25th Annual Lexington Barbecue Features Song, Food and Fun

LEXINGTON, NC – Country music singers Lee Ann Womack, Adam Gregory, Randy Houser and Jamie Johnson will be the featured WTQR Guitar Pull entertainers during the 25th Annual Barbecue Festival on Saturday, October 25. Womack, the recipient of 19 nominations and 17 awards, and the others will take center stage on the Square at 1:30 p.m.
The WTQR Guitar Pull will be followed by the fun-loving five-member country group, The Lost Trailers.
Held in historic Uptown Lexington from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., the Barbecue Festival will feature juried arts and crafts vendors, roving entertainers, a lumberjack sports competition, pig races, bicycle stunt shows, whimsical pig sculptures, festival food, beer tent, children’s activities, a 50-ton sand sculpture, 32-foot climbing wall, and 6 stages of music – Latin, beach, swing/jazz, gospel, children’s and rock ‘n roll and more. Eddie Miles, Chairmen of the Board and The Bahama Mamas are some of the scheduled acts.
Streets will close at 6 p.m. Then at 7:30 p.m., the area between Second and Third avenues will re-open with lots of music – concluding with the 25th Anniversary Grand Finale - a spectacular fireworks extravaganza at 9 p.m.
All street festival events are free.
Country music fans can anticipate a special treat.
Living in Alberta, Canada, Adam Gregory was just 13 years old when he signed a record deal with Sony Canada. Ten years later, his song “Crazy Days” is reaching country fans across the United States. His first appearance in this country will be at the Barbecue Festival.
Jamie Johnson is known for “The Dollar” and “In Color” and co-writer of “Give It Away,” recorded by George Strait. Country fans will recognize Randy Houser for his ballad, “Anything Goes.” Trace Adkins recorded Houser’s song, “Honky Tonk Bandonkadonk.”
The Barbecue Festival continually receives accolades and prestige. It has repeatedly been recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top Ten Festivals in the Southeast. It has been included in the book, 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. and Canada Before You Die. USA TODAY recognized the Barbecue Festival as "One of Ten Great Places to Celebrate Food." And the prestigious Travel & Leisure Magazine claimed the event as "One of the Top Ten Food Festivals in the U.S.A.”
Barbecue tents will open at 10 a.m. serving chopped pork shoulders, red barbecue slaw and hush puppies all day long to thousands of people. “The barbecue is the reason the festival exists,” explains Stephanie K. Saintsing, festival director. “After Joe Sink, who was the publisher of our local newspaper, The Dispatch, and BB&T bank officials formed the festival as a means of recognizing our world-famous barbecue, they hired my late mother, Kay Saintsing, to coordinate and promote it. More than a million people have attended since – by car, plane and train.”
Amtrak will be providing a one-day stop in Lexington to riders from Charlotte and Raleigh. Tickets are available by calling 800-872-7245.
Organizers have established remote parking areas and a shuttle transportation service to accommodate festival goers from the Wal-Mart Super Center parking lot off of I-85 Exit 91, Childress Vineyards on US Hwy. 64 and the Davidson County governmental complex on North Main Street in Lexington. Round trip tickets will be $2 per person and free for children 12 and under.
Lexington potter Clyde Gobble will be autographing the official Barbecue Festival mug from 9-11 a.m. at the souvenir tent. Bob Timberlake, who created the bottle label artwork for Richard Childress Fine Swine Wine, will be signing bottles at the Childress Winery tent from 9-10 a.m. Both tents will be located on the Square.
Nickelodeon character SpongeBob SquarePants will make special appearances at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. at the Barbecue Carnival, a family-oriented area with children’s games, music and activities. It will be located on South Main Street between Second and Fourth avenues.
The Barbecue Carnival will include the Barbecue Festival Chop Shop, a competition featuring some of the best lumberjacks in the world. The final round will be held at 4 p.m. The craftsmen’s finely-tuned skills of sawing, chopping and cutting wood are spectacular.
And at that same location crowds will find the Barbecue Festival Hogway Speedway- with specially bred and trained pigs to town to race around an oval track. The racing pigs have been a festival hit throughout the years. The determined little pigs take their racing seriously!
Members of the Furnitureland Antique Automobile Club are planning to bring a mix of antique, classic and street rod cars to fill the parking lot at Davidson Funeral Home.
Visitor amenities will be available throughout the day. A baby-changing station will be set up in the Barbecue Carnival. A parking lot reserved for vehicles with handicapped permits will be located off of State Street, which runs parallel with Main Street. Restrooms for visitors with disabilities will be located in the parking lot and other designated restroom areas throughout the festival.
Lexington is located 20 miles south of Winston-Salem off US Hwy. 52, 45 miles north of Charlotte and 30 miles south of Greensboro off I-85. For more information, log onto http://www.barbecuefestival.com/ or call 336-956-1880.

