tour guide
BLACK MOUNTAIN
FALL AND WINTER 2009-2010
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Welcome to the Swannanoa Valley Calendar of Events
page 2
Holly Jolly
page 8
Arts Center
page 12
Museum
page 14
Music Relocation Outdoors
page 16 page 18 page 24
Restaurants
page 4
Famous People
page 6
Worship Directory
page 14
Cover photos by Joye Ardyn Durham, www.artist withcamera.com.
This guide produced bi-annually by
Serving the Swannanoa Valley Since 1945
Black Mountain News P.O. Box 9 • Black Mountain, NC 28711 828-669-8727 • fax 828-669-8619 www.blackmountainnews.com
File Photo
Winter in the Swannanoa Valley.
elcome to Black Mountain and the surrounding Swannanoa Valley. Regardless of what brings you here relaxation, shopping, dining, or outdoor activities - you will be greeted with beautiful scenery, peaceful days, and friendly people. This special publication of the Black Mountain News was created to assist you while you are in town. A calendar of events for the fall and winter seasons will help you plan your activities. We encourage you to visit the local businesses that have advertised in this tour guide. They offer one-of-a-kind treasures that are unique to this area. Be sure and visit the Black Mountain - Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce while in town, located at 201 East State Street in Black Mountain, (828) 669-2300. And for a complete and updated listing of this week’s events and happenings, pick up a copy of the Black Mountain News. Enjoy your stay!
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Don’t miss these fall and winter events October
Pet Boutique - 669-0706.
2: Gallery opening, 6-8 p.m., 10-11: East of Asheville Studio Tour Appalachian Pastel Society. Black - Visit 27 studios of local artists on Mountain Center for the Arts. 669- this self-guided tour. 686-1011, 0930. www.eaststudiotour.com. 3: Annual Mill Around the Village Festival. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m in Swannanoa. Full day of music, old timey games, costumes, balloon bounces, food, chocolate factory tours, crafts and street performers. 337-4718. 3: Howl-In at Full Moon Farm – Wolfdog Rescue. Tours start at 3 p.m. $5 includes Perry’s BBQ and beverage. Full Moon Farm (10 miles south of Blk. Mtn. off Highway 9) 664-9818 or Bone-A Fide Bakery &
15-18: LEAF – Lake Eden Arts Festival at Camp Rockmont, 6868742 or www.leaf.com. 17: Pet Adoption Day at Bone-AFide Bakery & Pet Boutique noon- 4 p.m. 669-0706 or www.brotherwolf caninerescue.org. 17: 17th Annual Fall by the Tracks – craft demonstrations, food, and music. Sponsored by the Old Depot Association. 669-6583.
file photo
(above) Press some apples at Fall by the Tracks on October 17.
See Events on PAGE 3
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Events, continued from page 2 18: Classic Movie Showing 8 p.m. Donations welcome. In the beautiful gardens of Black Mountain Inn. Classic concessions available. Marshmallow roasting free. Call 243-4085 for more info.
ments, street music, entertainment and Santa Claus. Black Mountain Merchants Association, 669-1961. 4: Gallery opening for the Clay Studio Show, 6 p.m. Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 669-0930.
24: Halloween Pet Parade – 3 p.m. in downtown Black Mountain, contact Bone-A-Fide Bakery at 669-0706. November 7: Howl-In for the holidays at Full Moon Farm – Wolfdog Rescue, 1 p.m. (10 miles south of Blk. Mtn. off Hwy 9) 664-9818 or Bone-A Fide Bakery & Pet Boutique - 669-0706, www.fullmoonfarm.org. 22: Black Mountain Youth Chorale Concert, 3 p.m. $5 donation. Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 6690930.
5: Annual Christmas Parade at 4 p.m. sponsored by the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, 669-2300.
19: Pet Adoption Day at 27: Pet Adoption Day at Bone-A-Fide Bakery & Pet Bone-A-Fide Bakery & Pet Boutique, noon - 4 p.m. Boutique, noon - 4 p.m. 669-0706. 669-0706 or www.brother wolfcaninerescue.org. Ongoing: Saturdays- Black Mountain 27: Thanks Evening – Tailgate Market, 9 a.m. – Shops in downtown open noon at First Baptist late. Church, 130 Montreat Road -through October 31. December 4: Holly Jolly – Downtown Christmas Celebration – Shops open late, refresh-
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Black Mountain restaurants - old and new By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ake new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” I recall that lovely tune from my days of being a Girl Scout and can certainly apply the song to the friends in my life, but as much as I love restaurants and dining out, I feel the song is quite f itting to Black Mountain's restaurant scene. For this town is home to classic, reputable restaurants and also many newer restaurants that are equally as worthy of our attention. OLD (or shall we say classic) • Berliner Kindl German Restaurant and Deli (121 Broadway, (828) 6695255). Try an authentic bratwurst dinSee Restaurants on PAGE 5
Photo provided by Madison’s
(above) Diners enjoy the patio at Straightaway Cafe.
