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Calendar of Events page 2

Sourwood Festival page 8

Arts Center page 12

Museum page 14

Music page 16Relocation page 18Outdoors page 24

Restaurants page 4

Famous People page 6

Worship Directory page 14

Art in Bloom page 20

Cover photos by Joye Ardyn Durham, www.artistwithcamera.com.

This guide produced bi-annually by

Serving the Swannanoa Valley Since 1945

Black Mountain NewsP.O. Box 9 • Black Mountain, NC 28711

828-669-8727 • fax 828-669-8619 www.blackmountainnews.com

Welcome to the Swannanoa Valley

elcome to Black Mountain and the surroundingSwannanoa Valley. Regardless of what brings you here -relaxation, shopping, dining, or outdoor activities - you

will be greeted with beautiful scenery, peaceful days, and friendlypeople.

This special publication of the Black Mountain News was creat-ed to assist you while you are in town. A calendar of events forthe entire spring and summer seasons will help you plan youractivities.

We encourage you to visit the local businesses that have adver-tised in this tour guide. They offer one-of-a-kind treasures thatare unique to this area.

Be sure and visit the Black Mountain - Swannanoa Chamber ofCommerce while in town, located at 201 East State Street inBlack Mountain, (828) 669-2300.

And for a complete and updated listing of this week’s events andhappenings, pick up a copy of the Black Mountain News.

Enjoy your stay!

Spring in the Swannanoa Valley.

Photo by Joye Ardyn Durham, www.artistwithacamera.com

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April25: Fourth Annual Earth Day Reggae 5K

at Wolf Creek Cove in Black Mountain.www.reggae5k.com or www.wolfcreekcove.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 AllegraHuston from her new book, Love Child: AMemoir of Family Lost and Found. Part of theWriting Salon’s spring workshop. 7 p.m.Donations accepted. Black Mountain Centerfor the Arts - 828) 669-0930, www.blackmountainarts.org.

4-8: “Writing from the Imaginative Story”- a creativity retreat and workshop presentedby The Writing Salon with James Nav’e andAllegra Huston at the Black Mountain Centerfor the Arts. For information and to registervisit: http://www.thewritingsalon.net/assets/salon_asheville.html.

7-10: LEAF – Lake Eden Arts Festival atCamp Rockmont, (828) 686-8742,

www.leaf.com.9 - Tailgate Market - The Black Mountain

Tailgate Market will start the season onSaturday, May 9, continuing every Saturdaythrough the summer, with an array of vendorsincluding mostly organic and sustainablegrowers of produce, plants, flowers, and herbs;bakers, and other food artisans; and other localarts including pottery, jewelry, fabrics, candles,soaps, and lotions. The location is 500Montreat Road in the yard of UUCongregation Church, from 9 a.m. - noon. Formore information, call (828) 582-5039 oremail meredithleighmckissick@gmail.com.

16: 2009 Local Job, Business, and HealthFair – 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Owen Middle School.Find out about job opportunities, get freehealth screenings, great prizes, and learn whatservices and products you can find in theValley. Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamberof Commerce- (828) 669-2300, www.exploreblackmountain.com.

16: Fourth Annual Black MountainGarden Show and Sale. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Downtown Sutton Avenue. Sponsored by/

benefit for Black Mountain BeautificationCommittee. Contact Maggie Krogh, (828)669-6787.

June

6: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 – 9 p.m.at Lake Tomahawk. Food available. “LaurenJones” performing. Black Mountain

Recreation and Parks - (828) 669-8610,renee.blackmtn@gmail.com.

6 & 7: 12th Annual Black Mountain Artsand 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

Spring and summer events in the Swannanoa Valley

File photo

See Events on PAGE 3

(above) The Black Mountain Tailgate is busy on Saturday mornings.

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at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts.Floral designers interpret works of art fromarea galleries. On Sunday, the works of theplein aire painters from the garden tour will beon display. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. $5 admission.(828) 669-0930, www.blackmountainarts.org.

25: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 - 9p.m. at Lake Tomahawk. Food available. “KatWilliams” performing. Black MountainRecreation and Parks - (828) 669-8610,renee.blackmtn@gmail.com.

July

2: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 - 9 p.m.at Lake Tomahawk. Food available.

“Firecracker Jazz Band” performing. BlackMountain Recreation and Parks - (828) 669-8610, renee.blackmtn@gmail.com.

4: Fourth of July Celebration - Street danceat 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. in down-town Black Mountain. Sponsored by Town ofBlack Mountain Recreation and Parks andBlack Mountain Swannanoa Chamber ofCommerce - (828) 669-2300, www.exploreblackmountain.com.

4: Annual Montreat Parade – 10 a.m. -Town of Montreat, 669-8002. Free to the pub-lic.

16: Park Rhythms – Free concert 7 - 9 p.m.at Lake Tomahawk. Food available. “Sons ofRalph” performing. Contact Black MountainRecreation and Parks - (828) 669-8610,renee.blackmtn@gmail.com.

August

7: Sourwood Idol Contest – Singers com-pete for cash prizes. Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce - (828)669-2300, exploreblackmountain.com.

8-9: 32nd Annual Sourwood Festival indowntown Black Mountain. Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce. (828)669-2300, www.exploreblackmountain.com.

8: Sourwood 5K, 8:30 a.m. at CheshireFitness and Racquet Club. www.cheshirefitnessandracquet club.com.

September

10: Tenth Annual Taste of BlackMountain. Black Mountain-SwannanoaChamber of Commerce. (828) 669-2300,www.exploreblackmountain.com.

Events, continued from page 2

(above) Don’t miss the Park Rhythms concerts this summer.

(above) Don’t miss the Taste of BlackMountain on September 10.

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By Gretchen Howard CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ake new friends, but keepthe old. One is silver andthe other gold.”

I recall that lovely tune from mydays of being a Girl Scout and cancertainly apply the song to thefriends in my life, but as much as Ilove restaurants and dining out, Ifeel the song is quite f itting toBlack Mountain's restaurant scene.For this town is home to classic, rep-utable restaurants and also manynewer restaurants that are equally asworthy of our attention.

OLD (or shall we say classic)• Berliner Kindl German

Restaurant and Deli (121 Broadway,(828) 669-5255). Try an authenticbratwurst dinner with potato salad

and sauerkraut.•Black Mountain Bakery (102

Church Street, (828) 669-1626) isthe place to f ind delicious pastries,breads, and desserts, and a wonder-ful place to have breakfast or lunch.

• Madison’s (10 Florida Avenue,(828) 669-4785) is one of the area'shidden gems tucked away inRidgecrest. The warm spinach andartichoke dip is a great way to beginthe meal followed by baked stuffedshrimp and bananas foster fordessert.

