Beach Bites
BY Jessica Haywood Lindsey Johnson and Lia Kearner
Bowling for hunger
Local artisans and restaurants come together for Empty Bowls 2008
Want to play your part fighting hunger simply by eating? Now you can. On Friday March 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church local potters will provide ceramic bowls and some of your favorite restaurants will supply the soup and bread at a charitable luncheon that will raise money to help fight hunger in Wilmington. Fifteen dollars is all it will take to fill your bowl and help the Good Shepherd Center and Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard local nonprofit organizations feed the hungry and house the homeless. Suesan Sullivan director of resource development for the Good Shepherd Center says “You get in line to get the soup so it sort of reflects the experience of standing in line at a soup kitchen.” In addition to aiding the cause you get to keep your uniquely crafted bowl to serve as a reminder that there are among us the hungry who need food and homeless who need shelter. Tickets are on sale at the following locations: Artisan Market & Café Blue Moon Gift Shop Eddie Romanelli’s Good Shepherd Center Grace United Methodist Church Henry’s Katy’s Great Eats New Elements Gallery Port Land Grille Temptations and The Pilot House. For more information contact Suesan Sullivan at (910) 763-4424 ext. 113. — Jessica Haywood
Cut-A-Thon
Proceeds go to the Child Development Center
Is your hair feeling a bit shaggy? Get those split ends trimmed at Cut-A-Thon at Brush Salon on Oleander Dr. on March 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and support a great cause at the same time! All Cut-A-Thon proceeds go to the Child Development Center a nonprofit agency that has been helping children fight a variety of disorders since 1957. In its first year the Cut-A-Thon has already raised $12 000 in donations — and the event hasn’t even happened yet (yes that’s right even if you’re bald you can still make a donation and help the Child Development Center). “All the stylists here wanted to do something to help this wonderful cause ” says Krissy Horrell a receptionist at Brush Salon. “Food raffles and prizes at the salon will make this a fun fundraiser to remember.” To schedule your appointment for the Cut-A-Thon call (910) 392-2220. — Jessica Haywood
Embrace your genes
The Great Jeans Giveaway benefiting the Domestic Violence Shelter
Here’s some not-so-good news: At least 11 million people in the United States alone suffer from devastating eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. From February 24 through March 1 the 21st annual National Eating Disorders Awareness Week people all over the country will take part in the “Embrace Your Genes” event. This important event encourages people to forget about unattainable beauty standards and to instead be comfortable in their own skin. Unbelievably 40-50 percent of Americans are dieting at any given time and sadly 40 percent of girls in the first through third grades want to be skinnier. To tie into the “Embrace Your Genes” theme Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach will host the “Great Jeans Giveaway” from February 23 through March 7. All of us will be asked to donate our blue jeans — that got a little too snug over the holidays — at locations like Wilsons Restaurant Surf City Surf Shop Jennifer’s Oliver TrendyS and La Bella Forma. Nicole Hinson local coordinator for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week says “Not only does [the Great Jeans Giveaway] promote positive body image but it’s an opportunity to help the Domestic Violence Shelter of Wilmington (Vintage Values the Domestic Violence Centers’ thrift stores will be selling the donated jeans).” For more information contact Nicole Hinson at (910) 231-0110. — Jessica Haywood
Get fresh
Herb and Garden Fair
Are your gardening skills as rusty as last year’s tools? Join vendors and garden enthusiasts for a weekend of locally grown produce handmade trinkets and plenty of fun at Poplar Grove Plantation on Saturday March 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday March 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If a little sprucing is what your garden or landscape needs everything from perennials and annuals to garden art and homemade furniture will be available to make getting started in your garden as easy and enjoyable as possible. Educational classes will also be offered in cooking gardening and nature arts. Cooking classes will be taught by local expert Susan Boyles chef and owner of The Seasoned Gourmet. Saturday’s class “Cooking with Herbs ” and Sunday’s class “Exotic Edibles from the Garden ” promise to be memorable experiences for all ages. Participants will experience the fun of cooking straight from the backyard and come away with plenty of recipes and a full stomach! Visiting the Herb and Garden Fair is coming “straight to the source ” says BJ Ryan Cultural Arts and Event Director at Poplar Grove. “Members of the community can come and connect with local experts; buy plants and supplies then know who to go back to.” All proceeds from class fees help support the preservation of Poplar Grove a nonprofit organization devoted to education and service to the community and surrounding areas. Admission to the plant and garden sale is free. Cooking classes require a $5 fee per class. Vendors can apply online until February 28. For more information visit www.poplargrove.com. — Lia Kearner
Meow
Calling all cat lovers!
