up front
April, with its blooming flowers, Azalea Belles,
striking hats and dresses, also ushers in the
season in which we celebrate the good
news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who came to bring us abundant life.
T he team of dedicated professionals
that brings you Wrightsville
Beach Magazine each month
is pretty darned excited about
this issue. From our compelling cover scene
featuring Jenny Erickson on a classic Vespa
to the semi-annual social registry, we’ve got
what you need to be ready for Azalea Festival
week and the summer that is just around
the corner.
Summer wouldn’t be summer without
the familiar melody of beach music to
stir the beat of feet sliding across the
dance floor. Beach music was born
here on the Carolina Coast, and in this
issue, we talk to famed frontman Jim
Quick of Coastline about his legendary
mentor, General Johnson of Chairman
of the Board.
You will also find our 10th annual
look at Kitchens That Cook, and what
a look it is spotlighting three smashing
kitchen renovations. From dazzling all
white to 1950s retro and Old World
beauty, we plundered the beaches,
midtown neighborhoods and historic
districts to bring you this year’s offerings,
photographed and styled by
Joshua Curry.
While we were in the historic district
we thought it was high time you met
Mikey, the former Amish plow draft
horse rescued by carriage operators John
and Janet Pucci. Plucked from the meat
markets, retrained and given a good life
from the downtown barn to out on the
farm, the story of Mikey and his fourlegged
pals is wonderfully told and illustrated
with Allison Potter’s photos.
This month’s Savor is all about healthy
food you can take home to serve or eat on
the fly. The selection in Wilmington has
never been better or tastier, so enjoy these
four delicious options for a healthier mealtime
for you and your family.
You will also relish the anecdotal life
and times of octogenarian Laurence Gray
WBM april 2012
Sprunt, whose stories set at Orton
Plantation, Wrightsville Beach and all
points in between are dished up with a
smattering of wit, wisdom and philosophy
of life, along with close encounters with
alligators, bears and other creatures thrown
in for good measure. As the lone survivor
of five brothers from one of the region’s
most distinguished families, Sprunt has a
lot to say. A few years ago he decided to
jot down a few of his timeless tales now
published as, “The Past … A Stairway to
Pat Bradford and Mikey.
the Future,” a delightful memoir. When
we were given a copy we knew there was
only one thing we could do with it and
that was to share it with you. We promise
it will leave you hungry for more.
We hope as you enjoy the great reading
and fabulous photographs in this month’s
magazine you’ll also take the time to offer
up praise for the many blessings you too
have been given. It is a season to be giving
thanks.
Happy Easter everyone!
Editor/Publisher