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#highcountry
-latch-un photo illustration by Samantha Cordialini & Dallas Linger
the team CARL BLANKENSHIP Editor-in-Chief ALEAH WARNER Managing Editor SAMMY HANF News Editor
EDITORIAL MULTIMEDIA BUSINESS
KATIE MURAWSKI A&E Editor JASON HUBER Sports Editor ABBI PITTMAN Opinion Editor
SYDNEY SPANN Graphics Editor DALLAS LINGER Photo Editor MALEEK LOYD Video Editor BRAXTON COATS Web Manager
JACOB OLLER Business Manager ALLISON BENNETT DYCHE Adviser
, s r e d a e r Dear
Thank you for allowing The Appalachian to be a part of your time here at Appalachian State University and a source for your Appalachian information. This is the second year of Best of Boone, and we did things a little differently. Our readers voted for Best of Boone winners from January to March. The ballot for Best of Boone consisted of a multiple choice list comprised of the top three winners of each category from last year, and an option for readers to write in their vote. This is in contrast to last year's ballot of only write-ins. Once we knew the winners, members of The Appalachian's marketing team created the content you are about to read. It was and is important to The Appalachian to maintain objectivity and so this year, we made an extra effort to keep the creation of this Best of Boone issue separate from our editorial staff. It is an honor to be able to be a part of this community, and we look forward to continuing to participate through daily news coverage, in-depth reporting, multimedia storytelling and of course, Best of Boone.
Stephanie Sansoucy Director of Marketing '15-'16
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inside Off-campus
the best
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FOOD + DRINK
ART + ENTERTAINMENT
RECREATION
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HOUSING
SERVICES
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On-campus
SHOPPING
FOOD + DRINK
CLUBS + ORGANIZATIONS
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ACADEMICS
RECREATION
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HOUSING
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s u p m a c Off-
FOOD + DRINK
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photo by Gerrit Van Genderen
Best local brewery
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWERY
by Savanna Tanner
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ppalachian Mountain Brewery has been serving their special brews since 2013, and is publicly traded as HOPS. For Appalachian Mountain Brewery, winning Best of Boone is a continuation of what they set out to do from the beginning. “We have stood by our principles of community, sustainability and philanthropy, and it has certainly paid off,” Danny Wilcox, director of operations at AMB, said. “We hope that by sticking to these principles we will continue to be the Best of Boone and the High Country.” The daily operations of AMB are carried out by the brewing staff, who are constantly innovating new flavors and new types of beer, the bar staff who work directly with the customers, and the food truck staff who are finding new ways to pair food with beer, Wilcox said. As director of operations, Wilcox oversees everything after the beer is made. This includes the front of house, events and more. He has been with AMB for two and a half years and has been living in Boone since 2004. Wilcox said he enjoys Boone and that “we have a close-
knit community that is great to be a part of.” AMB is unique because they focus first on the brand and giving back to the community, Wilcox said. “We have a commitment to put our customers and community first,” he said. “We use beer as an advocate for bringing the community together.” Five percent of every beer sold at AMB goes back to three different nonprofit organizations every month. AMB has worked with over 300 partners in the last three years. AMB also hosts nonprofit events every week and they also hold fundraisers to donate to nonprofits. During their first year, AMB won an award for the Number One Startup Brewery in the country. The brewers of AMB have won a number of medals and worldwide beer competitions. Their Farm to Flame food truck, which has only been around for two years, won an award for Best Pizza in the Blue Ridge Mountains. “We are looking to support the university and find new ways to get involved,” Wilcox said. “Whether that be scholarships or internships, we want to be involved. Thanks for voting us Best of Boone.”
photo by Savanna Tanner
63 Boone Creek Drive Boone, NC 28607 828-263-1111 Mon. noon-10 p.m. Tues.-Thurs. noon- 11 p.m. Fri. noon-11 p.m. Sat.-Sun. noon-10 p.m.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery & Cidery
@appalachianmountainbrewery
@AMBrewery
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Best pizza & drink deal
photo by Dallas Linger
CAPONE'S PIZZA & BAR
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by Katie Fields
ocated on West King Street across from the Turchin Center sits Boone’s best pizza: Capone’s Pizza & Bar. This is the second consecutive year Capone’s has won best pizza in Best of Boone. The restaurant specializes in Chicago, New York and Miami style pizza. They are also known for their “to die for” garlic knots. The restaurant was also honored with best drink deal for their $2 Tuesdays, when students fill the bar and the outdoor deck with beers in hand. Capone’s is owned by Pete Shurba and Chris Staggs, who said they are proud of their success because they make quality products that are not like the “cookie-cutter corporate boys.” “Our quality of product is how we compete with the corporate big boys and we have them beat every time,” Shurba said. When Capone’s opened in March 2005, the Boone community was skeptical. The community saw it as a kiss of death that wouldn’t last long, Shurba said.
