High Country Magazine July 2014 by High Country Press

Volume 9 • Issue 6 July 2014

The Liberty Parade • Blowing Rock Inns • and A Sign Maker July 2014

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

July 2014

Piedmont Federal can help you with a loan for a first or second home, with your mortgage starting and staying right here. Visit piedmontfederal.com or stop by our Boone Office. Happy 30th anniversary to the Appalachian Summer Festival bringing the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film to the High Country.

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High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

July 2014

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High Country Magazine

C O N T E N T S

20 Biking for Nonprofits

Blood Sweat and Gears contributes much needed funds to worthy causes while at the same time boosting the region’s economy with a monetary impact north of $1 million.

34 Blowing Rock’s Family Inns

Become acquainted with the many family-run hotels, inns and motels that make Blowing Rock the cozy, quaint destination it is today. These little inns today are not only the first lodging choice for visitors to Blowing Rock, they are a mainstay of the picturesque character of this mountain town, and each is known for something special.

20 48

48 Just Follow The Signs

From carving signs and making pottery, to sandblasting memorial river rocks and becoming surrogate parents to international students, Bill and Donna Dicks are true gems of Avery County. Meet the husband and wife team and find out how a hobby became a passion, and then became a whole new way of life.

Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery Celebrates 20 Years Meet Tim Miller of Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery and see why this unassuming frame shop and gallery tucked in a beautiful corner of Blowing Rock has become the go-to shop for top-notch framing and art from highly regarded artists. The shop is celebrating 20 years in business, and is looking forward to 20 more.

Arts Center’s Liberty 78 Elkland Day Parade Sounds Off

Discover Elkland Art Center and its famous Liberty Day Parade. Known for its uniqueness, excitement, color, inclusion and the fact that more participate than watch, come see why this parade has become beloved in the High Country by young and old alike.

100 Banner Elk After Dark

There’s a spot in the center of Banner Elk that has developed into a place where nightlife folks can come to unwind, grab a bite to eat and enjoy some late-night fun. The town nestled between ski resorts has gradually constructed a new nightlife persona just waiting to be discovered.

on the cover ken ketchie Ken was up bright and early on Saturday morning to photograph the start to this year’s Blood Sweat and Gears cycling ride. By 7:30 am, the area in front of the Valle Crucis School was filled with over 1200 cyclists ready to begin their 50 or 100 mile trek around the High Country. 6

High Country Magazine

July 2014

READER SERVICES

from our home to yours

ABOUT US

The first High Country Press newspaper was published on May 5, 2005, and the first issue of High Country Magazine went to press in fall 2005. In March of 2012 the newspaper made the transformation to an online newspaper at our new website: www.HCPress.com. Our new “webpaper” is still packed with information that we present and package in easy-to-read formats with visually appealing layouts. Our magazine represents our shared love of our history, our landscape and our people. It celebrates our pioneers, our lifestyles, our differences and the remarkable advantages we enjoy living in the mountains. Our guiding principles are twofold: quality journalism makes a difference and customer care at every level is of the greatest importance. Visit our website to see our publications and we’re always open to hear your comments and suggestions. Thanks for reading us!

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Our magazine is a wonderful way for businesses to advertise to our readers. Our magazines tend to stay around for a long time, on coffee tables and bed stands, and shared with family and friends. To find out about advertising, call our offices at 828264-2262.

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Writers and photographers may send queries and samples to the editor at hcmag@highcountrypress.com. Contact us at:

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828-264-2262 July 2014

High Country Magazine

FRO M T H E PUB L ISH ER

A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Contributing Writers Jesse Wood Madison Fisler Lewis Megan Hall

Ken Ketchie

Riding To Success

ometimes small beginnings turn into big events. Case in point – the Blood Sweat and Gears charity cycling event, which is the topic of our cover story this month. Now in its 16th year, Blood Sweat and Gears attracts more than 1,000 cyclists from across the country and is so popular, the event fills up in about 15 minutes of online registration. That’s quite a contrast from the first year when less than 100 cyclists participated in the event dreamed up in a casual conversation on King Street to benefit the local American Red Cross. Another event that comes to mind is the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, which has its 37th anniversary this fall. It was a crazy idea from Jim Morton, who thought a race between woolly worms would provide two solutions. Not only would it enable “forecasters” to find a caterpillar it could trust to predict the weather, but it would attract visitors to Banner Elk, too. Well, with about 20,000 people now coming to see those worms race up a string each October, that wasn’t so crazy an idea after all. And then there’s MerleFest. The lucky few attending that inaugural festival in North Wilkesboro still reminisce about an amazing group of musicians performing on a flatbed truck in front of a scattered crowd in 1988. Today, some of those same amazing musicians still perform at the four-day MerleFest – but to about 80,000 more people from all over the world. While locals and seasoned visitors have all been to a number of these events that have “grown up,” so to speak, we don’t attend them every year – and that’s all right. The beauty of these events is many. One, it brings people to the mountains – “putting heads into beds,” as BSG co-founder Sonny Sweet likes to say. The latest BSG event pumped north of $1 million into our local economy over the course of the weekend, and for our local restaurateurs, merchants and hoteliers, that’s music to their ears. Also, these events act as fundraisers to local groups and non-profits, which need all the financial help available in light of budget cuts across the board. The BSG event raised some $100,000 last year for worthy causes. And of course for us locals, it’s fun to be able to jump in the car on a Saturday morning and enjoy one of these, or the many other annual events that take place throughout the year in the High Country. So here’s a big shout out and thank you to those dreamers and volunteers who have persevered with their events, nurturing them into traditions that have become nationally known while bringing joy to those who attend and money to non-profits who benefit our communities. Which leads me to wonder . . . what will become that next big thing?

High Country Magazine

July 2014

David Coulson Bernadette Cahill Contributing Photographers Frederica Georgia Lonnie Webster Amy Morrison Charlotte Coulson Finance Manager Amanda Giles Advertising Director Jeffrey Green

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July 2014

High Country Magazine

Calendarof Events JULY 2014 5-13

Sheryl Crow, July 24

Ensemble Stage Presents: The Kitchen Witches, Blowing Rock School Auditorium, 828-414-1844

Hayes School of Music Faculty Showcase Concert, ASU,

Rosen Concert Hall, 828-262-4046

TCVA Lunch and Learn: Give My Regards to Broadway with Keith Martin, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 828-262-3017

Concerts in the Park: Wolf Creek, Tate Evans Park,

Banner Elk, 828-898-8395 10-13

Grandfather Mountain’s 59th Annual Highland Games,

MacRae Meadows, Grandfather Mountain, 828-733-1333

Summer Exhibition Celebration, Turchin Center for the

Visual Arts, 828-262-3017

11 11

Music on the Lawn Presents: Worthless Son in Laws, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

Concerts at the Jones House: The Buck Haggard Band and The Buck Stops Here, Downtown Boone,

16-20

Ashe Arts Council Presents: Gallery Crawl,

Doc and Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove,

17-22

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, Tweetsie Railroad,

828-268-6280

Blowing Rock, 828-264-9061

12 12

Mountain Home Music Presents: Old Time Fiddle and Dance, Harvest House, Boone, 828-964-3392 Second Annual Fairy Day, Daniel Boone Native

Blowing Rock Jazz Society Presents: Larry Lapin,

Meadowbrook Inn, 828-295-9768 13

Beech Mountain Summer Sunset Concert: The Cockman Family, Beech Alpen Inn, 828-387-2252 Nickel Creek, ASU, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, 828-262-4046

14-18

TCVA Workshop: Kid’s Art Week, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 828-262-3017

High Country Magazine

Music on the Lawn: The Nautical Wheelers,

The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703 18

18-20

Family Day, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 828-262-3017

Concerts at the Jones House: Andy Ferrel & Oncoming Train and Carolina Crossing, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280

Gardens, Boone, 828-264-6390

Edgewood Cottage Artist in Residence: JoAnn Pipin,

Blowing Rock, www.blowingrockhistoricalsociety.com

Sugar Grove, Old Cove Creek School, 828-297-2200 11-13

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre: A Grand Night For Singing, Hayes Auditorium, 828-898-8709 Concerts in the Park Presents: Soul Benefactor, TateEvans Park, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395

West Jefferson, 336-846-ARTS 11-12

Global Cinema Film Series: Like Father, Like Son, ASU, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, 828-262-4046

Ashe Arts Council Presents: Carolina Chamber Symphony Players, Ashe Civic Center, 336-246-4483 Fine Art and Mastercraft Festival, Downtown Banner Elk, 828-898-5605

18-20

Bikes, Brews ‘n’ Views, Beech Mountain Resort, 828-387-2011

Art in the Park, American Legion Grounds, Blowing

Rock, 828-295-7851

Dance Theatre of Harlem, ASU, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, 828-262-4046

Greater Banner Elk Heritage Celebration, Banner Elk, 828-898-3634

July 2014

CARLTON GALLERY Celebrating 32Years DON’T FORGET

EVENTS

St. Mary Tour of Homes On Friday, July 25, St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church will present the 55th annual Tour of Homes. From

July 25

Spring Group Exhibition May 24 – July 15

Energetic Expressions by Egi and Edie Egi Antonaccio and Edie Maney

Mid-SummerGroup Exhibition

July 26 – September 15, Opening Reception July 26, 2-5pm

Expanding the Edge of Color Andrew Braitman

9 a.m.-2 p.m., this highly anticipated annual event gives visitors an intimate glimpse of the decorations, architecture and gardens of some of the most noted homes in Blowing Rock. After you tour the homes, grab a boxed lunch, enjoy the silent auction and check out homemade baked goods and crafts. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit local area charities.

PAINTINGS • CLAY • GLASS • SCULPTURE • WOOD • FIBER ART • JEWELRY Located 10 Miles South of Boone on Hwy. 105 Grandfather Community

TUESDAY-SATURDAY 10:00-5:00 • SUNDAY 11:00-5:00 8 2 8 - 9 6 3 - 4 2 8 8 • Call or check our website for workshop dates www.carltongallery.com • carltongallery@carltongallery.com

SAVANNAH ANTIQUE JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW July 17th & 18th – Thursday and Friday

Fine Arts and Master Crafts Festival This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the Fine Art and Master Craft Festival in Banner Elk. The 2014 festival will take place on July 18, 19 and 20 as well as Aug. 15, 16 and 17. A limited number of juried artists and

STARfIRE JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW July 31, August 1 & August 2 – Thursday, Friday & Saturday

craftsmen will showcase their wares in mixed media, jewelry, sculpture, glass, pottery, paintings, photography, furniture and much more. For more information about this year’s installment of the Fine Arts and Master Craft Festival, call 828-898-5605.

July 18-20 & Aug. 15-17

Shoppes of Tynecastle

4501 Tynecastle Hwy., Banner Elk, NC • 828-898-3566 10am - 5pm Monday - Saturday: Sunday 12-4 June-August

www.DandeLionStyles.com July 2014

High Country Magazine

SugarBrew, Sugar Mountain Resort, August 2

K9s in Flight at Tweetsie, July 19-27

JULY 2014, continued

Todd Summer Music Concerts: Eric Ellis & Caldwell Line,

Cook Memorial Park, www.ToddNC.org 19-27

20 21

Beech Mountain Summer Sunset Concert,

Global Cinema Film Series: Jappeloup, ASU, Schaefer TCVA Workshop: Discovering Your Inner Artist,

Kids in Nature Hike at Glen Burney Trail,

Glen Burney Trail, Blowing Rock, www.BlueRidgeConservancy.org

Sheryl Crow Concert, ASU, Schaefer Center for the

Performing Arts, 828-262-4046

Concerts in the Park: Dashboard Blues, Tate-Evans

Park, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395

St. Mary Tour of Homes, Blowing Rock, 828-295-7323 Music on the Lawn Presents: Harris Brothers, The Best

Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

Concerts at the Jones House: Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer and Kelley & The Cowboys, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280

Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Presents: Symphony by the Lake, Chetola Resort, 828-295-7851 Beech Mountain Dog Show, Beech Mountain Bark Park, 828-387-2003

Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk, ASU, 828-262-3017 26-8/3 Ensemble Stage Presents: Desperate Affection,

Beech Mountain Summer Sunset Concert: Rebecca Eggers Gryder with Amantha Mill, Fred’s Concert on

the Lawn, 828-387-4838

Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show: Hunter Jumper I, Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, 828-295-4700

Concerts at the Jones House: Amantha Mill and Jazz Guitar Duo, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280 SugarBrew, Sugar Mountain Resort, 828-898-4521 Todd Summer Music Concerts: Elkville String Band,

Cook Memorial Park, www.ToddNC.org

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, 828-262-3017 22-27

Music on the Lawn: Smokey Breeze, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

Center for the Performing Arts, 828-262-4046 21-25

Beech Alpen Inn, 828-387-2252

AUGUST 2014

K9s in Flight, Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock,

828-264-9061

59th Grandfather Highland Games, July 10-13

St. John’s Episcopal Church Summer Concert Series: Ken and Brad Kolodner, Valle Crucis, 828-963-1666 An Appalachian Sampler, Blowing Rock Art and History

Museum, 828-295-9099 6-10

Lees-McRae Summer Theatre: Monty Python’s Spamalot, Hayes Auditorium, 828-898-8709 Concerts in the Park: The Extraordinaires, Tate-Evans

Park, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395

Music on the Lawn: Drive South, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703

Concerts at the Jones House: Never Too Late and Williams & Company, Downtown Boone, 828-268-6280

Shag at Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain Golf and Tennis Clubhouse, 828-898-9292

9-10

Riders in the Sky, Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock, 828-264-9061

10-15

Groovy Nights 6 Variety Show, Blowing Rock Country

Club, 828-295-9347

Blowing Rock School Auditorium, 828-414-1844

30-8/3

Boone Cyclo.Via, Downtown Boone, www. boonecyclovia.com Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show: Hunter Jumper II, Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, 828-295-4700

The Mystery of George Masa, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, 828-295-9099

Concerts in the Park: Smokey Breeze, Tate-Evans Park, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395

31-8/3 12

Art and Antiques Weekend, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, 828-295-9099

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Symphony by the Lake, Chetola, July 25

DON’T FORGET

EVENTS

Doc and Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove

The 17th annual Doc and Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove, presented by Mast General Store, will be held Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12. The festival will feature jam sessions, food, crafts, museum exhibits, musician workshops, a pickin’ parlor and much more. Notable acts this year include Chatam County Line, Willie Watson, The 23 String Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and many others.

July 11-12

G A L L E R Y

F R A M E M A K E R S

Joseph Cave & Richard Oversmith “TWO VIEWS” JUly 2 - 26, 2014 Opening Reception with the Artists, Friday, July 11th, 4-6pm

828-898-5175 | artcellaronline.com | banner elk

Fred’s Concerts on the Lawn July 26

Fred’s General Mercantile, located in Beech Mountain, hosts summer concerts at the gazebo throughout the summer months. Fred’s Concerts on the Lawn will feature the following musicians:

Sundays

Gabriel Ofiesh Trunk Show JULY 24 - 27, 2014

• July 13 – The Cockman Family • July 20 – Mountain Home Bluegrass Boys • July 27 – Strictly Clean and Decent • Aug. 3 – Rebecca Eggers-Gryder with Amantha Mill • Aug. 10 – Diana and Saruis Ridge

hardinjewelry@gmail.com | 828-898-4653 July 2014

High Country Magazine

mountain

echoes

Herb Jackson Featured in Art Cellar Summer Season

uring the month of August, The Art Cellar Gallery in Banner Elk will be featuring nationally recognized artist Herb Jackson’s non-representational works July 30-Aug. 23 in the main floor gallery. Herb Jackson “Form and Mystery” will focus on the artist’s drawings, small paintings and vitreographs. Mr. Jackson’s opening reception will be held Friday, Aug. 1, from 4-6 p.m. and the artist will be discussing his work the following day on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. until noon during a morning Coffee Talk. His work is represented in regional and international museums as well as public and private collections around the world. This is a unique opportunity to experience his artwork in the High Country and for visitors to have two opportunities to meet the artist. Herb Jackson’s paintings are built up in may layers, which are scraped off as they are being applied. Shapes and marks come and go as the painting develops, often with 80-100 layers. The final outcome is the result of a process of discovery similar to the life experience itself. When asked to talk about his work, Jackson usually shares his feeling that “to require that an image be a bearer of content, must be recognizable, is to suggest that there is no form to the unknowable.” He continues sharing that “my inner journey through art confirms, for me at least, that it is not necessary to rob life of its mystery in order to understand it.”

The richness of his color and texture are what capture viewers first but as anyone who spends time with his work sees, there is so much to enjoy in his work that they continue the process of discovery. The exhibition will feature acrylic on canvas in a range of sizes, works of oil on pastel and a rich collection of vitreographs and figurative solar plate etchings will show the breadth of this artists work. July’s main exhibitions will feature “Two Views,” an exhibit of landscapes by Joseph Cave and Richard Oversmith. Both acclaimed artists work in oils but each brings a very distinctive style of working and interpreting the landscape. “Two Views” runs July 2-26 with an opening reception with the artists on Friday, July 11 from 4-6 p.m. The exciting 2014 season highlights the Art Cellar Gallery’s diverse range of artists and artwork, from non-representational works on canvas to rich mountain landscapes, folk art, regional pottery and glass. For more information about the 2014 exhibitions and the gallery call 828-898-5175 or visit www.ArtCellarOnline.com.

Alta Vista Hosts “The Power of Yellow” Featuring Oils by Bennette Rowan

he public is invited to meet artist Bennette Rowan at Alta Vista Gallery from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. There are 16 new oils in the show, so there is a huge variety of subjects, colors and sizes ranging from 5x5 to 36x40 inches. Each painting features yellow as an important facet of the piece. “Everyone knows that yellow inspires good cheer,” said Rowan. “A favorite quote from Vah Gogh, who is a large influence on my art, says “How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun.’ However, I’ll bet that many people don’t know that yellow is also the color that represents the mind and the intellect. My hope for this show of my new paintings is that the viewers will find stimulation for their eyes, their hearts and their minds!” Rowan is a Master Gardener and a bee keeper, so many of her paintings reveal the flora and fauna of the local area. Alta Vista Gallery also shows more than 100 other artists in oils, watercolors, pastels, collage and art prints as well as stained glass, Craftsman-style art tiles, fused glass jewelry and Mangum Pottery. Opening receptions are held on the fourth Saturday of each month, June through October, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Aug. 23 event will feature Sheila Hancock showing her new Impressionist oils of High Country scenery. Alta Vista Gallery is located near Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk in a National Register historic farmhouse at 2839 Broadstone Rd. in Historic Valle Crucis between Mast Farm Inn and Mast Store Annex. For more information, call 828-963-5247 14

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Where tradition and taste come to life.

High Country Homes that are Different by Design

LiLuInteriors.com â&#x20AC;˘ 828.719.5700 July 2014

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

July 2014

mountain

echoes

Tit for Tat

he Republican-led Watauga County Board of Commissioners and the liberal Boone Town Council haven’t been playing nice recently. (Commissioner David Blust summed up the relationship three years ago during a meeting about the appointment of ETJ members on town boards: “To me this is like I am taking my toys and going home just because they didn’t like who we appointed.”) Of course, conservatives and liberals within the town and county have had disagreements in the past – consider, for example, the steep slope and viewshed ordinances enacted by the town in 2006; the disapproval of a medical clinic on State Farm Road around the same timeframe; and the high-dollar construction of the new high school. But it seems that this most recent back and forth of policy making – for both the detriment of the other body and as a bargaining chip – began when the town enacted the supplemental standards for multi-family housing in February of 2013. This change occurred midstream of the due diligence process by Templeton Properties, which had submitted the highest bid to purchase the 75-acre old Watauga High School property. Two months later, Phil Templeton backed out of the $18-million purchase because “the new regulations create an undeniably negative effect on the [proposed] development.” That opinion was, of course, contrary to that of former Mayor Loretta Clawson and the council. Soon thereafter, the commissioners changed the redistribution method of the sales tax to an ad valorem method, which created a shortfall of revenue for the Town of Boone to the amount of $1.7 million. With that decision, followed a flood of letters between county and town officials. Even the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce stepped in with a letter to the media and a cry to resolve this conflict that has turned from “’principle to political to personal.” “Please find a way to sit down together and bring about resolution! We are not asking for a particular course of action, but as our elected representatives, we ask you to focus on community betterment – what is good for all,” the letter read. While the sales tax situation wasn’t resolved, the commissioners did sit down together for a couple hours and resolve the ETJ appointment situation in fall 2013. That resolution seemed like an omen – considering that the two bodies came to an agreement. But since then, the relationship has perhaps turned even more sour with the local Republican-commissioner backed legislation that eliminated Boone’s ETJ. So what did Boone do in return? After that legislation passed in the N.C. General Assembly in June, Mayor Andy Ball replied that not only would the town consider its legal options but it would reconsider supplying water into the ETJ and other unregulated areas outside of the town limits. And the tit for tat continues… By Jesse Wood

BEER, WINE & SPIRITS TASTING

Summer Festival at Sugar Mountain Resort

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2014 12:00 - 6:00pm

LIVE MUSIC Scenic Chairlift Rides

THE BEST HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS, SODAS, ICE CREAM and OTHER FUN FOODS

plus

Sugar Mountain Resort 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive Sugar Mountain, NC 28604 1-800-Sugar-MT Tasting Tickets: $30 online / $35 at the door July 2014

High Country Magazine

Boone’s Premier Tile Showroom

Come See Our New Showroom Space!

