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Nautical Wheelers lit up for The Spirit of Christmas

This morning, the last remnants of the Joe Cox house came down. The house could not be salvaged, and has been scraped. A Mexican restaurant / food truck may take its place.

The house at the corner of Hodges and South Water Streets is coming down. Known as the Joe Cox House, it has sat empty for years. Joe Cox was an NC State art professor who spent several decades visiting Oriental, starting in the 60s. Among other town contributions, Cox is credited as one of the originators of the New Year’s Dragon Run. There’s talk of a Mexican restaurant and/ or food truck going up on the lot in the future. Garland Fulcher Seafood will remain on the property.

Foggy, wet Saturday morning at Lou Mac Pier.

Dinghy and passenger leave the town free dock at sunset. (Joe Carl photo)

Norwegian Fish Houses, a painting by Pappy Khouri. Pappy is the December Artist Of The Month at Village Gallery – your invited to the meet the artist at the show opening, Saturday from 2-5p.

A frosted rail overlooks a cool harbor. This photograph was gathered exclusively for very cool TownDock readers, like you.

Tuesday night’s full moon, from Greens Creek looking back at Oriental. (Yvonne Larsen photo)

Oriental’s harbor, early Tuesday morning. With only one vessel at the free docks and two in the slips at Oriental Marina & Inn, the transient traffic heading south appears to be slowing down.

Foxy Lady and God’s Grace sharing the Garland Fulcher Seafood docks.

There can be disadvantages for being the center of attention. An unpardoned turkey. (Laura Turgeon drawing)

On Thanksgiving morning every year a very simple tradition occurs: over 100 bicyclists gather near the town dock in front of The Bean. They then go for a lazy ride through town. You’re invited to the 2023 Turkey Pedal.

Melinda Penkava takes a walk on a West Coast beach. Her story is coming. (Jamie Knapp photo)

A cormorant swims by an experienced looking trawler in Oriental’s harbor. (Click for the full view)

A new-in-the-harbor trawler, visiting from Hilton Head Island, SC, was offloading their catch at the Garland Fulcher docks this morning: MV Jeffrey Logan.

Deep reflections on a still harbor.

A reminder, at the entrance to Pecan Grove Marina. (Click for the full marina entrance scene)

SV Narwhal reflecting in her slip at Pecan Grove Marina.

Sunrise from the Pecan Grove channel.

Spotted on ferry Kinakeet, an axe ready for axe action.

447 votes were cast Tuesday in Oriental, over twice the voter participation from the last election. Results below…

The signs are out at Fire Station 19 – Oriental’s official polling location.

Last week, four Monarch butterflies were released into Oriental. They’d been raised indoors by local residents, giving them a better chance of making it from egg to butterfly – without becoming dinner for something else. (Click for the big picture and swipe to see more)

Two small fishing boats head out at sunrise.

Resting at dock in Pecan Grove, and perhaps a cue for your weekend: do something restorative….

Autumn sunrise on Smith Creek.

Some cruising boats have a crew member that’s a cat. Or a dog. There’s only one boat we recall with a Coati, an animal with roots in the mountains of Colombia. Meet Cali, in the The Shipping News.

The skeletons are out for Halloween. These are hanging out at the corner of Church and Broad Streets. Click for the big view, and to see the ghosts on Mildred St.

The night before Halloween. The dolls (and other decorations) are out. Find this one swinging on Mildred Street.

Elvis. Shows 3p Sunday, Oriental’s Old Theater.

Yolanda Cristiani as Winifred Sanderson at the 2022 Witches’ Crawl. The witches return Saturday evening, October 28, at the corner of King & Neuse Streets. Little witches are invited to come out and dance at 5:45p. This year the witches dance to raise money for the new Library Building on Highway 55.

Starlings hang out on a wind indicator in the morning. (Click for the full view)

Roads. Some are crumbling. And they’re costly. Commissioners have been trying to find a solution. Tonight, you’re invited to a public forum at Town Hall at 6:30p to give your insight on potential solutions. Find out more here.

The sunrise on Neuse Drive illuminates a bench facing the entrance to Whittaker Creek.

Teresa Caroon accepts the second place Spirit Award from Channel 12 News meteorologist Donnie Cox at Saturday’s Chili Cookoff.

There’s hot chili. Mild chili. Beef chili. Vegi chili. It’s all in brutal culinary competition Saturday at the annual Chili Cookoff, 11a – 1p on the Oriental Marina grounds. (click photo for shocking insider info)

Getting up close and personal with a ’57 Chevy Bel Air in Saturday’s Oriental Classic Car Show.

The Chevrolet bowtie with a bit of vintage dealer advertising. It’s on the trunk of a ’55 Chevy Bel Air at this past Saturday’s Oriental Car Show.

Moored on Morris Creek.

Looking out at the Oriental Cup Regatta from the bow of SV Ricochet. (Christel Monmoine photo)

Saturday’s Oriental Car Show was cut short by high winds and rain. A few minutes after noon the winners were hastily announced. The 2003 Best In Show award went to Scott Warhover’s 1960 MGA 1600. With rain pouring down, TownDock crew got Scott’s photo with the Best In Show trophy.

What do a 1936 Rolls Royce, a 1956 Ford pickup, a 1939 Packard and a 1956 Chevy Belair all have in common? They are all past Best In Show winners at the Oriental Car Show. The show is today, by the riverfront near Lou Mac Park. Free admission to see the cars.

The Oriental Classic Car Show is Saturday, whatever the weather may bring.

The Oriental Cup Regatta begins tomorrow. Not the sailing – the registration, dinner & dancing, and a wee bit of partying before the sailing starts on Saturday. Which means you still have time to register. And you can do it online right here.