Top Tier Pier Pressure

Photo: Eric Vithalani 

The time of year has come for one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. The Surf City Pier is one of Topsail Island’s main fishing arenas. Fishermen and women alike can come and enjoy a full day of casting and reeling from the wooden icon centralized in Surf City. Visitors can cruise the pier for a buck and watch the anglers test their skills, or just stroll to the end for a beautiful view of the Atlantic. Fisher people must have a fishing license, which can be purchased online or locally at East Coast Sports on Roland Avenue. There is a fee for each pole, but the price is worth it if you can pull in dinner, or a real catch worthy of the Pier’s wall of famous fish. The pier house has a full grill serving all three meals of the day and plenty of snacks and refreshments. It’s summer, go fish! 

The Easter Bunny Has Left, But The Hops Are Still Here

 

Dear, oh dear, do not fear, for spring is here, and with it comes beer. All riddles and foam top jokes aside, spring and April 26^th/ THIS WEEKEND in particular brings forth something extra special and extra tasty to the Topsail Island area—The Hops of Spring Beer Festival.

Hosted by The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, this event has become a must-do for islanders and area residents and visitors. Why, you ask? Well, it may just be a TI area thing, but The Hops of Spring Beer Festival is about the basics—good music, good food, good brews, and good company. I’m not sure what more someone could ask for during an afternoon in April, but it’d be tough to beat that list of goods.

This year the festival has moved locations. More folks means more of everything, so in lieu of high volume and popularity, the festival will now take place on HWY 17 between Holly Ridge and the HWY 210 intersection (by Lowe’s Hardware). This open field space will be great for beer and food vendors (and of their consumption), the onslaught of live music, and, of course, the mingling and relaxing with friends and family.

Tickets for the event will be on sale this week for $25. Your ticket ensures beer samplings from a wide variety of brews, guarantees great jams from numerous bands during the events entirety, and gives you the space and outlet to sing and dance and be merry with the people you enjoy most.

The Hops of Spring Beer Festival is bigger and more radical than ever. More food, more brews, more bands, and a whole extra scoop of awesome (with sprinkles). The gates open at noon and the fun and festivities last until 7 PM. Tickets at the gate are $35, but can also be purchased at http://www.etix.com, http://www.topsailchamber.org, or at the Topsail Chamber of Commerce (13775 HWY 210 in Surf City). Portions of the benefits, sales, raffles and donations will be handed over to the Hope For Warriors. What’s that? Great beer for a great cause? Shucks, that’s a steal.

Look, no jive: this Saturday will be the best kind of Saturday in the Topsail area. Why live a life of regret? For more info check out the event profile on http://www.insiderinfo.us, or the event Facebook page.

Oh, You Don’t Surf? Fix It.

Never stood on a surfboard? How about felt the thrill of riding ocean waves? We’d never go pointing fingers, but it’s time for a change.

Topsail Island’s Surf City Surf School (SCSS) has everything one could need for a future life in shredding.

SCSS is locally owned and operated with 20+ years of surfing and instructional experience.  What does that mean, you ask? Well friends, that means that the crew at SCSS have 100% success rate in taking the beach strolling, vacationing, average Joseph, clueing them in on some insiderinfo(.us) on wave gliding and transforming them into surfers apt in the art of cowabunga. Whether you’re an area resident looking for a new hobby, or visiting the island and in search for some aquatic fun, SCSS has the equipment, ocean knowledge, and professional staff to get you up and riding Topsail’s waves.  Oh shucks! Did we forget to mention TI is ideal for the novice surfer? Well, guess what compadre?? Tis’!

SCSS is mobile, meaning they pack up their boards and come to your rental house, or have multiple ideal surfing locations about the island for area natives crossing the bridge for the day. SCSS supplies boards, expert surf instruction from regional and national surf champions, offer private and group lessons, ocean safety info, tips on the best places and times to surf, and even provide a custom SCSS tee shirt to every student. And dang, did you want to just rent a board? (They got those, too).

Discounts are available for groups and returning lessons. Already a surf star? From beginner to advanced, SCSS can lend its knowledge in coaching both for competition, technique and strategy.