###

Lexington Potter Creates Souvenir Mugs for Festival

LEXINGTON, NC – Sitting on a dusty seat from an old dentist’s chair, Lexington master potter Clyde Gobble turns his pots. He’s surrounded by his tools – cockle shells, a handy dandy wooden mallet, cheese cutter, a variety of paring tools, fish scaler and a dead blow hammer. A bucket of water, complete with a tadpole from nearby Abbott’s Creek, sits adjacent to the wheel. Jokes, political posters, cartoons and names with phone numbers are taped on the walls and hang from the ceiling.
Gobble has been commissioned by the Barbecue Festival to create 150 one-of-a-kind mugs to celebrate the event’s 25th anniversary on Saturday, October 25. Each large mug will be signed, numbered and dated and cost $18 each. Gobble be greeting festival goers and giving his autograph at the souvenir booth, located on the square across from the Historic Davidson County Courthouse, from 9-11 a.m.
Pottery has been a part of the festival since 1990. Seagrove potter Richard Gillson provided collectible clay pigs, mugs, plates, bowls wine glasses, wine coolers, chargers, flower pots and piggy banks throughout the years. After Gillson’s death last spring, festival organizers approached Gobble to see if he would be interested in participating.
Gobble has a huge fan base. His pieces are part of permanent collections for Wachovia Bank, R.J. Reynolds Industries and are included in private collections worldwide. He is an exhibiting member of the Piedmont Craftsmen and Carolina Designer Craftsmen guilds. His work is sold through The Bob Timberlake Gallery and catalog. Gobble’s shop is only open once a year - by invitation only.
Throughout his 40 years of throwing pots, he has developed signature styles for his stoneware and porcelain pieces - Abbott Creek Brown and High Rock Red glazes, mushroom handles and sgraffitto carvings. His wife Bonnie – yes, they are really a Bonnie and Clyde team - routinely cooks with his creations and offers recommendations to make them more user-friendly.
Mugs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps and other souvenirs will be available at the Barbecue Festival. Ginger Briggs, a volunteer who has staffed the souvenir tent for the past 24 years, feels the Clyde Gobble mugs will sell out early.
The free festival will be held in Uptown Lexington from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Lots of barbecue, musical and roving entertainment, arts and crafts, a children’s area, lumberjack shows, and the massive 50-ton sand sculpture provide a full day’s worth of fun and excitement.
For more information, visit http://www.barbecuefestival.com/ or call 336-956-1880.