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Restaurants, continued from page 4 ner with potato salad and sauerkraut. •Black Mountain Bakery (102 Church Street, (828) 669-1626) is the place to f ind delicious pastries, breads, and desserts, and a wonderful place to have breakfast or lunch. • Madison’s (10 Florida Avenue, (828) 669-4785) is one of the area's hidden gems tucked away in Ridgecrest. The warm spinach and artichoke dip is a great way to begin the meal followed by baked stuffed shrimp and bananas foster for dessert. • My Father's Pizza (110 Cherry Street, (828) 669-4944) is a classic Black Mountain dining spot. Enjoy a pie with a pitcher of cold beer on the restaurant’s spacious porch. • Red Rocker Inn (136 N. Dougherty Street, (828) 669-5991) serves up homemade specialties at candlelit
tables nestled on the garden porch or by the f ireplace. • Veranda Café (119 Cherry Street, (828) 669-8864) open for lunch and featuring a feel good, down home, made from scratch menu that includes six soups daily, pimento cheese, chicken salad, and daily specials like meat loaf served with delicious sides, and much more. And don’t forget dessert! NEW • An Apple a Day (205 West State Street, (828) 669-5996) serves up delicious vegetarian cuisine. The carrot cashew ginger soup is one of their hallmark dishes. Other popular items are the build-your-own wraps and salads. The fresh juice bar is also a hit! •The Blackbird (10 East Market Street in the Village of Cheshire, (828) 669-5556) serves Southern cuisine for
lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch (closed on Mondays). • Camino’s (107 Black Mountain Avenue, (828) 669-1982) makes a delicious steak quesadilla f illed with rice, vegetables, cheese, and salsa and served with yummy spiced chips. • It doesn't get much simpler - or much better - than Mac’s (104 West Street, (828) 669-0668). With only a few items on the menu, you’ll want to return to Mac’s again and again for their scrumptious cheeseburgers and decadent Philly cheese steaks. • Phil’s Bar-B-Que Pit (701 N.C. Highway 9, (828) 669-3606) is an expansion of the long standing putt-putt golf course. Now you can spend an afternoon playing golf and enjoying fantastic BBQ. See Restaurants on PAGE 32
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Famous people from the Swannanoa Valley By Jill Jones
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
he Swannanoa Valley has been both home and retreat for numerous famous people whose lives and businesses have impacted the people and the Valley for nearly two centuries. One of the most famous of all Valley residents is the Rev. Billy Graham, who married Ruth McCue Bell, daughter of missionary Dr. L. Nelson Bell of Montreat in 1943. The Grahams first lived in a modest cottage across from Ruth’s parents, but in 1954 they purchased 200 acres on a mountaintop in Montreat on which they built an informal country-style house that has served as a place of retreat as well as home for the evangelist and his family. Frontiersman and hero of the Alamo Davy Crockett visited Elizabeth Patton, the widow of a friend, in Swannanoa in 1815. He was also recently widowed. Having five children between
them, they decided to wed and join their families. Three more children were born to them during their years in Tennessee and Texas. Descendants of Davy and Elizabeth reside today in the Swannanoa Valley. In the 1880s, world renowned architect Raphael Guastavino II came to Western North Carolina to work on the Biltmore Estate. While here, he built an estate of his own, “Rhododendron,” in Black Mountain, on the site of what now is
Photos provided by the Swannanoa Valley Museum
Ruth and Billy Graham
See Famous on PAGE 7
Famous, continued from page 6 Christmount Assembly. Guastavino specialized in the use of the ageold Catalan system of laminated tile vaults, which enabled the construction of free-standing tiled domes. Among the 1,000 buildings he designed and built in the United States is the St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville. In 1900, a panel of architects named the top 10 buildings in the United States, and eight of them contained tile work by Guastavino. A pioneer in the field of electricity, Franklin Terry was a contemporary and a competitor of Thomas Edison and eventually became a vicepresident of Edison’s company, General Electric. In 1921, he bought land in Black Mountain and built “In The Oaks,” a 24,755 square foot summer home for his second wife, Lilliam Slocumb Emerson. The home is second in size only to Biltmore House in the state and is styled as an English manor house. “In The Oaks” is now owned by Montreat College and serves as its Black Mountain campus. Singer Roberta Flack was born in Swannanoa
in 1939. She is perhaps best known for her hit song, “Killing Me Softly.” The Martin family of musicians is famous among fans of mountain music, and are also known for their wood carvings and dulcimers. Billy Edd Wheeler, of Swannanoa, is the author of numerous songs that have been recorded by such stars as Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Nancy Sinatra, Brad Johnson and Lee Greenwood. Two sports figures of renown are from the Swannanoa Valley. Football great Brad Johnson, a graduate of Owen High School, led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory in 2004.
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Davy Crockett
Raphael Guastavino
Brad Daugherty, former University of North Carolina and Cleveland Cavalier basketball star, is also from Black Mountain. For more information on these individuals and the history of the Swannanoa Valley, visit the Swannanoa Valley Museum, located at 223 West State Street in Black Mountain. For more information about the museum, call (828) 669-9655 or visit www.swannanoavalleymuseum.org.
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Holly Jolly kicks off the holiday season olly Jolly opens the holiday shopping season in Black Mountain on Friday night, December 4. The streets are decorated with millions of lights, and shops literally bulge with unusual items to make Santa’s sleigh trip on December 25 worth the effort. Shoppers come from surrounding areas to enjoy the entertainment and sample the delicious offers by local shops. What used to be punch and cookies or hot chocolate has turned into unusual sweets and food delicacies. Shoppers return year after year to meander from one shop to the other, seeking special gifts for special people on their holiday list. Holly Jolly is a big Christmas party See Holly Jolly on PAGE 9
File Photo
(above) Santa is one of the many highlights of the annual Holly Jolly celebration in downtown Black Mountain on December 4.
