April 2013: First Friday ARTWalk, April 5th Start at The Center

Need more info- call us at 252.338.6455 or stop by The Center
www.artsaoa.com

Set Your Sights on Elizabeth City, NC This Spring for Museums, Music and More

Contact: Elizabeth Evans, Cahoon & Cross
Phone: (757) 420-6944
eevans@cahoonandcross.com
Set Your Sights on Elizabeth City, NC This Spring for Museums, Music and More
(Elizabeth City, NC, March 23, 2010) – There’s nothing like a sunny weekend and the open road to bring out your inner traveler. This spring, when wanderlust calls, set your sights on Elizabeth City, NC for a fun, coastal getaway. Wayfarers will discover this river-front town has just the tonic—a laid-back vibe and an eclectic mix of museums, music and much more!

Day One/Stop One: Do the Downtown Museum Mix!
Begin your visit in Downtown Elizabeth City. With the Pasquotank River as backdrop, you’ll be within easy walking distance to restaurants, shops, an old-fashioned movie theatre and a trio of excellent sites ... [read more]

New Self-Guided Walking Tour Sets Leisurely Pace for Stroll Through Elizabeth City History

Contact: Elizabeth Evans, Cahoon & Cross
Phone: (757) 420-6944
eevans@cahoonandcross.com
New Self-Guided Walking Tour Sets Leisurely Pace for Stroll Through Elizabeth City History
(Elizabeth City, NC, March 24, 2010) – History lovers now have more to explore in Northeastern North Carolina with the arrival of the new “Elizabeth City Historic Walking Tour” guide. Published by the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association (ECHNA), the first of a series of booklets focuses on sites along the historic Main Street commercial district, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

“The Main Street district has so many lovely, historic buildings—and is fun for people to walk,” said ECHNA President Jean Baker. “We invite visitors to make a day of it, beginning their tour anywhere they choose and stopping along the way to sightsee, shop, dine and enjoy our ‘Harbor of Hospitality®.’” [read more]

Legendary 1940s “Candy Bomber” to Drop Chocolates on Elizabeth City, Dec. 13

Contact:
Elizabeth Evans, (757) 420-6944; (757) 335-7885 mobile
eevans@cahoonandcross.com
Legendary 1940s “Candy Bomber” to Drop Chocolates on Elizabeth City, Dec. 13
-- Col. Gail Halvorsen to co-pilot Berlin Airlift Re-enactment --
(Elizabeth City, NC, Dec. 5, 2008) – From the cockpit of a C-54, U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen made international news in 1948 when he dropped chocolate bars and bubble gum to West German children, deprived of food – and treats – through a Soviet-controlled blockade.
Known as “Uncle Wiggly Wings” and “The Chocolate Flier,” Halvorsen will again be the apple of children’s eyes when he drops sweets to Elizabeth City youth during a re-enactment of the famous 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the airlift. [read more]

Happy Halloween!

Police: No official hours for trick-or-treating
Officials recommend ending by 8 p.m.
From staff reports

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Today is Halloween, which means come evening children dressed as princesses, super heroes, monsters and other characters will be out and about trick-or-treating.

While Elizabeth City and surrounding counties do not officially set hours for when children can go trick-or-treating, they do have hours they are recommending to residents.

Unofficial trick-or-treating hours inside city limits are from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents who don’t want late trick-or-treaters should turn off their Halloween decoration lights at 8 p.m., officials recommend.

Along Main Street in downtown Elizabeth City, the Historic Neighborhood Community Watch is hosting trick-or-treating from 6 to 8:30 p.m. During that time Main Street will be closed between Dyer and Pritchard streets.

The Elizabeth City Police Department also is hosting a trick-or-treat event at the police station on Colonial Avenue for children 12 and under from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will include door prizes, games and candy.

Currituck County Sheriff Susan Johnson said the county also does not have official hours for when children can go trick-or-treating. However, she said, from dusk until 9 p.m. is when most families are out in area neighborhoods with their children.

Camden County Sheriff Tony Perry said his county also does not have set hours for trick-or-treating. However, he recommends that families should conclude their trick-or-treating by 8 p.m.

The sheriffs also recommend several safety tips to ensure a safe and fun Halloween. Those tips include carrying a flashlight if out after dark, wear reflective clothing, and children should be accompanied by an adult. Halloween masks should allow clear visibility, and costumes should be fire retardant.

Parents also should warn children to never enter the home of a stranger, as well as tell them to follow an established route that they are familiar with. Another safety precaution is for parents to pin a slip with their child’s name, address and phone number inside their costume in case they get lost. Also tell children to be home by a certain time.

