Outer Banks Vacation Rental Beach Blog by Joe Lamb Realty

Lost Colony Silent Film from 1921 - Found!

2012-01-31T15:58:21Z

Years before there was "The Lost Colony" musical, there was "The Lost Colony" silent film. Back in 1921, the state of North Carolina appropriated $3,000 for the making of the film, which was to be used as an educational tool. The silent film's cast had over 200 actors, mostly local Manteo folks playing the roles of both Indians and colonists.

But as time went on, the 46-minute 16mm silent film went missing. Decades passed and only one version of the film was known to exist, but it was part of a private collection. Just last year the version belonging to the Roanoke Island Historical Association was found during a clean-up of an old storage room. The film was sent to historians and was digitally remastered so that it could be viewed again by the public.

The Pioneer Theater in Manteo is showing this historic gem of a movie for FREE on Sunday, February 5 at 3PM. For more information, contact The Lost Colony at 252-473-2127.

Reason #176,238 To Love the OBX

2012-01-31T00:11:48Z

Even though I am a resident of the Outer Banks, I still find myself on a pretty regular basis marveling at this beautiful place. This whole month of January is the perfect example. We had so many days in the 60s... even brushing 70 degrees on occasion... that I had to break out the flip flops. I just love being able to turn off the heater in the middle of winter, while the rest of the country braces for snowstorms, and opening my windows to let in the breeze. It's felt more like April than late January.

If you're reading this somewhere and wearing a sweater or are fighting a winter cold, remember that even though it's winter it is still the perfect time to take an Outer Banks vacation. Give us a call and book a house for a nice, long weekend. After all, Valentine's Day is right around the corner... what a perfect romantic getaway!

Roanoke Island Festival Park

2012-01-24T17:28:47Z

Roanoke Island Festival Park is located on the Manteo Waterfront on Roanoke Island and is best know for the 69 foot Elizabeth II. The Elizabeth II is a representation of a particular 16th-century English merchant ship, Elizabeth, one of seven in Sir Walter Raleigh's 1585 expedition fleet to establish England's first New World colony. As you tour the ship, living history interpreters roam about engaging guests with sea tales, legends and historical facts.

There is a settlement site on the grounds where interpreters shed light on how life must have been for both the English settlers and the Native Americans that lived on Roanoke Island. Also onsite at the Festival Park is the 8500 sq. ft. Roanoke Adventure Museum featuring interactive, hands-on exhibits, bringing to life the rich history of this area. In the film theater, guests can watch The Legend of Two Path, a 50-minute film telling the Native Americans’ perspective of the English colonists’ arrival and the story of how the arrival of the colonists changed their lives.

Here you will also find the museum gift shop, where historically themed gift merchandise is categorized into an Elizabethan section, a nautical section, a Civil War section and a Native American section, but there’s so much more than that. Fun and educational toys and books, beach décor, jewelry, candy, fine teas, food items, soothing music, as well as a large selection of fascinating local interest books by local authors.

The outdoor Pavilion and surrounding grounds offer a perfect place to enjoy a picnic and concert. Special events are ongoing at Festival Park all summer long. The Summer Children’s Performance Series is a favorite. At the outdoor amphitheater on the park grounds, special concerts and cultural events are held year round.

The Roanoke Island Festival Park is a gathering place for many special events including art exhibits, concerts, book signings and much, much more! It is a must on the to-do list for all visitors to the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

"A Salute to Love" by OBXbrides.com

2012-01-18T19:57:11Z

It's no secret that the Outer Banks is a wonderful destination for weddings. In fact, I've heard that we're second only to Las Vegas as a wedding destination in the United States. The Outer Banks Wedding Association hosts a very popular wedding Expo every January so that future brides can meet with local wedding vendors. As the Outer Banks has grown in popularity, so has the number of wedding vendors. OBXbrides.com is a website started by a few local wedding professionals that acts as a forum for brides to share their experiences and for future brides to learn about local wedding vendors. This March, OBXbrides.com is hosting their very first wedding show at The Sanderling in Duck on March 24. Visit OBXbrides.com to buy tickets and view a list of the vendors who will be on hand.

I just recently learned about the OBXbrides.com's "Salute to Love", which was a FREE wedding donated by the members of OBXbrides.com to one lucky and deserving military couple. The couple, John and Megan, will be marrying on the Outer Banks in April. I absolutely love the idea... one of the owners of OBXbrides.com wanted to do something to "give back" to our military. She decided to do what she does best... give them a wedding of their dreams. The couple couldn't be more deserving; he's a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and she's an Olympic athlete recovering from cancer. I can't wait to read about their wedding after it happens in April. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Outer Banks Sounds: The Local Music Scene

2012-01-11T10:58:41Z

The Outer Banks is home to quite a few talented musicians, some who play nightly in bars and restaurants, others who work the wedding scene and a few who travel regionally and nationally to perform. We even have a local celebrity musician here on the Outer Banks, Tim Reynolds of the Dave Matthews Band. When not touring the country, he performs from time to time around the Outer Banks with his other band TR3 (Tim Reynolds 3).