Owners Trudy and David Shell

STore HourS: Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm Saturday: By Appointment 1852 H w y. 105, Bo one • 828-265- 0472 • w w w.Mo un t a inT il eNC .c o m 18

High Country Magazine

July 2014

People’s Choice

Winner In Recognition of Excellence

• Licensed Pesticide Sprayer • Septic Tank Installation • Hydro-Seeding • Excavating • Boulder Walls • Waterfalls

Hwy. 105 in Linville at the foot of Grandfather Mountain 828.733.3726 | Design • Installation • Maintainance Member: NC Nursery & Landscaping Association July 2014

High Country Magazine

One Revolution at a Time Pedaling for a Cause with Blood Sweat & Gears By Jesse Wood

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Photos Below by Lonnie Webster

Photo by Ken Ketchie

midst the whirl-and-whiz sounds bouncing off the pavement, longtime Blood Sweat and Gears participant Ray Reid likens the flow of a moving congregation of freewheeling cyclists to a “school of fish.” Each year, this reflection comes to Reid as he and hundreds of fellow riders veer onto N.C. 105, heading towards Shull’s Mill Road. Yet, the initial start three miles back on Broadstone Road isn’t as breezy, and that group of cyclists feels more like an anxious mob. The starting line of the half- and full-century Blood Sweat and Gears rides is in front of Valle Crucis School, where a throng of 750 cyclists is corralled along the two-lane highway on a Saturday morning each June. For those initial moments of the ride, a nervous excitement lingers. Ready to go, hundreds of cyclists are wheel-to-wheel, fighting for position – all the while trying to avoid rubbing tires and wiping each other out. Soon, though, the road opens up and a burst of adrenaline arrives. “The best thing about bike riding is once you get on the road and get into a huge group, you start looking around and it feels like you are in a school of fish because you are just surrounded by people,” Reid said, “and there is no better sound than being on the road and hearing the wheels spinning and the spokes cutting through the air.”

July 2014

High Country Magazine

In the late ‘90s, Sonny Sweet, who was the director of the local chapter of the American Red Cross at the time, stood out on the front porch of the old rock building in front of the Watauga County Courthouse in downtown Boone chatting with Jim Harmon, who worked in an adjacent office. Former County Manager Jim Ratchford strolled by and said, “We need to start a bicycle ride. Can the Red Cross do it?” In Sweet fashion, he replied, “I can ride a bicycle, but I don’t know much about it. We’ll

“I tell you what. You talk about a key volunteer in this county. I call her (Brenda Bining) my little colonel. She makes things happen. There is no obstacle she can’t overcome. If she makes up her mind on where we are going, you bet your life we’ll be there.”

see what we can do.” And that was how Blood Sweat and Gears was born. That first year in 1998, Reid said maybe 100 people cycled in the event and participants could actually roll up to the picnic table in front of the school to register – pay and play on the same day. Compare that to today’s cap of 1,250 riders that partake in the 50-mile and 100-mile loop throughout the High Country and the online registration where the century ride has sold out within 16 minutes. “You could just

walk up and sign up on the spot, pay your entry fee and get a number day of show,” Reid said. “Now everybody sets their alarm clock to get up and preregister and it fills up in 15 minutes.” While some other bicycle rides around the region – for example Bridge to Bridge, which starts in Lenoir and ends atop Grandfather Mountain – have sputtered, the Blood Sweat and Gears event is as popular as ever. The participation rate was growing double and triple annually until the ridership had to

Brenda Bining (left) and Sonny Sweet have both put their heart and soul into BSG for more than a decade.

– Sonny Sweet, retired U.S. Army colonel & co-founder of Blood Sweat & Gears

“It’s amazing, always amazing to me how many people, for whatever reason, whether they lost a loved one, endure a broken relationship, overcome an illness or disease, whatever the hardship is they decide to redefine themselves by challenging themselves mentally and physically.”

BSG Ride Director Scott Nelson stands at the starting line of the 2014 race.

– Scott Nelson, Blood Sweat and Gears Ride Director 22

High Country Magazine

July 2014

be capped because of Volunteers the logistics of that Make BSG many riders in Valle Best Ride Crucis and because of Year National Park Service Of course, Blood wouldn’t allow more Sweat and Gears isn’t than 1,250 riders to the only loop ride hit the Blue Ridge and it isn’t the only Parkway. race to showcase a For one, the ride is fine-looking countrya loop – unlike Bridge side. So what keeps to Bridge and Assault riders from all over on Mt. Mitchell. the country coming Those point-to-point back to sweat their rides are “logistical behind off at Blood nightmares” to Reid, Sweat and Gears? who summed up the “It’s well organized. frustration of having I think that has been to figure out a way the draw when peoto haul all of your ple first started dogear up the mountain ing it. The riders are and find transportaso well taking care BSG 100-Mile Route As Shown On RideWithGPS.com tion to and from the of and through that start and finish line. Two, the scenery of the mountains makes kind of word of mouth, it’s grown to be a successful ride,” the High Country an enjoyable place to ride. The 100-mile Reid said. And it’s only a success because the BSG board and loop traverses multiple counties – and states – and takes rid- volunteers plan for this event all year long and wake up at the ers along the Blue Ridge Parkway from Blowing Rock to near crack of dawn on race day. Ashe County. The ride features thoroughfares through the One of those hardcore volunteers has been Brenda Bincommunities of Todd, Meat Camp, Snake Mountain, Trade, ing. While a plate full of other personal commitments have Tenn., Bethel, Beaver Dam, Cove Creek and back to Valle pulled Bining away from Blood Sweat and Gears this year, Crucis. It is as Reid said a “destination event.” she worked effortlessly for the nonprofit event for more than

Photo by Ken Ketchie 2014 participants begin the grueling 50 mile journey that is Blood Sweat and Gears. The 50 mile ride starts right after the 100 mile start. July 2014

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July 2014

IN 1999

Volunteers sit at a picnic table during the inagural ride in 1999 to register riders and time contestants. Riders could roll up and register on race day, some without even getting off their bike.

IN 2014

Since then, BSG has grown tremendously. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become a weekend event that features more than 1,000 riders and registration takes place online and is filled up in about 15 minutes.

Ray Reid (right) proposes to Melody seconds before the start of the 2013 Blood Sweat and Gears. Reid has raced in just about all of the Blood Sweat and Gears rides including the inaugural ride in 1999. One of the years he didn’t race was when he had his appendix taken out. Reid said the topic of marriage came up between the two months prior to the 2013 event while the two were traveling in a car, so he proposed on the spot. “You can’t ask me right now in the car,” Melody told him. “You have to do it Ray style.” In recounting the story, Ray said, “So that gave me permission to go big.”

a decade. Sweet called her “my little colonel” and praised her on the fact that if a goal is set, it gets met. “I tell you what. You talk about a key volunteer in this county. I call her my little colonel,” said Sonny Sweet, who happens to be a retired U.S. Army colonel and co-founder of BSG. “She makes things happen. There is no obstacle she can’t overcome. If she makes up her mind where we are going, you bet your life we’ll be there.” Bining is just one of the many volunteers that have made the spokes of BSG turn, and she said that the consistency of the volunteers has made BSG one of the best rides of the year for many of the cyclists. “The beauty of BSG, for the years I was with the event, was the fact that the riders see the same volunteers year after year. That’s always something that Sonny Sweet took great pride in – Sonny and all of us,” Bining said. “Riders always commented on how friendly and helpful the volunteers were. We were there to ensure that this event was their best ride of the year, and overwhelmingly, when we do the survey at the end of the ride, the volunteers receive really, really high marks.”

A Boost to Needy and Economy Initially, the BSG ride started out as a fundraiser strictly for the Red Cross, but in 2011 the event incorporated into a nonprofit in order to

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Sonny Sweet: The Definition of Generous

o create a list of people involved in helping out the needy in the community more so than Sonny Sweet would be difficult. The co-founder of Blood Sweat and Gears and former director of the local American Red Cross has served on a number of boards, volunteered at many community events and helped fundraise for countless nonprofits. He even has a motto that “help can’t wait.” “Sonny seems to have his fingers in a lot of pies when it comes to

BSG co-founder Sonny Sweet during the inaugural ride in 1999.

High Country Magazine

July 2014

charitable work,” BSG Ride Director Scott Nelson said. Sweet, who is battling lung cancer, was recently recognized for his community service – and military service – in the High Country by several organizations at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Boone Mall this past May. As one of several nonprofit leaders in the community who spoke admirably of Sweet that day, Nelson described Sweet as a generous, altruistic, optimistic, trusting and energetic leader. “I’ve probably never spoken the truth so clearly and succinctly as I did that day,” Nelson said weeks later about his speech about Sonny – a comment that is more of a reflection of Sweet’s character than of Nelson’s articulateness. In his speech, Nelson recounted a story of Sweet’s leadership style, a tale that also sheds light on a spectrum of Sweet’s personality: “About three years ago, BSG became a free standing nonprofit, and I became the ride director, a position that Sonny held for years. He and I were distributing rest stop supplies, and I told him that I had big shoes to fill and would work hard not to disappoint him. Without flinching he said, ‘That’s good because if you don’t these shoes will become intimately familiar with your rear end.’ Maybe those aren’t the exact words but you get the gist of what he said.” Sweet was born in Concord, but moved to Nathan’s Creek in Ashe County in 1941. His father was a traveling minister who attended Appalachian State Teacher’s College. Sweet followed wherever his father’s ministry led the family until Sweet enlisted in the U.S. Army. Sweet served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and 10 months. He was drafted during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. Upon retiring as a highly decorated colonel, Sweet and his wife Bricca, also a retired military officer, decided to spend their days in the High Country. The couple had planned to move to Ashe County before Sweet was offered a job as the director of the Watauga Chapter of the American Red Cross – a title he held for 15 years. Since then he has remained steadfast in the community, helping those in need. Asked why he has played such a role assisting others, Sweet said, “Well, the enjoyment of seeing the happiness in other people. That and I probably take a little bit after my father.”

have flexibility to donate to other worthy causes in the community. While Red Cross is a still a main beneficiary of the proceeds from the ride, the last two events netted $169,000 for various local charities. One of those charities is Quiet Givers, which was formed in 2011 by Executive Director Amber Bateman, and given a “significant jump start,” Bateman recalled, with monies earned from the Blood Sweat and Gears event. Quiet Givers is a mediator and facilitator of anonymous donations from members of the community. It connects with local agencies, churches and nonprofits in the community to find genuinely needy people that for some reason or another can’t be helped by a particular agency. Then, Quiet Givers will jump onto Twitter or Facebook or

email and reach out to its 1,400-strong membership to see who could help in particular situations. But this is just one of the many worthy organizations that Blood Sweat and Gears as helped throughout the years – some of those include local fire and rescue organizations, the Kiwanis Club, Hunter’s Heroes and other funds either for or in memory of people who have experienced tragedy. This year, BSG is sponsoring the participation of about 20 Ride2Recovery athletes and collaborating with Appalachian Mountain Brewery to honor them throughout the ride weekend. Ride2Recovery is a nonprofit that raises money for a cycling program for wounded veterans to help them overcome obstacles they now face in light of severe injuries sustained in war.

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In addition to proceeds raised to help those in need, it also contributes a substantial economic impact to the area. Nelson said last year’s race had an economic impact of $1.3 million from the hundreds of people – friends and family members that tag along with their hardcore cyclists buddies or relatives – who eat, sleep and dine in the High Country on the weekend of the ride. The boon to local businesses and municipalities that see an influx of patrons and visitors has kind of become a plus for the event, while matching the newly adopted slogan of BSG: “Helping our community one revolution at a time.” “There’s no motivation other than trying to help our community,” Nelson said.

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With the growing popularity of Blood Sweat and Gears and the fact that the event can only accommodate so many participants, the organization’s board, sponsors and cyclists began pondering adding another race. Cyclists were asked, “What ride doesn’t occur anymore that should?” and Nelson said the unequivocal answer was that “nobody climbs Beech Mountain anymore.” See, in the ‘90s the now-defunct Tour DuPont was all the rage amongst cyclists,

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High Country Magazine

Brenda Bining - ‘My Little Colonel’

or the first time in 12 years, Brenda Bining won’t work this summer’s Blood Sweat and Gears event due to other commitments in life. But that didn’t keep former colleagues from raving about her work ethic and personality. “I tell you what. You talk about a key volunteer in this county. I call her my little colonel,” said Sonny Sweet, who happens to be a retired U.S. Army colonel and co-founder of BSG. “She makes things happen. There is no obstacle she can’t overcome. If she makes up her mind where we are going, you bet your life we’ll be there.” Bining was on the board of the local American Red Cross when Sweet was hired on as director years ago. She has also served as a volunteer and board member of Brenda Bining was the Blood Sweat and Gears for honorary starter in 2014. more than a decade. For Bining, it just made sense to volunteer with Blood Sweat and Gears. An avid biker, skier, former triathlon participant and, in general, outdoor enthusiast, she’s been a volunteer all of her life and wanted to share with others the spectacular scenery of the High Country. Plus, she said Valle Crucis is “right at her backdoor.” All that and, well, Sonny Sweet asked her to help out with the event. “And it’s hard to say no to Sonny,” Bining said. Bining and the other volunteers were instrumental in the Blood Sweat and Gears event becoming the favorite ride of the year for many 1999 Finish Line

1999 Timing Station

The inaugural event (above) featured a trickle of riders. By the time the 2005 BSG came around (below), the race featured hundreds of riders. 2005 Start

High Country Magazine

bikers – a main factor in the fact that Blood Sweat and Gears event is as popular as ever while support for other regional rides and races is waning. Blood Sweat and Gears Ride Director Scott Nelson started working with the nonprofit ride event at about the same time as Bining. They didn’t know each, but they soon formed a constructive partnership – all the while butting heads like rams. Their back and forth continually raised the bar to make the event a better ride each successive year. “Brenda and I – we have very strong opinions and don’t let people tell us what we think. While we got along, we butted heads like rams – just banging heads and seeing whose head was going to crack first,” Nelson said. “But while at the same time, we knew the other person had our backs when push came to shove.” For the past 12 years Nelson and Bining would be the first to arrive on the campus of Valle Crucis School in the wee hours of the morning before the start of the 100-mile and 50-mile charity ride. While Bining won’t arrive before the crack of dawn at 5 a.m., she will be present for the start of the ride. Each year on a Saturday morning in late June, the Blood Sweat and Gears ride features an honorary starter that leads off the race. For 2014, Brenda Bining had that honor.

July 2014

particular those based in the U.S. It was among the nation’s premiere cycling events and was modeled after the stage-format of Tour de France – the most esteemed road cycling event on Earth. One of the stages included a climb up Beech Mountain Parkway, and the race attracted high-profile European teams and elite U.S. cyclists such as Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond. But when DuPont, a chemical company based in Delaware, dropped its sponsorship of the race in 1996, organized cycling on Beech Mountain saw its demise. “It was about the biggest thing that ever came to Beech Mountain,” Fred Pfohl, owner of Fred’s General Mercantile, said. “We didn’t know exactly what to expect with the first one. It was like the circus came to town. They moved in over night, set up everything from grandstands to finish lines, to one of those big TV screens on a truck. Helicopters were in the air following the race and motorcycles – that was the first year the Highway Patrol used motorcycles – preceded the race to get people out of the way.” In May, Blood Sweat and Gears, in cooperation with the Town of Beech Mountain, brought

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TOP: Sarah Matchett (left) and Laura Calvin were the first two women cyclist finishers in the 50-mile ride in 2014. They came in at about 2 hours and 30 minutes. BOTTOM: The first Sonny Sweet Honorary Grant was awarded to Western Youth Network in 2014. Along with Sweet, WYN Executive Director Jennifer Warren and James Milner hold the ceremonial check for $17,500. Photos by Ken Ketchie

cycling back to Beech with the Beech Mountain Metric, which consists of two routes of 61 miles gaining 8,000 feet in elevation and 43 miles climbing 5,600 feet. Both routes begin in or near Banner Elk and end atop Beech Mountain. Days leading up to the race, Pfhol was wearing an old Tour DuPont jacket in anticipation of the ride. He said, “We are defi30

High Country Magazine

July 2014

nitely excited. Anytime you bring almost 800 riders to Beech Mountain and along with friends that come up with them, it’s a big boost to our economy, so we are excited.” Rounding out what is being dubbed the BSG Hat Trick is a race that begins and ends in Blowing Rock and will follow some of the same trail of the defunct

It’s Not a Race but a Ride

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If you are talking to Blood Sweat and Gears Ride Director Scott Nelson about the event and mention race, he’ll gently remind you that it’s not a race but a ride. His point being that every rider – no matter their cycling experience, expertise or skill – is encouraged to participate, whether it takes 4 hours and 30 minutes like the leader of last year’s 100-mile event or a tad bit longer. This event has become one where folks end with up with their own personal war stories of challenging themselves for 50 miles or 100 miles. “It’s amazing, always amazing to me how many people, for whatever reason, whether they lost a loved one, endure a broken relationship, overcome an illness or disease, whatever the hardship is they decide to redefine themselves by challenging themselves mentally and physically,” Nelson said, leading up to the 2013 race. “And they choose Blood Sweat and Gears to do it. Why they choose us? I don’t know, but I am glad they do.” And after the grueling ride, riders engage with one another and the volunteers who are offering food and drink and comfort to those riders who gave it their all. For Ray Reid, who has raced in nearly all of the Blood Sweat and Gears rides except for the time he had his appendix taking out, the post-race is when the fun begins. He described it as a “carnival-festival atmosphere” whenever everybody talks about the “rolling circus” and what all happened over the course of 50 to 100 miles on that given Saturday. But not to trivialize Nelson’s point while at the same time making his point, Reid noted: “The truth of the matter is anytime you get two bicycle riders together, put a number on their back and start the clock, it’s going to be a race, a competitive event - even if it’s a competition with yourself. It’s such a big ride. You have to train for it. It would be very, very difficult to get up off of the couch and get up and ride 100 miles. Everyone who does this puts in a lot of time and a lot of times people are training specifically for this event. If nothing else, the competitiveness comes from within.”

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Blood Sweat & Gears Expands To 3-Ride ‘Hat Trick’

1st Running of Beech Mtn. Metric May 17, 2014 • 550 Riders Due to the popularity of Blood Sweat and Gears ride out of Valle Crucis, the board decided to create a BSG Hat Trick. The Beech Mountain Metric, which was first held May 2014, recently brought road biking back to Beech Mountain.

Third Ride in BSG ‘Hat Trick’ To Climb Grandfather in 2015 In addition to the Beech Mountain Metric, a ride to folllow some of the path of the nowdefunct Bridge to Bridge will take place in September of 2015. That was an epic pointto-point course that brought riders from Lenoir to the top of Grandfather. The event is still in the planning stages and has already been approved by the Blowing Rock Town Council. The proposed route is about 73 miles. 32

High Country Magazine

July 2014

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Bridge to Bridge race that took riders to the top of Grandfather Mountain. The Town of Blowing Rock has already given its approval of the event. It’s still in the planning stages but is scheduled for the fall of 2015. Recently Sonny Sweet, who was among the co-founders of the original Blood Sweat and Gears ride, was asked if he anticipated or was surprised by the success that BSG has achieved in its 16-year history. In his reply, Sweet recalled making a pitch with fellow co-founder Jim Harmon to Appalachian Regional Healthcare Systems CEO Richard Sparks and his staff in the first year of the event. “We said, ‘We envision in the future having 1,000 people come to Watauga County and to put heads in beds. It’d be great. We would like to grow with you,’” Sweet said. “Part of that was salesmanship and part of that was a good vision.” 