Children also shouldn’t eat treats until they arrive home and are inspected by an adult, officials recommend. Children’s safety also can be improved if their treat bags have reflective material attached to them. [read more]

Series of Elizabeth City Historical Markers to be Part of National Civil War Trails Program

Contact:
Elizabeth Evans, Cahoon & Cross
Phone: (757) 420-6944 ext. 317
eevans@cahoonandcross.com
Series of Elizabeth City Historical Markers to be Part of National Civil War Trails Program
(Elizabeth City, N.C., Oct. 17, 2008) – The untold stories of local Civil War history will come to light when a series of markers interpreting the period of Union occupation in Elizabeth City is unveiled Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. during a dedication and program at Waterfront Park.

The Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (ECACVB) and the Museum of the Albemarle will reveal six, illustrated markers that will be featured in the self-guided Civil War Trails, a national program that links Civil War battlegrounds and sites in 28 states and more than 800 interpretative markers in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and North Carolina. [read more]

Harbor of Hospitality on WAVY-TV's Bottom Line

On September 19th 2008 Susan Hartley, Office Manager of the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau's (ECACVB), and Peggy Langley, Executive Director of Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc., went onto WAVY-TV for a noon news interview with Don Roberts. They spoke about the Rose Buddies and our Harbor of Hospitality in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Bayside Manor Design House on WVEC-TV

On August 4th 2008 Russ Haddad, Director of the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Holly Wright, owner of The Wright Solution, went onto WVEC-TV for a noon news interview with Lasalle Blanks. They spoke about The Designer House at Bayside Manor happening Aug. 3 -- 17, 2008 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.



"The Designer House at Bayside Manor" tours will be held from Aug. 3 -- 17, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door and can be purchased in advance for $12 by calling Arts of the Albemarle at (252) 330-1333. A two-week pass is also available for $24 and allows ticket holders access to such special on-site events as a fashion show, butterfly gardening workshop and a harp concert. The boutique at Bayside will feature a "garden theme" displaying original paintings, prints, photography and handcrafts for purchase by Arts of the Albemarle artists and craftsman. For additional information go to www.BaysideManorTour.com

To find out more about Elizabeth City please go to www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com

Wolfpack Club’s “Red, White and You” Coaches Caravan Tour

The Wolfpack Club’s “Red, White and You” Coaches Caravan Tour will be held at the Kermit E. White Center on the campus of Elizabeth City State University on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 6 PM. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children 12 years of age and under. NC State Head Basketball Coach Sidney Lowe and Rifle Coach Keith Miller will be in attendance to address the crowd. All questions and RSVP’s to this event should be directed to Charlie Robinson at 252-335-5200 or crobinson@roadrunner.com.

Wayne Newton’s Former Mansion is “Star” of Before-and-After Home Renovation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Elizabeth Evans
Public Relations Director
Cahoon & Cross Marketing Consultants
Phone: (757) 420-6944
eevans@cahoonandcross.com
Wayne Newton’s Former Mansion is “Star” of Before-and-After Home Renovation
-- “The Designer House at Bayside Manor” is unique fundraiser for Arts of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, N.C --
(Elizabeth City, N.C., July 18, 2008) – Will Wayne Newton’s former residence exude more of an antebellum air or Vegas-style vibe? Interior design followers will decide when Arts of the Albemarle opens “The Designer House at Bayside Manor” during a gala preview Aug. 1 and for daily tours Aug. 3-17 in Elizabeth City.

Dating to 1856, Bayside Manor was built by Christopher Wilson Hollowell, whose family owned it until 1988. From 1988 to 1996, Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton owned the home, but never lived there. The mansion has long been a famous landmark in Elizabeth City.

When the home’s current owners, the Aylsworth family, decided to sell, they approached a local interior design firm about staging the home. Wright Designer owner Holly Wright and fellow designer Camilla Hull had always wanted to create a design home. They believed a fundraising event for Elizabeth City’s Arts of the Albemarle seemed just the ticket.

“Obviously, we’re thrilled,” said Lisa Winslow, executive director of Arts of the Albemarle, a not-for-profit organization which supports the arts in Pasquotank County with a dedicated gallery space and by hosting annual art shows, children’s programs in schools and special events. “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the region’s many talented interior designers, while supporting the arts in Elizabeth City.”

Wright contracted with 15 North Carolina and Virginia interior designers, artisans and landscape architects to transform the 5,000 square-foot Greek revival mansion into a design showcase.

When the renovation is completed, Bayside Manor will feature 18 refurbished and decorated design areas, including a grand foyer, gentlemen’s library and a fantasy playroom, among other rooms. A Northeastern High School student, with help from her teacher, is redesigning one area of the home as a senior project.

The gala preview, Aug. 1, will feature live music by the jazz ensemble Connected, food by Montero’s restaurant and spirits by The City Wine Sellar. Tickets for the gala are $100 each and can be purchased by calling at (252) 330-1333 or Arts of the Albemarle at (252) 338-6455. Gala guests will have the opportunity to meet the designers and discuss their work.

