Welcome to the Swannanoa Valley Calendar of Events
page 2
Sourwood Festival
page 8
Arts Center
page 12
Museum
page 14
Music Relocation Outdoors
page 16 page 18 page 24
Restaurants
page 4
Famous People
page 6
Photo by Joye Ardyn Durham, www.artistwithacamera.com
Spring in the Swannanoa Valley.
Worship Directory
page 14
Art in Bloom
page 20
Cover photos by Joye Ardyn Durham, www.artist withcamera.com.
This guide produced bi-annually by Serving the Swannanoa Valley Since 1945
Black Mountain News P.O. Box 9 • Black Mountain, NC 28711 828-669-8727 • fax 828-669-8619 www.blackmountainnews.com
elcome to Black Mountain and the surrounding Swannanoa Valley. Regardless of what brings you here relaxation, shopping, dining, or outdoor activities - you will be greeted with beautiful scenery, peaceful days, and friendly people. This special publication of the Black Mountain News was created to assist you while you are in town. A calendar of events for the entire spring and summer seasons will help you plan your activities. We encourage you to visit the local businesses that have advertised in this tour guide. They offer one-of-a-kind treasures that are unique to this area. Be sure and visit the Black Mountain - Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce while in town, located at 201 East State Street in Black Mountain, (828) 669-2300. And for a complete and updated listing of this week’s events and happenings, pick up a copy of the Black Mountain News. Enjoy your stay!
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Spring and summer events in the Swannanoa Valley April 25: Fourth Annual Earth Day Reggae 5K at Wolf Creek Cove in Black Mountain. www.reggae5k.com or www.wolfcreek cove.com. May 2-3: East of Asheville Studio Tour (EAST). Free tour of artists’ galleries. (828) 686-1011, www.e-a-st.info. 4: Reception and reading by Allegra Huston from her new book, Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found. Part of the Writing Salon’s spring workshop. 7 p.m. Donations accepted. Black Mountain Center for the Arts - 828) 669-0930, www.black mountainarts.org. 4-8: “Writing from the Imaginative Story” - a creativity retreat and workshop presented by The Writing Salon with James Nav’e and Allegra Huston at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. For information and to register visit: http://www.thewritingsalon.net/assets/ salon_asheville.html. 7-10: LEAF – Lake Eden Arts Festival at Camp Rockmont, (828) 686-8742,
www.leaf.com. 9 - Tailgate Market - The Black Mountain Tailgate Market will start the season on Saturday, May 9, continuing every Saturday through the summer, with an array of vendors including mostly organic and sustainable growers of produce, plants, flowers, and herbs; bakers, and other food artisans; and other local arts including pottery, jewelry, fabrics, candles, soaps, and lotions. The location is 500 Montreat Road in the yard of UU Congregation Church, from 9 a.m. - noon. For more information, call (828) 582-5039 or email meredithleighmckissick@gmail.com. 16: 2009 Local Job, Business, and Health Fair – 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Owen Middle School. Find out about job opportunities, get free health screenings, great prizes, and learn what services and products you can find in the Valley. Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce- (828) 669-2300, www.ex ploreblackmountain.com. 16: Fourth Annual Black Mountain Garden Show and Sale. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Downtown Sutton Avenue. Sponsored by/
File photo
(above) The Black Mountain Tailgate is busy on Saturday mornings.
benefit for Black Mountain Beautification Committee. Contact Maggie Krogh, (828) 669-6787. June 6: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 – 9 p.m. at Lake Tomahawk. Food available. “Lauren Jones” performing. Black Mountain
Recreation and Parks - (828) 669-8610, renee.blackmtn@gmail.com. 6 & 7: 12th Annual Black Mountain Arts and Craft Show –downtown Black Mountain. Free to the public. Old Depot Association(828) 669-4814, www.olddepot.org. 18-21: Art in Bloom, a flower and art show See Events on PAGE 3
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“Firecracker Jazz Band” performing. Black Mountain Recreation and Parks - (828) 6698610, renee.blackmtn@gmail.com. 4: Fourth of July Celebration - Street dance at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. in downtown Black Mountain. Sponsored by Town of Black Mountain Recreation and Parks and Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce - (828) 669-2300, www.explore blackmountain.com. 4: Annual Montreat Parade – 10 a.m. Town of Montreat, 669-8002. Free to the public. 16: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 - 9 p.m. at Lake Tomahawk. Food available. “Sons of Ralph” performing. Contact Black Mountain Recreation and Parks - (828) 669-8610, renee.blackmtn@gmail.com. August (above) Don’t miss the Taste of Black Mountain on September 10.
at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Floral designers interpret works of art from area galleries. On Sunday, the works of the plein aire painters from the garden tour will be on display. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. $5 admission. (828) 669-0930, www.blackmountainarts.org. 25: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 - 9 p.m. at Lake Tomahawk. Food available. “Kat Williams” performing. Black Mountain Recreation and Parks - (828) 669-8610, renee.blackmtn@gmail.com. July 2: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 - 9 p.m. at Lake Tomahawk. Food available.
7: Sourwood Idol Contest – Singers compete for cash prizes. Black MountainSwannanoa Chamber of Commerce - (828) 669-2300, exploreblackmountain.com. 8-9: 32nd Annual Sourwood Festival in downtown Black Mountain. Black MountainSwannanoa Chamber of Commerce. (828) 669-2300, www.exploreblackmountain.com. 8: Sourwood 5K, 8:30 a.m. at Cheshire Fitness and Racquet Club. www.cheshirefit nessandracquet club.com. September 10: Tenth Annual Taste of Black Mountain. Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce. (828) 669-2300, www.exploreblackmountain.com.
(above) Don’t miss the Park Rhythms concerts this summer.
