Seagull Says: Thursday has potential. Don't jinx it.

🌊 TODAY’S TIDE (Weather + Surf Report)

• 🌤️ Weather
  The sun and clouds are playing tag all day, with a high of 79°F and just enough humidity to remind you that coastal frizz is real. Winds out of the southwest at a gentle 8 mph—perfect for dramatic porch stares. There’s a slight chance of a rain shower, but mostly it’s just Thursday being extra. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low of 69°F and a 24% chance of a rogue sprinkle sneaking in when you’re finally comfy in bed.

• 🏄‍♂️ Surf Report
  Thursday’s surf is serving up a bit of a scrambled mess—onshore winds and jumbly conditions mean you’ll need to lower those expectations just a smidge. The swell’s dipped a bit from yesterday, so it’s more of a “find a halfway-decent sandbar and pretend it’s intentional” kind of day. Nothing epic, but hey, it’s wet and it’s Thursday. Paddle out anyway.

📰 HEADLINES + CHATTER

Local updates, neighborhood squabbles, and stuff your aunt already shared on Facebook twice.

• 🏖 Tourism Outlook: Maybe Fine, Maybe Not, Ask Us Again in 6 Days
  Another day, another OBX tourism prediction. This week’s headline? “Tourism may be down this year.” Last week’s? “Who knows what’s going to happen?” Give it a week and we’ll probably be back to “Record crowds expected!”
  Lodging managers like Linda at Outer Banks Motor Lodge aren’t panicking, but say guests are trimming their stays from 10 days to 6. The Visitors Bureau expects lodging tax collections to dip by about 5%. Is it alarming? Not really. Could it be? Ask us next Thursday. Either way, June–August will tell the tale.
  Let’s be real: the OBX is still on the vacation map. We’re just waiting to see how big the map is this year.

• ⛴️ Ferry Toll Tantrum: Karen Said What We’re All Thinking
  The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce officially called out Senate Bill 257, aka the “Let’s Toll Every Ferry Ever” bill. New tolls could cost visitors $40 round trip to reach Ocracoke and $15 just to ride the passenger ferry.
  Chamber President Karen Brown said the tolls are an “unfair tax burden” and would hurt small businesses. We’d like to co-sign Karen’s sass and add: If we wanted to pay to sit in line for a boat, we’d book a cruise.

• 🚨 Slooooow Down: NC 12 Speed Limit Drop Incoming
  As of Thursday, NCDOT will be swapping out speed limit signs along NC 12 in Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Corolla, and Frisco. It’s that time of year when your 45 mph cruise becomes a 35 mph crawl.
  Translation: the minivan in front of you isn’t just sightseeing—it's legally going as fast as it’s allowed to. Seasonal limits last through Sept. 15.

• 📢 PSA from Manteo: Tell Us What You Actually Want
  The Town of Manteo wants to know what locals really think about downtown events like Dare Day and First Fridays. They’ve launched a community survey to find out what’s working, what’s not, and where the money’s being spent.
  If you have opinions (and we know you do), take the survey and help shape what “Meet Me in Manteo” means next year.

• 🐟 That’s Not a Mullet, That’s a Record
  Wilmington’s Thomas Woo reeled in a 19.3 lb white trevally off Wrightsville Beach, setting a new North Carolina state record.
  The fish, which is rare along our coast, was caught 55 miles offshore and measured over 37 inches. The previous U.S. record? There wasn’t one. Japan’s still got the world title, but NC just flexed with a new entry on the board. Respect.

📅 THURSDAY’S TO-DO LIST (OR “TOTALLY PLANNED SPONTANEITY”)

The midweek slump never stood a chance—here’s where to go if you need an excuse to leave your house and/or your inbox.

• 🧘‍♀️ Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga
  📍 Ride the Wind Surf Shop, Ocracoke, 8:30 AM
  Yoga… but on a paddleboard. Float, flow, maybe fall in—but make it zen. Silver Lake’s never seen stretches like this.

• 🌊 Hang Gliding Spectacular
  📍 Jockey’s Ridge State Park, All Day (10:00 AM–4:00 PM)
  We saved the all-dayer for last! The longest-running hang gliding competition on the planet. Watch gliders soar, wind gust, and sand get in places it shouldn’t.

• 🦋 Annual Luncheon + Butterfly Release
  📍 Elizabethan Gardens, 11:30 AM
  Lunch in a garden, butterflies in the air, and some serious spring vibes. Bonus: a peek at the new Sensory Garden and Heritage Greenhouse. $35 gets you all the flutter and flair.

• 🍻 Thirsty Thursday: Wicked Weed Tap Takeover
  📍 Old Tom’s Beer, Wine & Provisions, 4:00 PM
  IPAs, sours, and Norm Harrell with an open mic. Basically, it's pint night with extra personality. Bonus: free pint glass and all the local sass you can handle.

