Dashboards Saddlebags and
The Destination Magazine ™ Issue 34
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YOur Destination Magazine! Five Finds in the Foothills Page 20
Road to Nowhere A Trip To The Taps 4,000 Feet Above Sea Level Feast Like A King While Helping Feed Others History at the Hill Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina Take A Break From The Interstate Waldensian Heritage Wines
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PHOTODUDEART.COM Events•Portrait•Commercial•Gicleé Reproduction
Canvas Prints Family Event Portrait Head Shots Commercial Our Studio or your Home Summerfield NC 336-510-2744
Dashboards and
JANUARY 2014 Issue 34
The Destination Magazine
D
ashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ is your guide to finding unique destinations in your own back yard.
Whether you are a long time resident or new to the area, you’ll find destinations here that will have you saying “I never knew that was there.” We are very selective of our marketing partners as well as our editorial content. If we cannot be proud of the content submitted to us we will not put it in Dashboards and Saddlebags Magazine, period. So, if you are looking for new destinations to explore on your own, or ideas for things to do with friends and family you will find something new each month in your destination magazine.
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, Craig Distl Contributing Photographers: PhotodudeART.com, Bill Russ, John Dyer
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CONTENTS Unique Destinations less than 200 miles from home
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Road to Nowhere and Waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains
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A Most Unusual Yet Official Morganton Trail Guide
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A Trip To The Taps 4,000 Feet Above Sea Level 16 Five Finds in the Foothills
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Feast Like A King While Helping Feed Others 22 History at the Hill
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Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina
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Take A Break From The Interstate
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Waldensian Heritage Wines
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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 ©2014 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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Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™
Farmer Supply and Western Wear carries everything the name implies and a whole lot more! Come in often to see our latest inventory to outfit you and your horses from head to hoof. LAY-A-WAY AVAILABLE ACCESSORIES CHILDREN’S CLOTHING FEED, SEED, TACK CHILDREN’S BOOTS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE! WOMEN’S CLOTHING COME IN TO SEE OUR EXTENSIVE WESTERN MEN’S CLOTHING WEAR, TACK AND OTHER SUPPLIES. BOOTS FOR WOMEN We Carry All The Latest Styles BOOTS FOR MEN And Trends In Western Wear!!! 1992 CHARLOTTE HWY MOORESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28115 (704) 663-1300 • FARMERSUPPLYANDWESTERNWEAR@YAHOO.COM WWW.FARMERSUPPLYNC.COM • HOURS: MON-SAT: 8:00AM – 7:00PM SUN: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
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Destinations
Unique Destinations less than 200 miles from home. Charlotte Area Cars and Coffee Sat, January 4, 2014, 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! Thank you for your patience and desire to keep this now Charlotte staple alive in this car crazy community. I believe all things happen for a reason and our new location will fit us better as it is accessible to more of Charlotte, as well as it is a space more conducive for us to grow and prosper. I’m excited about the new location because we are working with locally owned and operated businesses. 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. If needed their are additional lots that we can use if we happen to fill this one (highly doubt it but there are options) Grand Opening Earl Scruggs Center; Music and Stories from the American South Sat, January 11, 2014, 10 am – 10 pm.103 S. Lafayette Street Shelby NC 28150 Daytime activities will include programs, music and a ribbon cutting to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Earl Scruggs Center: Music & Stories from the American South. Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. be a part of a very special event, Remembering Earl: Music & Stories. This memorable evening will feature nationally recognized, award winning artists sharing their memories of Earl and playing great music together in tribute to Earl Scruggs. Remembering Earl: Music & Stories will be a similar format to that of the Earl Scruggs Family Reunion: Music & Stores. Joining us for great music and memories of Earl will be Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Jim Mills, Gary Scruggs, and Randy Scruggs. Check back, follow us on facebook or join our e-mail list to stay updated on new details as they are released. www.earlscruggscenter.org Rumble In The Concrete Jungle Saturday, Jan 11, 2014 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214. Here is the chance you’ve been waiting for… Rumble in the Concrete Jungle is a unique event that will include several disciplines of bicycle racing, each taking place in and around the drained whitewater channels of the world’s largest man-made whitewater river. All types of bikes are permitted. The Downhill Race will be a time trial from the top of the channel to the bottom. The course will be designed to maximize the full potential of the banked whitewater channels. Each participant will be given two timed runs; the best time will be used for scoring. The
