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HOME&GARDEN
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SATURDAY December 3, 2011
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES • CITIZEN-TIMES.com
The Cathedral of All Souls.
SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SECTION: BILTMORE VILLAGE
BILTMORE VILLAGE
THRIVES ON TRADITION
ANNUAL DICKENS FESTIVAL BRINGS ENGLISH SETTING TO LIFE THIS WEEKEND
By Carol Rifkin
Citizen-Times correspondent
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iltmore Village is celebrating the magic of the holidays with theatrical charm this weekend as the Montford Park Players join strolling jugglers, musicians, storytellers and more on the streets, shops and main stage of the historic community. At the annual Dickens in the Village event, you might run into characters like Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge or your favorite traditional musicians, such as Beth and Jim Magill, Don Pedi or Whitewater Bluegrass Company at a Biltmore Village restaurant, shop, gallery or hotel. “What we do is scenes from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’” said Hazel Robinson, founder and chair emeritus of the Montford Park Players. “We go in and out of the shops, in front of the shops, we tailor the performance to the space that is there.” One scene that plays out is Scrooge and the solicitor who asks him for contributions for the poor. “We’ve been with the Dickens Village program every year since they had the idea of doing it,” Rob-
Stan Collins, who owns the Once Upon a Time toy shop, is the head of the Biltmore Village Merchants Association.
IF YOU GO What: Dickens in the Village. When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. today; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Where: Historic Biltmore Village, Asheville. Admission: Free. To learn more, call 274-8788 or visit www.biltmorevillage.com.
inson said. This is the 23rd year for the event, and more than 300 performers in a wide range of styles roam the village, many taking a turn on an outdoor main stage before heading off to visit merchants.
Biltmore Village's shops have items that you'll find nowhere else in Asheville. PHOTOS BY JOHN COUTLAKIS/JCOUTLAKIS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
“This is the ideal spot for a Dickens festival,” said Stan Collins, head of the Biltmore Village Merchants Association and owner of Once Upon a Time toy and book store. “All the buildings in the village have an English cottage look, similar to the kind of look associated with ‘A Christmas Carol.’” Some store owners and employees dress up like Dickens characters. Music and entertainment are continuous and sometimes spontaneous. “It’s fun when it’s unexpected and a group starts singing in a store,” Collins said. “We bring in
street performers, you walk down the street, and there’s a juggler, the mime is terrific.”
English village in N.C. The look of Biltmore Village is a long-term historic plan. “It was created by the Vanderbilts when they had finished the construction of the Biltmore Estate,” said Collins. An architect from England was engaged to design the village; a train already ran to the village station, bringing goods for the estate. “When people arrived and got off the train, Mr. Vanderbilt wantSee TRADITION, Page D6
FIND A PHOTO GALLERY OF THESE AND OTHER BILTMORE VILLAGE LOCATIONS ONLINE AT CITIZEN-TIMES.COM.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011
SPECIAL HOME & GARDEN
A S H E V I L L E C I T I Z E N - T I M E S • C I T I Z E N - T I M E S. C O M
RESTAURANT REVIEW
RED STAG GRILL STANDS OUT FOR AMBIANCE, FOOD By Chris McKee Citizen-Times correspondent
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ast week we decided to try the Red Stag Grill, located within the Grand Bohemian Hotel at 11 Boston Way in Biltmore Village. Rather than feeling like a hotel, it felt like a Vanderbilt hunting lodge. The area surrounding the huge stone fireplace, an undeniable focal point, held a variety of things to keep your attention — everything from jewelry and watches to ties and oil paintings from the gift shop, as well as displayed antique guns. I wouldn’t mind having to wait on a table here, especially if it’s cold out. Ornate wood was everywhere, along with a variety of plush and wellspaced seating arrangements accented by rich reds and subtle lighting. I was wondering if we were going to be able to read the menu until it was opened. It was backlit and something I haven’t experienced before. A large chandelier made from tree limbs and a few mounted hunting trophies supported the overall feel. To start off we ordered the hunt plate, which included Black Forest ham, Molinari salami, soft and aged cheeses, Lusty Monk mustard, olives and rustic bread, along with the lump crab cakes with a caper mustard Wendell sauce and fresh greens. The hunt plate was your basic meat and cheese board. What was special was the Lusty Monk mustard, one of the better locally produced condiments. It’s good with just about anything. The lump crab cakes were great and ended up being my favorite dish of the night. They had plenty of crab meat and a nice browned crust. The taste of lemon came straight to the foreground from the cakes and the sauce. The Wendell sauce was the best single element of the night. Sometimes the brininess of capers can be overpowering, but these offered more of a textural element than an aggressive flavor profile. For the entrees we opted for the Carolina bison ribeye topped with seared foie gras and Stag fries with truffle oil and cheese on the side, as well as the Hayes braised short ribs, which was served with whipped potatoes, braised local greens and some reduced braising liquid. When the ribeye came out, it was the scent of the truffle oil on the Stag fries that made itself known — pungent and earthy. The shoestring fries were thin
Red Stag Grill executive chef Adam Hayes. PHOTOS BY JOHN COUTLAKIS/JCOUTLAKIS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
READY TO EAT? For reservations at the Red Stag Grill, call 398-5600. To learn more, visit www.bohemianhotelasheville.com.