The third annual Beach Mewsic All Breed Cat Show will take place in downtown Wilmington on Saturday March 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Coastal Paws Cat Club the show will be held in the Schwartz Center at Cape Fear Community College and will feature more than 200 furry friends from across the country. Cats will be judged according to aesthetic appeal with awards given for Best in Breed Best in Division and Best in Color. Judged by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) breeders compete to win the prestigious “Best in Show.”
“Cat shows are costly but satisfying because you know you have the best cat out there ” says Samantha Werner of Coastal Paws Cat Club. “Showing cats has to be a passion. I compare it to beauty pageants.” Not only will there be cats galore but all the kitty gear you can get your paws on. From clothes to photography and everything in between the Beach Mewsic All Breed Cat Show will surely be the purrrrfect way to spend a Saturday! Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors and children. For more information call the Coastal Paws Cat Club at (910) 422-3510 or (910) 452-0961. Or visit www.coastalpaws.com for more information. — Lindsey Johnson
Make a positive difference in the world
UNCW’s Leadership Lecture series hosts Stephen Lewis
A not-so-fun fact: According to New Hanover Regional Medical Center 190 new cases of HIV/AIDS emerged in the surrounding seven-county area in the last two years. But there is hope. In its 2007 Health Assessment the New Hanover County Health Department called for an increase in education for prevention. Cue Stephen Lewis. The Canadian politician and United Nations Ambassador will visit Kenan Auditorium on March 24 at 7 p.m. as a part of UNCW’s Leadership Lecture series. His talk entitled “Time to Deliver: Winning the Battle Against Poverty and Disease in the Developing World ” explores the political economic and human rights scope of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. “His work addresses the challenges of health disparities as well as successes in community development at the local and international level while highlighting the special leadership role of health professionals in these projects ” says Shannon Hooker director of UNCW Presents. Tickets are free for UNCW students faculty and staff $9 for the public. To secure your seat call the Kenan Auditorium Box Office at (910) 962-3500. For more information or to learn about how you can get involved visit www.uncw.edu/presents or www.stephenlewisfoundation.org.
Local film festivals
Cine Noir Festival of Black Film
The seventh annual Cine Noir Festival of Black Film will be held at Cameron Art Museum on March 13-16. The juried and invitational festival will feature screenings of 20-30 independent shorts features documentaries and animations from across the country. “Cine Noir was started by the Black Arts Alliance to spotlight the works of African-American filmmakers ” says Rhonda Bellamy president of the Black Arts Alliance. The four-day festival will offer free workshops guided tours of Screen Gems Studios and movie screenings. Since its commencement Cine Noir has premiered more than 200 films giving awards to honor Distinguished Filmmaker and Emerging Filmmaker. For more information contact Rhonda Bellamy at (910) 612-7832 or visit www.blackartsalliance.org.
Cucalorus Kids! Film Festival
Here’s something for the next Spielberg of the Azalea Coast! The third annual Cucalorus Kids! Film Festival will be held at Jengo’s Playhouse from March 19-22. During this fun-filled four days kids will be given tours of Screen Gems Studios chat with aspiring young filmmakers and attend a day camp with age-appropriate films and workshops. “It made sense to have an event just for kids ” says Dan Brawley of Cucalorus “just for them to learn and show their own films. That was really the genesis of it.” This year kids will be making their own television commercial and meet with the cast and crew of Elmo in Grouchland and Muppets from Space. “The buzzword is media literacy ” says Brawley. “We want kids to know how films work and what they mean.” Contact Dan Brawley (910) 343-5995 or visit www.cucalorus.org for more information.
Fore a good cause
Good Shepherd Center Golf Tournament
On Monday March 31 the Good Shepherd Center will prove there is more than one way to follow through. The fifth annual Good Shepherd Center Golf Tournament will take place at Landfall Country Club’s Nicklaus Course to raise money to help the local homeless population. Individual and corporate sponsors will be given entry spots at all skill levels. A shotgun start at noon will begin the competition as it did last year when the event raised more than $70 000. Suesan Sullivan director of resource development for the center describes the tournament as “a great way to gain community support to meet the growing needs of the homeless and hungry.” After opening a 24-hour shelter in October 2005 which was according to Sullivan “a giant leap of faith ” the shelter has continued to challenge the Good Shepherd budget and will benefit greatly from the tournament proceeds. The Good Shepherd Center established in 1983 has become the largest homeless outreach in the area. In addition to providing more than 100 000 hot meals every year the center is dedicated to meeting the urgent needs of the hungry and homeless while helping them work toward a smooth transition to independence and other housing in the community. Volunteer opportunities are available in a wide variety of areas. For tournament entry and sponsorship details and more information on the Good Shepherd Center visit www.goodshepherdwilmington.org. — Lia Kearner