Turn off the Stove! Flaming Amy’s and See Bee Subs are now Delivering

If you live in Pleasure Island, you’ll be interested in this delicious good news - Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn and Sea Bee Subs in Carolina Beach are now delivering. Forget about over-crowded grocery stores, standing in line at restaurants, or the same old same old pizza delivery. Flaming Amy’s and Sea Bee Subs can help make your meals hassle- and travel-free.

The Boardwalk at Carolina Beach: Where Summer Memories Are Made

The Carolina Beach oceanfront comes alive in the summer months along the boardwalk located just off the beach between Cape Fear Blvd. and Harper Ave. A treasured part of Pleasure Island history for more than eighty years, the boardwalk is a favorite entertainment and dining destination for locals and visitors alike. It's no surprise Food & Wine magazine ranked Carolina Beach Boardwalk one of the top 10 boardwalks in the country. Dotted with amusement rides, restaurants, watering holes, shops, live music, and exciting weekly events, the boardwalk is home to all things fun this summer.

Dining on the Boardwalk

From restaurants to taverns to decadent sweet shops, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk has something to satisfy everybody's appetite. Whether lunch, dinner, or late night bites, Shelby Jean's Restaurant on the boardwalk has favorites like burgers, wings, sandwiches, crab dip, steaks, and seafood...and don't forget their nightly drink specials!

Head over to Hurricane Alley's and enjoy a steam pot from their oceanfront rooftop deck, or venture to  Silver Dollar, another fun place to hang out on the boardwalk. This laid back  bar and grill in inviting and the food is fresh.  Follow up dinner and drinks with some grab-and-stroll goodies from Britt's Donut Shop, Krazy Kones, New Orleans Snowballs, The Fudgeboat, or the Island Ice Factory.

After Dinner Extravaganzas

Ferris wheel, carousel, trampolines, a big slide, miniature golf, and carnival games and prizes - the attractions at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park offer a variety of family-friendly (and budget-friendly) ways to play in a safe, fun environment. Thrill seekers and old-school merry-goers alike will find something to satisfy their adrenaline rushes with more than 25 amusement rides. Park goers can purchase single-ride tickets or an all-day pass. For more information, visit www.pleasureislandnc.org 

What would a beachfront boardwalk be without live music, entertainment, and fireworks? The Carolina Beach Boardwalk hosts a music concert series at the Gazebo Stage every week at 6:30 beginning Friday, May 27th, followed by fireworks on the beach at 9:00 pm.

The boardwalk is the best 'seat' in the house to rock out to reggae, blues, pop, classic rock, and country. Visit our concert website for the full music line up.

Something for Everyone

Entertainment at the Boardwalk doesn't have to be all fast paced. Every Wednesday night beginning May 25th, Cash Bingo takes place at the Boardwalk Gazebo from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. For less than $20.00 participants can play all games, including specials. Cash prizes are awarded for each game, up to $1,000 each night. Call 910-458-8434 for more information.

The 800 feet of Boardwalk at Carolina Beach might not be the longest boardwalk in the country but it's packed with more fun than imaginable.  From the amusement park rides to the restaurants and live entertainment, this is where summer memories are made.

For more information on what to see and do at the boardwalk, visit us at www.pleasureislandnc.org/carolina-beach-boardwalk/

Off Season Specials

Now that the summer season has come to a close there are some excellent deals to be found in our favorite NC beach towns. In addition to reduced off season prices on accommodations such as hotel rooms and rental condos and beach homes many Pleasure Island restaurants offer great specials at this time of year.

Here are just a few - check out the websites and social media for your favorite dining spots to see what else may be available:

Lazy Pirate

Wednesdays - 25% Off Crab Shack & Oyster Bar Menu

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

701 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach, NC 28428

910.458.5299

Seawitch Cafe and Tiki Bar

October Specials include Game Day Specials on Sundays during NFL games, $1 Tacos on Mondays, $5 Burgers on Tuesdays, $6 Apps on Wednesdays, and $25 All You Can Eat Crab Legs from 8:00 PM to Midnight on Thursdays. And of course don't miss great live music every Friday and Saturday night.

