Colorful, Funny Photo Ops on October Weekends in Statesville

STATESVILLE, NC – Are you a shutterbug? In Statesville, you can capture a hot air balloon ascending, a pumpkin-smashing contest or perhaps a spirit seen only by a select few. The last two October weekends will provide many photo opportunities.
On Friday, October 24-Sunday, October 26, the Carolina BalloonFest will be held at the Statesville Regional Airport.

Then on Friday, October 24, Saturday, October 25, Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1, you might hear, see or feel paranormal sensations during the Haunted Statesville walking tour in downtown.

And on Saturday, November 1, watch little kids use a great big mallet to smash pumpkins at the PumpkinFest street festival in downtown Statesville. The Bell & Howard Chevrolet Punkin Chunkin Catapult Competition presented by Mitchell Community College will be held that morning.

The Carolina BalloonFest is the second-oldest hot air balloon rally in the nation and is celebrating 35 years colorful magnificence. The event will include North Carolina wine tastings, a children’s activity area and a variety of musical performances.

Gates are open from 3-10 p.m. on Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Weather permitting, mass ascensions are planned for 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 4:30 p.m. all three days. Admission is $8 per person.
Catch the celebrated Balloon Glow one night and maybe get spooked by ol’ Tom Dula the next - rather Tom Dooley – as the Kingston Trio sang in the 1950s hit “Tom Dooley.”

Haunted Statesville tours run from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, October 24, Saturday, October 25 and the following weekend, Friday October 31 and Saturday November 1. The starting point is at the old city hall.

The song’s lyrics say ol’ Tom got caught in a love triangle and was hung in downtown. Well, that’s not exactly true. Historians say he took his last breath out in the country –but folklore lives on.

Some true stories do exist, like Wampus. Local newspaper writer and retired history teacher O.C. Stonestreet recounts that it was a mysterious creature first seen in the early 1930s. “Researching old newspapers, I learned people heard howlings, lost chickens and described it as a mixture of a dog and cat with a horn in it’s head. It was elusive, yet omnivorous.”

The Haunted Statesville ghost tour includes a stop at the Vance Hotel. Stonestreet tells the story that there are two documented suicides there. One of them was a drowning in the indoor pool.

He says that during the filming of the movie Leatherheads, several members of the production crew asked who the young wet girl was.

That’s spooky.

The 6th Annual PumpkinFest is full of photo opportunities – pumpkin chunking, smashing, eating and the list goes on. It will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information about all of these events, log onto http://www.visitstatesville.org/ or call 877-531-1819.

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Gunfights, Ghost Train Highlight Horse and Mule Days in Denton

DENTON, NC – Sometime long ago, there were two guys whose job was to keep the Handy Dandy on the tracks and the steam engine purring. The passenger train ran through the woods and ‘round the bend. One day, gun-slinging hoodlums sneaked on board to steal the cashbox. The two devoted employees never knew what hit them – it was their final ride.

Their spirits return each fall during Horse and Mule Days at the Denton FarmPark in Denton – and so do the bad guys, Sagebrush, Sixguns and Rawhide. Be fearful. You never know who will be next to go.

Horse and Mule Days will be held on Friday night, October 24 and all day Saturday, October 25. The FarmPark is the location of the annual Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion held each summer.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. on. Friday and Saturday night for the “Ghost Gunfighter Show on #9.” Guns will be loaded shows beginning at 6:45 each night. Food concessions, the grist mill and the general store will be open. Show reservations are available by calling the FarmPark at 336-859-2755.

Then on Saturday, bluegrass music and clogging, arts and crafts, equine events and heritage demonstrations will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. But you better watch your back at noon. There may be some gun shots fired in front of the general store. Event organizers have gotten wind that trouble’s brewing downtown.

Thrill-seekers can witness the railroad gangsters’ brutal antics at 10:30 a.m. and on the hour from 1-4 p.m.

On the other side of the farm, the North Carolina Draft Horse Association and Carolina Mule Association (CMA) will be giving demonstrations throughout the day. Persons wanting to bring their own horses and mules can participate in the Mule and Draft Horse Show beginning at 10 a.m. CMA-sanctioned classes will also be offered in halter, performance, driving, log-skidding, gaming and more. For information, call Karen Reeder at 910-639-0701.

