16th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival

What’s up with that name? What’s a Cucalorus?

cuc•a•lor•us n.,
[orig. Gk. kukaloris, the dance of the shadows.]
1. a film set apparatus placed in front of a light source to create a dappled lighting effect on a subject or background. also cookie, UK. gobo.
2. a film festival in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Cucalorus 16: November 11-14, 2010  promises to bring an outstanding lineup of features, documentaries, and shorts to the screen while connecting the brightest artists from around the world. The Brooks Institute recently selected Cucalorus as one of the Top 10 Film Festivals in the US! 

Screenings and events are centered mostly in the historic downtown area with Thalian Hall as the focus. Films are also being shown at City Stage Theatre, Jengo’s Playhouse and other venues around town. There will be screenings of over 110 independent and international films! If you’ve never been to the film fest don’t panic. There’s something for everyone. According to the event website, 

“Cucalorus screens a little bit of everything. Look for lots of shorts and docs scattered throughout the schedule. Each year, more than 100 films make it onto the lineup. There are roughly 50 narrative and documentary features and about 100 shorts. Short films range from super brief (30 seconds) to 39 minutes. Cucalorus attempts to represent the artform in all its diversity and contradiction.”

That’s a lot of variety and a ton of entertainment! The schedule is expected to be posted in October. Check the website for additional details!  Screenings and events sell out every year. Passes are available for purchase now and will be mailed to before October 17. Advance tickets for Thalian Hall screenings can be purchased at the Thalian Hall Box Office (910/343/3664) or online at thalianhall.com. Passes can also be picked up at Jengo's Playhouse anytime before the festival. 

If you slacked and waited till the last minute to get passes they can be purchased at each venue but you risk the chance of an event selling out!

Airlie's Oyster Roast Almost Oyster-Less

Airlie's Annual Low Country Oyster Roast was almost an oyster-less roast due to the Gulf Coast oil spill this year.  Many people might have noticed the sign just outside of the park advertising an oyster-less roast this year. That was the brainchild of event organizers who wanted to see what the public reaction would be if oysters were no longer available—ever.

In a letter on the Airlie Garden website Parks and Garden director, Jim McDaniel explains how the Gulf Coast environmental crisis almost ended our local tradition but further explains that our area has been in a coastal crisis for years.

“Airlie Gardens always has been a great resource for providing guests excellent opportunities for hands-on, quality education. This year our Oyster Roast, or Oyster-less Roast as it were, will be no different. This is a chance to focus on our own environment, right here in New Hanover County.”

The Gulf Oil spill created a 'false economy' with Airlie’s normal supplier who began charging $2 per oyster. Fortunately, McDaniel was able to find a new supplier from the Chesapeake area so the roast is on with oysters as is tradition.

This year’s Oyster Roast is Friday, October 15^th. For $75 per person you get steamed oysters, fried fish, and more to fill your belly. You can work off some of the delicious grub dancing to "The Imitations". This event ALWAYS sells out so get your tickets as they go on sale September 1. If you need more information call (910) 798-7700 or visit the park website. All parking is on-site and all proceeds benefit the Environmental Education Program.

Riverfest Returns to Downtown

The festival begins Saturday, October 2nd and runs through Sunday, October 3rd. There will be live entertainment  featured on two outdoor stages along with arts and crafts, exhibits, dance performances, contests, children's activities, food concessions and more! There's a fireworks show beginning at 9:05 PM on Saturday, October 2nd.

The Riverfest coincides with the 6th Annual Invasion of the Pirates. The Invasion hosts a Treasure Hunt for children Saturday, October 2nd from 1-4PM with area merchants. There will be swordsmen demonstrating their skills throughout the day. And in the evening a "pirate ship" flotilla begins at 7:20PM where boats and crews are costumed and decorated. The Flotilla will start at the Memorial Bridge and continue north along the river to Conlon Docks led by the Wilmington Fire Boat, Atlantic VI.

For more information on Riverfest click here or call 910.452.6862.

Tax Credit Extended

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact the Homebuyer Tax Credit, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623). Extending the tax credit closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation. 

The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, that have not yet closed. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension; the new closing deadline for eligible transactions is now September 30, 2010. There will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law. 

(Source: REALTOR® Action Center)

Wilmington Area Home Sales Up!

According the stats from the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors (WRAR), area home sales are up for the 10th straight month in a row!

Home sales rose to 507 last month, compared with 416 in June 2009 according to the WRAR. And the Days on Market (DOM) time has dropped from 139 to 119 days in the same period.

The only cloudy bit of news is that there's still room for improvement in the price of homes sold. The average price of homes sold is down 7% to $238,610 from $256,616 in June 2009.

Overall, all our numbers are showing a strong market rebound compared to other areas of the country.