Tag Archive for: north carolina

BOONE, NC: AWE INSPIRING

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/13/23

Fall is the best time to head to the mountains. Being only 4.5 hours from Atlanta, we traveled up to Awe inspiring Boone, NC. It was a blustery, clear weekend and the rolling hills and mountains were changing to red, orange, and brown all around us. Plus, the temperature was brisk just like you’d want it on a mountain weekend getaway. Beyond the beautiful views and weather, Boone boasts a lively downtown, all types of food and brew options, stellar hotel accommodations, as well as a skiing destination in the winter. Some of our favorite places that we will explore are the Graystone Lodge just 3 miles from downtown, Lost Provience downtown and Hardin Creek just outside town, Boonshine, Dan’l Boone Inn & Restaurant, and The Beacon Boone!  

Stay: Graystone Lodge 

The recently renovated Graystone Lodge, Ascend Hotel Collection, is a cozy lodge inspired hotel where the minute you walk in you feel at home. You’re greeted with a large inviting stone fireplace to welcome guests, seating area with TV, and breakfast area where they serve the best complimentary hot breakfast buffet. Beyond that they’re close to shopping, restaurants, and only about 3 miles to downtown and 2 miles to App State.  

We got a large king room with a large comfy bed and plenty of room to lounge. One of the highlights of the room is the beautiful light-up Blue Ridge Mountains mural in the headboard. It looks just like the mountains blue and purple! In the bathroom, they’ve upgraded to beautiful floating vanity, upgraded shower and mirrors, as well as shiplap walls!  

The amenities abound as well at Graystone Lodge! In the lobby, there is a cozy fireplace with a reading area. The Lodge offers a hot buffet for breakfast with waffles, eggs, their own egg casserole bake, and even Dan’l Boone ham! They have a small market area for late night snacks and a large indoor pool great for swimming all year.  

Dining 

Dan’l Boone Inn & Restaurant 

Dan’l Boone Inn & Restaurant is as southern as banana pudding. Dan’l Boone Inn & Restaurant located in the heart of Boone is near App State and the essential family style spot for all your country cooking favorites. It is nestled in a beautiful white home with lush grounds and epic mountain views. Inside, after waiting in line on the porch, you’ll start out with cool salads and drinks followed by a smorgasbord of tasty fried chicken, warm, buttery biscuits filled with Dan’l Boone’s signature cured, salty, meaty ham (must try), and savory sirloin steak in gravy! Then, paired with a slew of trimmings like creamy, dreamy, mashed potatoes, ham drenched green beans, buttery corn, creamy coleslaw, and the best, sweet baked apples (must try)! For dessert choose between their must try creamy perfect banana pudding, rich chocolate cake or strawberry shortcake!  

Everything is included in the price, that is adults are $23.95 before tax and tip and kids vary by age. Breakfast has its own pricing, and they don’t take credit cards, so you’ll need to bring cash, check, or use their ATM. Don’t forget to check out the store for preserves and that epic Dan’l Boone ham so you can take home a slice of Boone with you! And whatever you do, plan some time to get into the restaurant! There WILL be a long line during peak hours especially on the weekend.  

Lost Provience Gastropub – Downtown Boone 

On our first night, we went Downtown Boone to indulge in Lost Province Brewing co.’s gastro pub! In an old brick building on the corner, this spot has a large bar, ample seating, a large woodfire pizza oven, and a large patio. From a plethora of beers on tap, to fun shared plates, to wonderful handhelds, and even pizza, this is a spot you could hang out and relax for a spell! We’d recommend heading out back to the patio for mountain views! 

For you beer lovers, you’ll really enjoy their wide variety of brews like The Great Pumpkin Ale, a light malted ale filled with fall spices, yet drinkable. John really loved the sweet, slightly hopped and light Bless Your Heart Blonde Ale. On our flight, we sampled: Awww Puddin, a banana pudding ale, light and refreshing with some banana flavor and sweet, the tangy and tart Up Schitt’s Creek fruited sour, a robust and toasted London Porter, and an earthy herbaceous blackberry sour, Word to the Wise.  

Don’t only go for some suds, you must stay for their wonderful food like the favorite dish of the night, Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich that is crispy yet juicy chicken in a sweet apricot and spicy jalapeño glaze on fresh bread. It is topped with spicy pickled jalapeños, cool slaw, and a tasty aioli! John opted for the Wood fired pizza. It is Napoleon style with very fresh mozzarella and fresh tossed dough, tangy sauce, and spicy pepperoni! He was happy!  