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It’s not unusual to find many of the Blowing Rock inns’ owners manning the front desk. Here, Mountain Aire owner, Deborah McDowell (left) and manager, Donna Cantrell are at the ready to assist guests with check-in.

Blowing Rock’s Family Inns A Mainstay of the Picturesque Character of this Mountain Town Story by Bernadette Cahill • Photography by Ken Ketchie Additional Research by Ron Davis

nd in October, when we close up, it’s sad. It’s all tears, in the family since 1978. These little inns today are not only the first lodging choice as if we’ll never see each other again. And when we do get together in the spring, it’s all hugs and screaming for visitors to Blowing Rock. They are a mainstay of the picturesque character of this mountain town, and each is known and ‘did you have a good winter?’” Judy Eckard of the Azalea Garden Inn is telling of life as for something special – a profusion of flowers, specific location, a particular architectural a keeper of one of the inns of motif, or special history. In Blowing Rock – those small hoA postcard of the Appalachian Motel, located on all, friendly family innkeeptels that cluster around the heart Hwy 321 in the 1950’s, now called the Village Inn. ers and atmosphere put them of North Carolina’s premier above the crowd when bland mountain holiday destination. and functional is elsewhere the Some of them open year-round; norm. others only for the summer. In these inns, each with its Judy is one of three sibdifferent personality, nothing lings, along with Sue Gill and is standard except the intanHenry Knoll, who manage the gibles that make an experience inn noted for the log cabin, unforgettable – the warmth of waterwheel and rainbow-flowthe people, the feeling of arered grounds on the road into riving home, and the personal town. The property has been 34

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Azalea Garden Inn July 2014

High Country Magazine

Known as the Hemlock Motel in the 1950’s, this property is now the Homestead Inn and the pool is no longer there.

Mountaineer Inn

Alpen Acres Motel

Hemlock Inn 36

High Country Magazine

July 2014

touch from start to finish, whether it’s in the unique décor, the facilities in each room and the intimate sense of the scale of buildings whose roots lie in the past. These family inns are the backbone of the business, said Tracy Brown, Executive Director of Blowing Rock Tourism and Development: they produce about ninety per cent of the occupancy tax revenue of all the hotels in the town. Yet it’s not the fiscal results of their industry, but more the human side, that these small business owners emphasize when talking of their avocation. Judy’s description of her experience as an innkeeper finds echoes in all. “It’s socializing here – that’s what this place is for. We get up here and have a good time,” said Phillip Pickett, who owns the Boxwood Lodge with wife Emma. He is actually referring to the deck above the handicapped-equipped apartment that they built to let to guests – but also with an eye to any problems they might encounter when eventually they retire. Yet, what he says applies to all these little hotels. Phillip has supplied The Boxwood’s deck with comfortable seating and tables for guests to meet and mingle around. Plants bloom in exuberant reds, yellows, pinks and purples, while his Weeping Mulberry graces the setting every year with a stunning cascade of foliage, providing a focal point for many a photographer. The Boxwood’s gardens are the first in a long blast of color that greets visitors entering the town along 221/321 and continues in gardens on Sunset Drive and Morris Street. The unending color comes from the hard work that each innkeeper puts in not just during early spring before guests flood in, but also throughout the season to keep them at their peak even when visitors mill around everywhere. “Some customers return just to see what Charles has done to the gardens this year,” said Katherine Smid, of the Alpine Village Inn which has been in the family since about 1990. Back at the Boxwood, Phillips’s long chimes sprinkle the windy air with high-pitched tinkling and deep, echoing booms – yet another means of ensuring that the deck will fulfill its purpose, for the sounds induce relaxation, which facilitates friendships among those who meet there for the first time. These little inns, therefore, it seems are not just run by families: they create a family of friendships too. “We have some guests who actually call each other and say we should meet up here for a vacation,” said Phillip. A feature that is a deck in the Boxwood Lodge comes as a terrace at the Azalea Gardens, a creek-side at the Mountain Aire, a Gazebo at the Hemlock or the Alpine Village or

Boxwood Lodge

These small inns of such functional form demonstrate what can happen when imagination lets loose on a basic shape, for Blowing Rock’s family inns are like plain women born decades ago who have aged gracefully and surprisingly, acquiring class and admirers by the dozen along the way. a pond at the Village Inn. They all provide a central location on the premises where guests can get together and enjoy themselves as in a family reunion. This feature, no matter the form it takes, is a by-product of the original, design of the inns themselves, whose rooms look to the outdoors. Socializing here is a tradition that has passed down for generations. Peggy Scoggins of Blowing Rock, who opened the Hillwinds on Sunset Drive in 1970 with her late husband, Hovey, laughed at the memory of a guest “who would come every year. He was very talkative and he’d hold court in the gazebo with all the others telling stories. He was sort of our entertainer.” Today, Deborah McDowell, who owns and operates the Mountain Aire with her husband Jim, tells succinctly how these family inns bring people together. “Some people like the big box hotels, they prefer the anonymity,” she said. “Here, it’s kind of like ‘Cheers.’ Everyone wants to go where they know your name.” But the personality of these little inns comes from something deeper. “Our guests tell us that when they start up the mountain, they feel the pressure come off their shoulders. They have everything they want here. They love that they can walk to all the entertainments and we want them to come and feel homey. We try to give them special attention. They are our personal guests and we are inviting them into our home,” said Deborah.

Homestead Inn

The Ridgeway Motel as it appeared in the 1950’s in the Heart of Blowing Rock. Now is called the Ridgeway Inn.

Azalea Garden Inn

Blowing Rock Inn

Alpine Village Inn July 2014

High Country Magazine

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Jimmie Knoll (pictured left) and her late husband Hank bought the Azalea Garden Inn in 1978 with dreams to fix it up and make it their own. The couple immediately went to work restoring the motel from its humble beginnings to become what is now arguably one of the most beautiful motels in North Carolina. Since the passing of her husband, Jimmie’s daughters have been learning the ropes of the day-to-day operations, leaving Jimmie all the time in the world to spend taking care of the beautiful gardens-which is just fine by her! Jimmie says that she finds Blowing Rock to be one of the most beautiful places and truly couldn’t be happier than to spend her days in Blowing Rock. Today, Jimmie spends her winters in Florida, while residing in the High Country through summer and spring.

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This easy familiarity with others and the fun that comes with socializing leads to guests returning again and again. “A couple will come one year and then they’ll bring their children, and then the children grow up and then the children bring their children and we get different generations here together,” she said. “There’s one grandfather who brings the grandchild who turns thirteen and I’m always looking forward to seeing which one’s coming this time” The sense of coming home that repeat guests feel in the family inns of Blowing Rock sometimes evolves into a sense of proprietorship. “Yes, some of them come again and again and the room they stay in, it becomes their room. If they phone up to book and can’t get their room, they’ll change their schedule for when they can,” said Brian Summers who owns the Hemlock Inn on Morris Street with his wife Donna. The Hemlock is one of two inns there: the other, across the street, is the Homestead. Although off Main, the Hemlock and Homestead can boast that they are closest to every activity that makes summer special in Blowing Rock, for they are only half a block or so from the Sixpence Pub (fish & chips, good British beers; or real Scotch – the drink that is); or a block or so from Ensemble Stage’s summer theater at the school auditorium, with the Blowing Rock Ale House & Inn alongside and the Inn at Ragged Gardens opposite. In the same direction, there’s Kilwin’s – the primary outlet

July 2014

Village Inn

Ridgeway Inn

Hillwinds Inn

Village Inns of Blowing Rock, A Family of Three Inns F

amilies own all the little inns of Blowing Rock. The Picketts of the Boxwood Lodge also own the Blowing Rock Inn and son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Melissa Pickett operate it. The Smids of the Alpine Village Inn and the Valets of the Homestead Inn are different branches of the same family. A family of a different kind – Intermountain Properties, LLC, whose principal, Terrell M. Rhye, is from Charleston, South Carolina – owns three: the Hillwinds on Sunset, the Ridgeway on 221 and Main and the Village Inn which opened in the early 1950s at Sunset and the 321 Bypass, originally known as the Appalachian, later called the Brookside, and now the Village Inn. Since 2004, the company has upgraded each property to modern expectations, but ensured that not only the unique character of each has remained or been enhanced, but that each room has its own personality.

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High Country Magazine

New Cute-tique!

Days Community Fo Days Community Founda Days Community Da Community Foundation August Days Communi 11 - 23

for a late-night fudge or ice cream cone, while along August 11 - 23, 2013 Main it’s a short step to the post office, a bank; to the library or museum; to the park and pool; or to a convenience store with August 11 - 23, 2 a great wine selection, or to where the farmer’s market and Art in the Park take place. In other directions there’s also the local August 11 - 23, 2013 pharmacy, the Blowing The Meadowbrook Inn Rock Art History Museum, of Blowing Rock is only one of degree: countless boutiques and galleries and a wide choice in restaurants the walk from any to every downtown in which to relax while enjoying a home attraction is much less than a mile. August 1 The role of these small inns as the away from home. Such family-owned businesses in the main, and also quaint and charming, thick of everyday life recall times past lodgings that add to the image and amwhen parking the car and walking ev- bience of a small town is actually surerywhere was the norm – including, for prising. Almost all emerged from the August 11 - 23, 2013 the kids living with their parent-owners, long era of economic boom after World to the school. Nostalgia for such a by- War Two and imported a very recognizgone life has sunk deep into the modern able national commercial architectural psyche. But it still exists in Blowing Rock, style to this area of the Appalachians – attracting visitors in droves and encour- an “L” or “U” shape, or at the very least aging them to stay and live that life for a a straight strip. They evolved from the few days, a week, or sometimes longer. early automobile age when motorists on The difference between the Hemlock long cross-country trips needed conveand Homestead and the other small inns nient places to stop overnight. The final

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All proceeds from Community Foundation Days will go to the Blowing Rock Community Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to raise and award charitable contributions to non-profit organizations (501 c 3) and scholarships that benefit the Blowing Rock community, Visit our website for more information on all the events happening during this year’s Community Foundation Days, and to learn more about the great contributions made by the Foundation.

www.BlowingRockCF.org Thank you to our 2014 major sponsor: First Citizens Bank 40

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Groovy Nights August 10th, 12th, 15th

July 2014

Golf Tournament August 23rd

Social & Awards Dinner August 23rd

All events are held at Blowing Rock Country Club

“Some people like the big box hotels, they prefer the anonymity, Here, it’s kind of like ‘C heers.’ E veryone wants to go where they know your name.” design relied on the functional: very simple, eminently affordable-to-build-and-operate low rise adjoining rooms with parking directly outside with only a short distance to haul baggage. Created with travelers on long trips in mind, in Blowing Rock’s case, the intention behind the motels which popped up mostly on the then outskirts of the town was to cater to people who wanted to park for longer – in those days, often up to a month. They were a modern development in the tradition of Blowing Rock which went back to the start of its history, when boarding houses provided long-term accommodation for visitors escaping from the Piedmont’s searing summer heat. These small inns of such functional form demonstrate what can happen when imagination lets loose on a basic shape, for Blowing Rock’s family inns are like plain women born decades ago who have aged gracefully and surprisingly, acquiring class and admirers by the dozen along the way because they grew in individuality and beauty and because of the comfort they evoke in anyone who finds themselves in their presence. Like such human stalwarts of the community, each of the inns is today very different

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from when it first started out in life. Joe Lineberger of Blowing Rock was just a lad of sixteen when his Mom and Dad paid $18,000 in 1958 for some land to build a motel in a locality where his Dad loved to fish for trout. It was on Sunset Drive, where the Linebergers built the original Village Inn, now known as the Alpine Village Inn. It was the first motel on Sunset Drive, said Joe. Above it was the Sunshine Inn, for many years renowned as Crippens and now the New Public House and Hotel. Joe remembers clearly the work his parents had to do to build their own place. “The land had five houses on it. They had to take down two, move one and keep two that are still there on the upper end, but not part of [the inn today],” said Joe. “It had fifteen rooms and back in the late fifties they started out at about $8 per night. During Horse Show Week, it went up to $28.”

Green Park Restored, Continuing Long Life As Historic Inn A

nd that grande dame of Blowing Rock lodging, the Green Park Inn, which three local businessmen built and opened in 1891, is now owned and operated by brothers Eugene and Steven Irace who, in 2010 rescued this historic property from a long decline. Nowadays, this Grand Manor hotel, which hosted such luminaries as Annie Oakley, J.D. Rockefeller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Margaret Mitchell – who wrote part of Gone With the Wind while staying there – is restored and welcomes guests once more in its original stylish manner. During the restoration, said Steven, he and his brother discovered that this venerable old building, constructed almost completely of American chestnut – a tree long gone – was worth more as salvage lumber than as an operating building. Rescuing and maintaining such an historic place, however, was more important to the brothers than the salvage. So they did extensive and necessary infrastructure and systems repair and modernization and refurnished the hotel with items made in America. “I [was] not going to buy a hotel in what was once the furniture capital of the country and fill it with a bunch of cheap, overseas merchandize,” Steven said. To date, nearly all of the 53 restored guest rooms have furniture from Broyhill or Thomasville and lamps from Arkansas, while public area furniture, if not antique, was made in Virginia and almost 63,000 square feet of carpeting is also made in the United States. In addition, the Green Park Inn became a Certified Green Travel Destination by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources. This full-service hotel boasts a Restaurant, ballroom and

High Country Magazine

July 2014

General Manager Lorry Mulhern relocated from New York in June 2010 to manage the restoration of the Green Park Inn at the request of the Irace brothers. As the restoration work continues, Lorry’s responsibilities also include managing the inn as its General Manager. a Tavern named, appropriately for the hotel’s location on the eastern continental divide, The Divide, and is now a member of Historic Hotels of America, along with two others that the Irace brothers own and operate.

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July 2014

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“We start seeing children [of guests] and seeing the children of children. It makes you feel you are a part of their family life.” Like Blowing Rock’s small inns of today, the former Village Inn was a family enterprise. “My Mom ran the motel and we lived there as a family,” said Joe, who was drafted in to help with the chores, including work the TVs. “It was a real hassle to get the TV’s to come in,” he remembers. “It was Channel Three from Charlotte, the vertical would roll and roll and we’d have to try aluminum foil on the antenna to get it to stop and to clear the snow from the screen.” And, most likely – for those old enough to remember that frustrating ritual – also having to perch on one foot in the middle of the room, with the opposite arm holding the antenna up and with the rest of the body coiled like a cortortionist because that was the only way picture and sound would merge satisfactorily. The days of fuzzy and unstable TV pictures are long past in the family inns of Blowing Rock: today, flat screen TV’s and high-speed internet are standard, often along with coffee-makers and fridges and even some kitchenettes. Whirlpool tubs are regularly found in deluxe rooms, while all have gone far beyond the purely functional and mid-century faded, today displaying stylish décor that complements the coziness of the buildings and contributes to the Alpine personality of the town. In most cases, the décor is in the hands of the woman of the enterprise, while maintenance is in the hands, or under the direction of the men. The gardens can be the passion of either or both: no matter the work, all provide examples of successful family teamwork. Despite the mostly post-World War Two character of Blowing Rock’s family inns, the accolade of having the oldest rooms goes to the Hemlock, for its two-storey part was originally the Morris House – a mission during the Civil War and later a boarding house. Other parts of the Hemlock date from 1905, the 1930s, the 1950s and 1998.

Chetola Resort, family owned since 1997 by the Tarbuttons, maintains the historic charm that hearkens back to its beginnings in 1866. The resort boasts an array of accommodations: an eight-room bed and breakfast, 42 rooms in the lodge and 100 condominiums ranging from one to four bedrooms.

Brian and Donna Summers have owned the Hemlock since 1994 and Brian, talks of the powerful spring under the property that used to fill the 50,000-gallon swimming pool in two days – until he filled it in. The Hemlock’s gazebo, he says, is where the kiddies’ pool used to be. Now the only one of these inns with a pool is the Meadowbrook, the only full-service hotel in the group and which Richard Goosman and Vicki McLean have owned since 1991. Built in an unobtrusive scale, the Meadowbrook sits back from the road in its own colorful grounds and fills a gap that Blowing Rock’s other family inns cannot – providing the facilities for weddings, conferences, parties, anniversaries and dancing. Although this “first modern hotel in the High Country,” as Vicki describes it, is of a newer generation than the older inns, the two work together, sending overflow guests in both directions, while the small inns provide a quiet alternative for guests who want peace even during a noisy event like a graduation party. With the same kind of personalized ambiance, the Meadowbrook also gets the same multi-generational patronage as the older inns. “We start seeing children [of guests] and seeing the children of children. It makes you feel you are a part of their family life.” The family inns of Blowing Rock may mostly be much younger than the town, but today they are an integral part of its fabric. That is no accident. The town’s planning department works to maintain in its architecture the Alpine village image that has become the High Country gateway’s trademark. This result, however, is as much to do with a wish on the part of the inn owners to keep the inns within character.

The colorful history of the Hemlock Inn dates back to 1874 when William Morris opened Blowing Rock’s first true boarding house, converting a house that had been owned by Amos Greene. With increasing demand for accommodations, as people flocked to Blowing Rock to vacation in the beautiful, Appalachian Mountains locale, the boarding house served many notable patrons through the years, many who enjoyed the fine cooking of Morris — a notable chef. The Morris House charged guests 50 cents a day for room and board, or $15 per month. Part of that background includes a secret in the Inn’s basement. With the presence of a powerful spring running under the property, someone had the resources to construct a still for making moonshine whiskey — a still that remained in use for many years. The Morris family sold the facility in 1929. Today, the Hemlock Inn has been refurbished and an additional building, with more modern furnishings and decor was added in 1999. But the Hemlock Inn retains that unique charm, classic decor and rich history. July 2014

High Country Magazine

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Caroline Valet, who has owned the Homestead Inn on Morris Street with her husband Robert since 1995, has had in the forefront of her mind throughout her property’s complete refurbishment the importance of conserving its original character, even as she enhances it. And so, while the gardens are now award-winners, with a fountain and swing installed; and hardwood floors and Italian tile have come in, Caroline and Robert “have always worked to keep the originality of the place.” The stone and the same trees are still there, recognizable from the past – and the inn is still family-run. Caroline is anything but alone in her sentiment. People come to the mountains for the beauty and to relax, and to Blowing Rock for its unique flavor, said Vicki of the Meadowbrook. “They don’t want to feel they are in a typical paradise. But a modern décor is really important, so we try to maintain the Blowing Rock ambiance – the fireplaces, the stone, the wood that belongs to the mountains. As a business community, we all agree that Blowing Rock is just the most charming place and we want to keep it that way. We all adore Blowing Rock and want others to feel the same – as a unique, safe and traditional place in North Carolina.” 

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July 2014

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High Country Magazine

Subtle Musings By Megan Hall

As an undergraduate at Florida Southern College, Bill kept his fraternity pen in one of his chip-carved boxes on his desk. “One day, a fraternity brother asked how much I would charge to make a box for his girlfriend,” Bill recalled. “By the end of the year, I’d made one for each member of the fraternity and several for some because they kept changing girlfriends!” And thus began his carving career. After graduating with a degree in math and physics, he worked as a national representative for his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. He spent the next three years visiting chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States; in his spare time, he continued to chip carve. Soon after beginning this job, Bill met the office manager’s daughter, Donna, who was attending Limestone College and was home for summer break. Her junior year, she transferred to the University of South Carolina where she earned a degree in elementary education. Two weeks after she graduated, Bill and Donna were married in Sumter, S.C. and moved to Lakeland, Fla. where Donna taught first and second grade. “I worked as a probation and parole officer for the state of Florida; I found the work fascinating, but realized my heart was in carving,” Bill said. “After three years, we left our jobs in Lakeland to move to Boone where I was enrolled in the master’s degree program in industrial arts at Appalachian State University, which was one of the finest programs in the Chip carved bookend made of teak wood country.”

verything about Bill Dicks is subtle. His kind eyes are paired with soft-spoken words and an unexpected wit and candor. The routed, sandblasted and hand-carved wooden signs that he creates complement their natural surroundings. Even his workshop, located near his home, contains several passageways, leading to new rooms, which explain more about Bill Dicks, owner of Banner Elk’s The Sign Shop. If you’ve driven down most any road in the High Country since 1971, you’ve likely encountered a Bill Dicks sign, whether it is commercial or residential. The number and quality of his work makes one wonder how a Durham, N.C. native became a renowned mountain craftsman who maintains a very successful business mainly by personal reference, without advertising or a website. It’s all in the subtleties. “I strive to make a high quality sign, using the best materials available, that will last for many years,” said Bill. “I take pride in my work and enjoy helping customers decide on the sign that is best for them.”