From Aug. 3 – 17, “The Designer House at Bayside Manor” tours will be held Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door and can be purchased in advance for $12 by calling Arts of the Albemarle at (252) 330-1333. A two-week pass is also available for $24 and allows ticket holders access to such special on-site events as a fashion show, butterfly gardening workshop and a harp concert. The boutique at Bayside will feature a “garden theme” displaying original paintings, prints, photography and handcrafts for purchase by Arts of the Albemarle artists and craftsman. For additional information go to www.BaysideManorTour.com.

Newton, known for such hit songs as “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast,” and “Danke Schoen” is the honorary chairman of the committee, but will not be present at the preview gala. His Web site notes he will be performing that evening at the MGM Grand.

Bayside Designer House Getaway Packages
The Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is offering a special Bayside Designer House Getaway package Aug. 3-17. Rates start at $180 (plus tax) for a two-night stay based on double occupancy. The package includes accommodations and two tickets to the Designer House tour. When booking, guests may add on a horse-drawn carriage tour of the Elizabeth City waterfront and dining reservations. For details, call the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or (252) 335-5330 or go to www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com.

Proceeds from “The Designer House at Bayside Manor” ticket sales will benefit Arts of the Albemarle. The not-for-profit arts organization will soon relocate to an expanded, three-story building across the street from its current Elizabeth City location. With five times the space, the new facility will feature a 10,000 square-foot gallery, meeting and banquet space, a catering kitchen, classrooms and a small theater.

Elizabeth City is located in northeastern North Carolina on the Pasquotank River, halfway between Norfolk, Va., and the Outer Banks. Elizabeth City has six National Register Historic Districts and is home to the Museum of the Albemarle, Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State University Planetarium and Port Discover Hands-on Science Center. Nature-based travelers are drawn to the area’s proximity to the Dismal Swamp and the abundance of outdoor recreational offerings.
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Museum of the Albemarle - July Events

Contact: Thomas Spagnol, Communications Specialist
Phone: 252-335-1453
Museum of the Albemarle
501 South Water Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909

Ongoing:
Our Story: A history of the Albemarle area featuring informative facts and over 750 artifacts.

Discovery Room: Discover Colonial Times - A "hands-on" approach to history geared to families.

"Plugs and Props: Classic Outboard Motors" - A collection of classic outboard motors used in the waterways of the Albemarle from 1900 to the present.

"Introductory Gallery Walks" - In July, every Thursday, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Tours provide an overview to the museum's self-guided feature exhibit "Our Story" to the first time visitor.

"Discover Our Story" - From July to September, every Wednesday, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Inspiring tours of the feature exhibit "Our Story" that focuses on a selected era or topic spanning a variety of times, places, and genres.

"Discover Special Exhibits" - From August to September, every Thursday, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Tours provide meaningful insight into selected current exhibits.

"Drop in Friday" - From July to September, every Wednesday, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Drop in the museum to enjoy the featured program or activity. This program utilizes storytelling, activities, costumed interpretation or demonstrations. Program will vary from week to week.

July:
July 11, Friday, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Designers' Workshop: "Christmas in July"
Get a jump-start on the season. Design and make you own wreath with a coastal theme. Wreaths may also be constructed with summer theme. Groups please call to schedule this workshop on an alternate day. This workshop is designed for adults. Registration and fee required. $15.00 for members and $20.00 for non-members.

July 15, Tuesday, 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
All About Pirates Day!
Pirate centered Demonstrations and Activities at 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
Visit with roaming pirates (aka Jr. Docents).
View the Blackbeard Memorabilia Exhibit.
Reading and book signing with Children's Author Mary Maden at 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Book to be discussed is The Secret of Blackbeard's Teasure.
Reception and Book Signing at 6:00 pm.
Lecture with Kevin Duffus - Researcher, Documentary Filmmaker Presents: The Last Days of Blackbeard the Pirate at 7:00 pm.

July 16, Wednesday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Archaeology 101 for Kids
Spend the day learning about the world of archaeology. Search for objects hidden in the dirt. Participants are allowed to keep what they find.

For more info on the Museum of the Albemarle please call 252-335-1453 or check out www.MuseumoftheAlbemarle.com

Empty House "Bare Bones" Tour

Empty House "Bare Bones" Tour
Sunday, June 8, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

1598 Weeksville Road
Hollowell Family Home Place
(previously owned by entertainer Wayne Newton)
Tickets are $5.00 and available at the Arts of the Albemarle Gallery, 609 East Main Street or at the door.

Take the special "empty house self guided tour," and see Bayside Manor in its current "bare bones" state. Get a sneak preview before it is totally transformed by 15 decorators and their concepts come to life.

Design boards with photographs, paint and textile swatches, and material samples will be on display in each room which will allow the public to see, step by step, each designer's blueprint of what will become a beautifully finished space.