The ambiance of the Red Stag Grill in the Grand Bohemian Hotel is unlike anything in Asheville. and crispy, which added the best textural contrast. Just enough melted cheese, herbs and seasoning to help counter the truffle oil. I enjoyed the lack of a
strong char flavor on the ribeye. The pure, almost untouched taste of the meat was a welcomed sight. For the lack of fat in bison meat, the steak had retained most of it mois-
ture through the cooking process. The serving size of the
sautéed fois gras was a little small for the price. But it was well-seared and had just began to melt slightly on top of the ribeye. My kind of sauce. The short ribs were listed as being smoked, seared and braised in a combination of Green Man IPA and veal stock. The ribs weren’t overcooked and maintained their meaty texture. Their flavor was well-developed and the serving size was ample. Unfortunately the kitchen forget to remove the butcher’s twine, which was a little disappointing. For the rest of the plate, the whipped potatoes were smooth, no graininess. The reduced braising liquid wasn’t oily
and worked well with everything on the plate. I didn’t pick up any smoke on the ribs, but the greens were heavily smoked. Not bad for the first few bites; halfway through the plate, they dominated everything else. A slice of apple pie, some vanilla ice cream and a Chimay ale felt like an appropriate way to end our meal. The pie’s dough had some issues. It was overworked and the thickly rolled outer crust came out raw. The apples kept some of their crisp texture and weren’t overly sweet. I didn’t know that See REVIEW, Page D6
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011
SPECIAL HOME & GARDEN
A S H E V I L L E C I T I Z E N - T I M E S • C I T I Z E N - T I M E S. C O M
Whether your gift list calls for a wall-size painting or a tiny collectible, the Grand Bohemian Gallery offers a variety of choices. PHOTOS BY JOHN COUTLAKIS/JCOUTLAKIS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
ART GALLERIES
OFFER FINE ART TO FURNITURE By Paul Clark Citizen-Times correspondent
One of the wonderful things about Christmas is how unique you can make it. Your decorating is just so, the dishes you plan reflect your personal taste. Your gift-giving can be as unique if you present your people with one-of-a-kind creations that they and no one else in the world will possess. We’re talking about works of art, of course. Art doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t exist only in downtown Asheville’s art galleries or in the River Arts District studios. It’s all about Biltmore Village, where it can be seen, beheld and purchased in a setting that could be a set for a Christmas movie that features the village’s treelined streets and tinsel-wrapped bannisters leading up steps into a remarkable array of shops festooned for the festival season. There are five galleries in Biltmore Village — Bellagio, Bella Vista Art Gallery, Grand Bohemian Gallery, New Morning Gallery and Thomas Kinkade at Biltmore Village. They are all within a short walk of each other, and you can make a day of gallery shopping by having lunch at one of Biltmore Village’s several restaurants. “Any reason is a good reason to collect art,” said Christin Zelenka, owner of Bella Vista Art Gallery. Exclusivity is certainly one of them, she said. “For example, if someone wants to collect an August Hoerr painting, that collector can either go to Bella Vista Art Gallery or (to) Bath in the United Kingdom.” Bellagio (5 Biltmore Plaza, 277-8100, www.bellagioartto wear.com) specializes in what it calls “art to wear.” Here you’ll find a dress, a shawl or a lovely piece of jewelry that your lucky recipient will love wearing to a dinner party. All of the offerings in this 20-year-old shop are created by American artists, among them Babette Pinsky and Josephine Tchang, whose dresses, tops and pants are so comfortable and bold of shape and color that they need (and have) little embellishment. Store hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Bellagio’s sister gallery is New Morning Gallery, whose history is the very history of Biltmore Village’s grand resurgence from neglect in the 1970s to splendor today. New Morning Gallery (7 Boston Way, 274-2831, www.newmorninggallerync.com) is a 12,300-square-foot building of all things artistic — decorative and functional crafts that will look
Like most of the galleries in Biltmore Village, New Morning Gallery offers a variety of items for Christmas shopping.