Learning a Craft

“My mother taught me to chip carve using a single edge razor blade when I was 12 years old,” Bill remembered. Chip carving is a method of surface carving that dates back hundreds of years. “Mom was a real craftsman in her own right, serving as a director of arts and crafts at a summer camp in Little Switzerland in the 1950s. She could do anything with her hands.” 48

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Craftsman, Military Tributes and International Relations

Bill Dicks, of The Sign Shop, carving a street sign for Linville Ridge. Photo by Ken Ketchie

July 2014

High Country Magazine

Bill and Donna Dicks carving designs into a candle lantern in the 1970s While Bill was primarily interested in learning how to carve, he also wanted to see if he could make a living using his hands. Little did he know that he would later teach the only carving class offered at ASU at that time. During his first semester, he discovered pottery and ended up taking 27 graduate hours in ceramics, specializing in pottery candle lanterns. That fall, a friend asked him to route a sign for her landlord as a Christmas gift. A year later, Bill was a professional sign carver and potter. On December 31, 1971, Bill was laying out signs for the residence halls at Lees-McRae College when Donna, who was eight and a half months pregnant with their first child, told him it was time to go to the hospital. “I was so cool,” said Bill. “I just kept laying out signs while she got ready to go. When we returned from the hospital, I started carving the signs only to discover that I’d misspelled every one of them. So I hadn’t been as focused as I thought!”

High Country Magazine

July 2014

The three-story workshop located in Banner Elk that Bill and several friends built in the 1970s

After graduation in 1972, Bill opened his sign shop and pottery studio in a building halfway up Beech Mountain. At that time, all his signs were routed; during the off season, he produced pottery candle lanterns which were sold at craft fairs. “We attended a lot of craft shows back then. I would route signs on the spot and sell candle lanterns from the same booth,” Bill said. “On occasion, I would take my potter’s wheel for demonstration purposes. I would help children work on the wheel by taking their hands in mine; together we would make a pot. I knew it was a good demonstration when they thought they had done all the work themselves.” During one demonstration, a young girl with severely gnarled hands watched intently from her wheelchair as Bill worked with other children. She and her mother stayed a long while, observing the process. “Would you like to try it?” Bill asked her. “Oh, no. I couldn’t do that,” she responded while her mother watched from behind the wheelchair. “Try it. I think you can do it,” he encouraged. They moved her wheelchair close to the potter’s wheel. With Bill guiding her small, curved hands, they made a pot which he cut off the wheel and handed to her on a paper plate. She was so excited that she actually hugged the pot, declaring “I knew I could do it!” In the fall of 1977, Bill moved from the rented shop on Beech Mountain to the three story workshop that he still uses today. “Two friends helped me build the shop; none of us had any construction experience,”

said Bill. “We used 31 beams from an old fertilizer plant which we stood on end. We built the shop around them in three months, using a sledgehammer and chainsaw. I’ve had people say it’s the ultimate workshop, the kind they’d like to have when they retire, so I figure I retired about forty years ago!” Three or four years after moving into his new workshop, Bill expanded his business to include sandblasted signs. Donna said, “Bill progressed from routing and hand carving to sandblasting signs. Now he does beautiful pieces that are often combinations.”

The River Rock Legacy

Though most of his time is spent carving signs and making pottery, Bill has had the opportunity to be part of some very special projects, one of which began with his son, Dave, joining the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division right after graduating high school . “I told him that if he was going to jump out of airplanes, then we were making our first jump together,” said Bill. “A month before he left for active duty, we went sky diving. Two years later, Dave was selected to become a member of The Golden Knights, the Army’s elite demonstration parachute team. Now he’s logged over 3,000 jumps and I have nearly 700.” From Dave’s involvement with the parachute team, came a unique opportunity for Bill to help honor our nation’s fallen soldiers. Before 9/11, Staff Sgt. Pedro Munoz, a Special Forces soldier of 17 years, was on the parachute team with Dave. On 9/11, Pedro was hiking the Appalachian Trial with a fellow team member. Two days after

“

I strive to make a high quality sign, using the best materials available, that will last for many years. I take pride in my work and enjoy helping customers decide on the sign that is best for them.

”

Top Right: Bill Dicks sanding and preparing a sign post ABOVE: Bill carving a street sign for Linville Ridge, who maintains the largest collection of Bill Dicks signs BOTTOM RIGHT: Colleen Shipley, who has worked for the Dicks’ for twenty years, painting a sign. Photos by Ken Ketchie the attack, a passing hiker told them what had happened. That night, Pedro said the Pledge of Allegiance and announced that he would be leaving the parachute team and returning to his Special Forces unit, because, he said, “They will need me and we are going to war.” Staff Sgt. Pedro Munoz was the first Special Forces soldier killed in Afghanistan in2005. One year later, Pedro’s daughter, Dalia, age 17, decided she wanted to create a memorial in honor of her father and the other members of his unit who had been killed in Afghanistan. It would be located at the 1st Battalion 7thSpecial Forces Group Headquarters at Ft. Bragg, N.C. “She came to me with a vision of getting a river rock for each fallen soldier, then sandblasting it with the soldier’s name, his unit designation, and when and where he was killed,” said Bill. Dalia asked Bill if this could be done. He assured her that it was possible and he would be honored to do it. She quickly told him that she wanted him to teach her to sandblast so she could complete the project herself. After several weekend trips to Banner Elk, planning the project July 2014

High Country Magazine

“

She came to me with a vision of getting a river

rock for each fallen soldier, then sandblasting it with the soldier’s name, his unit designation, and when and where he was killed.

High Country Magazine

July 2014

”

TOP RIGHT: Colonel Roger Donlon, first Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War, and Bill Dicks during the memorial ceremony in which the last four 1st battalion, 7th group special forces soldiers killed in Vietnam were honored with sandblasted river rocks BOTTOM RIGHT: Gisela and Dalia Munoz, wife and daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Pedro Munoz

The Golden Knights in Avery County Six years after graduating from high school, while Dave was a member of The Golden Knights, he and his team jumped into the grounds of the Banner Elk School and Avery County High School. That same year, Dave was asked to be the graduation speaker at the high school.

“

I told him that if he was going to jump out of airplanes, then we were making our first jump together. –Bill Dicks

July 2014

”

High Country Magazine

from start to finish, Dalia and Bill selected rocks from the Elk River. She then had to clean the rocks, lay out the wording, sandblast and paint the stones. “Dalia had been sandblasting each rock with the names in all capital letters,” said Bill. “As we were loading the stones into her father’s truck, we noticed that she had changed the lettering of some names to upper and lower case. ‘Bill, they’re not right!’ she cried. I assured her that they were fine and that no one would notice. She looked up at me with a quivering lip and big crocodile tears welling in her eyes and I knew that we were going back to the river. The next day we selected a fresh batch of rocks and spent the entire day sandblasting them until they were perfect.” Dalia returned to Fayetteville where she built a beautiful memorial garden on post at Ft. Bragg. Bill was able to attend the ceremony to see her finished project. Two years later, Bill received a call for more rocks; over the next several years a total of 17 rocks were placed in the garden. “One day I got a call asking for four more rocks and I just groaned,” said Bill. “The officer on the phone said ‘No, 54

High Country Magazine

July 2014

it’s a good thing.’ I asked him how that could be good because four more rocks meant four more soldiers had died. He told me this was the only memorial of its kind in the United States Army and because it had been so well received, they had decided to include the names of the four Special Forces soldiers from 1st Battalion, 7th Group who had been killed in action in Vietnam.” For his work on this project, Bill was honored with a certificate of appreciation from 1st Battalion 7th Special Forces Group, as well as an American flag that once flew over a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan.

International Relations

One of the most unexpected joys for Bill and Donna was working with IREX students studying in the United States. At that time, the IREX program (sponsored by the US State Department) placed students from former Soviet Union countries for a one year study program at American colleges and universities. Some of the countries have rapidly developed, but many are still very conservative, which often made the transition to a U.S. college or university very challenging.

BILL AND DONNA DICKS

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High Country Magazine

Donna Dicks holding a sandblasted sign made by IREX students from 2006-2007 “One of the neat things about these students,” stated Bill, “is that many of them had never been outside their village, yet they made a commitment to leave their country for nine months to study and live in a new culture. The program is very competitive; those who are selected to come to the United States are top scholars, as well as good ambassadors for their home countries. All of them speak multiple languages and write in several different alphabets.” When Donna was working as a librarian at Banner Elk Elementary School, a young Lees-McRae College student walked over to borrow materials for a lesson plan she was creating.

FROM TOP: Zhanar, from Kazakhstan. Donista, from Tajikistan Tolkun, from Kyrgyzstan 56

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July 2014

When the young woman, Donista, gave her contact information, Donna realized that she was not from the United States. “When I asked her where she was from, Donista smiled as she answered, ‘Tajikistan,’” recalled Donna. “I asked her how long she would be here; she explained the IREX program which was for the current school year. It was already March at that point and the college would be on Spring Break the following week. Donista said she would be staying in the residence halls over break, so I invited her to dinner at our home.” Two of the three IREX students

Bill and Donna Dicks with their immediate family (left to right, top row): Doug Cantrell, son-in-law; Bill Dicks holding his granddaughter Maddie Cantrell; Joanie and Bill Connell, Bill’s sister and brother-in-law; Donna Dicks; Jennifer Cantrell, Bill and Donna’s daughter, holding her son Jaxon Cantrell; and Tiffany Dicks, daughter-in-law, with her husband Dave Dicks

JEANS / LEATHER and CUSTOM JACKETS / BOOTS / MUCH MORE

Like us on FaceBook to see our latest arrivals

WATSONATTA WESTERN WORLD 711 W King Street • Downtown Boone • 828-264-4540 • www.booneboots.com July 2014

High Country Magazine

BILL DICKS SIGNS “Some years ago, we put the Elk River Club sign up just before their grand opening. Jack Nicholas had flown in on his big green jet for the event. A friend and his son went to look at the sign. As soon as they got out of the car, security guards stopped them. My friend introduced himself, explaining that he just wanted to show the sign to his son who was from out of town. Security said that would be fine. Then, noticing the plane, they asked if they could take a closer look at it. The guards replied, ‘Sure, we were just told to guard the sign.’”

High Country Magazine

July 2014

came to that first meal at the Dicks’ house, where they shared fascinating information about their home countries. “During dinner, Bill asked the girls if there was anything they’d like to do or see before they left in May,” remembered Donna, “and the girls responded that they wanted to go to the beach. Without hesitating or even looking at me, Bill replied, ‘We’ll take you!’ On Palm Sunday weekend, we took all three of them to Charleston.” After connecting with that first group of students, Bill and Donna were hooked. Each year after that, they helped ensure that the students had all necessary items to make residence hall life comfortable, acted as a confidant and parent, took the students on trips and helped fulfill many lifelong dreams, especially for the female students coming from very conservative countries. “We’ve had several students from Tajikistan,” said Donna. “Women in Tajikistan aren’t allowed to play sports or swim. One year Mukhlisa desperately wanted to learn how to swim. The week before she left in May, she swam the length of the pool at the YMCA. It was hard to tell who was prouder, Mukhlisa or us! Another girl from Kyrgyzstan became interested in tennis, although she knew nothing about the sport. She made the team at Lees-McRae and by the end of the year was seeded No. 2.” Though Bill and Donna took the students on many trips, one particular year will always stand out above the rest. “That year we took five IREX students to Florida,” said Bill. “We went to Sarasota, St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral and Disney World. Later, we also took them to Carowinds, but the icing on the cake was a skydiving trip. Each IREX student got to jump in tandem with a member of the Golden Knights Parachute Team – what an experience!” Several of the students also enjoyed spending time in Bill’s workshop. He taught them pottery, chip carving, sandblasting and sign painting. Learning to apply gold leaf was particularly fascinating. “One of the girls would sit with me for hours chip carving a box without saying a word,” said Bill. “I told her that she was lousy company and she told me she was busy working!” From carving signs and making pottery to sandblasting memorial river rocks and becoming surrogate parents to international students, Bill and Donna Dicks are true gems of Avery County. They are ever modest, but understandably proud of all that they have accomplished, as they should be.

AVERY

23RD ANNUAL

FINE ART & MASTER CRAFT FESTIVAL

COUNTY

85 juried artisans representing their handcrafted mediums at Historic Downtown Banner Elk Elementary School.

JULY 18-20 & AUGUST 15-17

Your North Carolina Mountain Playground

• Trolley Wine Tours Thursday July 22, July 31, Aug. 21, Sept. 25, Oct. 16 • 59th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 10-13 • 23rd Annual Fine Art & Master Craft Festival July 18-20 • High Country Pet Fest, Historic Downtown Banner Elk Elementary School July 25-27 • SugarBrew-Sugar Mountain Resort Aug. 2 • Spirit of Avery Distillery Tasting Event-Linville Aug. 7

Banner Elk •Beech Mountain •Crossnore •Plumtree Newland •Village of Sugar Mountain •Town of Seven Devils

800-972-2183 | Averycounty.com July 2014

High Country Magazine

Summer Dining Guide It’s the height of the summer dining season in the High Country, and there’s no better time to enjoy a casual lunch, a relaxing brunch or a romantic dinner. For your culinary inspiration, you’ll find dozens of fine establishments in the following pages.

Banner Elk Café

Dinner Specialitie

Appetizers

.......... $11 Crispy DuCk Wings ed with a sweet and spicy citrus soy sauce............ Crispy fried duck wings toss grits Cajun shrimp Crab & p crab cake cajun seasoned and pan seared ....... $11 Two large shrimp and a lumese and bacon grits. ............................................. che of bed a on ed serv and

entrees

d with teriyaki glaze sesame salmon on, pan seared and brushe ........$16 Sesame crusted Atlantic Salm , and a starch of the day ................................... accompanied by sautéed kale and red ese DuCk Cranberry goat Che d and topped with a creamy goat cheese spread ......... $16 slice st brea k duc ted les and starch of the day Pan roas etab veg h fres with ed Serv wine reduction cranberries. am rib-eye steak m lobster cream sauce. mushroom lobster Cre ed with a savory mushroo ns .................................... $21 topp eye Char-grilled 10oz. Rib toes and fried green bea pota red d Matched with smashe sauce. Chop baCon glazeD pork pork chop paired with a roasted garlic and bacon pan .......... $18 Pan roasted 10oz. bone-inpotatoes and seasonal vegetables ......................... Served with smashed red hi bs, drizzled Cilantro lime mahi-ma cilantro lime pesto, topped with crispy panko crum ......... $17 Blackened Mahi brushed withAccompanied with wild rice and seasonal vegetables w/honey lemon burré blanc. then fire anD grits Chipolte bbQ shrimp basted with a sweet and spicy chipotle bbq sauce day .. $16 Twenty shrimp skewered and of bacon cheese grits with fresh vegetables of the roasted and served on a bed a lobster n Crab CrusteD ChiCke with a lump crab meat crust baked and topped with........ $19 st day brea the of ken le chic etab ted veg roas and Pan d by smashed red potatoes cream sauce. Accompanie wer f roasted ten-piece shrimp sked surf anD tur in steak paired with a fire she Eight ounce char-grilled sirloonion and garlic compound butter. Served with sma ....... $23 brushed with a roasted redetables ................................................................. potatoes and seasonal veg

the Banner elk Cafe & the Lodge espresso Bar & eatery

828-898-4040

The Place to “Be” in Banner Elk

open 7am everyday serving breakfast, lunch & Dinner Daily

Enjoy Courtyard Dining at it’s Finest

The Best Place for FOOD, FUN, & FRIENDS in the Heart of Banner Elk. 60

High Country Magazine

July 2014

BANNER ELK CAFĂ&#x2030; BANNER ELK. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Great food, ranging from eggs benedict to big, juicy burgers. For the healthy and weight conscience we offer grilled mahi and chicken sandwiches, salad bar, and homemade daily specials. Dinner nightly offering: Ribs, Steaks, Fish and always fresh and creative specials!. The Lodge Espresso Bar and Eatery, friendly coffee-house atmosphere with a smoothie bar, fresh bakery, and gourmet food. Serving, delicious salads, seared Tuna, pizzas, pastas, and wraps. Best Bloody Mary and Cadillac Magaritas in town. n 828-898-4040. See ad on page 60

REAL FOOD FOR REAL PEOPLE Casual Mountain Dining

banner elk sushi club BANNER ELK. The Banner Elk Sushi Club is part of the Downtown Banner Elk Nightlife Group in conjunction with Sorrentos Italian Bistro, The Barra Sport Bar and the Bayou Smokehouse and Grill. Their concept is to present something different to the area of Banner Elk, providing a big city type restaurant and bar in a small town. The Sushi Club also offers a sit down bar area, seating to eat sushi with friends, a dance floor with laser lights and a stage for comedy performances. n 828.898-1940. www.bannerelksushiclub.com. See ad on page 109

BARRA BANNER ELK. Barra Sports Bar, Tequila Bar, Outside Fire Pit and Cigar Lounge is located in the downtown village shops of Banner Elk North Carolina. With seven big flat screens Barra allows you to see your favorite sports teams or major events in an upscale setting with family or friends. As you walk in you will see an elegant old timey Boston style wood bar complimented by Miami style art deco with a mountain Indian flair. There is a comfortable group of leather couches and many high bars with seating; covered in brushed copper tabletops and wrapped in leather. n 828-898-7727. www.www.bannerelkbarra.com. See ad on page 109

Check Out Our New Summer Menu! Including

Salmon Cake .......................7.95 over wilted greens

Grilled Asparagus ...............5.95 proscuitto and fresh mozzarella, drizzled with basil oil

Zucchini Linguini ...............15.95 with grilled chicken, garlic and oil, or spicy italian sausage and tomato coulis, choice of house salad

Ravioli of Summer Squash and Zucchini .......................15.95 pomodora sauce, choice of house salad

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie ...15.95 chicken, carrots, peas and creamy savory sauce, choice of house salad

Grilled Chicken Bruschetta ... 17.95 grilled breast of chicken topped with fresh tomato bruschetta, choice of house salad and one side

Grilled Center Cut Pork Chop...18.95

Ole Tennessee smoky peach moonshine compote, choice of house salad and one side

Spicy Shrimp & Sausage Pasta ..18.95 penne pasta served with sauteed shrimp, andouille sausage and a lime buttersauce, choice of house salad

Wednesday Wine Down

Outdoor Seating Available!

50% Off All Wine Bottles

MuSiC ON tHe VeRANdA eVeRy SuNdAy fROM 5 - 8 PM www.greenparkinn.com | 828.414.9230 9329 Valley Boulevard, Blowing Rock July 2014

High Country Magazine

THE BEST CELLAR BLOWING ROCK. The Best Cellar restaurant has been a favorite among locals for decades. Located in The Inn at Ragged Gardens in downtown Blowing Rock, The Best Cellar offers eleven elegant rooms, seasonal gardens and serves dinner daily. Reservations are suggested. n 828-295-3466. www.ragged-gardens.com. See ad on page 68

Blowing rock ale house and inn

LET US SHOW YOU SOME FOOD LOVE!