• My Father's Pizza (110 CherryStreet, (828) 669-4944) is a classicBlack Mountain dining spot. Enjoya pie with a pitcher of cold beer onthe restaurant’s spacious porch.

• You’ll f ind a delicious cheese-burger, chips and Dr. Pepper from

Black Mountain restaurants - old and new

“

See Restaurants on PAGE 5

Photo provided by Madison’s

(above) Diners enjoy a night out at Madison’s, located in nearby Ridgecrest.

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Pepper’s (122 Cherry Street, (828)669-1885), which has been onCherry Street since 1985.

• Perry’s BBQ (400 C East StateStreet, (828) 664-1446). Enjoy apulled pork sandwich with greenbeans, macaroni and cheese, andsweet iced tea complemented withauthentic Southern hospitality.

• Red Rocker Inn (136 N.Dougherty Street, (828) 669-5991)serves up homemade specialties atcandlelit, with laced tables nestledon the garden porch or by the f ire-place.

• Veranda Café (119 CherryStreet, (828) 669-8864) has yummyhomemade soups and fresh saladsand has been a Cherry Street lunchfavorite for many years.

NEW• An Apple a Day (205 West State

Street, (828) 669-5996) serves up

Restaurants, continued from page 4

See Restaurants on PAGE 32

Photo provided by Madison’s

(above) The Swannanoa Valley offers a wide variety of excellent restaurants.

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Famous people from the Swannanoa ValleyBy Jill JonesCONTRIBUTING WRITER

he Swannanoa Valley has beenboth home and retreat fornumerous famous people

whose lives and businesses haveimpacted the people and the Valleyfor nearly two centuries.

One of the most famous of allValley residents is the Rev. BillyGraham, who married Ruth McCueBell, daughter of missionary Dr. L.Nelson Bell of Montreat in 1943.The Grahams f irst lived in a modestcottage across from Ruth’s parents,but in 1954 they purchased 200acres on a mountaintop in Montreaton which they built an informalcountry-style house that has servedas a place of retreat as well ashome for the evangelist and hisfamily.

Frontiersman and hero of the

Alamo DavyCrockett vis-ited ElizabethPatton, thewidow of afriend, inSwannanoa in1815. He wasalso recentlywidowed.Having f ivechildrenbetween them,they decidedto wed andjoin theirfamilies.

Three morechildren wereborn to themduring theiryears in Tennessee and Texas.Descendants of Davy and Elizabethreside today in the Swannanoa

Valley.In the 1880s, world renowned

architect Raphael Guastavino II

came to Western North Carolina to

Photos provided by the Swannanoa Valley MuseumRuth and Billy Graham

See Famous on PAGE 7

Brad Johnson

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Famous, continued from page 6work on the Biltmore Estate. While here, hebuilt an estate of his own, “Rhododendron,” inBlack Mountain, on the site of what now isChristmount Assembly.

Guastavino specialized in the use of the age-old Catalan system of laminated tile vaults,which enabled the construction of free-standingtiled domes. Among the 1,000 buildings hedesigned and built in the United States is the St.Lawrence Basilica in Asheville. In 1900, a panelof architects named the top 10 buildings in theUnited States, and eight of them contained tilework by Guastavino.

A pioneer in the f ield of electricity, FranklinTerry was a contemporary and a competitor ofThomas Edison and eventually became a vice-president of Edison’s company, General Electric.In 1921, he bought land in Black Mountain andbuilt “In The Oaks,” a 24,755 square foot sum-mer home for his second wife, Lilliam SlocumbEmerson. The home is second in size only toBiltmore House in the state and is styled as anEnglish manor house.

“In The Oaks” is now owned by Montreat

College and serves as its Black Mountaincampus.

Singer Roberta Flack was born inSwannanoa in 1939. She is perhaps bestknown for her hit song, “Killing MeSoftly.”

The Martin family of musicians isfamous among fans of mountain music,and are also known for their wood carv-ings and dulcimers.

Billy Edd Wheeler, of Swannanoa, is theauthor of numerous songs that have beenrecorded by such stars as Johnny Cash,Kenny Rogers, Nancy Sinatra, and LeeGreenwood.

Two sports f igures of renown are fromthe Swannanoa Valley. Football great BradJohnson, a graduate of Owen High School, ledthe Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl vic-tory in 2004.

Brad Daugherty, former University of NorthCarolina and Cleveland Cavalier basketball star,is also from Black Mountain.

For more information on these individuals and

the history of the Swannanoa Valley, visit theSwannanoa Valley Museum, located at 223 WestState Street in Black Mountain.

For more information about the museum, call(828) 669-9655 or visitwww.swannanoavalleymuseum.org.

Davy Crockett Raphael Guastavino

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669-5255121 Broadway, Black Mtn. (Beside Tyson)

Authentic German Cuisine Serving Lunch & Dinner

Monday–Saturday • 11am–8pmSunday Lunch • 11:30am-3pm

Full Menu Take Out Available

Reservations Accepted • M/C & Visa

German Restaurant & Deli

Thirty-Second Annual Sourwood Festival Hits the streets in downtown Black Mountain

By Gretchen HowardCONTRIBUTING WRITER

he Sourwood Festival is some-thing you don’t want to miss.This classic mountain festival

has brought fun and entertainment tothis community since 1977.

Sponsored by the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce,the family-oriented festival takesplace in historic downtown BlackMountain August 8 and 9. The eventis free and open to the public andnamed after the region’s honeysource, the Sourwood tree, whichblooms in mid to late summer eachyear.

Two hundred booths and areas ofarts and crafts, food of all kinds,rides, games, and a large tent formusic and dancing attracts over

30,000 visitors fromall over the country.

“The SourwoodFestival is a BlackMountain tradition.Locals and visitorsalike look forward toit year after year,” BobMcMurray, executivedirector of the BlackMountain-SwannanoaChamber of Commer-ce, said.

Birdhouses, hand-made furniture, cus-tom jewelry, local soap, and fine artare just a few of the crafts offered atthe Sourwood Festival. Musical actsperform every hour. Many events andactivities are geared towards children-rides, face painting, a giant slide, a

climbing walland much more.Honey-makingand bee demon-strations are apopular attrac-tion. You caneven take homeyour own jar oflocally madehoney!

Enjoy foodslike homemadeice cream, fun-nel cake, hand-

made jellies, Polish sausage, and cornon the cob. And don’t miss the BBQfrom Owen High School band’s annu-al sale.

Now in its f ifth year, the Sourwood

DowntownBlack Mountain

August 8 & 9

(above) Enjoy foods like homemadeice cream and funnel cakes at theSourwood Festival. See Festival on PAGE 9

32nd AnnualSourwood

Festival

File photo

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Idol Contest will kick off theSourwood Festival on Friday, August7, at 7 p.m. Come and listen to theregional talent of solo singing acts asthey compete for the “Sourwood Idol”title. Cash prizes will be awarded forfirst, second and third place.