For our starters we got the Apple burrata salad that is creamy cool burrata atop a bed of poached apple, sweet, toasty pecans, earthy greens, raisins, and a sweet maple vinaigrette  

The best appetizer was the Jalapeño hushpuppies are spicy and rich inside and oh so crispy out. They are paired with hot pimento cheese that is warm, spicy, creamy and sharp. These are a must try with pimento cheese. Finally, we got the Wood fired pretzel. It is tender inside, crispy outside pizza bread with a light char and marinara for dipping.  

The Beacon Boone 

On our second night, we visited the wonderful The Beacon Boone. Located just outside downtown Boone and just a half mile from our hotel, The Beacon is an upscale eatery with cozy-lodge style vibes, sweeping vaulted ceilings, large stone fireplace, lounge area, and beautiful bar. On the menu is an array of seafood, meats, shareable charcuterie and salads, a whole butcher menu, and some of the best cocktails in the whole area!  

If we had to pick one food and drink pairing, we had, it has to be the stunning peppered beef carpaccio. It is meaty and savory rare beef, earthy mushroom, tangy radish and a little bit of balsamic to round it out. It even comes with a cheesy, crunchy Parmesan dome on top for crunch! Then, pair it with Heaven Wept gin cocktail with egg white, Thai Basil, and earthy lemongrass. It’s sweet yet earthy, creamy, and has a hint of spice!  

If you’re looking at their butcher bar, we’d highly recommend the New Zealand Lamb Chop. This set of chips are tender and juicy with a spicy, bright, herbaceous chimichurri on top. It is matched with Brussels sprouts underneath with a Ceasar dressing that’s tangy and creamy to juxtapose the earthiness of the sprout. Plus, a sweet yet hearty cast iron corn bread that is warm and soft inside, crunchy out. We paired this entree with the A shot in the Foot, a boozy bourbon cocktail with hot honey that’s spicy, plus, vanilla up front and the peach purée on the back for a bit of sweetness. A flavor train for sure!  

Some other highlights include their Spinach and brie salad is earthy and tangy, bright dressing, and crunchy, earthy brie. As well as the Charcuterie board has it ALL! Raisins, pickled veggies, assorted meats and cheese and a spicy spread, plus honeycomb and some herbaceous crackers! It’s loaded. 

Breweries 

Boonshine  

Just down the road from our hotel, we stopped by Boonehine Brew, a modern yet rustic brewery with a huge outdoor space. Sweeping mountain views and right next to a park, it doesn’t feel like you’re anywhere near a city. It’s the perfect spot to relax and take in the Boone air.  

They were having their annual Oktoberfest, so the first beer we tried was the malty and balanced Overlook Oktoberfest! Some of our other beer recommendations at Boonshine are the smooth and light East Boone Pils, a sweet and chocolatey Let Them Drink Cake Coffee Cake Blonde Stout, as well as the juicy Space Pegasus Hazy IPA! 

Lost Province at Hardin Creek 

Nestled in a small industrial area, Lost Province Hardin Creek is a hidden gem. Relaxed and chill vibes permeate this laid-back small brewery with a beautiful mural wall and cozy bar. Outside, they have a small patio that opens to the bar so you can sit and take in the scenery.  

Of the beers we tried our favorites were the coffee forward “The Walker” coffee Porter stuffed with Anchor Coffee, as well as the Friend of the Devil spicy habanero and earthy pepper cream ale. John adored the Kiss My Grits cornbread tasting lager, sweet, yet mellow. Everything we had there was delicious and recommended.  

BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC: BEST LITTLE BEER TOWN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/9/22

The majestic mountains roll up and down in front of us with a checkered pattern of red, orange, and green. As we move north, they grow larger and more vibrant.  The roads wind, twisting and turning towards the sky. As we round the corner, a cozy, small town with small shops and eateries line streets, while music can be heard from the brewery down the street. This is Black Mountain, NC. The Best Little Beer Town stuffed with live music, friendly locals, stellar restaurants, and of course, beer! Let’s explore.

