WNC Magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival this weekend

August 12 - 13   WNC Magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival    The largest celebration of wines and local delicacies that the Asheville area has ever seen. This year, the festival weekend kicks off with Sweet, a culinary adventure in to the decadent world of desserts, champagnes, dessert wines, specialty cocktails, and spirits. Sweet will be held at the historic Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville.

The Asheville Wine and Food Festival is a celebration of the culinary experiences found in Ahseville as well as a showcase of the area’s chefs, wineries, farmers, and food producers. In addition to the excellent food the  region’s wealth of wineries have made viticulture a contributing industry in North Carolina's economy.

A portion of the proceeds of the Festival benefit local area nonprofits that support and promote sustainable and ecologically-sound food production and education.

The Asheville Reef Continues to Grow at the Center for Craft Creativity and Design

The Asheville Reef, a satellite of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, is currently growing in the CCCD Gallery with the help of crochet groups from around the Western North Carolina region. The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is the brainchild of two sisters from Australia, Christine and Margaret Wertheim, co-founders of the Institute for Figuring in Los Angeles. The Wertheim sisters are interested in raising awareness of the threat’s to the world’s coral reef by uniting non-Euclidean hyperbolic geometry with crochet craft techniques. Communities are working to create beautiful and lifelike models that will raise awareness of threats to the world's coral.

The Asheville Reef is on display through August 12 at 1181 Broyles Road in Hendersonville. Gallery hours are 12 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.  If you missed seeing The Asheville Reef in the CCCD gallery, it will be on display in the lobby of UNC Asheville's Karpen Hall Sept. 5 - Oct. 5, 2011.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Telethon and Fundraising

Submitted by Holly Scott, Friends of the Smokies Every year in August, we hold the only telethon (that we know about) to help preserve and protect a national park. Even if you're not in the viewing area of Asheville's WLOS-TV or WBIR-TV in Knoxville, your support for the 17th Annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon can make a big difference in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Click here to give today via our secure website. Because you love the Smokies, we know you'll enjoy reading these stories of generosity toward the Park that's meant so much to all of us.

We Know the Smokies Are Unforgettable- And Here's How! Angela and Doug I wanted to share with you three messages that I recently received. "Dear Friends -- This morning, I logged on to Friends of the Smokies and purchased an annual membership at the $100.00 level. My partner and I spent a wonderful week in the park June 17-24 and are still talking about how beautiful it was!  The first experience for both of us. Each day brought a new adventure: a sunset drive through Cades Cove; walking through a thick and mysterious fog to reach the summit at Clingman's Dome; a silent and primieval-feeling hike out to Andrew's Bald to see the flame azaleas; seeing a bear (from a safe distance!) at Laurel Falls; synchronous fireflies (who knew?!) at Chimney Tops; owl and deer along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail; the decaying beauty of the once vibrant cottage community at Elkmont; and MORE! It seemed, however, that each and every time we passed a donation box...neither of us had any bills to contribute!  I did feel awful about that, and wanted to make it right, as I know now that GSMNP will be a place we return to again and again. It is a special place, and what a joy and gift to be able to experience it up-close. We also watched on with fascination and untold appreciation as a VERY hard-working crew were chiselling rock and laying BY HAND a new section of trail from the Clingman's Dome parking lot out to Andrew's Bald. And here I'd just thought all of those wonderful stone steps had popped up naturally from the earth, carved by Mother Nature!  To see these men and women out there in the mud and muck and hot sun working so hard, but also clearly LOVING what they do.....wow.  That, alone, is more than worth $100.00!! Thank you so much for all you are doing to help protect and preserve this amazing space so that generations can continue to enjoy it! Jay Aldrich in 201 -Angela Holton & Doug Smith And from Trails Forever volunteer Jay Aldrich- "Being part of the Friends of the Smokies has been one of the most rewarding associations we have been involved in throughout our lifetime.  We have already worked with Trails Forever in 2010 and then in 2011 we have so far spent 6 days on the Forney Ridge Trail near Clingman's Dome. One must walk this trail to see the amazing work and effort that has gone into getting this trail into the condition it is today.  It is mind boggling as one hikes down the trail and doesn't even realize that the steps with the enormous rocks have not been there forever. The Trails Forever Project is one way each of us can be absolutely be sure that our trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park will be here for generations to come.  Why would anyone who uses these trails not want to see them exist for their children and their children's children.  We all have a responsibility to see that the Great Smoky Mountain National Park be the most pristine park in the NPS system. The FOTS does just that by helping the park with a crew and allowing volunteers to be part of the future. Thank you, FOTS for everything you do and we are proud to be part of this association. You know that you can always count on us to help this great national treasure!" And finally, from JBThomasWalker - "The only reason I ever wanted to be rich was to be able to give to others. I wish I had ten million dollars to give to GSMNP! I could never repay the joy and serenity the Park has given me on my many, many trips there.   The first time I ever visited the Smokies at age almost eight, I hid in the woods behind our rental cabin in Gatlinburg in hopes that my family would leave me there to live.   When my Dad finally found me, he was sweet and understanding, not angry at all. He asked how I intended to live, what would I do when winter came and it got cold? `The mountains will take care of me,' I said.   And though I've never lived there, indeed the mountains have "taken care" of me in both joyous (including my honeymoon) and sad times since that trip back in the early 1950's. I wish I could watch the telethon, but I live in the Nashville area. (Have you ever thought of broadcasting it in Nashville also...almost everyone in Middle TN visits the Smokies often, and we consider them "our" mountains, too. I'm sure many people here would contribute.)  I hope you raise tons and tons of money for the Smokies!"  - Jane" People from all parts of the country, and all walks of life cherish the memories they've made in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The August 11th Friends Telethon at 7:00 p.m. on WBIR-TV and WLOS-TV will tell you about even more fantastic Smoky Mountain memories.  Tune in Thursday night if you can, but please consider a gift of support today!