The Sourwood 5K run, now in its

21st year, will take place on the morn-ing of Saturday, August 8, at 8:30 a.m.The race starts and f inishes atCheshire Fitness Club. www.cheshir-efitnessandracquetclub.com.

Sourwood Festival hours areSaturday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday 9a.m. - 6 p.m. Located at 201 E. StateStreet, the Black MountainSwannanoa Chamber of Commercemay be reached at (828) 669-2300,

Festival, continued from page 8

(above and below) The annual Sourwood Festival is set for August 8 and 9.

File photos

See Festival on PAGE 31

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By Gretchen HowardCONTRIBUTING WRITER

ingko Tree Gallery is owned byphotographer Joye ArdynDurham whose passions for artand nature are joined together in

her photography and gallery. This yearthe gallery celebrates 15 years of busi-ness. The gallery is a display ofDurham’s work - much of it focusingon the beautiful local scenery of thearea.

“The Gingko Tree is a tribute to thesurrounding mountains of WesternNorth Carolina,” Durham said. “It is agreat place to help you take the moun-tains home with you.”

One look at Durham’s work in thegallery or on her Web site (www.artistwithcamera.com), and you'll see thatshe has a rare talent. Her photographsnot only capture the subject but anemotion and a feeling interpreted as

individually as the person looking atthe picture.

One piece that caught my attentionis entitled, “First Stand.” It is of a new-born horse’s legs as he stands for thefirst time. What a joy this must havebeen to see - a spirit entering the worldand standing to greet all that lies ahead.

Durham has been taking photo-graphs since she was nine years oldwhen she worked with her dad, whotook photographs and published postcards.

Our State Magazine recognized heras one of their featured photographersin the February 2009 edition. In addi-tion to nature, she enjoys photograph-ing portraits, dogs, and weddings.

She recently completed a dog-themed card series called “Friends ofRaven” in honor of her beloved dog andfriend who passed away a few years ago(friendsofraven.com). She also has

Gingko Tree Gallery- Celebrating 15 Years

Photo by Joye Ardyn Durham, artistwithcamera.com

(above) Photographer Joye Ardyn Durham’s photos are one-of-a-kind.

See Gingko on PAGE 11

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wolf cards from photographs taken atnearby Full Moon Farm.

Durham photographs groups, fami-lies, babies, children, reunions, wed-dings, and other social events. Sheknows the importance of capturing and

preserving some of life’s most beautifulmoments and does so with style andelegance. Online proofing is available- have your family photo taken whilevisiting Black Mountain and proofonline when you get home.

The gallery also carries signed andnumbered limited edition Ann Vasilikprints, a watercolorist from Asheville.Custom framing and photography serv-ices are also available at Gingko Tree.

“When I am out shooting, whether itbe a sunrise, a newborn baby, or a fam-ily gathering, I lose all sense of past

and future,” Durham said. “I am therein the moment. Completely present.Creating images is my gift to share andI am grateful beyond words.”

Gingko Tree Gallery, 128 BroadwayStreet, (828) 669-7721, www.artistwithcamera.com.

Ginkgo, continued from page 10

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. Sheknows the importance of capturing and preserving some of life’s most beautifulmoments and does so with style and elegance.

Jean E. Brannon, L.Ac.Gregory L. Hagin, ADL Interfaith

Minister, Crystal Therapist & Healer

106 Black Mountain AvenueDowntown Black Mountain (next to Black Mountain Natural Foods)

Flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends.

Discounted group sessions available.

1 1/2 Hour Treatment - Just $50 At Western NC's Only Acupuncture & Crystal Healing Center

• 828-713-9185 •

FEEL GREAT for an UNBEATABLE RATE

Try One Of Our Healing Sessions While You’re In Town:

12

Monthly Exhibits, Pottery Showcase,

Workshops, & Live Theatre

OPENMonday-Friday

10:00am to 5:00pmSat. 1:00pm to 4:00pm

at 225 W. State St.(in the old City Hall)

Art in BloomJune 18-21

call for tickets and more information669-0930 www.BlackMountainArts.org

While you’re in Town ~ Check out ourGallery, Clay Studio, Events & Historic Building!

How our town recycled an old building into a work of artBy Rita VermillionCONTRIBUTING WRITER

lack Mountain is justifiably proud ofits newly renovated city hall onMidland Street. The building on

Montreat Road that housed city hall from theearly 1990’s until this year is now defunct. Buta previous city hall still stands and the com-munity can also be justifiably proud of theBlack Mountain Center for the Arts, whichinhabits the old city hall at 225 W. State Street.

Beginning in the 1920’s this handsome,multi-story brick building housed the officesfor the Town of Black Mountain, along withthe library, the Red Cross, the first public tele-phone, the jail, and the firemen’s sleepingquarters.

When the building was vacated, somebelieved the old city hall had run its course ofusefulness and was past its prime, destined fordemolition. But others believed it could berestored into a thriving arts center, and couldbring renewed vigor into the life of downtown

Black Mountain. Through concentrated vision, hard work,

and persistent fundraising efforts, the initialboard members of the newly formed Black

Mountain Center for theArts saw their labors pay offwhen the doors wereopened to the resourcefullyrenovated building in 2000.

Nine years later visitorscome through the Center’sdoors every day wanting tolearn about BlackMountain, about the leg-endary Black MountainCollege, and about the artsfor which this area is so wellknown.

They come to view thecurrent show in the UpperGallery, to register for ongo-ing classes, to ask about pos-sibilities for artists in this

locale, and to exchange ideas for all of theabove.

Towns the size of Black Mountain, espe-cially towns that are not county seats, seldom

have multi-faceted arts centers. Towns the sizeof Black Mountain seldom have the availabil-ity and quality of local talent that is found here.What those early BMCA board membersknew is that the arts encompass more than onedimension, and that a wide array of talents arewell represented in our local and part-timepopulation.

There’s a rich music scene here that is his-toric; the same can be said of the visual artsand fine handmade craft such as pottery, of thewritten word, and of the performing areas ofthe arts.

BMCA was developed with the idea thatfocusing on one area of the arts would beinsufficient - that the stage is large enough toinvite people to participate in as many areas asthey will. Thus, the mission of the Center wasborn - “to bring arts to the people, and peopleto the arts.”

When those early board members plannedfor the Center, they counted on the generosity

See Recycled on PAGE 30

Photo provided by David Seils

The bas relief mountain scene by David Seils on theeast side of the Black Mountain Center for the ArtsClay Studio is a visual feast as an outdoor piece of art.

