APRIL | MAY 2024 COVERING MOUNTAIN TOWNS OF EAST TN, SOUTHWEST VA & WESTERN NC
ON THE COVERS
PUBLISHER | Terry Patterson
DESIGNER | Cajun Graham SOCIAL MEDIA | Hiring!
DISTRIBUTION | Karsten Lueth, Gary Flanagan
DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Western North Carolina, Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee & Seasonal North Georgia
ADVERTISING DEADLINES:
OCT/NOV ISSUE: September 15th
DEC/JAN ISSUE: November 15th
FEB/MAR ISSUE: January 15th
APR/MAY ISSUE: March 15th
JUNE/JULY ISSUE: May 15th
AUG/SEPT: July 15th
Locally
Springtime in Tennessee
What is causing your allergies this spring
Spring is in the air, but so is the pollen. Consistently ranked among the top 30 U.S. allergy capitals every spring, Knoxville residents can tell the season has arrived by their congestion long before they see a tulip poplar bud. And Nashville, which isn’t too far behind in the rankings, with its birch and cedar trees produces itchy, red eyes and noses all over the Music City. From Nashville to Asheville, North Carolina, this “pollen bowl” we find ourselves in can make you feel like spring is just another season to endure with over-the-counter medications and the feeling of being in an allergy-in-
duced fog.
Spring Allergy Symptoms
If you’ve lived in Tennessee your entire life or for less than a year, chances are you’re already familiar with spring allergy symptoms. They are:
Sneezing, Runny, itchy nose, Itchy, red eyes, Headaches, Fatigue, Congestion, Sinus Drainage, Spring Allergy Triggers.
While most people believe they can point to the budding trees and other plants as the causes of their
DIRTY DRYER VENTS ARE A LEADING CAUSE OF HOUSEHOLD FIRES!
allergy symptoms, it’s best to not just guess. Even mold can trigger allergies, and its often much harder to spot than blooming trees. But trees are among the season’s first pollen offenders, with the top ones being:
-Birch -Cedar -Elm -Maple -Poplar
Grasses, weeds and molds aren’t usually far behind, and since the weather in our area can vary dramatically from week to week, pollen season can stretch across a six-month time frame, if not longer. That’s a long time to self-medicate or try to tough it out, and that’s why
it’s important to find a long-lasting solution for your allergies.
So why suffer this spring? Tennessee has too many fun things to do outside for you to stay sniffling at home. Go camping at Pickett Memorial State Park, play frisbee golf at Crockett Park, hike the Great Smoky Mountains, bike the Tweetsie Trail in Johnson City, or just get outside with the kids and enjoy the sunshine and beauty springing to life all around us. Get the help you need and talk to your doctor today.
Kinsport Ballet
presents Don Quixote April 27-28, 2024
Kingsport, TN - Kingsport Ballet will stage the full length ballet Don Quixote, this April 27th at 7pm and 28th, 2:30 pm and at the Ballad Health Performing Arts Center. The production is under the direction of Leonid Flegmatov, Artistic Director of Kingsport Ballet. The comic ballet will feature guest professionals from Philadelphia Ballet, Oksana Maslova, and for the first time with KB, Yuval Cohen, who trained at the Vaganova School and the Bolshoi Ballet and received a bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition.The ballet is loosely based on episodes taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It features vibrant costumes and stagings, highlighted by memorable character performances
and virtuoso dancing. The story follows Don Quixote in his quest for good versus evil, and his search for the lovely woman of his dreams, Dulcinea. And much like Dulcinea, the ballet is “beautiful, with a touch of humor and plenty of flair.”
For tickets visit: www.kingsportballet.org or call: 423-378-3967
Kingsport Ballet is funded for general operations by the Tennessee Arts Commission under an agreement with the General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts and in part by federal award number SLFRP5534 awarded to the State of Tennessee by the U.S. Department of Treasury, and through a partnership with Engage Kingsport.