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Susan ohnson J & Associates
Helping to make Lake Norman your home. Susan Johnson, CRS, ABR 2007, 2011, & 2012 Five Star Real Estate Agent Award Winner
704.439.5350 www.homecarolinas.com participant with the fastest time will be named the winner. Following the Downhill Race will be a Short-Track Bike Race. The course will be similar to the downhill course with added mileage to create a circuit which will be raced for 40-minutes. In this mass start race, riders will turn out as many laps as possible during the allotted time period, and all racers will finish on the leader’s last lap. www.usnwc.org Kannapolis Cruise-In Sat, January 11, 2014, 3 pm – 9 pm Downtown Kannapolis Kannapolis, NC 28081. Car lovers can enjoy every make and model of classic car in the quaint setting of downtown Kannapolis. The event is free and family friendly. Coffee Championships- Big Eastern Jan 17 – 19, 2014 The Cotton Room, 807 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701. Join Counter Culture Coffee & Dallis Brothers at The Cotton Room for 3 days of coffee competitions featuring top baristas in the region. Watch as Barista and Brewers Cup competitors battle it out for the regional titles. Admission: Free to spectators www.uscoffeechampionships.org Blowing Rock WinterFest Jan 23 – 26, 2014 Blowing Rock, NC. Join the Village of Blowing Rock as we celebrate the fun side of winter at the 16 th Annual WinterFest! Four days of hayrides, hot chocolate, and fun, plus WinterFeast, the Chili Challenge, Polar Plunge, WinterPaws Dog Show, Wine Auction, and more! www.blowingrockwinterfest.com
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Destinations 9 th Annual Oyster Roast Sat, January 25, 2014, 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm F&M Trolley Barn 123 East Liberty Street Salisbury NC 28144. This year we’re celebrating the Oyster Roast in New Orleans style! The Trolley Barn is moving from “ahoy Matey” to “who dat?,” from booty to beads, Davy Jones’ Locker to French Quarter. We will still be offering all-you-can-eat steamed oysters and shrimp from Big Daddy’s of Lake Norman, side items, pit-cooked barbecue sliders from College Barbecue dessert bar by Curt & Geri’s, coffee bar by Koco Java, unlimited beer, wine and other beverages, and a local Brunswick stew debut. Music and dancing will help set the tone of another festive night of FUNraising. www.waterworks. org/ourspecialevents/2014oysterroast.html Pickin At Priddy’s Fri, February 7, 2014, 7 pm – 9 pm 2121 Sheppard Mill Rd, Danbury, NC 27016. Cozy up in a 126 year old general store for some old fashioned fun for the whole family. Sip on hot cider, eat something delicious from the big black pot, warm up by a big bonfire and listen to Bluegrass music at its finest. Experience the way things use to be out in the country on a cold winter’s night. Music is held inside store. www.priddysgeneralstore.com Krispy Kreme Challenge Sat, February 8, 2014, 8:30 am – 9:30 am The Belltower, 2011 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 2 7 6 0 7 . Th e K r i s p y K r e m e C h a l l e n g e i s a n a n n u a l , s t u d e n t operated race in Raleigh, N.C. benefiting the N.C. Children’s Hospital. Beginning in 2004 with a mere 12 participants, the race has grown exponentially to a whopping 7,700 runners in the 2012 race and has rapidly become one of N.C. State University’s newest traditions. Beginning at the N.C. State Belltower, each runner runs 2.5 miles through Downtown Raleigh to the Krispy Kreme store located at the intersection of Peace St. and Person St. After downing a full dozen of the famous original glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts, the runner must run the two and a half miles back. All in one hour. This is the Krispy Kreme Challenge. www. krispykremechallenge.com Neuse River Music Fest Feb 14 – 15, 2014 Lenoir Community College Gym, 231 NC 58 South Kinston NC 28501. Formerly k n ow n a s t h e K i n s t o n Wi n t e r B l u e g ra s s Fe s t iva l . Th i s ye a r ’s entertainment includes fan favorites Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Gene Watson, Al Batten & The Bluegrass Reunion, Marty Raybon, Goldwing Express, Malpass Brothers, Grass Cats, and Samantha Casey & the Bluegrass Jam. Rhonda Vincent and Gene Watson will be featured at this year’s VIP Reception on Saturday night. Ti ck e t s a r e l i m i t e d , s o b u y yo u r s t o d ay ! w w w. l e n o i rc c . e d u / Foundation/nrmf.htm
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Destinations
Local Experience with National Exposure
BUYING, SELLING, LEASING, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & AUCTION SERVICES
HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY
Tom McMahon, CCIM Managing Director 704-892-5653 www.svncharlotte.com
WIN THESE BIKES!