Food available on site. Pick up a barbeque plate from Bob-B-Que while you are there.

Visit www.artsofthealbemarle.com or www.baysidemanortour.com, or call 252-338-6455 for more information. All proceeds benefit the Arts of the Albemarle.

June - Good Life Getaways!

Are you looking for a weekend away from the daily grind of work? Just want to enjoy the sites while kicking back in a small town? Well Elizabeth City, NC is the place for you .. The city is on the Pasquotank River and is an attractive stop for boaters on the Albemarle Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway. There are great places to eat, wonderful museums, and attractions for the whole family. It is also a wonderful place to stay and relax while seeing the whole region during day trips.

Check out some of our June Getaway Packages you can create to your own schedule:

Power on the Pasquotank (June 2008)
Total cost: Depends on the place you stay and the choice of activities
*Ask your accommodation about the activity options

Two-night stay for two at either Culpepper Inn, Elizabeth City B&B ($180 + tax), Fairfield Inn & Suites ($200 + tax), Grice-Fearing House B&B ($220 + tax), or Pond House Inn ($244 + tax)

Dinner for two at City Wine Sellar featuring live entertainment

Carolina Cup Regatta Powerboat Race (Two-day free admission)

Brunch for two at one of our local restaurants

A Taste for the Arts (June 2008)
Total cost: Depends on the place you stay and the choice of activities
*Ask your accommodation about the activity options

Two-night stay for two at either Culpepper Inn, Elizabeth City B&B ($180 + tax), Fairfield Inn & Suites ($200 + tax), Grice-Fearing House B&B ($220 + tax), or Pond House Inn ($244 + tax)

Haunted Tours of Downtown Elizabeth City (April - June)

1 pair of tickets to the Taste of Elizabeth City ($50)

Brunch for two at one of our local restaurants

For more getaway package ideas please click here. For more info on Elizabeth City please contact the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 252-335-5330 or check out www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com.

Museum of the Albemarle’s New “Our Story” Exhibit Offers One-Stop History Lesson

Contact:
Elizabeth Evans
Public Relations Consultant
Cahoon & Cross Marketing Consultants
Phone: (757) 625-7068 direct line
E-mail: evanspr@cox.net
Museum of the Albemarle’s New “Our Story” Exhibit Offers One-Stop History Lesson
-- More than 750 artifacts tell the story of northeastern North Carolina’s Albemarle region --
(Elizabeth City, N.C., May 21, 2008) – Travelers to northeastern North Carolina now have a starting point for exploring the region’s abundance of historic sites and waterfront settings. The Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City has just opened “Our Story,” a thoughtful and handsome exhibit that weaves together the history of 13 counties surrounding the Albemarle Sound.

A permanent feature of the museum’s second floor, the 6,200 square-foot exhibit uses illustrated murals, muted lighting, photography and more than 750 artifacts to depict the Albemarle region’s maritime, canal, railroad, automobile and tourism eras.

“‘Our Story’ is the history of the region. It is a story of how northeastern North Carolina communities adapted to the challenges and opportunities of its unusual home,” said Don Pendergraft, the museum’s exhibit design chief.

Throughout the gallery, dark blue carpeting represents the water, and cork flooring the land – symbolic of residents’ ever-changing relationship with the rivers, sound and sea. As visitors make their way through the eras, eye-catching displays reveal such gems as a pine dugout canoe; the cannon recovered from the ship purported to be Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge; the smokestack from the C.S.S. Albemarle; a miniature replica of the James Adams Floating Theatre, the inspiration for author Edna Ferber’s popular novel, “Show Boat”; a horse-drawn “steam pumper” fire engine; and a 1954 Moth Boat, a small sail boat that was developed in Elizabeth City.

Visitors can walk into the Jackson House, a 1755 farmhouse that spanned both the Colonial and Federal time periods. The farmhouse and nearby ca. 1840 smokehouse are original structures from the area. The exhibit also features a 1950 restaurant counter and stools from the Comstock Confectionary, once a popular local soda shop.

Displays of period clothing and ample use of photographs further depict life in the respective time periods. Attached to many of the displays are photograph “flipbooks,” allowing visitors an opportunity to learn more about the large images they see.

“Our Story” was made possible through the Museum of the Albemarle’s capital campaign that raised more than $1.5 million in private funds.

The Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) is located at 501 South Water Street in Elizabeth City, N.C. The northeastern regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History, the museum interprets the history of 13 counties in northeastern North Carolina, considered by many to be the birthplace of English America. Admission is free. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. For information, call (252) 335-1453.