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Holly Jolly, continued from page 8 thrown by the merchants of Black Mountain to welcome holiday shoppers. The food, music, and unique gifts make the opening of the holiday season magical. The annual Christmas parade follows Holly Jolly on
Saturday, December 5, as does the annual Circle of Lights at Lake Tomahawk, which begins after the parade at dusk. The Christmas parade is typical of small town holiday parades. People pile into cars and other vehicles and join a motorcade through Black Mountain. Area bands play their finest holiday tunes and floats defy both parents and children’s imaginations. Of course, no parade would be complete without the traditional visit from Santa, and the jolly old elf will be riding File Photo in style this year at the (above) The shops come alive with holiend of the parade. day sparkle at Holly Jolly. See Holly Jolly on PAGE 31
File Photo
(above) Santa will be waiting for you in Black Mountain.
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Gingko Tree Gallery- Celebrating 15 Years By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ingko Tree Gallery is owned by photographer Joye Ardyn Durham whose passions for art and nature are joined together in her photography and gallery. This year the gallery celebrates 15 years of business. The gallery is a display of Durham’s work - much of it focusing on the beautiful local scenery of the area. “The Gingko Tree is a tribute to the surrounding mountains of Western North Carolina,” Durham said. “It is a great place to help you take the mountains home with you.” One look at Durham’s work in the gallery or on her Web site (www.artist withcamera.com), and you'll see that she has a rare talent. Her photographs not only capture the subject but an emotion and a feeling interpreted as individually as the person looking at the picture. One piece that caught my attention is entitled,
Photo by Joye Ardyn Durham, artistwithcamera.com
See Ginko Tree on PAGE 11 (above) Photographer Joye Ardyn Durham’s photos are one-of-a-kind.
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Ginko Tree, continued from page 10 “First Stand.” It is of a newborn horse’s legs as he stands for the first time. What a joy this must have been to see - a spirit entering the world and standing to greet all that lies ahead. Durham has been taking photographs since she was nine years old when she worked with her dad, who took photographs and published post cards. Our State Magazine recognized her as one of their featured photographers in the February 2009 edition. In addition to nature, she enjoys photographing portraits, dogs, and weddings. She recently completed a dog-themed card series called “Friends of Raven” in honor of her beloved dog and friend who passed away a few years ago (friendsofraven.com). She also has wolf cards from photographs taken at nearby Full Moon Farm. Durham photographs groups, families, babies, children, reunions, weddings, and other social events. She knows the importance of capturing
Online proofing is available - have your family photo taken while visiting Black Mountain and proof online when you get home. The gallery also carries signed and numbered limited edition Ann Vasilik prints, a watercolorist from Asheville. Custom framing and photography services are also available at Gingko Tree. “When I am out shooting, whether it be a sunrise, a newborn baby, or a family Photos by Joye Ardyn Durham, artistwithcamera.com gathering, I lose all sense of past and (above) Local photographer Joye Ardyn Durham future,” Durham said. “I am there in the photographs groups, families, babies, children, moment. Completely present. Creating reunions, weddings, and other social events. She images is my gift to share and I am grateknows the importance of capturing and preserving ful beyond words.” some of life’s most beautiful moments and does so Gingko Tree Gallery, 128 Broadway with style and elegance. Street, (828) 669-7721, www.artistwith and preserving some of life’s most beautiful camera.com. moments and does so with style and elegance.
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How our town recycled an old building into a work of art By Rita Vermillion
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
lack Mountain is justifiably proud of its newly renovated city hall on Midland Street. The building on Montreat Road that housed city hall from the early 1990’s until this year is now defunct. But a previous city hall still stands and the community can also be justif iably proud of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, which inhabits the original city hall at 225 W. State Street. Beginning in the 1920’s this handsome, multi-story brick building housed the off ices for the Town of Black Mountain, along with the library, the Red Cross, the first public telephone, the jail, and the f iremen’s sleeping quarters. When the building was vacated in the 1990’s, some believed the old city hall
Photo provided by BMCA
(above) The Black Mountain Center for the Arts, which inhabits Black Mountain’s original city hall.
See Recycled on PAGE 30
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Don't forget your history lesson while you are in town By Jill Jones
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ost visitors come into the Swannanoa Valley today along a modern pathway - Interstate 40 - unaware that this asphalt four-lane follows much the same pathway that was first carved through the wilderness along the Swannanoa River by deer, elk, wild boar, and other animals. When the early tribes came into the Valley, they followed the animal paths as they hunted game, fished the river, and gathered berries and nuts in the forests. Archaeologists tell us that this river valley has been inhabited by mankind for more than 12,000 years. In preRevolutionary War times, it was a hunting ground for the Cherokee, shared at times Photos provided by the Swannanoa Valley Museum with the The busy depot in Black Mountain. C a t a w b a Indians. During the Revolutionary War, the Cherokee sided with their English trading partners, and when the British were defeated, the land west of the Swannanoa Gap was opened to immigrant settlement. Europeans and Africans came into the Valley from the east along many of the same trails and pathways the Indians had previously used. Some settled in the Valley, others passed through to make their homes in other parts of what is now Buncombe County, or moved on further west. For those who settled here, the pathways grew from dirt trails usable mainly by horse, mule, or oxen, to wider roads, such as the Western Turnpike, along with stage coaches traveled, bringing early tourists into the mountains. The region remained relatively isolated, however, until 1879, when the Western North Carolina Railroad entered the Valley. As with the stage coach road, the railroad tracks followed along older pathways made by animals, Indians, and settlers. The coming of the train brought irrevocable change to the Swannanoa Valley and all of Western North Carolina. Where before only a few, mostly wealthy individuals were able to visit the cool climate of these mountains, people of more modest means could now travel here by train, and many inns and boarding houses sprang up to serve this new clientele. Among those who visited the Valley around the turn of the 19th century were people who found the region not only beautiful, but spiritually uplifting as well. The founders of Montreat, YMCA Blue Ridge See History on PAGE 15
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History, continued from page 14 Assembly, and Ridgecrest were among those who came, purchased land and developed these retreats. Others followed later. Today, the Swannanoa Valley is known for the numerous religious retreats that were founded here. The construction of George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate attracted many artists and craftsmen, among them a young English architect, Richard Sharp Smith, and renowned Spanish architect Raphael Guastavino II. Both came to work on the Biltmore Estate and remained in the region, leaving an indelible mark not only on Asheville, but also in the Swannanoa Valley. Guastavino built his own estate, Rhododendron, on the property south of Black Mountain that is now Christmount Assembly. In 1921, Smith designed and built the Black Mountain Fire House on State Street, which now serves as home to the collection of the Swannanoa Valley Museum.
