Issue 023 February 2013 Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™

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February 2013

The Destination Magazine

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ooking forward, making plans for 2013 and anticipating a exciting year! This issue has a surplus of information on events and festivals to kick off another season of exploring the unique destinations that are close to home brought to you by Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™. In this issue alone you’ll find halibut and haggis, pirates, Scots and millionaires.

Ramps & Rainbows to the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games, family, fun, and food is what our destinations are about this year, and every year!

Get out and enjoy yourself this year and use our Destination Magazine as your guide! What’s your destination?

We know we are on to something!

Lisa & Andy Jay Publishers Produced by: Photodude.net LLC Sales: Lisa Jay, Steven Shober Contributing Writers: Lisa Jay, Connie Nelson, Floyd Harris, Project 543, Visit NC Contributing Photographers: PhotodudeART.com, Bill Russ, Visit NC, North Carolina Ski Areas Association, Matt Walksler

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CONTENTS Destinations 6 Project 543 - Ski The Earliest Opening Ski Resort In The Southeast

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Wheels Through Time Partners With Biltmore For Exhibit At America’s Largest Home. 12 Fourth Annual Yadkin Winter Reds Food & Pairing Event!

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Come See What’s New in North Carolina

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Celebrate Flowers, Music, Pirates, Wine & More

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Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina

24

Neuse River Music Fest

25

Along The Way

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The list of events in this publication is compiled from various sources dates & times are tentative & subject to change. Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™ is published by Photodude.net LLC 369 Dovefield Drive Summerfield, NC 27358 (704) 706-2365 www.DashboardsandSaddlebags.com Published by Andy Jay. ©2013 All rights reserved. Photodude.net LLC Publisher, Agents & Advertisers do not necessarily condone any activities or advertisement listed in this magazine. The Publisher and its officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and sponsors are not responsible for any loss or damage which might be associated with patronage of any party named in this publication, and is not responsible for any Act of God such as inclement weather, fire, flood, natural or man-made disaster, etc., that are out of the control of the Publisher, which affect the publishing of this magazine.

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Destinations More Events and Interactive Maps at DashboardsandSaddlebags.com Metrolina Expo Marketplace Jan 31 – Feb 3, 2013 Metrolina Tradeshow Expo 7100 Statesville Road Charlotte, NC 28269 www.icashows.com Fish Cherokee Shiver in the River Feb 1 – 3, 2013 Cherokee NC $10,000 in tagged fish in the rivers on the Cherokee Reservation (excluding the 2.2 miles of catch and release waters) Hundreds of specially tagged fish will be stocked in the Cherokee public fishing waters. When a tagged fish is caught it can be redeemed for cash prizes ranging from $20 to $500 based on the color of the tag.

Redemption location and times to be announced. Open to all ages and for all legal fishing methods. Registration necessary to redeem cash prize. www.fishcherokee.com/shiver.html Celtic Adventure Weekend Feb 1 – 2, 2013 Grove Park Inn Asheville, NC 28804 Passion, artistry and skill collide during this dream weekend for lovers of all things Celtic. Join us as we celebrate the Scots-Irish heritage of Western North Carolina with the finest in music, including concerts by Solas and Gaelic Storm!

Charlotte Area Cars and Coffee Sat, February 2, 7:30am – 11:00am Mattie’s Diner / NC Music Factory Uptown Village-Main Lot 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd, Charlotte NC 28206 We’re back! Cars and Coffee has found a new home! The main lot is huge as it has ~700 spaces. That being said the spaces closest to the Diner should be reserved for regular diner patrons. If local car clubs or groups want to park together there is amble space to do so, there are four separate entrances to the lot, the closest to Mattie’s may not be ‘low car friendly’ so try the other three.

Th e A m e r i c a n K a r t i n g S h o w Fe b 8 – 9 , 2 0 1 3 M e t r o l i n a Tradeshow Expo 7100 Statesville Road Charlotte, NC 28269 www.metrolinatradeshowexpo.com For the Love of Chocolate...And Wine! Sat, February 9, 11am – 12pm The Vineyards of Swan Creek Ronda, NC 28670 Join the Vineyards of Swan Creek for a unique chocolate and wine pairing. Enjoy a different chocolate concoction at each vineyard paired with wine.