LEONID FLEGMATOV, Artistic Director TICKETS: KINGSPORTBALLET.ORG
A Garden of Quilts
Artists practice painting murals
The Western North Carolina Quilters Guild will present “A Garden of Quilts Show” Friday, May 17, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday May 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. This exciting, judged show will display fantastic traditional and modern quilts, a special exhibit of Quilts of Valor, docent tours, arts and crafts vendors, raffle baskets, used book sale, and a boutique of handmade quilted items for sale to the public made by members. The drawings for the Guild’s Opportunity Quilt and raffle baskets will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets are available at the show. Some of the proceeds from the show benefit educational programs along with scholarship money for local stu-
dents in fiber arts.
The location is the Bonclarken Conference Center’s Youth Activities Building, 701 Kinross, Flat Rock, NC, just south of Hendersonville, nestled in the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains. Admission is $5 with free regular and handicap parking. Wheelchairs and walkers are easily accommodated.
For more information, see our website - westernncquilters.org. Be sure to say you saw it in Mountain Escapes on your Viewer’s Choice ballot, and be entered to win a Brother LB500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine!
Annual Tourism Day
at the I-26W NC Welcome Center
Please join the I-26W NC Welcome Center for its 21st Annual Tourism Day; Friday, May 24th from 10am-2pm! Once a year, during National Tourism Week, we get the opportunity to say thank you to our travelers and loyal locals! In celebration we have a day of free music, food, and exhibitors. We will have music by acclaimed fiddle player Roger Howell as well as Logan Clark, regular at the Marshall Depot. New to exhibit this year will be French Broad Adventures and Asheville Rooftop Tours. We will welcome back Blue Ridge Heritage and Music Trails, Navitat Zipline and Curtis Wright Outfitters as well as many others. While you’re here, sit on the porch and enjoy some ice cold Cheerwine and munch on some NC Peanuts. Come out to the welcome center at 6178 Interstate 26 in Mars Hill and stay the whole day! For more information, please call (828)689-4257.
Return Invasion
Over 20k UFO and Alien Enthusiasts descended upon downtown Spruce Pine NC in 2023 looking for signs of Extraterrestrial life forms. The small town of Spruce Pine is preparing for an Return Invasion on June 8th of multiple UFOs and Aliens invading downtown Spruce Pine.
The Spruce Pine Alien Festival is nearly a Mile long and has over 175 Artists, Crafters, Alien Merchandise. Visitors can expect a huge range of products from Alien headgear, UFO blowups, Alien T-Shirts, UFO metal tin signs Crystals, Meteorites, Dinosaur bones, Gemstones, Coffees, Teas. Tye dye, Celestial Candles, Alien LED lights, Wood carvings, Galactic blown glass, Paranormal
and cryptid items with over a mile of “Out of this world gifts and products.
All of the Alien Festival Vendors are creating unique products never seen before pertaining to Space, UFO’s, Moons, Stars, Planets, Galaxies, Nasa, Paranormal, Cryptid, Astronomy and all things Alien of course.
Our Area 51 Costume Contest begins at 12noon. It’s Free to Compete! Pets, Children and Adults can sign up from 9m to 12 noon to compete for Cash and Prizes at the Milky Way Stage. Just look for the Festival MC and WKYK Radio Show Host Bruce Ickard)
The Children’s Close Encounter Zone has fun for the whole family, Giant Alien bounce houses/Giant Slides, UFO Laser Tag, Ride the Alien Train, Play games and Mini Golf.
This unique UFO/ Alien Festival features a Free Alien Music Festival being held all day at the Milky Way Music Stage Presented by High Country Arms and the Skyline Village Hotel, Bands will blast Galactic
Rock, Country, Grateful Dead and 2000’s Music to thrill all the UFO lovers.
Headline Band “Thirty ought six,, Black Feather, Greystoke and Toe River bandits will rock Cosmic music lovers and rumble the ground beneath their feet as they kick off this Stellar ALIEN Music Festival for all ages and THRILL UFO guests looking for an Interstellar good time.