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“We’ve proven that theory wrong and now we're part of Boone's long-standing landmarks,” Shurba said. Alongside their dedication to quality ingredients, Capone’s also has a commitment to the Boone community. In over 11 years of experience, they have employed over 350 students. Some of their pizzas on the menu were even created by Appalachian State students. Capone’s also supports local charities. Shurba said they do it not for public accolades, but because it is part of what Capone’s is. Winning Best of Boone for the second year in a row is an honor for Shurba who said it is a recognition of the hard work that has been put into the business. Shurba also credits the success of Capone’s to their student employees. “Every student who has worked with us over the past 11 years shares in our success too,” Shurba said. “We're proud of being successful in bringing an individual small business in a primarily student area.”
Capone's Pizza & Bar 454 W. King St. # B, Boone, NC 28607 828-265-1886 M-Thurs. 11 a.m.10:30 p.m. Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.11 p.m. Sun. noon-10:30 p.m
Best off-campus coffee shop ESPRESSO NEWS 267 Howard St., Boone, NC 28607 828-264-8850 Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-11 p.m
Espresso News photo by Dallas Linger
Best place to buy produce
WATAUGA COUNTY FARMERS' MARKET
591 Horn in the West Drive, Boone, NC 28607 828-355- 4918 Opens May 7, 2016 Saturday 8 a.m.-noon wataugacountyfarmersmarket.org
Watauga County Farmers' Market
Best dessert
APPALACHIA COOKIE COMPANY 368 NC Hwy. 105 Bypass Boone, NC 28607 828-355-4448 Appcookieco.com Sun. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.
photo by Halle Keighton
@appcookieco 7
photo by Dallas Linger
142 Water St., Boone, NC 28607 828-865-5000 Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-9 p.m. propermeal.com
Best BBQ
PROPER
@propersouthern
photo by Justin Perry
208 Faculty St., Boone, NC 28607 828-264- 2226 Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun. noon-midnight towntavernboone.com
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Best wings
TOWN TAVERN
The Town Tavern Boone, NC
photo by Charlotte Wray
Best taco
THE TAPP ROOM by Rachel Brunner
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his is the second year that the TApp Room has won Boone’s best tacos. Kevin Pearce, the general kitchen manager at TApp Room, said that their queso, the size of their tacos and the standard of two tacos per order helps set the restaurants tacos apart and “will not leave you hungry.” “A big day for tacos is Wednesday,” Pearce said. “Every Wednesday, each chicken or barbecue pork soft taco is only $2, and you can wash them down with a $2 Corona or $4 margarita.” There are four types of tacos on TApp’s menu. The chicken taco consists of chicken, queso, lettuce, pico de gallo and jalapeños. The barbecue pork comes with pulled pork, homemade slaw, crispy French onions and barbecue sauce. The fried cod has lettuce, tomato, red onion and a tangy New Orleans remoulade.
The shrimp taco has shrimp, peppers and onions tossed in a tequila butter then topped with a cilantro lime sour cream. “We work hard to provide Boone with great fresh food at a reasonable price and when we receive recognition such as [Best of Boone]," Pearce said. "It lets us know that our hard work and passion has paid off.” Pearce said another aspect that makes TApp Room unique is the number of beers rotating through their draft list. “The only beer that we always have on draft is Budweiser,” Pearce said. “From week to week, a customer can try multiple beers that they have never had or haven’t seen in a long time.” As a college student looking for a local hangout with food, drinks and music, the weekends are the best time to check it out. Pearce said that on the weekends after 10 p.m. the restaurant gets pretty loud and rowdy with DJs and bands, creating a more bar-like atmosphere.
BestDOS Mexican restaurant AMIGOS
@tApp_Room Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-until Sun. noon-until 421 Blowing Rock Road 828-386-1216 tapproom.com
187 New Market Centre Boone, NC 28607 828-265-1674 Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
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Best breakfast
photos by Dallas Linger
MELANIE'S
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by Murilo Artese
lso known as Melanie’s Food Fantasy, Melanie’s has been around since 1991. The restaurant’s menu is “eclectic, unique and one of a kind,” according to their website. The place itself is where “great food, conversation and atmosphere come together.” The owner, Paul Tuttle, was very excited to carry the title of best breakfast. Tuttle said the whole staff is proud to be appreciated and considered one of the best by the Appalachian State students. The staff enjoys providing excellent food and excellent customer service to all of their customers, acknowledging that Appalachian students make up a big chunk of their customers. “We have a lot of regular customers that come every week or even every day to eat and we enjoy serving them as well as being their friends,” Tuttle said. “We also have a lot of tourists, students and downtown folks who frequent us because of our location downtown which we are fortunate to have.” One of Melanie’s workers, Helena Fiore, has been an employee there for two years and
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shared what makes Melanie’s so unique. “The laid back environment with high quality food,” Fiore said. “This juxtaposition makes Melanie's a great meal for many occasions. Parents come here to feed their college students, tourists come here to enjoy a meal on King Street, locals come here to eat breakfast before work, applicants come here for lunch interviews, sports teams enjoy eating here before practice, the list goes on and on for the many reasons why you should eat at Melanie's.” Their breakfast menu includes the Watauga Sunrise Breakfast, Paul's Tempeh Special, Eggs DaVinci, Broccoli Mushroom Omelet and Banana Nut Waffle.