Stay: Monte Vista Hotel:

Near the town square, the red brick historic Monte Vista hotel’s large lobby warms your cold hands as the crackling fire illuminates the entire room with warmth and light. Relax on the cozy couches or check out the elbow room art gallery filled with local art. Tables from Southern Proper Hospitality’s Milton’s dots the lobby and adjacent rooms, and a large bar opens to the beautiful outdoor patio with a lounge and fireplace area! Upstairs, the beautiful hardwoods stretch into each room. Inside the room, beautiful wood pieces, original hardwood floors, and comfy bed invites you to stay the night. The beautifully renovated bathroom is bright and light! 

This historic hotel dates back to 1917 when a school was converted into the hotel with 33 rooms. In 1937 the building added the brick, while in 1950 a new wing was added. As a staple of the community, it has been renovated over the years, but the touches and charm are still there to see! The most striking of the 1917 originals are the beautiful, original hardwood floors. Then, in 1975 a new building was built. So, the Monte Vista with its crackling fire and beauty has been housing and holding people since 1917! That’s over 100 years!

Best Little Beer Town:

From breweries to ale houses to garden parties to ale trails, this town is all about the beer! Starting with the Black Mountain Ale Trail, where you can explore three local breweries with tastings at each. It is a great way to explore the area and the local beer. Our first stop is at Black Mountain Brewing for a fantastic boozy Two-Way Mirror Bourbon Barrel Oktoberfest and their regular tasty Oktoberfest Marzen. Both are outstanding and paired well with the fall foliage and weather! We learned some fun facts about the brewery like it was an old wash building that was only open until 1963 and had been empty until they moved in. They also have a beautiful mural of Roberta Flack. She lived in Black Mountain until the age of 7 before she moved to Virginia Beach. If you don’t know who she is, this singer is one of the only people to have back-to-back record of the year.

The second stop is Lookout Brewing where we went hoppy with the Mountain Hopshine IPA, that John really liked and a crisp Schatz Lager that was refreshing. The final stop down the mountain in Old Fort, is Hillman Beer. There we got a boozy Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout that was Liz’s favorite of the day and two other great beers, the Old Fort Original Lager and a malty Festbier. Their space is pretty amazing, it is along the river and is bright and light with patio seating. Inside is a beautiful taproom that even serves food. For this sleepy town, we were impressed.

Back in Black Mountain, there are other spots you can grab a cold one, like The Lowdown. We stopped by around sunset, and we’re greeted by a garden of flower and plants with a cute little outdoor courtyard. The courtyard was filled with plants in the middle, tables dotted the perimeter, and a STUNNING view of the mountains is to the left. We grabbed a few local brews from the GROW building and relaxed out in the courtyard. While listening to Dirty Dog, a Grateful Dead tribute, we sipped on the hoppy Dissolvr Bones and Waves, a dry-hopped IPA, the malty Darwin’s Forehead Salty Brown Porter from Fona Flora Brew in Nebo, NC that was Liz’s favorite. After that, we tried the crisp Shadowclock Pilsner from Burial Beer that was John’s favorite and the lip puckering Tart Berry Berliner Weiss with blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry from Green Man Brewery.

Another spot is the Black Mountain Kitchen and Ale House, which we will talk about more later, but has a great selection of Black Mountain Brewery and other local brews from around the region. Liz’s favorite was the IFFY Pumpkin Ale from Hillman Old Fort. Plus, we stumbled upon their Oktoberfest so we got to enjoy live Polka band and stein holding competition! It was a nailbiter.

Note, North Carolina Beer Month is October!

Places to Eat:

Go wild and make sure to put Bush Farmhouse on your Black Mountain, NC Journey. Little did we know we would be enjoying a South African restaurant when we started our trip, but here we were with an incredible meal stuffed with African-inspired plates and cocktails. Tempting dishes like the sensational rack of lamb that is fall off the bone tender with the best seasonings paired with earthy and hearty UMNGQHUSHU or the fantastic peri peri spiced chicken wings that were tender and juicy. A good selection of beef jerky and Droerwors to start and a tender, seasoned, perfectly cooked grilled octopus. If you’re looking for curries or meatloaf, they have that too! Wash that down with a Bushveld Porch gin drink that’s easy drinking or go Durban Poison that’s smoky! On top of the food, they have a large patio and bar area, then beyond are the farm animals like chickens, goats, and pigs!