With the development of the region and the invention of the motorcar came pathways of a more modern kind - paved roads. Horse and oxdrawn taxis at the railway depots were replaced with cars, and the early highways were crowded with visitors who flowed into the Swannanoa Valley. N.C. State Road 10, known as the Central Highway, ran from the east coast all the way to Murphy in the far western part of North Carolina. It crossed over the Blue Ridge in a winding route between Old Fort and Black Mountain. Later, the route became U.S. 70, then was closed off with the building of Interstate 40. This year, the old route has been reopened as “Point Lookout Trail,” a hiking/biking trail between Ridgecrest and Old Fort. Today, our pathways are streamlined but still heavily trafficked as visitors continue to discover the beauty and historical treasure that is the Swannanoa Valley.
To learn more about this Valley and Western North Carolina, visit the Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W. State Street in downtown Black Mountain. Open April-October, Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, noon - 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 2-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.swannanoavalley museum.org.
A trainful of tourists arrives in Black Mountain.
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Listen to the music By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
usical roots run deep in the Swannanoa Valley. The area has a long history of great live music dating back to the early settlers who played their fiddles, banjos, and ballads in informal settings around hearths and fireplaces or on the porches of early homes and cabins. Music was a lively part of barn raisings, corn shuckings, fairs, and festivals. Today, the heritage of our area’s music is as alive as ever at local venues and festivals. “Black Mountain and Swannanoa are rapidly developing a reputation as musical destinations where people know they can hear great live music,” said Don Talley, a local resident whose passion for music inspired him to create “Black Mountain Music Scene” newsletter and Web site: www.blackmountainmusicscene .com.
“My goal for Black Mountain Music Scene is to help foster and spread that reputation and bring even more folks to our town to hear great music.” The Black Mountain area is home to great music venues like White Horse Black Mountain, The Town Pump Tavern, Ja Vin, The Watershed, Shovelhead Saloon, Pisgah Brewing, and Metro Photo the Beacon Pub. Black Mountain Center for the Arts and the Black Mountain Inn (above) The Swannanoa Valley has a long history of great live also host music events. The music dating back to the early settlers who played their fiddles, area is home to great festivals banjos, and ballads in informal settings. and outdoor music events like Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF), the Park Groovin on Grovemont music series in Rhythms music series at Lake Tomahawk, See Music on PAGE 29
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There's no place like home By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
hinking of buying a home or property in the mountains? The Black Mountain area is home to a variety of neighborhoods and communities - some with panoramic views and others with walkable town centers. “Black Mountain continues to be a popular destination for the home buyer,” Keller Williams real estate agent Rowena Patton said. “People are drawn here because of the proximity to Asheville and the opportunity to live in a place with fabulous restaurants and the heart of an old town. Our neighborhoods have something for everyone mountain views, lakes, parks, rivers and hiking trails.” Here, a snapshot of some of the area’s neighborhoods and communities that are attracting buyers seeking second homes or year-round residences. •The Settings of Black Mountain is a gated community with elevations up to 3,945 feet, hiking
range from cozy cottages to grand estates on nearly 10 acres. www.the settings.com. •TheVillage of Cheshire is located in the heart of Black Mountain and features an array of arts and crafts style homes, condos, and town homes. It is a traditional neighborhood development with shops, restaurants and live-work spaces along with a fitness center, tennis facilities, Photo provided by Greybeard Realty a Frisbee golf course, and open green spaces. www.villa (above) The Black Mountain area is home to a variety of geofcheshire.com. neighborhoods and communities - some with panoramic •Eight miles south from views and others with walkable town centers. downtown Black Mountain trails and park areas and easily accessible from and off of Highway 9 is Creston - 1,100 acres of a Interstate 40. The 200 single-family home sites breathtaking piece of land called Hicks Mountain. and 100 town home sites offer dramatic views and See Home on PAGE 19
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Home, continued from page 18 Of that land, 477 acres are dedicated to a conservation easement under the Foothills Land Conservancy. There are six miles of hiking trails with waterfalls and creeks and a small camping area for Creston owners to enjoy. The 135 home sites are at an elevation of 2,200 to 3,100 feet. www.cre ston-nc.com. •Catawba Falls Preserve is located 7.5 miles southwest of Black Mountain. With over 240 home sites ranging from one to 20+ acres, the gated community boasts spectacular mountain vistas and an abundance of common nature areas. And, for the avid outdoorsmen and women, there are numerous trout streams and an extensive trail system with access to the Catawba River and Pisgah National Forest. www.catabafalls preserve.com. •Stone Brook at Rush Creek boasts green meadows, gentle sloped roads, mountain views, creek-side lots, waterfalls, spacious land, and quiet. The development is over 130 acres with lots ranging in size from 312 acres. There are several natural community areas like a beautifully renovated seven-stall barn and a timber frame picnic pavilion. Other common spaces include a two-acre fishing area on the Rocky Broad River and 23 acres reserved for hiking trails and undeveloped wooded area. Approximately 10 miles from downtown Black Mountain, Stone Brook is located off of Highway 9 South on Morgan Hill Road. www.stonebrookatrushcreek.com. •DRA Living, an Asheville-based corporation specializing in land development, home building, and sales, owns The Hamlets at Rustling Pine Trail in Black Mountain. Located off of Highway 9 South and Lakey Gap Road, the Hamlets at Rustling PineTrail offers off-site built