@melaniesfoodfantasy 828-262-3324 664 W. King St. Boone, NC 28607 Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. melaniesfoodfantasy.com
Best vegetarian menu
BL ACK CAT BURRITO
127 South Depot St. Boone, NC 28607 828-263-9511 Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. 11:30 p.m.-8 p.m. blackcatburrito.com photo by Dallas Linger
@blackcatburrito
Best place to eat with your parents DAN'L BOONE INN
by Katie Fields
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an’l Boone Inn is a traditional style family restaurant that serves down home, Southernstyle dishes. The iconic Boone restaurant has been in business for 57 years and serves nearly 200,000 customers per year. Dan’l Boone Inn has more seasonal hours, with summer and fall being their most popular seasons. Jeff Shellman and Jim Paal are the owners of Dan’l Boone Inn. Shellman has been at the restaurant for a total of 26 years, and has been general manager for 18 of those years. He said he is proud of the name Dan’l Boone Inn has built over the past 57 years, and that they can now add “best place to eat with your parents” to that name. Shellman also attributes the successes of Dan’l Boone Inn to all the staff members the restaurant has had over the years. “I am proud of the quality staff that we have been blessed with,” Shellman said. “Our staff feels more like a family.” Dan’l Boone Inn is honored to be considered one of the best restaurants in all of Boone. They are proud to be a leader in the Boone community, and to have an impact in a community that is so tight-knit. “We hope that dining here with family will give them memories that they will want to share with their family and children in the future,” Shellman said.
photo by Dallas Linger 130 Hardin St. 828-264-8657 danlbooneinn.com
Dan'l Boone Inn Restaurant
Off-season Mon.-Thurs. 5-8 p.m. Fri. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Peak season Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Best hamburger
photo by Dallas Linger
COME BACK SHACK
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by Savanna Tanner
ome Back Shack recently celebrated its fourth year of business in November 2015, and according to readers of The Appalachian, it is the best place to get a burger in Boone. Scott Prewitt opened Come Back Shack in 2011 with the help of his family. “We’re a local burger joint that’s all about fresh, delicious, handmade, homemade food at an amazing value,” according to the restaurant’s website. The daily operations of the restaurant focus on the preparation of fresh quality food. They aim to make as much food from scratch as they can. All of the produce served at the restaurant is cut
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and sliced in-house, the burgers are hand-pattied, the chicken is marinated daily and even the sauces are homemade. “We go to the extra effort to serve the best, tastiest, freshest food to our guests because we know you care about what you eat,” Prewitt said. “It’s the kind of food we love, and we enjoy preparing it for you.” Their most popular menu burger is “Come Back style,” which is served with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions and Come Back sauce. Their most popular chicken sandwich is “California style” served with mayo, tomato, fresh spinach, fresh sliced avocado and Swiss cheese. Other fresh items from the menu include hand-cut fries and sweet potato chips, homemade chili and hand-breaded chicken tenders. “We set out to make Come Back Shack something different, something that we could be proud of and something that our guests would love,” Prewitt said. Prewitt said that winning Best of Boone is a confirmation that all of this hard work has paid off. “We put hours and hours of work in our daily operations creating fresh toppings and sauces because customers really appreciate quality and like to know where their food comes from and how it’s made,” Prewitt said. Prewitt said he enjoys being a business owner in Boone and being a leader of “Team Shack,” the past and present employees of Come Back Shack. “Being in a business that sees so many customers day in and day out is really great,” Prewitt said. “It’s instant gratification for doing a good job.” Prewitt said three things make Comeback Shack unique: it is the one and only Come Back Shack, it serves fresh products, and its homemade sauces, especially the Come Back sauce. 521 Blowing Rock Road, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2797 Sun.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas
@comebackshack
photo by Monique Rivera
Best sandwich
OUR DAILY BREAD
627 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 828-264-0173 Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. noon-6 p.m. ourdailybreadboonenc.com
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Arts + Entertainment
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photo by Monique Rivera
Best place to dance
THE LOCAL
Best art gallery
179 Howard Street Boone, NC 828-266-2179 thelocalboone.com Mon-Sat 11am-2am Sun 11 am-10pm
photo by Monique Rivera
TURCHIN CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS by Murilo Artese
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pened in 2003, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts’ mission is to “engage visitors from the university, community, nation and beyond in creating unique experiences through dynamic and accessible exhibition, education, outreach and collection programs.” The Turchin Center’s exhibitions focus on a mixture of new and historically important artwork and feature works of nationally and internationally renowned artists, as well as many of the finest artists of the region, according to the center’s website. Senior art management major Kyle Hazard has worked at the Turchin Center since 2012, first as a security guard and now as an exhibitions assistant. “We are very excited and very honored that we were chosen for this award,” Hazard said. “We work very hard to create interesting exhibitions that the students and town can enjoy and learn from.”