These Harley-Davidson® VL Flathead Bobbers are quite a pair…. and one (or two) of ‘em could be yours!!!
2013 Museum Operating Schedule Open: Thursday-Monday Hours: 9:00am -5:00pm Thru December 9, 2013 Closed Tuesdays & Wednesday
DRAWING NOVEMBER 2014 Order tickets at www.WheelsThroughTime.com!
Wheels Through Time Museum is a 501-C3 Not-for-Profit dedicated to the preservation of motorcycle history
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Road to Nowhere and Waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains T
he Road to Nowhere is a quick eight-mile drive outside Bryson City. Before you go, have breakfast and coffee with the locals at the Everett Street Diner or at Mountain Perks, both on the way to Nowhere. After breakfast, head straight up Everett Street out of Bryson City and don’t make any turns. On the map, it’s called Lakeview Drive, but the road signs are marked Fontana Road. You’ll pass Swain County High School and eventually see a sign that reads, “You have entered Great Smoky Mountains National Park.” You’ll also see a more intriguing sign: “The Road to Nowhere – A Promise Broken.” The road ends at a barrier with the tunnel beyond. The road got its name from a dispute in the 1930 s and 40 s when Swain County gave up the majority of its private land so the federal government could create Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. People had to move, family cemeteries were
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cut off, and the former road was buried beneath the waters of the lake. The federal government made an agreement with Swain County to build a new road along the lake’s north shore, but environmental issues stopped construction. With no resolution, now decades later, the road still goes nowhere.
Deep Creek Waterfalls Now that you’ve gotten a taste of the serenity of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, turn around and go see some beautiful and relaxing waterfalls. From the Road to Nowhere, make your way back to town and take a left on Depot Street. Follow The Road to Nowhere is a real road in Bryson City that ends at a tunnel inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you want to venture farther, you have to do it by foot. When you’re finished exploring, visit waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and get a taste of small town mountain life.
Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™
Events at the Old400Rock School Main Street West Bluegrass at the Rock: January 3 at 7:30pm
MRH Bluegrass Presents: Dailey & Vincent Tickets $24 in advance & $26 at the door
Bluegrass at the Rock:
February 21 at 7:30pm Jim & Valarie Gabehart with Kristy Cox Tickets $15 in advance & $18 at the door
Primitive Quartet in Concert: Saturday March 8 at 7pm
Tickets $13 in advance & $15 at the door
For Information on all Valdese Events Go to VISITVALDESE.COM or call 828-879-2129 the signs to Deep Creek Campground, making sure to follow West Deep Creek Road. Three miles after leaving the center of town, you’ll come to the Deep Creek entrance to the Park. Well-marked trail signs lead you to three waterfalls: Juney Whank, Indian Creek and Toms Branch. The Juney Whank and Indian Creek trails have moderate slopes, while Toms Branch is the closest to the trailhead.
Bryson City After your hike, park in town and walk to any one of Bryson City’s great lunch spots such as Jimmy Mac’s on Main Street, The Filling Station on Everett Street, or Anthony’s on Depot Street.