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Events, continued from page 2
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Black Mountain restaurants - old and new By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ake new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” I recall that lovely tune from my days of being a Girl Scout and can certainly apply the song to the friends in my life, but as much as I love restaurants and dining out, I feel the song is quite f itting to Black Mountain's restaurant scene. For this town is home to classic, reputable restaurants and also many newer restaurants that are equally as worthy of our attention. OLD (or shall we say classic) • Berliner Kindl German Restaurant and Deli (121 Broadway, (828) 669-5255). Try an authentic bratwurst dinner with potato salad “
Photo provided by Madison’s
(above) Diners enjoy a night out at Madison’s, located in nearby Ridgecrest.
and sauerkraut. •Black Mountain Bakery (102 Church Street, (828) 669-1626) is the place to f ind delicious pastries, breads, and desserts, and a wonderful place to have breakfast or lunch. • Madison’s (10 Florida Avenue, (828) 669-4785) is one of the area's hidden gems tucked away in Ridgecrest. The warm spinach and artichoke dip is a great way to begin the meal followed by baked stuffed shrimp and bananas foster for dessert. • My Father's Pizza (110 Cherry Street, (828) 669-4944) is a classic Black Mountain dining spot. Enjoy a pie with a pitcher of cold beer on the restaurant’s spacious porch. • You’ll f ind a delicious cheeseburger, chips and Dr. Pepper from See Restaurants on PAGE 5
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Pepper’s (122 Cherry Street, (828) 669-1885), which has been on Cherry Street since 1985. • Perry’s BBQ (400 C East State Street, (828) 664-1446). Enjoy a pulled pork sandwich with green beans, macaroni and cheese, and sweet iced tea complemented with authentic Southern hospitality. • Red Rocker Inn (136 N. Dougherty Street, (828) 669-5991) serves up homemade specialties at candlelit, with laced tables nestled on the garden porch or by the f ireplace. • Veranda Café (119 Cherry Street, (828) 669-8864) has yummy homemade soups and fresh salads and has been a Cherry Street lunch favorite for many years. NEW • An Apple a Day (205 West State Street, (828) 669-5996) serves up
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Restaurants, continued from page 4
Photo provided by Madison’s
(above) The Swannanoa Valley offers a wide variety of excellent restaurants.
See Restaurants on PAGE 32
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Famous people from the Swannanoa Valley By Jill Jones CONTRIBUTING WRITER
he Swannanoa Valley has been both home and retreat for numerous famous people whose lives and businesses have impacted the people and the Valley for nearly two centuries. One of the most famous of all Valley residents is the Rev. Billy Graham, who married Ruth McCue Bell, daughter of missionary Dr. L. Nelson Bell of Montreat in 1943. The Grahams f irst lived in a modest cottage across from Ruth’s parents, but in 1954 they purchased 200 acres on a mountaintop in Montreat on which they built an informal country-style house that has served as a place of retreat as well as home for the evangelist and his family. Frontiersman and hero of the
Alamo Davy Crockett visited Elizabeth Patton, the widow of a friend, in Swannanoa in 1815. He was also recently widowed. Having f ive children between them, they decided to wed and join their families. Three more children were Photos provided by the Swannanoa Valley Museum Ruth and Billy Graham born to them during their years in Tennessee and Texas. Valley. Descendants of Davy and Elizabeth In the 1880s, world renowned reside today in the Swannanoa architect Raphael Guastavino II
Brad Johnson
came to Western North Carolina to See Famous on PAGE 7
Famous, continued from page 6 work on the Biltmore Estate. While here, he built an estate of his own, “Rhododendron,” in Black Mountain, on the site of what now is Christmount Assembly. Guastavino specialized in the use of the ageold Catalan system of laminated tile vaults, which enabled the construction of free-standing tiled domes. Among the 1,000 buildings he designed and built in the United States is the St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville. In 1900, a panel of architects named the top 10 buildings in the United States, and eight of them contained tile work by Guastavino. A pioneer in the f ield of electricity, Franklin Terry was a contemporary and a competitor of Thomas Edison and eventually became a vicepresident of Edison’s company, General Electric. In 1921, he bought land in Black Mountain and built “In The Oaks,” a 24,755 square foot summer home for his second wife, Lilliam Slocumb Emerson. The home is second in size only to Biltmore House in the state and is styled as an English manor house. “In The Oaks” is now owned by Montreat
College and serves as its Black Mountain campus. Singer Roberta Flack was born in Swannanoa in 1939. She is perhaps best known for her hit song, “Killing Me Softly.” The Martin family of musicians is famous among fans of mountain music, and are also known for their wood carvings and dulcimers. Billy Edd Wheeler, of Swannanoa, is the author of numerous songs that have been recorded by such stars as Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Nancy Sinatra, and Lee Greenwood. Davy Crockett Raphael Guastavino Two sports f igures of renown are from the Swannanoa Valley. Football great Brad Johnson, a graduate of Owen High School, led the history of the Swannanoa Valley, visit the Swannanoa Valley Museum, located at 223 West the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl vicState Street in Black Mountain. tory in 2004. For more information about the museum, call Brad Daugherty, former University of North (828) 669-9655 or visit Carolina and Cleveland Cavalier basketball star, www.swannanoavalleymuseum.org. is also from Black Mountain. For more information on these individuals and
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Thirty-Second Annual Sourwood Festival Hits the streets in downtown Black Mountain By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
he Sourwood Festival is something you don’t want to miss. This classic mountain festival has brought fun and entertainment to this community since 1977. Sponsored by the Black MountainSwannanoa Chamber of Commerce, the family-oriented festival takes place in historic downtown Black Mountain August 8 and 9. The event is free and open to the public and named after the region’s honey source, the Sourwood tree, which blooms in mid to late summer each year. Two hundred booths and areas of arts and crafts, food of all kinds, rides, games, and a large tent for music and dancing attracts over
30,000 visitors from all over the country. “The Sourwood Festival is a Black Mountain tradition. Locals and visitors alike look forward to it year after year,” Bob McMurray, executive director of the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, said. Birdhouses, handmade furniture, custom jewelry, local soap, and fine art are just a few of the crafts offered at the Sourwood Festival. Musical acts perform every hour. Many events and activities are geared towards children -rides, face painting, a giant slide, a
climbing wall and much more. H o n ey - m a k i n g and bee demonstrations are a popular attraction. You can even take home your own jar of locally made honey! Enjoy foods like homemade ice cream, funnel cake, handmade jellies, Polish sausage, and corn on the cob. And don’t miss the BBQ from Owen High School band’s annual sale. Now in its fifth year, the Sourwood See Festival on PAGE 9
32nd Annual Sourwood Festival
Downtown Black Mountain August 8 & 9
File photo
(above) Enjoy foods like homemade ice cream and funnel cakes at the Sourwood Festival.
German Restaurant & Deli Authentic German Cuisine Serving Lunch & Dinner Monday–Saturday • 11am–8pm Sunday Lunch • 11:30am-3pm Full Menu Take Out Available Reservations Accepted • M/C & Visa
669-5255 121 Broadway, Black Mtn. (Beside Tyson)
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Festival, continued from page 8
File photos
(above and below) The annual Sourwood Festival is set for August 8 and 9.
