Mountain Escapes
MOUNTAIN ESCAPES prints 11 times per year.
Publisher: Terry Patterson
Designer: Manon Houle
Social Media: Heather Lee
Spokesperson: Eva Queesenberry
Interviewer/Editor: Nancy Keating-Harte
Distributors: Patti Trivett, Tommy Westhall, Bill Stansberry, KNS and Ashley Queesenberry
HOW TO ADVERTISE:
Terry Patterson
865-242-1512 patterson8865@bellsouth.net
To Request a Media Kit 865-242-1512
Deadline each month for following month:
placement, editorial ..... 20th
Due by 15th
and operated.
Christmas at Historic Ramsey House
Christmas Dinner with the Ramsey’s will be held December 4-8 starting at 7:30pm each night with a candlelight tour of the beautifully decorated home and a lovely holiday dinner prepared by Rosa’s Catering. The dinner will be served in the 1797 home of Francis Alexander Ramsey one of the founders and first families of Knoxville.
Ramsey House is the first stone home in Knox County. Thomas Hope, the architect of the home, was English-born and trained in Charleston, South Carolina. The home is constructed of Tennessee pink marble and blue limestone. It was known at that time as the finest
its period decorative art collection as well as being the first house in Tennessee to boast an attached kitchen, added 5 years after original construction. Today, the site consists of 101.5 acres and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
These Christmas dinners have become one of Knoxville’s treasured Seasonal Events with both individual tickets and group tickets for up to ten available. This event is one of Historic Ramsey House’s primary fundraisers. All proceeds go directly to Historic Ramsey House. A portion of this donation is tax deductable. Reservations are a must and done on a first come first serve basis. For more information call Historic Ramsey House at 865-546-0745 or our website www.ramseyhouse.com.
“Fire and Fright” at Historic Ramsey House
Saturday, Oct 10 - 7:30-9:30 pm
Bring your blanket or stadium chair, favorite roasting stick and join us for a very special October event. Fire and Fright will kick off the Halloween
You Will Enjoy Beautiful Scenery Featured in the Movie, October Sky
season with the telling of ghost stories around a roaring bonfire. There will be hot dogs to roast and s’mores to enjoy for all in attendance. Pellissippi
Community College, Straw Plains campus will be writing original ghost tales as an English project and will share them with our audience.
Come join us on Saturday October 10, from 7:30-9:30 pm at historic Ramsey House for Fire and Fright, food, family fun and original scary stories! Bring your favorite stadium chair or blanket for you comfort.
Admission is $10 for adults, children 12 and under free. Admission includes a hot dog, beverage and s’mores package for all attendees including children.
VONORE, tn
The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 576 Hwy 360, Vonore, TN 37885, will be offering beginner and advanced classes in the Cherokee language this fall. The classes will be held at the Museum on October 19, 26, November 2, and 9, 2015 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The cost of the class is $40 for all four evenings.
Shirley Oswalt explained, “The Cherokee language is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. Where the English language has 26 letters, the Cherokee language has 85 symbols each associated with a specific phonetic sound. And those sounds are completely different from English.” Once the symbols are learned, then the real work begins. The Cherokee language classifies all its words/sounds according to animal, mineral, and more. The class Mary Brown will teach is geared to help beginners and Shirley Oswalt will teach those already familiar with the language.
The Cherokee language was always a spoken language. It wasn’t until Sequoyah joined General Andrew Jackson to fight in the war of 1812 that he realized the need for a written language. Unlike the white soldiers, he and the other Cherokees were
MARYVILLE, tn
not able to write letters home, read military orders, or record events as they occurred. He began to toy with the idea of literacy for the Cherokee people. After the war, he began in earnest to create a writing system for the Cherokees. When he returned home after the war, he began to make the symbols that could make words.
In 1821, after 12 years working on the new language, he and his daughter introduced his syllabary to the Cherokee people. Within a few months thousands of Cherokees became literate. By 1825 much of the Bible and numerous hymns had been translated into Cherokee. By 1828 they were publishing the “Cherokee Phoenix,” the first national bi-lingual newspaper, along with religious pamphlets, educational materials and legal documents.
To learn more about the 8,000 years of Cherokee life in the Little Tennessee River Valley, visit The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum located in a 47.5 acre tract on the shores of Tellico Lake nestled at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains. For more info, call 423-884-6246 or visit their website at www.sequoyahmuseum.org
SEQUOYAH BIRTHPLACE
. We are excited to bring our local vendors together for this special sale. We will be selling arts crafts, jewelry, clothes, repurposed antiques and more.
As a special guest we welcome Angel Wings Memory Gowns, Inc., they are non-profit organization that provides complimentary burial gowns for babies and toddlers as well as grief support and ministry to the parents after the loss of their child.
They will have a booth to sell items to raise funds to help with expenses in their shop for utilities, rent for their space, postage to mail gowns to out of state hospitals. Come and meet those wonderful people and support the work they do not only in our community but all across America. If you cannot make the sale please note the contact information below is listed to help this wonderful organization and their work. 865-430-1641
The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts presents an evening with
The Barefoot Movement
on Friday Nov 13, 2015 @ 7:30 pm
Kingsport
The Barefoot Movement have been making big waves in the folk world since the release of their 2011 debut album Footwork. They last performed in Kingsport in 2014 and we are very excited to welcome them back.