Thank you for caring about Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and helping us to care for it, too. And while you're at it, enjoy this fabulous story that aired on WBIR about a 100-year-old camper who just thrills at the chance to spend time with her family in Smokemont Campground!  http://www.wbir.com/news/article/178787/8/Even-at-100-years-old-Ottie-Roberson-is-a-happy-camper Ottie Roberson's profile on WBIR-TV

What to do this Weekend: NC Mountain Events and Festivals

August 5    ASHEVILLE   Biltmore concert series:  Smokey Robinson  Enjoy a variety of live performances at Biltmore from July through October held on the South Terrace and the Diana at Biltmore. Dining options available.

August 5   MARION   First Friday Concert   Activities include music  - Free; 7-9pm; Main Street, Historic Downtown Marion.

August 5   WAYNESVILLE   Mountain Street Dances   Downtown is Alive at Night. Put on your cloggin' & square dancin' shoes and enjoy an old-fashioned mountain hoe down! Live mountain music, demonstrations and instruction by local clogging teams. Refreshments available, in front of the historic Haywood County Courthouse. 6:30-9pm.

August 5   NEWLAND   The Newland River Walk Concert Series   6 PM - 9 PM   A variety of music and entertainment in a family atmosphere. Bring your blanket, pop-up tent, table, chairs, cooler or whatever, for a family picnic while enjoying the summer long series.  Located at the Newland River Walk Band shell (adjacent to Lowes parking lot).

August 5   HENDERSONVILLE  Music on Main Street Concert Series  Every Friday evening from June - August . The event feature " oldies rock, beach music, variety and top 40 music. Bring a chair and enjoy the FREE  music.

August 5   HENDERSONVILLE  Music on Main Street Concert Series  Every Friday evening from June - August . The event feature " oldies rock, beach music, variety and top 40 music. Bring a chair and enjoy the FREE  music.
5 -6   BURNSVILLE   55th Annual Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair   The oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For the past several years the Southeastern Tourism Society has selected this event as one of the top twenty in the Southeast. Every kind of handmade craft imaginable can be found here... Whether you are looking for a quilt, jewelry from local gemstones, hand-turned wooden bowls, pottery of every shape and size made by skilled artists.

5 - 6   WEST JEFFERSON   Annual Ashe County Bluegrass & Old Time Fiddlers Convention  Celebrate at this family-friendly event that includes competitions between musicians from throughout the southeast for over $3,500 in prize money. If you can pick a note or two, you can even join in on a few of the jam sessions.  Bring your lawn chair & sweater and enjoy the music and cool blue ridge mountains of Ashe County.

August 6    WAYNESVILLE   DOWNTOWN DOG WALK   Courthouse lawn, Proceeds support the proposed Sarge's Adoption Center in Haywood County, 9:30-1pm 828-508-33006  

August 6  BRYSON CITY   Music in the Mountains - Free Concerts   Smoky Mountains Melodies   Every Saturday night from June through Oct, enjoy a FREE concert in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Train Depot from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Sit in one of the old church pews on the covered depot deck or bring a lawn chair to enjoy the show.

August 6    ASHEVILLE    Asheville Downtown Galleries Walk  Take a self-guided tour and explore the diversity of art in downtown Asheville.

August 6   WAYNESVILLE   Art After Dark  Stroll downtown Waynesville's many galleries and art studios the first Friday of each month, May thru December. Watch demonstrations and enjoy artist receptions, music and refreshments

August 6 - 7   ASHEVILLE   39th Annual Village Art and Craft Fair  The fair host 125 artists from 17 states, representing the full spectrum of craft media - jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more. The craft fair is a great opportunity to encounter new artists (15 are first-time exhibitors) and to talk with crafters one-on-one. The Fair is sponsored by New Morning Gallery and Bellagio and held on the grounds of the Cathedral of all Souls

August 7   BLOWING ROCK   Riders in the Sky at Tweetsie Railroad   America's Favorite Cowboys, Riders In The Sky will pull into Tweetsie to entertain "The Cowboy Way" and light up the Tweetsie Railroad stage at noon and 3:00 pm daily.  Come listen as this Grammy award-winning classic cowboy quartet captivates with a unique blend of Western harmony and outrageous comedy.

August 7   FONTANA   SERC/US Cup East Series #10   The series ends at without a doubt the most demanding course on the circuit, the trails surrounding the village are as tough as they come, better train hard for this one.

August 7 - 16   FLAT ROCK   Flat Rock Playhouse Music on the Rock  Anything Goes: The Music of Cole Porter.   Summer Music on the Rock Concerts offer audiences a variety of music of well-known artists performed by exceptional singers and musicians.