Idol Contest will kick off the Sourwood Festival on Friday, August 7, at 7 p.m. Come and listen to the regional talent of solo singing acts as they compete for the “Sourwood Idol� title. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. The Sourwood 5K run, now in its
21st year, will take place on the morning of Saturday, August 8, at 8:30 a.m. The race starts and f inishes at Cheshire Fitness Club. www.cheshirefitnessandracquetclub.com. Sourwood Festival hours are Saturday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Located at 201 E. State Street, the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce may be reached at (828) 669-2300, See Festival on PAGE 31
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Gingko Tree Gallery- Celebrating 15 Years By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ingko Tree Gallery is owned by photographer Joye Ardyn Durham whose passions for art and nature are joined together in her photography and gallery. This year the gallery celebrates 15 years of business. The gallery is a display of Durham’s work - much of it focusing on the beautiful local scenery of the area. “The Gingko Tree is a tribute to the surrounding mountains of Western North Carolina,” Durham said. “It is a great place to help you take the mountains home with you.” One look at Durham’s work in the gallery or on her Web site (www.artist withcamera.com), and you'll see that she has a rare talent. Her photographs not only capture the subject but an emotion and a feeling interpreted as
Photo by Joye Ardyn Durham, artistwithcamera.com
(above) Photographer Joye Ardyn Durham’s photos are one-of-a-kind.
individually as the person looking at the picture. One piece that caught my attention is entitled, “First Stand.” It is of a newborn horse’s legs as he stands for the first time. What a joy this must have been to see - a spirit entering the world and standing to greet all that lies ahead. Durham has been taking photographs since she was nine years old when she worked with her dad, who took photographs and published post cards. Our State Magazine recognized her as one of their featured photographers in the February 2009 edition. In addition to nature, she enjoys photographing portraits, dogs, and weddings. She recently completed a dogthemed card series called “Friends of Raven” in honor of her beloved dog and friend who passed away a few years ago (friendsofraven.com). She also has See Gingko on PAGE 11
11 wolf cards from photographs taken at nearby Full Moon Farm. Durham photographs groups, families, babies, children, reunions, weddings, and other social events. She knows the importance of capturing and
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Ginkgo, continued from page 10 preserving some of life’s most beautiful moments and does so with style and elegance. Online proofing is available - have your family photo taken while visiting Black Mountain and proof online when you get home.
Photos by Joye Ardyn Durham, artistwithcamera.com
(above and right) Local photographer Joye Ardyn Durham photographs groups, families, babies, children, reunions, weddings, and other social events. She knows the importance of capturing and preserving some of life’s most beautiful moments and does so with style and elegance.
The gallery also carries signed and numbered limited edition Ann Vasilik prints, a watercolorist from Asheville. Custom framing and photography services are also available at Gingko Tree. “When I am out shooting, whether it be a sunrise, a newborn baby, or a family gathering, I lose all sense of past
and future,” Durham said. “I am there in the moment. Completely present. Creating images is my gift to share and I am grateful beyond words.” Gingko Tree Gallery, 128 Broadway Street, (828) 669-7721, www.artist withcamera.com.
FEEL GREAT for an UNBEATABLE RATE Try One Of Our Healing Sessions While You’re In Town:
1 1/2 Hour Treatment - Just $50 At Western NC's Only Acupuncture & Crystal Healing Center Jean E. Brannon, L.Ac. Gregory L. Hagin, ADL Interfaith Minister, Crystal Therapist & Healer 106 Black Mountain Avenue Downtown Black Mountain (next to Black Mountain Natural Foods)
Flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends. Discounted group sessions available.
• 828-713-9185 •
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How our town recycled an old building into a work of art By Rita Vermillion CONTRIBUTING WRITER
lack Mountain is justifiably proud of its newly renovated city hall on Midland Street. The building on Montreat Road that housed city hall from the early 1990’s until this year is now defunct. But a previous city hall still stands and the community can also be justifiably proud of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, which inhabits the old city hall at 225 W. State Street. Beginning in the 1920’s this handsome, multi-story brick building housed the offices for the Town of Black Mountain, along with the library, the Red Cross, the first public telephone, the jail, and the firemen’s sleeping quarters. When the building was vacated, some believed the old city hall had run its course of usefulness and was past its prime, destined for demolition. But others believed it could be restored into a thriving arts center, and could bring renewed vigor into the life of downtown
Mountain Center for the Arts saw their labors pay off when the doors were opened to the resourcefully renovated building in 2000. Nine years later visitors come through the Center’s doors every day wanting to learn about Black Mountain, about the legendary Black Mountain College, and about the arts for which this area is so well known. Photo provided by David Seils They come to view the current show in the Upper The bas relief mountain scene by David Seils on the Gallery, to register for ongoeast side of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts ing classes, to ask about posClay Studio is a visual feast as an outdoor piece of art. sibilities for artists in this locale, and to exchange ideas for all of the Black Mountain. Through concentrated vision, hard work, above. Towns the size of Black Mountain, espeand persistent fundraising efforts, the initial board members of the newly formed Black cially towns that are not county seats, seldom
While you’re in Town ~ Check out our Gallery, Clay Studio, Events & Historic Building! Monthly Exhibits, Pottery Showcase, Workshops, & Live Theatre OPEN Monday-Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm Sat. 1:00pm to 4:00pm at 225 W. State St. (in the old City Hall) Art in Bloom June 18-21 call for tickets and more information www.BlackMountainArts.org
669-0930
have multi-faceted arts centers. Towns the size of Black Mountain seldom have the availability and quality of local talent that is found here. What those early BMCA board members knew is that the arts encompass more than one dimension, and that a wide array of talents are well represented in our local and part-time population. There’s a rich music scene here that is historic; the same can be said of the visual arts and fine handmade craft such as pottery, of the written word, and of the performing areas of the arts. BMCA was developed with the idea that focusing on one area of the arts would be insufficient - that the stage is large enough to invite people to participate in as many areas as they will. Thus, the mission of the Center was born - “to bring arts to the people, and people to the arts.” When those early board members planned for the Center, they counted on the generosity See Recycled on PAGE 30
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Don't forget your history lesson while you are in town By Jill Jones CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ost visitors come into the Swannanoa Valley today along a modern pathway - Interstate 40 - unaware that this asphalt four-lane follows much the same pathway that was first carved through the wilderness along the Swannanoa River by deer, elk, wild boar, and other animals. When the early tribes came into the Valley,
Photos provided by the Swannanoa Valley Museum
The busy depot in Black Mountain.
