Memory Monday Contest Details

Friday, January 30, 2009

For 2009 Outer Banks Blue will be running a contest for the best entries onto our blog by our rental guests called “Memory Monday.” We know that you enjoy your time on the Outer Banks, and judging from our photo gallery, you all love to show us the visual memories of your stay on the Outer Banks. We can only imagine that when you return home from your vacation that on the Monday after your stay you are probably still nostalgic about your stay, and may even thumb through your photos to have a smile and a warm thought about your time away! We want to be a part of those memories!

For 2009 we are inviting our guests to not only submit their photos here to us at “Everything Outer Banks,” but also tell us the story behind the images so you can be included in our monthly contest for the best blog submission. We are calling it “Memory Monday.” Just send your pictures and give us the story of your stay. We will post the information on our blog and each month we will pick a winner from the entries received. The winner of our monthly contest will get $100 off their next stay with Outer Banks Blue!

All the best from the beach, and please send along those memories!

January's Memory Monday Winner

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Today’s submission is our first from one of our guests. Lyn Pontius and family from Midlothian, Virginia stayed with Outer Banks Blue for two weeks in September 2008, and recently showed us in pictures what a quality Outer Banks family vacation looks like. These pictures are what “Memory Mondays” are all about here at Everything Outer Banks. Thanks Lyn and friends for sharing. We look forward to seeing you all again this September! And for everyone else, enjoy our “Memory Monday Winner” for the month of January!

The Gregg and Pontius families at the beach...it doesn’t get any better when you can share good times with dear friends!

Chewie and Brian Pontius after a run on the beach at Sanderling!

If you’ve got it, you’ve got it! Need I say more...(Chewie Pontius)

Patrick, Jay, and Brian Pontius training for the Olympics!

Patrick, Jay, and Brian Pontius practicing ‘cow tipping’…ever heard of that?

Addison Gregg loves the beach!

Would someone PLEASE take this thing off my nose...OR “Our dog Chewie is rescuing a beached whale!”

What a view...life is good!

Brotherly love (Brian and Jay Pontius)! They’ve played ball on the beach every year since they were born.

Pat and Chewie Pontius deciding on what to do next at the beach! OR: Please, please let me go chase birds and crabs!

Brian Pontius working on his juggling skills---is that what he learned at UVA?!

This picture was taken during a Nor’easter. It was freezing cold, pelting rain, and windy as could be but THE GANG (Brad Gregg, Jay Pontius, Jamie Bird, Brian Pontius, and Patrick Pontius) insisted on taking a dip!

Dad (Pat Pontius) with two of his all-time faves---his dog and his wife (Chewie and Lyn)

Cleaning or partying? You decide...(Jay, Patrick, Brian and Lyn Pontius)

There is nothing better than reading at the beach during the late afternoon! (Patrick Pontius)

Outer Banks Recognized as One of the Best Beaches

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

It should come as no surprise to Outer Banks visitors that Southern Living Magazine recently voted the Outer Banks as one of the 10 Best Beaches in the South.

The January edition of the magazine published the results of a survey of the magazine’s readers favorite spots and it is no surprise to anyone here at “Everything Outer Banks” that our favorite beach also turned out to be among the readers’ favorites too. The Outer Banks was specifically mentioned in the magazine as one of the finest family vacation spots in the world.

Featuring miles and miles of wonderfully soft sand, warm summer breezes and conveniently close to major East Coast cities, it seems natural that “Southern Living” readers would agree that the Outer Banks is one of the best beaches in the South.

Thanks to our visitors and readers of “Southern Living” who spoke with their hearts and voted to let the world know what a treasure the Outer Banks of North Carolina truly is.

Behind the Filming of Brad Paisley's Waitin on a Woman Video

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Its Monday…"Memory Monday" here at "Everything Outer Banks," and today I wanted to share a memory that made all Outer Bankers proud in 2008 – The filming and subsequent award for "Best Music Video" in 2008.

Country Music Superstar teamed up with one of the treasures’ of the Outer Banks Andy Griffith to film the video for “Waitin on a Woman” right here on the Outer Banks. Paisley worked with the Outer Banks Visitors bureau on finding an appropriate location to shoot the video and they chose Tanger Outlet Mall in Nags Head. Several lucky locals were cast as extras in the video which took about 8 hours to shoot in the spring of 2008. Amazingly the entire production was kept amazingly quiet as Paisley flew into town to shoot the video in the morning, and was on his way back to Nashville that same evening, and hardly anyone knew about the big star’s presence on the Outer Banks.

Whether you are a country music fan or not, you have to admit the video is well done, and as an “Outer Banker” I’ve watched it 20 times to see who I recognize walking past the camera. The interior scenes in the video were also shot at the outlet mall, as the video production people magically converted "Stone Oven Pizza" into a home with a staircase for the one day that this video was shot.

Here’s the video…you be the judge.



Andy Griffith has been a full time resident of the Outer Banks since he officially retired about 20 years ago, but his love of the area goes back to the days when he starred in the Lost Colony Outdoor Drama in Manteo when he played Sir Walter Raleigh in the summer production more than 50 years ago.

Griffith sightings are not rare in the area even though he guards his privacy, and he stays in his gated waterfront estate on Roanoke Island most of the time. Brad Paisley said he has been an Andy Griffith fan since the days of the Andy Griffith show and when he wrote this song he knew the man he wanted to star in his video. Paisley called his experience with Griffith in filming the video “amazing,” and “an experience of a lifetime.” As you watch the two together in the video you can tell there is a true admiration between the two.


Brad Paisely’s video for “Waitin on a Woman” was awarded best video for 2008 by the Country Music Academy (CMA) at their annual awards in November. The local scenery of the Outer Banks will share some of the credit for this prestigious award.

Outer Banks New Years Celebration

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Well 2009 has arrived and the Outer Banks was a bustle of activity this past week. Restaurants were busy, grocery stores were packed, and the roads were more active than they have been in about 6 weeks.

It was a cool New Years day (39 degrees was the high temperature), but it was sunny and definitely could have been worse. A wonderful waxing crescent moon shined down on the OBX as 10s of runners rang in the new year with the 19th Annual Tortuga’s Lie New Year’s Eve 5 K presented by the Outer Banks Running Club.

The Outer Banks Music Showcase also had their “Rockin New Year’s Eve” show going on to ring in the New Year. The performers at the Showcase really do a nice job of entertaining their audience, and the shows there are one of the best entertainment values on the Outer Banks. Most of the performers have full time jobs at real estate companies, Wal Mart, area restaurants and other low profile locations and their real personalities come out on the stage of the music showcase.

Speaking of restaurants…many of the OBX area restaurants were open and doing a great job of helping revelers fight off the effects of ringing in the New Year a little too hard. Kellys Restaurant, The Sanderling Inn Restaurant, and Owen’s Restaurant are three of my favorites….Kelly’s sweet potato biscuits are to die for, The Sanderling’s soups, and anything related to seafood at Owens are all can’t miss favorites.

As we get going in 2009, I hope all have had their black eyed peas to ensure prosperity, and that you will come soon to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Outer Banks in Winter! Happy New Year!