New Morning Gallery in Biltmore Village features works of art, many in the form of unique fine furniture. beautiful in anyone’s home (perhaps your own?). More than 35 years old, the shop has exquisite jewelry, glasswork, ceramic ware, garden sculpture and the largest selection of Sticks furniture in the Southeast. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Grand Bohemian Gallery (11 Boston Way, 398-5555, www.bohemianhotel asheville.com) is in the Grand Bohemian Hotel, an architectural beauty in which an outstanding gallery is almost to be expected. The gallery showcases the
Visiting the Grand Bohemian Gallery is akin to walking through the home of an avid collector with eclectic tastes.
work of more than 100 artists, some living locally and selling internationally. Through Jan 30, the gallery is featuring the work of Asheville artist Stuart Roper. Walking through the gallery is like walking through a grand sitting room in a spectacular home, which the hotel certainly emulates. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday. Bella Vista (14 Lodge St., 768-0246, www.bellavista art.com) is a fine art gallery representing artists of a variety of media, including paintings, pastels, photography and fine ceramics, among them.
This month it is featuring work by photographer Paul Owen, one of the co-founding directors of New York University’s photography department. The gallery has a few nice perks not uncommon among fine art purveyors. It will allow local customers to take a piece of work home for a few days to see if it “works.” It offers no-interest time payments. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Representing one of the most published U.S. artists alive is Thomas Kinkade at Biltmore Village (10 Biltmore Plaza on
Boston Way, 277-0850, www. thomaskinkadeasheville.com). Kinkade, whose work is often compared to Norman Rockwell’s, is the most collected artist in the country. His work casts a shimmering light on farms, country homes and smalltown scenes. “My mission as an artist,” Kinkade says on his website, “is to create glimpses of a world that are tranquil, peaceful, and full of the beauty of God’s creation. That's what I mean when I talk about sharing the light.” Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Find a photo gallery of these and other Biltmore Village locations online at CITIZEN-TIMES.com.
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ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES • CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
SPECIAL HOME & GARDEN
SHOPPING
IN HISTORIC BILTMORE VILLLAGE Here’s a sampling of retail shops in Historic Biltmore Village: » Antiquities at Biltmore Village: 10,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles from more than 50 dealers, including country to Victorian furniture, primitives, art pottery, glass, silver, quilts, books and lighting. 95 Reed St.; 2746812. » Bellagio: A wearable art gallery showcasing clothing, jewelry and accessories by American artists who specialize in exotic textures, colors and innovative techniques to create art to wear. 5 Biltmore Plaza; 277-8100. » The Biltmore Village Company: A fine gift and home accessory store with a focus on handcrafted furniture, original oil and watercolor paintings, lamps and antique reproductions. 1 Kitchin Place; 274-5570. » Blue: One-of-a-kind, original jewelry made from scratch using four colors of gold and platinum, and using diamonds bought only from Australia or British Columbia, never Africa. Featuring a fourth-generation diamond-cutter. 1 Swan St.; 277-2583. » Books & Breadboard: A combination of food and books, with pastries, sandwiches, quiche, coffee and deserts, surrounded by books. Wifi on site. 30 All Souls Crescent; 505-8233. » Chelsea’s: A country French and English store with gift items and gourmet foods, and the Village Tea Room. 6 Boston Way; 2744400. » The Compleat Naturalist: A nature and science emporium featuring binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, weather instruments, mineral specimens, hiking guides and maps, nature books, wood carvings, day packs and clothing. 2 Brook St.; 274-5430. » Curtis Wright Outfitters: An outfitter and fly