###

Bring GPS, Find Treasure at Carolina BalloonFest

STATESVILLE, NC – Like mysteries? Then you’ll be intrigued by what is hidden under twigs, straw and leaves at this year’s Carolina BalloonFest. But you’ll need to bring your hand-held GPS unit to discover the treasures.
The event will be held Friday, October 24 – Sunday, October 26 at the Statesville Regional Airport. Admission is $8 per person and free for children under 5 years of age. The Carolina BalloonFest is the largest hot air balloon rally held in North Carolina and is celebrating 35 years of bright color, excitement and family fun. It is also the second-oldest rally in the nation.
The event will feature North Carolina wine tastings, children’s activities, balloon rides, musical entertainment, and the suspense of watching balloons inflate and ascend.
And treasures.
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are a key component in the newest form of outdoor fun – geocaching. Armed with longitude and latitude data, your GSP and a thirst for adventure, you can find all kinds of goodies tucked away in the most unusual places.
The idea is that once you find a treasure, you take it and replace it with something else. Pencils, notebooks, money, dice, magnets, bookmarks and small toys are just some of the items found in a geocache box.
Geocache sites can be located in parks, parking lots, residential neighborhoods, along a country road or even in a town. Many are listed on http://www.geocaching.com/. And this year, they’ll be located on the site of the Carolina BalloonFest.
“We’re very excited about this new component,” says Libba Barrineau, executive director of the Statesville Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We already have four treasures set up around town and see couples, families, singles of all ages come to play. So we know people will be anxious to see what we have in store for them at the balloon rally.”
Longitude and latitude information can be found on http://www.geocaching.com/ or http://www.visitstatesville.org/.
Gates will be open for treasure seekers on Friday 3-9 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Weather permitting, balloon ascensions will occur at 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The hot air balloon glow will be held on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
The Statesville Regional Airport is located off I-40 exits 146 and 148. Follow the signs. The GPS address is longitude 80.9552W and latitude 35.754N.
For more information, call 877-531-1819 or log onto http://www.carolinaballoonfest.com/.

###

December - Collard Sandwiches and Maxton

When I was in grade school, once a week we got greens, corn bread, pinto beans and cole slaw for lunch. I traded out my plate for everyone else's slaw. Greens - yuk.

Fast forward more than a few decades and I love collards and most other greens. I'm learning how to cook them - and what better place to do so than in Maxton, North Carolina. Oh, and by the way, that's where the largest Campbell's Soup plant is located. Employees used to have their company picnic at the NC Zoo when I worked there.

Maxton is located just east of Laurinburg off US Hwy. 74 in North Carolina. It's a charming little community that is undergoing economic change. But one thing stays constant: collards.

The Collards Festival is held each fall and is one of the most authentic festivals I've ever attended. You don't find typical street vendors. Instead, you meet the people who daily go into their own gardens and pick the large leafy green, cook it and eat it. They're the ones who serve up scrumptuous, mouth-watering collards - and they even put them in sandwiches.

In your cast iron skillet, drop into hot oil two large dollops of corn bread batter to make some fry bread. Drain it. Load one with a big scoop of cooked collards, topped with some chow chow and even a hot pepper. Cover with the second piece of bread. Oh, now that's some mighty fine eating!!

I learned that to clean collards, you must first wash them very well. You don't want specs of sand in your greens. Pull out the stems, using only the leaves. Cook them in water until they're tender. Soul food cooks add a little side meat, or fat back. You can add some ham or even olive oil. You may want to put in a little garlic, salt and pepper - and a tiny bit of sugar. When the leaves are nice and tender, dig in.

The Collards Festival and Maxton. This is a story that has gotten no press until now. For more information, contact the Lumberton CVB at 910-739-9999 or log onto www.lumberton-nc.com.

November 2007 - New Places, New People to See

Okay, the cardinal rule for having a blog is to keep it updated. I got really busy the second quarter of this year and wasn't able to keep this particular blog up and running. Sorry.

But now, I'm back at the computer and have a wealth of places to tell you about.

One of the places I found was Danbury, North Carolina. With a population of around 450, this tiny town is located just south of the Virginia border, yet north of Winston-Salem. Danbury holds the state's oldest art festival, the Stomp on the Dan - Dan River- that is.

Local artists have formed a co-op and I purchased an interesting amythest necklace and matching earrings set. You'd be amazed at the level of craftsmenship and imagination in this store - glass, wood, beads, pottery, cloth, paper - and the list goes on.