Special Elizabeth City Getaway Packages
In conjunction with the opening of the Museum of the Albemarle’s “Our Story” exhibit, the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau is offering a “One If By Land, Two If By Sea” accommodations package at participating inns, B&Bs and hotels. Rates, based on a two-night stay for two guests, start at $180, plus tax. Guests can add on a personalized historic walking tour and British tea, offered by De’Tours of Elizabeth City, and a Carolina Carriages’ horse-draw carriage tour of the Elizabeth City waterfront. Call the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or (252) 335-5330 or go to www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com.

Elizabeth City is located in northeastern North Carolina on the Pasquotank River, halfway between Norfolk, Va., and the Outer Banks. Elizabeth City has six National Register Historic Districts and is home to the Museum of the Albemarle, Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State University Planetarium and Port Discover Hands-on Science Center. Nature-based travelers are drawn to the area’s proximity to the Dismal Swamp and the abundance of outdoor recreational offerings.
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PHOTOS
To receive a photo selection of the “Our Story” exhibit, contact Elizabeth Evans at (757) 625-7068 or evanspr@cox.net

BAYSIDE MANOR WILL BE SITE OF AUGUST DESIGN SHOWCASE

May 12, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Simone Cooper
Simone Cooper Public Relations
252-338-6389: telephone number
SCPR@aol.com: e-mail address
BAYSIDE MANOR WILL BE SITE OF AUGUST DESIGN SHOWCASE
August 1st Preview Gala with Live Music, Food, and Drink Will Launch the Event
Special “Empty House Tour” Also Available on June 8th
No one would disagree that Elizabeth City, North Carolina is warm in May but the town known as the “Harbor of Hospitality” will soon become a hotter destination for reasons other than the weather, thanks in large part to The Design House at Bayside Manor. In a project benefiting Arts of the Albemarle, 15 interior designers, artisans, and landscape architects will transform the Greek revival antebellum mansion, located at 1598 Weeksville Road, near the U. S. Coast Guard Base, into a showcase of unusual furnishings and cutting-edge materials. Originally part of the John Hollowell plantation and once owned by Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton, who is an honorary chair for the event, the renovated mansion will embrace the latest design trends and highlight the elegant, the sophisticated, the casual, and the whimsical.

In addition to the eight fireplaces and Gothic staircase inside Bayside Manor, visitors will be in awe of the 5000-square foot setting, which will feature 18 design areas including a grand foyer, gentlemen’s library, living room, dining room, kitchen, suites, bedrooms, bathrooms, and a fantasy playroom, and one area on the third floor of the house will be redesigned by a high school student as a senior project. The property and grounds, which are comprised of ten wooded acres of land, will contain many unique landscaping elements including ornamental water and lighting fixtures. In addition to viewing the renovations, visitors will be able to shop at an on-site boutique where original paintings, prints, photography, and crafts will be sold, including many one-of-a-kind items. Café Montero’s at Bayside, also located on-site, will offer light fare such as sandwiches, salads, and desserts, and box lunches for groups can be reserved in advance.

On June 8th, a special “empty house tour,” will be offered where Bayside Manor can be viewed in its current “before” state. Design boards with photographs, paint and textile swatches, and material samples will be on display in each room which will allow the public to see, step-by-step, how each designer’s concept will come to life. Tickets are $5 and barbeque dinners, prepared by Bob-B-Que, can be purchased on-site. For tickets and information about the Empty House Tour, please contact Beverly Madrin at 252-330-1333.

On August 1st, an elegant preview gala featuring live music by jazz ensemble Connected, food by Montero’s, and spirits by The City Wine Sellar, marks the official launch of the event. Tickets are $100 each and guests will have an opportunity to meet the designers and discuss their work. For tickets and information about the Preview Gala, please contact Beverly Madrin at 252-330-1333.

From August 3rd until August 17th, The Design House at Bayside Manor tour will be held and hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door and can be purchased in advance for $12. A two-week pass is also available for $25 and allows ticket holders access to special on-site events such as a master storytelling session, a fashion show, a butterfly gardening workshop, and a harp concert. Off-site events connected with Design House such as a wine tasting, a bridge tournament, and a traditional British high tea, will also take place (may require reservations and additional fees). Museum of the Albemarle will offer an exhibition of Hollowell family artifacts as well as a slide show of a family scrapbook and The Pines at Elizabeth City will display historical archival photographs of the interior of Bayside Manor.

Upon the launch of Design House, Bayside Manor will be available for purchase through the Manuli-Stone Real Estate Team, an Elizabeth City-based concern.

For a complete listing of details about The Design House at Bayside Manor and related events, please contact Angela Stone at 252-339-2418 or visit www.baysidemanortour.com.