Heralded by CMT Edge as “one of the most promising bands on the bluegrass scene” the music of the Nashville based group The Barefoot Movement is as down to earth as their intention for members of their audience: sit back, relax, take your shoes off, and stay a while. All the worries and frustrations of the world melt away as the charming four-piece acoustic band takes listeners back to a simpler place and time. Whether you’re seeking emotional ballads or rip-roaring barn-burners, you can expect a collection of music that offers something for everyone. With two full length albums, several crosscountry tours, and appearances at some of the top bluegrass festivals in the United States already under their belt, the possibilities are endless. The group has enjoyed almost non-stop touring including a trip to Burkina Faso, Africa where they were guests of the American Embassy. Debuting in September, 2014, their third release, “The High Road EP” showcases traditional material that has consistently been among the crowd favorites at their live performances.
Crowding around a single microphone, their show is as fun
to watch as it is to hear, and often begs the question, how has no one lost an eye from a collision with the fiddle bow? The smiles on the faces of the band are obvious displays of the joy and excitement they feel when performing and the audience shares in the fun. With effortlessly executed transitions, the pacing between the softer and more vigorous numbers constantly has fans on the edge of their seats.
From the foot-tapping instrumental “Sheepherder” to the
emotional ballad “Thunder” and everything in between, these roots music newcomers have assembled
quite the collection here, both old songs and new, offering something for everyone.
Tickets: $15 Reserved Seats Book Now: www.EngageKingsport
CHRISTMAS CONNECTION
36th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair
The Kingsport Civic Auditorium, 1550 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport, TN will host Christmas Connection, November 6, 7, and 8. Sponsored by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts, this event is celebrating 36 years of the region’s best arts and crafts vendors. Friday the doors will open at Noon and on Saturday they will open at 10 AM and close both days at 6 PM. Sunday hours are Noon to 5 PM.
The Civic Auditorium will be filled with Holiday wreaths & floral arrangements, primitive & country crafts, Christmas ornaments, pottery, stained glass, woodcrafts, handmade soaps and lotions, fabric crafts, needlework, doll clothing, trueto-life baby dolls,
jewelry, dichroic glass, handmade greeting cards and paper art, leather crafts, basketry, paintings, figurines, photography, candles, baked goods and much more!
Again, this year, courtesy of Bubba’s Book Store, several regional authors will be on hand each day to sign their books – a truly unique gift for anyone in your family. Look for them in the Civic Auditorium’s West Room. Also joining us this year are the artists from Kingsport’s Senior Artisan Center. Make sure to stop in the Civic
Auditorium’s History Room and check out their beautiful crafts.
Outside, patrons will find that sweet and salty treat, kettle corn, being made fresh all day. Festive funnel cakes and fried items will also be available for purchase at the parking lot entrance. Inside, the Christmas Connection Café will serve mouthwatering homemade soups, soup beans & cornbread along with favorites like chili, hot dogs, and nachos.
The Holidays are fast approaching and this is an excellent opportunity to grab some holiday cheer, support master craftsmen and find unique gifts and treasures all while shopping indoors.
Admission to this fun-filled, shopping event is FREE and open to the public! For more information on the Christmas Connection Arts & Crafts Fair, please call 423-392-8415 or visit www. EngageKingsport.com
The Gary Sinise Foundation
The experiences of war leave an indelible impact on our servicemen and women. As they return to civilian life, the physical, emotional and psychological challenges they face are often difficult. As citizens, supporting the heroes of our nation is a responsibility each of us must carry. The Gary Sinise Foundation works to ensure the sacrifices of America’s defenders and their families are never forgotten.
In 2012, the Gary Sinise Foundation began building custom Smart Homes for America’s severely wounded veterans through its Building for America’s Bravest partner program. Each Smart Home features automated amenities to ease the daily challenges these heroes face. In 2013, the Gary Sinise Foundation expanded these efforts by establishing its R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence & Supporting Empowerment) program.
For more than a decade, Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band have toured the globe in support of our troops. As a part of the Foundation, the band is raising spirits and awareness for military and first responder causes worldwide.
Through its Invincible Spirit Festivals, the Gary Sinise Foundation is boosting the morale at military medical centers across the country. These daylong celebrations
The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten. - President
Calvin Coolidge
provide a respite from the rigors of rehabilitation for the hospital’s patients, staff and families. The Relief & Resiliency Outreach program is providing complete support to those recovering from trauma, injury and loss during times of urgent need. The Foundation is also providing financial support and training to America’s firefighters, police departments and EMTs through its First Responders Outreach program.
Additionally, the Gary Sinise Foundation is showing appreciation through Serving Heroes, a program providing hearty, classic American meals to our defenders across the country. The Arts & Entertainment Outreach program now includes the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Each theatre provides dinner and a performance to local veterans free of charge.
In 2015, the Gary Sinise Foundation launched Soaring Valor with The National WWII Museum. The program provides WWII veterans a chance to visit the museum and documents their first-hand accounts of the war for future generations.