Modern Mountain Cuisine

Shulls Mill Rd beside Yonahlossee

www.gamekeeper-nc.com

(828) 963-7400 62

High Country Magazine

July 2014

blowing rock. The Blowing Rock Ale House Restaurant and Brewery is located within the Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn and offers the feeling of an English Pub with the mood of a French Bistro. We invite you in to dine on craft pub food and sample our ever-changing artisanal craft beers, brewed on site. The Blowing Rock Ale House Chef team of Erick and Jenny Virt are both graduates of the Texas Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu and have extensive culinary experience. All of our menu items are made to order using seasonal, local, and organic ingredients when available. n 828.414-9600. www.blowingrockalehouseandinn.com. See ad on page 68

Blowing rock grille BLOWING ROCK. Join us at the Blowing Rock Grille for an upbeat, exciting dining experience offering a wide variety of prices and choices. Enjoy your meal outside on our scenic sidewalk garden courtyard or dine in our warm and inviting atmosphere. We are located down the street from the park on Sunset Drive. Blowing Rock Grille has been a favorite for locals and visitors since 1982. We serve lunch and dinner and offer homemade soups, vegetable plates, delicious sandwiches and salads. Try our nightly specials along with a wonderful dinner menu featuring fresh fish, pasta, pork, aged premium steaks and a unique wine list. Enjoy your favorite beverage at Bertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar. We offer incredible food, exceptional service and memorable nights. n 828.295-9474. www.theblowingrockgrille.com. See ad on page 63

BOONE BAGELRY BOONE. Booneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest bagel shop serves

Six Pence

A Taste of England here in Blowing Rock

R & Friday and Saturday until Midnight Full Bar (open until 2am) 14 Beers on Draught focused on Imports and Micro Brews

Restaurant & Pub

17 types of freshly baked bagels and hundreds of other menu items. Boone Bagelry is a full-service restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch all day. Patio dining is available, and Boone Bagelry also offers eat in, take out or delivery options. Now with two locations to serve you. Original Location - 516 West King Street. NEW Location by Studio West Apts - 125 Graduate Lane. n 828.262-5585 or 828-262-1600. www. bonebagelry.com. See ad on page 64

Featuring British & American Fare

CAFÉ PORTOFINO BOONE. For a lovely night out with the family or a fantastic evening on the town, look no further than Cafe Portofino. Café Portofino offers a casual atmosphere and truly 5-star dining. Located on Rivers Street, the self-described “Garlic House” menu is a creative mix of Thai, Eurasian and Italian influences. Enjoy daily culinary specials and fresh seafood every day. An eclectic blend of sandwiches, pastas and more, Cafe Portofino has something for everyone. For after-hours entertainment, check out the adjoining taproom featuring billiards and darts, and try out one of fifty bottle and draft beers from around the world. Don’t forget to stop by on Wednesday nights for trivia, prizes and drink specials every week. Tuesday features half-price bottles of house wine, and kids under ten eat free on Wednesdays with the purchase of an adult entree. n 828-264-7772. www.cafeportofino.net. See ad on page 65

828.295.3155 } } 1121 Main Street, Blowing Rock, N.C.

Canyons Blowing Rock. Located just off of the scenic, winding highway 321 in Blowing Rock, this historic restaurant and bar is well known all over the High Country for its spectacular and breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, its scrumptious southwestern choices and unique takes on ordinary American eats. All dishes on the menu are freshly prepared in house with the finest ingredients available. Canyons in Blowing Rock regularly offers a wide variety of seasonally fresh items, so ask about the fantastic nightly specials in addition to the daily menu selections. Every Sunday, enjoy a delicious brunch accompanied by live jazz music. Canyons also offers a diverse selection of July 2014

High Country Magazine

Summer Dining Guide domestic and imported wines and a large selection of beers chosen to complement the items on the menu. Just ask a member of the friendly staff for a recommendation, or try something new. n 828-295-7661. www.CanyonsBR.com. See ad on page 62

CASA RUSTICA BOONE. Conveniently located right off Highway 105, Casa Rustica offers some of the finest Northern ItalianAmerican cuisine in the High Country accentuated by a cozy, fireside atmosphere. Dishes on the menu, from the crisp salads to the scrumptious pastas, are adapted from old family recipes that have been handed down for generations. The chefs and owners at Casa Rustica are also committed to offering local beef in their cuisine and proudly offer homestyle meals made with love and meticulous care. Casa Rustica’s extensive wine list is updated every 30 days to include interesting vintages

EAT CROW EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE EAT PIE

Sandwiches

(Served on our homemade bread)

Pies • Cakes Shepherd’s Pie Steak & Ale Pie Chicken Pot Pie English Specialties Catering

Hours: Mon - sat. 6:00am - 5:00pm sun. 7:00am - 3:00pm

Call or Check our Website for Dates & Menu

Family Owned & Operated since 1988 Serving Breakfast and Lunch All Day 14 Varieties of Freshly Baked Bagels Gluten Free Options Available Free Delivery Deli Sandwiches, Omelettes, Flavored Cream Cheeses, Salads, Burgers Vegetarian Options Members of the Boone Independent Restaurant Association

www.eatcrownc.com

TWO LOCATIONS

(On Request)

Serving Dinner Twice Monthly

828.963.8228

Fabulous British Chef/Owner

Dominic& Meryle Geraghty

EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE EAT CAKE

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm Take-Out Only after 3pm 9872 Hwy. 105 S. in Foscoe (across from Mountain Lumber) 64

High Country Magazine

July 2014

• Old dOwntOwn: 516 West King St. • 262-5585 • at the 105 waterwheel: 125 Graduate Lane • 262-1600 www.boonebagelry.com

and new organics. Enjoy live jazz every Thursday night and classical guitar every Sunday. The restaurant also features a full bar and fantastic drink selections to delight even the pickiest patron. n 828-262-5128. www.casarustica1981.com. See ad on page 67

Char modern american restaurant BOONE. char ... where New York City meets the Blue Ridge Mountains! A unique, contemporary bistro located in downtown Boone, offering diverse, creative and delectable brunch, lunch and dinner cuisine in a warm, open, cosmopolitan setting. char also features a covered deck and a sleek modern bar. Sample some of their distinctive modern American cuisine including signature dishes including the famous Low Country Shrimp & Grits, the delicious Angus hand-cut Ribeye Steak the refreshing Turkey & Brie Sandwich and

the local favorite Grilled Tilapia Fish Tacos. Nightly Entertainment. Come join us at char for Food • Drinks • Music • Art • Fun ... n 828-266-2179. www. char179.com. See ad on page 67

Half Price On Our House Bottled Wines Every Tuesday!

CHESTNUT GRILLE AT GREEN PARK INN BLOWING ROCK. Come enjoy our remodeled restaurant, The Chestnut Grille. The Divide Tavern and Lounge is now serving mixed beverages in addition to an extensive wine and beer menu. The Chestnut Grille offers Comfort Cooking with a touch of Gourmet, a thoughtful wine selection, and service befitting your expectations. Join us at this newly restored National Historic Register property. The hotel includes 88 guest rooms at the inn to accommodate parties large or small. Reservations can be made on our website. n 828-4149230. www.greenparkinn.com. See ad on page 61

EAT CROW BANNER ELK. Eat Crow is a wonderful little cafe specializing in fresh baked, delicious goods including a large variety of baked pies and cakes. These delectables are offered by the slice, or you have the option to order a whole one to take home and enjoy. We also offer fresh made sandwiches at lunch time that can not be compared to any other “sandwich shop” in the area.   Since we know life can be very hectic, for your convenience we prepare whole meals and fresh soups daily that are ready for you to take home and heat up for your family. These entrees vary daily. We are always creating something delicious! All sandwiches are served on farmhouse or whole wheat bread. Choices of sides include fresh fruit, firecracker coleslaw or chips. We are open Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and are located near Foscoe on Hwy. 105 between Boone and Banner Elk. n 828963-8228. See ad on page 64

KIDS MEAL

FREE

g 5 star dintin without he casual prices in a amosphe re!

Kids 10 and under eat free with purchase of adult entree. Lunch or Dinner. Wednesday

Sun, Tue - Thurs: 11:30 am - 9:00 pm • Fri - Sat: 11:30 am - 10:00 pm 970 Rivers Street • 828-264-7772 • w w w. c a f e p o r t o ﬁ n o . n e t

Daily Lunch Specials

hen it comes to celebrating special occasions, there’s no place as special as The Eseeola Lodge.

Join us for dinner or a Thursday night for our seafood buffet.

The Eseeola Lodge linville. Guests enjoy breakfast and dinner daily as part of their accommodations package, but all High Country visitors are welcome to enjoy the finest cuisine. Spend a leisurely morning with

The Eseeola Lodge at Linville Golf Club www.Eseeola.com

call for reservations 828.733.4311 July 2014

High Country Magazine

us, or grab a quick bite on your way out for the day. Either way, an outstanding breakfast awaits you each morning in our dining room. Then enjoy lunch at the Grill Room in the Linville Golf Club, where resort casual wear is appropriate for daytime meals. For the evening meal, select your choice of seven meticulously prepared entrees crafted by Chef Patrick Maisonhaute at the helm of your culinary experience. The menu changes daily, and also offers an extraordinary seafood buffet every Thursday evening with seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required, and gentlemen are required to wear a coat for the evening meal. n 800-742-6717. www.eseeola.com. See ad on page 65

Gamekeeper

Chef and Owner David Bartlett Is Celebrating His 29th Year In Blowing Rock

It’s Always Trout Season In Blowing Rock!

At The Corner of Main Street and Hwy. 221

World Famous for His Trout Dishes Prepared 5 Different Ways

SERVING A VARIETY OF FRESH SEAFOOD, LOCAL MOUNTAIN TROUT… Served 5 different ways, ANGUS BEEF, SARA’S BABY BACK RIBS

With A Wide Variety of Made Fresh Daily Side Dishes

AS WELL AS THESE SPECIALITIES Paul Tate Filet Mignon • Sara’s Baby Back Ribs Fresh Gulf Oysters & Shrimp • Seafood Dishes And, of Course, Much More! Serving Dinner 5:00 to 9:00 Tues. - Sat.

OPEN FOR LUNCH

David Bartlett’s

SPECKLED TROUT CAFE Always Fresh Seafood

High Country Magazine

& Oyster Bar

July 2014

We also have

Breakfast Buffet on Weekends... Enjoy Our Air-Conditioned Dining Room All youPatio can eat or Our COVERED 9am-Noon At the Corner of Main St and Hwy 221 • 295-9819 ••On$7.95 Facebook

MAIN STREET BLOWING ROCK, NC

SPECKLED Open for Dinner TROUT 5:00-9:00 Always Fresh

& Oyster Bar

Blowing Rock. You haven’t fully experienced the region until you’ve dined at The Gamekeeper. It’s a true gourmet restaurant, with the perfect blend of upscale elegance and simple mountain charm. The Gamekeeper is famous for Southern favorites - ultimate in comfort food - prepared with creativity and originality, offered through an evolving seasonal menu that blends the traditional with the exotic, satisfying both the meat lover and the vegetarian. Housed in a 1950s stone cottage, The Gamekeeper is an upscale restaurant that offers an eclectic mix of Southern foods and mountain cuisine, offering a selection of unique meat dishes including mountain trout, buffalo rib eye, ostrich, duck and beef tenderloin. The friendly staff literally waits on you hand and foot, assuring that you’ll leave happy and satisfied. The restaurant is located off Shulls Mill Road near Yonahlossee Resort. n 828-963-7400. www.Gamekeeper-NC.com. See ad on page 62

JOY Bistro Boone. Joy Bistro is known all over the High Country as the resident purveyors of Fine Food & Drink. Chefs and Owners Melissa Joy and Gary Claude welcome you to come in and enjoy delicious, unique food selec-

tions and delightful cocktails in a casual, warm and inviting setting. Enjoy a relaxed and inviting atmosphere while you experience their unique, handcrafted cuisine. Exclusively fresh and always seasonal ingredients are expertly utilized in their many nightly specials as in all of the daily items in their superb menu. Enjoy scrumptious selections like the famous firecracker shrimp, the unique blood orange salad, local meats and pasta options, and a wonderful dessert like creme brulee or espresso torte. The friendly staff is always on hand to assist you with expert recommendations for dining selections and wine pairings for your choices. Joy Bistro also serving lunch this summer and offers a full bar, an extensive wine list, & craft beers for guests to enjoy. n 828-265-0500 www.joybistroboone.com. See ad on page 64

Red Onion Café Boone. Established in 1985 as one of the classic restaurants in Boone NC, the Red Onion Café opens daily at 11am and serves continuously to hungry guests well into the evening. The Red Onion Café has created its niche in the High Country for more than 30 years by offering customers a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere and an extensive menu at affordable prices. The café has something for every member of the family, including burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, pasta, fish, steak and delicious homemade desserts. Look for weekly dinner specials and the kid’s menu items as well. The Red Onion Café also offers several of the region’s top beer and wines to compliment any meal as well as friendly staff on hand to assist with your choices from the extensive menu. The outside patio is perfect for a comfortable outdoor lunch or for a cozy dinner on warm evenings. n 828-264-5470. www.theredonioncafe.com. See ad on page 66

food · drink · music · art · fun monday ~ saturday 11am~2am

sunday

11am~10pm

sunday brunch

11am~4pm

est Music-F d n e k e e W Summer e Music Free Liv ernoons nday aft u S & y y nites Saturda Saturda Friday &

covered deck

828·266·2179

char

downtown boone | 179 howard street | char179.com

roots Blowing rock. Roots is located on US 321 across from the Tanger Outlet Mall. The restaurant specializes in regional food and drink with an emphasis on chef-inspired specials. July 2014

High Country Magazine

Summer Dining Guide Sunday brunch and dinner Monday thru Saturday. A sister restaurant of the Best Cellar and Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn. n 828-414-9508. www.roots-restaurant.com. See ad on page 68

six pence pub Blowing rock. In 2001 Six Pence opened in Blowing Rock, North Carolina and has been a Blowing Rock staple for visitors and residents alike ever since. Known all over the High Country for establishing itself as a fine example of British fare, the friendly staff, delicious food and extensive beer and wine selection make this local watering hole a local favorite. From traditional British favorites like Shepherd’s Pie and fish and chips to Americanstyle burgers, house made soups and salads, this eatery and bar alleviates everyone’s hunger pains and provides

a unique dining experience right on beautiful Main Street. Who knew that one could find such exceptional British cuisine in the heart of the High Country? The pub now proudly features a new patio so guests can choose to sit outside and enjoy their meals and enjoy the beautiful views of Main Street. Or step inside to the air conditioned interior to beat the heat this summer season. n 828-295-3155. www.sixpencepub.com. See ad on page 63

sorrento’s banner elk. Sorrento’s Italian Bistro is a family run business and has been serving Italian dishes since 1983 to locals and travelers alike. Sorrento’s has evolved in to an eclectic gourmet Italian cuisine open seven days a week and for lunch and dinner. Patrons come back again and again for the Crab Cakes and the Tortellini Sorren-

tos. This upscale eclectic gourmet Italian Bistro, is a combination of a visual and culinary celebration. Although the menu is Southern Italian cuisine, the sky’s the limit for special events and private parties. n 828-898-5214. www.sorrentosbistro.com. See ad on page 108

Speckled Trout Café Blowing Rock. When you come to Blowing Rock, look around, see the sights, do some shopping, then come down the quaint downtown street until you reach the corner of Main and Highway 221. It’s on this corner that you will find the Speckled Trout Cafe and Oyster Bar. Since 1986, the Speckled Trout Cafe & Oyster Bar has been pleasing both locals and visitors every evening with its exquisite choices for dinner. The house specialty is smoked

For Your Dining and Lodging Pleasure!

High Country Magazine

July 2014

rainbow trout which is fished from local waters, but the extensive menu covers everything from terrestrial meat choices like steak and ribs to fresh seafood and so much more. The Speckled Trout is also pleased to be serving lunch for patrons to enjoy either inside the restaurant or for easy take out for a picnic on the Parkway. The restaurant also proudly features a beautiful outdoor patio overlooking Main Street for guests to enjoy their meals in the beautiful outdoors as well as an air-conditioned interior to beat the heat this summer season. n 828-295-9819. www.speckledtroutcafe.com. See ad on page 66

timberlake’S RESTAURANT AT CHETOLA RESORT BLOWING ROCK. On July 28, 2012, Chetola officially opened Timberlake’s Restaurant in the historical building, with a menu inspired by world-renowned North Carolina artist and designer Bob Timberlake’s culinary favorites. The restaurant features three dining rooms, an intimate wine room and waterfront dining on the Patio. The charming and warmly outfitted Headwaters Pub is just inside Timberlake’s main entrance. Bob Timberlake, who is known for creating things of exceptional artistry and imagination, used his deeply rooted love of food as the impetus behind the distinctive menu. From Mesquite-dusted shrimp and salads of mountain-grown spinach, to Carolina-raised trout and roasted Carolina quail, each dish will be one worth savoring. A mouth-watering array of brick-oven pizzas, tender Angus beef filets, seafood, poultry, and an inspired selection of health and wellness dishes will also tempt palates of all tastes. n 828-295-5505. www.chetola.com. See ad on this page

vidalia Boone. Centrally located on King Street in downtown Boone, Vidalia is a casual, upscale restaurant featuring “creative American cuisine.” Featuring creative menu items for lunch and dinner, it offers daily specials, various events, wine tastings and special nights. Famous menu items include the apple and gorgonzola salad, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and mushroom ravioli, with finishing choices like stone ground grits and cheddar mac n’ cheese. All of these choices come to you from the culinary mind of Chef Samuel Ratchford, who also owns the restaurant with his wife Alyce. Taking pride in the local community, the restaurant is proud to offer various local ingredients and choices to patrons who are looking to try local fare. Vidalia holds all ABC permits and has an extensive wine list which routinely features over 60 different wines which can be expertly paired with meals by the staff, a large selection of craft beers, martinis, whiskeys, scotches and cordials. Vidalia’s menu changes twice a year to keep it seasonal and practices farm-to-table food, using local vendors as much as possible. n 828-263-9176. www.vidaliaofboone.com. See ad on page 64 July 2014

High Country Magazine

Tim Miller, owner of Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery, displays a finished and framed piece of artwork in his workshop.

“I think art really makes people happy and gives them something to relate to. Something new and pleasing on your wall can really make your day and lift your spirits.” – Tim Miller, Owner, Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery 70

High Country Magazine

July 2014

n an unassuming corner of Blowing Rock, there sits a little shop on the corner filled to the brim with beautiful artwork of all kinds. If you take a saunter through the rooms, you will be greeted by paintings and sculptures from many esteemed artists like Wiili Armstrong, Elliott Daingerfield, Lita Gatlin, George Snyder and countless others. But amongst the walls adorned with interesting artwork of all mediums, one will find an even more interesting man. Tim Miller, owner of Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery in Blowing Rock is celebrating 20 years of success in the art world, and he shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. “I am originally from here, Boone,” Miller said on a rainy Monday afternoon in the gallery. The local art connoisseur, now expertly adjusting an Elliot Daingerfield painting on the wall, grew up in the High Country, and when he finally left the area it was to travel for his work. “I guess I traveled quite a lot when I was younger,” Miller said. “I went to 33 countries while I worked for Sunoco Oil Company based in Pennsylvania. I got to see some pretty cool places along the way.”

An Artistic Frame of Mind By Madison Fisler Lewis

Tim Millerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frame shop has framed close to 30,000 orders over the 20 years in business and offers close to 2,500 different frames, 600 mats and countless combinations. July 2014

High Country Magazine

In his years with the company, Miller was able to visit places like Singapore, China, Russia (back when it was still the USSR), Pakistan, much of Europe and South America. “I went to lots of places. I worked for Sunoco for 11 years and that was when I really started to become fascinated by art. Beautiful museums all around the world caught my interest. Once, after some travels in China, I brought back some scrolls. When I brought those back, I took them to a frame shop in the area to have them framed, and I decided that I wanted to try it.” Miller began to construct crude frames out of his basement once he settled back into the High Country more than two decades ago. But his basement hobby soon became an obsession, and from there became his livelihood. “I enjoyed framing, but I really didn’t understand it that well,” Miller said. “So I studied and took some tests and became a certified picture framer through the Professional Picture Framers’ Association in 1997, 17 years ago, and I am still the only certified picture framer in Watauga County.” Not content with just one certification, Miller soon decided to go abroad and expand his interests. “Then, in 1998, I went to England to the Fine Art Trade Guild, studied for their test and successfully passed the Guild Commended Framer Endorsement. That is like the PhD of picture framing,” Miller said. “In 1998, worldwide there were only 349 of them, and I am still one of less than two dozen in the United States.” With his new endorsements and certifications under his belt, Miller was able to expand his offerings to his ever-growing customer base. In 20 years in business, Miller estimates that he has framed tens of thousands of pieces. “We do lots of really unique ways of framing. We do real gold leaf, French mats, lots of unique techniques that your average frame shop wouldn’t even attempt! We have framed close to 30,000 orders over 20 years, and that is a lot!” said Miller. “We have close to 2,500 different frames. We have 600 mats. So if 72

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Choosing frames and picking the right materials is a very meticulous process that requires planning, design work and labor to finish the piece. you calculate that out, we have millions of different combinations. You just have to be willing to experiment and create.” And it is that freedom for creativity that has kept Miller in the framing business for so long. “I love to create,” Miller said. “I love a finished piece. Some pieces just aren’t really finished until they are framed. I love a challenge, and every single day is a challenge for me.”

And his customers welcome his creativity and defer to his expertise when it comes to framing their precious works of art for display. “We have customers from Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, Boone, Charlotte and Raleigh. We even have several customers that live in England that we make frames for and we send them out to them. And that’s what made us open up the gallery in the first place.”