• 🎶 Acoustic Sunset: Wine Down Thursdays
  📍 Sanctuary Vineyards, 5:30–8:30 PM
  Live music, wine, and food trucks in the vineyard. It’s free, family + pup friendly, and the perfect pre-weekend excuse to vibe.

• 🕺 Shag Dancing
  📍 Jolly Roger Restaurant, 5:30 PM
  Whether you know the steps or just want to swing around like it’s 1962, this beachy dance night is all heart and hip action.

• 🎯 Cornhole League
  📍 The Pioneer Theater, 6:30 PM
  Join the league, toss some bags, sip something cold, and try not to let your competitive side get too spicy. Call (252) 599-2244 to sign up.

• 🎭 9 to 5 The Musical
  📍 Theatre of Dare, 7:30 PM
  Dolly Parton, revenge, and office anarchy. Watch Violet, Judy, and Doralee put their nightmare boss in his place—and do it with big hair and even bigger energy.
  🎟 Grab Tickets

📍THE BEAK OF APPROVAL

💩Scoopin' Poop OBX — Doing the Dirty Work So You Don’t Have To
Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like—and exactly what your yard (and rental property) needs. This pet waste removal service keeps OBX lawns, walkways, and beach paths clean for humans, dogs, and anyone trying not to step in a mess before coffee.📍Kill Devil Hills

Bonus: They’re not just picking up poop—they’re saving flip-flops, one yard at a time.

🚨 SAFETY STUFF + SCANNER DRAMA

From “eh, that’s suspicious” to “yep, that required backup.”

• 🚧 DUCK CROSSWALK DRAMA
  The Town of Duck is finally moving forward with those much-hyped pedestrian safety upgrades at key crossings. But not everyone's clapping. Mick grumbled, “Pedestrian crossings are what’s causing the traffic issues—they should fix that instead of spending billions on a bridge.” Meanwhile, Susan’s demanding catwalks. CATWALKS. We’re not sure if she means elevated walkways or just wants folks to strut it like it’s Fashion Week, but either way—Duck’s got opinions.

• 🚗 Wreck on the Wright Memorial Bridge
  Kitty Hawk Police had their hands full when a wreck jammed up the bridge. Amanda is done with y’all: “Tourists give no care to the construction going on… Everyone locally knows this... just saying.” A gentle reminder: speed limits aren’t suggestions, especially in work zones.

• 🚛 Towing Fail on the Bypass
  If you were trying to get from Manteo to Wanchese and found yourself stuck—blame the double semi situation. One big rig was towing another when the tow line broke, blocking both lanes westbound on the 64 Bypass. That’s not how we drive a convoy, folks.

⛱️ VACAY OR STAY

🏡 FOR SALE: CATHEDRAL CEILINGS, A BONUS STUDIO & A HOT TUB—NOT KIDDING!
This quirky Kill Devil Hills cottage packs a punch: 3 bedrooms, quartz counters, a wall of windows, and cathedral-height ceilings upstairs. But the real flex? A private ground-level bonus suite with Airbnb potential, a screened-in hot tub, a hammock zone, a He/She shed, and a fire pit. It’s giving coastal charm with a side of “you’ll never want to leave.”

📍1709 Wrightsville Blvd #87-88, KDH | $614,900 | MLS #128375

Bonus: Located in an X flood zone with zero HOA—so you can actually relax and rent it out.

🌊 VACAY: ISLAND TIME PARADISE — WHERE “ONE MORE NIGHT” TURNS INTO A LIFESTYLE
This 8-bedroom, 11-bath (!!) soundfront stunner in Buxton is not messing around. Theater room, game room, gym, pool, hot tub, tiki bar, putting green, and decks for days. Throw in a chef’s kitchen, private beach, and views that make you forget your password, and yeah—paradise found.

📍Buxton, NC | Island Time Paradise

Bonus: There’s a 12-seat theater and a kayak launch, so you can live your best Hatteras life on land and sea.

🗣️ HEARD AROUND THE WAY

• 🧊 Someone left a full cooler at the sound access in Duck. It’s now community property.

• 🦀 A kid in Corolla tried to keep a ghost crab as a pet and is currently being ghosted by the crab.

• 🚪 A rental guest locked themselves out in nothing but a beach towel. Property manager still recovering.

🔗 QUICK LINKS

• ⛴️Ferry Schedule – Because you can’t teleport to the Outer Banks, yet.

• 🐾OBX SPCA Pet of the Week: Mitzi is still waiting for you!

• 🌊Live Surf Cams – For pretending you care about the swell while actually checking beach crowds.

• 💬Submit a Tip or Event – Got gossip? We’re all ears (and beaks).

🧂FINAL PEEP FROM THE PERCH

If your iced coffee lasted longer than your patience this week, you’re already ahead.

Sign up. Stay salty. Be nosy.