Everett, Main and Depot streets. You’ll find stores full of antiques, artwork and crafts. Tour working artists’ studios at Elizabeth Ellison Watercolors and Heath Creations Studio and Gallery or see work from mountain artisans at The Cottage Craftsman. At nearby Gil’s Book Sale, you’ll find the popular Walt Larimore books about a young doctor’s impressions of Bryson City, as well as copies of Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders detailing the history of the region. Finish off your in-town day with dinner at Pasqualino’s Italian Restaurant or The Station Restaurant, both on Everett Street.
Spend the afternoon browsing the shops and galleries of DashboardsandSaddlebags.com 704-706-2365
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Massage Hours:
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Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Come To De 9th Annual Oyster Roast? T
his year we’re celebrating the Oyster Roast in New Orleans style! The Trolley Barn is moving from “ahoy Matey” to “who dat?,” from booty to beads, Davy Jones’ Locker to French Quarter.
We will still be offering all-you-can-eat steamed oysters and shrimp from Big Daddy’s of Lake Norman, side items, pit-cooked barbecue sliders from College Barbecue dessert bar by Curt & Geri’s, coffee bar by Koco Java, unlimited beer, wine and other beverages, and a local Brunswick stew debut. Music and dancing will help set the tone of another festive night of FUNraising. This year’s signature drink will come with the purchase of a signature take-home rocks glass. $10 will get you the 11oz. custom imprinted acrylic glass along with unlimited pours of a hand-crafted whiskey sour by bartender Bobby Miller. This is an opportunity to support Waterworks’ educational and outreach programming. All proceeds from ticket sales support these programs. Please consider making an additional donation or becoming a sponsor. Spread the word. Bring a friend. Put your dancing shoes on and prepare to satisfy your appetite. Where/When Dat? “Who dat say dey gonna come to de Saturday, January 25, 2014 6:30-11pm Oyster Roast?” Waterworks/F&M Trolley Barn 123 East Liberty Street Salisbury NC 28144 www.waterworks.org
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704.663.3272
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A Most Unusual Yet Official Morganton Trail Guide
MONDAY 49¢ Wings! $1.75 Pints! $5 Jager Bombs
FRIDAY- LIVE MUSIC! $1.75 Mich Ultra & Amber $5 Washington Apple Shot!
SATURDAY TUESDAY - LIVE MUSIC! $1 Natural Light Kids Eat Free! $1.75 Bud & Bud Light Bottles Taco Tuesday $5 Tic Tac Shot $1.75 Domestic Bottles $5 Grape Gatorade Shot SUNDAY WEDNESDAY $10.50 Domestic Bucket Kids Eat Free! 49¢ Wings $1.75 Bud & Bud Light Bottles Country Lunch Specials Smoke House Nights $3.50 Bloody Mary $5 Royal Flush THURSDAY Fajitas + Bike Night $1.75 Mil er Lite Bottles $3.75 Margarita Rocks! 128D Argus Lane Mooresville, NC 28117 704-662-8851 SportsPageNC.com
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W
ant to learn about Wineries and Breweries, Art, History, and Hiking in Morganton? The regions’ tourism marketing arm has just released a new booklet of various trail themes in the area. This 16-page fold out brochure features breathtaking photography, helpful maps, and unique facts about Morganton and Burke County.
Tagged as the “Trailhead of Western North Carolina” Morganton is home to so many exciting adventures in the Pisgah National Forest, Lake James, South Mountains and Catawba River. Ed Phillips, Director of Tourism there says, “This Trail Guide captures the essence of our area with enough information to allow the reader to explore their own interests inside the county.”
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The booklet features the infamous “Brown Mountain Lights,” film locations for The Last of the Mohicans and many other facts the reader will find captivating. There is an Auto and Motorcycle Trail section for touring the county with curvy, mountain roads leading the way through the National Forest and surrounding rural areas. The Trailhead of WNC Visitor Center is located in downtown Morganton. The Center has area maps, attraction brochures, and a friendly, knowledgeable staff to help you plan a trip to the area. Morganton is about 1.5 hours northwest of Charlotte and 2 hours from the Piedmont-Triad area. The Visitor Center is open 8-5 Monday thru Friday and Saturday 9-2.
