Bringing Light to the Gardens
By Michelle Wagner On this unseasonably warm February afternoon, the soft pink petals of a saucer magnolia tree lie on the green grass of the Great Lawn. Blooming peppermint camellias line the trail and...
Author: north beach sun
Duf’s Playhouse
By Katrina Mae Leuzinger When Duf Franco opened Earth 383 Comics & Games in Elizabeth City in 2003, he had no idea how to run a business. These days, he probably still doesn’t, but...
Preserving Ocracoke’s Maritime Heritage
By Kelley Shinn Ocracoke Island bears witness to a complex and unique history – one of Native Americans, pirates, shipwrecks and small yet significant roles in the Civil War, World War I and World...
Carving Out a Living
By Michelle Wagner Skip Raymo stands on the side of Carotoke Highway in Barco covered from head to toe in a thin layer of sawdust. It’s only 10 a.m. and the sawdust is already...
Columbia: The Small Town That’s Big On Fun & Adventure
By Michelle Wagner Kim Wheeler calls Columbia, N.C. a hidden jewel, and anyone who has spent time in this quaint town just an hour or so away from the Outer Banks would easily agree....
Whalebone Junction: Crossroads of the Outer Banks
By Michelle Wagner At one time, it was simply referred to as “the end of the road”—a sandy intersection where several roads merged together at the southern end of Nags Head. It was long...
A Yardstick of Loss
By Glen Baldwin How do you measure loss? I lost my favorite swimsuit cover-up this summer, probably on my trip to Maine. This might not be a big deal to most, but I really...
Hurricane Hype
By Jeffrey Myers To say we are vulnerable to our surroundings on the Outer Banks would be an understatement. With the sound to the west and the sea to the east, we truly...
John of White Gables
By Amanda McDanel I grew up with two very handy parents. My dad is an electrician by trade and has a knack for building things, from decks and antique cars to radio controlled planes...
Hubby Bliven: Behind the Glass
By Amanda McDanel Carrying four rolled-up prints that I need framed, I tread lightly across the yard and knock on the front door. The big beautiful white house stands before me but no one...
