On Saturday, December 12, 2020, Mills River Presbyterian Church will host a Drive-Thru Holiday Cookie Sale. The socially-distanced event will be held from 10am to 1pm in the church parking lot off Schoolhouse Road in Mills River.
The public is invited to pre-order boxes of cookies or make their selections the day of the sale. A wide variety of cookies will be available for $8.00 per box.
Each box contains about two dozen homemade cookies. Buyers can select all of the same cookie or an assortment of holiday favorites. Some of the popular cookies at the sale include snickerdoodle, chocolate chip, molasses, peanut butter and oatmeal. Half-pound bags of homemade Chex mix will also be available for $4 each.
“We’re taking this sale outdoors in 2020 to make it as safe as possible for everyone,” says Jackie Auten, co-chair of the event. “Pre-orders are now being taken. These will be boxed and ready for immediate drive-thru pick up on December 12. We’ll also have a safe way for on-site orders to be quickly filled.
“Our initial Holiday Cookie Walk was so popular last year that we want to make it available again in 2020. Whether you’re purchasing a single box for yourself or multiple boxes for family, office workers and friends, we invite everyone to drive-thru to get delicious homemade cookies for the holidays!”
For more details on the fundraising event and to get an order form for the cookies, contact Jackie Auten at jackieauten48@gmail.com or 828-891-5354.
Mills River Presbyterian Church is located at 10 Presbyterian Church Road in Mills River, accessible from Haywood Road or Highway 280. For more information, call 828-891-7101 or visit www.millsriverpresbyterianchurch.com.
With Christmas approaching and the calendar set to turn from 2020, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 7 – Jan. 3, 2021) is poised to wrap guests in the warm light of timeless family traditions, new memories and joyous time spent together. Thanks in part to the glow of more than 5 million gleaming Christmas lights and a dazzling new holiday fireworks show, guests can bask in the memories of yesterday while embracing the hope of tomorrow.
New fireworks show, Santa experience and lighting themes highlight festival
Dollywood guests are immediately enveloped in the illumination of millions of holiday lights, which create a festive Christmas atmosphere that has become a cherished family tradition for generations. While the lighting itself remains familiar to guests, brand new area-based themes and lighting designs throughout the park provide a sense of wonder and discovery around each turn. Guests will find themselves strolling through a literal winter wonderland, as more live lighted Christmas trees will adorn the park than during any Christmas festival before.
“Christmas is so precious because of the time we take to gather with friends and family to share the light of love and hope with each other. It’s so good to be able to laugh about old memories and traditions, and even start a few new ones,” said Dolly Parton.
“Some Christmases are more memorable than others, and I think this year is certainly one we won’t forget. I want families to feel the warmth and comfort of all the great things they remember about Dollywood at Christmas, with a few new experiences that will become the memories they share years from now. In twenty years, when someone says, ‘Do you remember 2020?,’ of course they’ll think about how strange this year has been, but I also hope they’ll stop and say, ‘Yes, but remember that special time we had at Dollywood during Christmas that year.’”
Just one of the new experiences guests can enjoy this season is an end-of-the-evening event that will add a little sparkle to the “Dolly-days” this year. A Christmas fireworks display called Merry & Bright! celebrates the season with a colorful and energetic show featuring a number of contemporary holiday songs that will add a little cheer for guests. Performance dates will be available on Dollywood.com and the Dollywood app.
The spotlight also shines brightly on the park’s award-winning entertainment this season. Christmas in the Smokies—a heartwarming tradition that families have enjoyed for 30 years—returns indoors to center stage at DP’s Celebrity Theater. Guests also can enjoy a new show, called Heart of the Holidays, which features several members of Dolly’s family and includes a mix of some of her holiday favorites alongside songs from her new Christmas album, A Holly Dolly Christmas. Heart of the Holidays takes place in the DreamSong Theater. Another returning guest favorite, Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs, can be found at the Pines Theater.