More info at seawitchtikibar.com

227 Carolina Beach Ave, Carolina Beach, NC 28428

910.707.0533

Gibby's Dock and Dine

Check out their Facebook Page for details on deals such as $5 Breakfast and Taco Tuesday, then enjoy your meal overlooking the waterway.

315 Canal Drive, Carolina Beach, NC 28428

910.458.3625

Surfhouse Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Wednesdays - Burger Night - This means $8 burgers made from grass fed beef with a side of handcut fries.
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Dine in only.

604 N Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
910.707.0422

Whether you're a local or looking for a fun day trip or weekend getaway come enjoy some delicious bargains on Pleasure Island!

Britts Donut Shop 2015 Opening Date!

Pleasure Island's favorite sign of Spring is almost here...Britts Donuts will open for 2015 on Friday March 27th at 4:00 PM!

The long awaited sign appeared recently on the door to this beloved spot on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk which has been making delicious donuts since 1939.

In case you're not already among Britts' legions of devoted fans, don't worry about making tough decisions...Britts serves up just one type - a perfect glazed donut, piping hot, sugary, that melts in your mouth. You can't have just one, and they are best eaten directly from the bag just as soon as they're cool enough to handle. Good luck waiting that long!

When Britts first opens in 2015 they will be open Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays, and will expand the schedule to seven days a week as we get closer to summer.

Thanks to Britts Donuts for making Pleasure Island a little sweeter each summer!

Great Restaurants on Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island has some serious food! The following is a sampling of just a handful of the wonderful places to eat on Pleasure Island.

Wake N Bake Donuts - For donuts beyond your wildest dreams.

Deck House - Enjoy tip-top service and locally caught seafood in a historic building.

El Cazador - This restaurant was honored as Best Local Restaurant in 2011 accompanied by the Customer Satisfaction Award in 2012.

Gibby's Dock & Dine - Dock your boat for free and catch the sunset at this "beach casual" restaurant.

Ida Thai Cuisine - Feast on authentic herbal Thai dishes along with an original Thai beer.

Island Hots - This hot dog hot spot offers nothing less than top-quality dogs, including vegetarian. 

Michelangelo's Pizza - The epitome of homemade, Michelangelo's makes their dough fresh daily. 

Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar - Grab a tropical cocktail at the Tiki Bar or enjoy panoramic views in Ocean Grill's upstairs dining room.

Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar - Have a good shuckin' time at the restaurant recently named of of Coastal Living's Favorite Seafood Dives. 

Surf House - This unique restaurant knows exactly where all their food and other ingredients derive from, all the way down to the farmers who provide the beef for your cheeseburger. 

You can find even more great places to eat on Pleasure Island by Clicking Here.

Spotlight on Business - Riptide Taproom and Grill

We started out with the idea that great beer and great food is what people are looking for in a restaurant. We took a hard look at what Carolina Beach had to offer and decided that this would be a perfect place to add our Taproom with local beers and local products and win together with the existing businesses.
We are offering 30 beers on tap, including 2 from Good Hops and 2 from Broomtail, and 45 beers in a bottle. We also kept our menu simple, but we are using North Carolina products, when available, and keeping our items fresh to the table. We have had great response from our Facebook page and listened to feedback on which we have acted.

We have created a great environment that is relaxed and inviting to the sports enthusiast and set up a great viewing of the Thursday night fireworks! We will have the NFL Sunday Ticket and are starting to run daily specials.

Hope to see people come try us out and become our regular guests!

We are open daily from 11AM to 2AM.
103 N. Lake Park Blvd (above El Cazador) Carolina Beach 910.707.1501

Find more things to do in Carolina Beach & Kure Beach on the Pleasure Island Event Calendar.