For centuries, the marvels of Linville Caverns were unknown to man. In the early 1800’s a fishing expedition headed by Henry E. Colton, of eastern NC, were astounded to see fish swimming in and out of what appeared to be rather solid rock. A small opening in the mountainous terrain allowed them to enter the subterranean recess that is still home to native trout in an underground stream.
Marshall Handmade Market
November 20, 10am-5pm
Marshall High Studios hosts the 2nd Annual Marshall Handmade Market showcasing some of the area’s finest in handmade and homemade art, craft and edibles while inspiring holiday shoppers to buy local and buy slow. Just 18 miles from Asheville, Marshall is on NE 25/70, between Weaverville and Hot Springs. For directions and a growing list of exhibitors visit: http://sites.google.com/site/marshallhandmademarket/home This event is free and open to the public.
Over 77 billion land animals are raised for food around the world each year. Many of them live in barren, crowded, factorylike conditions, experiencing intense suffering as they are unable to move freely or engage in natural behaviors due to extreme confinement. Each one of these animals is capable of experiencing pain, affection, frustration and many other emotions.
CULLHOWEE, NC WAYNESVILLE, NC
Hard Candy Christmas’ Arts and Crafts Show
Artist Kay Chatham paints “Mr Turkey” on an antique saw blades.She will join 100 other outstanding artists and craftsman at the 28th Annual ‘Hard Candy Christmas’ Arts and Crafts Show. It is ‘a Mountain Christmas Tradition’ in these parts of the woods.Hours are 10-5 pm each day. The heritage category includes goatmilk soap, quilts,handloomed winter wear and mountain honey.
CHRISTMAS is Every Day
Mitchell County Association of Christmas Tree Growers and Nurserymen
wonderful ornaments and Christmas decorations!
• Emmett Kelly items
• Cuckoo Clocks
• Jim Shore
• Woodwick
• much more!
www.christmas-is-everyday.com
Friday And Saturday, November 27-28 inside the Western Carolina University Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, NC.
A tree farmer will design you fresh wreaths and garlands for your house. The collectors always find new ornaments and speciality sweets . Look for master jewelers, potters, Folk art and mountain jams and jellies.Some of the best wood turners, cultery makers and glass artists exhibit at this show. Hours are 10 -5 each day. Admission is $4.50 for adults Children 12 free. For info: www. mountainArtisans.net . 828 524 3405
Mitchell County is located in the rugged Appalachian mountains of Western North Carolina. Mitchell County is nestled in an area that is hidden between the highest mountain ranges in the eastern United States. Over half of the county’s land is forested while the remainder is dedicated to production of Fraser Fir Christmas trees, nursery crops, vegetables, apples and beef cattle.
The nurserymen and Christmas tree growers in Mitchell County are typically small farmers who pride themselves on high quality products. As with good cheese, it takes time, patience and personal attention to produce a high quality Fraser Fir Christmas tree. Our dedication is to offering our customers the absolute finest quality product possible at a competitive price. As you look for a Christmas tree this holiday season we invite you to make a visit to a choose and cut Christmas tree farm in Mitchell County to start a new family tradition.
Mitchell County Choose and Cut Farms:
Buck’s Tree Farm
Rodney Buchanan 3127 Hwy 80 Bakersville, NC 28705 828-688-2136 www.buckstrees.com
Harrell Hill Farms
Doug Harrell 467 Byrd Rd. Bakersville, NC 28705 828-688-9188 www.harrellhillfarms.com
Quality Fraser Fir Tree Farm
Bryan Hensley 416 Fir Rd. • Burnsville, NC 28714 828-682-3795 www.quality-fir.com
Little Switzerland
Christmas Tree Farm
Dan McKinney P.O. Box 536
Little Switzerland, NC 28749 828-765-2416 www.littleswitzerlandchristmastreefarm.com
Sugar Plum Farm
James Pitts
P.O. Box 136 • Plumtree, NC 28664 828-765-0019 www.sugarplumfarm.com
Charles Wilson Tree Farm
Charles Wilson
1510 McKinney Cove Rd. Bakersville, NC 28705 828-688-1122
Jerry Wilson Farms
Jerry Wilson 9343 Hwy 197S Burnsville, NC 28714 828-682-6842
Snow Creek Christmas Trees
John Wilson
302 Slagle Rd. Bakersville, NC 28705
828-688-2376
www.snowcreekchristmastrees.com
BURNSVILLE, NC
A Year Round Town –Come Visit You Will Be Amazed!
Outdoors on Your Own Terms
In Yancey County, an outdoor adventure can be as strenuous as a hike up the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River or as relaxed as a rocking-chair conversation on the porch of the oldest operating inn in Western North Carolina.
This time of year, people flock to the Blue Ridge Mountains to see the leaves reveal their colors. Burnsville, the Yancey County seat, is conveniently located about 45 minutes north of Asheville and about an hour and a half from Blowing Rock.
Guests at the historic Nu Wray Inn, originally opened in 1833 on Burnsville’s Town Square, can spend the morning on the front porch with a cup of coffee. Or those who book a room at Terrell House Bed and Breakfast can enjoy the quiet patio out back. Both inns are within walking distance of downtown shops and eateries.