The Spruce Pine AlienXPO is a oneday Speaker Conference focused on UFOs and alien phenomena and researching the many sightings reported around Mitchell County, Spruce Pine and surrounding WNC counties.The AlienXP allow attendees to hear real events concerning extraterrestrial phenomena and research into answering the question "Are we alone in the Universe?"
Panel subjects will include "UFO sightings, abductions and experiments, alien technology and other intriguing phenomena and will feature panels, vendors and Celebrity mixer party with Headline Speaker Ancient Aliens Star Mike Bara, Documentary
star of "Bearth" and six time Amazon best seller Brooks Agnew, Christian Macleod-Paranormal investigator, Robin Haynes-experiencer and UFO expert ,Film Producer Ash Hamilton and other notable speakers.
Tickets are available through our website: www.SprucePineAlienFestival.com or call our Alien Show Office also are available on Eventbrite at (828) 688-1148
You’re Welcome to Graze
Check out this great spot here in town!
We have so much to offer at Greeneville Graze. Our Cheese+Charcuterie boards are thoughtfully curated with a variety of specially selected artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, seasonal fruits, and perfect paired accoutrements.
• Grazing Boxes and Boards:
Choose the size of box or boards you need. You may select your cheese, vegetables, meat and fruits, or you can leave that up to us. We do offer gluten free or keto at no additional cost.
• Grazing Tables:
These are the perfect choice for your party, special event, baby shower or your cocktail hour at your
wedding. Featuring appetizer size portions of a variety of cheeses, cured meats, seasonal fruits, vegetables, dips, nuts, olives, pickles, and variety of crackers. With so many delicious options for everyone to enjoy. We provide the table and props. Gluten free options available.
Take a look around and see why we are the best. Whether for a dinner party, date-night, healthy meal, entertaining, or just a get together.
Our boards or tables bring friends/ families together to create a unique and delicious experience. So give us a call today 423-552-5740. Graze boards are made to order with fresh ingredients so please allow a 24-48 hour notice.
Cheers!
Get to know the owners of Nickle Ridge Winery
Nickle Ridge Winery, located in historic Greeneville, Tennessee, came into being two and a half years ago. It was a long dream of Dr’s Ken and Carla Nickle to bring the enjoyment of tasting and paring wines back to Carla’s hometown. The two had traveled to many wine regions in the past, generally making that an annual vacation destination to locations in California, Texas, and Southern Italy, but some of their favorite small wineries were family owned in North Carolina and Virginia.
They enjoyed getting to meet wine makers and tasting room staff and getting a little bit of each individual’s story of what drew them to
wine. Their hope was to bring this same experience to East Tennessee.
The winery is in a prior hardware store, which is over 100 years old.
They spent about 2 years sprucing the place up with the decorating eye of their manager, Lisa Cansler.
The goal was to make the tasting room a comfortable atmosphere where people would love to come, sip a glass of wine, relax, and reconnect with friends.
The wine is made right on the premises by the couple and Ken’s sister, Erica, as well as help of customers from time to time. While the Nickle’s did start planting their own vines
last year, however they will not yield a productive crop for a few years.
The juice for the grapes is ordered from Northern California, Oregon, Washington State,Pennsylvania, and even Italy. They have also been able to purchase grapes from one of their favorite North Carolina wineries.
The current selections include Moscato, Viognier, Catawba, Chardonay, Zinfandel, and a Super Tuscan. Coming soon as well is a Sangiovese and Cab Franc.
The tasting room also offers charcuterie, as well as a few beer selections, waters, and soda for those who prefer. The wine slushies are also a huge hit.
The tasting room often has music events, paint and sips, and private events for which the location can be rented by the hour. The current hours are Thursdays–Saturdays 2pm-7pm, with the hope to expand those times in the near future. Come by and let the tasting room staff pour you a glass. Lisa and Randy are always happy to meet new customers and introduce you to the Nickle Ridge Wines.