Visit www.trailheadwnc.com or call 888-462-2921 to plan your visit.
Waterfront Piano Pub on Lake Norman
The Cabin “Southern Style” Craft Beer Piano Bar Rustic Gifts 400-A North Harbor Place
(next door to North Harbor Club Restaurant)
Davidson, NC 28036 (704) 765-9154 www.TheCabin.me
What’s Inside of YOU? PhotoDudeART.com event•portrait•family•canvas prints
Artwork by LivingBrush Fine-Art Bodypainting LivingBrush.com
Mystery Dinners Wine Tastings Lake Norman’s Serious Wine Gift Baskets Experience
Monthly Wine Club 200-A North Harbor Place
(next door to North Harbor Club Restaurant)
Davidson, NC 28036 (704) 237-3629 www.LakeNormanCottage.com
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VisitNC.com - Bill Russ
A Trip To The Taps 4,000 Feet Above Sea Level H
alf the fun of a road trip is getting there. Which means that the other half is being there. Both sides of the adage prove true on an excursion from Hickory to Lenoir and Blowing Rock, where folk art and folk heroes fill the space between beer stops.
Hickory delights in craftsmanship, and it shows in the city’s sites and beer. Stroll through Union Square, the delightful downtown hub, and artistically rendered benches will catch your eye: dogs with adopt-me eyes, jazzy figures, wild animals in “hidden picture” style. The Union Square seats are part of the citywide “Art on the Bench” project saluting the region’s
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furniture heritage. Stop to sample beer craftsmanship at the Olde Hickory Taproom before tracking more benches, including one at the Hickory Museum of Art, home to an innovative hands-on Southern folk art gallery. Hickory Boulevard’s famous “20 Miles of Furniture” leads to Lenoir, home to an extensive outdoor sculpture collection. There, Howard Brewing celebrates its first birthday and celebrates with a intriguing releases: General Lenoir’s Old Ale, made from the Revolutionary War hero’s handwritten recipe.
Continued On Page 18
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Tax Deferred or tax postponed? Which best describes Qualified Plans? And at what tax rate when you get there? What are alternatives? Read more. See what I have to say. Under “Swing Coach” on our website.
www.succeedwhereitcounts.com 704-819-6267
Continued From Page 16 William Lenoir settled in Historic Happy Valley, which travelers can explore from the route to Blowing Rock. Follow blacksmith Dean Curfman’s highway markers along N.C. 268 past Fort Defiance (Lenoir’s house, built on the site of a frontier fort) into Daniel Boone and Tom Dooley territory. Download a music-filled podcast about the Tom Dula legend for the road, which takes you to Laura Foster’s grave (visible from the road) and Whippoorwill Academy & Village, which preserves Dula artifacts and an art collection depicting his life. Whippoorwill Academy also displays a replica of a cabin Daniel Boone shared with his wife and eight children in the 1760s. It includes rocks from the original chimney. Track back to U.S. 321 and head for the High Country. Sitting about 4,000 feet above sea level on the Continental Divide, Blowing Rock became a travel destination more than a century ago and is well-versed in providing hospitality worthy of the fresh mountain air, magnificent views and wonders of nature. Blowing Rock is the rare resort town that meets the standards of well-heeled
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travelers while also welcoming those in muddy hiking boots. Pubs, restaurants and shops cater to the beer traveler’s thirst for North Carolina craft brews. Here’s a list of suggested places to check out: Blowing Rock Market, Blowing Rock Produce & Provisions, Mellow Mushroom, Sixpence Pub — the list goes on. Of special interest: The Inn at Ragged Gardens’ sister property, Blowing Rock Ale House, is a brewpub. Beyond the walkable village, the Blue Ridge Parkway skirts the town. You can enjoy the spring wildflowers and popular attractions such as Grandfather Mountain without the heavier traffic of summer and fall.