Floridians have found Danbury because of its proximity to Hanging Rock State Park. That's a gorgeous place to take the family year 'round. Pack a lunch and take a hike.

For more information, contact Mayor Jane Priddy Charleville @ 336-593-8786. There is not a regular tourism office in Danbury, so you may have to leave a message. Jane also runs the Priddy General Store.

February 2007 Story Find - Plank Roads Offer Peak of Slave History

Before pavement and concrete, roads were constructed of wooden planks. The longest plank road in North Carolina extended from Fayetteville to Winston-Salem.

Roads were typically built with slave labor. After workers cleared the land, they laid down long timbers - and then topped them planks, filling in the gaps with sand. Edges varied in length for a reason, making it easier to push a carriage wheel that had run off the road back up onto the planks.

A portion of a plank road can be seen at the Sandhills Heritage Center on Chapel Hill Road in Spring Lake, North Carolina. Each year, the facility offers the public re-enactments of some elements of the slave period - such as worship. Beginning in May, a farmers market will feature locally grown fruits and vegetables, handmade craftwork and local entertainers.

For more information, contact the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com.

January 2007 Story Finds - Paddles and Waddles

Many a soldier knows the name of Spring Lake, North Carolina. That's the home of Pope Air Force Base. It's adjacent to Fort Bragg. This month nearly half of the soldiers on these bases have been deployed overseas.

The Lower Little River runs through the town and eventually dumps into the Cape Fear River. It's not a large river, but is sufficient for kayaks and canoes. You can put your boat in the water upstream in Harnett County and paddle down to Spring Lake. Along the way, you'll pass a brand new outfitter store that will be renting and selling boats and offering guided tours.

The forest is a blend of coastal plain and piedmont plant material. You'll see pines and hardwoods, along with a huge selection of flowering plants each spring.

As you paddle downstream, you may see birds flying overhead. Some are C-130s and big engines. Some are red cock-headed woodpeckers and have feathers.

They're on the endangered species list and it's the job of the military to preserve and protect them. Guided tours will take you to see where the birds live.

And then there are other types of birds - clay pigeons. One of the best and largest skeet shooting ranges along the Eastern Seaboard is in Spring Lake. It's open to the public. You don't have to have a gun or know how to shoot. The staff will take care of everything! Why, this facility is even open to youth and women!

For more information, contact the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com

November 8 - Burgers 'n Blogs

South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro has turned into a mecca for fun, frivolity, fashion and food. It used to be dull and boring, but now it's alive with fun for the entire family. One restaurant serves you "fun" on a bun. It's called The Joel Burger.

And it has a blog.

Yes, The Joel Burger has taken on a life of its own. Visit http://www.thejoelburger.blogspot.com and you'll howl.

Some people eat The Joel Burger with two hands. I prefer a knife and fork - with lots of napkins. Yea, it's THAT kind of a sandwhich!

October 20 - A month from now - Seagrove Pottery Festival

The Seagrove Pottery Festival is Saturday and Sunday, November 18-19, 2006.

If you're not familiar with Seagrove area potters, there are around 100 of them and it's impossible to see them all in a day or two. Throughout the centuries, they have formed a cottage industry in the tiny community just south of Asheboro, near the middle of North Carolina. Many of the potters have showcased their talents and wares in major international museums, such as The Smithsonian.

They create utilitarian and decorative wares. Many of the glazes have been passed between generations. Yes, there are some new commercial ones used too. Nonetheless, they're all pretty.

Shoppers and collectors come from all over the country for the opportunity to do one-stop shopping during the Seagrove Pottery Festival. And there will be heritage craftsmen, such as the silversmith I met yesterday at the Village of Yesteryear at the NC State Fair. He is from Thomasville and makes beautiful silver jewelry.

For more information about the event, visit http://www.seagrovepotteryheritage.com.

I hope to see you there!