Visit www.swancreekvineyards.com for more info.

Seagrove Winterfest Feb 15 – 19, 2013 127 E Main St Seagrove, N C 2 7 3 4 1 I n t h i s f i r s t e v e n t o f t h e N e w Ye a r, S e a g r o v e potters showcase feature new winter pieces and collections.

Martha Graves (336) 873-7887

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Destinations 2013 Neuse River Music Fest Feb 15 – 16, 2013 Lenoir Community College 231 Hwy 258 South Kinston, NC 28504 Formerly known as the Kinston Winter Bluegrass Festival. This year’s entertainment includes fan favorites Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Gene Watson, IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, James King, Al Batten & the Bluegrass Reunion, and Samantha Casey & the Bluegrass Jam. Rhonda Vincent and Gene Watson will be featured at this year’s VIP Reception on Saturday night. Tickets are limited, so buy yours today! www.lenoircc.edu/Foundation/nrmf.htm Charlotte International Motorcycle Show. Feb 22 – 24. Charlotte C o nve n t i o n C e n t e r. 5 0 1 S o u t h C o l l e g e S t r e e t , C h a r l o t t e , NC 28202. Visit Indian Victory Charlotte on the main floor. www.motorcycleshows.com/charlotte Inside Pitch Toy & Hobby Show Feb 23 – 24, 2013 Metrolina Tradeshow Expo 7100 Statesville Road Charlotte, NC 28269 www.metrolinatradeshowexpo.com Metrolina Expo Marketplace Feb 28 – Mar 3, 2013 Metrolina Tradeshow Expo 7100 Statesville Road Charlotte, NC 28269 www.icashows.com Vineyards of Swan Creek Wine and Cheese Festival Mar 2 – 3, 2013 450 Groce Road Ronda, NC 28670 Join the Vineyards of Swan Creek as each vineyard pairs one of their wines with a unique, local cheese from the Ashe County Cheese Factory. The Vineyards of Swan Creek include Raffaldini Vineyards, Dobbins Creek Vineyard, Shadow Springs Vineyard, and Laural Gray Vineyard. swancreekvineyards.com OBX Taste of The Beach Mar 14 – 17, 2013 Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 For a long weekend in March, your favorite Outer Banks eateries will dazzle you with a stunning array of culinary experiences, fabulous gatherings, and unforgettable entertainment. From chefs sharing secrets to marvelous meals to progressive tapas, dine-arounds, the Taste of The Beach will wow the most fickle of foodie fanatics! www.obxtasteofthebeach.com Oakboro Cruise-In Fri, March 22, 5pm – 9pm Main Street - NC Hwy. 205 Oakboro, NC 28129 The Oakboro Cruise-In & Burnout is the largest Downtown Cruise-In in North Carolina! This Stanly County event brings in around 6,000 or so people and over 500 cars depending on the weather. The burnout starts at 9:00 pm and only takes place from April - October! For more information please visit them online @ www.oakborocruisein.com

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Destinations The Chumpcar World Series Saturday, Mar 30, 2013 Virginia International Raceway 1245 Pine Tree Road, Alton, VA Welcome to the ChumpCar World Series! ChumpCar is North America’s home for $500 race cars and REAL endurance road racing. Real racing, real tracks, real drivers and really cheap cars! We’re all about endurance races that range from 7-hours to 24-hours long... and, even longer!