Hazard said one of the most fun and challenging things he has ever been a part of was the installation of the South Africa exhibit. The South African curator thought the space was twice as big as it was, so they ended up with over 20 crates filled with hundreds of artworks that they had to fit into the main gallery, Hazard said. At the end of the day, the exhibition ended up working just fine and it was interesting to see the artwork from the floor to the ceiling. Artists who have been featured at the Turchin Center include Andy Warhol, William Kentridge, Robert Motherwell, Endia Beal and the collection of Allen Thomas Jr. The center has also put on international shows from Mexico, Poland and South Africa. “While Boone is a fantastic and endearing town it can also be sheltered, and these exhibitions are able to bring ideas, social topics and culture from around the world to Boone,” Hazard said.
423 W. King St. Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-3017 turchincenter@appstate.edu tcva.org Tues.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. noon-8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
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Best trivia & karaoke night
photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
GALILEO'S
K
by Rachel Brunner
nown as a grill and bar, Galileo’s on King Street transforms into a place of competitive and fun-loving trivia on Monday nights. Mark Dixon, co-owner of Galileo’s, said the inspiration for trivia night came from the games he and his wife would play. “Before we ever moved to Boone, my wife and I would play trivia every chance we could, so it just felt like a natural fit that when we had our own place, we would host a night,” Dixon said. Dixon said the average trivia night usually brings about 80 to 100 people. “The atmosphere definitely changes [for trivia night],” Dixon said. “We basically are a gathering place for groups of friends to come together and hang out, but at the same time there is competition thrown in that people take pretty seriously. It always ends up being a fun time.” The weekly event usually goes five rounds
of unrelated questions asked and scored by Dixon who keeps track of which team wins each round and the whole night. Dixon said there are prizes, but in his experience, that’s not the reason most people participate. “We have a very smart and knowledgeable crowd and even though we do give prizes out, it is must more of a pride thing to the winning than any prize we give,” Dixon said. Though the regular trivia night is held weekly on Mondays at 8:30 p.m., this year they created a speciality trivia night that occurs at least once a month on Thursdays. “We have done 'Harry Potter' trivia, 'Game of Thrones' trivia and 'Friends' versus 'The Office' trivia,” Dixon said. “We have already announced that May will be 'Star Wars' trivia. These nights have been wildly successful and a ridiculous amount of fun.”
@galileosboone 1087 W. King St. 828-865-9591 galileosboone.com Sun. noon-10 p.m. Mon. 4 p.m.-midnight Tues.-Wed. closed Thurs.-Sat. 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Best live music venue LEGENDS
190 Hardin St., Boone, NC 28607 828-262-2208 Legends.appstate.edu
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photo by Halle Keighton
photo by Laura Brewer
Best place to take a selfie
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY blueridgeparkway.org
Best local band/performer ADAM CHUR CH by Savanna Tanner
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dam Church has been voted best local musician/performer for the second year in a row. “It’s a great thing,” he said. Church said this win helps him feel connected with Appalachian State University students and is glad that people in the area like and support his music. Church is 25 years old and graduated from Appalachian last May, but stayed in Boone to continue pursuing his dream of becoming musician. He said that performing in Boone is a dream come true and he loves the atmosphere of the area. Church became interested in music in high school. He grew up listening to Southern rock music with his dad and found himself drawn to the guitar. He was inspired by Eric Church, especially after seeing him play at Legends on campus. Adam was a senior in high school at the time but now, seven years later, he is following Eric Church’s footsteps on the Legends stage. His working life consists mostly of learning new songs and writing his own songs. His
personal music genre is a mix between country and rock. “I am still trying to find my sound,” Church said. “I’ll be doing that up into my early 40s as I learn more about myself and learn from other people.” In his music career, some of his biggest milestones have been playing at Legends and the popularity of one of his original songs on YouTube. “Playing at Legends is a huge accomplishment,” Church said. His original song, “Let the Moon Shine,” has over half a million views on YouTube. This is another big step in his career as Church works to get his name out to more people. As he plays in Boone he is establishing connections with other musicians, which only help him move forward, Church said. He doesn’t know whether he will say in Boone or not, but he said that no matter what he will always be back in Boone to play. “There’s not a better place to be,” Church said. “Boone will always be home.”