The spot for brunch in Black Mountain, NC is this brunch heaven called Open Oven Café. The two-story spot with plenty of outdoor seating has a little bit of everything from an amazing chicken and waffles that’s sweet, nutty and savory to omelets, avocado toast, sandwiches, and more. Benedicts your thing? The Hog Heaven Benedict is a bacon fat drenched biscuit with a gooey egg and thick cut bacon on top. It really is hog heaven. The locals tell us this is THE brunch spot for the town; we agree.

This is the spot for you to unwind with a beer, watch a little football, or catch live music is at Black Mountain Kitchen & Ale House! Beyond the local and regional beers, the food is outstanding like their tender, crispy, and juicy fried chicken sandwich enveloped in creamy mayo and crunchy pickles. They also have a selection of burgers and appetizers like the tender and delicious chicken wings, as well as sides like crunchy tots. We watched Tennessee beat Alabama here and listened to a singer song-writer after.

The Town & Lake Tomahawk

The cozy little town is bright with outdoor and scenic activities. Being near the mountains, it is definitely a spot to check out the fall foliage, take a hike, sit by the lake, or stroll around the small shops in town. Strolling the streets of Black Mountain, there are several small shops with everything you can imagine from souvenirs to hiking gear to hardware to coffee. And only minutes from the Appalachian Trail and down the road from Asheville, it is a destination! One of the highlights of the town is Lake Tomahawk. An easy stroll around the lake while taking in the changing leaves was breathtaking. On the other side of town is the town green where they have a beautiful clock and views of the mountains! You really can’t get away from the mountain views here!

We really enjoyed our time in Black Mountain, NC.

EPICENTER 2019 “EPIC” LINEUP ANNOUNCED!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/18/19

Massive Music Lineup Announced For The Debut Of Epicenter
May 10, 11 & 12, 2019
At Newly Created Rockingham Festival Grounds In Rockingham, NC

Foo Fighters, Tool, Korn,
Rob Zombie, Judas Priest, Bring Me The Horizon
And Dozens More

Make North Carolina “The Epicenter Of Rock N’ Roll”
With Must-See Music Performances And Expanded Camping Options
Tickets On Sale NOW.

Epicenter Festival — a new 3-day destination music experience from premier independent U.S. music festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents — brings a massive music lineup to its 2019 debut, with over 65 music artists performing on four stages, led by Foo Fighters, Tool and Korn. The inaugural festival takes place in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region, at the newly created Rockingham Festival Grounds in Richmond County, North Carolina on Friday, May 10, Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Epicenter will also feature sets from Rob Zombie, Judas Priest, Bring Me The Horizon, The Cult, 311, Evanescence, Bush, +Live+ and dozens more. The expansive Rockingham Festival Grounds, being developed in coordination with Rockingham Dragway, The Rock (Rockingham Speedway), and other local land owners, promise nonstop entertainment, extensive camping options, and no curfew.

General Admission, VIP tickets, and hotel and camping packages for Epicenter go on sale Friday, December 14 at Noon ET at https://epicenterfestival.com.

The members of Korn explain, “There are many defining moments that dramatically mark a band’s history, and one such moment in time happened in North Carolina with Korn. NC holds a special place in Korn’s heart, as we unexpectedly reunited with our old friend Head. It’s been a great 6+ years with Head back in Korn and we look forward to rocking NC again with Foo Fighters, Tool and many other great bands.”

Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes says, “We’re very excited to be playing next year’s Epicenter Festival in Rockingham. It’s a privilege to be sharing a stage alongside some of our favourite acts, and to be back in North Carolina.”
The daily music lineup for Epicenter Festival is as follows (subject to change):

Friday, May 10:
Korn, Rob Zombie, Evanescence, Machine Gun Kelly, The Crystal Method, Meshuggah, Skillet, Beartooth, Mark Lanegan Band, Dorothy, Black Pistol Fire, Zeal & Ardor, Knocked Loose, Slothrust, Wilson, Hands Like Houses, Hyro The Hero, Amigo The Devil, Arrested Youth, Vein, Black Coffee and more TBD

Saturday, May 11:
Tool, Judas Priest, The Cult, Bush, Black Label Society, Circa Survive, Yelawolf, Motionless In White, The Damned Things, Starset, Grandson, Badflower, Memphis May Fire, Issues, High On Fire, Wage War, Crobot, Sylar, Counterfeit., Pretty Vicious, Shvpes, Dirty Honey, Alien Weaponry, Hyde

Sunday, May 12:
Foo Fighters, Bring Me The Horizon, 311, +Live+, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, Architects, Tom Morello, Fever 333, Reignwolf, Yungblud, The Glorious Sons, Ho99o9, While She Sleeps, Basement, Scarlxrd, Movements, Teenage Wrist, Demob Happy, Boston Manor, Cleopatrick, The Dirty Nil

Festival doors open at 11:00 AM daily.

