Cooking Workshop with Herbs at Elizabethan Gardens

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February 26, 2011

TASTE OF THE BEACH WEEKEND

Saturday, March 19th, 2011 from noon until 2 p.m.

Elizbethan Gardens on Roanoke Island presents: Green for Herbs - Learn how to grow, harvest and cook with fresh herbs presented by special guest Chef Jason Smith from the Black Pelican Restaurant, Kitty Hawk.

The class will concentrate mainly on appetizers. Appetizers include: rosemary skewered bacon wrapped scallops with caramelized onion and sweet thyme sauce, smoked salmon bundles wrapped in chive with lemon caper dill sauce, herb poached mussels and clams with toasted baguette. Chef Jason will be using herbs grown at The Elizabethan Gardens. Assistant Greenhouse Manager, Kathy Crawford will be on hand to give you hints on selecting, growing and purchasing herbs from The Gardens. Workshop includes a visit to the greenhouses and admission to The Gardens.

ONE FREE ADMISSION TO THE FIRST PERSON TO EMAIL lee@marsheslight.com and put HERBS in the subject line. 

Plants and Herbs will be on sale 10% off in the plant sales area. Members/Friends:  $25 Non Members: $30 (Visa , MasterCard & Discover accepted)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

4/16/2011 Photographing Nature with Jeff Lewis

Visit www.elizabethangardens.org.

Categories: Arts, Dining, Home & Garden, People of Interest, Recipes, Roanoke Island, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.

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Winter Wednesdays & Wine

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February 24, 2011

This is a percolating time of year along the Outer Banks; it’s not coffee yet, but it’s brewing. We are on the threshold of Spring and up and down the beach businesses are getting ready for the season. It’s also a great time of year to enjoy specials hosted by local shops, such as the wine tasting I visited last night at The Wine Specialist  (Milepost 4.5 on the Bypass in Kitty Hawk).

Wine specialist Stacey Walters of Tryon Distributing, showcased wines from La Posta Vineyards in Argentina. We enjoyed sampling a white wine, Blanco de Blancos, 2009, which was a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Torrontes. It was crisp and light and will be delicious on a warm summer evening. I also tried a smooth Malbec, 2008, a dark ruby colored wine that is full bodied, balanced, and very fruit forward which I purchased (about $15.00). A reviewer of Malbec wines from the New York Times states: “They were consistent, generally unchallenging and crowd-pleasing. In short, what’s not to like?”

Categories: Arts, Dining, Home & Garden, outer banks, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.

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Taste of the Beach and more on the Outer Banks

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February 17, 2011

Sunny skies and warm weather are in the forecast for the next couple of days and into the weekend. Early signs of Spring are in the air. It’s time to dust off your flip flops, check your calendar and discover some very compelling reasons to visit the Outer Banks right now.

Marshes Light Marina

I’ll be at the Greater DC Live South Show on February 25-27 at the McLean Hilton with Marshes Light. Admission is free and if you’re  in the area, please come by our booth, see what is new at Marshes Light, and register for a chance to win a 2 night stay here in a lovely three bedroom waterfront villa. Our new Sales and Welcome Center is now open at 301 Dartmoor Lane at the Marina.

Coming up: 3rd Annual Jockey’s Ridge Oyster Roast on March 5, from 10 am until 2 pm. This is a great community effort to plant and create new environments for oysters in the Sound behind Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head. Oyster roast is free for participants. For more information call 252-441-7132.

Did you know that on February 8th, 1862, Roanoke Island was captured by the Union Army after more than 24 hours of conflict? Island Farm is hosting a Living History Weekend with all sorts of activities and demonstrations for you history and civil war buffs. March 5 & 6.  

One of the more popular annual events is the OBX Taste of The Beach, March 17-20. The Outer Banks Restaurant Association has been hosting the Taste of The Beach for over 25 years. This grand food festival event will feature wine tastings, cooking classes, special menu presentations, celebrity guest chef appearances, brewery tours, tapas crawls and many more events with exciting array of creative combinations of culinary delights and fun activities on the Outer Banks.

The Outer Banks are quickly becoming a running destination. Kelly’s 3rd Annual Running of the Leprechauns 8K jumps into the season on March 19. For more information on this event and other activities, visit www.outerbanksrunningclub.org.

Kelly’s 22nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held March 20 on the Beach Road between Milepost 10.5 and 11.5, beginning at 1 pm, rain or shine.