@adamchurch27 Adam Church Music
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s u p m a c f Of
RECREATION 18
photo by Halle Keighton
Best place to bike BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
Blue Ridge Parkway Association, Inc. P.O. Box 2136, Asheville, NC 28802-2136 blueridgeparkway.org
Best way to meet singles TINDER
by Murilo Artese
D
ownload the app, create an account, swipe left or swipe right. That is how easy it is to use Tinder, a smartphone app launched in 2012. According to Tinder’s website, the app has more than a billion swipes per day, 26 million matches per day and is helping millions of people to find love, lust and friendship. The founder and CEO of Tinder, Matt Cohler, helped develop the app and according the app’s website, “Tinder empowers users around the world to create new connections that otherwise might never have been possible.” Their main goal is to bring people together, either in a romantic way or in a friendly way. Tinder creates connections by allowing users to create a profile and then swipe through other users in the area. A Tinder user can swipe right for someone they are interested in connecting with and left if they are not interested. If two users swipe right on each other, then they match and can begin to privately message each other through the app. As written on their website, “The people we meet change
our lives,” and that is what the app is doing. The user has to log in with their Facebook account, allowing the app to have the information needed to create a profile. The main thing needed is the person’s location so Tinder can find people that are close to that person. After that the app allows you to change some of the information, including a quote that can call people’s attention. The person can also select the pictures they want to be shown on their profile. Freshman theater arts major Kimberly Glenn Ramey said she uses Tinder and loves it. Ramey said the app makes it easy to meet people, especially for someone like her, who has trouble flirting. But she puts emphasis on users considering their own safety when meeting people through the app. Senior recreation management major Riziki Omonde said, “I think it’s a fun app to have when you are bored.” Omonde said she usually swipes left and has fun looking at the pictures on users’ profiles. “Some people's profiles are hilarious,” Omonde said. gotinder.com press@gotinder.com
Best place to ski
SUGAR MOUNTAIN 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive Sugar Mountain, NC 28604 828-898-4521 skisugar.com photo by Allison Bennett Dyche
Best swimming hole
TRASH CAN FALLS
Laurel Falls, U.S. 321 Boone, NC 28607
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photo by Justin Perry
Best day trip
ASHEVILLE
A
by Stephanie Sansoucy
sheville is approximately an hour and a half drive from Boone, unless you take the scenic route through the Blue Ridge Parkway, and for students without a car, there is a Greyhound bus route. Once in Asheville, there are many options for the day including visiting the Biltmore Estate, hiking, shopping, eating and drinking. Some of the most highly rated activities in Asheville include a visit to the Lexington Glassworks, Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center, The North Carolina Arboretum, the Basilica of Saint Lawrence and the New Morning Art Gallery, according to Trip Advisor. The town’s website boasts of President
Best hiking trail
Obama’s visit to Asheville for a spring vacation and the fact that their town has more Art Deco architecture than any other city besides Miami. As well as being voted best day trip in Best of Boone for two years in a row, Asheville was also named one of 15 must-see travel destinations in the world by Frommer’s travel guide. “We’re thrilled that Appalachian students have once again recognized Asheville,” public relations specialist for Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Landis Taylor, said. “Boone and Asheville have a lot of great similarities with close proximity to outdoor adventures and very welcoming communities. From our music venues to breweries to the vibrant downtown scene, we’re honored to be seen as a great place to explore and play.”
ROUGH RIDGE
@AshevilleTravel ExploreAsheville.com
Rough Ridge Hiking Trail is located at mile post 302.8 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The summit of Rough Ridge is a high 4,733 feet in elevation, but the scenic views of Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct are worth the climb.
Best place to run TOWN OF BOONE GREENWAY
231 Complex Drive Boone, NC 28607
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SHOPPING
photo by Laura Brewer
Best place to buy Appalachian State merchandise
MOUNTAINEER MANIA by Savanna Tanner
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ountaineer Mania opened in 1981 and sells Appalachian State University merchandise on King Street. Wanda and Bob Corriher own the store and are about to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. The Corrihers said they enjoy working in the small town of Boone. They love the atmosphere and they like working with students. All employees of Mountaineer Mania are students, something the Corrihers take pride in. Mountaineer Mania is a local store, so there are no figureheads. The Corrihers do all of the back work to keep their business running. Wanda says that winning Best of Boone is an honor and that it is great to know that those who voted think that Mountaineer Mania is the best. “It is a validation of us being here for so long," Wanda said. "It helps to know that people like to come to our store. It makes it feel like it’s worth it." Mountaineer Mania features Appalachian gear including T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, headbands, spirit jerseys and more. They also feature accessories such as magnets, stickers, keychains and buttons.
Mountaineer Mania, Inc
497 W. King Street Boone, NC 28607 828-406-1992
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photo by Savanna Tanner
photo by Monique Rivera
Best secondhand store
ANNA BANANA'S by Rachel Brunner
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nna Banana’s is a locally owned consignment store on King Street with clothes and accessories for women and men. Owner and Appalachian State University alumna Anna Lipford opened the store when she moved back to Boone after 15 years of working in Charlotte in the radio business. “I had an awakening, if you will, and at the point was a single mom with a 7-year-old daughter, and I realized that I needed to raise her, not babysitters,” Lipford said. “I wanted to live a more simple life, the right kind of life. I came up with the idea of moving back to this beautiful place where I had gone to school and fell in love with and remembered there being a need in the marketplace for affordable clothing that was fashionable.” Lipford said 100 percent of what is sold at Anna Banana’s comes from people who have ties to Boone. “We’re putting money directly back into our local economy every single day,” she said. “It’s not that it’s my great secondhand store, it’s this community’s great secondhand store.” Lipford said the clothing that people bring in are either bought by the store in cash or are consigned, allowing people to get paid after it sells. Lipford said her passion is not only for her job, but also for the community, town and university. “[I have] so many great stories of doing this,” Lipford said. “I’m in love with it. I’m in love with with this town. I’m in love with, obviously, Appalachian State. I just love people and it’s a great way to talk to people all day long and try to bless, but definitely be blessed by being here.”