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Black MountainUnited Methodist Church

101 Church StreetRev. Lynda T. Briggs, Pastor

Sunday - 8:30 a.m.Contemporary Worship Service

9:45 a.m - Sunday School10:50 a.m. - Traditional Service

For other church activities please call the church office at 828-669-8248

First Baptist ChurchSwannanoa

“Reflecting Christ in the Valley”

Pastor Steve RayburnSunday School 9:45am, Sunday Worship

11:00am, Wednesday Worship 6:30pm

Sundays at 5:30: Disciple Tech

503 Park Street 828-686-5123

Lakey Gap Presbyterian(PCA)

Old Lakey Gap Road Black MountainRev. Martin Payne, Pastor

Church: 669-7722 Pastor: 337-0559Sunday School:10 am

Sunday Worship: 11 am & 6pmWed. Night Bible Study: 7 pm

A Small Church with a Big Heartlakeygappca@bellsouth.net

Swannanoa Valley FriendsMeeting (Quakers)-- Worship rooted in silence --

Meeting at Common Light

137 Center Ave., Black Mountain

Sunday 9:30 Worship

Children’s Program

Everyone Welcome ph. 669-0832

Meadowbrook FWB Church204 Blue Ridge Road • Black Mountain(turn on Blue Ridge Road just past Phil’s BBQ)

Phone: 828-669-9150Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. ~ Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Evening Worship: 6:00 p.m. ~ Wednesday Night: 7:00 p.m.

St. Margaret MaryCatholic Church

102 Andrew PlaceSwannanoa, NC

Rev. Frank J. Seabo, pastorMass Schedule: Saturday 5:30 pm

Sunday: 8:30 am & 11 am& Misa En Espanol 1 pm

828-686-8833

A Church without Walls9 am Worship

Follow the blue signs

828-664-9212

www.montreatchurch.org

Buckeye Baptist Church102 W. Buckeye Road, Swannanoa, NC

A Judson Rotan- PastorSunday:

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

Tabernacle UnitedMethodist Church385 Tabernacle Road, Black Mountain

Sunday Worship - 9:30 amSunday School - 10:45 am

Pastor’s Bible Study - Wed., 6 pmPastor - Rev. Richard Ploch

Director of Music - Ruthann Bailey“The Little White Church in the Wildwood”

Church Office - 828-669-7525

Swannanoa United Methodist Church

216 Whitson AvenueSunday School - 9:45 amMorning Worship - 11 am

“Welcome Table” Wed. 11:30-1:00

Director of Music - Sharon HeltonPastor - Rev. Richard Ploch

828-686-5284

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Don't forget your history lesson while you are in townBy Jill JonesCONTRIBUTING WRITER

ost visitors come into the SwannanoaValley today along a modern path-

way - Interstate 40 - unaware that this asphaltfour-lane follows much the same pathway thatwas first carved through the wilderness alongthe Swannanoa River by deer, elk, wild boar,and other animals.

When the early tribes came into the Valley,

they followed the animal paths asthey hunted game, fished the river,and gathered berries and nuts in theforests. Archaeologists tell us thatthis river valley has been inhabitedby mankind for more than 12,000years.

In pre-Revolutionary War times,it was a hunting ground for theCherokee, shared at times with the

Catawba Indians. During the RevolutionaryWar, the Cherokee sided with their Englishtrading partners, and when the British weredefeated, the land west of the Swannanoa Gapwas opened to immigrant settlement.

Europeans and Africans came into theValley from the east along many of the sametrails and pathways the Indians had previouslyused. Some settled in the Valley, others passed

See Museum on PAGE 15The busy depot in Black Mountain.Photos provided by the Swannanoa Valley Museum

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through to maketheir homes inother parts ofwhat is nowB u n c o m b eCounty, or movedon further west.

For those whosettled here, thepathways grewfrom dirt trailsusable mainly byhorse, mule, oroxen, to widerroads, such as theW 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 NorthCarolina Railroad entered the Valley. As withthe stage coach road, the railroad tracks fol-lowed along older pathways made by animals,Indians, and settlers.

The coming of the train brought irrevoca-ble change to the Swannanoa Valley and all of

Western North Carolina. Where before only afew, mostly wealthy individuals were able tovisit the cool climate of these mountains, peo-ple of more modest means could now travelhere by train, and many inns and boardinghouses sprang up to serve this new clientele.

Among those who visited the Valleyaround the turn of the 19th century were peo-ple who found the region not only beautiful,but spiritually uplifting as well. The foundersof Montreat, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly,and Ridgecrest were among those who came,purchased land and developed these retreats.Others followed later. Today, the SwannanoaValley is known for the numerous religiousretreats that were founded here.

The construction of George Vanderbilt’sBiltmore Estate attracted many artists andcraftsmen, among them a young Englisharchitect, Richard Sharp Smith, and renownedSpanish architect Raphael Guastavino II.Both came to work on the Biltmore Estate andremained in the region, leaving an indeliblemark not only on Asheville, but also in theSwannanoa Valley.

Guastavino built his own estate,

Rhododendron, on the property south ofBlack Mountain that is now ChristmountAssembly. In 1921, Smith designed and builtthe Black Mountain Fire House on StateStreet, which now serves as home to the col-

lection of the Swannanoa Valley Museum.With the development of the region and the

invention of the motorcar came pathways of amore modern kind - paved roads. Horse andox-drawn taxis at the railway depots werereplaced with cars, and the early highways

were crowded with visitors who flowed intothe Swannanoa Valley.

N.C. State Road 10, known as the CentralHighway, ran from the east coast all the way toMurphy in the far western part of NorthCarolina. It crossed over the Blue Ridge in awinding route between Old Fort and BlackMountain. Later, the route became U.S. 70,then was closed off with the building ofInterstate 40. This year, the old route has beenreopened as “Point Lookout Trail,” ahiking/biking trail between Ridgecrest andOld Fort.

Today, our pathways are streamlined butstill heavily trafficked as visitors continue todiscover the beauty and historical treasure thatis the Swannanoa Valley.

To learn more about this Valley andWestern North Carolina, visit the SwannanoaValley Museum, 223 W. State Street in down-town 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 moreinformation, visit www.swannanoavalleymuseum.org.

Museum, continued from page 14

(above) A postcardfrom Black Mountain.

A trainful of tourists arrives in BlackMountain.

16

Dinner - Tues-Sat, 5:00-9:00 pm

Sunday Brunch 11:00 am-2:30 pm

828-664-9472 • queserarestaurant.com

Casual Fine Dining

Listen to the musicBy Gretchen HowardCONTRIBUTING WRITER

usical roots run deep in theSwannanoa Valley. The area has along history of great live music dat-

ing back to the early settlers who played theirfiddles, banjos, and ballads in informal set-tings around hearths and fireplaces or on theporches of early homes and cabins.

Music was a lively part of barn raisings,corn shuckings, fairs, and festivals. Today, theheritage of our area’s music is as alive as everat local venues and festivals.

