Beach Bites
BY Staff
Hitting all the Azalea Festival sights Street Fair Cole Bros. Circus Big Top Azalea 5k/10k/Fun Walk Parade Coin Show NC Azalea Festival Amateur Boxing Tournament Juried Art Show & Sale Historic Wilmington Foundations Azalea Festival Home Tour Parsley House Ribbon Cutting House Dudley-Chadbourn House Cook-Matthews House Barker-OConnor House Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church Fire Station No. 2 Love House Schaefer House Ulstad House Diehl House Ebert-Artis House Way House Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour Ronnie and Cyndi McNeill Ribbon Cutting Garden Hank and Debbie Phillips Katherine McKenzie Dan and Laura Sullivan Jacques and Michele Eagle Mark and Kelly George Tom and Kim Dalton Marie Eason Thomas and Lucia Hughes Donald and Phyllis Buie Claude and Betty Hill Airlie Gardens (Saturday Only) New Hanover County Arboretum Time to plant The Master Gardener Association and the Hobby Greenhouse Club host annual plant sales. Through April 2 the Master Gardener Association Plant Sale continues at the New Hanover County Arboretum on Oleander Drive. Buy plants and flowers of all different varieties. If you are unsure about your soil or where to grow annuals versus perennials the horticultural research specialists will be there to help. If you havent yet been to the Arboretum there is always time to discover it. The garden makes use of its urban space providing visitors with a range of gardens that showcase an assortment of flowers plants and trees. Running throughout the garden is a beautiful creek that leads to an Asian-inspired teahouse. The Arboretum is more than a place to get in touch with nature; it also allows for healing through its Ability Garden program. This garden promotes therapeutic gardening by encouraging those with disabilities to learn how to care for and nurture plants. This positive environment is open to a wide range of people including those in nursing homes rehabilitation centers adult day cares and even special education classes. Later this month the Hobby Greenhouse Spring Plant Sale in Forest Hills will take place from April 13-15. All plants are grown by members and a portion of the profits will go to scholarships for horticulture students attending local community colleges. Admission is free. At 2318 Metts Avenue hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.hobbygreenhouseclub.org or email hobbygreenhouse@aol.com.Amanda Raxlin Get your kicks The Wilmington Hammerheads season opener kicks off April 21 Listen for the tune: “When the Saints Go Marching In” and make sure you pay attention to the lyrics: “Oh when the Hammers go marching in” Moments later you should be able to spot a spirited Hammerhead fan when The Port City Firm enters Legion Stadium dressed head to toe in blue and white. Join the social whirl of soccer madness when the Wilmington Hammerheads start its season with a kick. Support the local mens professional soccer team as it takes the field for the first home game of the season on April 21. Theme nights attract special audiences like College Night on April 28 Latin Night on May 2 and Military Appreciation Night when there will also be a dazzling fireworks show during the Hammers June 30 match. Included in the Hammerheads 2012 lineup is the reintroduction of youth soccer camps. These camps are held in August in Wrightsville Beach. Details: Season passes and individual tickets for 2012 games are available at www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com or call 910-777-2111 ext. 16. Amanda Raxlin 
Whether you get there by foot car or scooter the 65th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival has something for everyone April 11-15. Amanda Wager
Friday night April 13
Saturday April 14 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday April 15 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Downtown Wilmington Water Front and Market streets
Vendors of arts crafts and food for every taste.
Street Fair Main Stage
101 Water Street
Street Fair Multicultural Stage
2nd and Dock
Thursday April 12 and Friday April 13 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday April 14 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday April 15 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
ILM Airport
The whole family will enjoy the exotic animals and
thrilling performers.
Saturday April 7 8 a.m.
TrySports at Mayfaire
www.active.com
Turn your best jogging outfit into a costume and win a prize.
Saturday April 14 9:30 a.m.
Line up along the cobblestone and bricks for a free and timeless event in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
Saturday April 14 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday April 15 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
American Legion Hall
Go on a cultural adventure learning about US World and Ancient coins.
Saturday April 14 2:30 p.m.
Sunday April 15 2 p.m.
Williston Middle School
401 South 10th Street
The most skilled amateur boxers in the southeast.
Friday April 13 and Saturday April 14 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday April 15 noon-4:30 p.m.
Perry Hall St. James Church 25 South 3rd Street
Showing top picks of famous jurors Lois Griffel and Brownie Harris.
Saturday April 14 1-6 p.m. Sunday April 15 1-5 p.m.
Learn about the homes that make up Wilmingtons historic districts rich history. Free ice cream from Dairy Queen at the Ribbon Cutting Saturday April 14 12:30 p.m. at the Parsley House. Tickets are $25 and available at the Azalea Festival ticket office and the Historic Wilmington Foundation.
224 S. Third Street
Italianate Style house built in 1857.
323 S. Front Street
Greek Revival Style house with Italianate additions built in 1843.
108 Castle Street
Queen Anne Style cottage built in 1882.
517 S. Front Street
Queen Anne Style house built c. 1896.
712 Chestnut Street
Carpenter Gothic and Italianate Style building built in 1858.
600 S. 5th Avenue
Italianate Fire House with Dutch Revival detailing built in 1915.
208 S. 5th Avenue
Tudor Revival Style house built in 1932.
1904 Princess Street
Neoclassical Revival Style house built c. 1916.
309 Castle Street
Three-story Craftsman Style bungalow built in 2005.
1809 Grace Street
Craftsman Style bungalow built c. 1923.
206 S. 5th Avenue
Colonial Revival Style house built c. 1938.
208 Castle Street
Queen Anne Style cottage built c. 1896.
Friday April 13-Sunday April 15 10 a.m-6 p.m.
Enjoy brilliant azaleas and spring flowers on this self-guided tour. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.azaleagardentour.org.
102 Magnolia Drive
A wondrous waterway view hidden inside of an antebellum oasis.
2105 Forest Lagoon Place
A quaint French Country home with a surprising luxurious courtyard.
2201 Ocean Point Drive
A tropical paradise holding the key to several unique garden rooms.
6500 Brevard Boulevard
A Charleston Style home with accents of turquoise and other pops of color year-round.
6501 Brevard Boulevard
Wrap-around verandas encompass this home creating a grand viewing area.
7909 Sanderling Place
An abundance of shrubs trees and an herb garden for the devoted planter.
812 Forest Hills Drive
An oasis of an outdoor living space including amenities such as a pool with three waterfalls.
711 Forest Hills Drive
A lovely brick Colonial home with a tiered garden.
South 5th Avenue
An 1870s Italianate Style home surrounded by antique cast-iron Corinthian columns.
724 Wilderness Road
A partnership between garden artist and garden designer has created this lush landscape.
4810 Wilderness Road
A whimsical delight including both rock and frog gardens.
300 Airlie Road
This extraordinary 67-acre garden contains more than 100 000 azaleas a 464-year-old Airlie Oak and 10 acres of freshwater lakes.
6206 Oleander Drive
A display and teaching garden adorned with a teahouse representing good luck.