Cocktails on Ocracoke; is Hatteras next?

Mixed drinks are now being served in restaurants on Ocracoke. Until Hyde County voters passed a referendum in August 2006, folks only had the option of drinking beer or wine while dining out. Howard's Pub served the first mixed drink (a Bloody Mary) on Feb. 11, 2007.

Not all restaurants plan to take advantage of the new law, however. Some have no plans to add cocktails to their menu and others want to see what customer demand is like before they make a commitment. Small establishments still cannot serve liquor because of ABC laws which require that 30% of food and beverage sales in restaurants serving mixed drinks must be food and the restaurants must have indoor seating for at least 36 people.

On Hatteras Island, establishments still only serve beer and wine. Some restaurants, however, have "brown bagging" licenses which allow customers to bring in their own bottles of liquor. Hatteras restaurant owners who want to sell cocktails are circulating a petition that calls for a vote on the issue. They need signatures from 25% of the island's registered voters in order for an election to be held. The group has until about June 23 to collect the signatures and they are already more than halfway to reaching that goal. - Shelby Kinnaird

Ocrafolk Festival 2007

The Ocrafolk Music and Storytelling Festival will be held in Ocracoke Village on June 1-3, 2007. The free festival features artists, musicians and storytellers. There will be weekend performances, a Friday night community potluck and auction, a Saturday night square dance, a Sunday morning gospel sing plus a fig cake bake-off, a restaurant waiter competition and more.

For more information, visit www.ocrafolkfestival.org.

While we were out ...

We've been out of town for a couple of weeks and it seems like a lot happened while we were away.

First, there was the storm. Apparently, a 40-foot wave hit the beach near Rodanthe and the ocean washed over the road in at least three places: just south of the Bonner Bridge (Oregon Inlet), at the S-curves and in the town of Rodanthe. Fortunately for us, there was no soundside flooding with the storm.

Second, the film crew for Nights in Rodanthe showed up. You may have noticed the house called "Serendipity" - the first one on the left in Mirlo Beach as you approach from the north. Well, it's now sporting a sign that says "The Inn at Rodanthe" and there is a lot of activity around the house. This is where the film will be shot. We heard that the film crew was excited to be able to get footage of the storm last week. They weren't so happy, however, when they couldn't get off the island after filming because the road was washed out. Ah, life on Hatteras. - Shelby Kinnaird