ChumpCar has the distinction of holding the longest closed-course endurance road race in the world... 25 hours, 25 minutes and 25 seconds - the 25:25:25. ChumpCar is a throw-back to the era when racing was fun and cheap... when Bondo beat carbon-fiber; when a crescent wrench was the most valuable tool in your box; when home-made engineering made everyone sit up and take notice; and when adding a little theme to your car didn’t get you laughed off of pit lane. Those were good times... and they’re back. www.chumpcar.com/ 8th Annual Herb Festival Sat, April 13, 9am – 4pm Painters Greenhouse 734 State Road 1104 Old Fort, NC 28762 Join us at the famous WNC annual tradition to enjoy local craftsmen, food, musicians & kids’ activities all weekend! Our wide variety of herbs are on sale for the weekend at unbeatable prices, and we also have beautiful herb pottery planters and container gardens available. Over 25 artisan booths will be displaying hand-crafted artwork. To keep the kids entertained, there will be face painting, a balloon twister and caricature artist, a petting zoo and rescued & rehab animals. If all the festivities leave you feeling tired, local masseuse Karen Barnes will be offering chair massages both days. Finally - don’t forget the food! Feed the whole family with goodies from our varied food vendors, including hand-cut fries, funnel cakes, ice cream, corn dogs, seafood sausages, vegetarian fare, fresh fruit icies & more! www.paintersgreenhouse.com/events.html 20th Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games Apr 19 – 21, 2013 Rural Hill 4431 Neck Road Huntersville, N. C. 28078-8342 Rural Hill would like to welcome you to the 20th annual Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games. This Festival has something for everyone, and you don’t have to be Scottish to have a great time. Historic Rural Hill is a 265 acre historic site, working farm, events destination, and center for education. The former 1760 homestead of Major John and Violet Wilson Davidson, Rural Hill is open to the public year-round and is part of Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation system. The property is leased and operated by Historic Rural Hill, Inc. For more information please visit www.ruralhill.net.

More Events and Interactive Maps at DashboardsandSaddlebags.com 8

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Ski The Earliest Opening Ski Resort In The Southeast W

ith the highest mountains in eastern United States, North Carolina’s ski season starts early, and no one in the Southeast has started earlier than Cataloochee Ski Area in the Maggie Valley area of the Great Smoky Mountains. Boasting one of the most advanced snowmaking systems in the Southeast, Cataloochee Ski Area set a record by opening on Oct. 28 in 2008 and consistently opens in early November.

Despite the high elevations in North Carolina, snowmaking is essential for optimizing conditions, and all of the state’s ski and tubing areas have advanced snowmaking equipment.

From its summit at 5,400 feet, Cataloochee offers a 740-foot vertical drop on 17 slopes with three chairlifts and two conveyor lifts. The area has 100 percent snowmaking, a lighted terrain park and separate tubing area including a Wee Bowl Snowplay area for small children. www.cataloochee.com

The mountains of North Carolina have the highest elevations and the coldest climates in the South. So don’t let your hometown weather fool you into thinking that the conditions in the mountains are the same. With every thousand-foot rise in elevation there is usually a 3 or 4-degree drop in temperature. Therefore the mountain areas are usually at least 15-20 degrees cooler than the lower elevations.

To supplement an average snowfall of 60 inches, North Carolina Ski Areas’ state-of-the-art snowmaking capabilities provide 100% slope coverage. When temperatures fall below freezing, we take advantage of these opportunities to make snow.

#74 Project 543 tells the story of unique spots across North Carolina we hope will become some of your favorite places. Why 543? Because that’s the number of miles from Manteo, on the coast, to Murphy, in the mountains, and is traditionally considered to be the width of our state. The entries in this project are in no particular order, and we’ll add to them each week.

Check in often to find inspiration for your next trip, or start planning today at VisitNC.com.

Photo Credit: North Carolina Ski Areas Association

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Wheels Through Time Partners With Biltmore For Exhibit At America’s Largest Home T his spring and summer, the Wheels Through Time Museum is partnering with Biltmore Estate for a new exhibit telling the story of what life was like at America’s largest home during the early 20th century. Titled “The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad”, the new exhibit is located in the Biltmore Legacy Exhibit Hall in the estates Antler Hill Village, and is slated to open now.

