Morning comes early in Southport. You're probably thinking that it comes early where you live too but let me tell you, there is far more to the morning than you could possibly imagine.
On a clear day in this small seaside village, the dawning begins with a rosy glow that quickly becomes a golden curtain hanging above the horizon. Then the curtain opens revealing that familiar old ball of gas in his most pleasing aspect of Monarch of the Heavens.
It's very much like something resembling perfection
Soon after sunrise, the morning clouds gather in the east, puffy and white, just as requested to soften the morning light. It's all so very much like Camelot in the way it resembles perfection.
This particular day's beginning was so grand and so majestic that I found myself questioning that story told by Mr. Priddy in sixth grade, about the turning of the earth on its axis being responsible for the sunrise. Surely I think, gazing at this glorious sunrise, that only a goddess driving her divine sun chariot could pull off a show like this.
Those little streams of people begin to pool outside popular joints like Fishy Fishy Cafe, Southport Provision Company, and Port City Java. And of course, people gather wherever the daily filming of the current movie or television show is taking place. That's right, the Southport mystique is so alluring that there's always something being filmed here. It's not unusual for six to eight projects, a combination of movies and television shows, to be filmed concurrently in the greater Wilmington area and most of them include scenes shot in Southport.
Ms. Wonder and I came out to Port City Java early for our daily espresso fix, and to beat the crowds to the movie site du jour. We came hoping to catch a glimpse of the filming of The Problem With Providence, starring Lily James and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Come evening, just about the dinner hour, the clouds are on the horizon again but this time in the west. They diminish the heat and make the sea breeze more refreshing. The streets begin to fill with people strolling along the waterfront, some with children, some with dogs, and some with lovers.
The Southport mystique is irresistible
The Southport mystique is irresistible
Those little streams of people begin to pool outside popular joints like Fishy Fishy Cafe, Southport Provision Company, and Port City Java. And of course, people gather wherever the daily filming of the current movie or television show is taking place. That's right, the Southport mystique is so alluring that there's always something being filmed here. It's not unusual for six to eight projects, a combination of movies and television shows, to be filmed concurrently in the greater Wilmington area and most of them include scenes shot in Southport.
Ms. Wonder and I came out to Port City Java early for our daily espresso fix, and to beat the crowds to the movie site du jour. We came hoping to catch a glimpse of the filming of The Problem With Providence, starring Lily James and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The movie production company hired local vendors to serve as extras and they've been strewn around the lawn in front of the Southport Maritime Museum in what looks like a festival of sorts.
In a world where everything is constantly changing, you can be sure to find a reassuring sameness in Southport. And there's no better way to get a taste of just how dependable the town can be than with Southport Fun Tours.
I nod to her when we pass. "Crabs are out," she says.
"Ah," I say, having searched the data banks for just the right response and coming up empty. My mind doesn't work with the speed of someone like Ms. Wonder but it follows the same processes. The subconscious continued working on the mystery until it finally found the solution.
"Big blow coming," she said nodding over her shoulder toward the evening clouds. I smile to myself with the knowledge that it doesn't rain 'till after sundown in Camelot.
"Stay dry," I said.
"Didn't say rain," she said. "Wind."
"Ah," I say again and remind myself that there's not a more congenial spot for happily ever after-ing than the coastal Camelot that is Southport.
Nothing was happening on the set yet so we moved to the edge of the crowd of sightseers to watch a freighter entering the Intracoastal Waterway where it headed upriver toward the Port of Wilmington. Ms. Wonder thinks she recognized a friend standing on the pier along with several other members of the Cape Fear River Watchers.
"Background!" yells the movie wrangler and we turn back in time to see the extras go into action. The customers walk through the set toward the vendors, who begin taking orders and serving Italian ice and hot dogs.
"This is some serious acting," I heard someone say. "Hmmm," I said to Ms. Wonder and I emphasized the statement with a raised eyebrow. She raised a corresponding eyebrow if that's the term, and with a slight nod, she indicated that we shared the same opinion of the review.
I was looking for the stars of the movie or if not the main stars at least Jim Gaffigan or Himesh Patel, but the wrangler yells, "Scene cut!" before I locate them. This little scenario repeats every few minutes and I soon give up trying to get a peek at the actors.
"Cart's here," said Ms. Wonder and we hurried to the loading zone for Southport Fun Tours. We needed a few more photos for the travel piece we're doing for Carolina Roads Magazine.
Time moves more slowly in Southport
In a world where everything is constantly changing, you can be sure to find a reassuring sameness in Southport. And there's no better way to get a taste of just how dependable the town can be than with Southport Fun Tours.
Dan Guetschow, known locally as The Rev, conducts the tours and entertains us with stories ranging from local history to local gossip. Dan earned his nickname while playing guitar for Boz Skaggs. I know! Boz Skaggs! Little surprises like this one make Southport seem all that more magical.
As Ms. Wonder and I stroll along the waterfront on our way to the yacht basin, a line dance of pelicans passes overhead playing follow the leader. The first bird slides to the right and each bird following does the same. The leader then slides back to the left and one by one they all follow. They continue with their dance, doing the Charlie Brown and wobble, wobble, wobble until they're out of sight.
The perfect spot for happily ever after-ing
As we near the marsh walk, we can hear a local entertainer singing Jimmy Buffet ballads at Fishy Fishy Cafe, and we meet a local resident who moves as though she raises Cocker Spaniels but she's actually taking a Scottie for a walk the river basin.
I nod to her when we pass. "Crabs are out," she says.
"Ah," I say, having searched the data banks for just the right response and coming up empty. My mind doesn't work with the speed of someone like Ms. Wonder but it follows the same processes. The subconscious continued working on the mystery until it finally found the solution.
She must have meant that the crabs were searching for their supper along the marsh walk and wanted to prevent us from stepping on one. But the realization came too late to comment and she, realizing that she'd non-plussed me, made another effort.
"Big blow coming," she said nodding over her shoulder toward the evening clouds. I smile to myself with the knowledge that it doesn't rain 'till after sundown in Camelot.
"Stay dry," I said.
"Didn't say rain," she said. "Wind."
"Ah," I say again and remind myself that there's not a more congenial spot for happily ever after-ing than the coastal Camelot that is Southport.