1. AT THE MOVIES 
Week of Nov. 20-29 (
Escape the leftovers, see a movie)
The Blind Side (PG-13) – Great movie!
Planet 51 (PG)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13) – true to book and action-packed, delight in Jacob’s shirt-ripping scene!
2012 (PG-13)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (PG)
The Men Who Stare at Goats (R)
Ninja Assassin (New) – my son said it was a real blood & gut fest
Old Dogs
2. FOOD AND WINE
Wine Reserve Tastings – Native Vine, Point Harbor
Weekly tastings of wines from throughout the world. Thursday and Friday evenings 6:30. Reservations required. 252-491-5311
The Blue Point – Duck Waterfront
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings. Join us this winter for our new 3 for 30 menu–3 courses for $30. Or enjoy dining at the bar for a lighter menu and the 2-4-6 bar ($2 draft beer-$4 highballs – $6 wine). 252-261-
8090.
Kill Devil Grill – Kill Devil Hills
On the Beach Road. Personal favorite – try the fresh ocean rock in season, great burgers, fried chicken Fridays or the salmon salad. See TripAdvisor.com for 81 unbiased reviews of Kill Devil Grill.
Ortegaz Grill – Downtown Manteo
Emphasis on fresh food served up with a definite southwestern flair in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. 252-473-5911
3. SHOPPING
Roanoke Island
Quaint downtown village of Manteo with great shops and restaurants. Explore Manteo Booksellers, Sleepin’ In, John Silver Art Gallery and Charlottes; don’t miss the gift shop at Roanoke Island Festival Park.
Scarborough Faire – Duck
Duck’s Original Shopping Village, stroll on wooden sidewalks under the live oaks and browse through the shops that make Scarborough Faire a very special place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Tanger Outlets – Nags Head
Coach, J.Crew, Nine West, Gymboree, Eddie Bauer and more.
TimBuck II – Corolla NC
Over 60 exciting shops, restaurants and recreation overlooking the Currituck Sound on the Northern Outer Banks of North Carolina.
4. FITNESS
Knuckle Up Kill Devil Hills
Morning boot camps, kickboxing and more. http://fitnessouterbanks.com/http://fitnessouterbanks.com/.
Outer Banks Yoga Kitty Hawk, Sanderling & Manteo Studios
Daily classes offered by internationally trained and creative instructors and offer classes to suit every mood, from gentle and restorative classes for beginners or just tired bodies, vinyasa flow, pilates and more. 252-480-3214.
OBX YMCA
3000 South Croatan Highway, Nags Head. (252) 449-8897
http://www.ymcashr.org/locations/outerbanks
5. Elizabethan Gardens
November 23-30 Thanksgiving Week Sale; Gifts are 20% off this week.
December 2 Elizabethan Gardens: Christmas in the Park, 5-8 p.m. Celebrate the season with holiday fare and fun; catch the spirit with music, gift shop discounts, activities and hot chocolate. Bring the children by to sit on Santa’s lap!
6. Roanoke Island Festival Park
December 1-12 12 Days of Christmas Sale Museum Store. Each day there will be a new category added with some discounts up to 50% off. Sale is not valid with other discounts. Call (252) 475-1500 for more information, ext. 252.
7. 21st Annual Hotlines Festival of Trees
December 3 – 5 The Pearl Restaurant located in the Sea Ranch Hotel, Kill Devil Hills. Noon – 9 p.m. Fundraiser of donated Christmas Trees, holiday items, seasonal musical performances, a Santa visit, and bazaar, including an auction to benefit crisis intervention programs of the Outer Banks. (252) 473-5121
8. First Friday, Christmas Tree Lighting & Christmas Parade
December 4 Downtown Manteo Waterfront. First Friday 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. First Friday is a fun-filled, family oriented street festival. firstfriday-roanokeisland.com.
December 4-5 Downtown Manteo. Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade
Tree Lighting will be December 4th at 6 p.m. with Santa visiting with the children afterwards at the Maritime Museum at the Creef Davis Boathouse. The parade will be December 5th at 11 a.m.
9. 12th Annual Manteo Rotary Rockfish Rodeo
December 4-5 Roanoke Island Festival Park, Outdoor Pavilion. A fishing tournament sponsored by the Manteo Rotary. (252) 473-6644 or rockfishrodeo.com
10. Dare County Arts Council Gallery
December 4-31 Holiday Small Works Show. Over 500 items of affordable framed originals, reproductions and photography that are no larger than 16”x16” as well as pottery, glass, jewelry, fiber, metal, mixed media and wood for holiday shopping. (252) 473-5558 or darearts.org.