homes with views and privacy. There are several different home plans and amenity packages from which to choose, and the three and four bedroom homes range in size from approximately 1,700 square feet to over 2,300 square feet. This unique and secluded five lot development
Local Real Estate Representatives • Greybeard Realty - 204 E. State Street, (828) 669-1072, www.grey beardrealty.com
• Keller Williams 115 Richardson Boulevard, (828) 210-1648, www.pattonpropertygroup.com
•Fran McCaskill Preferred Properties (828) 778-0304
.• Beverly Hanks & Associates Donette Moore, Broker (215-6002) & Darcy Wilson, Broker (230-2385)
•Mountain Vista Properties 118 Broadway, (828) 669-2500 www.MountainVistaRealEstate.net
offers scenic views, old growth trees, city utilities, and custom, energy efficient homes built to the highest quality standards. Currently there are three lots available for custom homes and one spec house. The development is conveniently located to I-40, downtown Black Mountain, and the Cheshire Fitness and RacquetClub. www.the hamletsofblackmountain.com.
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Fall into the Arts at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts By Rita Vermillion
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
hether your love of the arts most likely finds you at a gallery show, a concert, a theater production, or taking a class, you can find something this fall to whet you artistic appetite at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, located in the original city hall at 225 W. State Street. There are four music concerts now on the docket for the fall. First, is a concert featuring Black Mountain’s own sensational artist, Kellin Watson, on Friday, September 25, at 8 p.m. Opening for Watson is Michael Bellar and the AS-IS Ensemble, a NYC group who has been described as an “improvisationally eclectic, alt-jazz group,” headlined by Bellar, a
Photo provided by BMCA
(above) Acts of Renewal Carol Anderson and Jim Shores will present their Third Annual “Rediscovering Christmas” on Friday –Saturday, December 18-19.
See Arts on PAGE 21
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Arts, continued from page 20 composer/keyboardist. Watson’s music is a blend of blues, folk, jazz, rock, and pop. Admission is a $10 donation at the door. In October, (date TBA) Swannanoa’s favorite duo Bill Hansen and Doris Sotirellis, of Clearwater Connection, will head up a benefit evening for the non-profit Arts Center in an evening billed as “Americana” music, along with their musical friends who make up “Clearwater Collection.” Vocalists and instrumentalists both will be a part of the evening’s line-up. Admission is a $10 donation at the door. On Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m., local music store Acoustic Corner will present its auspicious staff in the Second Annual Acoustic Corner Instructors’ Concert, featuring Laurie Fisher, Matt Kinne, Andy Pond, Natalya Weinstein, Jed Willis, and David Zoll. These six players, all capable of solo concerts, will group themselves into duos, trios, and more to play the evening away. Admission is a $10 donation at the door. On Sunday, November 22, at 3 p.m., the Black Mountain Youth Chorale - youth in 4th8th grades under the direction of Aline Carillon with accompanist Penny Rose - sing a wide variety of styles and composers. Not to be missed – they usually sing to a full house! Admission is a $5 donation at the door. The major theater production planned for the holiday season will feature Black
Mountain’s own nationally renowned company Acts of Renewal duo Carol Anderson and Jim Shores in their Third Annual production of “Rediscovering Christmas” on Friday-Saturday, December 1819 at 7:30 p.m. Known for their balance of humor, timing, interpretation, and message, Anderson and Shores have delighted audiences over and over at the holidays near. Tickets are $15 and reservations should be made early – this one’s always a sell-out! In the Upper Gallery, three shows fill out the fall schedule. Susan Stanton’s photography show, “Captured on Canvas,” will be up through September 25. A display of striking scenes, stretched on art canvas, the show is more painterly than photographic. An opening on Friday, October 3, from 6-8 p.m., brings The Appalachian Pastel Society’s annual juried show to BMCA. A regional art group, APS member’s works range from the softest landscape to finely detailed portraiture. The show goes through November 14. Filling out the fall schedule is the BMCA Clay Studio’s annual Teacher/Student Pottery Show with a special market sale on the weekend of Holly Jolly Christmas, Friday December 4. Fall classes cover a range of the arts from dance and movement to music to visual arts and more. Check out the Web site at www.blackmountainarts.org or call 669-0930 to find out more.
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New museum and learning center open in Montreat
By Ron Vinson
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
or more than 210 years, Presbyterians have established communities and churches throughout the Swannanoa Valley, from North Fork to Black Mountain to Montreat. A new museum and learning center opened last year in Montreat, highlighting the history of Montreat, as well as the Presbyterian heritage in this Valley and throughout the world. Located at 318 Georgia Terrace, adjacent to Assembly Drive, in Montreat, the new Presbyterian Heritage Center (PHC) is housed in Spence Hall in the old Historical Foundation Building. The PHC worked with the Montreat Conference Center to create a historical presence, as requested by the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly in 2006.