they followed the animal paths as they hunted game, fished the river, and gathered berries and nuts in the forests. Archaeologists tell us that this river valley has been inhabited by mankind for more than 12,000 years. In pre-Revolutionary War times, it was a hunting ground for the Cherokee, shared at times with the
Catawba Indians. During the Revolutionary War, the Cherokee sided with their English trading partners, and when the British were defeated, the land west of the Swannanoa Gap was opened to immigrant settlement. Europeans and Africans came into the Valley from the east along many of the same trails and pathways the Indians had previously used. Some settled in the Valley, others passed See Museum on PAGE 15
Swannanoa United Methodist Church 216 Whitson Avenue Sunday School - 9:45 am Morning Worship - 11 am “Welcome Table” Wed. 11:30-1:00 Director of Music - Sharon Helton Pastor - Rev. Richard Ploch
828-686-5284
Black Mountain United Methodist Church 101 Church Street Rev. Lynda T. Briggs, Pastor Sunday - 8:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service 9:45 a.m - Sunday School 10:50 a.m. - Traditional Service
For other church activities please call the church office at 828-669-8248
Meadowbrook FWB Church 204 Blue Ridge Road • Black Mountain (turn on Blue Ridge Road just past Phil’s BBQ)
Phone: 828-669-9150 Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. ~ Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m. Evening Worship: 6:00 p.m. ~ Wednesday Night: 7:00 p.m. Swannanoa Valley Friends Meeting (Quakers) -- Worship rooted in silence --
Meeting at Common Light 137 Center Ave., Black Mountain Sunday 9:30 Worship Children’s Program Everyone Welcome
First Baptist Church Swannanoa “Reflecting Christ in the Valley” Pastor Steve Rayburn
ph. 669-0832
“The Little White Church in the Wildwood”
Church Office - 828-669-7525
lakeygappca@bellsouth.net
102 Andrew Place Swannanoa, NC
Rev. Frank J. Seabo, pastor Mass Schedule: Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday: 8:30 am & 11 am & Misa En Espanol 1 pm
828-686-8833 102 W. Buckeye Road, Swannanoa, NC A Judson Rotan- Pastor
Rev. Martin Payne, Pastor
A Small Church with a Big Heart
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church
Buckeye Baptist Church
Church: 669-7722 Pastor: 337-0559
Sundays at 5:30: Disciple Tech
828-686-5123
Sunday Worship - 9:30 am Sunday School - 10:45 am Pastor’s Bible Study - Wed., 6 pm Pastor - Rev. Richard Ploch Director of Music - Ruthann Bailey
Old Lakey Gap Road Black Mountain
11:00am, Wednesday Worship 6:30pm
503 Park Street
385 Tabernacle Road, Black Mountain
Lakey Gap Presbyterian (PCA)
Sunday School:10 am Sunday Worship: 11 am & 6pm Wed. Night Bible Study: 7 pm
Sunday School 9:45am, Sunday Worship
Tabernacle United Methodist Church
A Church without Walls 9 am Worship Follow the blue signs 828-664-9212 www.montreatchurch.org
Sunday: Bible Study-9:45 a.m. ¥Worship-11:00 a.m. Evening Worship- 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: Prayer Service- 7:00 p.m.
Phone-828-298-0326
Museum, continued from page 14 through to make their homes in other parts of what is now Buncombe County, or moved on further west. For those who settled here, the pathways grew from dirt trails usable mainly by horse, mule, or oxen, to wider (above) A postcard from Black Mountain. roads, such as the W e s t e r n Turnpike, along with stage coaches traveled, bringing early tourists into the mountains. The region remained relatively isolated, however, until 1879, when the Western North Carolina Railroad entered the Valley. As with the stage coach road, the railroad tracks followed along older pathways made by animals, Indians, and settlers. The coming of the train brought irrevocable change to the Swannanoa Valley and all of
Western North Carolina. Where before only a few, mostly wealthy individuals were able to visit the cool climate of these mountains, people of more modest means could now travel here by train, and many inns and boarding houses sprang up to serve this new clientele. Among those who visited the Valley around the turn of the 19th century were people who found the region not only beautiful, but spiritually uplifting as well. The founders of Montreat, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, and Ridgecrest were among those who came, purchased land and developed these retreats. Others followed later. Today, the Swannanoa Valley is known for the numerous religious retreats that were founded here. The construction of George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate attracted many artists and craftsmen, among them a young English architect, Richard Sharp Smith, and renowned Spanish architect Raphael Guastavino II. Both came to work on the Biltmore Estate and remained in the region, leaving an indelible mark not only on Asheville, but also in the Swannanoa Valley. Guastavino built his own estate,
Rhododendron, on the property south of Black Mountain that is now Christmount Assembly. In 1921, Smith designed and built the Black Mountain Fire House on State Street, which now serves as home to the col-
A trainful of tourists arrives in Black Mountain.
lection of the Swannanoa Valley Museum. With the development of the region and the invention of the motorcar came pathways of a more modern kind - paved roads. Horse and ox-drawn taxis at the railway depots were replaced with cars, and the early highways
were crowded with visitors who flowed into the Swannanoa Valley. N.C. State Road 10, known as the Central Highway, ran from the east coast all the way to Murphy in the far western part of North Carolina. It crossed over the Blue Ridge in a winding route between Old Fort and Black Mountain. Later, the route became U.S. 70, then was closed off with the building of Interstate 40. This year, the old route has been reopened as “Point Lookout Trail,” a hiking/biking trail between Ridgecrest and Old Fort. Today, our pathways are streamlined but still heavily trafficked as visitors continue to discover the beauty and historical treasure that is the Swannanoa Valley. To learn more about this Valley and Western North Carolina, visit the Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W. State Street in downtown Black Mountain. Open April-October, Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, noon - 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 2-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.swannanoavalley museum.org.
