THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501190192
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
``The year was l976. David Menaker and wife were traveling the East Coast on bicycles and working as musicians.
On the way to a gig in Florida, the flute/guitar duo stopped in Kill Devil Hills hoping to land a job to make enough money for food.
The Menakers landed a five-night gig at the Jolly Roger.
When the job ended, the Menakers, on full stomachs, continued their journey to Florida.
All the way there, Menaker thought about the Outer Banks. There was something special about the place.
The Menakers worked a few jobs in the Sunshine State, but David's thoughts were still on the Outer Banks.
He was soon back on the beach. Menaker knew he wanted to be here, and he went about finding a way to stay.
It didn't take long.
With the help of partners and parents, he bought the Holiday Marina on Kitty Hawk Bay.
With a little renovation, the Holiday Marina became the Soundside Folk and Ale House.
The Menakers were in business.
For 10 years, the couple provided the Outer Banks with an eclectic blend of bands and brews.
Year after year, groups like Winged Heart Band, Bill Blue Band and Blue Sparks From Hell satisfied the tastes of Outer Banks music lovers.
Soundside was part of the same club circuit as Blues Alley and Cellar Door in Washington, D.C.
It was an unofficial circuit, but nonetheless bands traveling from New York to Miami would stop to play in the renovated boathouse on the bay.
Some true legends played there. Doc and Merle Watson played bluegrass while Andy Griffith enjoyed the music from his stageside table. Jonathan Edwards played Soundside.
Another bluegrass band, Shady Grove, played the house on a regular basis.
On Thursday nights, a revolving group of actors called the Soundside Players provided a ``Saturday Night Live``-type floorshow.
And as Menaker remembers it, ``It was as close to vaudeville as anything had been in those years.''
The magic lasted a decade before the Menakers closed the Soundside in l985. Menaker cites a classic case of ``burnout'' as the reason.
Now Menaker is about to find out if the magic is transferable. And if magic transcends time and place. He opens the Blue Moose Cafe in Kitty Hawk in early February.
The new club is three miles from where the Soundside used to stand. But will it be Soundside 2?
``I'd like to think of it in 'Star Trek' terms,'' says Menaker. ``This is the next generation.''
And so it is, although some things are the same. The club will feature an eclectic mix of music. Menaker promises bluegrass, jazz, reggae, maybe even poetry.
``Anything but rock 'n' roll. I think that's pretty well covered down here,'' says Menaker.
Menaker is passionate about his new place. The Blue Moose Cafe has a sound system that is designed with the listener in mind. ``We balance the system to fit our room,'' Menaker says.
One major difference between the old place and the new place is Menaker's menu. Menaker says there is a ``serious committment to food.'' To that end, he hired chef Bob Heck, who calls the food ``eclectic American nouveau cuisine.''
Since the Soundside closed, Menaker has worked in real estate and construction. Why is he returning to the nightclub business? It's simple: Menaker misses the music.
``I think there is a real void on the Outer Banks for the old coffeehouse-type entertainment,'' he says.
What other tricks does Menaker the Magician have up his sleeve?
The Blue Moose Cafe will be smoke-free! That's right, smoke-free. Smokers will have a porch for the habit.
Menaker plans to open the cafe the first week in February. Although nothing is official yet, Menaker promises a ``surprise'' guest on opening night. MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks entertainment for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959.
by CNB