What are you waiting for, silly non-surfing-goose, time to get on the board!

Ab Workouts in a New Locale

Enjoy a good laugh? Of course you do, you’re human and humans love a gut-wrenching giggle. Well Topsail locals, visitors and area natives, low and behold Surf City has a got a fresh event headed east of the green bridge and its growing success proves to be worth your time.

Earlier this fall, the Port City Comedy Troupe made its way north to Surf City’s Commodore Room and ladies and gentlemen, they’re coming back!

The Commodore Room, located in the downtown, strip district of Surf City, is no stranger to hosting events, but this is a whole new something to do for Topsail Island night riders. The venue functions perfectly for an island comedy show as the open-room space creates an intimate atmosphere and promotes interaction from the host and comedians to the audience.

Last month, the Commodore Room hosted a comedy night and every seat in the place was warmly taken for the four-comedian line up. Tables were centered and wrapped around the stage to be right in the punchlines, along with servers conveniently and discretely strolling by to keep your cocktail of choice filled and keep you from missing a ba-dump-ching! But, if posting up right in the crossfire and under the lowlight isn’t your cup of comedy tea, there is a large bar opposite the stage where you can sit, hang and still easily hear the show from a safe distance.

If you’re looking for some wintertime nightlife, laugh-a-thon, downright good times on TI, look no further fella you found it! And if the talk of the town on Sunday in Surf City centered around recounting the best jokes and deeming the night prior a great addition to the doldrums of winter solstice, it’s fair to say the next show will be standing room only.

Upcoming comedy shows at the Commodore Room are January 25th and February 15th.

There is a five dollar cover, doors open at 7:30 PM.

For more info on Port City Comedy, bios on comedians and other area shows, be sure to check out portcitycomedy.com.

Sips of Warmth

As  winter draws near, thoughts of fireside chats and anything warm enter the majority of minds on Topsail Island. While the fire side of things may be tough to come by at times, something to warm you up is always nearby at Swingbridge Beer and Wine in Surf City, NC.  With over 400 beers to choose from and wine galore, this craft beer store has any sipper to supply your dinner party, vaca, or just a quiet evening with winter. If you just want one, or even a sample, there’s multiple coolers bearing single beers and several wines on tap for your enjoyment and finding just the right taste for your palette. For the fall and winter, a new cider tap has been unveiled for the seasonal cider lovers among us, perfect for cruising in, warming up with a pint, or having your treat on their vine-covered patio. While the crowds on TI may have dwindled, there’s sill attractions aplenty to take part in and Swingbridge is at the top of that list. Stop on in, sample the goods, sip some cider or just swing through to see what’s new on the shelves at Swingbridge, you’ll be happy you did.

A Mac Daddy Eat Spot

While September is nearing its end, fall is the ultimate month on Topsail Island. The beach goers have dwindled, the traffic has diminished, but, by golly, the beauty has gone nowhere. In fact, it’s arguable clause that there is no more perfect a time to visit Topsail Island beaches than in the fall months. Moreover, there’s no better place to snag a bite in those same months than at Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille.

Daddy Mac’s is one of the island’s only oceanfront restaurants, which means the view while dining can’t be beat. The Atlantic transforms into vibrant emerald greens and deeply saturated blues this time of year, so why miss it and why not eat fresh seafood while soaking it in? With the summer crowds no longer in effect, don’t expect to wait long for homemade, in-house designed speciality dishes and entrees. Daddy Mac’s only serves fresh seafood and of a wide variety– salmon, ahi tuna, mahi-mahi, scallops, jumbo shrimp and they’re three varieties of handmade, no-filler crab cakes. Partner any of their fishes with Daddy Mac’s signature sauces, or give one of their nightly features a try– dishes like stuffed grouper or bayou crusted monk fish, any and all of which are partnered with grilled shrimp and or crab.

If you’re not too hungry, don’t fret, the view of the Surf City Pier with a Daddy Mac’s signature cocktail is no bad place to be. The staff is there to greet you and keep you happy during your visit and don’t be surprised if the owners come by to introduce themselves.

Whether a midweek date night, or a midday lunch in the sunshine, Daddy Mac’s will please any eye and appetite.