In addition to performances from top music artists, and various onsite attractions, attendees will enjoy a variety of local and regional food and beverage offerings provided by DWP’s affiliate concessionaire, Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC.

Fans 21+ can enjoy multiple specialty curated beverage experiences. Varietals from Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards (owned by Maynard James Keenan, co-founder of international recording acts Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer) will be available at the Caduceus Wine Garden. Experience abounds at the Heavy Tiki Bar (a tropical oasis filled with killer cocktails and shade). Fans can also enjoy a large variety of local and regional brews at the Epicenter Craft Beer Garden.

Initial ticket prices for Epicenter Festival will be as follows:
Weekend General Admission: starting at $149.50 plus fees
Weekend VIP: starting at $399.50 plus fees
Single Day General Admission: starting at $79.50 plus fees
Single Day VIP: starting at $199.50 plus fees

Camping at Epicenter will let patrons keep the rock n’ roll party going all through the weekend and will set this festival apart from other U.S. rock shows. Camping spots are connected to the festival grounds and include perks like access to showers, portable restrooms, food and drink vendors, charging stations, information and medical services, as well as a Thursday night pre-show party. Campers will also have late night access to Rockingham Village, an impressive promenade featuring food, drinks, merch shopping, entertainment, art and activities until 2:00 AM daily. Rockingham Village will be conveniently located immediately in front of the venue, adjacent to the North Premium campgrounds. Camping options will include immersive, Premium Spaces on the North Side of the site as well as free options in the South Side campgrounds.

Rockingham Village at Epicenter will be open for extended hours to allow fans to eat, drink, shop and see performing artists before and after the main event. Featured vendors will include festival merchandise, artist merchandise, lockers for rent, lifestyle shopping booths, a full General Store, coffee shop, craft beer at Headbangers Beer Bar, Caduceus wine bar, breakfast vendors for campers, as well as late night food served after the main venue closes. The Village will also have a stage featuring cover bands and Hellzapoppin Circus SideShow performances throughout the weekend.

Festival producer Danny Wimmer notes, “The creation of the ‘Epicenter of rock n’ roll’ in the heart of North Carolina gives us the ability to expand on the festival experience with enhanced camping amenities, nighttime entertainment with no curfew, and expanded food and beverage offerings, all highlighted by a massive music lineup covering the spectrum of rock, metal and alternative rock music.”

Danny Hayes, CEO of Danny Wimmer Presents, explains the development of the Rockingham Festival Grounds: “We have a long-term arrangement with all of the property owners: The Rock (Rockingham Speedway), Richmond County, Rockingham Dragway and other local land owners. We’re working together to define the long-term vision for the festival area. For 2019, the primary festival grounds will be in a grassy area connected to the Rockingham Dragway. The area across the street surrounding The Rock (Speedway) will be utilized for patron parking and camping.”

Epicenter Festival sponsors include:

Fxck Cancer x Dyin 2 Live Dreams Program:
Fxck Cancer’s mission is to fight cancer by raising awareness and education about early cancer detection and prevention, ultimately putting an end to late-stage cancer diagnosis. Through the Dyin 2 Live Dreams program, they look to enrich the lives of those fighting cancer by offering them a VIP experience that they hope will bring joy, inspiration, and courage. In doing this, they hope to help give the cancer fighter a chance to forget, even if it’s only for a day, what they are going through. For more information please visit, www.fxckcancer.org. Fxck Cancer and Dyin 2 Live Dreams are programs of the F C Cancer Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
#TogetherWeFight #FxckCancer

f.y.e.:
f.y.e. will be hosting the ultimate fan and artist interactive experiences throughout the festival. f.y.e. is the only place at the festival to get all your favorite band’s music — and maybe even get to meet your favorite Epicenter performer! Check back for updates on artist meet and greet and autograph signing sessions.

Rockingham Festival Grounds are located at 2153 North U.S. Highway 1, Rockingham, NC, less than two hours from Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Columbia and Greensboro.

For more information on Epicenter Festival, visit:
Website: https://epicenterfestival.com