Dining comes with a view, too. The patio at Garden Deli is spacious and inviting. Salads, soups and sandwiches are staples. The neighboring Snap Dragon pub rolls up its garage-door front when the weather is nice. Craft beer and cider from the North Carolina mountains are on the menu, along with upscale
bar food. Across The Square, the Nu Wray Inn recently reopened its family-style restaurant, which serves bowl after bowl of country cooking. The outdoor dining area seats 50 people. Additional lodging and dining options can be found at www. ExploreBurnsville.com.
A walk around Burnsville reveals several quilt blocks prominently displayed on buildings. Many of the squares are custom designs to represent the location, such as the bobcat mascot on Burnsville Elementary School and the sock pattern at Burnsville Hosiery. The blocks are part of the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina program. Leaf peepers use the trail maps as a guide for exploring the rural mountain countryside. More than 200 quilt blocks are scattered across six contiguous counties. Yancey and Mitchell counties have the most. A link to the website with trail maps is available at www.ExploreBurnsville. com.
One of the most popular ways to take in the fall foliage is the Blue Ridge Parkway, which bobs and weaves along the southeastern border of Yancey County, encouraging drivers to slow their speed and enjoy
the journey.
At Parkway mile marker No. 355, N.C. Highway 128 leads to Mount Mitchell. The State Park is not only home to the highest mountain on the Eastern Seaboard, but also a wealth of outdoor activities. Trails suit all fitness levels, from the three-quartermile Balsam Nature Trail for an easy stroll to the strenuous 12-mile Deep Gap Trail. Travelers can spread out a picnic at one of two shelters or dine in the park’s restaurant, open seven days a week through October.
The Mount Mitchell Scenic Drive, recognized as an N.C. Scenic Byway, might be the most comprehensive Yancey County experience. It begins in Mount Mitchell State Park, travels about a dozen miles on the Parkway, dips into the Toe River Valley, heads to Burnsville, goes by Town Square and runs right down Main Street. Along the way, it passes more than 40 Quilt Trail blocks, whose colors are rivaled only by the surrounding leaves.
The Yancey History Association Annual General Meeting will be held on October 18, 2015 2:00 PM at Yancey County Library, School Circle, Burnsville, NC 28714
We proudly present our year in review in photographs and our program this year The History of Mount Mitchell by David Biddix and Jonathan Bennett which will be an in depth powerpoint and talk. Also a
chance to buy the book. Refreshment will be served and there is no cost. Members will be voting on the appointments to the board later in the afternoon.
President Elaine Boone will also
be mentioning the year to come with some exciting exhibitions and some old favorites like "Pickin' on the Porch" and The Children's Storytelling Camp with Sherry Lovett.
Women’s Clothing & Home Interiors
Baggallini • Cut Loose
French Fries and World Peace
byTara Lee, Owner Burnsville Health & Nutrition
October is World Vegetarian Awareness Month, kicked-off October 1 with World Vegetarian Day. Now this is a non-Hallmark celebration day that I can get behind, maybe even with cards. You can go to the website www. worldvegetarianday.org and make a pledge to eat a vegetarian diet for the month of October. You can pledge online, or you can print a pledge card and mail it in by October 31 for a chance to win up to $1000. I will print off a bunch of pledge cards for our customers at Burnsville Health and Nutrition. I will give anyone who makes a pledge a store gift card. Now that’s 2 cards for one celebration; Hallmark and my grandmother would be proud. I am not a vegetarian, although there have be periods of my life that I went many months attempting vegetarianism. It usually ended with my favorite of all food groups, a hamburger and French fries. I should just stick with the French fries because they are really my favorite food on the planet and vegetarian. My grandmother came from a small town called Choupique on the western edge of Louisiana. Her mother was French, and her favorite thing to eat was a “fried potato sandwich” –French fries, white bread and mayo. I think that you can actually get these in France, but they come on a baguette instead of pillow soft slices
of white bread and they probably have a fancier sounding name. If we (me, my mother, or my grandmother) ever had troubles that could only be cured with comfort food, someone cooked up a batch of fries and we made sandwiches.
Eating a mostly vegetarian diet is not difficult, especially now, there is so much support and information available. Even the USDA has resources on their website for eating healthy vegetarian meals.
So, I ask you to consider making the pledge to at least go one month and try a vegetarian diet. If you need more motivation, read a book the World Peace Diet. Pledges for you to sign will be at the store. Maybe we can even have a “fried potato sandwich” party to celebrate.
The Grapevine. If you live here, and there's a parking space in front, it's a sign that you're meant
in to browse before you go to the grocery store. Somebody's almost always laughing. You'll never meet a grumpy salesperson, but you might catch one of us wearing a jumble of pieces which don't match, because you caught us trying on new stuff.
When you bring in a new friend for the first time, her expression is almost always, "What a beautiful store!" Scarves are draped over our
clothing to help you put things together when you find the first piece of clothing you love. There's always one of us around to bring you another size or a different color, or a piece of jewelry that will "pop" your ensemble. If you want advice, we're here. If you just want to look, there's no pressure.
Our clothing is hip, comfortable, easy to pack, and a little bit edgy. From Baggallini to Cut Loose to Jag, Sterling, or Habitat, take your pick. And our accessories rock! Grapevine's the women's store you'll visit when you have an upcoming wedding, or a great trip planned. Come see us soon.