“Black Mountain and Swannanoa are rap-idly developing a reputation as musical desti-nations where people know they can heargreat live music,” said Don Talley, a local resi-dent whose passion for music inspired him tocreate “Black Mountain Music Scene”newsletter and Web site: www.blackmountainmusicscene.com.

“My goal for Black Mountain MusicScene is to help foster and spread that reputa-tion 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 BlackMountain, The Town Pump Tavern, Ja Vin,The Watershed, Shovelhead Saloon, PisgahBrewing, and the Beacon Pub. BlackMountain Center for the Arts, the BlackMountain Inn, and the Black MountainFoundation also host music events. The area ishome to great festivals and outdoor musicevents like Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF),the Great American Roots Revival (new thisyear, on July 4th at the Swannanoa 4H camp),the Park Rhythms music series at LakeTomahawk, Groovin on Grovemont musicseries in Swannanoa, the SwannanoaGathering, Sourwood Festival, and Millaround the Village.

Black Mountain is also home to musicalinstrument shops Song of the Wood andAcoustic Corner which draw customers froma wide region.

If you find yourself in the area on any givennight, check out www.blackmountainmusic

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

Metro Photo

(above) The Swannanoa Valley has a long history of great live music dating back to theearly settlers who played their fiddles, banjos, and ballads in informal settings.

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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

18

There's no place like homeBy Gretchen HowardCONTRIBUTING WRITER

hinking of buying a home orproperty in the mountains?The Black Mountain area is

home to a variety of neighborhoodsand communities - some withpanoramic views and others withwalkable town centers.

“Black Mountain continues to bea popular destination for the homebuyer,” Keller Williams real estateagent Rowena Patton said. “Peopleare drawn here because of the prox-imity to Asheville and the opportu-nity to live in a place with fabulousrestaurants and the heart of an oldtown. Our neighborhoods havesomething for everyone - mountainviews, lakes, parks, rivers and hik-ing trails.”

Here, a snapshot of some of thearea’s neighborhoods and communi-ties that are attracting buyers seek-

ing second homes or year-round res-idences.

•The Settings of Black Mountainis a gated community with eleva-tions up to 3,945 feet, hiking trailsand park areas and easily accessiblefrom Interstate 40. The 200 single-family home sites and 100 townhome sites offer dramatic views andrange from cozy cottages to grandestates on nearly 10 acres. www.thesettings.com.

•The Village of Cheshire is locat-ed in the heart of Black Mountainand features an array of arts andcrafts style homes, condos and townhomes. It is a traditional neighbor-hood development with shops,restaurants and live-work spacesalong with a f itness center, tennisfacilities, a Frisbee golf course, andopen green spaces. www.villageofcheshire.com.

See Home on PAGE 19

Photo provided by Greybeard Realty

(above) The Black Mountain area is home to a variety of neighborhoods andcommunities - some with panoramic views and others with walkable town cen-ters.

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•Eight miles south from down-town Black Mountain and off ofHighway 9 is Creston - 1,100 acresof a breathtaking piece of landcalled Hicks Mountain. Of thatland, 477 acres are dedicated to aconservation easement under theFoothills Land Conservancy. Thereare six miles of hiking trails withwaterfalls and creeks and a smallcamping area for Creston owners toenjoy. The 135 home sites are at anelevation of2,200 to 3,100feet. www.creston-nc.com.

• C a t a w b aFalls Preserve islocated 7.5 milessouthwest ofBlack Mountain.With over 240home sites rang-ing from one to20+ acres, thegated communityboasts spectacu-lar mountain vis-tas and an abun-dance of com-mon natureareas. And, forthe avid out-doorsmen andwomen, there arenumerous troutstreams and anextensive trailsystem withaccess to theCatawba Riverand PisgahNational Forest.www.catabafallspreserve.com.

•Stone Brook at Rush Creekboasts green meadows, gentlesloped roads, mountain views,creek-side lots, waterfalls, spaciousland, and quiet. The development isover 130 acres with lots ranging insize from 3-12 acres. There are sev-eral natural community areas like abeautifully renovated seven-stall

barn and a timber frame picnicpavilion. Other common spacesinclude a two-acre f ishing area onthe Rocky Broad River and 23 acresreserved for hiking trails and unde-veloped wooded area.Approximately 10 miles from down-town Black Mountain, Stone Brookis located off of Highway 9 South onMorgan Hill Road. www.stone-brookatrushcreek.com.

•DRA Living, an Asheville-basedcorporation special-izing in land devel-opment, home build-ing, and sales, ownsThe Hamlets atRustling Pine Trailin Black Mountain.Located off ofHighway 9 Southand Lakey GapRoad, the Hamlets atRustling Pine Trailoffers off-site builthomes with viewsand privacy. Thereare several differenthome plans andamenity packagesfrom which tochoose, and thethree and four bed-room homes range insize from approxi-mately 1,700 squarefeet to over 2,300square feet. Thisunique and secludedf ive lot developmentoffers scenic views,old growth trees,city utilities, andcustom, energy eff i-

cient homes built to the highestquality standards. Currently thereare three lots available for customhomes and one spec house.

The development is convenientlylocated to I-40, downtown BlackMountain, and the Cheshire Fitnessand RacquetClub. www.thehamletsofblackmountain.com.

Home, continued from page 18

Contact a local real estate rep-resentative to find out more aboutthese and other neighborhoods in

Black Mountain.

• Greybeard Realty - 204 E.State Street, (828) 669-1072,

www.greybeardrealty.com

• Keller Williams - 115 Richardson Boulevard,

(828) 210-1648, www.pattonpropertygroup.com

•Fran McCaskillPreferred Properties

(828) 778-0304

.• Nine South Realty - 706 N.C.Highway 9, (828) 357-8480,

www.ninesouthrealty.com

Local RealEstate

Representatives

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By Rita VermillionCONTRIBUTING WRITER

he Black Mountain Center forthe Arts will present its thirdannual Art in Bloom, an art and

flower show, on June 18-21. Held atthe Center at 225 W. State Street inthe old city hall, the three-day eventis a fundraiser for the non-prof itarts center, which serves the entirewestern part of Buncombe County.Honorary chair for this year is AnnVasilik, well-known watercoloristwho has artistically documentedmuch of Western North Carolina.

The premise of Art in Bloom isthat floral designers choose onepiece in the Center’s selectedgallery show and interpret the artwith a complementary floralarrangement. The side-by-side com-bination of the two artistic designsadds a new dimension to the under-standing and enjoyment of the show.

Art in Bloom begins on Thursdayevening, June 18, at 6 p.m. with aGala and Preview Party. Ticketholders are the f irst to see the floraldesigns, just an hour or so after theyhave been set in place by theflorists. The Preview Party offers anopportunity to meet the floraldesigners, listen to musical enter-tainment, and enjoy a sumptuousdisplay of heavy hors d’oeuvres,beverages, and dessert. Tickets forThursday evening are $35.