The center offers a variety of changing state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits on the history of Montreat and Presbyterianism, as well as special events including lectures, live performances, period costumed re-enactors, and storytelling. Multimedia kiosks offer music, interviews, maps, and much more. “The Presbyterian Heritage Center will entertain and educate young people and adults about Montreat, Presbyterian history, and mission, reaching out to tens of thousands who come to Montreat each year, plus many more online through our digital programs and research capabilities,” said Richard Ray, chairman of the PHC board. “Already, we are working in partnership with the Montreat Conference Center, Princeton Theological Seminary, See Museum on PAGE 23
Photo provided by the Presbyterian Heritage Center
Museum, continued from page 22 and others to develop traveling exhibits that will tour the United States. In 2009, Montreat hopes to be the North America center for celebrating the 500th birthday of John Calvin, one of the key Reformation leaders in the history of the Protestant church.� Books and artifacts from the Montreat Conference Center collection form the core of the PHC’s reference materials. Additional books, online databases, microfiche, and exhibit displays have been added by PHC to its library and learning center. In addition to its exhibits, the PHC provides a research library on Montreat,
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Presbyterians, and their institutions, as well as online computer access to available resource materials from leading national and regional institutions. Online databases contain hundreds of thousands of original documents and books from the 1500s to today. Plus, the Presbyterian Heritage Center has started digitizing important Montreat documents and photographs for future online access. The PHC Web site www.phcmontreat.org already links to original documents, books, and photos at scores of institutions. There is no admission fee to the PHC.
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The great outdoors By Hali Ledford
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
urrounded by mountains, the Swannanoa Valley is home to many outdoor activities that make the small communities of Black Mountain and Swannanoa special and keeps tourists coming back for more every summer. •SHADOWBROOK MINI GOLFAs the only minigolf place in town, Shadowbrook is an event the whole family can enjoy. Located on Highway 9, across from Ingles, it is right outside the center of town. •SHOPPING- Black Mountain is home to some pretty unique stores. Take a day to park your car and walk
down Cherry Street with the rest of the town and it’s visitors. Public parking is free, anywhere you can f ind a spot, and there is plenty of it. Just come prepared to walk. Shopping is a big to do here. You never know what you will f ind in our local stores! •MONTREAT- To get a taste of the real beauty of the area go to Montreat. Drive down Montreat Road until you pass through the stone entrance into Montreat. There is a park for children and Lake Susan. If you want to do as the locals do, bring a bathing suit and water shoes so you can skip rocks and swim in the creek. Make sure to bring a camera to capture the natural See Outdoors on PAGE 25
File photo
Lake Tomahawk is a Black Mountain favorite.
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Outdoors, continued from page 24
File photo
Enjoy a round of golf at the beautiful Black Mountain Golf Course.
Looking for a real game of golf? Look no further than the Black Mountain Golf Course. Enjoy an 18-hole game set in the middle of the beautiful mountains and wooded areas full with trees. beauty around you. Just watch out for the swan that calls Lake Susan home. •BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE- Looking for a real game of golf? Look no further than the Black Mountain Golf Course. Enjoy an 18-hole game set in the middle of the beautiful mountains and wooded areas full with trees. •LAKE TOMAHAWK- As the sun begins to set behind the mountains and you f inish
up your dinner at one of the many restaurants in town, you may be wondering what to do next. How about taking a nice relaxing walk around Lake Tomahawk. The atmosphere is peaceful and the only thing you have to worry about is running into a duck or two. But don’t worry about them, they are use to people and for the most part they are friendly. There is also a playground and tennis courts next to the lake. Enjoy the great outdoors while you are here!
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Fresco in local chapel is ‘must see’ By Barbara Hootman CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ontreat College’s Chapel of the Prodigal is an outstanding piece of art nestled in the area mountains that attracts thousands of visitors annually. “In the past years, we have guided thousands of visitors through the Chapel,” Andy Andrews said. “Visitors come from everywhere and are awed at the art work in the chapel. We have 45 docents now that work hard to educate the public about Ben Long and his work, and we serve as tour guides for large groups of people.” The interior of the Chapel of the Prodigal is a complementary setting for the huge fresco, Return of the
Photos provided by Montreat College
Ben Long’s fresco tells the story of Luke Chapter 15.
See Fresco on PAGE 27
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Fresco, continued from page 26 looks on in anger at the happy reunion. Across the courtyard, the mother stands with the female servants, her hands clasped across her breast as she senses the tension between the two brothers. In the background the servants are busy butchering the calf for the welcome home banquet. A small dog barks at the bottom. Three pigs root in the foreground reminding the viewer of the herds the Prodigal tended in his poverty. Long spent years preparing to paint the Montreat fresco, with drawings, oil paintings, and sketches. Creating a fresco is a demanding physical challenge. The painter must work long stretches of time rather than take frequent breaks. Depending on humidity, the painter may work as much as eight to 12
(above) The exterior view of Montreat College’s Chapel of the Prodigal.