At the Garden Deli, we use only the highest quality deli meats, sliced thin and piled
Our year-round indoor dining area features a fireplace, handmade lanterns, and natural wood walls. Spring, summer and fall you may also dine outside on our shady decks surrounded by lush vegetation and flowers and views of the Town Square.
A big smile and great women's clothing await
11 West Main St, Burnsville, NC
www.riodoce.com
(Mon-Sat)
5pm - 8pm (Thurs- Sat)
BLOWING ROCK, NC
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is pleased to present, “Black & White and Art All Over,” a group exhibition featuring works from seven local High Country artists. A free opening reception will be held on Wednesday, October 7th from 5 to 6:30 pm with beverages and hors d’oeuvres.
The exhibition features works in a variety of media from Theresa Early Curd, Ellie Lyne, Kat Leahey, Priscilla Popper, Linda Dease Smith, Annie Stone and will be on display from October 7 thru October 31st.
An Uncommon Experience
The Village Inns of Blowing Rock are Hillwinds Inn, Ridgeway Inn and Village Inn, three stylish accommodations conveniently located just steps from the shops and restaurants of Blowing Rock. Each of the three inns offers a complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon reception. Accommodations include deluxe rooms, suites and cottages. Pet friendly rooms available. www.TheVillageInnsOfBlowingRock.com
The Hillwinds Inn: 828.295.7660
The Ridgeway Inn: 828.295.7321
The Village Inn: 828.295.3380
New Exhibition Opening at BRAHM “Black & White and Art All Over” BOONE, NC
The exhibit has been traveling since February 2014 showing in galleries in West Jefferson and Macon, Georgia.
BRAHM is open TuesdaySaturday, 10 am - 5 pm, with extended hours on “Donation Day” Thursday, 10 am - 7 pm, and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm. The museum is located in downtown Blowing Rock at 159 Chestnut Street on the corner of Chestnut and Main Street. For more information about this or other upcoming activities at BRAHM, please call (828) 295-9099 or visit www. blowingrockmuseum.org.
Butternut Squash Soup
This is a soup recipe from one of our volunteers, Karen Tallman. It is a favorite that we sell every year at the storytelling festival.
Makes 2 quarts soup (6-8 servings)
2 Tbsp real butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 large butternut squash, roasted
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 large potato, chopped
1 large granny smith apple (or other tart apple), chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh ginger root
3 cups vegetable broth
Prepare butternut squash: cut in half, scoop out seeds and place in glass casserole dish cut side down with 1/2 inch of water. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until soft enough to scoop out.
While squash is cooking, chop veggies and apple
Saute onions in butter until translucent.
Add ginger, potatoes and carrots and saute 5 minutes more. Add apples.
Add broth to sauteed veggies and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, simmer until veggies are soft, then add baked butternut squash.
Allow to cool then puree in blender in batches until smooth. Add more broth or water if too thick.
Serve with a garnish of sour cream, plain yogurt, or parmesan cheese. Freezes well.
Take time to Enjoy The Virginia Creeper Trail
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 35-mile rail trail in southwestern Virginia that runs through beautiful mountains from Abingdon to Whitetop, Virginia. It runs along a right-ofway that started in the 1880’s as the Abingdon Coal and Iron Railroad Company. After spending thousands of dollars without opening, the railroad company was broke. In the early 1890’s the company’s assets were bought by the Virginia Western Coal & Iron Railroad Company. It too had trouble and its assets were purchased by the Virginia-Carolina Railroad Company. In February 1900, the Virginia-Carolina Railroad Company rolled into Damascus, Virginia ready for business. By 1912, the railroad was extended to Whitetop and by the end of the decade to Elkland, North Carolina (now named Todd). In 1956 the last steam engine was retired from the line and replaced with diesel-powered engines. By 1974, the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon the line. In 1977 hard rains flooded and damaged most of the track and it was left unrepaired. In 1977 removal of the track began and the land in Virginia was secured by the US Forest Service for a recreation trail. The land in North Carolina was returned to the land owners.
on to Abingdon crosses the south fork of the Holston River in two places for a truly gorgeous experience while viewing wild flowers, amphibians, and mostly pre-Cambrian rock formations. Either shuttle service can pick you up there.
Today, the Virginia Creeper Trail offers 34 miles of excellent outdoor opportunities for all. Take the bike shuttle from Blue Blaze Bike Rental and Shuttle Service in Damascus, VA to the trailhead at White Top and ride the 17-mile downhill trail through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Virginia back to Damascus. Or ride from Creeper Trail Bike Rental – Shuttle Service in Whitetop, VA down to Damascus and on out to Alvarado and stop by the Abingdon Winery for a tour. The trail
Blue Blaze Bike Rental and Shuttle Service, the very first to serve the Creeper Trail, offers all types of bikes ranging from TREK Mountain Bikes to leisure path cruisers and comfort bikes, as well as tandems. All of their bikes are expertly maintained and include gel seats, riser handlebars and all frame sizes. Call them at 800-4755095 or 276-475-5095 or just drop on by 226 West Laurel Avenue to reserve your ride of a lifetime.