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Listen to the music By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
usical roots run deep in the Swannanoa Valley. The area has a long history of great live music dating back to the early settlers who played their fiddles, banjos, and ballads in informal settings around hearths and fireplaces or on the porches of early homes and cabins. Music was a lively part of barn raisings, corn shuckings, fairs, and festivals. Today, the heritage of our area’s music is as alive as ever at local venues and festivals. “Black Mountain and Swannanoa are rapidly developing a reputation as musical destinations where people know they can hear great live music,” said Don Talley, a local resident whose passion for music inspired him to create “Black Mountain Music Scene” newsletter and Web site: www.blackmoun tainmusicscene.com. “My goal for Black Mountain Music Scene is to help foster and spread that reputation and bring even more folks to our town to
hear great music.” The Black Mountain area is home to great music venues like White Horse Black Mountain, The Town Pump Tavern, Ja Vin, The Watershed, Shovelhead Saloon, Pisgah Brewing, and the Beacon Pub. Black Mountain Center for the Arts, the Black Mountain Inn, and the Black Mountain Foundation also host music events. The area is home to great festivals and outdoor music events like Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF), the Great American Roots Revival (new this year, on July 4th at the Swannanoa 4H camp), the Park Rhythms music series at Lake Tomahawk, Groovin on Grovemont music series in Swannanoa, the Swannanoa Gathering, Sourwood Festival, and Mill around the Village. Black Mountain is also home to musical instrument shops Song of the Wood and Acoustic Corner which draw customers from a wide region. If you find yourself in the area on any given night, check out www.blackmountainmusic
828-664-9472 • queserarestaurant.com
Casual Fine Dining Dinner - Tues-Sat, 5:00-9:00 pm Sunday Brunch 11:00 am-2:30 pm
Metro Photo
(above) The Swannanoa Valley has a long history of great live music dating back to the early settlers who played their fiddles, banjos, and ballads in informal settings.
scene.com to find out who’s playing where. One of Black Mountain's most well-
known spots to hear live music is the See Music on PAGE 29
CMYK PAGE 16, 17 Clayton Homes are precision built in state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring quality construction, saving time and money. Clayton Homes consultants will help you customize your home the way you want, to you can enjoy the comfort and pride of owning a home that’s a reflection of you. We put the best home ownership experience within reach.
HOMES
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There's no place like home By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER
hinking of buying a home or property in the mountains? The Black Mountain area is home to a variety of neighborhoods and communities - some with panoramic views and others with walkable town centers. “Black Mountain continues to be a popular destination for the home buyer,” Keller Williams real estate agent Rowena Patton said. “People are drawn here because of the proximity to Asheville and the opportunity to live in a place with fabulous restaurants and the heart of an old town. Our neighborhoods have something for everyone - mountain views, lakes, parks, rivers and hiking trails.” Here, a snapshot of some of the area’s neighborhoods and communities that are attracting buyers seek-
Photo provided by Greybeard Realty
(above) The Black Mountain area is home to a variety of neighborhoods and communities - some with panoramic views and others with walkable town centers.
ing second homes or year-round residences. •The Settings of Black Mountain is a gated community with elevations up to 3,945 feet, hiking trails and park areas and easily accessible from Interstate 40. The 200 singlefamily home sites and 100 town home sites offer dramatic views and range from cozy cottages to grand estates on nearly 10 acres. www.the settings.com. •The Village of Cheshire is located in the heart of Black Mountain and features an array of arts and crafts style homes, condos and town homes. It is a traditional neighborhood development with shops, restaurants and live-work spaces along with a f itness center, tennis facilities, a Frisbee golf course, and open green spaces. www.village ofcheshire.com. See Home on PAGE 19
Home, continued from page 18 •Eight miles south from down- barn and a timber frame picnic town Black Mountain and off of pavilion. Other common spaces Highway 9 is Creston - 1,100 acres include a two-acre f ishing area on of a breathtaking piece of land the Rocky Broad River and 23 acres called Hicks Mountain. Of that reserved for hiking trails and undeland, 477 acres are dedicated to a veloped wooded area. conservation easement under the Approximately 10 miles from downFoothills Land Conservancy. There town Black Mountain, Stone Brook are six miles of hiking trails with is located off of Highway 9 South on waterfalls and creeks and a small Morgan Hill Road. www.stonecamping area for Creston owners to brookatrushcreek.com. enjoy. The 135 home sites are at an •DRA Living, an Asheville-based elevation of corporation special2,200 to 3,100 izing in land develfeet. www.cre opment, home buildston-nc.com. ing, and sales, owns •Catawba The Hamlets at Falls Preserve is Rustling Pine Trail located 7.5 miles in Black Mountain. southwest of Located off of Black Mountain. Highway 9 South With over 240 Contact a local real estate repand Lakey Gap home sites rangresentative to find out more about Road, the Hamlets at ing from one to these and other neighborhoods in Rustling Pine Trail 20+ acres, the Black Mountain. offers off-site built gated community homes with views boasts spectacu• Greybeard Realty - 204 E. and privacy. There lar mountain visState Street, (828) 669-1072, are several different tas and an abunwww.greybeardrealty.com home plans and dance of comamenity packages mon nature • Keller Williams from which to areas. And, for 115 Richardson Boulevard, choose, and the the avid out(828) 210-1648, three and four bedwww.pattonpropertygroup.com room homes range in doorsmen and women, there are size from approxi•Fran McCaskill numerous trout mately 1,700 square Preferred Properties streams and an feet to over 2,300 (828) 778-0304 extensive trail square feet. This system with unique and secluded .• Nine South Realty - 706 N.C. f ive lot development access to the Highway 9, (828) 357-8480, Catawba River offers scenic views, www.ninesouthrealty.com and Pisgah old growth trees, National Forest. city utilities, and www.catabafalls custom, energy eff ipreserve.com. cient homes built to the highest •Stone Brook at Rush Creek quality standards. Currently there boasts green meadows, gentle are three lots available for custom sloped roads, mountain views, homes and one spec house. creek-side lots, waterfalls, spacious The development is conveniently land, and quiet. The development is located to I-40, downtown Black over 130 acres with lots ranging in Mountain, and the Cheshire Fitness size from 3-12 acres. There are sev- and RacquetClub. www.the eral natural community areas like a hamletsofblackmountain.com. beautifully renovated seven-stall
Local Real Estate Representatives
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Art in Bloom set for Black Mountain Center for the Arts June 18-21 By Rita Vermillion CONTRIBUTING WRITER
he Black Mountain Center for the Arts will present its third annual Art in Bloom, an art and flower show, on June 18-21. Held at the Center at 225 W. State Street in the old city hall, the three-day event is a fundraiser for the non-prof it arts center, which serves the entire western part of Buncombe County. Honorary chair for this year is Ann Vasilik, well-known watercolorist who has artistically documented much of Western North Carolina. The premise of Art in Bloom is that floral designers choose one piece in the Center’s selected gallery show and interpret the art with a complementary floral arrangement. The side-by-side combination of the two artistic designs adds a new dimension to the understanding and enjoyment of the show.
Photo by Nancy Mason
Ann Vasilik, known throughout Western N.C. for her watercolors that document the area, is the 2009 Art in Bloom Honorary Chair, and one of the Garden Tour plein air painters.