The ever-so-popular coon jump competition will be held at 3 p.m. No, you won’t see raccoons. Crowds are amazed at how high mules can jump from standing dead still. “For people who don’t know what the coon jump is,” says Reeder, “it’s like doing the limbo, only you’re jumping up over instead of under the poles.”

James Lamm’s trick mules will be giving performances throughout the day, too.

The Kickin’ Grass Band will take the stage at 2 and 5 p.m. A clogging show will be held from 11 a.m.-noon.

Sponsors are Bill Plemmons RV, James River Equipment dealerships in Asheboro and Salisbury.

On Friday, admission to the train ride is $8 per adult and free for children under 12 years of age. There is no general admission fee.
On Saturday, tickets to the FarmPark are $7 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under and free for preschoolers. Saturday train rides are $5 per person; show rides are $6 for adults, $5 for children under 12 and preschoolers are free.

The Denton FarmPark has more than 500 camping sites that will be available from Monday, October 20-Monday, October 27. Those with hook-ups are $25 per night.

The FarmPark is located 17 miles south of Asheboro off NC Hwy. 49 and 20 miles south of Lexington off NC Hwy. 109. Follow signs.
For more information or to reserve a seat on the Friday night train, call 336-859-2755.

Haunted Statesville Reveals City's Paranormal Past

STATESVILLE, NC – Betcha didn’t know downtown Statesville has ghosts, did ya? Neither did the production crew that was shooting the movie Leatherheads. Coming out of the Vance Hotel, they asked about the wet young girl. Her appearance was unscheduled and she certainly didn’t have her Screen Actor’s Guild card!

That was pretty good, eh? Want to hear another one?

You can during Haunted Statesville, a walking tour that will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 24-25 and October 31-November 1. All tours are $8 per person and run from 6-8 p.m. Reservations are highly encouraged.

Tours will start at the old city hall at the corner of Front and Center streets. Guides will be Statesville residents who are interested in ghostly activity downtown.

“We’ve wanted to do something like this for a very long time,” said Nancy Davis, public information officer for the City of Statesville. She has been working with local historian and writer O.C. Stonestreet in researching and writing the tours.

Stonestreet stumbled across the town’s paranormal activity while he was researching material for students in his North Carolina history classroom. “Books didn’t cover a lot, so I spent my time researching. Along the way I learned about Wampus. He was an omnivorous character that was first seen in the 1930s. Newspaper stories recount the part cat and dog creature may have eaten chickens. It apparently howled. Wampus is still a mystery,” he said.

Then of course there’s the story of ol’ Tom Dooley. Well, actually his name was Dula, but to make it rhyme, it came out Dooley in the famous song recorded by the Kingston Trio.

He played the field and got caught in a love triangle. One of the girls wound up dead and he got hanged. But that didn’t occur in downtown Statesville like the song says. It was out in the country near her house. Nonetheless, today people either find the story humiliating that such a thing could have occurred in Statesville – or they find it fascinating.
While a man was helping construct the old courthouse, he fell and died. Today, people working there tell that they sometimes hear a noise or feel a sensation.

Spooky.

You’ll just have to take the tour to learn more about Statesville’s spirits.
For more information and reservations, call the Statesville Convention and Visitors Office at 704-878-3480.

ConvergeSouth Bloggers Conference Includes Tourism Session

GREENSBORO, NC – Blogging isn’t just for the media or politicians. Attractions, events, arts councils, museums and tourism promotion organizations can also use them. They increase visibility on the Internet and ultimately build traffic and attendance.
Members of the tourism industry are invited to attend a free blogging user’s conference on Friday, October 17. ConvergeSouth will be held on the campus of NC A&T State University in Greensboro. Tourism writer and promoter Greta Lint will be giving a session at 3 p.m. specifically for the tourism industry. Attendees bringing wireless laptops will be able to set up their own blog during the class.
“This session is designed for the beginner who knows how to use a computer, but is clueless about what a blog is,” says Lint. “I find many people are afraid of blogs, that they’ll only be used by people to post negative comments or that they’re a fad. So untrue. Blogs can be used as Websites for organizations with limited funds. This class will show how to do that.” She says that www.oakborocruisein.com is a good example of how a small organization can use a blog as a Website.
To register for the free conference, log onto www.convergesouth.com and log onto http://2008.convergesouth.com/conference/travel.php for parking instructions.