The Creeper Trail Bike RentalShuttle Service, right on “The Crooked Road” Virignia’s Heritage Music Trail, has two locations to serve you. Find them at 16153 Highlands Parkway, Whitetop, VA 24292 or call 276-388-3056. Their Damascus Shop is at 227 Douglas Drive, Damascus, VA 24236 or call 276-475-3611.
MORRISTOWN, TN
Encore Celebrates 1940s Music
Encore Theatrical Company is inviting audiences to get in the mood to take a sentimental journey this October when they will be presenting the Encore 1940s USO Radio Show. For one weekend only, the Hillside Grill restaurant in Morristown will be transformed into a stagedoor canteen filled with live entertainment. Audiences can dine, dance, and enjoy all their favorite music from that era, including hits such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Bugle Boy, It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got that Swing, and many more. A live swing band will be accompanied by 14 singers. Tickets are $20 per person, not including food or drink. Performances are October 16 and 17 at 8pm and October 18 at 2pm, with the dining room opening one hour prior to showtime.
Fall in Love with Morristown, TN
Fall is here and the air is crisp. Historic downtown Morristown has lots of events to entertain you
To celebrate Fire Prevention and Safety Week on October 10 at the new Farmers Market Pavilion, located at the corner of W. Morris Blvd. and S. Henry Street, the Morristown Fire Department will be doing Car Seat Safety Checks from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. This free service is a wonderful opportunity to make sure your child’s car safety seat if properly installed. Being at the Farmers Market is a great opportunity to pick up fall veggies, pumpkins, flowers and other local items.
Mountain Makins, at the Rose Center for the Cultural Arts, is a premiere and award winning festival. It features music, fine crafts that are for sale, demonstrations, food, and great entertainment for both adults and children – see article on next page.
At the end of October come celebrate Halloween festivities. There will be an old fashioned 1950s sock hop featuring music by the Pea Pickin Hearts at the Museum General Store and Ice Cream Shoppe located at 138 W. Main Street beginning at 7 to 9 PM on Halloween Eve (Friday, October 30th). Stay tuned for more information by going to this Face Book page https:// www.facebook.com/The-MeetingPlace-Country-Store-Ice-CreamShoppe-302286233266016/timeline/
On Halloween Saturday there will be lots of shops with fun activities both inside their stores and on the
sidewalk. Check these businesses out and have some Trick and Treating fun. Participating shops include The Pink Pig Pottery Studio, Toadily, Hand Picked by Angela, Katy Marie’s Upscale Consignment, Morristown Antiques, Yummy Cakes and More, and the Old Town Variety Mall. All these fun places are on Main Street in downtown Historic Morristown and all are guaranteeing you a family friendly fun Halloween.
On November 11, the Veterans Day Parade will be an opportunity to pay homage and thank those that have so honorably served their country. This parade takes place downtown and a great place to view it is on the Sky Mart that will give you a front row seat.
Our Christmas Parade is one of the largest in East Tennessee. It takes place at 7 pm on Thursday December 3rd. Entry forms are now available on http://www.crossroadspartnership. com/#!christmas-parade-2015/cc9l Last year some 8,000 folks had a wonderful time viewing about 150 entries from all around the East Tennessee Area.
Historic Morristown is that go to City between Knoxville and Bristol. There are lots of great places to dine and shop. Plus we are lucky to have wonderful theater groups, and dance studios, art classes, and other activities every week. See you in Downtown Morristown.
DANDRIDGE, TN
We Saved a Place in Time for You
The Shepard Inn, built in 1820, is located in the heart of historic Dandridge, the second oldest town in Tennessee. The Inn has worn many hats over its historical history. Originally built as a private residence it has functioned as a general store, tavern, boarding house, stage coach stop, hotel and now a beautiful bed and breakfast. The Inn has 5 bedrooms, beautifully decorated which will take you back in time. Our guests dine on a home cooked
BRISTOL, TN, VA
Simply Health: October is Vegetarian Awareness Month
By Jennifer Raichlin, Associate Raw Culinary Chef/Chef Instructor, Certified Wellness Coach & Personal Fitness Chef
While at Healing Meals Café in Bristol, we promote a primarily Vegan approach to eating, we also understand that not everyone is
still consume dairy products and maybe even eggs. Vegans do not consume any animal products including dairy, eggs, fish, animal fats or even in some cases honey. Every Vegan has their own reason for following this philosophy whether it be environmental, animal humanity, or human health. For those who eat a typical modern American diet, both of these philosophies can seem daunting or even scary, but it doesn’t have to be. As a Wellness
Coach, I have always encouraged my clients to start small and make continual changes until they achieve the goals they have set. So for the average American, making small dietary changes can over time result in significant results.
If you care about your health, animals, or our planet here are some things you should know. The animal meat you consume from conventionally produced farms is typically contaminated with an array of hormones given to fatten the animal, drugs given
to keep them healthy because of the disease prone conditions they are raised in, and the literal garbage they are fed. The conditions the animals are raised in are generally not pleasant, and the conditions at conventional slaughter houses is enough to turn the stomach.
Most individuals in our culture consume too much meat and would ease the job of their liver if they would cut down even a little. This month, make that small change towards better health for you, the animals, and our planet.
Get Ready for the 40th annual Mountain Makins Festival!