“The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad” explores the lives of G e o rg e , E d i t h a n d C o r n e l i a Vanderbilt at home and in their travels throughout Europe and the Far East. The exhibit offers a close-up look at many of the exotic and rare treasures they collected throughout their lives, including a priceless chess set once owned by Napolean Bonaparte, a collection of Samurai amor acquired during their

visit to Japan, clothing and costume worn by the family during some the estate’s most important events, among many other priceless relics.

Also on display within the new exhibit, is a 1920 Harley-Davidson Model 20-J motorcycle, on loan f ro m W h e e l s T h ro u g h Ti m e M u s e u m . F e a t u re d i n 1 0 0 % original condition, the machine has been called one of the highlights of the exhibit, as it helps to illustrate the Vanderbilts enthrallment with early motorized transportation.

George Vanderbilt first fell in love with motorized travel after borrowing a friends Wynton Car during trip across Europe. Shortly after, he purchased his own “updated” version and within a few years, he had developed a system of roads throughout the estate that gained a reputation as being some of the

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best in the country. Friends and acquaintances from around the United States regularly wrote the family asking permission to come drive the roads of Biltmore.

With thousands of acres of land, motorized travel became a staple at Biltmore from a very early point. Through the mid-1920 s the Vanderbilts owned several automobiles, and to the surprise of many, a total of 5 motorcycles -- two 1913 Harley-Davidsons, a 1915 Harley-Davidson, as well as 1917 and 1923 Harleys. These machines played a vital role in transportation at the estate, becoming known for their good service and maneuverability, and their ability to reach places where automobiles could not.

The 1920 Harley-Davidson Model 20-J on loan from Wheels Through Time is nearly identical to the last Harley-Davidson motorcycle purchased by Biltmore, and is displayed with several period photographs showing some of the estate’s earliest “two-wheeled visitors”.

“We’re extremely excited to partner with Biltmore Estate for their new exhibit,” says museum curator Dale Walksler. “Their love affair with transportation played an important role in the development of the estate, and we’re proud to play a part in sharing that story.”

For more information on Biltmore Estates exhibit “The Vanderbilts a t H o m e a n d A b ro a d ” , v i s i t www.biltmore.com or for mor information on the museum that runs Wheels Throug Time www.wheelsthroughtime.com

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Fourth Annual Yadkin Winter Reds Food & Pairing Event!

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ur Fourth Annual “Yadkin Winter Reds” wine event will be held February 23 - 24, 2013. Looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, then come visit Yadkin County and enjoy the annual Yadkin Winter Reds Event sponsored by the Town of Yadkinville and Yadkin County Tourism Development Authorities.

This is a great opportunity for you to visit Yadkin County wineries and taste the excellent wines that are being produced. All Yadkin County wineries will feature their “Winter Red” (2 oz. pour) paired with a small serving of a tasty food item. The hours will be Saturday Noon to 5 pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Ticket prices are $20.00 per person. Each ticketholder will be assigned to a starting winery where they will receive their souvenir glass and a map. Ticket is good for one visit per winery.

For the weekend, you will have the option of purchasing a ticket to see Cle Thompson in concert at the Willingham Theater at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center beginning at 7:30pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Tickets are $10.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased by adding it to your cart when checking out.

Yo u c a n a l s o f i n d o u t m o re information by visiting the Yadkin Arts Council website at www.yadkinarts.org

Winter Reds will feature these 6 wineries: Brandon Hills Vineyards, Raptor Red paired with Tomatoe Basil Meatballs served with Bread.

Dobbins Creek Vineyards, Merlot paired with Rosemary Flatbread H a n o v e r P a r k Vi n e y a rd s , Michael’s Blend paired with Beef Bourguignon.

Laurel Gray Vineyards, Snergy paired with Cocoa Dusted Chocolate Truffles.

Shadow Springs Vineyards, C h a m b o u rc i n p a i re d w i t h Buffalo Chicken Windsor Run Cellars, Judge’s Verdict paired with Lasagna.

Only a limited number of tickets are sold each weekend. Tickets must be purchased no later than February 20, 2013. We will not be able to sell any tickets after that date.