Spotlight on Business - Saint's Cove Beach Bar & Grill

Saint's Cove Beach Bar and Grill opened their doors on May 3, 2014 in Carolina Beach at 1006 S. Lake Park Blvd. We offer a family friendly atmosphere to locals and visitors of the beach. We serve burgers, wraps, baskets, salads, desserts, and a children's menu. Many of our sauces, our coleslaw, and salsa are homemade. We have a full ABC license and have just added a selection of red wines and Pinot Grigio. We offer live music on most weekends and some weekday nights. For August, we have the Justin Fox Duo, Bob Handlin, David Fair & Nash, and Jay Can Skip scheduled thus far.

In the Fall, we will have the NFL package on our televisions- indoor and out. We will offer food and drink specials on game days. Come root for your favorite team or against your non-favorite team and enjoy the time with us!

We are also available for birthday parties or other celebrations for you and your family. Please call ahead so we can get set up for you. The Cove is owned by Nick and Elaine Augustine and their three children; Justin, Stacy,and Travis. Stacy is the manager of the restaurant. We hail from Michigan, although Justin and Stacy were born here and Elaine was raised in the South. We have good Southern Roots and are very happy to be living on the island. Join us on September 15th at 5:30 for our official Ribbon-Cutting ceremony!

Follow us on Facebook.com/saintscove
910 707-1233
1006 S. Lake Park Blvd

Find more things to do in Carolina Beach & Kure Beach on the Pleasure Island Event Calendar.

Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar - 5 New Franchise Locations in the Works

Shuckin' Shack owners Cook & Piccinin

Shuckin’ Shack owners Sean Cook and Matt Piccinin opened their flagship oyster bar on Carolina Beach in the fall of 2007, offering steamed seafood with a full bar, and a casual, family friendly atmosphere to the locals and visitors of the beach. Becoming a favorite seafood restaurant and a good Shuckin’ time, Cook and Piccinin decided to recreate the concept in downtown Wilmington in 2012. One year later, with two successful locations in eastern North Carolina, the two have teamed up with veteran restaurant franchise developer, Greg George, to expand the Shuckin’ Shack concept.

The Shuckin’ shack team has turned the concept into a turn-key franchise opportunity complete with site selection, design and layout, construction, marketing, and training to ensure success. One month into Franchise development, the team has 5 new location agreements planned for the coming year - three in Charlotte and two locations in the Carolina Beach neighboring areas of Surf City / Topsail Island and Mayfaire / Porter’s Neck.

“The Shuckin’ Shack is a unique franchise opportunity because of the niche oyster bar concept as well as a great name.”, said George.

Investors and six year patrons of the Shuckin’ Shack, Eric Weller, Gary Weller, Wade Newman, and Phil Newman have plans in place to open at least one of the Charlotte area locations by the end of 2014.

Investor Gary Weller said, “I kept telling myself for years I would never get into the restaurant business, but if I did, it would definitely be a Shuckin’ Shack!”

Owners Sean Cook and Matt Piccinin are very excited for their first expansion to be in the biggest city in North Carolina.

“Expanding to Charlotte is a natural for us and will greatly enhance the Shuckin’ Shack brand by having multiple locations in the area. We’re excited about working with our new partners and looking forward to helping them get their first location by years end.”

Retired military Jason Simas and his wife Bev are excited to own a Shuckin’ Shack oyster bar and will be moving from Newport News, VA to Topsail Island early 2015; Chris Cashwell, also retired military is moving to Carolina Beach from Albuquerque, NM this month to select his location.

Owners Cook and Piccinin are excited about the quick expansion and look forward to each location’s future success.

www.theshuckinshack.com

Chowder Cook-Off Contestants

We're just a few short weeks away from one of the greatest eating experiences on the coast...The Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off! Wondering who will be dishing up some delicious seafood chowder for your enjoyment, and vying for the coveted judges and peoples choice awards?

