Happy Halloween!

Halloween , a contraction of "All Hallows' Eve",  is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows (or All Saints). According to many scholars, it was originally influenced by western European harvest festivals and festivals of the dead with possible pagan roots, particularly the Celtic Samhain.  Others maintain that it originated independently of Samhain and has Christian roots.

Today's typical and festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

Purple Onion Live Music and November Events

November marks the 14th anniversary of the birth of The Purple Onion. If you haven't yet taken advantage of the opportunity to enjoy one of WNC's favorite restaurants, what better time than their anniversary month to stop by and congratulate the owner and her staff while enjoying regionally inspired dishes with an emphasis on Mediterranean and healthful cuisine.  The Purple Onion is located at 16 Main Street in Historic Downtown Saluda NC.

Holiday Wine Tasting   The Purple Onion will host a wine tasting on Monday, November 12 at 6:30. Taste wines that pair well with many of the foods traditionally served at Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. The price for the tasting will be $40 and includes a taste of seven wines and several hors d'oeuvres and small plates to complement them. For reservations call the Purple Onion at 828-749-1179 - call early as seating is limited.

Monday and Tuesday Nights at the Onion Daylight Savings ends on November 4 for 2012 and the restaurant will begin closing on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 8:00 PM until next April. Go early and take advantage of one of the weekday specials:    Oysters and Pints on Mondays, 25% Off All Wines on Tuesdays

Friday Night Flights -  While the Monday night wine tastings offer an excellent opportunity to taste new wines and stock up on some of your favorite selections, Monday may not be a convenient evening for out-of-town visitors. . With this in mind, the Purple Onion will be trying out "Friday night flights" of wine during November. Guests may try three different wines for the price of one glass with the option of purchasing your favorites to take home at a reduced price.

Fresh Baked Desserts for Thanksgiving
Take home one of the Onion's delicious cakes or pies for your thanksgiving table. Visit the website for a complete listing of desserts. Order by Monday, November 19th to ensure availability, Pick up is Wednesday from 9 AM - 1 PM.

Purple Onion Live Music Calendar for November:
November 1 - Nikki Talley & Friends  -  high-energy singer/songwriter with a big voice

November 3 - South Carolina Broadcasters - old time music from a trio new to us

November 8 - Michael Reno Harrell - more great songs and stories from a long-time friend

November 10 - Gigi Dover & The Big Love   - she and her band just get better and better

November 15 - Jay Brown  - multi-talented singer/songwriter returns

November 17 - Erin McDermott Band   - "a songwriter to watch" Tim O'Brien

November 22 - THANKSGIVING - NO MUSIC

November 24 - Ragged Orchids  - Americana folk-rock from South Carolina

November 29 - Mare Wakefield  - singer/songwriter from Nashville makes her debut here

Hurricane Sandy leaves Appalachian Snowfall in its Wake

Hurricane Sandy leaves behind seasonally unusual weather with a prediction of significant accumulations of snow expected for the southern Appalachians in North Carolina, all the way down to Asheville. Some 15” of snow may fall at the highest elevations, with 6” expected for Boone coupled with high winds gusting over 60 mph.

As the Hurricane turned Cyclone / storm worked its way up the east coast the mountains of North Carolina were not left unscathed.  High winds took what was left of the fall color in mid and upper elevations with only the lower elevations and foothills areas still showing a few remnants of leaf color.

Snowfall may continue through Wednesday with clearing and sunny skies returning Thursday. Get a link for current  mountain weather and predictions on the NC Mountain News Guide.

Asheville's Compleat Naturalist Announces Holiday Preview Party

November 16, 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the Compleat Naturalist, 2 Brook Street, Historic Biltmore Village in Asheville NC - Open House Holiday Preview Party, a Biodiversity Celebration.

Mark your calendar for a fun, FREE event at Asheville's favorite shop for all things natural.  The celebration is a  thank-you for their 20th year in business, and all their  special customers are invited to a holiday preview party and benefit for Discover Life in America (DLIA). 

The store is stocked with lots of goodies for holiday shopping and gift giving, and there will be special sale prices on selected items for this event only.

There will also be an auction for a beautiful framed DLIA print, and you also can win a chance at a shopping spree at The Compleat Naturalist!  Everyone who makes a donation to DLIA at the party will be entered to win a Gift Certificate equal to the amount of their donation, up to $250!  The more you donate, the more you can win.  Help support this fascinating project that helps us understand the Biodiversity of the Smokies and beyond.

Refreshments will be served, a brief talk about the exciting discoveries of DLIA, and an exhibit of the work of a DLIA artist who is working on illustrations of species found only in the Smokies.

To RSVP, give us a call 828-274-5430, or email info@compleatnaturalist.com .

Learn more about Asheville's Biltmore Village Shops HERE.