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For information visit us at www.CarolinaMotorMadness.com

7th Annual Carolina Motor Madness Car & Bike Show March 9, 2013 ~ 9 am to 4 pm • Knight’s Stadium, Fort Mill, SC All Proceeds Benefit charities of Tega Cay Lions Club

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VisitNC.com - Bill Russ

Come See What’s New in North Carolina F rom outdoor recreation and unique lodging to arts and culture and fine dining, the charming small towns and vibrant urban locations of North Carolina offer something for everyone.

Explore the highest peaks in the eastern United States and 300 miles of pristine coastline.

and other venues to highlight beer craftsmanship and the creative communities where beer culture thrives. The calendar will include everything from a major festival (Hickory Hops on April 20) to lodging packages, beer dinners, special tours and brewer collaborations. Check back in mid-December for a link to the NC Beer Month website. www.VisitNC.com/beer

April 2013 Brings Inaugural NC Beer Month Celebration With more breweries than any other state south of Pennsylvania and east of Texas, North Carolina seizes the moment by designating April 2013 as NC Beer Month.

Working in partnership with the N.C. Brewers Guild, the state Division of Tourism is coordinating efforts among the state’s 70 breweries, local tourism bureaus, hotels and inns, restaurants, pubs

Film and TV Action Points to Destinations Across the State Film lovers can connect the screen to the scenery that frames recent high-profile projects shot in North Carolina. “Iron Man 3” (Robert Continued On Page 18

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What’s New Continued From Page 16

Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow), “We’re the Millers” (Jennifer Anniston, Jason Sudeikis) and other titles chose Wilmington as their home base, and “Safe Haven,” based on the novel by New Bern resident Nicholas Sparks, makes use nearby Southport’s visual assets. “Banshee,” a 2013 cable series from producer Alan ball, joins the Showtime hit “Homeland” on Charlotte’s film credits, and “You Are Here” (Owen Wilson, Wilkesboro native Zach Galifianakis) travels to sites in the Winston-Salem area. Adding to the state’s star power is the authentic experience of 2012’s “The Hunger Games” tours as well as “Bull Durham,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2013. A North Carolina film locations media kit is available at media.VisitNC.com.

lobby’s massive stone fireplaces, its welcoming appeal as timeless as the glorious mountain views. The Grove Park, which boasts a worldclass subterranean spa, a Donald Ross-designed golf course, a sports complex, celebrated cuisine and more, is already posting special event packages for 2013. Find them at www.groveparkinn.com.

Mandara Spa Completes Harrah’s Cherokee Transformation

Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa Approaches Centennial Milestone Edwin Wiley Grove made his fortune off of Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic. He created his legacy with The Grove Park Inn, a luxury lodge built of stone quarried from the mountain where it stands.

Since its opening on July 12, 1913, the historic hotel just north of downtown Asheville has played host to 10 presidents plus titans of industry, famous inventors, and celebrity writers, athletes and entertainers. The hotel’s grandeur remains as solid as the

In less than five years, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has dramatically redefined itself as a destination with world-class gaming and luxury appeal. The addition of live gaming and the December opening of an 18,000-square-foot Mandara Spa are the latest elements in the transformation, which has seen the addition of a 532-room tower, a 3,000-seat Events Center, Sequoyah National Golf Club and brand-name restaurants such as Paula Deen’s Kitchen, BRIO Tuscan Grille and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

Live blackjack, roulette and poker, along with Asian gaming and expanded casino space, enhance the gaming picture at the Eastern

18 Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™

Band of Cherokee Indians-owned Wave Shaper can manipulate property. But for many, the crown- the flow. Find details about the ing touch is the spa, which will competition, set for Sept. 2-8, integrate Native American culture at www.freestylekayaking2013, into the Mandara brand’s Balinese- which links to travel-planning inspired treatments. info for the Bryson City area. www.harrahscherokee.com