Prodigal. An intimate and uplifting worship space was created. Ben Long’s fresco measures 16 feet wide by 17 feet high. It portrays the parable found in Luke Chapter 15. After squandering the inheritance he demanded from his father, the prodigal son returns home from a far country seeking forgiveness and acceptance. The father receives his wayward son joyously, re-establishing his place in the family. Many consider this parable to be the greatest story Jesus ever told illustrating God’s unconditional love. Return of the Prodigal is
Long’s first fresco on a wall built to his personal specifications. The biblical theme has been painted by some of the most famous names in art history. Rembrandt painted the parable with the father standing over his kneeling son with his fatherly hand as a blessing on his son’s head. Long’s imagination encompassed a more emotional encounter between the father and the prodigal. The patriarch kneels beside his frail son clutching his son’s hand over his heart and the other raised in thanksgiving. The older brother
hours a day. Montreat’s artistic interpretation by Long is the only known true fresco by a master artist on the theme of Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. Long has achieved international fame as a master of both true fresco and oil painting. His talent has resulted in numerous commissions worldwide including Italy, France, and seven sites in North Carolina. Also, the chapel is a popular wedding site. Montreat gets calls from many different states inquiring about having a wedding in the chapel. The Chapel is open to the public. For more information, call 6698012, extensions 3821.
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Music, continued from page 16 Swannanoa, the Swannanoa Gathering, Sourwood Festival, and Mill around the Village. Black Mountain is also home to musical instrument shops Song of the Wood and Acoustic Corner which draw customers from a wide region. If you find yourself in the area on any given night, check out www.blackmountainmusic scene.com to find out who’s playing where. One of Black Mountain's most well-known spots to hear live music is the Watershed. The Watershed, upstairs from My Father’s Pizza, is a downtown bar that is host to a wide variety of musical performances. Bluegrass, rock, Americana and much more. 207 W. State Street, (828) 669-0777. Beacon Pub is a new bar and bistro in Swannanoa with live music on Thursday and Saturday nights and open mic night on Tuesday nights. With billiards, local micro brews, and nightly drink specials, it is a great place to check out a band. 204 Whitson Avenue,
Swannanoa, (828) 686-0006, www.beaconpubinfo.com. The Town Pump is a friendly local hangout right on Cherry Street. Walk into this establishment on any given night and most likely a live band will be having a good time with the crowd. Locals love the dart boards, variety of local and regional microbrews, and the juke box with a tremendous selection. With its laid back and authentic character, this local favorite is a must-visit for visitors. 135 Cherry Street, (828) 669-4808. Pisgah Brewing Company is a certified organic brewery in Black Mountain and also host to a wide variety of musical events. Come and enjoy some fine local music and a brew voted best in Western North Carolina, 150 Eastside Drive, (828) 669-0190, www.pisgah brewing.com. White Horse Black Mountain is the town’s newest music venue. The 4,400 square foot non-smoking space offers the finest in music
and arts along with beer, wine, coffee, tea, sandwiches, and snacks. The owners and founders are Bob Hinkle and Kim Hughes Bob has been in the music and entertainment business for 40 years. The space seats 225 people with additional standing room making it a 300-person capacity hall. With excellent sound and lighting systems, a 30-foot barrel ceiling, good acoustics, and a unique wood and copper bar - it makes for a wonderful place to enjoy live music. Look for big name acts this season like Cyril Neville, Darol Anger, Spiritual Rez, Acoustic Syndicate, and others. White Horse Black Mountain is located at 105-C Montreat Road, (828) 669-0816. For a complete music schedule, visit www.whitehorseblackmoun tain.com. Black Mountain offers locals and visitors plenty of opportunities to hear great live music.
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Recycled, continued from page 12 had run its course of usefulness and was past its prime, destined for demolition. But others believed it could be restored into a thriving arts center, and could bring renewed vigor into the life of downtown Black Mountain. Through concentrated vision, hard work, and persistent fundraising efforts, the initial board members of the newly formed Black Mountain Center for the Arts saw their labors pay off when the doors were opened to the resourcefully renovated building in 2000. Nearly a decade later visitors come through the Center’s doors every day wanting to learn about Black Mountain, about the legendary Black Mountain College, and about the arts for which this area is so well-known. They come to view the current show in the Upper Gallery, to register for ongoing classes, to ask about possibilities for artists in this locale, and to exchange ideas for all of the above. Towns the size of Black Mountain, especially towns that are not county seats, seldom have multi-faceted arts centers. Towns the size of Black Mountain seldom have the availability and quality of local talent that is found here. What those early BMCA board members knew is that the arts encompass more than one dimension, and that a wide array of talents are well represented in our local and part-time population. There’s a rich music scene here that is historic; the same can be said of the visual arts and fine handmade craft such as pottery, of the written word, and of the performing areas of the arts. BMCA was developed with the idea that focusing on one area of the arts would be insufficient – that the stage is large enough to invite people to participate in as many areas as they will. Thus, the mission of the Center was born – ‘to bring arts to the people, and people to the arts.” When those early board members planned for the Center, they counted on the generosity of the people who love