Art in Bloom begins on Thursday evening, June 18, at 6 p.m. with a Gala and Preview Party. Ticket holders are the f irst to see the floral designs, just an hour or so after they have been set in place by the florists. The Preview Party offers an opportunity to meet the floral designers, listen to musical entertainment, and enjoy a sumptuous display of heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and dessert. Tickets for Thursday evening are $35. On Friday, June 19, the exhibit opens to the public, and continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day, and on Sunday from noon - 4 p.m. Admission to the exhibit alone is $5; however, admission is included in the ticket price of any of the other weekend events. The popular Garden Tour takes place on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Up to 10 local gar-
Photo provided by Pam Beck
Pam Beck, gardener extraordinaire, will present “Best Garden Plants for N.C.” during an afternoon session of Art in Bloom on Saturday, June 20.
See Art on PAGE 21
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Art, continued from page 20
Photo by Steve Dixon, Asheville Citizen Times
Emiko Nishiwaki is the presenter for an Ikebana Demonstration, held along with an Afternoon Tea during Art in Bloom on Friday afternoon, June 19.
dens are on the tour. Self-guided maps are available at the Center; tickets are $15. Each ticket includes a printed 15 percent discount for lunch at various local restaurants. During the Garden Tour local plein air painters will be on hand in each garden capturing their impressions of the individual gardens. Those paintings will then be on display on Sunday, June 21, during the Art in Bloom exhibit at the Center. On Friday, a special event will be an afternoon Tea Party and an Ikebana Demonstration at 2 p.m. Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, will be demonstrated by Emiko Nishiwaki, Japan Outreach Coordinator at Western Carolina University, with commentary by Terri Ellis Todd, a master in the Ichiyo School. Tea sets by the Black Mountain Clay Studio potters will be available for purchase. Tickets are $25. Saturday’s special event will be “Best Garden Plants for N.C.,” a
gardening lecture and slideshow presentation by Pam Beck, co-author of a book by the same title, and a popular freelance garden writer, photographer, designer, and lecturer. A regular contributor to Carolina Gardener, she also serves as an area scout for Better Homes & Gardens and is on the board of advisors for the J.C. Raulston Arboretum. Tickets are $20. Art in Bloom originally started at BMCA as collaboration between the Center and the Asheville area Ikebana International chapter. Both Ikebana and western floral designers are invited to participate each year. The event is only three days due to the fragility of the flowers. Don’t miss this spectacular presentation of art and flowers by some of the areas most talented and creative artists and designers. For more information, call (828) 669-0930 or visit blackmoun tainarts.org.
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New museum and learning center open in Montreat By Ron Vinson CONTRIBUTING WRITER
or more than 210 years, Presbyterians have established communities and churches throughout the Swannanoa Valley, from North Fork to Black Mountain to Montreat. A new museum and learning center opened last year in Montreat, highlighting the history of Montreat, as well as the Presbyterian heritage in this Valley and throughout the world. Located at 318 Georgia Terrace, adjacent to Assembly Drive, in Montreat, the new Presbyterian Heritage Center (PHC) is housed in Spence Hall in the old Historical Foundation Building. The PHC worked with the Montreat Conference Center to create a historical presence, as requested by the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly in 2006. The center offers a variety of changing state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits on the history of Montreat and Presbyterianism, as well as special events including lectures,
“Already, we are live performances, working in partnerperiod costumed reship with the enactors, and storyM o n t r e a t telling. Multimedia Conference Center, kiosks offer music, P r i n c e t o n interviews, maps, and Theological much more. Seminary, and others “The Presbyterian to develop traveling Heritage Center will exhibits that will tour entertain and educate the United States. In young people and 2009, Montreat adults about hopes to be the Montreat, PresbyNorth America centerian history, and ter for celebrating mission, reaching out the 500th birthday of to tens of thousands John Calvin, one of who come to key Montreat each year, Photo provided by the Presbyterian Heritage Center the Reformation leadplus many more ers in the history of online through our (above) Located at 318 Georgia Terrace, adjacent to Assembly Drive, in the Protestant digital programs and Montreat, the new Presbyterian church.” research capabilities,” Heritage Center is housed in Spence Books and artisaid Richard Ray, Hall in the old Historical Foundation facts from the chairman of the PHC Building. Montreat Conference board.
Center collection form the core of the PHC’s reference materials. Additional books, online databases, microfiche, and exhibit displays have been added by PHC to its library and learning center. In addition to its exhibits, the PHC provides a research library on Montreat, Presbyterians, and their institutions, as well as online computer access to available resource materials from leading national and regional institutions. Online databases contain hundreds of thousands of original documents and books from the 1500s to today. Plus, the Presbyterian Heritage Center has started digitizing important Montreat documents and photographs for future online access. The PHC Web site -www.phcmontreat.org - already links to original documents, books, and photos at scores of institutions. There is no admission fee to the PHC.
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The great outdoors By Hali Ledford CONTRIBUTING WRITER
urrounded by mountains, the Swannanoa Valley is home to many outdoor activities that make the small communities of Black Mountain and Swannanoa special and keeps tourists coming back for more every summer. •SHADOWBROOK MINI GOLFAs the only minigolf place in town, Shadowbrook is an event the whole family can enjoy. Located on Highway 9, across from Ingles, it is right outside the center of town. •SHOPPING- Black Mountain is home to some pretty unique stores. Take a day to park your car and walk down Cherry Street with the rest of the town and it’s visitors. Public parking is free, anywhere you can
f ind a spot, and there is plenty of it. Just come prepared to walk. Shopping is a big to do here. You never know what you will f ind in our local stores! •MONTREAT- To get a taste of the real beauty of the area go to Montreat. Drive down Montreat Road until you pass through the stone entrance into Montreat. There is a park for children and Lake Susan. If you want to do as the locals do, bring a bathing suit and water shoes so you can skip rocks and swim in the creek. Make sure to bring a camera to capture the natural beauty around you. Just watch out for the swan that calls Lake Susan home. •BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE- Looking for a real game of See Outdoors on PAGE 25 Lake Tomahawk is a Black Mountain favorite.
File photo
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Outdoors, continued from page 24
File photo
Enjoy a round of golf at the beautiful Black Mountain Golf Course.
