North Carolina Mountain Dreams

WNC Rambler

Gary Boyd — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:47 +0000

I discovered a wonderful new blog this week. WNC Rambler is by Lizzie Bramlett. She has this to say about herself, “I’m a former teacher and long-time collector and lover of vintage clothing.” She has another blog dealing with her love of vintage clothing at The Vintage Traveler. I forget what I was searching for when I stumbled upon her site…But I am glad I did. I’ll be following her regularly…

The following was how she started her WNC Rambler blog in February…

I’m a rambler. I love the region I call home, Western North Carolina, and I’m here to share it with you. It’s a beautiful region, filled with history and interesting people.

When I go into a new place, I look for the old, the historic, the fading retro places that are disappearing. So expect this blog to be nostalgic, but I promise to stop short at sentimentality. I’ll be using the above book as a guide – the 1930s WPA Guide to The Old North State. It’s an amazing work, full of interesting tidbits that are still relevant today. And to help find my way, I’ll have my trusty 1936 North Carolina Highways map.

I’ll be visiting towns and sites not only in the mountains, but also in the western Piedmont of NC. I might even stray into North Georgia or East Tennessee from time to time!

via WNC Rambler: The Ramble Begins!.

Music On The Mountaintop Festival

Gary Boyd — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:15:21 +0000

Music on the Mountaintop is scheduled for August 27th and 28th in Boone, NC, tucked away in the heart of the high country at The Old Fairgrounds. Music on the Mountaintop is Boone’s first festival offering a full day of unmatched music, featuring several national acts, creating an eclectic blend of Americana, bluegrass, and acoustic funk and folk. We’re supplying an unheralded experience, providing our own original, green village allowing you to truly get neck deep and hands on with interactive and multi cultural activities. Our goal is to bring awareness to the real ecological issues effecting our environment.

We hope to leave you with not only an unforgettable music melody but a sense of accomplishment through our cause. We are reaching out to the community and anyone willing to change. Music on the Mountaintop is an ambassador for our cause by offering a majority of our proceeds to NC Green Power and the Appalachian State University Energy Center.

Sam Bush
Toubab Krewe, Acoustic Syndicate, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge
Snake Oil Medicine Show, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Holy Ghost Tent Revival
Do it to Julia, The Movement, The Native Sway, Uncle Mountain, Doc Aquatic, Farm Vegas, BPL, Mama’s Love, The Moderate
This is only the first installment of our 2010 lineup.

via Music On The Mountaintop : Festival.

Why are the Southern Appalachians the Epicenter for Salamander Diversity?

Gary Boyd — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:54:37 +0000

Pardon the short notice, but if you are around Asheville this weekend, this looks like it could be an interesting presentation…And the folk Art Center is worth the visit anytime…

Presented by the Friends of the WNC Nature Center at the Folk Art Center Auditorium, Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Tunnel Road entrance. Saturday, March 13th, 10:30 a.m. Presented at the Folk Art Center Auditorium at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Sponsored by the Friends of the WNC Nature Center Free for Friends of the WNC Nature Center and suggested donation of $5 for the general public. Reservations recommended to Sarah Oram, at friends@wildwnc.org with name and number in your party. For more information, please call Sarah at (828) 298-5600 ext. 308. Light refreshments provided.

Date: March 13, 2010

Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Location: Folk Art Center Auditorium, Milepost 382, Blue Ridge Parkway

Contact Name Sarah Oram

Contact Email friends@wildwnc.org

Contact Phone (828) 298-5600 ext. 308

via Why are the Southern Appalachians the Epicenter for Salamander Diversity? — Western North Carolina Nature Center.

2010 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition finalists

Gary Boyd — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:41:55 +0000

The 2010 Competition Gallery is up at High Country Photos. From the look of the finalists, tit is going to be tough to pick the winners. Best of luck to all the photographers.

This gallery features the 2010 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition finalists. The 7th Annual AMPC event was an overwhelming success with photographers from all over the world submitting 1,116 entries, a new record!

Keep up with news and announcements for the AMPC by visiting the AMPC blog often!