Tim Miller shows off his certificate designating him as a Fine Art Trade Guild Commended Framer. The endorsement sets Miller apart as one of less than two-dozen in the United States.

Seventeen years ago, the Gallery was added to the frame shop to showcase high-end art from around the nation. “The framing is a huge part of the business, but since the inception of the gallery 17 years ago, we started carrying really high end art,” Miller said. “We continuously sell Elliot Daingerfield paintings because he spent his summers here. We deal in highly collected artists, but we have a wide range of artists that we represent.” From the very beginning, Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery has been synonymous will high quality art in superior frames. “We have always had extremely high quality artists. Our first big artist was Edward Szmyd and he was considered an American master of light and shadow. He was our first big, big artist that we represented and we sold 87 of his paintings when he was alive. Another one would be Wes Waugh, a local watercolorist, and we have tremendous success with Joe Miller, who owns Cheap Joe’s Art Supply.” But the gallery is also very well known for the antique paintings that it showcases as well as the more modern artwork that adorns the walls of the gallery. “We have also had many antique paintings. We have had Picassos, Hudson River Painters, Herman Herzog paintings and even Paul Weber to name a few. We have everything from realistic painters to antique paintings and everything in between. That is the beauty of it.” Miller reflected on his two decades with the frame shop and the gallery and marveled at how much it has grown over the years. “When we first started out 20 years ago, we probably would have allowed almost any artist to come in,” Miller said with a laugh. “But we are very selective with the art that we put on the walls [now]. We want only the highest quality paintings in the area to go on the walls, and that is the way we have felt about it for many years. The people that come in to buy paintings, they come in to see the best art in western North Carolina. Tim Miller always uses the utmost care when completing all of his framing and mounting projects. This care is largely evident when Miller undergoes the painstaking process of applying real gold leaf to frames to give even the most worn frames a beautiful new look. Applying true gold leaf is a major process with many steps, including raw wood, sanded wood, priming clay and then the application of the actual gold leaf. This is just one of the many different techniques that Tim Miller has mastered in order to become one of the most well known and sought after framers in the High Country. July 2014

High Country Magazine

Maggie – Jason Drake

Buck Lake North Shore – Jason Drake

Early Spring Morning – Jerry Kirk

Seventeen years ago, the gallery was added to the frame show to showcase high-end art from all around the nation. The gallery has showcased such artists as Elliot Daingerfield, Edward Szmyd, Wes Waugh, Joe Miller and Wiili Armstrong, just to name a few.

“I am most proud of the relationships that I have developed with the community and with the artists. I have developed so many incredible friendships, some of my best friends are my clients.” 74

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July 2014

Even during the recession we still sold a lot of paintings. I think that even if people are depressed about what is going on in society or their finances, I think art really makes people happy and gives them something to relate to. Something new and pleasing on your wall can really make your day and lift your spirits.” The customer base that the gallery has built over the years is based on trust and mutual respect for the artist, the art itself and the customer. “Our customers trust us, plain and simple,” Miller said. “We have always been honest with our collectors and always allowed people to take paintings on approval to see if they work. If they don’t work they can just bring them back!” Customers that come to the gallery and frame shop once are likely to be back time and time again. “We have a great selection of art, and our framing is second to none in the area,” Miller said. “There are many framers that are certified, but just one that is a Guild Recommended Framer, and that is a big deal. I took a test in England in the metric system and passed it. And I apply that to our artwork as well. We don’t want bad frames on paintings. We want high quality paintings that will last generations.” Looking back on 20 years in business, Miller thinks about just how far he has come from his humble beginnings.

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July 2014

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

July 2014

“I used to go to museums all around the world when I was traveling,” Miller said. “I loved looking at the different styles and different mediums of art, it always intrigued me. I never thought that I would own a gallery! And what’s more, I never thought I would own a successful gallery for 20 years. It’s hard to believe that I make a living doing something that I love so much. For me, I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. Guys never really grow up, we are always little boys. I always have glue on my hands and that says something. This is a passion for me. How many people do you know that get to go to work and just enjoy it? I just can’t believe I get paid to do what I do.” When asked about highlights of his storied career, Miller mentioned that there were too many to single out just a few. “Everyday when I come in I get a new challenge. I am happy here, it is not a job for me, and this is my passion. I am really proud to be in business for 20 years. I am most proud of the relationships that I have developed with the community and with the artists. I have developed so many incredible friendships, some of my best friends are my clients.” For some, 20 years in a profession signals quitting time. But for Tim Miller, leaving the frame shop and gallery behind is not in the question. “I plan on doing this until I retire,” Miller said with a laugh. “I would love to go another 20 years at least! If my children develop the skill to frame and the eye for art, I would gladly give the business to one of them if they wanted it. But who knows what they want to do.” Miller’s 2 children, aged 15 and 17, practically grew up in the shop. “My kids grew up here. When they were a week old they were here in their little cribs. They know this place like the back of their hand.” And for those who are wondering, no, Tim Miller is no artist himself. “I don’t have the skill or the patience to be an artist,” Miller said with a laugh. “For me, it is way more fun viewing art than making art. But in a way, I am an artist because I can finish a work of art and make it flow on the wall. I feel like I have had a part in the painting because the majority of paintings are not truly finished until there is a frame on them and they can be presented well.” And even though he can’t paint himself, his lack of talent in that area has not diminished his drive to make art accessible to everyone. “I just finished a six-year board title at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum,” Miller said. “I helped the BRAHM quite a bit with different shows, giving them advice on how to hang paintings and what looks best on the walls. I enjoyed that for six years, but I don’t want to be on any more boards!” For now, the boards and the stress of museum art shows are behind him. With that, Miller can focus on his true love: framing and selling art to art lovers from all over the world. “I love my job,” Miller said. “I get to listen to the music that I like, I get to work with my hands. I even get to have my dog here with me! What would I do next? I can’t imagine doing anything else. I am definitely, definitely in the right place. I want to be here for another 20 years at least, and I think with my attitude, I think I will be.” 

This Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Featured Artists Jason Drake Jerry Kirk Wiili Armstrong Richard Fennell Roger Allen Nelson Egidio Antonaccio Dave Syfert Robert Broderson Dru Scott Warmath Elliot Daingerfield Paul de Marrais Philip Moose Lita Gatlin Mary Page Whitley William McCullough Pat Pilkington George Snyder Fred Sprock Edward Szmyd Joana Wardell Wesley Waugh Wayne Trapp

2014 Art Shows Lita Gatlin (Oil)

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High Country Magazine

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The Liberty Parade travels through the town of Todd every 4th of July

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Let THE Parade Begin The

Elkland Art Center

Martha Enzmann, the Artistic Director for the Elkland Art Center

Liberty Parade Story by David Coulson Photography By Frederica Georgia

t isn’t unusual for small towns to host a Fourth of July Parade. But no celebration on Independence Day is quite like the one staged in Todd. Where else do parade organizers encourage spectators to participate, make their own costumes, or actually borrow one from the organizers? It may only be three blocks long, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in fun. That is all part of what makes the Liberty Parade in Todd one of a kind. “An amazing way to have fun is a great description for our parade,” said Martha Enzmann, the artistic director for the Elkland Art Center that puts on the event. “It’s beautiful and it’s unique.” In 2000, staff from the Elkland Art Center paid a visit to the popular May Day Parade in Minneapolis, MN., host-

Participants and performers alike are part of the fun and uniqueness of the Liberty Parade

July 2014

High Country Magazine

What Is The

Elkland Art Center

What is the Elkland Art Center? Founded in 1997 in the Old Elkland School in Todd, The Elkland Art Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to build and emphasize community and community involvement while making art. The organization places a large emphasis on using art as a means to make the world a better place. Well known for the annual Trash nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fashion Show in Boone and various parades all over the High Country, the local nonprofit organization offers programs to assist with community development and involvement. The center provides help in many areas of community building including helping with and mentoring for community parades, school programs, workshops on community building while making art, producing documentary videos and more. For more information about the The Elkland Art Center, visit www. ElklandArtCenter.org or call 336-877-5016. 80

High Country Magazine

July 2014

ed by the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. The local group came away inspired to try a parade of their own, with the idea of getting the local community to work together on a large project. “A neighbor suggested we start it,” Enzmann said. The art center began hosting community workshops and meetings that led to the development of several parades in 2000 and 2001. The parades featured giant puppets and marchers wearing costumes. These parades focused on the relationship between the Todd community and the New River and its ecosystem. By 2002, the focus shifted to “puppetry and pageantry in recreational settings,” Enzmann explained, as the art center took note of “the success and excitement” of the initial parades. Eventually, all of this evolved into the Liberty Parade. With a view towards the importance of the environment, the Elkland Art Center developed the following mission statement for its Fourth of July extravaganza: “As a celebration and reminder of liberty, the event has included readings from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, a dictionary definition of liberty, speeches, exhortations, calls to action, recitations of Walt Whitman and the singing enroute of classic patriotic songs.” “We also encourage responsible environmental stewardship as part and portion of our liberty. We educate people about the environment by giving them a chance to “become” the environment using giant parade puppets, representational water, native fish, threatened salamanders and turtles.”

An explosion of colorful costumes dominated the 2013 Liberty Parade, with its theme of fire July 2014

High Country Magazine

Those who show up to participate — along with those from the crowd that are coaxed to join in the fun — begin their three-block, half-mile trek through downtown Todd at 11 a.m.

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Seven years later, the Liberty Parade has grown from 35 people to around 250 to 300 participants each year — and almost as many spectators. Along with the Todd New River Festival in October of each year, the Liberty Parade has blossomed into the major event for the community. “It’s been surprising to see it grow,” Enzmann said. Each year, a new theme — reflecting the natural allure of the Todd area and the New River, which snakes through the small town — is selected and the art center begins constructing costumes as early as January to fit the theme. One of the fascinating elements of this parade is that costumes from past parades are carefully stored away and reused each year. Past years have had themes such as the Earth, the mountains, air and wind, leading to this year’s theme of sound. “We are making sound suits,” said Enzmann. “We are going to have costumes with lots of bells on them.” Besides the larger costumes, there are also creative puppets that are made that depict fish, turtles, salamanders and other wildlife. The costumes and puppets are colorful, awe-inspiring and most of all, uniquely Todd. The Elkland Art Center has a budget of $8,000 for this year’s event and it raises funds from contributors to pay for the parade. After several years of using Kickstarter to raise money for the parade, the Elkland Art Center has a fundraising campaign on Crowdrise this year. Over $1,800 had been raised this year from the Crowdrise campaign at presstime. The art center also gets support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council and uses some of that money to put on seminars and conduct classes in constructing costumes and running parades. “We invite other communities to start their own parades,” said Enzmann. So at 10:30 a.m. on July 4, people will gather in a field owned by Mary Lovehorn Baker at the crossroads of Highway 194 and Railroad Grade Road, with the south fork of the New River nearby. With costumes in place by 11 a.m., those who show up to participate — along with those from the crowd that are coaxed to join in the fun — begin their three-block, half-

Seven years later, the Liberty Parade has grown from 35 people to around 250 to 300 participants each year — and almost as many spectators. mile trek through downtown Todd to Cook Memorial Park. When the parade is through, the fun is just beginning, with Bare Essentials, Earth Fare and the Vitality Food Truck on hand to provide food and encourage fellowship. “They have been supporting us for years,” Enzmann said. And what would a parade be without music? This year, the well-respected local group, King Bees with their rock and blues stylings, will be on hand to provide that essential party element. And one thing is for sure, everyone who shows up with have a day of revelry unlike one they can find anywhere else. 

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July 2014

High Country Magazine

Photographer Freddie Georgia Talks About Her View Of The Parade

“It’s such a hands-on, grass roots effort. You just feel good being there.” by David Coulson

he organizers of the annual Todd Liberty Parade have used the environment to develop themes for each year’s events. The colorful pictures that you are viewing in this month’s High Country Magazine were shot by Freddie Georgia — a local photographer with a background that includes Southern Living — at the 2013 Liberty Parade, where the theme was fire. This year’s July 4th parade theme is sound. Previous themes included air (2012), Earth (2011) and water (2010). The themes are meant to focus on the close relationship between the community and its symbiotic relationship with the New River, which bends languidly through this sleepy, mountain town. “I used to photo a lot of parades and festivals (during my Southern Living days), but this one is hard to beat for fun, entertainment and creativity,” Georgia said. “It’s such a hands-on, grass roots effort. You just feel good being there.” And where else can you go where there are more people participating than spectating? “It’s the only parade I’ve ever been to where there the parade is way bigger than the crowd watching,” Georgia said. “And, heck, the parade is maybe a halfmile long at best? And there is only one real ‘watching’ area.” The themes are a major part of developing the elaborate costumes that are constructed for each year’s event. And each year’s theme lives on as the parade moves on, with the old costumes being stored and brought back for participants to wear in ensuing Liberty parades. With the creative themes, Georgia said that shooting the Freedom Parade “is easy for me to photograph,” and that she finds the participation element fascinating. 84

High Country Magazine

July 2014

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About the Founder Martha Enzmann founded the Elkland Art Center in 1997. Currently acting as board vicepresident, artistic director, documentary video project manager, property manager, puppeteer and fundraiser, Martha has received many degrees and awards including the Alumna of the Year in 1999 from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her current pursuits include parades, performance work, rug design, sculpture, photography and community work.

“Mad/crazy/magical colors, expressions, designs and fabrics are what the creativity is all about.” “I love how everyone is welcome to participate,” said Georgia. “It’s a laidback gathering right from the start ... all the props and costumes, fabrics, masks etc., are set out in a big field and available for anyone to choose to wear/carry/ move on down the road and coordinate with family and friends.” And you never run out of uniqueness. “Even dogs participate and are decorated too, I love that part,” Georgia said. “I was impressed by the way it appealed to people of all ages, little kids and greatgrandparents alike. Honestly it seemed like the older folks were having the most fun, especially getting ‘done-up’ at the start.” Everything about the parade seems to enhance the fun and free-spirited approach. “Everybody is in the groove and the parade actually moves slowly and then stops at the church for a church-lady to sing the National Anthem, then it’s onto the meadow for music, food and fun,” Georgia elaborated. “And along the way, a guy here and there making music on drums or flute.” Georgia prepared for these pictures by dropping by the Elkland Art Center in the days before last year’s parade “I visited Elkland facilities before the parade and it was quite a sight to see,” Georgia said. “It reminded me of shooting a warehouse full of Mardi Gras parade props in New Orleans.” The Mardi Gras comparison is an obvious one. “It is almost haunting and under a roof, the monumental sizes/shapes of some of the props take on a different perspective,” said Georgia. “And then the colors and cool fabrics will knock you right out.” There is even a slightly science-fic-

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High Country Magazine

It is all about enjoyment and relaxing with family and friends at this one-of-a-kind parade

Participants and performers alike make for “an amazing way to have fun” at the Liberty Parade in the words of artistic director Martha Enzmann

High Country Magazine

July 2014

tion type of ambience to some of the proceedings. “Some of the masks/props are almost spooky,” Georgia explained. “I have a friend who is scared of clowns and wouldn’t go in the storage rooms even though castrating goats has no effect on her.” It made for a photographer’s dream. “Mad/crazy/magical colors, expressions, designs and fabrics are what the creativity is all about,” Georgia said. “It’s not a goofy kids parade or dorky/ hokey patriotic parade.” All of this wetted Georgia’s appetite for more. “I did not attend a workshop/gathering prior to the parade, but it’s gotta be fun coming up with a lot of the animal/people masks and props,” she said. “Each year has a new theme with special new props but they use props from previous years so it’s quite a gamut.” And then there is the fact that the Freedom Parade is held in tiny Todd. “I think part of what makes this event so special is that it’s in Todd,” Georgia said. It’s quaint, rural, friendly, mountain-village kind of fun.” And it is made even more fun by the fact that participants play such a large role in how the parade comes off each year. “You can dress up and be whoever you want to be,” Georgia noted. “If you’re old like me, you get to be a kid again. If you’re a kid, you get to see big people being silly and cutting loose. No cops or barricades or parking way-faraway. The whole event just unfolds at a leisurely pace.” There are other enticements, too. “Then at the end there’s a little more parading in front of the music stage … food and beverages — though not a big drinking event mind you — and everyone mingles after putting the props away,” Georgia said. And you never know where else those costumes and puppets might end up. “I photographed Siren Jam last weekend and Elkland props were on stage and used throughout,” Georgia explained. “It created a fun-colorful effect. I think they would like to do more of this, providing props for myriad occasions.” 

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July 2014

High Country Magazine

Story by David Coulson

A Roman Summer in Banner Elk

or centuries, the greatest of painters have packed up looks of the beloved Italian capitol. their easels, brushes, paints and canvases to travel to “There is a reason why so many artists have gone to the Eternal City — Rome — to capture glimmers of Rome through the years,” Connors said recently, from his sunlight unseen anywhere else on the planet. studio in Philadelphia, PA. “It is the poetry of the light. We This summer, a glimpse of are all interested, as artists, in trying to that captivating light has come depict light.” Chris Clark to Banner Elk as noted AmeriThe studies in Rome, led by Concan artist Patrick Connors has nors, Richard Cameron and Miachael gathered a group of 16 paintDjordjevitch, have been titled “Rome ings, inspired by his sketches of Through the Eyes of Piranesi,” and Rome in the past three years, for have transported artists and architects display in a sparkling art show at on a fascinating tour of the Eternal the Clark Gallery. City for the Institute of Classical ArDuring that time, Connors chitecture & Art (ICAA) that has alhas taken a group of students to lowed students to draw, paint and soak Italy each June for a month-long in the environs of this creative mecca exploration into the sun-splashed on a grand scale. caldron that has inspired such a It is a unique exploration that looks wealth of treasured art through not just at the environment of this fabtime. ulous place, but also seeks to recreate The creative results of that the mind-set of the Greco-Roman and effort have been stunning as Renaissance periods that so influenced Connors has returned with a the world of art. wealth of ideas that have been The well-educated Connors comes transformed by oil on paper into across as someone who thinks a great Photo by Charlotte Coulson a series of beautiful and intimate deal about his craft and the result is a 90

High Country Magazine

July 2014

Beauty and antiquity combine with the modern day of Rome in the remarkable art show of Philadelphia-based American artist Patrick Connors currently on display at the delightful Clark Gallery in Banner Elk. The Connors works, painted on oil and paper from sketches made in Rome during the month of June from 2011-2013. The intimate works range from famous landmarks to daily Roman life. highly-refined talent that creates images that transport the audience into a locked place in time. The paintings in the Clark Gallery show range from famous settings, such as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Titus Arch, to depictions of every day Roman life, all captured from the perspective of a particular moment and all showing off the nuanced detail of that gorgeous Roman sunlight. Connors explained the challenge of sharing this essence of Rome is to grasp the ever-changing light as it quickly moves through its complex subtly. “An artist tries to share the experience,” Connors said. “The frustrating part is leaving each year, but I don’t think my case is singular.” The experience of this series of painting is worth the trip to Banner Elk, where this show will be on display until the end of July.

For the experienced art lover, who has viewed great paintings all over the world, there is a tendency to take for granted the scale of what is available in these grand museums. But there is something extra special and surprisingly intimate about seeing these beautiful works displayed in a July 2014

High Country Magazine

small gallery-setting. And the splendid, physical backdrop of Banner Elk and the Appalachian Mountains only enhances the Connors’ works further. Chris Clark, the owner of the Clark Gallery and a long-time resident of the High Country, has long understood this concept, as evidenced by the eclectic mix of works in his shop. But the Connors exhibit is extra special in its abundance of works and its inviting style, which draws the visitor in and invites them to linger on the detail of each image. And its presence in such a tranquil, peaceful place leaves the art patron with a special feeling of connection that almost transports back to its birthing place in Rome. It is the next best thing to viewing these images in person in the Eternal City.

Connections with Patrick Connors T

hose who have visited the Clark Gallery through its 14 years in Banner Elk have taken in works by such artists as Douglas Ferrin, Jim McVicker, David Carpenter, Garrett Eaton, Ian Marion and Tony Griffin. Ironically, all of these artists have studied with, or been taught by Patrick Connors. Chris Clark, the owner of the Clark Gallery, didn’t know of these connections when he started representing the various works of these artists separately. But it has given his gallery a sense of unity that visitors are not likely to find in other galleries. “It happened sort of organically,” said Clark. “Doug has been the driving force between getting different artists to show their works.” When some of these artists learned that Clark was representing Ferrin, they were quick to “immediately send me their paintings,” Clark said. Clark met Connors at an annual Irene Guggenheim fund-

raiser in New York City that draws those from the circle of the New York Art Academy where Connors teaches seven years ago. “I went upstairs and hung out with the artists,” said Clark. “I met Patrick, who told me he had gone to school with several of the artists that I represented.” Ultimately, that meeting and those connections led to the Connors show currently on display through the end of July at the Clark Gallery. “I didn’t realize that Chris knew all of the artists that I knew,” Connors said. “We all went to the Pennsylvania Academy.” As for his decision to provide paintings for the Roman summer show at the Clark Gallery, Connors said “It seemed like a natural fit.” Philadelphia artist Patrick Connors is in his comfort zone both painting and instructing others in the fine points of the Plein Air techniques.

