Brunswick Co.: Some very fine eats

The family headed down to the Sunset Beach area for a conference last week. And while I won't go into the details on the horrendous experience at the resort at which we stayed, I do want to sing the praises of the culinary experiences we had.

Our first stop was dinner at the Sugar Shack in Ocean Isle Beach. Man, oh man, this may be one of the best meals we've ever had. We started with crab fritters (with a fantastic lime sauce) and then split a full rack of ribs. We were a bit suspicious when there was no barbecue sauce with the ribs, but our concern was quickly put to rest. These were perhaps the best ribs we've ever eaten. If you attempt to go to the Sugar Shack, be sure to make reservations.

The next night we hit the Giggling Mackerel, also in OIB. Admittedly, it would be hard for any place to follow the Sugar Shack, but the Giggling Mackerel held its own. The food is not as adventurous, but the service was fantastic, the food was brought out quickly (and when you have a 3-year-old and a 19-month-old, you don't want to dilly-dally), and there's plenty of stuff to do before you're seated. The restaurant is located in a fishing center, complete with a seafood market and a very neat nautical-themed store.

Our third night there was spent at Ella's in Calabash. Some may poo-poo Calabash-style seafood for just being fried, but I'm not complaining. Ella's is one of several Calabash institutions, and the food was fantastic.

Oh, and the best part about all these places? They are VERY reasonably priced -- especially for coastal restaurants. For instance, at Ella's, I got the deluxe fried platter -- with shrimp, crab, flounder, oyster and scallops; fries and coleslaw -- for just $15.

(Sugar Shack image from Myspace; Giggling Mackerel photo courtesy of its homepage)

To each his own, I guess

From the Myrtle Beach Sun News ...

A nudist resort in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., 30 miles north of Myrtle Beach, is flinging open its gates and welcoming everyone to be part of a world record for the largest simultaneous skinny dip.

Whispering Pines resort near Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., is ready for the clothed to come in and undress for the dip on July 11.

The American Association for Nude Recreation is coordinating the event across the country at legally sanctioned nude beaches and resorts. The Guinness World Records Association is adding a category for the largest simultaneous skinny dip so any number of participants will set the record. As the pink-hatted woman turned to adjust herself in a lounge chair, she asked that her name or hometown not be used.

The dip begins at 3 p.m., but Gloria Waryas, the resort's secretary and liaison to the American Association for Nude Recreation, said the resort will open to the public at 2 p.m. so people can get into the pool and pond to be ready for the 3 p.m. start time.

The modest can get in the water wearing their bathing suits, kneel down to undress, then hold the suits over their heads to qualify as authentic skinny dippers without ever exposing themselves.

Everyone must be in their birthday suits to be counted for the official Guinness record, but "They just have to hold up a suit to show they are nude," Waryas said. "At one time or other in people's lives, most people have skinny dipped. We're just saying come on out and skinny dip for the world record." ...

The resort has been operating since the mid-1970s off a dead-end dirt road west of U.S. 17 in Brunswick County. The scheduled dip marks the first time the resort will roll out the welcome mat for an event like this. The 33-acre resort has its pool and pond, plus a horseshoe pit, volleyball court, and a clubhouse for billiards and relaxing.

It even offers nude counseling when needed. ...