Amos Howards Brew Pub Blowing Rock Ale House Crescent Moon Café & Pub Howard Brewing Olde Hickory Brewing
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Ballantyne 704.752.7284 Charlotte 704.527.5783 Mooresville 704.799.2881 Huntersville 704.237.4387
Voters Choice for Best Beer Charlotte Magazine, 2012 Voted Charlotte’s Best Cheesesteak Charlotte Magazine, 2011 Won 1st & 3rd Place at Carolina Wing Festival for Best Wings, 2011
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The Ultimate Olive & Vinegar Tasting Bar Experience! Our tasting bar offers you the ability to sample over 60 different varieties of our extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars and specialty oils.
119 N Main Street
Mooresville, NC 28115
Wine Gourmet Mustards Preserves Bath and Body Private Events Wine Tasting Spices Group Art Classes
Wine & Paint Fundraising Options Home Parties
EBSITE S E E WD E TA I L S FOR
704•230•4704 EnchantedOliveOil.com
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Five Finds in the Foothills
W
hat could be better than rolling topography and gently curving roads in the North Carolina foothills? How about rolling topography and gently curving roads leading to five wineries? For your next getaway, make an excursion to Burke County, a scenic region where wineries are taking root in the foothills soil.
A good starting point is Lake James Cellars, about 15 minutes west of Morganton in Glen Alpine. It’s a short jaunt out U.S. 70 to the winery, located in a refurbished textile mill. And the peaceful little town of Glen Alpine provides a great setting. At Lake James Cellars, folks can taste from a selection of 8-10 wines and learn the story of how Mike and Betty Fowler started making wine years ago in the cellar of their Lake James home. The wines became so popular with family and friends that the Fowlers decide to go at it full time.
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Since that time, the wines have won numerous awards. And a neat thing about Lake James Cellars is that it includes an antique mall with relics from more than 20 antique dealers. Journey another 15 minutes or so westward on country roads along the southern perimeter of Lake James and you’ll come to the town of Nebo. Once you’ve found Nebo, head southeast a few miles to South Creek Winery. The winery and vineyards are situated in a bucolic setting on a century-old farm. Wine tastings take place in the Italian Renaissance farmhouse or on the large outdoor patio. Owners James and Mary Rowley produce Bordeaux-style wines in a place “where people gather and become friends.”
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A short four-mile drive southeast along the country roads of western Burke County takes you to North Carolina’s newest winery. Silver Fork Winery opened in April on 32 acres at the confluence of Silver Creek and White Fork Creek. Three years ago, Owners Jen Foulides and Ed Wisnieski relocated to North Carolina to open a winery. The land they selected already had several varietals of viniferia grapes grown by the previous owner. In its first season, Silver Fork features seven varietals, with the most popular being the oak-aged Reserve chardonnay and the Four Dog Red blended table wine. The rustic winery is also home to a regular schedule of events, from live music to movies under the stars. Upon departing Silver Fork, skirt the northwest edge of South Mountains State Park and head eastward into Morganton. From there, continue eastbound and down on U.S. 70 to Valdese. Valdese, a neat little town founded by Italian immigrants, is home to Waldensian Heritage Winery. The Waldensians came from the western piedmont of Italy to the western piedmont of North Carolina, bringing centuries of winemaking expertise. Located a couple miles north of Valdese, a neat aspect of this winery is there are no paid workers. Production, distribution, marketing and tours are
handled by volunteers. Continue eastward from Valdese on U.S. 70 and you wind up in Hildebran, the easternmost town in Burke County. Since 2007, Hildebran has been home to Raintree Cellars. Raintree is another winery that began as a hobby and evolved into a full-fledged operation. Ed Yoder creates more than 20 wines at Raintree, many of which carry unique names. Some of Ed’s more colorful wines are: Golden Globe, Big Dog, Torpedo Juice, Oldie Lodie and Blue Jay.
– Craig Distl
For complete info on visiting Burke County, go to DiscoverBurkeCounty.com or call (888) 462-2921.