Here they are - a record setting TEN area restaurants. Who's got the best of the best? You'll have to show up on April 12th to find out!

Event Details:

The 18th Annual Pleasure Island  Chowder Cook-Off

on Saturday, April 12th, 2014

at the Carolina Beach Lake 

11:30 am - 5:30 pm

Admission is $6.00 per person (12 & under free)

Live music

Kidz Zone

Please, no coolers and no pets - thank you!

We'll see you there!

Give Thanks on Pleasure Island

Wondering where you're going to put all those relatives coming to visit for Thanksgiving? Why not head to Pleasure Island for a fun filled, family getaway at some of the most beautiful North Carolina beaches?

Rent a house with room for everyone to spread out (or choose from many other accommodations options!)

Whether you're visiting for the holiday or are local there are lots of area businesses ready to help you create a feast to remember this year.

Preparing the big meal at home (or at the home away from home you've rented for the holiday)? Find the ingredients, drinks, and special touches to add to your menu at The Veggie Wagon, Island Wellness Market, or Brew Thru Carolina Beach (this is sure to be the easiest on your list of errands!)

Order pies or other desserts (as well as some bagels or pastries for breakfast the next morning) from Big Apple Bakery.

Will you be a guest at someone else's house this Thanksgiving? Find the perfect host/hostess gift at one of Pleasure Island's great boutiques such as Checkered Church Gift Shop, Jeanne's Jewels, or The Shoppes at Squigley's.

After that delicious Thanksgiving dinner the last thing you'll want to do is head back in the kitchen (except maybe for some of those yummy leftovers!) Explore the many wonderful Pleasure Island restaurants to keep the great eating going strong all weekend long...with someone else slaving over the stove & doing the dishes!

Healthy Living on Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island, NC may be known for those world famous donuts, but don't let that fool you - this beautiful island is the perfect place to maintain a healthy lifestyle!

Eat Right

The towns Carolina Beach, NC & Kure Beach, NC offer many places to fuel a healthy diet, whether you prefer to cook it yourself or eat out. All of the markets and grocery stores on the island have lots of good for you options, but health conscious shoppers might also want to check out:

•  The Carolina Beach Farmers Market held each Saturday during the summer at the Carolina Beach Lake from 8 am - 1 pm.
• The Open Air Market at Kure Beach Ocean Front Park held Tuesday mornings from 8 am - 1 pm
• Island Wellness Market at 1140 N Lake Park Blvd, Suite G in Carolina Beach
• The Veggie Wagon at 608 S Lake Park Blvd in Carolina Beach

The options are just as varied when it comes to Pleasure Island Restaurants offering healthy selections. Steamed seafood is a great choice for many diets, and fresh fish and shellfish from the waters just off the island is plentiful. Find a wide variety at the Shuckin' Shack, Michael's Seafood, Nikki's Sushi, the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar, or Surf House.

Stay Active

The gorgeous NC beaches offer plenty of ways to stay fit - whether you prefer to swim, surf, stand up paddleboard, kayak, or kite surf. Even a walk or jog along the water's edge is a great way to get moving. When you venture off the sand the options continue...

Runners love Pleasure Island for the scenery and variety - run on the road, beach, or on trails in the Carolina Beach state park (which are also great for hiking). The popular Lo Tide Run brings thousands of runners to the island, everyone from beginners to elite runners, each year for this wildly popular event held in March. In addition to the Lo Tide several other races are held on Pleasure Island each year ranging from 1 mile fun runs to triathlons.

Other popular activities include biking (either for exercise or just as a way to get from place to place,) yoga, tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, skateboarding, soccer, frisbee golf, baseball & softball, and much more! And of course, once you've worked up a sweat at your favorite sport that's just the excuse you need to go grab one of those mouth watering donuts!

