, one of the forces behind the movie. “Robert Harrill has to be the most photographed homeless person in history,” added Bryan Mahoney.

(Image of Harrill from Carolina Beach Today)

CB council agrees ... amusement rides would rock

Sorry for the lack of posts. It's been a slow week ... "been" being the operative word.

From the Star-News ...

Carnival rides are coming back to Carolina Beach.

Late Tuesday the town council unanimously approved a conditional-use permit allowing Megerle’s Magic and Hildebrand Rides to operate rides, food stands and games for four months starting in May.

The rides will be set up in empty lots on the south side of the town’s Boardwalk near the Courtyard Marriott hotel. ...

Councilman Alan Gilbert on Wednesday said he was concerned about the carnival draining food and amusement business away from the town’s “brick and mortar” retailers in and around the Boardwalk.

“But my hope is that they will draw so many more people down there that it will be a win-win for everyone,” he said.

Pleasure Island has been without amusement rides since Jubilee Park closed down in 2004.

Among the proposed rides is a 60-feet-tall ferris wheel, overlooking the Atlantic. Nice.

Carnival in Carolina Beach

There have been a couple of reports about new amusement park-like rides coming to Carolina Beach's boardwalk this summer.

CarolinaBeachToday posted about this, and just today so did the Star-News.

"Carolina Beach visitors may be able to get a stunning view of the ocean from atop a 60-foot Ferris wheel as soon as next month," says the Star-News.

"Local business owners and a Florida-based amusement park operator are joining forces to bring carnival rides and food to the Boardwalk this summer, as part of a rejuvenation effort that's kicked into high gear in the past year.

"A conditional use permit is needed for five parcels along Cape Fear Boulevard to accommodate a 'family-oriented carnival consisting of a series of large mechanical rides, kids' rides, funhouses and food stands,' states the permit application to be reviewed by the planning board on Thursday go before the town council on Tuesday.

"In his application, Robby Megerle of Megerle's Magic and Hildebrand Rides of Gibsonton, Fla., wrote the proposal is made 'with a desire to bring back the Carolina Beach of yesteryear.'

"If all goes well, rides could be up and running as early as May 6, said Brett Keeler, co-owner of Black Horn Bar and Kitchen on the Boardwalk. ..."

(Image from CarolinaBeachToday)

Quick hits: Character actor Hingle dies at the coast and state parks now take online reservations

Actor Pat Hingle dies at 84
"Actor Pat Hingle died Saturday night after a battle with blood cancer. He was 84," according to the Wilmington Star-News.

"The veteran of stage, television and film acting passed away at 10:45 p.m. Saturday at his Carolina Beach home, according to family spokesperson Lynn Heritage. He suffered from myelodysplasia, with which he was diagnosed in November 2006. He was survived by his wife, Julia, two sisters, five children and 11 grandchildren.

"Born Martin Patterson Hingle in Miami on July 19, 1924, Hingle had a long career that took him around the country until he settled in the Wilmington area in 1986 after filming the big-screen thriller 'Maximum Overdrive.' More recently, while living in Carolina Beach, Hingle continued to work in commercial productions, including 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,' which filmed in Charlotte, as well as local independent productions 'The List' and 'Undoing Time.' He also appeared on Wilmington stages in plays such as 'Tuesdays With Morrie' and 'Our Town.'

"When most people think of Hingle, any number of iconic images emerge. He is known as much for his role as a cantankerous judge opposite Clint Eastwood in 'Hang ‘em High' (1968) as he is for the role as Sally Field’s father in 'Norma Rae' (1979). Younger generations know him better as Commissioner Gordon from the late ’80s and early ’90s Batman movies. ..."


State parks to take reservations online
"Planning a camping trip to a state park during a popular time of the year will become less of a gamble for North Carolina residents beginning in April," says the AP.

"The Winston-Salem Journal reports that a reservations system will replace the state's first-come, first-served system of assigning campsites, cabins and shelters at its 37 parks. The system will go online on April 22.

"Most of the state's 3,000 campsites will be assigned through the new reservations system. However, a few sites at some parks will be reserved for walk-in registration. ..."