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5:28p There was a fire next door to the Grantsboro Piggly Wiggly Saturday night. The Habitat Resale store was destroyed. From store owner Billy Flockhart:

This is the Grantsboro Piggly Wiggly that was affected (not Oriental.) Both the Grantsboro and Oriental Piggly Wiggly stores are locally owned by Billy Flockhart.

6:08a Today is forecast to be rather like Saturday – a 60% chance of rain and thunderstorms. Looking ahead, it isn’t until late in the coming week that we finally have a day without a chance of precipitation.

That would be Friday. Right now it looks like next weekend will be a dry one… clearer skies arriving just in time for Silospalooza.

3:25p Despite the weather – wine tastings are on today at Nautical Wheelers – safely under the rear carport. Next tasting at 4p.

3:07p High wind so far today – 41 mph at 1:34p. It’s an odd feeling weather day. Wind. Rain. Thunderstorms threatening. Sunday looks like more of the same.

On the bright side… it isn’t constant rain. Just about 1/10” inch so far today (almost an inch yesterday).

On the water, the marine forecast has served up south and southwest winds for the past week. There is no break in site yet… that same forecast continues into the coming week.

The south winds have kept water levels on the low side… about a half foot below normal this afternoon.

1:37p Introduction To Windsurfing is still a go for tonight 7p-9p, meeting at the deck by Oriental’s School Of Sailing. Instructor Will Flannery says this introduction is a presentation and discussion meet up, and if weather conditions permit a short demo too. Contact Will for more info by phone or text at 252-571-8911.

11:45a It’s been raining hard this morning… but not steadily. No rain for a while. Then mega monsoon for 5 minutes. At this writing about 1/3 of an inch has fallen. Update – now closer to 3/4” at 1:25p.

9:22a The brewery’s new Farmhouse Saison Ale debuted Thursday. It’s almost gone… from Lili:

New Village Brewery is open from noon til 10p~ish today & Saturday.

8:12a It’s that almost summer kinda hot / cloudy / might rain / all eighties every day time of year. And so goes today, high near 80, chance of rain 80%. But these rainy days, only rain for a little while. The weekend will be fine.

8:01a Those fancy duds that just sit in your closet get to come out one day a year. That day is today… this afternoon Village Gallery celebrates with it’s 10th Annual Black Velvet Event.

PCC’s Pepsi Cup Golf Tournament raises money for the PCC Foundation Saturday. Nautical Wheelers will have wine tastings Saturday at 3 & 4p under the carport (in case of rain.).

It’s all in What’s Happening.

4:03p It is just over a week away – SilosPalooza 2018 is Saturday May 26.

8:54a The Boy Scouts are coming…. this weekend they are at Bow To Stern Boating. They come, they camp… and they learn to sail. And they get their sailing merit badge (Bow To Stern has been certified as a small boat merit badge facility.) The merit badge is officially called “Small Boat Sailing.”

More are coming. Several troops, as well as Girl Scout troops, will be visiting through the summer.

(click images for the big view)
Above are scouts visiting Bow To Stern last year. The same scene(s) will unfold this weekend.

6:51a The Oriental Tourism Board holds a breakfast meeting this morning at 8:30a, inviting local businesses and non-profits to attend. Held in the back room at Brantley’s restaurant, it’s a meeting for sharing ideas & networking. The meeting starts at 8:30a, but folks are encouraged come by at 8:00a for breakfast ahead of the discussions.

2:51p Oriental’s New Village Brewery has been serving up lots of craft beer lately, but not brewing. Frank & Lili Bacon write in to explain why – and with good news:

The brewery is open Thursday – Saturday every week. Here’s whats on tap this weekend.

12:33p New specials at the Piglet come out every Wednesday.

Sirloin steaks, vine ripe tomatoes & seedless grapes are among the the specials for May 16-23… see them at this link.

9:44a On the Pamlico Sound today, the military will be putting one or two of its bombing targets to use. In case you were wondering…

Not all small craft warnings are meteorological. Give a wider berth than usual to Brant Island Shoals and Piney Island.

7:40a 70% chance of showers. Temperature near 80. Tomorrow and Friday: rinse and repeat.

1:22p Researchers with the North Carolina King Tides project came to town to install a low-tech water level gauge at the town dock. They need your photography skills to help document water levels in and around Oriental.

11:48a Every May folks come out for the annual PCC Foundation Golf Tournament, supporting scholorships at PCC. The 2018 tournament is this Saturday.

9:00a Some rain is expected today with temps in the mid 80s. Thunderstorms are forecast Wednesday through Saturday.