Looking for a real game of golf? Look no further than the Black Mountain Golf Course. Enjoy an 18-hole game set in the middle of the beautiful mountains and wooded areas full with trees. golf? Look no further than the Black Mountain Golf Course. Enjoy an 18hole game set in the middle of the beautiful mountains and wooded areas full with trees. •LAKE TOMAHAWK- As the sun begins to set behind the mountains and you f inish up your dinner at one of the many restaurants in town, you may be wondering what to do next. How about taking a nice relaxing
walk around Lake Tomahawk. The atmosphere is peaceful and the only thing you have to worry about is running into a duck or two. But don’t worry about them, they are use to people and for the most part they are friendly. There is also a playground and tennis courts next to the lake. Enjoy the great outdoors while you are here!
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Fresco in local chapel is ‘must see’ By Barbara Hootman CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ontreat College’s Chapel of the Prodigal is an outstanding piece of art nestled in the area mountains that attracts thousands of visitors annually. “In the past years, we have guided thousands of visitors through the Chapel,” Andy Andrews said. “Visitors come from everywhere and are awed at the art work in the chapel. We have 45 docents now that work hard to educate the public about Ben Long and his work, and we serve as tour guides for large groups of people.” The interior of the Chapel of the Prodigal is a complementary setting for the huge fresco, Return of the Prodigal. An intimate and uplifting worship space was created. Ben Long’s fresco measures 16 feet wide by 17 feet high. It portrays the parable found in Luke Chapter 15. After squandering the inheritance he demanded from his father, the prodigal son returns home from a far country
Photos provided by Montreat College
Ben Long’s fresco tells the story of Luke Chapter 15.
See Fresco on PAGE 27
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seeking forgiveness and acceptance. The father receives his wayward son joyously, reestablishing his place in the family. Many consider this parable to be the greatest story Jesus ever told illustrating God’s unconditional love. Return of the Prodigal is Long’s first fresco on a wall built to his personal specifications. The biblical theme has been painted by some of the most famous names in art history. Rembrandt painted the parable with the father standing over his kneeling son with his fatherly hand as a blessing on his son’s head. Long’s imagination encompassed a more emotional encounter between the father and the prodigal. The patriarch kneels beside his frail son clutching his son’s hand over his heart and the other raised in thanksgiving. The older brother looks on in anger at the happy reunion. Across the courtyard, the mother stands with the female servants, her hands clasped across her breast as she senses the tension between the two brothers. In the background the servants are busy butchering the calf for the welcome home
his poverty. Long spent years preparing to paint the Montreat fresco, with drawings, oil paintings, and sketches. Creating a fresco is a demanding physical challenge. The painter must work long stretches of time rather than take frequent breaks. Depending on humidity, the painter may work as much as eight to 12 hours a day. Montreat’s artistic interpretation by Long is the only known true fresco by a master artist on the theme of Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. Long has achieved international fame as a master of both true fresco and oil painting. His talent has resulted in numerous commissions worldwide including Italy, France, and seven sites in North Carolina. Also, the chapel is a popular wedding site. Montreat gets calls from many different states inquiring about having a wedding in the chapel. The Chapel is open to the public. For more information, call 669-8012, extensions 3821.
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Fresco, continued from page 26
All Baskets Include Chips and a Pickle South Philly Style Cheesesteaks steak or chicken
$6.50
add peppers
$.30
100% Natural Beef Hamburgers (1/2 lb)
$5.50
add cheese add bacon
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2-All Beef Chili Dogs w/mustard & onions
$5.25
1-Chili Dog
$2.75
Basket of Fresh Cut Idaho Fries
$2.50
cooked in peanut oil
Drinks (Pepsi products & Sweet Tea)
$1.50
free refills
PISGAH Pale Ale 22 oz. Bud, Bud Light, PBR 12 oz.
$6.00 $2.50
104 West St., Black Mountain behind the police station & 5/3 Bank banquet. A small dog barks at the bottom. Three pigs root in the foreground reminding the viewer of the herds the Prodigal tended in
(above) The exterior view of Montreat College’s Chapel of the Prodigal.
828.669.0668 Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-8pm • Closed Sunday
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Music, continued from page 16 Watershed. The Watershed, upstairs from My Father’s Pizza, is a downtown bar that is host to a wide variety of musical performances. Bluegrass, rock, Americana and much more. 207 W. State Street, (828) 669-0777. Beacon Pub is a new bar and bistro in Swannanoa with live music on Thursday and Saturday nights and open mic night on Tuesday nights. With billiards, local micro brews, and nightly drink specials, it is a great place to check out a band. 204 Whitson Avenue, Swannanoa, (828) 686-0006, www.beaconpubinfo.com. The Town Pump is a friendly local hangout right on Cherry Street. Walk into this establishment on any given night and most likely a live band will be having a good time with the crowd. Locals love the dart boards, variety of local and regional microbrews, and the juke box with a tremendous selection. With its laid back and authentic character, this local favorite is a must-visit for visitors. 135 Cherry Street, (828) 669-4808. Pisgah Brewing Company is a certified
Metro Photo
(above) Great bands play Black Mountain every weekend.
organic brewery in Black Mountain and also host to a wide variety of musical events. Come and enjoy some fine local music and a brew voted best in Western North Carolina,
150 Eastside Drive, (828) 669-0190, www.pisgahbrewing.com. White Horse Black Mountain is the town’s newest music venue. The 4,400 square foot
non-smoking space offers the finest in music and arts along with beer, wine, coffee, tea, sandwiches, and snacks. The owners and founders are Bob Hinkle and Kim Hughes Bob has been in the music and entertainment business for 40 years. The space seats 225 people with additional standing room making it a 300-person capacity hall. With excellent sound and lighting systems, a 30-foot barrel ceiling, good acoustics, and a unique wood and copper bar it makes for a wonderful place to enjoy live music. Look for big name acts this season like Cyril Neville, Darol Anger, Spiritual Rez, Acoustic Syndicate, and others. White Horse Black Mountain is located at 105-C Montreat Road, (828) 669-0816. For a complete music schedule, visit www.whitehorseblackmoun tain.com. Black Mountain offers locals and visitors plenty of opportunities to hear great live music.
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Recycled, continued from page 12 of the people who love both the arts and the town to support and sustain it. By establishing the Center as a non-profit institution, the founders purposefully chose for it to be a place where people at every level could participate and contribute. The Center continues to derive its support from the philanthropy of the very people who want to see it thrive. Then the Board of BMCA decided to revive the old city garage into a professional teaching clay studio; with grants from The Janirve Foundation, and the Black Mountain Endowment of the Community Foundation of W.N.C., they made the transformation happen. Executive Director Gale Jackson had a vision for the studio to be as visually appealing from the outside, as it would be functionally appealing to potters and students from the inside. Julia Burr, (jcburrdesigns.com) nationally recognized sculptor and installation artist turned Black Mountainer, was engaged to turn the west-facing wall into a mosaic tile mural. The concept she designed is a contemporary splash of color that also serves as a backdrop for signage identifying the site as the Black Mountain Center for the Arts.
