June 23 from 6 PM - 9 PM at the Western North Carolina Nature Center join the Friends of the WNC Nature Center and Asheville Affiliates for a one-of-a-kind social adventure, Mountain Safari. The evening festivities include:
- Live entertainment with live music, jugglers & belly dancers plus special animal encounters!
- Wonderful food generously donated by Azalea Cafe, Chili's, Fig, Magnetic Field, The Marketplace & Mellow Mushroom!
- Thirsts will be quenched thanks to donations from Catawba Valley Brewing Company and Mirassou Winery.
- Auction and raffle to raise funds for projects at the Nature Center - bid on a kayak or some special framed paw prints of center animals.
Dress in your best safari gear and party with the animals. *Those in safari attire will be entered into a special raffle*
Tickets are only $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Purchase tickets from Friends. the Office at the Nature Center or Online at www.wildwnc.org.
One of the biggest and best summer NC mountain festivals is coming up this weekend in Tryon. The Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival has three main components: a KCBS sanctioned barbecue competition and the best of the best barbecue; Musical entertainment with the bigger acts and headliners on the Main Stage and singer-songwriters and acoustical music on the Riverside Stage; The Foothills Craft Fair, a juried fine arts and craft show, includes live artisan demonstrations.
And there's more...Rides and games at the Back-to-back Kids Fun park; Main Street Vendor with barbecue related products for sale along with equestrian, farm and other commercial goods; Special Saturday events including the 3rd Annual Rubber Duckie River Race, the Hawg Run and an Antique Auto Show.
 |
| photo credit Erik Olsen |
This year's musical lineup offers a broad range of music genres and styles with Nashville recording artist and rising country star, Chuck Wicks headlining. Other Main Stage performers include Acoustic Syndicate, the Dynamites featuring Charles Walker and Devon Allman’s Honeytribe. Many local favorites can be found on the Riverside Stage, such as The Shane Pruitt Band, Big Daddy Love and the Tryon Music Review. The Main Stage will have a large dance area for those inclined to shake, rattle and roll.
 |
| photo credit Erik Olsen |
The Foothills Craft Fair attracts between 15,000 and 20,000 art and craft lovers each year with exhibits of paintings in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors. Fine art graphics/drawings, prints, mixed media, photography, and sculpture. Find Crafts and demonstrations in all media - wood, paper, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, gems, glass, stone, clay, and natural materials.
The barbecue competitors provide their "slow and low" cooked meats and all the sides to BBQ booths where it can be purchase along with sweets and treats and exotic beers in the Biergarten as well as wine by the glass in the Vineyard Tent. There will also be fresh-squeezed lemonade, soda, tea and bottled water.
The Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival began in 1994, the brainchild of Polk County Chamber of Commerce member Jim Tabb. Jim's insistence on assembling the BEST cookers with the BEST judges is credited with much of the Festival's growth and continuing success. The event is held each year at Harmon Field, a geographically remarkable site at the foot of Warrior Mountain along the banks of the Pacolet River. Participants and visitors enjoy tranquil beauty as well as the “isothermal effect,” a local phenomenon that makes the Harmon Field area several degrees cooler in summer than surrounding locales.
June 10, 7:00 PM at City Lights Bookstore Author Rick McDanie gives readers a taste of irresistible southern food. McDaniel, a food writer with the Asheville Citizen-Times, will be at City lights on Friday to introduce readers to his new book, An Irresistible History of Southern Food.
The book examines how European, Native American and African influences, foods and cooking techniques combine to form the unique blend that is Southern cooking. It’s southern history told through food. Included are more than 150 recipes for traditional Southern favorites from whole hog barbecue to jambalaya to brunswick stew, and includes an extensive chapter on elegant Southern desserts. The book also features color photographs of many of the recipes as well as rare archival photos, many of them seen for the first time in this book.
McDaniel is a food historian and chef as well as a writer. His blog is available at www.hushpuppnation.com. City Lights Bookstore is located at 3 E. Jackson St. in Sylva NC.
June 7 - The Jackson County Public Library has announced the completion of its move to their new facility on Courthouse Hill in downtown Sylva NC. All books, materials and equipment have been moved from the old location and 24,000 NEW books, DVDs, audio books, and other materials will soon be delivered.
June 11 the Library will begin a weeklong celebration of the Grand Opening of the new Jackson County Public Library Complex. At 10 AM the Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet kicks off the event followed by a formal ceremony at the top of the courthouse steps and a ribbon cutting ceremony at the main entrance to the library complex as the facility is dedicated to the people of Jackson County. Eric from Eric's Fresh Fish Market will be playing at 11 AM. Heinzelmannchen Brewery's Root Beer will be served as well as other refreshments! Lots of activities are planned all day long.
Throughout the week there will be musical performances, dancing, storytelling, theater and more. All activities are free and open to the public. The performers are donating their time and talent to show their support for this beautiful new library. Volunteer guides will lead groups through the complex and answer questions. Get a complete schedule here.
Beginning June 7, 2011 the Library will be open 45 hours per week as follows:
Monday, Wednesday 10:30 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, Thursday 10:30 am – 8:00 pm
Friday, Saturday 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