@anna.bananas.boone 641 W. King St. #1, Boone, NC 28607 828-865-2000 Mon.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m
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Best place to buy Chacos & men's clothing
MAST GENERAL STORE
630 West King St., Boone, NC 28607 828-262-0000 Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. noon-6 p.m. mastgeneralstore.com
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@mastgeneralstore @maststore
photos by Laura Brewer
Best place to women's clothing
photo by Dallas Linger
BOONE BELLES by Katie Fields
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ister team Hilary and Leigh Ann Pless operate the family-owned King Street boutique Boone Belles, which won best place to buy women’s clothing. The sisters said that their store constantly has inventory coming in and keeps a wide variety of clothing and accessory options on its racks. Boone Belles will celebrate its two-year
anniversary in May 2016. Last year, the sisters extended Boone Belles with an added upstairs space called The Attic. And recently, the duo opened another location, Blowing Rock Belles, which is currently being moved to Main Street in Blowing Rock. The sisters said that being able to connect with the Appalachian State University community is one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning Boone Belles. “We value the relationships that we have established with our customer base and try to support all of our local organizations,” Hilary and Leigh Ann said. Hilary and Leigh Ann are both recent graduates of Appalachian and said they take pride in their accomplishments with Boone Belles. “We enjoy taking walks through the Appalachian campus and it makes our day to see students wearing our merchandise,” they said. Hilary and Leigh Ann said they are honored to have won best place to buy women’s clothes for Best of Boone. “For the past two years we have striven for excellence in providing stylish outfits and unique gifts that are affordable for any budget,” Hilary and Leigh Ann said.
@boonebelles 617 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 828-263-7350 Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. noon-5 p.m.
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photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
Best place to live alone & overall
photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
HIPPIE HILL
by Stephanie Sansoucy "
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ippie Hill” is the long time nickname for the hill of houses and apartments across from the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on King Street, and has reportedly been called that by students since at least
the late 1990s. The hill features a plot of grass perfect for sitting out on a sunny day, or enjoying the Boone breeze on a warm night. Living accommodations on the hill include apartments for one or multiple persons, and houses.
Senior public relations major Dave Dykes said he moved to his single-person apartment on Hippie Hill because it was close to both campus and King Street. Dykes said the location is the best part of because it allows him to walk to the library or student union anytime in a short amount of time. “I love the people on Hippie Hill,” Dykes said. “People tend to be kind, and interested in lots of different things ranging from business majors to fire spinners and everywhere in between.”
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Best rental company
THE WINKLER ORGANIZATION
215 Boone Heights Drive, Suite 100 Boone, NC 28607 828-262-3431 Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. winklerorganization.com
@thewinklerorganization
photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
Best place to live with a pet & with roommates MOUNTAINEER VILLAGE
517 Yosef Drive, Boone, NC 28607 828-262-9962 Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. mountaineervillage.com
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Mountaineer Village
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SERVICES
photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
photo by Savanna Tanner
Best tattoo artist
GREG KINNAMON by Savanna Tanner
B
oone’s best tattoo artist, according to The Appalachian’s readers, is Greg Kinnamon, owner of Speakeasy Tattoo on King Street. Raised in Boulder, Colorado, Kinnamon said that tattooing chose him. “I was an artist," Kinnamon said. "I didn’t have a lot direction in my life. I was 19 years old and an opportunity was presented to me and I took it." Kinnamon has been tattooing for almost 20 years and has owned Speakeasy in Boone for eight years. For Kinnamon, owning a business in Boone is about being a part of the community. “It’s a little weird because you get to know everybody but then everybody knows
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you too,” Kinnamon said. “I’m not anonymous anywhere.” This is the second year Kinnamon has won best tattoo artist in Best of Boone. He said that for him, it is the icing on the cake and it means that his hard work and dedication has really paid off. Speakeasy values their commitment to craft. Kinnamon said that this commitment is the idea that they are not just selling a product. Kinnamon said a tattoo is something that stays with someone forever. When you choose Speakeasy, you make a commitment to the business that lasts forever. In turn, Speakeasy will also commit to its customers. “We realize that someone is committing this forever to us,” Kinnamon said. “We don’t just take it lightly.”
