Join WECT's Frances Weller, Swamp Logger's David Mueller and many more peeps tomorrow during Wilmington's Epicurean Evening!

I stopped by the Wilmington Convention Center earlier today to see the set up.  It looks awesome.  Now... if I could write my speech!  Ha!

It will be a great night of incredible food... plus, we'll be raising money for the Methodist Home for Children... many kids need forever families, and as many people know, adoption is a huge passion of mine.

Tickets are still on sale!!  Just through tonight... there will be no sales at the door.  Hope to see you there!  I'll probably stream live from there!

We've been covering Hurricane Irene and I haven't had much of a chance to update anyone... but check this out!  This was sent into us...

[SUBMIT YOUR OWN PICS]

I'll be sharing these and some more tonight on our special coverage tonight at 7.  I'll see you online, too!  

We've been watching crazy weather phenoms today in the Cape Fear Region.  Many of you took waterspout pics and video at Carolina Beach. 

Meteorologist Robb Ellis has been watching the radar this afternoon... and he's been hearing that more waterspouts have been popping up in Ocean Isle.  

Please do not run towards a water spout.  That is what we like to call a "bad idea."  We're going to be talking about it more tonight on WECT News at 5, 5:30 and 6... as well as on Fox Wilmington News at 6:30.  Stay tuned and be safe out there!

Watch the video below (but WARNING:  someone does drop a curse word towards the end)-- 

Remember those good ole school days pics?  Remember wearing your favorite outfit and spending way too much time on your hair?  

Well, that's kind of what it was like around here at the WECT-WSFX studios today!  

Except today, we were taking new pics with the world-famous photographer, Brownie Harris.  I blogged about another photo shoot with him when I first got here.  

We wanted to take new pics on the new set.  Special thanks to Brownie... and to our Creative Services and Marketing Director David Toma.  What fun!

We started this fairly recently, but we're going to try it again this week.  Chat with us during the 6:30 news!  Just watch the channel, send us a message... if you have any questions, ask us!  We'll try to get to it during the news!

*The video will show the live stream a few minutes before 6:30.  Otherwise, it pops up old videos.*  Just watch for the RED LIVE LINK!

I had such a great time at the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival.  It recently became North Carolina's official shrimp fest!  I was surprised to see so many people in attendance... and then, of course, being in the parade was such a blast!

The best part that I missed???  The shrimp heading contest.  I really wanted to stay and take part, but it was getting late.  At least I got to watch the kiddos do it!  Check them out!  What a bunch of pros!

I'm not a foodie... I'm more like a foodie wannabe.  However, I love good food, can't wait to try new things and enjoy sharing experiences with great people.  

Perhaps you caught the News at 6:30 earlier this week when I featured the newest foodie craze in Wilmington-- a pop up restaurant!  Apparently, it's a trend in bigger cities like LA and NYC.

Canape (small bites) is literally here today, gone tomorrow. 

How does it work?

The owners, Matthew Gould and Sean Pascarelli, take over a restaurant during a night it's closed.  They get a permit to act as a caterer would, and they hire people for just one night.

I really had a great time meeting the guys.  They're very talented and extremely energetic about this new venture.  Sean is a bread assistant at La Gemma and Matthew is a sous chef at Caprice Bistro.

Canape's first event is August 22nd, Monday at Manna.  That's at 123 Princess Street.  They'll be serving an 11-course meal!  
Nearly all of the pre-sold tickets are gone... but the guys say they'll pop up again in the fall.  Can't wait!

We are so excited to be involved with Wilmington's Epicurean Evening September 1st.

Frances Weller will be emceeing the event... and I will be speaking about my personal experience with adoption.  I am so thrilled!  Proceeds go to the Methodist Home for Children.

Fran has shared so many great things about the event, but it really does sell itself.  A lot of incredible, local chefs will be preparing food for us, and we'll be learning about some great kids who need our help.  You'll go home full in more ways than one!

I wanted to share this with you because I think it could be a great community service.  My trainer, Adam Freeman, is launching a Fit Camp to help raise money for the American Heart Association.  He's also putting on the camp in honor of his late daughter, Kayleigh, who passed away after battling heart complications.