On Friday, June 19, the exhibitopens to the public, and continueson Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.each day, and on Sunday from noon- 4 p.m. Admission to the exhibitalone is $5; however, admission isincluded in the ticket price of any ofthe other weekend events.

The popular Garden Tour takesplace on Friday and Saturday from10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Up to 10 local gar-

Art in Bloom set for Black Mountain Center for the Arts June 18-21

See Art on PAGE 21

Photo by Nancy Mason

Ann Vasilik, known throughoutWestern N.C. for her watercolors thatdocument the area, is the 2009 Art inBloom Honorary Chair, and one of theGarden Tour plein air painters.

Photo provided by Pam Beck

Pam Beck, gardener extraordinaire,will present “Best Garden Plants forN.C.” during an afternoon session ofArt in Bloom on Saturday, June 20.

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dens are on the tour. Self-guidedmaps are available at the Center;tickets are $15. Each ticket includesa printed 15 percent discount forlunch at various local restaurants.During the Garden Tour local pleinair painters will be on hand in eachgarden capturing their impressionsof the individual gardens. Thosepaintings will then be on display onSunday, June 21, during the Art inBloom exhibit at the Center.

On Friday, a special event will bean afternoon Tea Party and anIkebana Demonstration at 2 p.m.Ikebana, the Japanese art of flowerarranging, will be demonstrated byEmiko Nishiwaki, Japan OutreachCoordinator at Western CarolinaUniversity, with commentary byTerri Ellis Todd, a master in theIchiyo School. Tea sets by the BlackMountain Clay Studio potters willbe available for purchase. Ticketsare $25.

Saturday’s special event will be“Best Garden Plants for N.C.,” a

gardening lecture and slideshowpresentation by Pam Beck, co-authorof a book by the same title, and apopular freelance garden writer,photographer, designer, and lecturer.A regular contributor to CarolinaGardener, she also serves as an areascout for Better Homes & Gardensand is on the board of advisors forthe J.C. Raulston Arboretum.Tickets are $20.

Art in Bloom originally started atBMCA as collaboration between theCenter and the Asheville areaIkebana International chapter. BothIkebana and western floral designersare invited to participate each year.The event is only three days due tothe fragility of the flowers. Don’tmiss this spectacular presentation ofart and flowers by some of the areasmost talented and creative artistsand designers.

For more information, call (828)669-0930 or visit blackmountainarts.org.

Art, continued from page 20

Photo by Steve Dixon, Asheville Citizen Times

Emiko Nishiwaki is the presenter for an Ikebana Demonstration, held alongwith an Afternoon Tea during Art in Bloom on Friday afternoon, June 19.

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By Ron VinsonCONTRIBUTING WRITER

or more than 210 years, Presbyterianshave established communities andchurches throughout the SwannanoaValley, from North Fork to Black

Mountain to Montreat.A new museum and learning center

opened last year in Montreat, highlightingthe history of Montreat, as well as thePresbyterian heritage in this Valley andthroughout the world.

Located at 318 Georgia Terrace, adjacentto Assembly Drive, in Montreat, the newPresbyterian Heritage Center (PHC) ishoused in Spence Hall in the old HistoricalFoundation Building. The PHC workedwith the Montreat Conference Center tocreate a historical presence, as requested bythe Presbyterian Church (USA) GeneralAssembly in 2006.

The center offers a variety of changingstate-of-the-art, interactive exhibits on thehistory of Montreat and Presbyterianism, aswell as special events including lectures,

live performances,period costumed re-enactors, and story-telling. Multimediakiosks offer music,interviews, maps, andmuch more.

“The PresbyterianHeritage Center willentertain and educateyoung people andadults aboutMontreat, Presby-terian history, andmission, reaching outto tens of thousandswho come toMontreat each year,plus many moreonline through ourdigital programs andresearch capabilities,”said Richard Ray,chairman of the PHCboard.

“Already, we areworking in partner-ship with theM o n t r e a tConference Center,P r i n c e t o nT h e o l o g i c a lSeminary, and othersto develop travelingexhibits that will tourthe United States. In2009, Montreathopes to be theNorth America cen-ter for celebratingthe 500th birthday ofJohn Calvin, one of

the keyReformation lead-

ers in the history ofthe Protestantchurch.”

Books and arti-facts from theMontreat Conference

Center collection form the core of thePHC’s reference materials. Additionalbooks, online databases, microfiche, andexhibit displays have been added by PHC toits library and learning center.

In addition to its exhibits, the PHC pro-vides a research library on Montreat,Presbyterians, and their institutions, as wellas online computer access to availableresource materials from leading nationaland regional institutions. Online databasescontain hundreds of thousands of originaldocuments and books from the 1500s totoday.

Plus, the Presbyterian Heritage Centerhas started digitizing important Montreatdocuments and photographs for futureonline access.

The PHC Web site -www.phcmon-treat.org - already links to original docu-ments, books, and photos at scores of insti-tutions.

There is no admission fee to the PHC.

New museum and learning center open in Montreat

Photo provided by the Presbyterian Heritage Center

(above) Located at 318 GeorgiaTerrace, adjacent to Assembly Drive, inMontreat, the new PresbyterianHeritage Center is housed in SpenceHall in the old Historical FoundationBuilding.

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The great outdoorsBy Hali LedfordCONTRIBUTING WRITER

urrounded by mountains, theSwannanoa Valley is home tomany outdoor activities that

make the small communities ofBlack Mountain and Swannanoa spe-cial and keeps tourists coming backfor more every summer.

•SHADOWBROOK MINI GOLF-As the only minigolf place in town,Shadowbrook is an event the wholefamily can enjoy. Located onHighway 9, across from Ingles, it isright outside the center of town.

•SHOPPING- Black Mountain ishome to some pretty unique stores.Take a day to park your car and walkdown Cherry Street with the rest ofthe town and it’s visitors. Publicparking 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. Younever know what you will f ind in ourlocal stores!

•MONTREAT- To get a taste ofthe real beauty of the area go toMontreat. Drive down MontreatRoad until you pass through thestone entrance into Montreat. Thereis a park for children and LakeSusan. If you want to do as the localsdo, bring a bathing suit and watershoes so you can skip rocks andswim in the creek. Make sure tobring a camera to capture the naturalbeauty around you. Just watch outfor the swan that calls Lake Susanhome.

•BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLFCOURSE- Looking for a real game of File photo

See Outdoors on PAGE 25 Lake Tomahawk is a Black Mountain favorite.

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golf? Look no further than the BlackMountain Golf Course. Enjoy an 18-hole game set in the middle of thebeautiful mountains and woodedareas full with trees.