both the arts and the town to support and sustain it. By establishing the Center as a non-profit institution, the founders purposefully chose for it to be a place where people at every level could participate and contribute. The Center continues to derive its support from the philanthropy of the very people who want to see it thrive. Then the board of BMCA decided to revive the old city garage into a professional teaching clay studio; with grants from The Janirve Foundation, and the Black Mountain Endowment of the Community Foundation of WNC, they made the transformation happen. Executive Director Gale Jackson had a vision for the studio to be as visually appealing from the outside, as it would be functionally appealing to potters and students from the inside. Julia Burr, (jcburrdesigns.com) nationally recognized sculptor and installation artist turned Black Mountainer, was engaged to turn the west-facing wall into a mosaic tile mural. The concept she designed is a contemporary splash of color that also serves as a backdrop for signage identifying the site as the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Burr, who grew up in Augusta, Ga., is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, and the California Institute of Art, and is a designer/sculptor who has completed private and public commissions throughout the U.S. Currently she is engaged in design work for the Pack Place renovation. On the wall facing east, a different art form was utilized to create a piece of outdoor art. Wall sculptor David Seils (wallsculpture.net), an Asheville artist, was commissioned to create a threedimensional bas-relief mountain scene with a flowing stream coming down from the mountains through a thicket of laurel and rhododendron. Reviving the art style of relief sculpture that has been used for thousand of years to decorate walls and
the frieze of buildings, Seils found the same effect can be accomplished by building up the relief sculpture instead of carving. With the advantage of new materials, white cement, silicon sand, and lime, and with careful measuring and mixing to insure durability and consistency, Seils strengthened the existing wall structure while creating a work of beauty for the entire community to enjoy. Especially at night, with the installed lighting, the dimension and detail of the scene is particularly impressive. Seils, originally from West Salem, Wiscon., received formal art training at Viterbo College in Wisconsin; The Clearing, part of the University of Wisconsin; The University of Kansas at Lawrence, and the Ringling School of Art in Florida. He has created wall sculpture both privately and publicly in North Carolina. The clay studio offers classes, samplers, and workshops taught by local resident potters, opportunities for experienced potters to purchase community memberships, and Paint-on-Pottery sessions. The camaraderie that has developed among the folks who are taking classes there has been one of the best outcomes of the board’s decision to recycle the old building. The Clay Studio produces several fundraiser pottery sales per year and holds an annual student/teacher show in the Upper Gallery during the holiday season. For more information, visit http://blackmountainartsclay.blogspot.co m. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is proud to present this contribution of art and beauty, both visual and creative, for the enjoyment of the community and for the renovation of an old building into a new one. To learn more about Black Mountain’s converted arts center, visit www.blackmountainarts.org. Or call the Black Mountain Center for the Arts at 669-0930.
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Holly Jolly, continued from page 9
Don’t Miss It!
File Photo
(above) Black Mountain - the perfect place for holiday shopping!
Holly Jolly happens Dec. 4 in downtown Black Mountain.
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Restaurants, continued from page 5 • Que Sera (400 East State Street, (828) 664-9472) has made its mark over the past few years and is well- known for its delicious food. The casual yet upscale restaurant has a southern twist and features a delectable menu that changes with the seasons. • Sprout Cafe (105 Richardson Blvd. - across from the Black Mountain Post
Thai cuisine like the traditional pad Thai noodle - pan-friend traditional Thai rice noodles with egg, minced tofu, green onion, and bean sprouts served with ground peanut and lime. MIDDLE-AGED So some friends aren’t exactly classif ied as “old,” but they’ve been around a bit long enough to not be called “new.”
tizer followed by the rosemary- Dijon encrusted petite rack of lamb. The brunch menu varies from week to week, but look for the Gulf Coast biscuits and gravy - mildly spiced crab and chorizo sausage cream gravy served over fresh baked biscuits with Parmesan-herb home fries. • Morning Glory Café (6 East Market
Photo provided by Madison’s
(above) The Swannanoa Valley offers a wide variety of excellent restaurants.
Off ice) specializes in fresh and grilled sandwiches ranging from vegetarian options to grilled chicken and roast beef. • State Street BBQ (400 C East State Street, (828) 664-1446) featuring real pit bbq served with authentic Southern hospitality and homemade sides. • Straightaway Cafe (1722 N.C. Highway 9, (828) 669-8856) is worth the drive! Try their Hungarian menu items like hortobagy chicken crepes and beef goulash. There is also a wide array of sandwiches and a great beer and wine list. • Thai Basil (227 West State Street, (828) 664-4322) serves up authentic
So it is with these Black Mountain restaurants … they have been around for more than a few years and are, thankfully, here to stay. • Black Mountain Bistro (203 E. State Street, (828) 669-5041) has favorites like fried green tomatoes battered and served over a potato cake with ranch dressing. For the main course, try meatloaf made from ground chuck with breadcrumbs and spices served with gravy and served with mashed potatoes and green beans. • The Cellar Door (117-C Cherry Street, (828) 669-9090) - has great food, ambience, and service. Try the caramelized diver scallops for an appe-
Street in the Village of Cheshire, (828) 669-6212) never fails. Try one of their breakfast burritos f illed with fresh eggs, salsa, and vegetables with a side of hash browns. •Ole’s Guacamoles Mexican Kitchen (100 Ridgeway Ave. (828) 669-0550 serves fresh authentic mexican food and offers beer wine and daily lunch specials. So whether you’re in the mood to spend some time with an old, reliable “restaurant friend” or perhaps begin a new relationship with “someone fresh and innovative,” Black Mountain’s restaurant scene is sure to please!
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Joan Hall Weaver 828-230-3181
Cindy Kirkland 828-606-69700
Byron Bailey 828-713-8966
Natalie Clevenger 828-231-7915
Charles Jones 828-231-9613
Rowena Patton 828-669-6671
Trish MacIsaac 828-301-8212
Christi Hanley 828-808-1847
Vicki Dunkerley 828-275-5007
Mary Noble Braden 828-337-6980
Katharina Johnson 828-419-9103
Sally Bierhaus 828-273-0915
Jackie Tatelman 828-713-5193
Shanda Boettcher 828-242-7777
Keller Williams • Black Mountain Professionals
115 Richardson Blvd., Black Mountain, NC 828-669-5220 • www.kellerwilliamsblackmountain.com