Best Day Wilmington: Summer McPherson

What’s a woman to do with an ideal day in Wilmington? No appointments or obligations, no rainy weather or calories that count. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a day with an endless budget and boundless energy to enjoy all of your favorite places. 

That’s what we asked SUMMER McPHERSON, owner of Wilmington Latin Dance, for August’s edition of Best Day Wilmington. 

Funny enough, McPherson grew up playing sports – not dancing in recitals. 

“It’s something I started as an adult,” she says of dancing. “I stumbled upon a swing night with a friend and met an instructor and started taking swing lessons. Then I took salsa classes and went out to an event and realized this is what I want to do with my life.” 

Following her first salsa class in 2002, McPherson found her niche and eventually became an instructor for Latin and ballroom dance. 

After a stint in her native Charlotte, she and her husband, DANNY, moved back to Wilmington in 2012. He became the owner of the local Brunches restaurants while she opened her own studio, Wilmington Latin Dance. Today, the studio has six additional instructors. 

“It’s been a fantastic fourteen years growing and offering classes,” Summer McPherson says. “Wilmington was really ready for something like this, so it was a great experience to have the support of the folks I’d danced with before, and it’s been consistently growing over all of these years.” 

The studio initially focused on classes and traveling to perform, but after the pandemic, it shifted gears to building community, she says. The studio regularly partners with a number of local businesses and hosts several dance events. That includes a daytime social dance event Aug. 16 at The Elia, called Cafe Con Baile, in partnership with Heritage Coffee.  

Summer McPherson says that dance has been both healing and lifechanging for her, and that she has loved sharing and celebrating it with the community over the years. 

“It’s been a lot of work,” she says, “a lot of hard work, but an absolute honor and joy to be able to offer this.” 

Here’s Summer McPherson’s version of a perfect day in the Port City: 

How are you starting your day? 

“A day with all the energy and time to play? LET’S GO! 

I love sunrise so I would make coffee and head to Wrightsville Beach to greet the sun, talk to the ocean, and look for shells. It’s my walking meditation. Then I would head over to Crystal Pier to enjoy Yoga on the Pier with BeUnlimited Yoga. Their Pier Yoga series is such a lovely experience.”  

Where would you go next? 

“Next up is a massage! I always look forward to my massages with CHRISTINA McNAUGHTON, owner of Elevate Massage Therapy. She is amazing and helps keep my body balanced and ready to dance.” 

What’s for lunch?  

“Brunch for lunch! I would head down to our Brunches in Carolina Beach. That location is special to me because I painted the jellyfish murals there with our oldest daughter, SKY. I love our Bloody Marys and my go-to order is the Southwestern Bowl with our grits (the best!).” 

Who’s joining you? 

“My girlfriends: MELISSA, SAVANNAH, and KAYLIE. Our time together is such a gift. You would hear us before you see us, we laugh a lot and loudly!” 

How are you spending your afternoon?  

“We can’t be in Carolina Beach and not swing by The Fat Pelican. Such a fun spot with so many quirky things to see. I’d grab a drink from their walk-in cooler and visit the mural I painted there back in 2000. It’s the one with the pelican going into the bullseye of a dart board. The owner, DANNY McLAUGHLIN, has kept it intact for so long!  

Then my husband and I would make our way to Brunswick Nature Park for a hike. I love the trails along the water looking over the cypress trees.” 

Where are you stopping for drinks and a snack?  

“We’d get back over the bridge into downtown. Blue Post Billiards during the day is my favorite. We would grab a drink, get some songs cued up on the jukebox, and throw darts. We’ve started playing beach volleyball with our kiddos, so we’d head over to Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill & Volleyball Facility for a snack and play. We all get coached and schooled by our youngest daughter, Ruby.” 

How about dinner?  

“Danny and I love Kipos Hellenic Cuisine in Lumina Station. We’d sit at the bar and enjoy an extra dirty martini and order a variety of dishes to share. We would most likely order some (if not all) of our favorites: their Avgolemono soup, beets salad, saganaki, spicy feta, and grilled octopus. Ufff so good.” 

How are you spending an evening out?  

“We’d cruise over to the Crystal Pier (full circle) to enjoy sunset and watch the moonrise. Then it’s time to dance, of course! I’d make my way to our Wilmington Latin Dance event and close the evening on the dance floor!  

A perfect day, for sure!” 

Editor’s note: Responses were edited for clarity. 

Nominate yourself or other women to share their version of a perfect day in the Port City! Send an email lpodraza@wilmingtonbiz.com with the subject line, “Best Day Wilmington” 

To view more of photographer Aris Harding’s work, go to arisharding.com.

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