•LAKE TOMAHAWK- As the sunbegins to set behind the mountainsand you f inish up your dinner at oneof the many restaurants in town, youmay be wondering what to do next.How about taking a nice relaxing

walk around Lake Tomahawk. Theatmosphere is peaceful and the onlything you have to worry about is run-ning into a duck or two. But don’tworry about them, they are use topeople and for the most part they arefriendly. There is also a playgroundand tennis courts next to the lake.

Enjoy the great outdoors whileyou are here!

Outdoors, continued from page 24

File photo

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.

Enjoy a round of golf at the beautiful Black Mountain Golf Course.

26

Fresco in local chapel is ‘must see’By Barbara Hootman CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ontreat College’s Chapel of theProdigal is an outstanding pieceof art nestled in the area moun-tains that attracts thousands of

visitors annually.“In the past years, we have guided thou-

sands of visitors through the Chapel,” AndyAndrews said. “Visitors come from every-where and are awed at the art work in thechapel. We have 45 docents now that workhard to educate the public about Ben Longand his work, and we serve as tour guides forlarge groups of people.”

The interior of the Chapel of the Prodigalis a complementary setting for the huge fres-co, Return of the Prodigal. An intimate anduplifting worship space was created. BenLong’s fresco measures 16 feet wide by 17feet high. It portrays the parable found inLuke Chapter 15. After squandering theinheritance he demanded from his father, theprodigal son returns home from a far country Ben Long’s fresco tells the story of Luke Chapter 15.

Photos provided by Montreat College

See Fresco on PAGE 27

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104 West St., Black Mountainbehind the police station & 5/3 Bank

828.669.0668Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-8pm • Closed Sunday

All Baskets Include Chips and a Pickle

South Philly Style Cheesesteaks $6.50steak or chickenadd peppers $.30

100% Natural Beef Hamburgers (1/2 lb) $5.50add cheese $.30add bacon $1.00

2-All Beef Chili Dogs w/mustard & onions $5.25

1-Chili Dog $2.75

Basket of Fresh Cut Idaho Fries $2.50cooked in peanut oil

Drinks (Pepsi products & Sweet Tea) $1.50free refills

PISGAH Pale Ale 22 oz. $6.00Bud, Bud Light, PBR 12 oz. $2.50

27

seeking forgiveness and acceptance. Thefather receives his wayward son joyously, re-establishing his place in the family.

Many consider this parable to be the great-est story Jesus ever told illustrating God’sunconditional love. Return of the Prodigal isLong’s first fresco on a wall built to his per-sonal specifications.

The biblical theme has been painted bysome of the most famous names in art histo-ry. Rembrandt painted the parable with thefather standing over his kneeling son with hisfatherly hand as a blessing on his son’s head.

Long’s imagination encompassed a moreemotional encounter between the father andthe prodigal. The patriarch kneels beside hisfrail son clutching his son’s hand over hisheart and the other raised in thanksgiving.The older brother looks on in anger at thehappy reunion. Across the courtyard, themother stands with the female servants, herhands clasped across her breast as she sensesthe tension between the two brothers.

In the background the servants are busybutchering the calf for the welcome home

banquet. A small dog barks at the bottom.Three pigs root in the foreground remindingthe viewer of the herds the Prodigal tended in

his poverty. Long spent years preparing to paint the

Montreat fresco, with drawings, oil paintings,and sketches. Creating a fresco is a demand-ing physical challenge. The painter mustwork long stretches of time rather than takefrequent breaks. Depending on humidity, thepainter may work as much as eight to 12hours a day.

Montreat’s artistic interpretation by Long isthe only known true fresco by a master artiston the theme of Jesus’parable of the ProdigalSon.

Long has achieved international fame as amaster of both true fresco and oil painting.His talent has resulted in numerous commis-sions worldwide including Italy, France, andseven sites in North Carolina.

Also, the chapel is a popular wedding site.Montreat gets calls from many different statesinquiring about having a wedding in thechapel.

The Chapel is open to the public. Formore information, call 669-8012, extensions3821.

Fresco, continued from page 26

(above) The exterior view of MontreatCollege’s Chapel of the Prodigal.

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Watershed. The Watershed, upstairs from MyFather’s Pizza, is a downtown bar that is host toa 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 inSwannanoa with live music on Thursday andSaturday nights and open mic night onTuesday nights. With billiards, local microbrews, and nightly drink specials, it is a greatplace to check out a band. 204 WhitsonAvenue, Swannanoa, (828) 686-0006,www.beaconpubinfo.com.

The Town Pump is a friendly local hangoutright on Cherry Street. Walk into this estab-lishment on any given night and most likely alive band will be having a good time with thecrowd. Locals love the dart boards, variety oflocal and regional microbrews, and the jukebox with a tremendous selection. With its laidback and authentic character, this local favoriteis a must-visit for visitors. 135 Cherry Street,(828) 669-4808.

Pisgah Brewing Company is a certified

organic brewery in Black Mountain and alsohost to a wide variety of musical events.Come and enjoy some fine local music and abrew voted best in Western North Carolina,

150 Eastside Drive, (828) 669-0190,www.pisgahbrewing.com.

White Horse Black Mountain is the town’snewest music venue. The 4,400 square foot

non-smoking space offers the finest in musicand arts along with beer, wine, coffee, tea,sandwiches, and snacks. The owners andfounders are Bob Hinkle and Kim Hughes -Bob has been in the music and entertainmentbusiness for 40 years.

The space seats 225 people with addition-al standing room making it a 300-personcapacity hall. With excellent sound and light-ing systems, a 30-foot barrel ceiling, goodacoustics, and a unique wood and copper bar -it makes for a wonderful place to enjoy livemusic.

Look for big name acts this season likeCyril Neville, Darol Anger, Spiritual Rez,Acoustic Syndicate, and others. White HorseBlack Mountain is located at 105-C MontreatRoad, (828) 669-0816. For a complete musicschedule, visit www.whitehorseblackmountain.com.

Black Mountain offers locals and visitorsplenty of opportunities to hear great livemusic.

Music, continued from page 16

Metro Photo

(above) Great bands play Black Mountain every weekend.

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Recycled, continued from page 12of the people who love both the arts and thetown to support and sustain it. By establishingthe Center as a non-profit institution, thefounders purposefully chose for it to be a placewhere people at every level could participateand contribute. The Center continues to deriveits support from the philanthropy of the verypeople who want to see it thrive.

Then the Board of BMCA decided torevive the old city garage into a professionalteaching clay studio; with grants from TheJanirve Foundation, and the Black MountainEndowment of the Community Foundation ofW.N.C., they made the transformation happen.Executive Director Gale Jackson had a visionfor the studio to be as visually appealing fromthe outside, as it would be functionally appeal-ing to potters and students from the inside.

