June 19 will be here before you know it but don't worry- I've got some great Father's Day gift ideas for the dad in your life. Weighing in at approximately 5 pounds is the indispensable
1001 Battles That Changed the Course of World History by R.G. Grant. From the same series that includes 1001 Places to See Before You Die, this is a must-have for any military history buff. Or how about National Geographic's
100 Best Affordable Vacations? Enriching! Entertaining! and economical!
The Indispensable Book of Useless Information is out with a 'Just for Dad' edition- for instance, did you know that Atari founder Nolan Bushnell also founded Chuck E. Cheese pizza parlors? Here's a good one for new dads-
Stuff Every Husband Should Know by Eric San Juan. including such gems as Be the Master of One Meal a Day and How to Make The Bed. Good
stuff. Forthe foodie father, try
Man With A Pan, a collection of culinary adventures by well known writers who also like to cook for the families- Mark Bittman, Mark Kurlansky, Stephen King to name a few. Paula Deen's boys are back too with
The Deen Bros. Get Fired Up: Grilling, Tailgating, Picnicking and more. Tell me that doesn't sound like a great Father's Day gift? Two final titles that are sure to please any d.a.d.-
50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do) by Gever Tulley- cook something in the dishwasher! superglue your fingers together; and
The Geek Dad's Guide to Weekend Fun- cool hacks, cutting edge games and awesome projects for the whole family- by Ken Denmead. How's that for some awesome ideas for dear. old. dad?
Paltrow's new cookbook My Father's Daughter. I love Gwyneth. I love GOOP. I want to be her. And her fried zucchini spaghetti was great. So simple yet so delicious. Just reviewed a great summer read for bookreporter.com. Mary Kay Andrew's Summer Rental. Three lifelong friends spend the month of August in a rundown oceanfront beach house. All are facing major life changes and dilemmas that seem insurmountable. But as the dog days of summer progress, they discover strengths they didn't know they had and hidden answers to their problems. Did I mention it takes place in KITTY HAWK? Yep, perfect Outer Banks beach book. Another Outer Banks based title is Michael Parker's The Watery Part of the World which forms a hypothesis for the disappearance of Theodosia Burr off our coast in 1813. Mixed reviews on that one. Another customer recommended The School of Night, a new mystery from Louis Bayard that hinges on the search for a long lost letter from Sir Walter Raleigh. F.I.L. Jim gave Doc a thumb's up and his wife Marge sold me on Isabel Allende's Island Beneath the Sea. It is definitely going on my summer pile. James Patterson is out with another Women's Murder Club title- 10th Anniversary. And Erik Larson, of Devil in the White City fame, has a new one In The Garden of Beasts which revolves around William Dodd, America's first ambassador to Germany; the rise of Hitler and his Third Reich; and the Dodd family's experience in the 'New Germany'. 
Another year, another fire.. there's been a wildfire burning down in the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge since a lightning strike on May 5. Most days we don't even know its there, but if the wind shifts it blows smoke and smell straight at us.. our pond has just been A-mazing this year.. so many cool critters keeping us entertained.. check out our pictures on Facebook of herons and martins and geese and babies and more... want to be in a Flash Mob? there's one coming to the Duck Fourth of July Parade Afterparty... practices wil lbe held weekly in June- for more information on this 'event of a lifetime' hit the link below.. thanks to all who came out and supported the Book Fairs for the Dare Literacy Council and Food for Thought- two very worthy local organizations that really appreciated the hoelp! the Town Pier is finished! this 
140' long structure veers off the Boardwalk in front of the Waterfront Shops and includes four day slips for boats! Its a great way to come to Duck for concerts, dinner or Sunday morning coffee!