Statehood Day Celebration
Celebrate with Sequoyah Birthplace Museum with live demonstrations.
Take a trip back in time and visit Sequoyah Museum to celebrate this important Tennessee Holiday. Their 1809 Blacksmith shop will be open with demonstrations going on throughout the afternoon. Come out and share the afternoon with living history in their 1800’s Dog-trot Log cabin. Learn about Cherokees in the Civil War.
The museum is named for Sequoyah, a Cherokee, who could not read or write in any language, who perfected a system for reading and writing the Cherokee language so that the nation and its heritage would live forever. Our acorn printing press will be doing demonstrations throughout the day. All Statehood Day activities are free and also enjoy free admission to the museum.
Art in Public Places
Artists practice painting murals
Six new murals are now on display at Maker Exchange in Downtown Knoxville as a part of the 2nd Annual Dogwood Arts Mural Workshop led by professional muralist Megan Lingerfelt.
Participating muralists include Dustin Avilla, Orel Brodt, Laney Haskell, Whitney Herrington, Gared Luquet, and Allison Meriwether. The workshop was designed by Megan Lingerfelt and Dogwood Arts to introduce mural painting practices to artists interested in taking their work to a larger scale.
Participants receive hands-on experience from seasoned professionals and leave with the confidence to
pursue large-scale mural opportunities on their own. The murals will remain on display through the end of May 2024.
The Mural Workshop at Maker Exchange is part of a larger public art initiative led by Dogwood Arts called Art in Public Places. The Art in Public Places program brings art outside, adding character and beauty to our city streets and spaces. The program includes an annually rotating, outdoor sculpture exhibition and a large-scale mural program.
The Mural Program was established in 2019 to advance existing creative efforts in Strong Alley, transform
unique public spaces in our community, provide opportunities for local and regional artists to create new artwork, and improve access to the arts for everyone. Dogwood Arts coordinates this ongoing program in collaboration with artists, property owners, the City of Knoxville, and the Downtown Knoxville Alliance.
Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival
Festival to Feature Americana Legends Alongside Breakout Newcomers
Dogwood Arts is thrilled to announce the music lineup for the 2024 Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival, curated by The Dirty Guv’nahs and returning to World’s Fair Park in Downtown Knoxville, TN on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The 3rd annual event will feature Old Crow Medicine Show, The Dirty Guv’nahs, Maggie Rose, Amythyst Kiah, Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge, and Wyatt Ellis. The lineup is a true celebration of Tennessee talent — with every act living and making music in the Volunteer State.
Celebrating 25 years of making music in 2023, Old Crow Medicine Show has established itself as America’s most beloved Old-Time String
Bands and one of Nashville’s most revered musical torchbearers. Their signature song “Wagon Wheel” is one of the most widely sung folk songs in history and was recently certified by RIAA as one of the top five country singles of all time. Maggie Rose, who just celebrated her 100th appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on 12/5, is returning to Southern Skies for the second time; her first performance was at the 2022 event. She has since collaborated with The Dirty Guv’nahs on two singles on their 2023 album, Roots (‘Save Me’ and ‘Don’t Do It’) and shared stages across the country with everyone from Kelly Clarkson to Eric Church. The rest of the lineup includes Grammy-nominated Chattanooga-native Amythyst Kiah,
hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of Americana’s great up-and-coming secrets,” 17-year-old guitar phenomenon Grace Bowers, and one of the most-watched young musicians in bluegrass from right here in Blount County, Wyatt Ellis.