Julia Burr, (jcburrdesigns.com) nationallyrecognized sculptor and installation artistturned Black Mountainer, was engaged to turnthe west-facing wall into a mosaic tile mural.The concept she designed is a contemporarysplash of color that also serves as a backdropfor signage identifying the site as the BlackMountain Center for the Arts.

Burr, who grew up in Augusta, Ga., is agraduate of the University of Tennessee, andthe California Institute of Art, and is a design-er/sculptor who has completed private andpublic commissions throughout the U.S.Currently she is engaged in design work forthe Pack Place renovation.

On the wall facing east, a different art formwas utilized to create a piece of outdoor art.Wall sculptor David Seils (wallsculpture.net),an Asheville artist, was commissioned to cre-ate a three-dimensional bas-relief mountainscene with a flowing stream coming downfrom the mountains through a thicket of laureland rhododendron.

Reviving the art style of relief sculpturethat has been used for thousand of years todecorate walls and the frieze of buildings, Seilsfound the same effect can be accomplished bybuilding up the relief sculpture instead of carv-ing. With the advantage of new materials,white cement, silicon sand, and lime, and withcareful measuring and mixing to insure dura-bility and consistency, Seils strengthened theexisting wall structure while creating a work ofbeauty for the entire community to enjoy.

Especially at night, with the installed lighting,the dimension and detail of the scene is partic-ularly impressive.

Seils, originally from West Salem, Wisc.,received formal art training at Viterbo Collegein Wisconsin; The Clearing, part of theUniversity of Wisconsin; The University ofKansas at Lawrence; and the Ringling Schoolof Art in Florida. He has created wall sculp-ture both privately and publicly in NorthCarolina.

The clay studio offers classes, taught bylocal resident potters, opportunities for experi-enced potters to purchase community mem-berships, and Paint-on-Pottery sessions. Thecamaraderie that has developed among thefolks who are taking classes there has been oneof the best outcomes of the board’s decision torecycle the old building. For more informa-tion, visit http://blackmountainartsclay.blogspot.com.

During the summer, the Black MountainCenter for the Arts offers summer camps forlocal and visiting children and youth. Threecamps will be offered this summer: A TheaterConservatory in which thespian and storyteller

Donna Marie Todd will teach the multi-facetsof theater and improvisation to rising 5th-8thgraders from June 22 - 26.

A Summer Arts Camp will be led by LindaMetzner (music), Donna Rouchard (visual art)and Sondra Stamey (creative movement) fromJuly 6 - 10 for kids in grades K-2.

New this summer is a four-week musicaltheater camp called Kids Kabaret led by veter-an children’s theater director Lisa Gerber(www.kidskabaretpresents.net), with assis-tance from Marcy Reed and David Bates.From July 20-August 14 the campers willhone their acting, musical, and dance talentsculminating with three performances of aDisney musical spectacular scheduled at theend of camp. Camp is for ages 5-16.

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts isproud to present this contribution of art andbeauty, both visual and creative, for the enjoy-ment of the community and for the renovationof an old building into a new one. To learnmore about Black Mountain’s converted artscenter, visit www.blackmountainarts.org. Orcall the Black Mountain Center for the Arts at(828) 669-0930.

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bmchamber@juno.com, or www.exploreblackmountain.com.

Festival, continued from page 9

File Photo

(above) Sourwood honey is a favorite at the Sourwood Festival.File Photo

(above) Crafters line the streets of downtown Black Mountain at the SourwoodFestival.

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delicious vegetarian cuisine. Thecarrot cashew ginger soup is one oftheir hallmark dishes. Other popu-lar items are the Hungarian mush-room soup and build-your-ownwraps and salads. The fresh juicebar is also a hit!

• Camino’s (107 Black MountainAvenue, (828) 669-1982) makes adelicious steak quesadilla f illedwith rice, vegetables, cheese, andsalsa and served with yummy spicedchips.

• It doesn't get much simpler - ormuch better - than Mac’s (104 WestStreet, (828) 669-0668). With onlya few items on the menu, you’ll wantto return to Mac’s again and againfor their scrumptious cheeseburgersand decadent Philly cheese steaks.

• Phil’s Bar-B-Que Pit (701 N.C.Highway 9, (828) 669-3606) is anexpansion of the long standing putt-

putt golf course. Now you canspend an afternoon playing golf andenjoying fantastic BBQ.

• Que Sera (400 East State Street,(828) 664-9472) has made its markover the past few years and is well-known for its delicious food. Thecasual yet upscale restaurant has asouthern twist and features a delec-table menu that changes with theseasons.

• Thai Basil (227 West StateStreet, (828) 664-4322) serves upauthentic Thai cuisine like the tradi-tional pad Thai noodle - pan-friendtraditional Thai rice noodles withegg, minced tofu, green onion, andbean sprouts served with groundpeanut and lime.

MIDDLE-AGEDSo some friends aren’t exactly

classif ied as “old,” but they’ve beenaround a bit long enough to not be

called “new.” So it is with theseBlack Mountain restaurants … theyhave been around for more than afew years and are, thankfully, hereto stay.

• Black Mountain Bistro (203 E.State Street, (828) 669-5041) hasfavorites like fried green tomatoesbattered and served over a potatocake with ranch dressing. For themain course, try meatloaf madefrom ground chuck with bread-crumbs and spices served with gravyand served with mashed potatoesand green beans.

• The Cellar Door (117-C CherryStreet, (828) 669-9090) - has greatfood, ambience, and service. Trythe caramelized diver scallops for anappetizer followed by the rosemary-Dijon encrusted petite rack of lamb.The brunch menu varies from weekto week, but look for the Gulf Coast

biscuits and gravy - mildly spicedcrab and chorizo sausage creamgravy served over fresh baked bis-cuits with Parmesan-herb homefries.

• Morning Glory Café (6 EastMarket Street in the Village ofCheshire, (828) 669-6212) neverfails. Try one of their breakfast bur-ritos f illed with fresh eggs, salsa,and vegetables with a side of hashbrowns.

So whether you’re in the mood tospend some time with an old, reli-able “restaurant friend” or perhapsbegin a new relationship with“someone fresh and innovative,”Black Mountain’s restaurant scene issure to please!

Restaurants, continued from page 5

Keller Williams Professionals Black Mountain115 Richardson Blvd., Black Mountain, NC

We CreateResults

Rowena Patton828-669-6671

Trish MacIsaac828-301-8212

Vicki Dunkerley828-275-5007

Christi Hanley828-808-1847

Jackie Tatelman828-713-5193

Shanda Boettcher828-242-7777

Sally Bierhaus828-273-0915

Charles Jones828-231-9613

Natalie Clevenger828-231-7915

Joan Hall Weaver828-230-3181

Louise Kistler828-713-4438

Byron Bailey828-713-8966

Cindy Kirkland828-606-69700

Katharina Johnson828-419-9103