4:41p We have tardy trash. From Town Hall:

11:20a Back in February the Oriental Tourism Board held a breakfast meeting, inviting local businesses and non-profits to attend. The goal was to share ideas and network. It worked. The second meeting (now a quarterly event) is this week, Thursday 8:30a at Brantley’s. The meeting starts at 8:30a, but come by at 8:00a for breakfast ahead of the discussion.

9:01a Hurricane Season starts June 1, and usually nothing forms until at least July. But this morning there is a “tropical disturbance” in the Gulf between Florida & Cuba. From NOAA:

You can see the disturbance in this NOAA GOES East satellite view:

click image for the big view
IF anything forms, early data indicates it is more likely to get Alabama wet than us.

8:40a Officially, summer begins June 22. But we’re getting some weather that may have more summer than spring in it. Sunny & 90 today, then that classic summer~ish chance of thunderstorms begins Wednesday and stays every day through the weekend.

It may be early in the week, but you need to make those hot date Friday plans. And you can. Friday is the 10th Annual Black Velvet Event at Village Gallery. You get to support the arts and put on your fancy duds.

Friday night the Friday Flicks reach back to 1952 for Blackbeard The Pirate.

9:54a The blues. With brews. It was the Saturday night scene at New Village Brewery, with the blues from Fairlight Moriah & The Scorpio Moon:

(click images for the big view)
Just as the Scorpio moon is always changing, so does the cast of The Scorpio Moon. The players Saturday night worked.

6:35a Another near 90 degree day ahead (along with sunshine). Monday will be a bit milder, mid 80s.

Saturday was event filled in town: Art On The Neuse, a Nautical Fleamarket, live music at multiple venues. Sunday looks to be a calmer day, but if you’re seeking a new outdoor pastime there may be something for you. Dragon Boat paddling… this morning at 8:30a.

On the Neuse easy 5-10 knot SW winds today.

3:27p Got some big stuff that’s gotta go? The Town Of Oriental is pickin’ stuff up Saturday:

This brings up the age-old question. What are “Brown Goods” and “White Goods”?
……………
white goods
ˈ(h)wīt ˌɡo͝odz/
noun
plural noun: white goods; plural noun: whitegoods
large electrical goods used domestically such as refrigerators and washing machines, typically white in color.

brown goods
noun
plural noun: brown goods
television sets, audio equipment, and similar household appliances.
……………
It is confusing. An olive or black refrigerator is a “white good.” A white plastic TV is a “brown good.”

And you are now educated. You’re so good.

11:05a TownDock Senior Weather Geeky Management may be easily amused, but this satellite view of the east coast is kinda cool.

Did Pirate Edward Teach ever make beer? History suggests he may have been more involved in alcohol acquisition than creation, but there is now an Edward Teach Brewery in Wilmington. Their beers are on tap this weekend in Oriental at New Village Brewery. Peg Leg Chocolate Stout available.

10:22a While Oriental has Art On The Neuse Saturday, some Oriental area folk are performing some art tonight in New Bern:

9:05a If Mom has been behaving lately, you might take her out to M&Ms on Mother’s Day.

8:42a Opening just a few months ago, Oriental is now home to a coffee roaster. They roast coffee, right here in river city. Croakertown Coffee sells mostly to wholesale accounts, but they are open Fridays for retail customers. Today they will be giving lessons on how to make espresso or cappuccino at home. Stop on by.

Saturday has multiple goings-on. Starting at 8a a Nautical Fleamarket at The Provision Company. Come sell or buy some more bronze bits. It’s the 15th annual Art On The Neuse from 10-4p at Over Harbor Marina (by O’Town restaurant.) Fairlight Moriah & The Scorpio Moon perform the blues live from 6-8p at New Village Brewery. Come Sunday morning, you can try out paddling a Dragon Boat.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

7:14a Sunny & 85 today… Saturday the same. Sunday even more summery with highs near 90.

Time to find those short pants in the closet.

9:33a Oriental’s Dog Park has its official grand opening today at 11a. It is on Straight Rd behind the Volunteer Fire Department. It requires an ID tag to use and you can pick up the paperwork from Town Hall.

The ID tag is for the dog. You’re probably OK without one. Probably.

9:12a The view from NOAA’s GOES East satellite… you’ll see the sun rise over the east coast – and note the mostly clear skies over us:

click image for the big view

8:25a A little misty, a little overcast, but not a bad day. Highs in the low 70s and winds around 10 mph.

Wednesday means open mike night at the Silos. Go play them a tune and show off that accordion you picked up from the Saturday’s yard sale.

Accordion players should be aware: there is no chicken wire protecting players from the audience.