Downtown to come alive Monday night with extended hours

INFO | Downtown Alive

Monday, beginning at 5 p.m., downtown New Bern

Entertainment

Omark’s Building: Eclectic blend of dance music, Down East Dance Studio.

Captain Ratty’s Restaurant: saxophonist.

Cow Café: Magic and comedy show.

Pepsi Store: Barber shop quartet.

Bank of the Arts: Fairfield Harbor Chorus.

Carolina Creations: Violinist.

Mitchell Hardware: Guitarist.

Kress Building: Tom and the Dahlin’ Vocalist.

City Hall: Mariachi band.

Bear Plaza. Encore Chorus.

Monday’s are usually pretty slow in downtown New Bern, but in conjunction with a three-day governor’s tourism conference, most shops and restaurants have extended hours tonight, along with 11 entertainment venues.

The 2010 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism has the theme “Living the Story,” with tourism leaders from throughout the state in town through Tuesday.

“The reason it is so important is because the 300^th was the catalyst for getting the governor’s conference on travel and tourism here,” said Linda Staunch of the city’s 300^th committee. “There are probably about 450 registrants and these are decision-makers for where people travel in the state. This is truly an opportunity to put the spotlight on New Bern.”

The public aspect of the event comes tonight with Downtown Alive, featuring 37 participating businesses.

“We’ve got just a record number of businesses staying open late,” said Staunch. “The idea is to invite the community, too. Come and share the fact that we have late hours and entertainment in a street party.”

Entertainment ranges from barber shop and eclectic dance music to violins, guitars and several choral groups.

Also today, the official ceremony for the Alfred A. Cunningham draw bridge opening is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Union Point Park. Gov. Beverly Perdue of New Bern is expected. Perdue is in town for the tourism conference.

The bridge opened for traffic Friday.

On Saturday, the New Bern Historical Society hosts its annual Civil War Adventure Day for youngsters at the New Bern Civil War Battlefield on U.S. 70 East.

There are activities and living history events from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Civil War re-enactors will be on hand in their encampment to add an authentic dimension.

The event marks the March anniversary of the Battle of New Bern on March 13, 1862.

The cost is $40 for the first child and an adult and $10 for an additional family child or adult.

Call 252-638-8558 for information.

The Pamlico Animal Welfare Association will hold its fifth annual Dog Parade Saturday in Oriental.

 The parade has an 11 a.m. start at Lou Mack Park, with music by the Pamlico County Band and will circle for a few blocks before returning to the reviewing stand.  Prizes will be awarded in many categories.  Food and beverages will be available.

Registration is at 10 a.m. Pre-registration will be held Wednesday, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Bean.

A Spring Cleanup is scheduled Saturday and Sunday in New Bern, sponsored by the city’s 300^th committee, to honor the late Charles Duffy Jr., who was known as the city’s unofficial “caretaker” taking his cart and tools from his home on Pollock Street and doing cleanup work around the area.

“It’s a personal thing,” said Jim Hodges, who coordinated the cleanup effort with Buzz Mead, Annette Hunt and Linda Howell and Nelson McDaniel.  “I live on Pollock Street, two doors down from where Mr. Duffy lived and I grew up here and knew him all my life and had a lot of respect for him.”

The poster for the event encourages residents to “clean up your yard, plant flowers, help a neighbor, and pick up litter.”

“We wanted to seize the opportunity with the 300^th anniversary to honor him,” Hodges said. “We hope to perpetuate this each year. There has been a positive reception to the idea. The bullet points on the flyer sum up what Mr. Duffy was all about. Be productive and be proud.”

A group that formed recently to promote family history as part of the city’s first 300 years has another meeting scheduled Saturday at the New Bern-Craven County Public Library.

The Families of New Bern and Craven County will meet at 2 p.m., working toward a July event at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

“At our last meeting we had several new people from the New Bern area as well as new people attend from Richlands, Kinston, Greenville, Wilmington and Hillsborough, who are excited about participating in the July event to honor their ancestors,” said David French, the organizer.

He said the July open house event titled “A Stroll Down Memory Lane” has been expanded beyond planned family photo memory board displays.  The group plans a Family History Fair with area family history libraries, historical and genealogical associations, groups and societies.

French said Saturday’s meeting topics would include plans to build a monument to early settler groups and how to include local students in the project.
 For further information, contact French at 252-649-0102 or E-mail DavidAFrench@gmail.com.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com.