OUTDOOR DINING DAILY DRINK FEATURES DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS LARGE SELECTION OF BEER ON TAP AND BOTTLES
704•892•4433
Fri-Sun 11:00am-2:00am Mon-Thurs11:00am-12:00am
8301-1 Magnolia Estates Drive • Cornelius, NC 28031
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Feast Like A King While Helping Feed Others
#199
W
hen visitors enjoy the “new local Southern cuisine’’ at King’s Kitchen in Charlotte, those in need get fed as well. Noble Restaurants, which manages King’s, donates 100 percent of the profits from sales at King’s Kitchen to feed the hungry. When people dine at King’s, they enjoy a fantastic North Carolina dining experience and the entire community thrives. King’s also partners with area ministries to provide jobs for those in need of a new beginning. Patrons feel good about what they’re doing and even better about what they’re eating. King’s dishes feature premium local and organic produce along with favorites such as Aunt Beaut’s Pan Fried Chicken. These Southern favorites are prepared in a healthy, updated way using natural meats and organic, local vegetables. King’s also features an onsite bakery, offering breads and desserts as well as sandwiches and breakfast items on weekdays. www.kingskitchen.org
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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.
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YOUR FRENCH CONNECTION
open 7am tues-sat
YOU TAKE THE CREDIT!
SPECIALIZING IN FRENCH PASTRY
704-662-0270
fresh breads•coffee morning pastries chocolates•cupcakes cookies•confections
downtown mooresville - 242 north main street – across from the charles mack citizen center
INDOOR STORAGE CONSIGNMENT SALES Do you have that special Classic, Muscle Car, Street Rod, Hot Rod, Exotic or Project Car in your Garage that you have been wanting to sell? We can help!
158 Rolling Hill Road, Mooresville, NC 28117 704-564-9044 • WWW.DCClassicCars.com
Our extensive “DC Marketing Program” insures exposure to a large pool of potential buyers for your Classic via multiple Classic Car Internet websites as well as print advertising.
History at the Hill O
n February 15th Historic Rural Hill is the place for the history enthusiast to be! Bring out the whole family for a great and fun day of historical lessons and insights into the strenuous factors of winter camp life for the men of the 38th NC Troops. Just as in the past, these brave men and women will be on hand whatever the weather may bring (2013 brought a blizzard!) Rural Hill docent volunteers will also be on hand as well to demonstrate 19th century skills such as wood working, spinning, open hearth cooking, fire building, blacksmithing, and much more! Around the farm hayrides will be offered for $3 per person, all other activities free to all! Historic Rural Hill is a non-profit farm, event venue, and center for education whose rich history dates back to 1765.☞
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Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina The Coast One could say that Hollywood discovered North Carolina’s coast by accident, but that its transformation into a movie mecca was by design. Thanks to the coast’s urban, rural, beach, and marsh settings, nearly any look is possible. All that’s missing is mountains-and they’re closer than you think.
H
ollywood came calling in the early 1980’s, when filmmakers Dino De Laurentiis and Frank Capra, Jr., were scouting locations for Stephen King’s Firestarter. They wanted a secluded mansion like one Capra saw on a Southern Accents magazine cover featuring Orton Plantation, which was constructed around 1725. A five-state search prompted Capra and director Mark L. Lester to meet Orton’s owners, and a legacy began. De Laurentiis imported his crew members from Los Angeles, New York, and Italy. He soon built DEG Studios, a 32-acre movie making complex in Wilmington. For four years, DEG produced films including Blue Velvet, King Kong Lives, and Cat’s Eye, among others. Carolco Studios owned the facility from 1989 until 1996, and EUE/Screen Gems Studios has owned it since then, staking its claim as the largest working movie production facility east of Hollywood.
