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Tag Archives: Spoon River Artworks and Market

“Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.” ― Henry David Thoreau

29 Friday May 2020

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words, From the helm, Thinking Outside The Boat

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Atlantic Yacht Basin, Beaufort NC, Belfast ME Harbor Fest, Belhaven NC, Boating, Bridge Tender Marina, Coinjock Marina & Restaurant, Coinjock Marina & Restaurant PRIME RIB, Cruising canines, Dismal Swamp Canal, Food, Life, Marinas, Quotes, Restaurants, Spoon River Artworks and Market, T.W. Graham & Company Seafood Restaurant, The Big Tuna

Friday, May 29, 2020.   I used to associate Thoreau’s quote with time spent aboard our old Cargile Cutter Cruiser, “SunSmiles.”  And then, along came grandchildren.  Know what I mean?

Today, “SunSmiles” is history, the little Mainship 34T, “Slow Dance” has replaced “her,” and our grandchildren have reached the  age where Nana and Poppa are not their #1 priority — which means that the “channel in which our life flows” is evolving back to time split between grandchildren and cruising.  Now, it appears COVID-19 restrictions may dictate our summer 2020 destinations and schedule.  BUT, at least we have wonderful memories of summers past, and making plans for the future.

Have you planned your summer cruising or vacation schedule?  Will you be CruisingTheICW, cruising with your cruising club, or simply enjoying time on the water with family and friends.  At CruisingTheICW, we would love for you to share your favorite cruising destinations, marinas, restaurants, attractions, festivals and events, with us.

Here is a collage of pics from some of our travels.  Recognize any of them?

Where will your life be flowing this weekend?  This summer?

The beauty of a sunset to end a day of cruising.
The beauty of a sunset to end a day of cruising.
Nothing like stretching out on the bow after a good dinner.
Nothing like stretching out on the bow after a good dinner.
Leaving Coinjock, NC
Leaving Coinjock, NC
Coinjock Marina's "world famous" PRIME RIB DINNER!!!
Coinjock Marina’s “world famous” PRIME RIB DINNER!!!
The beautiful "Lady Kath" spent the night off our bow, in Coinjock.
The beautiful “Lady Kath” spent the night off our bow, in Coinjock.
Leaving the Great Bridge lock
Leaving the Great Bridge lock
"Pretty maids all in a row" at AYB, as we idle past the face dock and head to Hampton.
“Pretty maids all in a row” at AYB, as we idle past the face dock and head to Hampton.
Southbound for parts unknown
Southbound for parts unknown
Spoon River Artworks & Market dining room
Spoon River Artworks & Market dining room
Belhaven's finest restaurant
Belhaven’s finest restaurant
What better day than Saturday to remember the incredible "fresh off the boat" fried shrimp dinner at T.W. Graham's in the little fishing village of McClellanville, SC., on the ICW north of historic Charleston.
What better day than Saturday to remember the incredible “fresh off the boat” fried shrimp dinner at T.W. Graham’s in the little fishing village of McClellanville, SC., on the ICW north of historic Charleston.
Atlantic Yacht Basin
Atlantic Yacht Basin
When we leave the South Mills Lock, we'll be in the Dismal Swamp Canal. In the left of the picture you see the dreaded Duck Weed floating on the surface of the water. While we saw Duck Weed thru parts of the canal, when I checked the Slow Dance's raw water strainers at the Welcome Center, very little of the Duck Weed was ingested into the raw water system.
When we leave the South Mills Lock, we’ll be in the Dismal Swamp Canal. In the left of the picture you see the dreaded Duck Weed floating on the surface of the water. While we saw Duck Weed thru parts of the canal, when I checked the Slow Dance’s raw water strainers at the Welcome Center, very little of the Duck Weed was ingested into the raw water system.
Cruising's a chance to catch up with old friends, and relive our younger days when our favorite transportation was our Austin-Healey 3000s
Cruising’s a chance to catch up with old friends, and relive our younger days when our favorite transportation was our Austin-Healey 3000s
The BIG TUNA in Georgetown, SC
The BIG TUNA in Georgetown, SC
Belfast, ME Harbor Festival
Belfast, ME Harbor Festival
A flea market treasure
A flea market treasure
Our incredible "dock mate" in Beaufort, SC
Our incredible “dock mate” in Beaufort, SC
Shrimp boat's acomin'
Shrimp boat’s acomin’
"Conch Man," the lockmaster loves conchs -- and can actually play them! He was a pleasure to meet, as professional as he was personable.
“Conch Man,” the lockmaster loves conchs — and can actually play them! He was a pleasure to meet, as professional as he was personable.
There are those times the "Admiral" enjoys sitting out on the bow and enjoying the solitude and scenery.
There are those times the “Admiral” enjoys sitting out on the bow and enjoying the solitude and scenery.
Cruising together from Camden, NC to the Dismal Swamp Canal
Cruising together from Camden, NC to the Dismal Swamp Canal
When the bridge opens, we'll pass thru, and on to the lock, meet "Conch Man," hear a tune, and then pass on thru the lock and end our cruise of the Dismal Swamp Canal.
When the bridge opens, we’ll pass thru, and on to the lock, meet “Conch Man,” hear a tune, and then pass on thru the lock and end our cruise of the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Kate "the mate" with her, "What next captain" expression.
Kate “the mate” with her, “What next captain” expression.
Belhaven, NC truly appreciates cruisers!
Belhaven, NC truly appreciates cruisers!
July 4th - the Admiral's birthday, in Beaufort, NC
July 4th – the Admiral’s birthday, in Beaufort, NC
Calm at sunrise at the Bridgetender Marina, Wrightsville Beach, NC
Calm at sunrise at the Bridgetender Marina, Wrightsville Beach, NC
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
Big Tuna's tuna with house salad
Big Tuna’s tuna with house salad
The beautiful Marlow, "Blue Heron."
The beautiful Marlow, “Blue Heron.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANA!!! Beaufort, NC even celebrated your birthday with a parade!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANA!!! Beaufort, NC even celebrated your birthday with a parade!
The 1977 30-foot Cargile Cutter Cruiser known as "SunSmiles"
The 1977 30-foot Cargile Cutter Cruiser known as “SunSmiles”
Cruising is for friends and fellowship
Cruising is for friends and fellowship
This boat launched CruisingTheICW
This boat launched CruisingTheICW
Illusions

“Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.”

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“Thinking Outside the Boat” Spoon River Artworks and Market, Belhaven, NC

21 Tuesday Aug 2018

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in Dining

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Tags

AGLCA, Ambiance, Art, Belhaven NC, Blog, BoatUS, CruisingTheICW, Delicious, Farm to Fork, Farm to Table, Food, Foodie, Friends, Great food, History, Hospitality, Life, Mainship 34T, Memories, North Carolina, Pork chop, Reflections, Shrimp salad, Slow Dance, Spoon River Artworks and Market, Tarheel, Thinking Ouside the Boat, Truth

Tuesday, August 21, 2018.  What’s in a name?  When it comes to Spoon River Artworks and Market, in the small coastal town of Belhaven, NC, I am not sure.  And I failed to ask the owner the origin of the name.  More importantly, the meal was unforgetable.

Spoon River sign

A word of warning to my readers.  I am not a food critic, restaurant reviewer, or whatever title is adopted by pros paid to review restaurants.  I simply love food, and there are certain establishments I cannot wait to visit again.  Those establishments, I will write about, and those I have “learned my lesson from,” will not be written about. As the old saying goes, “There’s no education in the second kick of the mule!” 

Spoon River Artworks and Market promotes itself as a “farm to fork” restaurant serving artful food. I will not argue that, except to say that based on my personal experience, and their reviews on Facebook, TripAdviser, Yelp, and Google, they are serving much more than “artful food.” It could have something to do with the fact that it is owned and operated by a farmer and his wife.  The food, ambiance, and hospitality would be considered outstanding in any restaurant in the world, but it is located in a small, Eastern North Carolina town.

Spoon River interior

That comment is in no way mean to demean Belhaven, it is a wonderful, picturesque community of about 2000 residents.  It has a town dock, plus the Belhaven Marina a half block from downtown, and two other marinas, the River Forest Manor & Marina, and Dowry Creek Marina, a short distance away.  The fact that a restaurant like Spoon River Artworks and Market is located in such a small community is part of what makes it so unique.  “Farm to Fork” restaurants are just catching on in most communities across America, yet in November 2018, Spoon River will celebrate six years of operation.

Six years of operation in a community of 2000 residents, and still packing in customers on a weekday night? Most restaurant operators would tell you that is remarkable. Great food. Ambiance. Hospitality.  Plus, at Spoon River Artworks and Market, you may pick your adult wine beverage by the glass, bottle, or flight, or visit their wine market and personally choose your bottle(s) from their outstanding selection!  AND, let us not forget their outstanding Executive Chef Julio Andre!  At Spoon River Artworks and Market, they know all the secrets – and more – to a successful restaurant.

The evening that we ate at Spoon River, “the Admiral” had the most interesting and delicious shrimp salad that she has ever been served.

Spoon River Shrimp Salad

I had the thickest, incredibly tender, cooked to perfection pork chop, and “farm to fork” sides that I have ever been served.

Spoon River Pork Chop

We both left the restaurant with “To Go” containers!  And besides our dinners being delicious, abundant portions, the plates looked as if they were staged for competition.

To learn more about Belhaven, and Spoon River Artworks and Market, read Josh Shaffer’s “An Eclectic Mix in Belhaven,” that appeared in the May 2013 issue of Our State – North Carolina Magazine.  Better yet, put Belhaven, NC and Spoon River Artworks and Market on you next itinerary when CruisingTheICW north or south through North Carolina.

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“Follow In My Wake”

Captain Buck's Port Chef James Kohler
Captain Buck’s Port Chef James Kohler
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Southport Marina
Southport Marina
Sullivans Island skyJPG
Bridge Tender Marina
Bridge Tender Marina
Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
Starboard sunset
An early sunset casts a warm light on the "Next Chapter," a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
An early sunset casts a warm light on the “Next Chapter,” a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
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Boatyards

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Destinations Along the ICW

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  • Beaufort, SC
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Great Boating Magazines

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