Rose Center, Morristown’s cultural arts center, is kicking off its fortieth year with the 40th annual Mountain Makins Festival. The award-winning festival, started in 1976 as a way to raise funds to save historic Rose School, celebrates the very best of Appalachian culture, from crafts to music. This milestone year has been a time of looking back to the roots of the festival, but also looking forward to keep it fresh, according to festival director Beccy Hamm. The 40th annual festival is October 2425, with a Preview Party on Friday the 23rd.
The prize-winning festival begins with a Preview Party on Friday from 6:30 – 9pm, with musical entertainment by the Katts. Advanceonly tickets for this special FUNdraiser are $40. Guests will be treated to a gourmet buffet, get first chance to purchase crafts, and will be admitted free Saturday and Sunday.
The festival attracts artists and crafters from seven states, all of which must go through a jury process to be included. A few of the original participants are still showing their wares, alongside those who are very new to the event. Over twenty new crafters will participate this year with forty who are returning.
Outside on the lawn, visitors can see skilled craftsmen at work. Since the very beginning, folk life
demonstrations have been a special part of the festival. As always, there will be apple butter making, blacksmithing, broom making, woodturning, basket making and many other allbut-lost skills.
The Rose Center Quilters Guild will be demonstrating their needlework inside the building. Each year the group donates a large quilt to be given away at the end of the festival. Visitors can purchase tickets for $1 each or 6 for $5. This year’s quilt, appraised at $1500, is a queen size scrap quilt in greens and browns, called Appalachian Forest.
The festival’s youngest visitors will get to try their hand at being crafty too. Under the Kids’ Krafts tent, special activities include the always popular Paint-a-Pumpkin, and this year children can make a small canvas painting. They can get their faces painted by Girls, Inc., play games for prizes, and take a ride on a pony or a train.
More than a dozen dance groups will show off their skills out on the street in front of Rose Center.
The back yard will be filled with bluegrass, old time and roots music all weekend.
More entertainment can be found in the storytelling tent. A full roster of professional tale-spinners will present family-friendly stories throughout the weekend, and special children’s stories will be offered both days. Saturday, the second annual Story Slam will give amateurs a chance to compete for a prize basket and the opportunity to participate in 2016.
Regional authors will be bringing more stories as well as some nonfiction. They will be available to talk and sign their books in Prater Hall. This year’s invited authors are Judith Didier,
Bill Landry, Marilyn Mascaro, Linda Mix, Joe Moore (aka Santa), Leanna Sain, Lisa Soland, Dr. Lin and J.L. Stepp, Sam Venable, and Claudia Ware.
The popular Country Store will have a tent full of baked goods donated by many community groups. The breads, cakes, pies, and cookies are packaged for eating at the festival or taking home to enjoy later. They will also be selling Soupbeans n Cornbread, Seafood Chowder, baked potatoes, and other specialties. An outdoor café will be set up so customers have a place to relax and enjoy their food.
The back yard Food Court, surrounding the two stages, will have everyone’s favorite fair food, whether it’s BBQ, spiral potatoes, jambalaya and gumbo, Greek pitas and gyros, hot dogs and corn dogs, fresh squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes, burgers, soft pretzels or fresh made glazed donuts.
Admission to the festival is $5 for adults and $1 for children 6-12. Hours are 10-5 on Saturday and 11-5 on Sunday. More information about the festival is available at rosecenter. org, facebook.com/ mountainmakinsfestival, or by calling 423-5814330. Rose Center is located at 442 W. Second North Street in Morristown.
BIG STONE GAP, VA
Mountain Empire Community College to Host 44nd Annual Home Craft Days Festival
Mountain Empire Community College will once again welcome thousands of visitors to the campus this fall for the 44rd Annual Home Craft Days Festival held Oct. 16-18. Celebrating the rich music, culture, and artistry of Southwest Virginia, the Home Craft Days Festival features demonstrations of weaving, pottery making, grist milling, wood crafting, basket weaving, broom making, quilting, tatting and much more.
“This festival is one of the most anticipated events in our region,” said Festival Organizer and MECC Dean of Workforce Development Sue Ella Boatright-Wells. “We have artists, musicians and food vendors that people have come to love and anticipate, some of whom have been at every festival since the beginning. It’s just a wonderful event that is a homecoming for many, near and far.”
The festival will kick off Friday, Oct. 16 with a free concert featuring Dale Jett and Hello Stranger, Bryan Bowers, Cajun Country Revival, and Foghorn Stringband. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. in Phillips-Taylor Hall, Goodloe Center.
The 2015 festival will feature several free music workshops to be held Saturday, October 17. A vocal workshop will be offered by Cindy Harr and an autoharp workshop will be hosted by Bryan Bowers. Participants must register for the workshops by Tuesday, October 13 by calling 276.523.2400 ext. 464.
Craft and food vendors will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
County Ramblers and Center Stage Cloggers; Fred O’Quinn and the Bluegrass Travelers; Dale Jett & Hello Stranger; Scott County Boys & Center Stage Cloggers; White Top Mountain Band and Center Stage Cloggers; Empty Bottle String; Town Branch Bluegrass Band; Scott County JAM program; Wise JAM Program (Southwest Virginia Museum); Mountain Music School String Band; Angelyn DeBord; Richard Phillips, Roger Bullock, and Tommy Clements; Poor Valley Girls; Kelsey Rae Copeland; Anndrena Belcher
& the Wild Boys; Jimmy and Ada McCown; Bill and the Belles; and the New Harvest Brothers.