David Coulson, a free-lance writer who lives in the Powder Horn Mountain community of Watauga County, is executive editor of the website College-Sports-Journal.com, has covered Appalachian State athletics frequently for the past 23 years and has been a frequent contributor to High Country Magazine. His book Magic on the Mountain was published by Parkway Publishers and followed the 2005 Appalachian State football team on its journey to the NCAA Division I national championship and is available from the author. 92

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The Words of Patrick Connors on the Clark Gallery Exhibit

Hunt Slonem: A Star of American Art

ne of the current stars in the modern world of American art is Hunt Slonem and you will find a generous display of his work in the Clark Gallery. Slonem, who has paintings and sculptures in museums throughout the world, has become so popular that his work is often used as the backdrop for advertising and many people use his paintings as a centerpiece for designing rooms. Chris Clark, who calls Slonem “the Andy Warhol of his generation,” has shown and sold some of Slonem’s paintings for years, going back to his days working in a gallery in Aspen, CO., and had 10 of his works on display at the time of this article. Slonem’s works of neo-expressionism often depict subjects such as rabbits, butterflies and birds with textures and vivid colors that quickly catch the eye of the art affectionado. Slonem is also known for his portraits of Abraham Lincoln.

Lilian Raine Lilian

ne ai R

his summer, starting on June 6, Clark Gallery in Banner Elk, N.C. will be exhibiting my Rome paintings. The paintings cover a period of the past three years, 2011-13, when I taught and painted in Rome each June. The show depicts the commonplace and exceptional moments that make up one’s experience of Rome. In painting the splash of the morning sunlight, striking a decaying arch, the eerie glow of a sky before the storm, or the glow of a cast shadow, in which a lone figure smokes a cigarette, these glimpses were among my attempts to retain and share an experience of the Eternal City. In celebrating its 2,767th anniversary this year, Rome may belie, for a time, our insignificance in the cosmos and reminds us to take delight in the vitality — one which fuels all moments from the mundane to the magnificence — of this fleeting existence.

e consign a fin

GRAND OPENING SOON Currently Accepting Select Designer Clothing, Accessories, Home Furnishings & Seasonal Sporting Goods by Appointment

196 Perkinsville Drive, Boone, NC 828.355.9995 consign@LilianRaine.com July 2014

High Country Magazine

“

Read All About Local Shopping Here

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You should enjoy this – a special section we’ve put together to showcase local retail shops. It’s a well-written look at your friends and neighbors in business. Check ‘em out! Make some of your summer shopping local this year. THE ART CELLAR BANNER ELK. During it’s twenty-two year history The Art Cellar Gallery in Banner Elk has established itself as a definitive arts destination in The High Country, drawing collectors from across the country. 2014 marks another season filled with some of the finest artists from throughout the Southeast, with feature exhibitions and engaging shared gallery installations. Along with six feature exhibitions this summer, the gallery has expanded it’s Saturday Coffee Talks to every Saturday in June, July and August, so visitors can join different gallery artists each Saturday for a fun and informative morning 10am to noon. The complete schedule is available online. The Art Cellar Gallery always presents a full range of work by all their gallery artists, throughout three inviting floors of exhibition space. The galleries knowledgeable staff is always available to assist collectors looking for that special artwork, either a single piece or building an entire collection. The gallery also 94

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houses an onsite frame studio, providing all framing needs from custom conservation framing to mirrors. The Art Cellar Gallery is located in Banner Elk on Hwy. 184 and is open Monday - Saturday from 10am to 5pm.  828-898-5175. www.artcellaronline.com. See ad on page 13

BANNER ELK CONSIGNMENT COTTAGE BANNER ELK. Consignment store specializing in classic furniture, art and home goods. Expanding to bring you an even larger selection. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find! Tue - Sat: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm. 414 Shawneehaw Ave, Banner Elk. Find us on Facebook.  828-898-5733. See ad on page 25

BJ’s resort wear BANNER ELK. BJ’s Resort Wear, located in Downtown Banner Elk, was established in 1976 and proudly, always under the same ownership. BJ’s specializes in high-end sports wear

and ready to wear for women. Most notably, Bogner, Belford, Lafayette 148, Saint James of France, Yeohlee, Johnny Was, Peace of Cloth, Biya and the finest cashmere from Johnston’s of Scotland and Magaschoni. Known for their personal service, friendly staff and seasonal trunk shows, you will find BJ’s at 145 Main Street West, Banner Elk, NC.  828-8984229. See ad on page 16

blowing rock estate jewelry BLOWING ROCK. Blowing Rock Estate Jewelry and Antiques, located on Sunset Drive is your local avenue for beautiful jewelry and antique finds. A family owned and operated local store, they have a huge selection of platinum and 14 and 18-kt fine and estate jewelry. They specialize in diamonds, various precious colored gemstones and unique heirloom jewelry of all kinds. Since 1988, Blowing Rock Estate Jewelry has been providing fantastic service to patrons all across the High Country. Make your way in

today to see what you can find. You may find your next family heirloom.  828-295-4500. See ad on page 44

BOONE MALL BOONE. With a varied mix of stylish, name-brand establishments, such as Belk, JC Penny, TJ Maxx, Panera Bread Company, Game Stop, Bath and Body Works, Radio Shack, Old Navy, Black Bear Books and much more, it’s no wonder Boone Mall is called “The Hub of the High Country.” With ample parking and long hours of operation, the Boone Mall is the one-stop shop for all your shopping needs and basic necessities. Need your hair styled or nails cured? Check out Regis Hair Salons and Le’s Spa & Nails; Shoes? The Shoe Department; Glasses or contacts? Blue Ridge Vision; Jewelry? Saslo Jewelers; A four wheeler? Brushy Mountain Motorsports. The list is endless. Where else can you do all of that and grab a bite to eat? What other fantastic shops are there? Well, there’s Claire’s, Cookies ‘n Cream, Gigi’s Uniforms, GNC, Hallmark, Maurice’s, Primo’s Pizza, Pasta and Subs, RUE-21, Sagesport, Sears, Super Clips, South’s Clothiers, Sports Fanatic, Tucker’s Cafe and much more. The Boone Mall is centrally located with entrances off of N.C. 105 and U.S. 321. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.  828-264-7286. www.booneshoppingmall.com. See ad on page 99

697 West King Street | Boone, NC 28607 | 828-264-6559 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm

CARLTON GALLERY BANNER ELK. One of the most established fine art galleries in North Carolina, Carlton Gallery features a spirited collection of artwork in a casually elegant atmosphere. Celebrating nearly 30 years of business in the High Country, owner Toni Carlton selects creations from traditional to contemporary and features a wide variety of fine art and upscale handmade crafts by over 200 local, regional and national artisans. From extraordinary blown glass and exceptional pottery to designer jewelry and original paintings in oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media, we offer an array of exceptional gift ideas for visitors and collectors, alike. Workshops are conducted by gallery artists in oils, acrylics, waJuly 2014

High Country Magazine

GAINES KIKER Silversmith / Goldsmith

Specializing in Custom Design

tercolor, drawing, expressive and intuitive arts and mixed media collage. These workshops include traditional and abstract landscapes, still life, figurative and visionary. The Carlton Gallery is located at 10360 on N.C. 105 in the Grandfather Community.  828-963-4288. www.carltonartgallery.com. See ad on page 11

The Country Gourmet

Working Studio and Gallery 132 Morris Street - Blowing Rock

828.295.3992

Home Plate. TIM TURNER POTTERY timturner54@gmail.com www.timturnerpottery.blogspot.com 828.260.6016 Studio visit by appointment.

FOSCOE. Owner Betsy Murrelle has been serving sophisticated customers from around the world since 1974. The Country Gourmet is a gourmet kitchen and home accessory shop that abounds in style, selection and service. Located in Foscoe, The Country Gourmet has whatever you need to set a beautiful table with an endless variety of linens, table cloths, runners, place mats and napkins of every size and color. With dozens of name brand selections, The Country Gourmet carries a large selection of the finest ceramic tableware handcrafted in Italy, classic glassware, pewter and casual flatware, Italian and casual dinnerware, cutlery, cookware, kitchenware and a variety of collectible accessories for the home that would always make the perfect gift. Whether it’s a casual or an elegant occasion, The Country Gourmet has the goods to set a beautiful table, impress guests and eat and cook in style. And, owner Betsy Murrelle says, “If we don’t have what you are looking for in stock, we will find it for you!” The Country Gourmet is located at 10543-5 on N.C. 105.  828-9635269. www.thecountrygourmet.com. See ad on page 97

The dande lion FOSCOE. The Dande Lion, Inc., established in 1997, is near Banner Elk at the Shoppes of Tynecastle, which is across the street from Lowes Food shopping center. The store has grown from its first small (really small!) location up the road on Highway 105, to a quaint location in Foscoe, to our latest location at The Shoppes of Tynecastle in Banner Elk. The goal of The Dande Lion has always been to provide a wonderful shopping experience for each woman who passes through the door; it is our desire to provide the best shopping experience in the mountains. We want each woman to walk away with more than a shopping 96

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bag of new clothes. We specialize in personal shopping, assessing the preferences of each customer and then creating an outfit that fits their personality and body perfectly. Jane, the store owner and buyer, works very hard to create outfits from head to toe. At markets, she works diligently to find the perfect handbag, jewelry and shoes to match every outfit! For a truly uplifting experience, please visit the store. The beautiful clothing and ambiance coupled with the wonderful staff will certainly make you glad you did!  828-898-3566. www.dandelionstyles.com. See ad on page 59

DEWOOLFSON FOSCOE. When you spend one-third of your life sleeping, a quality down pillow, comforter and/or feathered bed is one of the best investments for a rejuvenating, restful sleep. DeWoolfson is a High Country business, born and bred. Although DeWoolfson imports a variety of fabrics and goose down fills from Eastern Europe, the business’s office, store and factory are located in Foscoe, supplying European-influenced down products and fine linens to the world’s most comfortable sleepers. Custom comforters and the other products are made to order and shipped within 24 to 48 hours all over the High Country, nation and world. DeWoolfson also stocks one of the largest selections of luxury European linens found anywhere – from France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and other locales. These include well-known names such as Abyss and Habidecor, Matouk, Sferra, Yves Delorme and many more. Good night and sleep tight.  800-833-3696. www.dewoolfsondown.com and www.dewoolfsonlinens.com. See ad on page 7

DOE RIDGE POTTERY BOONE. The reasonably-priced pottery is stunning, the form and color exceptional. Bob Meier fell in love with pottery in 1973 after taking a ceramics course on a whim to fill his class schedule at ASU. In 1988, he initially established his studio out of his home on Doe Ridge Road, and since then, Doe Ridge Pottery has moved to a few different locations in Boone. Today, the workshop/gallery is located in downtown Boone and hundreds of beautiful pieces decorate the gallery, which is home to 14 other talented

artists - from functional pieces that are safe for food, drink, ovens, microwaves and dishwashers to home decor such as lamps and vases. Also, several specialty items exist, such as handmade sinks and the unusual vegetable steamer. A trip to the gallery sometimes feels like a field trip. The studio is visible from the gallery, and if you walk in at the right time, you may see potters in action, throwing clay on the wheel, entranced in that “Zen-like state.” “I enjoy the process of making things in series where you’re making the same thing over and over again,” Meier said. “You can almost let your mind wander and it’s like a mantra. You get into a zone or Zen-like state. It’s a nice place to be because you get into this rhythm of work that creates a calming, metaphysical zone.” Doe Ridge Pottery is located at 585 West King Street below The Bead Box.  828-264-1127. www.doeridgepottery. homestead.com. See ad on page 99

b o o s e” Th e R endeCRae L k “ in d e t a c Lo Ba n nTown Dow

Wild Bird & Gift Store Seed, Houses, Feeders, Home & Garden Gifts Blown Glass, Solar Selections, Wind Chimes, Yard Flags, Candles, Whirligigs & Balancers 441 Shawneehaw Ave. • Banner Elk, NC 828-898-5008 • www.wingnitnc.com

“noT JUST a BiRD SToRe ...” and don’t forget the FUDGe!!!

Gaines Kiker’s Studio BLOWING ROCK. A designer metalsmith, Gaines Kiker specializes in silver, gold, platinum, mixed met-

FUN Bird Houses

Balancers

Solar Light

Bird Feeders

Chimes

TELEPHONE WIRE BASKETS FROM AFRICA

941-258-0206 1179 MAIN STREET SOUTHMARKE BLOWING ROCK

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July 2014

High Country Magazine

Summer SHOPPING Guide als and precious stones. His Blowing Rock gallery showcases an impressive collection of sculpture and contemporary jewelry that includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets and functional art and custom designs. “The feel of the metal in my hands and the gratification involved in the creative process continues to inspire me,” Kiker said. “What I want to do is take your idea and make it into something that is an expression of your personality.” Kiker earned a BFA in Metal Design from East Carolina University and then completed an apprenticeship with Ubaldo Vitali, an Italian silversmith in New York. He has studied at Penland School of Crafts, at the Gemological Institute of America and was a student in the University of Georgia’s graduate studies abroad program in Cortona, Italy. From jewelry and sculpture to wedding, wood and custom pieces, Gaines Kiker’s Studio offers an array of artistic and functional pieces that would be perfect gifts this holiday season. Gaines Kiker’s Studio is located at 132 Morris Street in Blowing Rock.  828-295-3992. www. gaineskikersilversmith.com. See ad on page 96

Hardin FINE Jewelry BANNER ELK. Hardin Jewelry in scenic Banner Elk is a must for any lover of fine jewelry, or for anyone who is just curious about beautiful pieces. This local jewelry destination specializes in unique gems, dazzling diamonds and eclectic gifts for that special someone. It is also a must see shop if you just feel like indulging yourself a little! Their elegant jewelry showroom showcases the best in fine gems. Featured at the shop are rare, precious and semi-precious gemstones in exquisite settings. This lovely little shop, located just down the road, is the perfect place to find just what you’ve been looking for in a new piece of fine jewelry.  828-8984653. See ad on page 13

MAST GENERAL STORE BOONE & VALLE CRUCIS. Imagine downtown Boone or Valle Crucis without a Mast General Store. It’s 98

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almost inconceivable. The store is a tour de force. Whether snow is on the ground or the leaves are green, yellow red or orange, more visitors pack into the Mast General Store locations in the High Country than they do The Rock during an ASU football game. The stores are packed with the highest-ofquality goods that range from rugged apparel and gourmet kitchenware to old-fashioned toys and women’s fashions It is almost inconceivable to leave the store empty handed. Oh, and don’t forget about the Candy Barrel. If you are looking for a special gift for a special somebody (even if that person is you!), be sure to stop in on your next visit to the High Country. It’s an experienced guaranteed to be pleasing. Not only has Mast General Store revived the downtowns that it inhabits, but the Mast General Store Family has been good stewards of the High Country and good neighbors to the so many that call the High Country home. Two locations exist: Historical Valle Crucis and Downtown Boone.  828-9636511 and 828-262-0000. www.mastgeneralstore.com. See ad on page 9

old World galleries BOONE. Beginning with a few hundred dollars and a dream a few decades ago in Blowing Rock, Charlie and Joy Travis of Old World Galleries quickly established themselves as the go-to experts for clients in the High Country for estate jewelry, custom pieces and repair and appraisal. After taking a decade off from the retail side of things, the Travis’ have finally returned to the High Country to help keep up their established relationships and forge new friendships as well at their new location in downtown Boone. Come find out what has made Charlie and Joy Travis synonymous with quality, service and satisfaction and visit Old World Galleries in Boone for all of your jewelry needs. Their new showroom and friendly service will ensure you find exactly what you’re looking for, from a family heirloom estate piece to a beautiful gift for that someone special on your list.  828-264-6559. www.oldworldgalleries.com. See our ad on page 95

oPEN DOOR blowing rock. The Open Door is a fair trade shop, that focuses there beautiful products from different regions of Africa. Some of the items include Zulugrass Jewelry (that’s right its made from grass) your purchase brings work directly to women in Kenya 5% of the sales goes back to support health and education. Telephone wire baskets are vibrant colors and refined shapes are hallmarks of this art. Swaziland sisal jewelry ,only a select few weavers have the skills to create this intricately woven pieces. Also, many different shape baskets from Ghana and Senegal. Purses, wood carvings and more amazing crafts that you won’t want to miss. A percent of your purchase will support orphans in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Come check out the new location in Blowing Rock - 1179 Main St., South Marke.  941-258-0206. See our ad on page 97

THE SHOPPES AT FARMER’S HARDWARE BOONE. Some places in downtown Boone are iconic and provide a link to the past. Think Boone Drug, Appalachian Twin Theater and Farmer’s Hardware. All three, which have been quintessential to downtown for decades, have had to adapt to the changes and pressures of technology and big-box stores. Farmer’s Hardware, which originally opened in 1924 as a hardware retailer, closed its doors in 2004, changed its business model and reopened the next summer as an eclectic emporium called The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware. In 1924, Clyde Greene opened Farmer’s Hardware at the current Boone Bagelry location. Soon, Farmer’s moved to the corner of Depot and King streets, where it stands, albeit in a different form, today. It’s still a local, family business, though, with Greene’s descendents running the show and providing a 21st-century vision for Farmer’s. The Shoppes at Farmer’s Hardware has more than 100 shops and features a wide variety of merchandise including jewelry, handbags, totes, foot-

wear, apparel, baby gifts, handcrafts, framed art, home décor, furniture, toys, stringed instruments, kitchenware, birdfeeders and much more.  828-264-8801. www.shoppesatfarmers.com. See ad on page 95

SUPERIOR SPAS BOONE. “Your backyard specialist.” A Jacuzzi 5 star dealer and a top Connelly Billiards Dealer. We also carry Big Green Egg Grills, game tables, pool chemicals, pool, spa and billiard accessories. We pride ourselves with our service and our customers tell us we do an excellent job at it. “Excellent service from the moment we walked through the door. Not pushy which was very important to us. Great service in delivering spa. We have called with umpteen questions and are treated with the same level of attention.”  828-963-6624. www.superior-spas. com. See ad on page 31

Tatum Galleries BANNER ELK. A fresh, new vision for your office or home – that’s what Sally and Steve Tatum have, for decades, offered the High Country with their “Home Décor Center,” known as Tatum Galleries in Banner Elk. Since it opened nearly 30 years ago, the showroom has expanded to 6,000 square feet and includes indoor and outdoor furniture, bedding, floor, wall and window treatment and a huge collection of lamps, artwork, decorative accessories and other unique furnishings. With a seasoned interior design team, the staff offers years of experience and a variety of styles and choices that can accommodate all design needs and budgets – not to mention great service! The vast collection that Tatum Galleries offers will accentuate your home with timeless furnishings. Whether you need a little direction or a complete revamping, Tatum Galleries can help. Let their beautifully decorated showroom spark your imagination and introduce you to the possibilities that await you inside your home. Tatum Galleries is located at 5320 N.C. 105 in Banner Elk.  828-963-6466. www.tatumgalleries.com. See ad on this page 29

TIM TURNER POTTERY BANNER ELK. I started my clay adventure at Appalachian State University in the mid 70’s, moving on to Penland, NC where I met and worked with some remarkable artists and craftspeople. In the early 80’s I moved backed to the Boone/Banner Elk area in the northwest corner of North Carolina where I set up a studio and produced pots for over twenty years. In 1996, after the Watauga River had washed through my studio for the third time I decided to take a hiatus from pots and concentrate on painting, which I had also been doing in my “spare” time and could easily be done on higher ground. Eleven years later I had an opportunity to get my hands dirty again thinking, I’d just play around a bit but I caught the clay bug again. My goal is to produce strong, simple forms with minimal decoration. The majority of my work is made from high fired stoneware and fired in a gas kiln to 2345 degrees. Glazed with shino glazes, patterns are drawn with wax then a final glaze sprayed over. Pots are made for daily use being food, microwave and oven safe. I also wood fire a few times a year, giving me a chance to play around with different shapes and glazes. Pots are covered with slips and glazes and fired for 1214 hours to 2345 degrees. I love using the wood/soda aspect of the firing as a means to create subtle effects that emphasize the strength of the form.  828-260-6016. www.timturnerpottery. blogspot.com. See ad on this page 96