Sept. 29 - Jade doorknobs, flowers and stuff

Chinqua-Penn Plantation is re-opening to groups on a limited basis during October 2006. Afterwards, the new owner will be tranforming the run down mansion and gardens into a place to live, play, work and relax.

Jeff Penn, heir to the American Tobacco Company, and his wife Betsy, heir to the Niagra Falls Power Company, had more money than common sense. They traveled the world buying all kinds of things and showcased them in their 1925 Y-shaped home in Reidsville, North Carolina.

I worked there in 1999 - and know some of the things they purchased, such as a gemstudded replica of King Tut's chair, a pipe organ to entertain guests and a riding chair that was later used as a model for Thomasville Furniture. You sat in the chair while putting on your riding boots.

The Penns were as uniquely colorful as the items they purchased. Community gossip says that while she traveled, he played. One night, the 3-story tall windmill burned. You might say that was his "pad."

After a trip to China, Mrs. Penn replicated the bedroom slept in overseas into her Reidsville home. It had jade doorknobs. This photo is of the interior of that room.

That room was just as colorful as the massive gardens, including my favorite, the one with all the scented roses!

I'm delighted to see Chinqua-Penn reopen so the public can see the beauty and bounty that fills the home. It's located off US Hwy. 29 North, just 10 minutes south of Danville, VA.

Special September Story Find - Finally, an affordable, classy women's dress shop

In Mocksville today, I found a new women's clothing store. The owner was a buyer for Montaldo's. Now, if that means something to you - read on. If you're too young to know the significance of Montaldo's to an upscale woman's wardrobe, then I invite you to find out.

Gina Frank worked at Montaldo's in Winston-Salem. Like all the other buyers for that exclusive chain, Gina stayed on top of trends, fabrics, styles, colors and knew how to match clothing to the store's customers.

Now, she does the same thing at her own shop, Gianna's Boutique. I watched her with customers today. Gianna's is located at 562 Valley Road in Mocksville. It's on the short bypass, US 64, around town, between the pizza joint and the stop light where you turn to go to I-40.

Her shop is in a small strip mall which includes specialists for massage, nails and facials. Take a friend and combine a trip to all those places with lunch at either Starr's Restaurant in downtown Mocksville or the Ketchie Bakery - where both facilities have wonderful made-from-scratch food. I think it would make a good story about the gal's day out. For more information, call the Davie County Chamber of Commerce at 336-751-3304 or email chamber@daviecounty.com.

September Story Finds - Downtown Fayetteville is Clean, Safe and Pretty

My dad fought in WWII. When I told him I was going to Fayetteville, he asked if "that bar" was still there. That's the perception of downtown Fayetteville - dirty, full of bars and women on every corner.

It used to be that way. But no more.

Today, downtown Fayetteville is clean, safe, pretty and fun for the whole family. And, on September 24, the inner city will be transformed to a global village during the spectacular International Festival from 12 noon to 6 pm with the Parade of Nations at 3:00 pm.

Eat your fill at the International Cafe where you can sample the culture form over 30 different countries representing Fayetteville's population. Arts and Crafts booths will display and sell handmade items, many from folk art traditions around the world. Six performance stages will provide continuous music and dance.

For more information, log onto http://www.theartscouncil.com/International_Folk_Festival.html

August 6 - My August Birthday Find: Greenville, SOUTH Carolina

I spent my 27th birthday (again) in Greenville, SOUTH Carolina. Why there? Joel used to work there and knew the area. I had a wonderful tour guide who showed me one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen - the cleanest city I've ever seen - and one with so much to do, with so many people - yet waitresses said it was a "slow night."

The city was actually based upon designs from San Antonio, but offers a European flair. To me, it resembled Old Quebec City in Canada. Outdoor cafes, boutiques, trees and a sense of style and fashion.

Several years ago, city leaders hired a consultant to help them formulate a direction. They learned a river and wonderful waterfall were underneath a state road that ran through town. It took some convincing, but the state tore up the road, exposing what is now one of the most popular places to go. A very unusual footbridge crosses the river so you can stand and watch the waterfall for hours.