Bodie Island Lighthouse to Open for Climbs in April

Lighthouse lovers can soon notch a new climb on the Outer Kayaking’s Freestyle World Banks. For Championships Head to the Nanthe first time, the public will be tahala able to ascend the Bodie Island The Nantahala River Gorge is Lighthouse, a 156-foot-tall tower, ready for camera crews, specta- beginning in April. The 1872 tors and the world’s best freestyle structure has undergone an exkayakers, who will compete here tensive renovation that included in the 2013 International Canoe strengthening the support of the Federation’s Canoe Freestyle spiral staircase, replacing cracked Wo r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p s . T h e stair treads and corroded metal scenic river makes an ideal spot features, and installing a fire defor freestyle competition, which tection and supression system. showcases paddlers’ acrobatic Perhaps the most spectacular part tricks and maneuvers on world- of the project was restoration of class whitewater, where a new the original first-order Fresnel lens, a giant beehive structure with 344 gleaming prisms that shoot light beams as far as 20 miles out to sea. Visitors who and climb the 214 steps to the gallery will be rewarded with a The Destination Magazine breathtaking view of the sea and the Roanoke Sound. www.nps.gov/caha VisitNC.com or call 1-800-VISIT NC (847-4862).

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Celebrate Flowers, Music, Pirates, Wine & More N ature does spring’s heavy lifting. She banishes the chill, lengthens the day and otherwise sets in motion the glorious changes that lead us outside. No wonder gardeners and event organizers are inspired to great heights.

Here’s a selection of North Carolina events that soar this season. Find more in our destinations calendar.

BIRDHOUSES ON PARADE March 21-April 8 If you were a bird, you could probably find your dream house in Chapel Hill at the Carolina Inn’s showcases of one-of-a-kind birdhouses and feeders, all created by North Carolina artists.

Azaleas, dogwood and other spring bloomers enhance the beauty of one of America’s prettiest college towns and add to the reasons to visit.

RAMPS CELEBRATIONS March 31, April 29, May 6 Call them what you like — spring onions, wood leeks or wild garlic — you won’t need a dinner bell if you fry some up with potatoes or eggs or cook a mess with freshly caught trout. Celebrate the harvest at one of these events in the North Carolina mountains: Rainbows & Ramps, March 31, Cherokee, 828-554-6471; 50th annual Ramp Festival, April 29, Robbinsville; 78th annual Ramp Festival, May 6, Waynesville, 828-456-8691.

BILTMORE FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS April 7 to May 20 The gardens at George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre Asheville estate come alive with more than 100,000 tulips

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as poppies, pansies, snapdragons and acres of azaleas chime in. Roses begin a reign that runs through summer, and natural gardens and walking trails showcase native and exotic blooms. Designer presentations, seminars and accessible experts add take-home value to the experience, which is accompanied by concerts and other activities.

TRIPLE STEEPLECHASE April 7, April 14, April 28 Admire the nimble horses that run the course and enjoy the competition for fanciest hat and finest tailgate feast — it’s all part of the American jumpracing tradition. North Carolina has three steeplechases: the Stoneybrook Steeplechase, April 7, Raeford (near Pinehurst); the Blockhouse Steeplechase, April 14, Tryon; and the Queens Cup Steeplechase, April 28, Mineral Springs (near Charlotte).

NORTH CAROLINA AZALEA FESTIVAL April 11-15 The historic city of Wilmington pairs spring’s burst of azaleas with a bevy of belles in antebellum gowns, a fleet of visiting boats at the dock, and a pageant with a royal list of

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past winners (Kelly Ripa, Phylicia A. Rashad, Polly Bergen). Home and garden tours, arts and crafts, a parade and even a circus play into this uncommonly stylish Southern festival.