Heartfelt entertainment abounds during the festival, including O’ Holy Night, Appalachian Christmas with the Smoky Mountain String Band, Holiday Wild Roots, The Mistletones and the Candlelight Carolers, a new choral group who can be found performing on the steps of the Robert F. Thomas Chapel. More than 40 holiday performances currently are scheduled to take place each operating day during Smoky Mountain Christmas.
Glacier Ridge presented by Goo Goo Cluster fills Dollywood’s Timber Canyon, Wildwood Grove, Wilderness Pass and Upper Craftsman’s Valley with an expansive arctic experience sure to inspire and delight guests. Wilderness Pass Plaza serves as one of the highlights of Glacier Ridge thanks to the Wonderful Christmas! tree show, which features a 50-ft. tall animated tree that sparkles to life to present a fully-synchronized, dazzling light show throughout the evening. Inside Wildwood Grove, the Wildwood Tree tells inspirational Christmas stories each evening as guests explore this captivating area.
For the kids—and kids at heart—wondering what Santa is up to this year, Dollywood will shine a little light on Old Saint Nick’s home away from home. When he isn’t hard at work at the North Pole, Santa likes to visit East Tennessee and his favorite Smoky Mountain songstress, Dolly! Thanks to a brand-new experience, guests literally can see inside Santa’s cabin in the Smokies as he reviews…the list! Kids discover whether their name is on the naughty or nice list, and they even have their photo made as they peer through the window during this once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch Santa at work.
And for those looking to celebrate the holidays with the perfect family meal, Dollywood’s team of chefs have a menu full of culinary surprises sure to delight. At Front Porch Café, diners can enjoy beef tenderloin medallions with a cabernet demi reduction, seared trout with sweet Cajun glaze, or a glazed ham steak with pineapple chutney. New this year, the Blue Ribbon Buffet is an unparalleled all-you-can-eat menu with buffet service, featuring roasted pork loin, herb garlic roasted chicken, carved prime rib and spiral ham, served alongside roasted sweet potato wedges, herb potato puree, baked macaroni and cheese, and more.
For those with an appetite on the go, Market Square offers a variety of options to tempt the taste buds thanks to a number of hearty sandwiches and soups. Guests can choose from a three-cheese panini, a shaved ribeye panini, or a panini with heirloom tomato and fresh mozzarella, which can be paired with tomato bisque, beef barley soup or the soup of the day. Specialty treats include s’mores bread pudding and hot chocolate.
Spotlight Bakery feels like Christmas at grandma’s with so many rich, sweet baked goods. Guests can choose their favorites from a variety of beautifully-decorated holiday cookies, gingerbreads and cupcakes or warm up with a cup of hot chocolate. Families also can take some of the holiday fun home with a gingerbread house or family-size cookie kit, both complete with icing and decorations!
As always, guests can experience Dollywood’s world-class rides amidst the hustle and bustle of the park during the holidays, as most rides are operational during the Christmas season. Nothing compares to racing quickly through the night sky with millions of lights twinkling below.
No matter what activities are on the Christmas list this year, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is sure to shine a familiar light on holiday traditions that families will share and cherish for years to come.
For anyone searching for the perfect gift of unlimited family fun and memories, a Dollywood season pass is the solution! A season pass purchased during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas provides unlimited admission to this year’s Christmas festival along with unlimited admission for Dollywood’s entire 2021 season. Guests should purchase their 2021 season pass online now or upgrade their paid one-day admission ticket on the day of their visit. Ticket purchasers receive credit for the value of a regular one-day ticket toward the purchase of a 2021 season pass.
For more information and a park operating calendar, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
About The Dollywood Company: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 160-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of more than 40 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 27 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and has been named a top-three US theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows, and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and TripAdvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa provides guests spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
Zen Hen Cafe (https://www.zenhencafe.com/) is now open in Hendersonville bringing healthy, honest food to the new quick, counter-service concept.