So, if you're like me and stayed on I-85 en route to Atlanta, I strongly encourage you to spend time in downtown Greenville, SOUTH Carolina. I'll go back!

August Story Finds - A German Restaurant in Carthage?

We took a double take. It didn't look real.
Joel and I were on NC Hwy. 15/501 south of Sanford, near Carthage, when we passed a German restaurant. Yes, German.
We stopped - and will go back.
It's a little pricy, but where can you go to get authentic German food? Beer steins line a wall, Bavarian clocks are scattered throughout and the waitresses wear traditional dress.

After our experience there, I passed along the tip to Bob Garner, food reporter for UNC-TV. He taped a segment there on August 19 for playback sometime soon. He "pigged" out on the barbecued pig knuckle. It's huge. For more information about the restaurant, call (910)947-5508.

Oh, I don't speak German. My mother, whose father was German, said I needed to learn it - a family thing, you know. Well, after 4 years of French and 4 years of Spanish I just couldn't get the swing of German. So, I dropped the class after 2 weeks and my mom never has forgiven me!

July Story Finds - Indians, Politics and Booze

No, this isn't a photo of my great-great-great grandmother, but perhaps it resembles her. She was full blooded American Indian. You'd never know it to look at my blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes. I often joke that she married the pot 'n pan peddler passing through town. She was in southern Illinois and we've never been able to determine the tribe.

So, it's only natural that anything relating to the Indians would be of interest to me. So it goes with the Lumbee tribe in North Carolina. I pulled out my 7th Grade North Carolina History Book and looked up to see what it said about the Lumbee. Oops. I guess Hugh T. Lefler forgot to include them! The famed textbook author also forgot to include the North Carolina towns of Pembroke and Lumberton.

In Pembroke, there is an outdoor musical drama that I've referenced before in my blog. But I want to take you there. You need to go and SEE SAW (Strike at the Wind!). Joel and I went last night and were astounded that we enjoyed cool summer evening temperatures and no mosquitoes. The play was wonderful! The photo here is of the narrator.

Local residents perform the 2-1/2 hour drama of Henry Berry Lowery, a renegade in the 1800's who fought to protect his own fellow Indians and poor blacks and whites from the Home Guard, a group of unethical, rowdy and just plain mean men who formed a state militia of sorts. You see, Indians once had the right to vote - and then lost it in 1835 - through politics. It wasn't until after the Civil War in 1875 did they get it back - again politics.

The play is celebrating its 30th anniversary and is located just off US 74 in Pembroke, North Carolina. I encourage you to log onto http://www.strikeatthewind.com and plan to include the play in your summer outings. You might want to check in at the Fairfield Inn on I-95, exit 20. It's been renovated, is clean, neat and offers a good breakfast. The new general manager is from California and also has blonde hair, like mine.

If you go to the Lumberton Convention & Visitors Bureau, you can get a $10 voucher to apply the cost of your room. It's just down the street at the same exit - or you can get them at NC Welcome Centers on I-95.

ANOTHER STORY I've found is in Hiddenite, a little town on NC Hwy. 90 between Statesville and Taylorsville. No, it's not the gemstone I've found - it's the hardware store and the developing story there.

If you were running for a public office in the early 1900's, you probably made a visit to Harry Miller to seek his endorsement. If you got it, you were elected. Now Harry lived in a county known for its antics, money and illegal booze. You could consider him the Mayor Richard Daley of North Carolina.

He owned the local hardware store. The town's only funeral parlor was on the third floor of a building that still stands today. Throughout the years, the business has been sold. And one of the owners along the way found nearly 5,000 pieces of paper documenting his life. I've seen a few of them. One is a telegram from RJ Reynolds asking for Harry support on a particular political project. Another is a letter on Wilks County stationary discussing an issue with a Post Script at the end. It says not to share the letter with anyone.