The Old World Christmas Shoppe is one of many themed retail stores in Biltmore Village. JOHN COUTLAKIS/JCOUTLAKIS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
shop specializing in clothing and gear for hiking and fishing, and half- and fullday wade and float trips for trout and smallmouth bass. Parking in rear. 5 All Souls Crescent; 274-3471. » Estate Jewelry Ltd.: Diamonds, gemstones and antique and estate pieces from the past 100 years. 18 Brook St.; 274-7007. » Fresh Produce: Women’s clothing in natural fabrics, featuring Vera Bradley bags and accessories, Pure Handknit, Sloop Jones, Viva Beads and SwitchFlops. 18 Lodge St.; 505-7775. » Jos. A. Bank, Clothiers: Menswear retailer for more than 100 years, with prices typically 20 to 30 percent below its competitors. 9 Kitchin Place; 2742630. » Just Ducky: A children’s clothing store featuring the local Just Ducky brand, which has been designed and made in Asheville for more than 30 years. Other children’s lines are available. 10 All Souls Crescent; 277-7084. » Legacies Gifts and Ice Cream Garden: Transitional and contemporary art and gifts, designer jewelry, glass and porcelain art, wall sculptures and a backyard ice cream garden. 2 Boston Way; 274-8212. » Monkees of Biltmore: A shop carrying the
trendiest styles in women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. 7 All Souls Crescent; 277-6002. » New Morning Gallery: Handcrafted furniture, home accessories, glass, pottery, jewelry and other gifts, all handmade by American artists and showcased in a 12,300-squarefoot showroom. 7 Boston Way; 274-2831. » Olde World Christmas Shoppe: Unique Christmas and gift items, Anri woodcarvings, Boyds bears, Byers Choice carolers, Hummel, LGB trains, Radko, Steinbeck nutcrackers, Vaillancourt folk art, handcrafted Santas and homemade fudge. 5 Boston Way; 274-4819. » Once Upon a Time: A children’s toy and book store filled with toys that combine fun with education and development, an extensive collection of baby toys, and thousands of book titles ranging from old favorites to the newest issues. 7 All Souls Crescent; 274-8788. » Palm Village: A Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store offering women’s and children’s clothing by one of the country’s most celebrated fashion designers. 1 All Souls Crescent; 505-8140. » Porter & Prince, Ltd.: Luxuries for women, home and babies, featuring linens and furniture, European
body products, sleepwear and other gifts. 6 Brook St.; 277-2337. » 2 on Crescent: A women’s clothing shop featuring a large selection of Flax in sizes 6-26, Eileen Fischer, Hobo handbags, Patrice jewelry and more. 4 All Souls Crescent, 274-6890 or 274-1276.
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» Waechter’s Fine Fabrics: Specializing for more than 80 years in natural fiber fabrics, buttons and patterns for sewing and decorator projects. 9-D Reed St.; 274-3146. » White House Black Market: Chic, sophisticated apparel and accessories in timeless colors of black and
white. 3 Kitchin Place; 2773317. » Yarn Paradise: Large selection of imported and domestic designer yarns, knitting and crochet accessories including needles, with a selection of books, kits and patterns. 6 All Souls Crescent; 274-4213. Source: www.biltmorevillage.com
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SPECIAL HOME & GARDEN
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011
A S H E V I L L E C I T I Z E N - T I M E S • C I T I Z E N - T I M E S. C O M
REVIEW: Polished Continued from Page D2
anyone around town had Chimay on tap. It’s pricey, but the perfect ending to the night. The overall ambiance inside of the Red Stag Grill is unlike any dining experienced I’ve had around town. Not your typical Asheville decor, but it pretty much achieves the feeling I believe they intended on creating: rather polished. Our meal was above average, even if a few lesser issues kept it from being truly great. This is the opinion of Chris McKee. To contact him, email Features Editor Bruce Steele at bsteele@citizen-times.com and your message will be forwarded.