Calendar Release: Statesville Holds 35th Annual Carolina BalloonFest

TO CALENDAR EDITORS

Statesville Holds 35th Annual Carolina BalloonFest

STATESVILLE, NC (9/10/08) – The 35th Annual Carolina BalloonFest will be held Friday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct 26, 2008 at the Statesville Regional Airport. Expecting 50 brightly-colored hot air balloons to participate, depending upon the weather. Rides available. Musical entertainment. Balloon competitions. NC wine tastings. Food. Beverage. Children’s activities. Geocashing treasure hunts. Arts and crafts. Gates open: Friday 3-10 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mass ascensions scheduled for Friday 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Hot Air Balloon Glow at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Wine tastings Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday noon-6 p.m. Free parking. Transportation assistance available for persons with special needs. Cameras permitted. Admission $8 per person; children under 5 years old are free. Physical location 260 Hanger Drive, Statesville. GPS address longitude W80.9552; latitude 35.754 N. Follow signs from I-40. For information, call toll free 877-531-1819 or visit www.visitstatesville.org or www.carolinaballoonfest.com.

35th Annual Carolina BalloonFest Seeks Volunteers

STATESVILLE, NC – For the last 225 years, people have marveled at hot air balloons— their size, colors and beauty. For every pilot that wants to launch one of these beautiful balloons, a good handful of people is needed to get it into the air. And for every balloon rally, many volunteers are needed.

Carolina BalloonFest is asking for your help and time. Proceeds from the event benefit Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center and Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County.

The festival will be held at the Statesville Regional Airport on Friday, October 24 through Sunday, October 26. Gates will be open on Friday from 3 - 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Balloon ascensions are scheduled twice a day at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 4:30 p.m.on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Fifty hot air balloons are expected to participate.

Carolina BalloonFest is the largest hot air balloon rally in North Carolina and the second oldest in the nation. Formally known as the National Balloon Rally, the name was changed two years ago when the event was reorganized and expanded.

Sandra and Paul Bortree, from Olin, North Carolina, have volunteered for the past several years. “We thoroughly enjoy working the event,” Sandra said. “This year, we’re going to help in the wine tasting or merchandise tents. It’s a great way to meet new people.”

Ted DeLisis, from Statesville, worked two full days last year in the Kid’s Zone. “It was a great way to spend a nice afternoon. People can have so much fun when they volunteer,” he commented. “You need two people to work the big games, and at least one person for the smaller games. Parents really appreciate that we provide a safe place for kids during the festival. They really have a blast!”

Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and able to work a four-hour shift. They will receive an official Carolina BalloonFest volunteer T-Shirt, free admission, a wine-tasting pass or coupon for 10 percent off festival merchandise.

Volunteer jobs are available in the festival office, at the entrance gate, in the information and souvenirs booths, in the wine tastings tent and in the Kid’s Zone. Volunteers are also needed to set up the event, deliver ice, be floaters for other volunteers, assist with transportation for handicapped guests and, after the rally, take down everything Sunday evening and clean up on Monday morning.

People working in the wine tasting tent are required to take a training class. Two sessions will be held, but volunteers only need to attend one class. The first class is scheduled on Saturday, October 11 from 9-11 a.m. at East Coast Wings in the Bi-Lo Shopping Center, 1875 East Broad Street. The second class will be held from noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 at the Statesville Chamber of Commerce, 115 East Front Street in downtown Statesville. Each class will be taught by a representative from the North Carolina Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement.

To volunteer, contact Janet Goble at 704-902-4551 or register online at www.carolinaballoonfest.com <http://www.carolinaballoonfest.com/>.

Admission is $8 for adults; children five and under are free. Parking is free. Tickets are available online at www.carolinaballoonfest.com <http://www.carolinaballoonfest.com/> or at JR’s Discount Outlet, United Federal Credit Union and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce in Statesville.

Sponsors for the 2008 Carolina BalloonFest include: AT&T, L. Gordon Iron and Metal Company, Doosan Infracore Portable Power, Stiles and Company, The City of Statesville, J. R. Discount Outlets, Cool Spring, Center, United Federal Credit Union, BB&T, Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Design Detail, Sir Speedy, Piedmont Bank, a division of Yadkin Valley Bank. Marketing support for the festival is provided by Midan Marketing and the Statesville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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.

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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.

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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/.

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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!