Burr, who grew up in Augusta, Ga., is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, and the California Institute of Art, and is a designer/sculptor who has completed private and public commissions throughout the U.S. Currently she is engaged in design work for the Pack Place renovation. On the wall facing east, a different art form was utilized to create a piece of outdoor art. Wall sculptor David Seils (wallsculpture.net), an Asheville artist, was commissioned to create a three-dimensional bas-relief mountain scene with a flowing stream coming down from the mountains through a thicket of laurel and rhododendron. Reviving the art style of relief sculpture that has been used for thousand of years to decorate walls and the frieze of buildings, Seils found the same effect can be accomplished by building up the relief sculpture instead of carving. With the advantage of new materials, white cement, silicon sand, and lime, and with careful measuring and mixing to insure durability and consistency, Seils strengthened the existing wall structure while creating a work of beauty for the entire community to enjoy.
Especially at night, with the installed lighting, the dimension and detail of the scene is particularly impressive. Seils, originally from West Salem, Wisc., received formal art training at Viterbo College in Wisconsin; The Clearing, part of the University of Wisconsin; The University of Kansas at Lawrence; and the Ringling School of Art in Florida. He has created wall sculpture both privately and publicly in North Carolina. The clay studio offers classes, taught by local resident potters, opportunities for experienced potters to purchase community memberships, and Paint-on-Pottery sessions. The camaraderie that has developed among the folks who are taking classes there has been one of the best outcomes of the board’s decision to recycle the old building. For more information, visit http://blackmountainartsclay.blog spot.com. During the summer, the Black Mountain Center for the Arts offers summer camps for local and visiting children and youth. Three camps will be offered this summer: A Theater Conservatory in which thespian and storyteller
Donna Marie Todd will teach the multi-facets of theater and improvisation to rising 5th-8th graders from June 22 - 26. A Summer Arts Camp will be led by Linda Metzner (music), Donna Rouchard (visual art) and Sondra Stamey (creative movement) from July 6 - 10 for kids in grades K-2. New this summer is a four-week musical theater camp called Kids Kabaret led by veteran children’s theater director Lisa Gerber (www.kidskabaretpresents.net), with assistance from Marcy Reed and David Bates. From July 20-August 14 the campers will hone their acting, musical, and dance talents culminating with three performances of a Disney musical spectacular scheduled at the end of camp. Camp is for ages 5-16. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is proud to present this contribution of art and beauty, both visual and creative, for the enjoyment of the community and for the renovation of an old building into a new one. To learn more about Black Mountain’s converted arts center, visit www.blackmountainarts.org. Or call the Black Mountain Center for the Arts at (828) 669-0930.
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Festival, continued from page 9
File Photo
(above) Sourwood honey is a favorite at the Sourwood Festival. File Photo
bmchamber@juno.com, or www.ex ploreblackmountain.com.
(above) Crafters line the streets of downtown Black Mountain at the Sourwood Festival.
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Restaurants, continued from page 5 delicious vegetarian cuisine. The carrot cashew ginger soup is one of their hallmark dishes. Other popular items are the Hungarian mushroom soup and build-your-own wraps and salads. The fresh juice bar is also a hit! • Camino’s (107 Black Mountain Avenue, (828) 669-1982) makes a delicious steak quesadilla f illed with rice, vegetables, cheese, and salsa and served with yummy spiced chips. • It doesn't get much simpler - or much better - than Mac’s (104 West Street, (828) 669-0668). With only a few items on the menu, you’ll want to return to Mac’s again and again for their scrumptious cheeseburgers and decadent Philly cheese steaks. • Phil’s Bar-B-Que Pit (701 N.C. Highway 9, (828) 669-3606) is an expansion of the long standing putt-
putt golf course. Now you can spend an afternoon playing golf and enjoying fantastic BBQ. • Que Sera (400 East State Street, (828) 664-9472) has made its mark over the past few years and is wellknown for its delicious food. The casual yet upscale restaurant has a southern twist and features a delectable menu that changes with the seasons. • Thai Basil (227 West State Street, (828) 664-4322) serves up authentic Thai cuisine like the traditional pad Thai noodle - pan-friend traditional Thai rice noodles with egg, minced tofu, green onion, and bean sprouts served with ground peanut and lime. MIDDLE-AGED So some friends aren’t exactly classif ied as “old,” but they’ve been around a bit long enough to not be
called “new.” So it is with these Black Mountain restaurants … they have been around for more than a few years and are, thankfully, here to stay. • Black Mountain Bistro (203 E. State Street, (828) 669-5041) has favorites like fried green tomatoes battered and served over a potato cake with ranch dressing. For the main course, try meatloaf made from ground chuck with breadcrumbs and spices served with gravy and served with mashed potatoes and green beans. • The Cellar Door (117-C Cherry Street, (828) 669-9090) - has great food, ambience, and service. Try the caramelized diver scallops for an appetizer followed by the rosemaryDijon encrusted petite rack of lamb. The brunch menu varies from week to week, but look for the Gulf Coast
biscuits and gravy - mildly spiced crab and chorizo sausage cream gravy served over fresh baked biscuits with Parmesan-herb home fries. • Morning Glory Café (6 East Market Street in the Village of Cheshire, (828) 669-6212) never fails. Try one of their breakfast burritos f illed with fresh eggs, salsa, and vegetables with a side of hash browns. So whether you’re in the mood to spend some time with an old, reliable “restaurant friend” or perhaps begin a new relationship with “someone fresh and innovative,” Black Mountain’s restaurant scene is sure to please!
Results We Create
Joan Hall Weaver 828-230-3181
Cindy Kirkland 828-606-69700
Byron Bailey 828-713-8966
Natalie Clevenger 828-231-7915
Charles Jones 828-231-9613
Rowena Patton 828-669-6671
Trish MacIsaac 828-301-8212
Christi Hanley 828-808-1847
Vicki Dunkerley 828-275-5007
Louise Kistler 828-713-4438
Katharina Johnson 828-419-9103
Sally Bierhaus 828-273-0915
Jackie Tatelman 828-713-5193
Shanda Boettcher 828-242-7777
Keller Williams Professionals Black Mountain 115 Richardson Blvd., Black Mountain, NC