11. Oakwood Waits in Concert – Roanoke Island Festival Park
. December 5, Film Theatre at. 7 p.m. The talented group will feature a selection of holiday music, spreading the joy of the season. The choral group can also be seen and heard in the Town of Manteo Christmas Parade, also on December 5 at 11:00 a.m. (252) 475-1500 or roanokeisland.com.
12. Betty Tyler Show – Roanoke Island Festival Park
December 7-27 Art Gallery. Reception: Dec. 6, 4-6 p.m. An eclectic artist who paints abstracts, still life and portraits using oils, watercolors or acrylics. (252) 475-1500 or roanokeisland.com
13. Hatteras Connection Seafood Fundraiser Hatteras Village Civic Center
December 85-8 p.m. Enjoy baked or grilled fish, seafood chowder, roasted potatoes, cole slaw, corn bread, iced tea and dessert. Island commercial fishermen and charter-boat captains and mates are donating the fish, and a great team of local folks, known for their skills in the kitchen, will be the chefs. (252) 995-4131 or ridgeroad@earthlink.net
14. Violins & Voices a Classical Christmas – Roanoke Island Festival Park
December 11, Film Theatre, 7 p.m. Performers include: Angelo Sonnesso Tenor; Lisa Martinez – Soprano Christian Jackle –Soprano; Nick Hodsdon – Baritone; Sue Artz – Violin; David Spangler – piano/accompanist. Tickets are $10.00, benefit GEM. Refreshments will be served following the performance. (252) 475-1500 or roanokeisland.com.
15. 3rd Annual Tree Lighting Celebration – Currituck Heritage Park & Currituck Beach Lighthouse
December 12 5 p.m. See the giant cedar tree in simultaneously illuminated. Gather on the north lawn to enjoy free hot chocolate and sing carols. Following the lighting ceremony, the Whalehead Club will host an open house to show off the decorations inspired by the 1920’s etchings of Edward Collings Knight, Jr. 252-453-9040.
15. The Cypress House Inn Christmas Open House
December 13 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Beach Road, Kill Devil Hills. Built in 1946 as a private hunting and fishing lodge, the Cypress House Inn would like to invite Outer Banks locals and visitors alike to come join us for some holiday cheer. All are welcome. (252) 441-6127 or visit cypresshouseinn.com
16. Botanical Painting Class - Elizabethan Gardens
December 15-16 – Instructor Linda C. Miller offers workshop, open to all levels. The instructor will provide the drawing and students will create an 8″x10″ painting focusing on wet and dry brush techniques and learn how to mix a variety of greens, commonly used in traditional botanical art.Material
s list at http://BotanicalNaturalisticArtInstruction.blogspot.com. 252-473-1554.
17. Third Wednesday Guided Tour – Elizabethan Gardens
December 16 Come learn about our 16th century Italian Renaissance statuary, view the nursery and greenhouse areas. Each season brings a fresh and exciting array of flowering plants, shrubs and trees. 252-473-3234.
18. 106th Annual Celebration of the Wright Brothers First Flight
December 17 – Wright Brothers National Memorial. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Gather at the exact site at the exact time as the historic flight to remember, reflect and celebrate this milestone. Visitors to the site experience a replica of the Wright Brothers’ 1903 encampment and majestic, 60-foot tall granite monument perched atop a 90-foot hill that serves a striking and lasting reminder of the important historical achievement that happened on this site a century ago.
19. Elizabethan Christmas – Roanoke Island Festival Park
December 19 Noon – 5 p.m. Get a taste of 16th century holiday traditions by making decorations, learn special dances, sing songs, discover food and drink of the season throughout the settlement site, and indulge in merriment with members of the Guild of St. Andrew. Many events will be held inside and the celebration will go on, rain or shine. (252) 475-1500 or roanokeisland.com.
20. Trio la Mer – Roanoke Island Festival Park
December 20 4 p.m. Film Theatre. The Trio La Mer is chamber group of local musicians featuring John Buford, piano, Leslie Erickson, violin, and Sue Waters, viola. They perform music from the Baroque to the Contemporary periods, including some original arrangements. Admission is included in the general admission ticket to the Park.
21. The White Doe Inn Christmas Open House
December 20 – Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Manteo. Sunday 2-6 pm. Enjoy hot cider and refreshments while touring one of the most photographed homes of the Outer Banks. The White Doe Inn, previously known as The Meekins House, is a grand three-story late-Queen Anne style house on Roanoke Island. It was constructed in 1910 by local builders John Wilson and Joe Dailey for Theodore S. Meekins and his family. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 noted for its architectural and historic significance. 252-473-9851, whitedoeinn.com.
My Sweet Valentine Dance sponsored by The Roanoke Island Historical Association