Carriage rides add to the feel of old England during the current Dickens celebration in Biltmore Village. SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN-TIMES
TRADITION: You’ll see characters Continued from Page D1
ed an interesting community, a high-quality place for them to get off,” Collins said. Fashioned like an English village, there are brick sidewalks, and several years ago, the merchants association put in reproductions of the original streetlights. Carriage rides are available for a fee. “It has a community feel, sort of the way shopping used to be,” Collins said. “You can walk to everything, see people. It’s fun for adults and for kids, too. They love the performing acts.” “This is entrepreneurship at its best,” added Collins, who opened his store full of unique books and toys 18 years ago. “This village was built, created and operated by local people, local entrepreneurs. One starts a
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE Today Note: Times overlap because of multiple venues. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Nora Mosrie, Castle Feast Duo. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Raggedy Ann & Andy. Noon-2 p.m.: Dickens the Clown. 12:30-2:30p.m.: Bobbie Pell, Amy & Mischa. 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Lady Elf visiting from the North Pole. 1-3 p.m.: RJ Grady bagpiper. 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Vance Chorus. 2-4 p.m.: King Goslin. 2:30-4:30 p.m.: WomanSong. 2:30-4:30 p.m.: Montford
business, the next starts the business, that is impressive.” The area has seen continued expansion and growth in the last five or six years. “The village has uniqueness about it, and there is uniqueness about the items sold in all the stores in the village,” Collins said. “I have a series of wooden trucks and trains made by someone
Park Players. 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Jim and Beth Magill. 3:30-5:30 p.m.: N8 the Great juggling and magic. 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Biltmore Brass Ensemble. 5:30-7 p.m.: Whitewater Bluegrass.
Sunday 1-3 p.m.: Ashgrove Garland Dancers. 1-3 p.m.: Men’s Morris Dancers. 1-3 p.m.: Montford Park Players. 1:30-3:30 p.m.: All Souls
here in town, you can’t find that anywhere else; they are not mass-produced. New Morning Gallery has one-ofa-kind art and furnishings from this area — it’s very special that way.” An ongoing air of good feeling is part of the weekend, actors and musicians share holiday greetings as they pass along the street, with spontaneous outbursts of Christmas carols.
Episcopal Carolers. 1-3 p.m.: RJ Grady bagpiper. 1-3p.m.: Michael Boothroyd. 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Flat Rock Youtheatre. 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Jim and Beth Magill. 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Steve Trisman. 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Lady Elf visiting from the North Pole. 2-4 p.m.: Steve Burnside, Karin Lyle, N8 the Great juggling and magic, Don Pedi, Encore Duo. 2:30-4:30 p.m.: Land o’ Sky Senior Quartet. 3-5 p.m.: Starlight Carolers.
“Whether it’s raining, cold, snowing or warm and sunny, oddly enough, everyone enjoys it despite the weather,” said Robins. “For a lot of people who have participated or attended, Christmas doesn’t happen until they see us do ‘A Christmas Carol.’” Carol Rifkin writes about bluegrass and traditional music for the CitizenTimes. Email her at CMRifkin@gmail.com
The Corner Kitchen is another Biltmore Village eatery. JOHN COUTLAKIS/JCOUTLAKIS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
OTHER BILTMORE VILLAGE RESTAURANTS » Books & Breadboard, 30 All Souls Crescent. 505-8233 or www.booksandbreadboard.com. Breakfast pastries, sandwiches, quiche, coffee, homemade desserts and more. WiFi. » Chelsea’s and The Village Tea Room, 6 Boston Way, 274-0701 or www.chelseastea.com. Lunch from 11:30 a.m., English afternoon tea at 3:30 p.m., Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. » The Corner Kitchen, 3 Boston Way. 274-2439 or www.thecornerkitchen.com. Casual cuisine in a charming 1890’s cottage; breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; Sunday brunch 9 a.m.-3p.m. Children’s menu. » Neo Cantina, 10 Biltmore Plaza. 505-7682 or www.neocantina.com. Fresh Southwestern Grill. Lunch and dinner daily; brunch Saturday-Sunday. Patio seating. WiFi. » Rezaz Restaurant and Enoteca, 28 Hendersonville Road. 277-1510 or www.rezaz.com. Fresh, eclectic Mediterranean-influenced fare in a contemporary setting. » Village Wayside Bar & Grille, 30 Lodge Street, 277-4121 or www.villagewayside.com. Located in the original 1896 train depot; offering new twists on classic dishes, comfort food and more. Lunch and dinner.
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