WINGn’IT BANNER ELK. WingN’It is “Your Local Wild Bird & Gift Store” with an eclectic mix for indoor and outdoor decorating! We have the largest collection of wild bird houses, feeders and bird baths in the mountains. BUT, we’re NOT JUST A BIRD STORE! From wind chimes on the porch, to flags in the garden, whirligigs in the yard, and a balancer or two bobbing across the lawn - we are your source! Think of us first for all your GIFTS!! And, don’t forget the CREAMY FUDGE!! Located in “The Little Red Caboose,” Downtown Banner Elk.  828-898-5008. www.wingnitnc.com. See ad on page 97

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Banner Elk’s

Hot Spot Story by David Coulson • Photos by Ken Ketchie

here was a time when one of the last places in the High Country a person would have looked for night life was Banner Elk. But this once sleepy college town, nestled between ski resorts like Sugar Mountain, Beach Mountain and Hawksnest, has gradually constructed a new persona in recent years. Downtown Banner Elk now features a bevy of activities nearly every night and has built a reputation as a place to go for music, dancing, art, watching sports together and — most of all — fine cuisine in a comfortable, friendly, relaxed and safe environment. At the center of this cultural renaissance is Sorrento’s Italian restaurant, one of the hallmarks of a town long known for being something of a stalwart for dining in the region. Sorrento’s originally opened in 1986 when this Italian family realized that there was a large void in the High Country dining experience and the enterprise has grown by leaps and bounds ever since. “It was a great opportunity,” said Angelo Sorrento, who oversees the family operation now after growing up around the business and learning his craft from the ground floor up. “Twenty years ago, I was cooking on the line.” Sorrento’s is still presenting one of the best Italian dining experiences you can find in the High Country, but the area around this fine restaurant also features the Sushi Club for fish and prime rib lovers and Bayou Smokehouse and Grill for those who like Cajun, barbecue and other American standards. But the area is about more than its great food. There is a variety of music that rivals the gamete of cuisine. Bayou presents rock, blues and other pop styles in its Concert in the Courtyard series every Tuesday. The Sushi Club is the place for jazz on Wednesday evenings and Friday is reserved for the fun of the karaoke experience. On Saturdays, the Sushi Club is transformed into a Miami Beach-styled dance club, with music from a live DJ. Every night, you can stop by Barro, a bar that has been transformed into a comfortable environment for patrons to watch sports, play games and enjoy drinks, or even cigars with friends. There is also an art gallery where people can view the works of several local artists, or even take out brush and canvass and take a try at their own work of art. After other restaurants and businesses close, workers come to the area to unwind, enjoy late-night activity and grab a bite to eat. There is even a fire pit in the middle of the complex, encouraging folks to venture from one venue to another, or just relax. “There is a village downtown now,” said Angelo Sorrento. “It has been 10 years in the making, but we have created something. It is an entertainment complex where people can come.” July 2014

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Jazz Night I

n 2011, veteran jazz trumpeter and Banner Elk resident Shane Chalke set out to put together a new band. The result was the Shane Chalke BE Jazz Band, which plays every Wednesday evening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Sushi Club in Banner Elk. Chalke, who also plays the flugelhorn, recruited piano player Jim Fleri, bass player Ben McPherron and drummer Michael Wills for his band. And Chalke’s long list of musical contacts allows for him to bring in a different performer to sit in with the band each week. There is a decidedly “cool” vibe to this band, which has been influenced by the likes of Miles Davis, Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Dave Brubeck, Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Clark Terry, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins and others. 102

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any locales offer a place to enjoy drinks, food, games and even cigars for patrons, but the Barra experience is unique. At the heart of this Banner Elk establishment is a finely crafted bar that dates back over 100 years ago. It was originally built in London, England and eventually found its way to Tampa, FL. When the place where it was located was converted into an Outback restaurant several years ago, a craftsman named Don Walstead traded some work for this historical structure. Walstead then called his friend Angelo Sorrento and said “I have the perfect bar for you.” The bar was disassembled, transported to Banner Elk and then reassembled at Barra to help create a unique ambience, which is also enhanced by fine, comfortable leather chairs and coaches to make for a leisurely place to enjoy for a relexing time.

Barra

Downtown Banner Elk www.bannerelkbarra.com • 898-7727 July 2014

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ombining several key elements to create a multi-faceted experience, the Sushi Club has become a local favorite in the Banner Elk night scene. Fish and other ingredients are flown in fresh every day and prepared exquisitely to give patrons a great dining experience, whether their taste ranges towards raw, or cooked items. There are nightly food and drink specials, with Cajun specialities on Wednesday, prime rib on Thursdays and seafood specials ranging from Maine lobster to fish and chips on Fridays. But the Sushi Club is about more than food and drinks. Wednesdays are Jazz Night at the Sushi Club, with trumpeter Shane Chalke presenting a four-piece house band that plays cool stylings and popular standards from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and beyond. A guest musician is also brought in every week to sit in with the band and provide variety. Friday is usually karaoke night, creating a fun atmosphere for friends and new acquaintances to enjoy. And on Saturdays, a variety of DJs transform the Sushi Club into one of the best dance scenes in the High Country, with the lights and music creating a Miami South Beach style of entertainment for those who love Electronic Dance Music. The unique lighting creates a great atmosphere for enjoying a night of dancing and the latest trends on the EDM scene. It Downtown Banner Elk provides a dance-club experience that partiers would be more www.bannerelksushiclub.com â&#x20AC;˘ 898-1940 likely to find in a much bigger city.

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Photo by Charlotte Coulson

Studio 140

everal years ago, when one of the spaces in the Sorrento’s restaurant complex became open, an artist came by and asked Angelo Sorrento a simple question: “Do you have a place where I could paint?” David Banages queried. Sorrento’s turned the open building next to Barra into an art gallery called Studio 140 and Banages began to work, creating many of the fine art works which line the walls at Sorrento’s and more pieces that are on display regularly in the gallery. Sorrento, who paints as well, is one of the artists who regularly utilizes this space, which has spots available for anyone to rent and get creative. Besides the paintings of Banages, the gallery also features the works of noted local artist Kent Paulette and others. Studio 140 is currently running a promotion where people can drop by the gallery, take a photo and tag the gallery on Facebook, for follow it on Pinterest, or Instagram and be entered to win a drawing for a painting giveaway in October. July 2014

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Bayou Bar

Concerts in the Courtyard A

fter seeing the success of some of the other live music events in Banner Elk, the Bayou Smokehouse and Grill decided to jump into the mix a few years back with its Concerts in the Courtyard series. After trying other evenings, Bayou settled on Tuesday nights for its concerts, currently featuring the Whip Daddys and their energetic mix of beach music, blues, rock and party tunes. “Tuesday is a nice atmosphere,” said Bayou owner Winston Ammann. “It is real family oriented.” On a recent Tuesday night, a group of listeners joined in to help the band sing one of its songs. “They could have been their back-up singers,” said Ammann. “Everyone was having so much fun.” Local musicians Dave Calbert, Hope Harvey and Dennis Lacey are among the regulars who form the Whip Daddys, but with the group’s connections within the High Country Music community, you never know who might show up to sit in.“People are drawn to the boardwalk,” Ammann said. “It is like a festival atmosphere.” One of the features of Tuesday nights at the Bayou is something called “Wine Amnesty.” Patrons can pick a bottle of wine in the Bayou General Store and purchase it for store shelf prices before taking it to the concert to enjoy. 106

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There is also free wine tasting every Tuesday at Bayou. The popular Bayou General Store also features a large collection of craft beers, hot sauces, barbecue sauces, unique gifts and even books published by local authors. A centerpiece of the restaurant is the Bayou bar, where people can enjoy a variety of beer on tap, or the wide array of craft beers, enjoy from a large wine list, or partake of mixed drinks. There are also plenty of televisions to enjoy the best sporting events of the night and a pool table to pursue competition of another kind. Owners David, Winston and Lee Ammann brought their love of food from their days growing up in Louisiana and Texas. They owned a popular Charlotte restaurant called Bayou Kitchen — a business that grew out their successful catering company that served clients such as the Carolina Panthers’ Richardson family, Winston Cup drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ken Schrader, Trammel Crow, ProLogis, Childress Klein and Mary Tribble Creations. Since opening the new Bayou in Banner Elk 11 years ago, the Ammanns have embraced the culture of the High Country. “We came up here to enjoy the weather and be outside,” said Ammann. And the Concerts in the Courtyard are great for getting locals and visitors alike into the same mood. “One of the things I like about Banner Elk is that you can come and park at one place and do a lot of Downtown Banner Elk other things,” Ammann said. “I appreciate the safety www.bayousmokehouse.com • 898-8952 people find while having a good time in Banner Elk.”

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TRY OUR NEW SUNDAY BRUNCH!

s u o m a F d Worl

o r t s i B

Lunch: Wed-Sat 11 am - 4 pm • Sunday Brunch: 10 am - 4 pm • Dinner Daily: 4 pm - 11 pm

Village Shoppes • Downtown Banner Elk • www.sorrentosbistro.com • 898-5214

Banner Elk Winery & Villa The High Country’s Premier Winery

Bed & Breakfast Open Year Round

Open for Wine Tasting & Tours Tuesday through Sunday Noon - 6 p.m.

Closed Monday except for Holiday Weekends

Unforgettable Weddings at Banner Elk Winery From the light in Banner Elk, 1½ miles North to Gualtney Road. Turn left ¼ mile. 108

828.898.9090 or 828.260.1790

High Country Magazine

July 2014

www.BannerElkWinery.com

Thursday / Friday dinner specials B A N N E R E L K

S U S H I C L U B Sports Bar, Tequila Bar Featuring the Best Tasting Sushi in the High Country!

• Late Night Lounge & Dining • Wednesday Night: Jazz • Thursday: Prime Rib for $9.99 • Friday: Chef’s Choice Seafood Platter for $9.99 • Friday & Saturday: Live DJ

www.bannerelksushiclub.com

828-898-1940

Outdoor Fire Pit & Cigar Lounge

• Thursday: Prime Rib for $9.99 • Friday: Chef’s Choice Seafood Platter for $9.99 • Friday Night Live Entertainment • Late Night Menu until 2am

www.bannerelkbarra.com

828-898-7727

Located Next To Sorrento’s at Village Shops Downtown 140 Azalea Circle, Banner Elk, North Carolina 28604 HouRS oF oPERaTioN

Thursday: 5:00pm - until • Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm - 2:00am Open Wednesdays for Jazz Night from June thru September at 5:00pm-12:00am Sunday: Sushi Club Closed, Barra 4:00pm - 12:00am (1pm – 12:00am during football season) ALL SpeciALS bASeD oN proDucT AVAiLAbiLiTy July 2014 High

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ADV E R T I S E R S I N D E X Please patronize the advertisers in High Country Magazine, and when you purchase from them, please be sure to mention that you saw their ad in our pages. Thank them for their support of this publication by giving them yours! Without their support, this magazine would not be possible. To all of our advertisers, a most sincere thank you.

All Area Codes are 828 unless noted. ADVERTISER

PHONE

PAGE

A Cleaner World............................................... 265-1888 �� 75 Abingdon..................................................... 888-489-4144........................ 83 Appalachian Regional Orthopaedics................. 386-2663........................... 53 Appalachian Blind & Closet Co........................ 264-1395........................... 43 Art Cellar......................................................... 898-5175 �� 13 Avery Chamber of Commerce....................... 800-972-2183........................ 59 BJ’s Resort Wear.............................................. 898-4229........................... 16 Bailey Drapery & Design.................................. 719-0455........................... 38 Banner Elk Café................................................ 898-4040........................... 60 Banner Elk Consignment Cottage...................... 898-5733........................... 25 Banner Elk Realty............................................. 260-1550........................... 38 Banner Elk Sushi Club...................................... 898-1940......................... 109 Banner Elk Winery............................................ 898-9090......................... 108 Banner House Museum.................................... 898-3634........................... 55 Barra................................................................ 898-7727......................... 109 Best Cellar at the Inn at Ragged Gardens.......... 295-9703........................... 68 Blinds Direct.................................................... 295-3323........................... 27 Blowing Rock Ale House & Inn......................... 414-9600........................... 68 Blowing Rock Estate Jewelry............................ 295-4500........................... 44 Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery................ 295-0041........................... 39 Blowing Rock Furniture.................................... 295-7755 �� 41 Blowing Rock Grille.......................................... 295-9475........................... 63 Boone Bagelry......................................262-5585 and 262-1600................ 64 Boone Mall...................................................... 264-7286........................... 99 BRAHM............................................................ 295-9099........................... 86 Café Portofino.................................................. 264-7772 �� 65 Canyons.......................................................... 295-7661 �� 62 Carlton Gallery................................................. 963-4288 �� 11 Carolina West Wireless................................. 800-235-5007........................ 27 Casa Rustica.................................................... 262-5128 �� 67 Castle Rock Realty........................................... 898-4444........................... 76 Celeste’s......................................................... 295-3481............................. 4 Char Restaurant................................................ 266-2179........................... 67 Chestnut Grille at Green Park Inn...................... 414-9230........................... 61 Country Gourmet.............................................. 963-5269........................... 97 Creative Printing.............................................. 265-2800........................... 86 Dande Lion...................................................... 898-3566........................... 59 DeWoolfson Down ...................................... 800-833-3696 �� 7 Dianne Davant & Associates . .......................... 898-9887 ��Inside Front Cover Doe Ridge Pottery............................................ 264-1127 �� 99 Eat Crow.......................................................... 963-8228........................... 64 Echota......................................................... 800-333-7601 �� Back Cover Eseeola Lodge.................................................. 733-4311........................... 65 Gaines Kiker Silversmith / Goldsmith................ 295-3992........................... 96 Gamekeeper..................................................... 963-7400 �� 62

ADVERTISER

PHONE

PAGE

Grandfather Vineyard & Winery......................... 963-2400........................... 29 Groovy Nights.................................................. 295-3171........................... 40 Hardin Fine Jewelry.......................................... 898-4653 �� 13 High Mountain Expeditions............................... 266-RAFT........................... 47 Hound Ears Club.............................................. 963-2137............................. 2 JoLynn Enterprises, Inc.................................... 297-2109........................... 30 Joy Bistro........................................................ 265-0600 �� 64 Lilian Raine...................................................... 355-9995........................... 93 LiLu Interiors.................................................... 719-5700........................... 15 Linville Falls Winery......................................... 765-1400........................... 46 Mast General Store .....................................866-FOR-MAST �� 9 Monkees of Blowing Rock................................ 295-0708............................. 3 Mountain Land............................................. 800-849-9225 �� 87 Mountain Tile................................................... 265-0472 �� 18 Mountaineer Landscaping................................ 733-3726 �� 19 Mustard Seed................................................... 295-4585........................... 44 Old World Galleries.......................................... 264-6559........................... 95 Open Door................................................... 941-258-0206........................ 97 Page Dentistry.................................................. 265-1661......................... 111 Parkway Craft Center........................................ 295-7938........................... 33 Piedmont Federal Bank..................................... 264-5244............................. 1 Red Onion Café................................................ 264-5470........................... 66 Roots Restaurant.............................................. 414-9508........................... 68 Serves You Right.............................................. 295-4438............... 24, 33, 40 Seven Devils.................................................... 963-5343........................... 77 Shoppes at Farmers Hardware.......................... 264-8801........................... 95 Six Pence......................................................... 295-3155........................... 63 Sky Line/Sky Best........................................ 800-759-2226........................ 87 Sorrentos Bistro............................................... 898-5214......................... 108 Speckled Trout Cafe......................................... 295-9819........................... 66 Stone Cavern................................................... 963-8453 �� 5 Sugar Mountain Resort..................................... 898-4521 �� 17 Sunalei............................................................ 263-8711......................... 113 Superior Spas.................................................. 963-6624........................... 31 Tanner-Doncaster Outlet................................... 295-4200........................... 85 Tatum Galleries & Interiors............................... 963-6466 �� 29 Tim Turner Pottery............................................ 260-6016........................... 96 Timberlake’s Restaurant at Chetola................... 295-5505........................... 69 Todd Bush Photography................................... 898-8088 �� 2111 Todd Rice Real Estate....................................... 263-8711........................... 30 Vidalia Restaurant............................................ 263-9176........................... 64 Watsonatta....................................................... 264-4540........................... 57 Wellspring Retirement Community............... 800-547-5387........................ 31 WingN’it.......................................................... 898-5008........................... 97

www.HCPress.com

110

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Curtis R. Page, DDS, PA Caring Professional Comprehensive Dentistry for Adults and Children We Accept and File Insurance and Payment Plans Available Expanded Office Hours Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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New Coffee Table Book by Todd Bush

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Todd Bush

Publisher: Don Iverson

Limited Edition Reserve yours Today Order online: bushphoto.com Call 828-898-8088 July 2014

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Parting Shot...

PARTING SHOT

Kmart Closes After 35 Years

mong the first big-box enterprises to arrive in the High Country, Kmart is closing its doors in September – likely making the way for another retailer to operate on the property, which features an 84,393-square-foot building on nearly seven acres of commercial strip off of Blowing Rock Road. Kmart opened in 1979 – 35 years ago. “It was the discount store of choice,” Boone Area Chamber of Commerce President Dan Meyer remembered. Not so much today with Walmart, Big Lots and other chain stores now competing in the High Country. Sears Holding, the corporation that was formed when Kmart and Sears merged, announced the closure in June. The local Kmart had previously withstood the pressures that caused dozens of other Kmart and Sears stores across the country in 2012. “Store closures are part of a series 112

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of actions we’re taking to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust our asset base, and accelerate the transformation of our business model. These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers and members through integrated retail – at the store, online and in the home,” said Howard Riefs, corporate communications director for Sears Holding. The Boone store has 41 employees, most of whom are part time or hourly. Once the Boone location closes, these associates will be available for severance and have the opportunity to apply for positions at other Sears and Kmart stores. While a few tears were shed after this news, much of the talk around town concerns: What is going to take its place? At about the same time the closure was announced, the property was purchased by Equity Resource Partners for $6.97 million with plans for the prop-

erty untold. But rumor has it, what replaces Kmart will have more jobs. “We would love to see a substantial retail operation there that would replace or even exceed the number of employees,” Meyer said. “And scuttlebutt has it that a new venture would probably offer even more jobs than that are currently there at Kmart. We would be pleased with that.” Judging from comments on Facebook, residents would love to see a Target or Costco. What about you? By Jesse Wood

Summer Open House See for yourself what lies beyond the gates at the High Country’s premier gated community.

HIKING TRAILS R E C R E AT I O N C E N T E R 1 4 0 A C R E S C O N S E R VA N C Y L A N D S T E N N I S C O U RT & P U T T I N G G R E E N G O L F P R I V I L E G E S AT B O O N E G O L F C O U R S E H I G H E S T C LU B H O U S E E A S T O F T H E R O C K I E S

Select Building Lots from 2 to 11 Acres Custom Mountain Homes from $630,000

Friday & Saturday 10:00-4:00 Sunday 1:00-5:00 DIRECTIONS: From Boone, travel north on Hwy 421 for 12 miles. Turn right on Rich Mountain Road to Sunalei entrance. Follow signs to the Sales Ofﬁce.

A place for your family to gather.

A place to be inspired.

A place to protect.

BOONE OFFICE:

YONAHLOSSEE RESORT OFFICE:

Shulls Mill Road, Blowing Rock 828 /963-7370

Serving the High Country for Over 32 Years.

2237 Highway 105 South, Boone 828 /263-8711

www.BlueRidgeRealty.net

July 2014

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L E S S O N S

F R O M

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G R A N D F A T H E R

“There’s plenty to share that isn’t on your smartphone.” _ Grandfather

From your deck, Grandfather Mountain speaks to you. Inspiring you to slow down, cherish time with family and friends, and soak up all the beauty and adventure the mountains have to offer. Echota is the most successful community in the history of the High Country with owners from across the Southeast. They’ve each learned that whether we’re talking about a mountain as ancient 133 Echota Parkway Boone, North Carolina 800.333.7601

as time itself, or wisdom born from experience and love: When Grandfather speaks, you should listen. To arrange a tour of Echota, call 1.800.333.7601 or stop in today.

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EchotaNC.com