@speakeasytattooco @gregkinnamon_tattooer 728 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 828-355-9595 Sun.-Fri. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Best place to get a haircut
HAI RCUT 101 by Murilo Artese
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aircut 101 opened in December 1989 and has been in business for more than 25 years. According to their website, “The place still holds fast to the principles they started with, to provide the absolute best in services and products to their clientele.” Jezabel Lebatard is the master stylist and manager of Haircut 101. She has worked there for almost eight years and said one of the reasons Haircut 101 is unique is because of all their caring workers with passionate personalities. “I believe [winning] means that we must be doing something right,” Lebatard said. “Haircut 101 is made up of a group of
like-minded individuals that are not only passionate about their profession, but also passionate about giving back to the community. We are honored that we are recognized as being the best in Boone for those who want to look and feel their absolute best.” According to their website, education has always been a big part of Haircut 101’s culture, regularly sending stylists to Bumble and Bumble University in New York City where they learn cutting, coloring and styling techniques. Haircut 101 is open Monday through Saturday, and they believe that “having the right style to complement a person’s lifestyle, abilities, wants and needs can make a big difference in attitude and confidence.”
@haircut101boone 828-262-3324 174 S. Depot St., Boone, NC 28607 Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. haircut101.com
Best nail salon
NATURAL NAILS 276 Watauga Village Drive, Suite C1, Boone, NC 28607 828-265-1515 Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sun. closed naturalnailsboone.com photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
Best hotel
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT 828-265-7676 1050 Highway 105 South Boone, NC 28607 Open 24/7
@courtyardhotels photo by Justin Perry
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FOOD + DRINK "
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photo by Dallas Linger
photo by Dallas Linger
Best meal
MCALISTER'S 828-262-7496 Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Closed Sat. and Sun.
@McAlistersDeli
Best place to get coffee CROSSRO ADS
COFFEE HOUSE
first floor, Plemmons Student Union International Hallway 263 Locust St. Boone, NC 28608 Crossroads.appstate.edu
photo by Dallas Linger
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photo courtesy of Chi Omega
Best sorority
CHI OMEGA by Katie Fields
F
or the second year in a row, the Pi Kappa Chapter of Chi Omega was voted best on-campus sorority in Best of Boone. “Winning Best of Boone for two years in a row really shows how highly respected we are on campus and around the community,” chapter president Sydney Wiggins said. Nationally, Chi Omega is the largest women’s fraternal organization in the world and has been in existence for 121 years. The Pi Kappa chapter here at Appalachian State has initiated over 1,300 in its 42 years of existence here on campus. Locally, the women of Chi Omega are given opportunities to positively impact and interact with the High Country. “We are highly involved in our philanthropy efforts with Hospitality House and the
Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Wiggins said. “We have the pleasure of working with advisers who are long-standing citizens in the community that offer us exciting and interesting opportunities to connect with the larger Boone community.” Wiggins said that Appalachian’s chapter of Chi Omega is unique because of how involved the members are with activities on a global scale. Each member of the chapter brings different interests and passions to the sorority. Wiggins joined Chi Omega in 2015 when she was a sophomore, and is now the president of the sorority. She said she is proud of how strong the sisterhood is and how they are one big, happy family that constantly provides love and support.
Best fratnernity
SIGMA NU
@chiomegapikappa @chioappstate Chi Omega FraternityPi Kappa ASU Box 8940 Boone, NC 28608 wigginssb@appstate.edu (Sydney Wiggins, president)
@sigmanuappstate sigmanuappstate.weebly.com
by Rachel Brunner
I
n the spring of 2013, the Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Nu was rechartered after losing their original charter established in 1981. Sigma Nu president Zachary Pruitt said he is exhilarated about winning best on-campus fraternity. “Being president, you really care and put a lot of time into the fraternity,” Pruitt said. “I’m really excited about it and hoping it continues in later years.” According to the chapter website, Sigma Nu strives to epitomize their mission of love, honor and truth. “We try not to be the stereotypical frat,” Pruitt said. “We have a good time, but we put emphasis on on love, honor, and truth. We try to give back to the community and I think people see that.” Pruitt said participation in various social activities on campus allows brothers to bond. Sigma Nu hosts mixers with other on campus organizations, date functions, and have annual events like a semi-formal mountain weekend, tacky Christmas and formal at the beach. There are several national philanthropies associated with Sigma Nu, but Kappa Epsilon’s two main philanthropies are App Madness and the App State Volleyball tournament. App Madness is a three-on-three basketball tournament that raises money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The Sigma Nu and App State Volleyball Tournament is held annually and raises money for the Haitian Relief Fund.
Scholarship is another essential aspect of Sigma Nu, according to their website. In the fall semester of 2015, they were the only on campus fraternity to receive a Black and Gold standing within Standards of Excellence requirements for current and new members, according to their website. There are various officer positions that members can acquire within the fraternity: philanthropy chair, reporter, scholarship chair, social chair and athletics chair. President Zachary Pruitt was pledge coordinator and vice president before accepting his current role. Being the president is the best platform to help as many young men as possible, he said. When recruiting, Sigma Nu looks for young men who want to join a fraternity for the right reasons, instead of looking to it as a social club, Pruitt said. “We try to be leaders on campus,” he said. “We want to emphasize growing as a man and we want to help them grow into men who can be successful after college.” Pruitt said brotherhood binds the fraternity. They aim to hold one another to their mission statement to become better men. “Brotherhood is stereotypical, but it’s my favorite,” Pruitt said. “I love being able to see people you know all the time. You feel like someone always has your back and 35 that’s a great feeling.”