While Dino was discovering Wilmington’s charms, a movement to revitalize and preserve downtown was under way, and I-40 was nearing completion. These factors positioned the city for a filmmaking boom. And boom it did. But it takes more than a sound stage to make a film center. In 1994, the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, Inc., was formed as a liaison organization serving the production industry and the community in an 11-county region. Two additional film commissions formed in other coastal regions- the Global Transpark office serves 13 counties, while the Northeast Regional Film Commission serves 17 northeastern counties. Collectively, these organizations represent 41 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. While this section covers all 350-plus miles of the state’s coast, the lion’s share of production takes place in the Wilmington region, aka, “Wilmywood.” Direct film expenditures in the area since 1983 number in the hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2002, film revenue for Wilmington was $51 million. Impressed? That was actually considered a soft year, especially when compared to 1993’s take of $361 million.
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Established in 1739, the port city of Wilmington has a population of over 90,000. It offers versatile urban, suburban, and recreational settings, intriguing streetscapes, and a historic river front, as seen in Domestic Disturbance, Rambling Rose, “Dawson’s Creek” “Matlock,“ and “One Tree Hill,” among other productions. Located just 19 miles south, Carolina Beach has an appealing 1930’s Art Modeme coastal retro look that has shown up in The Bedroom Window, New Best Friend, and Black Knight, among other movies. Kure Beach has colorful contemporary homes that saddle up to older cottages and a nostalgic pier, it boasts credits like “Dawson’s Creek” and To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday. Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight Island offer celebrity appeal, thanks to their wide beaches, upscale houses, beach cottages, and resorts, they have hosted Sleeping With the Enemy and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Brunswick County’s shining stars include Bald Head Island, a ferry-access island with the state’s oldest lighthouse, undeveloped beaches, and lush coastal golf links. Winnabow boasts Brunswick Town and the magnificent Orton Plantation. Southport and its picturesque marina have appeared in Crimes of the Heart, Summer Catch, Domestic Disturbance, and “Dawson’s Creek” Pender County is where you’ll see cotton fields like those in the independent gem Once Upon A Time... When We Were Colored The county’s sleepy Southern towns, particularly Burgaw, “The most comprehensive way to learn have provided period locations and where movies were made--Lawrence in North Carolina.” outdoor settings in Rambling Rose, Toppman, Charlotte Observer The Angel Doll, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood “American Gothic,” “The Summer of Ben Tyler,” and “The Runaway.” One might wonder why the picture-perfect Outer Banks have so few credits. The remote islands pose logistical challenges. For this reason, Outer Banks credits are mainly documentaries tracing Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight, Blackbeard’s adventures, English colonists, and shipwrecks. Brainstorm showcases Wright Brothers National Memorial, and an early “Matlock” episode filmed in downtown Manteo.
From the Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina by Connie Nelson and Floyd Harris. www.FilmJunkiesGuide.com
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
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Take A Break From The Interstate T
ravel Historic U.S. 21 to visit the most picturesque land in the Appalachian region.
Being an 80-mile-per-hour bumper car with 18-wheelers on the Interstate raises anyone’s blood pressure. Must your getaway begin with more rat race than relaxation? Start relaxing now. Take a Break from the Interstate and leisurely travel the 2-lane roads that Model-T drivers blazed a century ago as they found their way between the Great Lakes and Florida. Take Historic US 21, the heart of the Lakes to Florida Highway, that first guided travelers between these two great vacation destinations. The travel distances are the same, but the travel delights are miles apart. Meander leisurely through the same countryside that awes Parkway
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travelers. Discover small towns that retain their midtwentieth century charm. Enjoy home-cooked hospitality at local restaurants. Leave the stress behind. Return to a simpler time. Take time for YOU. Take a Break from the Interstate. For overnight or extended visits, hiking, camping, health services and necessary amenities are available in the towns of Elkin-Jonesville & Sparta, North Carolina, Independence & Wytheville, Virginia. Visit our unique local dining, motels, bed & breakfast and vacation homes.
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Waldensian Heritage Wines T ake a tour of the Waldensian Winery located in Valdese and discover how the Waldensians make wine! With more than 150 years of wine-making experience, you will learn our secrets to a great tasting wine. There are nine different wines to choose from and each has its own unique flavors.
Tours, tastings and sales available. Open year round; Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday from 1-6; other days by appointment only. 4940 Villar Ln. N.E. Valdese, NC 28690 www.waldensianheritagewines.com
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