BLUE RIDGE WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL April 11-15 Amid the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the village of Blowing Rock presents pleasures from regional wineries in tastings, seminars, cooking classes and winemakers’ dinners. Highlights include the final round of the Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge and a demonstration by cookbook author Teresa Giudice, star of “Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

PIRATEFEST April 13-14 East Carolina University in Greenville chose the Pirate as its mascot in recognition of Blackbeard and others who sailed into North Carolina history under the black flag. The city’s lively spring festival features the Buccaneer Bash, swordfights, a costume party and a pirate market — and warms up the crowd for summer’s pirate-inspired activities up and down the coast. www.visitnc.com

IN OUR AR E Y D R I TH

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Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina Winston-Salem University of North Carolina School of the Arts

1533 South Main Street (336-770-3399; www.uncsa.edu). The school is open to the public during film festivals. Prospective students and their parents may take campus tours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 1:00pm (no Saturday, Sunday or Monday tours are offered). Call 336-770-3399 to schedule your tour.

E

stablished by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1963, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts became the state supported residential school of its kind in the nation. It was absorbed into the University of North Carolina system in 1972. More than 1,000 students from high school through graduate schools train in professional programs: dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, visual arts, and music. Drama-school alumni who’s names film junkies might recognize include actress Jada Pinkett Smith, author and screenwriter Peter Hedges, whose credits include What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and About a Boy, - and Tom Hulce, who won an Emmy® for The Heidi Chronicles and was nominated for an Academy Award® for Amadeus.

NSCA’s Broadway stars include Joe Mantello, who won a Tony® for Best Director for Take Me Out, MaryLouse Parker, who won a Tony® Best Actress for Proof, - Gary Beach, who won a Tony® for Best Featured Actor for The Producers: Terrence Mann, a Tony® nominee for Beauty

and the Beast: Jennifer Ehle, who won a Tony® for Best Actress for The Real Thing, and Celia Weston, a Tony® nominee for The Last Night of Ballyhoo.

Countless student films shoot on NSCA’s sound stages and back lot.

Award-winning film alumni include David Gordon Green, -Tim Orr (George Washington, All the Real Girls), Randolph Benson (“Mann and Dog” on Bravo!), Anna Dudley (“Special Day” and “Jacob’s Sound” on Showtime), Nick Panagopulos (Five Lines), - Jeff Fradly (IIyanovic Rasputin), - and David Rotan and Bob Joness (Flowers and Freckle Cream).

UNCSA School of Filmmaking was established in 1993. Students can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts or a College Arts diploma in screen writing, directing, editing and sound, producing, cinematography,

24 Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™

or production design. The 62,036 square-foot village is home all aspects of the school’s professional conservatory program. The facilities include three sound stages, an indoor water tank, a recording stage, classrooms, offices, and three state-of-the-art motion-picture theatres.. The village’s back lot has period facades.

Q: What dancer and actress was rejected by University of North Carolina School of the Arts but years later was awarded honorary doctorates by UNCSA and also by her alma mater?

A: Emmy® winner Debbie Allen, whose credits include stints as actress and choreographer in :Fame”, has honorary doctorates from University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Howard University. Her famous relatives include hubby Norm Nixon (a former L.A. Laker) and sinster Phylicia Rashad, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”.

“The most comprehensive way to learn where movies were made in North Carolina.”

--Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer

The 160-plus entries in this travel guide are arranged geographically and include information about what movies and television series were filmed at each site.

Available through Amazon barnes & noble Google Books

www.FilmJunkiesGuide.com

Neuse River Music Fest

F

ormerly known as the Kinston Winter Bluegrass Festival, the Neuse River Music Fest will be held on February 15-16, at Lenoir Community College. This year’s entertainment includes fan favorites Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Gene Watson, IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, James King, Al Batten & the Bluegrass Reunion, and Samantha Casey & the Bluegrass Jam. Rhonda Vincent and Gene Watson will be featured at this year’s VIP Reception on Saturday night. Tickets are limited, so buy yours today! See brochure for more information.

Bluegrass and country fans are treated to an entire weekend of music, food prepared onsite

by Bojangles’, RV parking, VIP tickets, raffles, and more. The volunteers, committee, staff/ f a c u l t y, E N C B A , a n d L C C administration are vital to the success of this event, so thank you for your support each year!

Proceeds from this event benefit the Lenoir Community College Foundation Scholarship Program. www.lenoircc.edu/ Foundation/nrmf.htm

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