There's an effort afloat to create a museum of all the really juicy documents. The owner has been through all of them and can give a fantastic oral history about Harry Miller and his dealings, many of which were apparently under the table. As private a man as he was, he kept a very complete paper trail.

There is no link for the hardware store. But, I encourage you to seek it out. The building just received national designation as a historic place and the inside is full of nuts, bolts, screen, pvc pipes, rakes, shovels, gloves, tools and lots more. Ask for Sandra. It's worthy of a book and true life movie!

June Story Finds - Tapping your Foot - on the gas or on the ground

I've found a place where teenagers, families, seniors, tots, singles and groups can have fun. It's safe, clean and fun.

Each month, a tiny Stanly County town hosts the Oakboro Summer Cruise-in and Burnout. Yes, the town is Oakboro and a cruise-in is a gathering of old cars, but what is a burnout?

Put one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake - spin tires - hear 'em squeal - and make smoke. Lots of it! White billowing smoke can be seen all over town - and thousands of people applaud. For more information, log onto http://www.oakborocruisein.com.

On Saturday, June 10, top names will perform at the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival near Oakboro. Yes, the story could be about the show, but there's really an interesting feature in the producer, Jeff Branch. His fulltime, daytime job is a deputy for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department. Off-duty, he doubles as Howard Sprauge, from "The Andy Griffith Show" and puts on events. To find Jeff, log onto http://www.oakboromusichall.com.

May Story Finds - Berries, Berry and Peas

Mmmm. Big, bright red lucious sweet strawberries. Whether picked right off the plant, served over ice cream or with a little rum in a tall glass, strawberries are one of the most popular fruits. So much, in fact, that the triangular shaped delicacy is the official fruit of North Carolina.

So, let's talk about the NC Strawberry Festival in Chadbourn. It is held each May. But the big story is what will happen in the sky. Hot air balloons! No, this won't be a big rally like Statesville, but festival goers will want to bring their cameras. May I suggest you ride in a tethered balloon - or sign up to be part of a Chase Crew. Now you know why I am working with the Denton FarmPark and Rob Wise, president of the Carolinas Balloon Association, to create a brand new rally in April 2007. Yes, I love to fly - and I love to eat Sweet Charlie strawberries. They're naturally dipped in sugar!

Most beach goers know the 2-lane stretch of road on US 74 between I-95 and Chadbourn. It can be a dull drive, but have you noticed the cotton and tobacco plants along the way? And what about that big brown sign, STRIKE AT THE WIND! - do you know what that is?

Strike at the Wind! is an outdoor drama held on Fridays and Saturdays from July 1 - August 26. It's a story about Henry Berry Lowrie and how he crusaded to help the Indians, Blacks and whites after the Civil War ended. Drama. Action. Song. Love. All the components are there - and so is food, beverage and a beautiful afternoon sunset overlooking the river. The amphitheater has undergone a major renovation just in time for the new season.

Have you ever heard of mushy peas? Didn't think so. But, if you're from the United Kingdom, you have. As long as you're driving along US 74, you may want to stop at the Southeast North Carolina Farmers' Market to find out more about mushy peas and homemade British sausage and bacon. Nope, it's absolutely nothing like what we get in this country. It's gooooood! Look around for the vendor with the British flag. Once you've stopped and met her, you'll stop and do so again!

April Story Finds - Root Beer, Red Beer and Birch Beer

Beer. Some have hops. Some don't. And some go over ice cream.

During a recent trip to Fayetteville, North Carolina, I found a super restaurant and micro-brewery with a new twist. The brewmaster makes root beer, too.

Located within walking distance from reputable national flag hotels, The Mash House Restaurant & Brewery is a great place for lunch and dinner - and to take a group. Not only do you get a great meal, but you can tour the brewery - taste a few samples of mighty fine robust brewsky - and top it off with a root beer float.