Museum of the Albemarle to Open New "Our Story" Exhibit, May 10 in Elizabeth City

Contact: Elizabeth Evans, Public Relations Consultant
Cahoon & Cross Marketing Consultants
Phone: (757) 625-7068 direct line
E-mail: evanspr@cox.net
Museum of the Albemarle to Open New "Our Story" Exhibit, May 10 in Elizabeth City
-- More than 750 artifacts tell the story of Northeastern North Carolina’s Albemarle region --
(Elizabeth City, N.C., April 21, 2008) – Visitors to Elizabeth City will soon have the chance to see a cannon fired by the pirate Blackbeard and step inside a Colonial-era farmhouse, when the Museum of the Albemarle opens a new regional exhibit, "Our Story," in its Madrin Gallery, Saturday, May 10. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled that day at 9:15 am.

The 6,200 square-foot exhibit will showcase more than 750 artifacts that depict the story of the Albemarle region’s watermen, farmers, lifesavers and soldiers. The history and culture of these people will unfold as visitors experience the maritime, canal, railroad, automobile and tourism eras in the Albemarle.

Featured among the artifacts are such finds as the cannon recovered the ship purported to be Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge; a Charles Wilson Peale miniature portrait brooch of Joseph Hewes, a North Carolina signer of the "Declaration of Independence"; a miniature replica of the James Adams Floating Theatre, the inspiration for author Edna Ferber’s popular novel, "Show Boat"; and a horse-drawn "steam pumper" fire engine that was used in Elizabeth City through the 1920s.

Visitors will also enjoy learning how early farming families lived by exploring the Jackson House, a 1755 farmhouse that spanned both the Colonial and Federal time periods. The farmhouse and nearby 1840 smokehouse are original structures from the area.

"Our Story" was made possible through the Museum of the Albemarle’s capital campaign that raised more than $1.5 million in private funds.

The Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) is located at 501 South Water Street in Elizabeth City, N.C. The northeastern regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History, the museum interprets the history of 13 counties in northeastern North Carolina, considered by many to be the birthplace of English America. Admission is free. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. For information, call (252) 335-1453.

About Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is located in northeastern North Carolina on the Pasquotank River, halfway between Norfolk, Va., and the Outer Banks. Elizabeth City has six National Register Historic Districts and is home to the Museum of the Albemarle, Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State University Planetarium and Port Discover Hands-on Science Center. Nature-based travelers are drawn to the area’s proximity to the Dismal Swamp and the abundance of outdoor recreational offerings. For travel information and suggested itineraries, call the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or (252) 335-5330 or go to www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com

Media Preview: Thursday, May 8 at 10 a.m.
The press is invited to attend a preview tour of "Our Story," Thursday, May 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Museum of the Albemarle.
If you can attend, please contact:

Elizabeth Evans, Cahoon & Cross
(757) 625-7068 direct line; evanspr@cox.net

Thomas Spagnol, Museum of the Albemarle
(757) 335-1453, Thomas.spagnol@ncmail.net

Carolina Carriages - Tours: April thru June 2008

Carolina Carriages happenings in Downtown Elizabeth City:

April 2008 - June 2008
Romantic Carriage Rides through Downtown Elizabeth City
Carolina Carriages Beginning at Mariner's Wharf on Water Street
15 minute rides, leaving every quarter hour
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Fridays
Admission: $25.00 per couple; $15.00 per person; $50.00 private carriage (2-6 persons)
252-619-5745

April 2008 - June 2008
Historic Carriage Tours of Downtown Elizabeth City
Carolina Carriages Beginning at Mariner's Wharf on Water Street
30 minute historic tour by carriage, includes guide in costume, knowledgeable in the architecture and history of downtown Elizabeth City and the surrounding areas.
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Saturdays
Admission: $35.00 per couple; $10.00 each additional person; $60.00 private carriage (2-6 persons) - Reservations Recommended
252-619-5745

April 2008 - June 2008
Haunted Tours of Downtown Elizabeth City
Carolina Carriages Beginning at The Harney House
Learn about Elizabeth City's little-known mysterious past by carriage lantern light and visit inside an historic home. 45 minute tour includes 30 minute carriage ride and 15 minute interior house tour.
7:30 & 8:15 pm, Thursday and Saturday - other evenings by arrangement
Admission: $25.00 per person; $45.00 per couple; $75.00 for private carriage (2-6 persons) - Reservations Required
252-619-5745

For more event listings please check out our event calendar.

Daily Advance Article: Dismal Swamp State Park set to open

Dismal Swamp State Park set to open
Facility includes $2M visitor center, 16 miles of walking trails

By JOHN HENDERSON
Daily Advance - Staff Writer

Thursday, March 13, 2008

SOUTH MILLS — Area residents will soon be exploring the same terrain George Washington did in the 1700s when the nation's first president first visited what would later become known as the Great Dismal Swamp.

The new Dismal Swamp State Park in Camden County featuring 16 miles of biking and hiking trails and a new visitors center is slated to open to the public next week.

Located next to Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center on the west side of U.S. Highway 17 near the Virginia line, the park will officially open on Friday, March 21.