For more information on the event, including a detailed schedule of vendors and musicians, visit the Home Craft Days website at www.homecraftdays.org.
Saturday’s music schedule includes featured performers: Todd Meade, Debbie Adams, Beth Bailey/Osborne Family Band; Jack Wright; Patti and Glenn Roberts; Sycamore Holler; Bill McCall & Southern Country; Randy and Debra Jean Sheets; Haywood
MARION, VA
Main Street and the Downtown Historic District of Marion, VA is a busy place and at the center of it all is the town’s most well-known venue: The Lincoln Theatre. This Art Deco Mayan Revival theatre, first opened in 1929, was once the premiere movie house of the region. The Lincoln, renovated and reopened in 2004, now serves as a venue for arts and entertainment with a lineup including music concerts that vary from bluegrass and country to jazz and classical, as well as theatrical performances and films for special events.
This summer the Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts opened. Named for Wayne
C. Henderson, a world-renowned guitar instrumentalist and Luthier from nearby Rugby, VA, the school’s mission is to provide educational programs that assist in preserving and promoting Southwest Virginia’s music, art, and crafts heritage. The Henderson offers classes, open studios, and is the home to The Summit for higher education services. Located only one block from Main Street, directly behind the theatre, this new facility provides additional arts opportunities for all ages and skill levels.
The two non-profit arts organizations are embarking on their first major collaboration this fall: A mini-residency with Virginia
Commission for the Arts Touring Artist Tom Teasley, a world percussionist, educator, and artist, who will spend a long weekend in Marion as a resident artist. The residency will include an educational assembly for Smyth County students, a hands on percussion workshop at The Henderson School, and will wrap up at The Lincoln Theatre where Teasley will perform live musical accompaniment to a screening of the classic FW Murnau film, Nosferatu. For more information visit www.thelincoln.org or visit
• Well trained staff
Open 7 days a week!
• Safe and courteous drivers and our loaders
We look forward to meeting you at the Creeper Trail!!!
Wise, VA
37th Annual Wise County Famous Fall Fling Saturday, Oct 10, 10 AM on
WYTHEVILLE, VA
Fall in Love with Big Walker Lookout
Virginia is for Lovers and you are sure to fall in love with Big Walker Lookout and the BW Country Store. Located on US 52 near Wytheville, VA and easily accessible from I-81 and I-77, Big Walker Lookout is home to the 100 ft. observation tower and swinging bridge showcasing the most spectacular panoramic views in the East. Although open year-round, the perfect time to visit is now as the changing autumn leaves turns this oldest family operated attraction in the state into a beautiful cornucopia of color.
The up-coming October weekends are packed with crafters, artisans, and blacksmiths. Each weekend the porch of the BW Country Store turns into a stage with mountain musicians playing traditional old-time and bluegrass
favorites to gospel and Americana with plenty of room for flat-footing and leg-shaking.
Weekend events include some of the area’s most talented authors talking about and signing their latest work of fiction or non-fiction. Artisans, crafters and blacksmiths add their modern-day spin to tried and true heritage crafts. Learn about the many uses of herbs and observe the making of traditional apple butter. View the lovely and delicate handiwork of a local quilting club. All this and more with wonderful items you will want to take home from the BW Country Store.
For the latest information about these activities and more, check out the website www.scenicbeauty-va. com listed below, or give them a call at 276-663-4016.
More than 125 vendors will be set up and ready to go and the coffee will be hot. The free two-day event will have something for everyone. In addition to a wonderful array of crafts, two music stages, demonstrators, and exceptionally good food, the Fall Fling is adding two new events this year - Anything Apples, with an Apple Pie and Apple Butter Contest, and tours of the Historic Inn at Wise, newly restored and full of art and photography and three dining venues – The Diner, The Dining Room, and the Tavern. There’s more! For the first time ever, Stage 2 will be on the balcony of The Inn at Wise. Both Stage 2 and Big Glades will have favorites such as Kody Norris and The Watauga Mountain Boys, Roan Mountain Moon Shiners, and Thistle Dew. From Mountain City, TN, The Watauga Mt Boys are reminiscent of Flatt and Sruggs and the Clinch Mountain boys. TV Barnett and his Roan Mt Moonshiners are one of a very few bands left that play the general east TN style of Old time Mountain Music. Thistle Dew a trio make up of three lassies from East Tn and NC have a mix of Celtic and Appalachian, and harmony that has
to be heard to be believed. Kathy Hughes & Country Gold, Katie Caudill & Moonshine District and Donna & Major Griffey are all new to The Fling, but not to folks around the region.
The sanctioned 5K race and 1 Mile Fitness Walk will start Saturday at 9 AM sharp, and take runners and walkers alike through the heart of the downtown Wise. At a slower pace, the Corn Hole Tournament starts at 11AM, with registration at 10:15.
The Fall Fling runs all day Saturday, 9 AM till 6 PM, and Sunday, 12 PM till 5 PM and is proudly sponsored by the Wise Business Association. For more information please go to www.wisefallfling.com.