To learn more about how you can live a healthy lifestyle on Pleasure Island, whether you're a local or vacationing here, check out http://www.pleasureislandnc.org/

Mothers' Day on Pleasure Island

Show mom you care with a trip to your favorite North Carolina beaches on Pleasure Island! Whether you come for the weekend, an extended vacation, or just a few hours this is a great place for her to relax, unwind, and to make some special family memories.

Skip the cooking and enjoy a delicious meal at one of Pleasure Island's many great restaurants. Check out the special Mother's Day Brunch at the Courtyard Marriott at Carolina Beach or go for the local seafood, Italian, pizza, Thai, burgers, Caribbean, sweet treats, and much more that can be found throughout Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.

Looking for that special gift for mom? Check out the unique shopping on Pleasure Island. Find artwork at Artful Living Group, Big World Photo, or Canvas Giclee Printing.com; clothing at CB Surf Shop, Island Colors, or Touche; or a little something sparkly at Jeanne's Jewels or The Shoppe's at Squigley's. These are just a few of the boutiques and shops you'll find in our beach towns - come explore to find them all!

You could also think outside the little wrapped box and give the gift of a fun Pleasure Island experience. Consider a surf lesson, stand up paddleboard excursion, or yoga class.

Happy Mother's Day to all the great moms out there!

Get Squiggled! Squigley's Ice Cream Opens for the Season

A Pleasure Island institution, Squigley's Shoppes, Ice Cream & Treats invites you to get SQUIGGLED! They will be open on weekends through Memorial Day and then 7 days a week. This must mean that summer is right around the corner!

208 S Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, NC
910-458-8779

Chowder Fest Contestants

Are you ready to taste the area's best seafood chowder and decide who reins over them all? Come on out to the 17th Annual Chowder Cook Off on April 13, 2013 at the Carolina Beach Lake.

Here is the list of contestants who will be competing for Chowder fame:

Deck House Casual Dining

Havana's

Sawmill Restaurant

Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill

The Bistro - Courtyard Marriott CB

The Grill

The Landing Bar & Grill

The Twisted Lime

Admission: $5 (12 & under free)
11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Tasting begins at noon

Come early & come hungry!

Congratulations Chamber Members - Encore Magazine Best of Winners for 2013

Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn BEST BURRITO

Flaming Amy’s Sacred Burrito Bus BEST FOOD TRUCK

Port City Java BEST COFFEE SHOP

The Fuzzy Peach BEST ICE CREAM

Nikki’s Fresh Gourmet & Sushi BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT & BEST SUSHI

Jungle Rapids BEST ARCADE / GAME ROOM

Michael’s Seafood Restaurant BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Bozart Family Dentistry BEST DENTIST

Dock Street Printing BEST PRINT SHOP

Intracoastal Real Estate BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY

Ivey Hayes BEST LOCAL ARTIST

The Penguin 98.3 BEST LOCAL RADIO STATION

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher BEST LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTION

Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts BEST THEATRE VENUIE

www.encorepub.com BEST WEBSITE

WECT BEST NEWSCAST

Congratulations to each of these businesses!

17th Annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off Saturday, April 13th, 2013

The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce will be holding the 17th Annual Chowder Cook-Off on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 11:30 am—6:00 pm at the Carolina Beach Lake.

The Chowder Cook Off is all about delicious food, good music, and family fun, so bring the kids along to this family-oriented event. Chefs from southeast North Carolina’s finest restaurants will prepare the region’s best seafood chowder recipes between the hours of 11:30am and 4:00pm. Folks can sample a taste of Cape Fear during this friendly chowder competition held at Carolina Beach Lake Park in Carolina Beach. Children can enjoy the park’s playground and a Kidz Zone with face-painting, a giant inflatable slide, CB Fire Department Smoke House and more. And for an additional fee, there will be paddleboat rides for the entire family.

During the Chowder Cook-Off, enjoy live music by Mark Roberts Band and chowder-tasting (and voting) between 11:30am and 4:00pm, but be sure to arrive early while the chowder is abundant.