Behind the $2 million visitors center is a 14,344-acre swath of conservation land slated to become North Carolina's 32nd state public park.

To access it, pedestrians need to cross over the Dismal Swamp Canal via a new $1.2 million, 80-foot-long pedestrian floating bridge. The new bridge will open up 16 miles of trails that were created years ago but not accessible to the public.

Park Superintendent Joy Greenwood said the public trails are being developed on what were once logging roads. She said no motorized vehicles or all-terrain vehicles will be allowed on them.

"You can do mountain biking or hiking," she said during a sneak peak of the park for Camden and other local officials Wednesday. "It will be a pedestrian-and-bicycle access bridge access."

She said the trails are very easy to walk on.

"They are flat, fairly wide," she said. "We've had 18-wheelers drive down them."

The new 5,600-square-foot visitor center includes an exhibit hall system of boardwalks, deck, and gazebos.

Greenwood said the public could learn a lot about nature and the nation's history by visiting the new center.

"George Washington was one of the first people that came through this park and was looking into this whole area," she said. "You think about how far back that goes in our nation's history."

A 300-foot boardwalk extends out from the back of the new visitor center. With the help of a grant, state officials hope to extend it an additional 2,000 feet.

Camden County Manager Randell Woodruff was among those who toured the new site on Wednesday. He said the park could generate sorely needed economic development for Camden. He envisions that hotels and businesses might want to locate close to the new attraction.

"Probably some businesses will be popping up that will be running canoes, kayaks, and things like that," he said.

The property for the new park was acquired by the state in 1974 with the help of The Nature Conservancy and was managed as a state natural area without public access until 2007, when the General Assembly authorized it as Dismal Swamp State Park.

It is adjacent to the 111,000-acre Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The new park supports a large variety of migratory, neo-tropical birds and a significant number of butterflies. The land is rich in natural resources, including native strands of Atlantic white cedar and populations of black bear, bobcat, and deer.

"We see lot of whitetail deer and black bears. I've seen as many as five different black bears in one day," Greenwood said.

The visitor center features museum-quality exhibits, a classroom, reception area, and teaching auditorium designed for environmental education programming. Community meetings will also be held in the building. In fact, the Camden boards of commissioners and education were scheduled to hold a joint session in the building today.

Penny Leary-Smith, director of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, said her facility would benefit by having the new park next door.

"We'll enhance each other," she said. "It will just be a great benefit to everybody."

Click here to see article. Click here to see pictures.

Community comes together to bring Designer House to the Albemarle Area

2008 Designer House at Bayside Manor
"Embracing the Past and the Present through Design"

Community comes together to bring Designer House to the Albemarle Area

Arts of the Albemarle will host the Albemarle Area’s first Designer House, which will be held at Bayside Manor on 1598 Weeksville Road, adjacent to the Elizabeth City U.S. Coast Guard Base and Elizabeth City’s regional airport. The 1850’s antebellum plantation home is listed the historical registry in Pasquotank County and will soon be transformed by the talents of more than 14 designers and landscapers from Elizabeth City, Edenton, the Outer Banks, Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Tidewater Virginia.

The Albemarle’s first ever Designer House idea came into being when the owners, Jerry and Jeanet Aylsworth, who brought the once decaying manor house back to it’s present condition, decided to sell their home with the Manuli-Stone Real Estate Team. Listing Realtors Cindy Manuli and Angela Stone called The Wright Solution a local interior design company to come into the manor and simply offer staging ideas.

However, Holly Wright, owner of The Wright Solution walked through the Manor, remembering a fellow area designer, Camilla Hull, had wanted to bring a Designer House to the area for many years. After meeting with the owners, Holly Wright, Camilla Hull, Beverly Madrin, Cindy Manuli, Angela Stone, and Diana M. Gardner formed a steering committee and "The 2008 Designer House at Bayside Manor Committee" was underway. With 17 Committee Chairs in place, over forty committee members were approached and agreed to be a part of the work and organization it takes to make a project of this scope happen.

In researching other area designer houses, Wright contacted the Richmond Symphony Orchestra League designer house committee. Richmond’s design committee has helped smaller areas get this type of project started and has been instrumental to the Bayside Manor project.

Bayside was a logical choice for the area’s first Designer House, it is the finest example of the county’s antebellum period prosperity. Originally part of Edenton’s John Hollowell Estate, which totaled more than 750 acres, Bayside was built by Christopher Wilson Hollowell around 1850 and is a 2 and 1/2 story, double pile Greek Revival on 10 acres of land, now zoned light commercial. The Manor still has monumental two story porches; the rear porch is carried across by Doric columns with an intervening second story porch. The entrance, according to Thomas R. Butcho author of On the Shores of the Pasquotank in which Bayside is often discussed, has a front door that "is the rural county’s finest example of the raised tablet motif, an element inspired in part by the designs of Asher Benjamin."