General Admission (Early Bird) tickets are $49.50, or attendees can purchase VIP (Early Bird) tickets for $135. The VIP Experience includes access to a premium viewing area, hangout space with private bars and restrooms, festival merchandise, and more. The festival also includes a new collaboration with the Tennessee Distillers Guild called the Tennessee
Whiskey Experience. The top distilleries from across the state of Tennessee will serve a wide variety of whiskey and other unique, handcrafted spirits in this exclusive space inside the festival. Pass holders will have the opportunity to learn more about the art of distilling, barrel aging, and the history of each distillery alongside live music from 2-6PM. The Tennessee Whiskey Experience is a $50 add-on to either a General Admission or VIP ticket purchase. Children 10 & under get free admission to the festival (with the exception of the VIP and Whiskey Experience areas). Tickets can be purchased online now at southernskiesfest.com/tickets.
& 25th: 6pm-10pm TRY SCUBA: 30th 6pm-9pm
OPEN WATER CLASSES: 4th & 5th: 9am-6pm TRY SCUBA: 9th: 6pm-9pm 11th: 10am-1pm 29th: 6pm-9pm RED CROSS LIFEGUARD 17th, 18th & 19th May 31st, June 1st & 2nd
WATER CLASSES: 1st & 2nd: 9am-6pm
& 30th
Punk vs Funk
Fleurish: A Sustainable Fashion Event & Fundraiser
The third annual Fleurish: A Sustainable Fashion Event (and Fundraiser) at Ijams Nature Center brings eco-friendly and sustainable Punk vs. Funk designs to the runway Sunday, April 21.
The fashion collaboration showcases how sustainability, conservation, and beauty intertwine with our lives and our future, and raises funds for the nonprofit nature center. Each year, local designers, hair stylists, and makeup artists join forces to create designs that incorporate sustainable materials and innovative recycling methods, and reuse what was once discarded.
The 2023 event built on the inaugural event in 2022, and featured sustainably sourced and upcycled fashions by 17 designers and 65+ models at the newly renovated pond on the Ijams Plaza.
This year’s event will be bigger and bolder, bringing together 25 designers who have created more than 100 looks for dueling runways featuring live music from Brent Hyder and others TBDW.
“Fleurish shows how the average consumer can make changes to their day-to-day lives while never losing sight of the beauty of nature and the human experience,” Ijams Visitor Services Director Sarah Brobst said. “These looks showcase how vintage clothing, found objects, and natural elements can be combined to create fresh, stunning looks. It’s the epitome of ‘upcycling,’ and this year’s theme is going to take it over the top!”
Brobst said the audience is highly encouraged to come dressed in their favorite punk or funk fashions.
“Audience participation will make it even more fun, and they’ll receive ‘bonus points’ if their outfits are thrifted or up-cycled!” she added.
The cocktail hour from 6-7 p.m. will feature photo ops on the “green” carpet, education stations, and information about conservation efforts in the fashion realm, as well as a cash bar featuring punk and funk signature cocktails, and delicious bites from Coffee & Chocolate, Cafe 4, and The Kennedy. Following the fashion show, attendees will be able to meet the artists, designers, and models on the nature center’s hillside. Brobst said there may be some surprise elements as well.
Tickets are $30 and are available at Ijams. org/fleurish. All proceeds support Ijams Nature Center.
Fleurish: A Sustainable Fashion Show is sponsored by Clayton, Boston Beer Company, Kara Hudgens Photography, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Coffee & Chocolate, Mountain Escapes, and HUSHH Magazine. Sponsorships are still available.
Ijams Nature Center is a 318-acre nonprofit educational center in the heart of Knoxville and serves visitors of all ages, stages, and abilities. Its mission is to encourage stewardship of the natural world by providing an urban greens-
pace for people to learn about and enjoy the outdoors through engaging experiences. Ijams features 14 miles of hiking and mixed-use trails, a public access river dock, swimming, boating, biking, and so much more. Hundreds of world-class educational programs and events are coordinated and offered annually. Ijams’ grounds and trails are open every day from 8:00 AM until dusk. Tickets are available for Fleurish 2024 at www.ijams.org/fleurish
Interested in being a part of Fleurish 2024? Sponsor opportunities still available. Contact: Cindy Hassil, Ijams Development Director at 865-577-4717 ext. 1006 chassil@ijams.org Ijams