Best club
APPALACHIAN POPULAR PROGRAMMING SOCIETY by Murilo Artese
T
he Appalachian Popular Programming Society is a university-funded student organization that works to select, plan, promote and present a diverse variety of popular entertainment programs and films which enhance the social and cultural life for Appalachian students. President Jazmine Griffin said she describes her job as the “cheerleader of APPS.” Griffin said she makes sure that communication flows well between members, and she serves as a bridge for APPS and other organizations. “We challenge and question ourselves about what we are
doing, but as a group we have traditions,” Griffin said. According to their website, APPS was founded in 1985 to help with the student nightlife and to support retention. The organization plays a vital role in fostering and developing an inclusive Appalachian State University community. APPS is organized in councils: heritage, club shows, concerts, cultural awareness and student engagement (CASE), films, special events and stage shows. Haley Patton is the special events chairperson and president-elect. “I have a lot of ideas I want to put into action and I want to grow as a leader,” Patton said.
@ASU_APPS
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RECREATION photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
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photo by Laura Brewer
Best fitness class YOGA
by Stephanie Sansoucy
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oga classes have been offered for over five years with plans to continue expanding to serve more participants, who voted yoga as best fitness class at Appalachian State University. While class times and locations vary from semester to semester, yoga is a staple class offered in the group fitness program through University Recreation. On average, yoga classes offered through University Recreation have about 15 attendees per class, said Brandon Miller, assistant director for fitness at University Recreation. There are currently 11 different yoga instructors and instruc-
tors in training who teach the classes. “Often when people think of exercising they think of the weight room, treadmill or some high intensity form of physical activity,” Miller said. “Yoga can help you achieve a lot of the same outcomes all the while allowing the participant to focus on themselves and progress in a judgment-free environment.” Additionally, some benefits of yoga include working on flexibility, improving blood flow and joint stability, burning calories, and allowing the participant to unplug and center on themselves and what they need, Miller said.
Best place to be on a nice day SANFORD MALL
287 Rivers St. Boone, NC 28608 cams.appstate.edu
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ACADEMICS
photo by Carson Fletcher
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Best place to study
BELK LIBRA RY & INFORMATION COMMONS
218 College St. Boone, NC 28608 828-262-2186 Library.appstate.edu
photo by Hannah Smith
Best P.E. class
SNOWBOARDING
Snowboarding classes are offered in the spring semesters through the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education. The classes range from intro to intermediate, and count toward general education requirements.
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photo by Carson Fletcher
Best professor
MARK BENTLEY by Stephanie Sansoucy
Mark Bentley
&
CHRIS PATTI
T
he news of Chris Patti’s second Best of Boone win as best professor came at a time when he was swamped with grading, writing and conference preparations. “Wow, what an honor,” Patti said. “This award is more confirmation that I am in the right place and doing what I am meant to be doing with my life.” Patti teaches classes in the Department of Communication and serves as the adviser of Zen and the Art of Applied Communication. He has been teaching for 11 years in the college classroom and has taught at Appalachian State University for three years. “Teaching really is my passion, and I think ‘following one’s bliss,’ as Joseph Campbell used to put it, results in this kind of feedback,” Patti said. He believes good relationships, connections and creativity are byproducts of following your bliss, and for him that means being a professor of communication. Patti said he believes his students voted him best professor back-to-back because they can sense that he cares deeply about making the most of their time together every day, in every class session. “I think they respond to this kind of mindful, passionate space and that such a space is rare, generative and incredibly valuable,” Patti said. “Students don’t like my classes because they are easy, but rather the opposite: they like them because they are challenging and push them out of their comfort zones.”
photos courtesy of professors
I
n his second year of teaching at Appalachian State University and seventh year of teaching at the university level, Mark Bentley has been voted best professor by his students. “I’m not sure who you are, or why you voted for me, but you all are ridiculous and awesome and ridiculous,” Bentley said. Bentley teaches classes in the Department of Communication including video game discourse, critical argumentation, argumentation and advocacy, public speaking, and environmental context. He also serves as the director of forensics and debate coach for the Appalachian State University Debate Team. Bentley has a history with debate, being a teacher and coach for academic debate for 12 years, and has spent 19 years competing in debate. Bentley said the respect he gives to his students could be what sets him apart. “I view and treat them like intelligent, competent, capable adults,” Bentley said. “I genuinely care about every student in my class and on the debate team, and try to do what I can to help them however I can.” Winning best professor is “pretty awesome, and feels dope,” Bentley said. “I know I have a lot of things to work on, and I’m always trying to be better," Bentley said. "But I guess it means I’m doing something right at least."
Chris Patti
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photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
photo by Laura Brewer
Best residence hall - east campus SUMMIT HALL
Best residence hall - west campus
240 Locust St. Boone, NC 28608 Housing.appstate.edu
THE LIVING LEARNING CENTER
301 Bodenheimer Drive Boone, NC 28608 Housing.appstate.edu
photo by Stephanie Sansoucy
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