Inside there are eight Greek revival mantels including 2 extraordinary marble mantels with round arched openings. The staircase may have been restored and has a Gothic feel. Bayside was used as a hospital during the Civil War. The Hollowell family is thought to be one of the first North Carolina families to bring soybeans to the Albemarle Area from China. Another fun area fact is that Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton owned the manor house between the Hollowells and the Aylsworths.

One of the first designer committee meetings involved deciding what local entity would benefit from the proceeds. That is when Lisa Winslow, Executive Director of the Arts of the Albemarle, (AOA) was brought into the process.

Arts of the Albemarle is a non profit organization dedicated to economic progress through fostering the growth of arts in the area. The money raised by the Designer House will be donated to AOA because of their history of providing local festivals and a venue for the Arts to shine in the Albemarle Area.

According to Winslow, "the money, will certainly be invested right back into the community." One major Arts of the Albemarle project that will benefit from the Designer House proceeds is the renovation of the Lowry - Chesson Building on Main Street in Elizabeth City. The 110 year old structure is one of the last remaining un-restored vaudeville theaters in America, and will when complete be a major regional arts center; appropriately enough named "The Center". The Center will be home to Arts of the Albemarle’s Regional Art Gallery on the first floor, the second floor will feature a 300 seat theater. The space will be used for wedding banquets, dinner theaters, and theater troupe productions; it is marked to be one of the venues for a proposed International Theater Festival. Other spaces will be used for the AOA School of the Arts, art classes, and AOA’s offices.

The Albemarle Area has a waterfront known world wide for its "Harbor of Hospitality" that includes forty eight hours free docking, along with free Wi-Fi for the boaters and downtown area. Now it is hoping to be known for its Designer House at Bayside Manor. This year’s theme will be "Embracing the Past and the Present through Design".

The Designer House will kick off on August 1st with a black tie gala and opens to the public on August 3rd through August 17th and the 18th through the 24th it will be available to rent for private events. The hours of operation and ticket prices will be posted at www.baysidemanortour.com. Tickets will be available for advanced purchase. The web page will also list Sponsorship and Advertisement opportunities, along with Volunteer opportunities.

There will be special events daily on site and off. The special events, so far, include an area master storyteller, wine tasting, bridge tournaments, musicians, antique car show, autograph signings and much more. The Design house will even offer a daily Café by Montero’s a local restaurant with special events by other favorite local eateries, along with an on-site Boutique with local art for sale.

The community support and excitement for this project has been impressive. Area businesses that have been part of the start-up are the Manuli-Stone Real Estate Team, Realtor Diana M. Gardner, The Wright Solution, Camilla Hull Design Consultants, The Madrin Consulting Group, Blufish Web Designs, Direct Publications, Carden Printing, City Wine Cellar, Elizabeth City Bed and Breakfast, and Simone Cooper Public Relations and have donated time and talent to making this first year a success.

Many public agencies including, Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City Tourism, and the Chamber of Commerce have been actively working together to make this happen. But most importantly area businesses and private individuals have offered help and in-kind donations in a way unprecedented in this area.

The general public who attends The 2008 Designer House at Bayside Manor will be able to get design ideas, enjoy area talent through the special events, visit a historic local Manor House, and at the same time support a local cause that will give right back to them when it’s all over.

For more information about "The 2008 Designer House at Bayside Manor," please contact Simone Cooper, Simone Cooper Public Relations, at 252-338-6389 or at SCPR@aol.com.

Visit Duane McSmith at Hide-In-Wood Gardens, call 252-312-4970 for appointment

Contact: Tom M. Campbell, Extension Agent, Agriculture
Phone: 252-338-3954
E-mail: thomas_campbell@ncsu.edu

Hide-N-Wood Enabling Demonstration Garden for people with mobility challenges was first featured on UNC-TV in October of 2006.

Group tours are available to this unique enabling garden of raised beds and elevated planters suitable for gardening from wheel chairs or standing up without great bending. Weed reduction and concentrated production in very small spaces are features of this system of gardening. This type of educational garden attraction is very rare in the United States. As 60-70 million Americans retire in the next 15 years, gardening of this sort may become much more popular. Below are links that will tell you instructions for starting simple raised beds and elevated planters for low maintenance gardening.

Call Duane McSmith at 252-312-4970 to set an appointment to see Hide-N-Wood Garden or come without appointment and browse the grounds as you wish during daylight hours. Use the four parking spaces reserved at the front entrance where the sign says "Garden Parking".

Links on Hide-N-Wood Gardens:
- More About Hide-N-Wood Gardens
- Making a Raised Bed with Cider Blocks
- Remove Existing Soil Design
- Mixing Soils & Gardening in Self Watering Containers
- Constructing the Frame of an Elevated bed