Live music and theater round out the month of March:

  • The Freedmen’s Colony Blues Jam on March 25 at Roanoke Island Festival Park. 7:30 pm. www.roanokeisland.com for more information.
  • Theatre of Dare presents “Diamond Studs” on March 25 – 27 at 7:30 pm Friday & Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday at the COA Roanoke Island Campus (formerly Manteo Middle School).  Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door, and $8 for students with valid school/college identification.  www.theatreofdare.org or 252-261-4064.
  • The London Quartet on March 26 at First Flight High School Auditorium. 7:30 pm. Sophisticated humor and harmony a cappella style by one of the world’s top vocal groups. Visit www.outerbanksforum.org.
  • The Vagina Monologues on March 30 – 31 and April 1 at the Film Theatre at Roanoke Island Festival Park. 7:30 p.m. The production is a part of the V-Day 2011 Worldwide Campaign to stop violence against women and girls. Tickets are $15, for more information contact: Gail Hutchison hutchisongail@hotmail.com.

Categories: Arts, Dining, Home & Garden, outer banks, Roanoke Island, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.

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From the Wall Street Journal Online

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February 12, 2011
WSR DIGITAL EDITION – Smart Money
February 11, 2011

Why You Should Buy That Home Now

Congress will ultimately decide whether Fannie and Freddie have a future, and whether the other changes could go into effect as soon as this fall. Here are the big three reasons (to obtain a mortgage now):

  • Smaller mortgages
  • Higher fees
  • Bigger down payments

Read more:  http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/real-estate/why-you-should-buy-that-home-now-1297456803897/#ixzz1DmcBtY5i

WSR DIGITAL EDITION – Weekend Investor
February 12, 2011

The Great Customer Courtship

Banks Are Rolling Out New Incentives to Win Your Business. Here’s a Guide

Banks “need more cash on hand,” says Dan Geller, executive vice president at Market Rates Insight Inc., a San Anselmo, Calif., firm that tracks bank interest-rate data, “so they are intent on bringing in warm bodies.”

The current low-interest-rate environment is adding to banks’ sense of urgency. By bringing in customers now, banks are setting themselves up to profit when interest rates rise, by collecting the difference between the interest paid to depositors and the money they rake in from loans.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703313304576132593769879956.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

This blog is made possible by Marshes Light,  a new home community in the heart of historic downtown Manteo. Please visit our website at www.marsheslight.com or visit our new Sales & Welcome Center at the Marina – 301 Dartmoor Lane, Manteo.

Categories: outer banks, Real Estate, Roanoke Island, Uncategorized.

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Housing News from Around the Web

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February 9, 2011

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE:  Home Affordability Returns to Pre-Bubble Levels

“Based on incomes, this is as affordable as it gets,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “If you can get a loan, these are pretty good times to buy.”

INMAN NEWS:  Real Estate Prices Fall for 5th Straight Month 

“Despite the continued monthly decline in home prices and year-over-year depreciation, we’re encouraged that on an annual basis we’re unchanged relative to a year ago,” said CoreLogic Chief Economist Mark Fleming in a statement. “Excess supply continues to drive prices downward, but the silver lining is that the rate of decline is decelerating.”   

MSNBC.COM:    New U.S. home sales soared in December

Monthly gain raising cautious optimism for housing market recovery.

REALTOR.ORG:  Real Estate Is as Affordable as it Gets

February 9, 2011 “Based on incomes, this is as affordable as it gets,” says the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics about purchasing a home in today’s market.

RISMEDIA:  Economic and Housing Outlooks Brighten According to Fannie Mae Analysis Group

“Improvements in consumer spending and consumer confidence, increased demand for goods and services, and falling unemployment claims are all positive factors for a brighter outlook as we move into 2011…” 

Prices are stable at Marshes Light which were discounted almost 40 percent since original 2006 price structure on single family home sites and new condominiums.

Categories: Land Development, Marshes Light Marina, Real Estate, Roanoke Island, Uncategorized.

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My Fitness Choice on the Outer Banks

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February 2, 2011

My New Year’s Resolutions always consisted of lose a little weight and exercise more. This year was an exception. No resolutions about diet or exercise. N.O.N.E.

In November 2009, with a little encouragement from a friend, I stepped into the gym at Knuckle Up in Kitty Hawk.  After a few weeks of pain and embarrassment of being the most unfit, oldest, out-of-breath person there, I realized that I looked forward to class. There’s something about strapping on some boxing gloves and working out on a bag that is really satisfying, and it also works up a sweat like I’ve never sweated before. Yes, sweating is good for you, it’s a natural detox and a great barometer of how much you’re putting in/getting out of your workout.

Instructor Matt Costa may be small of stature – but every inch is made of steel and fierce determination. His bio reads like a convoluted recipe with a dozen ingredients. From the Marine Corps to the Culinary Institute to Knuckle Up, Matt incorporates all of the best of his background and knowledge to excel as kickboxing and motivational trainer.  

I also recommend the Friday morning class taught by Diane Fisher. She works part-time at Knuckle Up and is also an RN. She has an abundance of energy and brings a different, female perspective to the work-out. For men and women, Diane’s once-a-week Friday class is very popular.

With a little over a year of kickboxing classes (3 times a week) at Knuckle Up and running on off days, my commitment to fitness is no longer dependent on an annual resolution.

Categories: outer banks, People of Interest, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.

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