In support of the local music scene, the Dare County Arts Council and 99.1 The Sound radio station are hosting "Outer Banks Sounds", a monthly concert at Kelly's Restaurant and Tavern. Local singer/songwriters will perform from 7-10PM, every third Thursday of the month through April. The event will culminate in an "Outer Banks Sounds" CD. All proceeds from the CD will go towards the Community Music School, a Dare County Arts program that provides affordable music instruction to local youth. For more information, contact the DCAC at (252)473-5558.

Don't miss the next Outer Banks Sounds concert-- January 19th at Kelly's!

Don't Miss the Wedding Weekend and Expo!

2012-01-04T15:46:40Z

If you are a bride thinking about getting married on the Outer Banks, you're not going to want to miss the annual Wedding Expo put on by the Outer Banks Wedding Association. This weekend, January 6-8, will be jam-packed with fun, informational and educational events all put on by the Wedding Association.

Meet David Tutera of WE TV's "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera" at a special cocktail reception at the Duck Woods Country Club on January 7th, from 7-10PM. Complete with heavy hors d'oeuvres, live music, a chance to win the Dream Wedding giveaway, the cocktail reception will be an event not to miss!

The Expo will be all day on Sunday, January 8th, at the First Flight Middle and High Schools from 10AM-4PM. Check out local wedding professionals, sample cakes, listen to musicians, and get a chance to win the Dream Wedding, valued at over $45,000.

For tickets and more information, visit: outerbanksweddingassoc.org.

Don't Miss the Wedding Weekend and Expo!

2012-01-04T15:46:19Z

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-28T18:14:28Z

It's been a little while since my last blog post... I'm just coming down from all of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday. My relatives just left town yesterday morning, and I'm still cleaning up the tinsel and wrapping paper! What a wonderful time we all had together... Christmas Eve with friends and family in Currituck drinking wassail and eating roasted oysters; Christmas morning in Southern Shores opening gifts; and Christmas night at our house with good friends and family drinking champagne.

This year I once again tried to shop local. My gift to my in-laws and my aunt and uncle had an "Outer Banks" theme. I filled a gift bag with all things local... coffee from Kill Devil Coffee, Outer Banks Rum Cakes, biscotti from Coastal Provisions, small pieces of artwork bought at the KDH Cooperative Gallery, a gift card to Trio wine bar, and honey made by Wanchese bees. Not only was it was a fun gift to put together that everyone loved getting, but I was happy that everything was purchased right here at home.

Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

See the Christmas Lights on the OBX

2011-12-15T17:17:52Z

One of my favorite Christmas-time activities is driving around to see the Christmas lights. I appreciate all the forms of decoration people choose to display... whether they adorn their homes in colorful, blinking bulbs and plastic reindeer or delicately drape their trees in warm white lights, they're all beautiful to me. If you're out and about after dark and want to know where to go to see the best lights on the Outer Banks, then the Poulos house back near Nags Head Woods is by far the most extravagant. From manger scenes to flying Santas to ornate train villages, the Poulos house never fails to amaze me or my kids. It's so amazing, in fact, that Al Roker himself has broadcast from the Poulos' front lawn.

Other favorites of mine include the lit Christmas tree atop Jockey's Ridge and the tree at Aviation Park pond. For a truly spectacular light show, visit the Elizabethan Gardens' "WinterLights" display. Visit elizabethangardens.org for information on admission and dates.

Need a Great Beach Read?

2011-12-07T15:14:58Z

Local author and maritime historian John Amrhein, Jr. delves into the history of local piracy with his new documentary Treasure Island: The Untold Story. This true story begins right in our very own back yard... Ocracoke Island. In 1750 the Lloyd brothers, two merchant captains from Virginia, stole a massive treasure from a disabled Spanish galleon in Ocracoke Inlet. They fled with their treasure to Norman Island in the Caribbean. The treasure was recovered not long afterward.

This almost forgotten tale of the Lloyd brothers' piracy has never been told in its entirety until now. After years of research done locally, in the Caribbean and in Europe, Amrhein gives the world a glimpse of a story to rival Treasure Island.

You can find Treasure Island: The Untold Story at local bookstores or online in E-book format. For more information, visit www.treasureislandtheuntoldstory.com.