Your job is to bring the family and your discerning palate to sample and vote on your favorite chowder. This day-long event includes live music, fun for the kids and of course, great food. So come to the beach for the weekend and spend the day with us at this great party. Gates open at 11:30, admission is $5.00 for adults 12 & under free. For more information please call the Chamber at 910-458-8434 or email at greg@pleasureislandnc.org.

Big Apple Bakery Opening Weekend

One of the newest eateries on Pleasure Island just officially opened their doors. Big Apple Bakery opened at 6:30 am on Friday, March 8th. Please stop in and welcome Kimberley Schumann, Aris Axelgard, and Shelly McGowan to Pleasure Island.

Check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigAppleBakery

And the winners are...

The 16th Annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off was a huge success!! A record setting crowd got to enjoy delicious chowder from seven local restaurants from throughout the region on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Wondering where to go for the area's best chowder? Here's where things stacked up once all the votes were tallied:

Judges 1st Place: O'Charley's - Monkey Junction
Judges 1st Runner Up: The Seaside Grille at the Courtyard Marriott

People's Choice 1st Place: Havana's - Carolina Beach
People's Choice 1st Runner Up: The Cape Fear Seafood Co. - Monkey Junction

Best Decorated Tent: O'Charley's - Monkey Junction
Most Enthusiastic Tent: The Cape Fear Seafood Co. - Monkey Junction


So there you have it! Congrats to the winners!

Spotlight on Business - The Dive Food & Spirits

The Dive Food & Spirits

6 North Lake Park Boulevard

Carolina Beach, NC

910.458.8282

GREAT FOOD

LIVE MUSIC

OUTDOOR SEATING

ALL ABC PERMITS

CASUAL ATMOSPHERE

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH & DINNER

The Dive Food & Spirits opened up its doors in Carolina Beach on July 3, 2008 and immediately became an icon of the laid-back atmosphere that is CB! Well known for its fabulous food (cheeseburgers, fish
tacos, etc), cold beer, great music (jukebox, live and otherwise), sports on the HUGE Screen, as well as their beautiful staff – let the Dive take care of your every need whether you are a vacationer or a local—

Come on in and have a cold one, a bite of award-winning food and tip one or two cold ones. It is a great place to meet friends, old and new. Coming soon to the Boardwalk, the folks that brought you the Dive are going to offer a different venue on the Oceanfront—Hurricane Alley, opening in May 2012...still the same great food, atmosphere, staff and friends. We look forward to seeing you in 2012.

Spotlight on Business - Island Hots

We are pleased to introduce ourselves; Ron and Noël Stevens, as the owners of Island Hots. After six years of visiting Pleasure Island with family and friends and watching the improvements being made at Carolina Beach, we moved from Cary to our Wilmington home just across the bridge after we found ourselves in the position of accepting this exciting business opportunity and engaging in the fun Boardwalk atmosphere.

Island Hots opened for business on Thursday, March 8th. Our building has tropical island colors and a newly expanded outdoor area with tables and benches, built by Ron’s brother Ed, who is an important part of the business. Ron and Ed are running the place together and giving customers lots of jokes in between great service and excellent food. Ron’s vision was hot dogs with fresh toppings, including his Island Relish; made with sweet red peppers, onions and jalapenos…it’s got zip without being HOT.

We have southern style chicken tenders, natural cut fries, beer battered onion rings, cold beer, root beer floats and old fashioned soft serve vanilla ice cream.

The courtyard will provide a great view of the fireworks on Thursday nights. For the season, our posted hours will be 11:00 am-9:00 pm or later.

Island Hots is located at 103A Cape Fear Blvd just behind the Gazebo and across from Artful Living Group so come visit us soon! So far we have had great reviews with many repeat customers. We look forward to serving Carolina Beach for a long time to come!

Contact us at 910-274-5875, email at islandhots@aol.com or Facebook at islandhotscarolinabeach