Yes, kinda like the type you used to find at the old fountain drug stores. Whipped cream. Ice cream. Cherry on top. Long straw and spoon to help you get the last drop!

Root beer over ice cream in a beer joint. Whodathunkit?

But it all works! What a novel idea!

My favorite beer was the Irish Ravishing Red. Smooth, mild and brilliant red - definitely a woman's brew!

THEN there's the story of birch beer..... Joel and I were traveling just west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, when we saw The Red Rabbit drive-in restaurant packed with a lunchtime crowd. Hungry too, we turned the car around and stopped. The waitress served us the old fashioned way - at our car. The hamburger and barbecue sandwiches were great - but we topped it all off with a birch beer float.

No, birch beer isn't beer. It's a soft drink with flavor that blends cherry and root beer together. Very tasty and perfect over vanilla ice cream.... topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a bright red cherry! Up North, birch beer is a dark red color. In North Carolina, it's clear and can be purchased at Lowe's Food stores. I sure do wish a restaurant would add birch beer floats to the menu! You can make a habit of stopping at The Red Rabbit!

March Story Finds - Pickler, Kudzu and Camping

I'm working in 30 counties on a variety of projects, including one for the NC Arts Council, homegrownhandmade.com. Along the way, I find interesting stories that I share with travel writers - and you. March's stories come from Davidson, Union and Stanly counties.

(While you're here, I invite you to see this month's marketing tip on my other blog. You can access it by clicking on my profile. )

Pick Pickler! That's the new mantra in the Stanly County towns of Albemarle and Oakboro. The American Idol contestant, Kellie Pickler, is from Albemarle, but has opened for major performers at the Oakboro Music Hall. Oakboro is located 20 minutes north of Charlotte on NC Hwy. 24/27....

In the middle of nowhere, the Denton FarmPark is home to several events throughout the year, most notably the Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion held each July 4 week. But, did you know there are 500 camping hookups? With 8.2 million campers on the road nationally, some of them are spending the week camping at the Reunion. Others bring camping groups and enjoy an old country farm setting. The FarmPark is located 20 minutes south of Asheboro just off NC Hwy. 49 ...

Kudzu. It grows everywhere and you simply cannot kill it. But, the vine and flowers can be used for all kinds of crafts, including crafts and jelly. The Museum of the Waxhaw, located in the town of Waxhaw, has a Kudzu Festival each September, just after the vine has blossomed. The museum director goes out and stomps through the thicket, cuts lots of vine and flowers and spends days each August making jelly, wreathes and jewelry to sell during the September event. Waxhaw is located 15 minutes south of US Hwy. 74 in Monroe ...

February Story Finds - Wine, Pots and Alternative Fuels

I'm working in 22 counties on various projects in North Carolina. My blog showcases some of the interesting stories I find along the way. February's stories come from Alamance, Orange, Randolph, Lee, Catawba, Cleveland and Alexander counties.

A few hundred years ago, potters came to a land full of rich clay suitable for making utilitarian pieces. Today, those potters work in studios throughout the greater Piedmont and mountain regions of our state. And, because there are so many of them, there is also a growing number of festivals. Sometimes the success of those festivals will either "make" or "break" a potter's business for the year in Seagrove, Sanford, Hickory, Shelby....

There's always been a connection between politics and "spirits," the kind that can be poured in a mug or glass. However, since North Carolina has the "local option" law regarding sales and distribution of such, vineyards and wineries often have to jump through all kinds of hoops to be able to have commerce. One winery, located in dry Alexander County, has not only an award-winning wine, but a story to tell about jumping through political hoops to be able to manufacture, sell and distribute their wine - in a dry county....

And speaking of corn squeezin's... the Bio Bus in Hillsborough is a 16-passenger bus that hauls you around for a tour of Orange and nearby counties. It's perfect for spouse tours for conventions or for families who need a break from lengthy hospital visits. Get this - the bus runs on alternative fuels that it gets from a distribution point at Saxapahaw, in Alamance County, near Burlington....