“This is an idea that has been near and dear to my heart for many years,” said Randy Dunn, executive chef and Zen Hen founder. “We are so excited to finally open and offer something for the entire family that is honest, healthy, quick and incredibly tasty.”
Located at 1794 Asheville Highway, Zen Hen Cafe features scratch-made build your own Buddha bowls and in-house non – GMO rotisserie chicken.
“I wanted to go back to my roots, go back to the farm,” Dunn said of his new venture. “I wanted my food to speak for itself and to be comfortable, approachable and affordable for anyone looking for flavor-forward, healthy meals.”
Dunn, a staple in Asheville’s restaurant scene, was part of the opening team for Roux in Biltmore Park in 2009. He continued to serve the community as the executive chef for both the independent restaurant and the 4-diamond Hilton hotel for over a decade.
“I’m excited to let my feathers back out, per se, and really focus on a menu that fills the need for so many people in our community right now,” Dunn said.
The “Zen” menu features build your own Buddha Bowls with fresh vegetables, house-roasted chicken, and scratch made sauces – or choose from an array of signature bowls like the Chimichurri Chicken – a Buddha Bowl featuring brown rice, rotisserie chicken, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, chili-lime corn, jalapenos and a house-made chimichurri sauce.
The “Hen” menu features whole, half, and quarter hormone and antibiotic-free, non- GMO rotisserie chickens and family dinners with health-conscious homemade side dishes.
The menu is by design, is gluten-free and health-centric transparency is one of the overarching missions of the café. All nutrition information is available and tracked for each protein, fat and carb.
“I think one of the most unique parts of Zen Hen is in our transparency,” Dunn said. “I’ve tried all the meal prepping, Keto, Paleo, and they all worked to a degree, but I am so busy that it was hard to take the time to meal prep every day and I needed options that were quicker and more budget friendly.”
As a classically trained chef, Dunn draws much of his culinary inspiration from his childhood. His father, a dairy farmer, raised the family on their 10-acre farm in Tennessee where they grew and harvested the majority of their own meals.
Dunn went on to graduate from the prestigious Johnson & Wales Culinary School and to open national 4-diamond hotels, including MIT Cambridge where he once cooked for the ever-amazing, culinary icon Julia Childs.
“I feel like I bring a piece with me from all of my past culinary experiences, but I always want my food to speak for itself,” Dunn said.
Dunn said that he hopes Zen Hen Café will fill the need for health-conscious families in the area looking for every day meals, that are not so “everyday.”
“Someone once told me that how you live today, is how you live your life,” said Dunn. “It’s those choices that you make every day and hopefully this restaurant is going to make it easier to make those choices that matter.”
It’s good food, to put you in a better mood – or as Dunn would jokingly say – “you would cross the road for this.” For more information on Zen Hen Café, visit www.zenhencafe.com
Griff’s Kitchen and Bar (https://www.griffskitchenandbar.com) has finalized plans to open, and announced details for their new restaurant located in the heart of Enka-Candler.
Griff’s Kitchen and Bar will initially open on October 7 for lunch take-out, featuring locally-focused and seasonally-inspired dishes such as house ground burgers, a cast iron salmon salad, grilled pork shoulder buns, and rotating vegetarian steam buns. Chef/owner Ian Griffin and GM/owner Gina Griffin have created a cozy neighborhood spot serving contemporary fare with a focus on local, fresh ingredients and community wellbeing.
“Hiring local, supporting small local farms, and keeping money in the local economy are our priorities when it comes to crafting a menu,” says Ian Griffin, chef/owner. This is his solo debut after working as a chef for acclaimed venues including All Soul’s Pizza, Panciuto, and Garland. Griff’s will have a focus on modern American cuisine with foreign twists.
“We’re so excited to finally open,” says Gina Griffin. “It’s been quite the journey due to the pandemic, and we’re so grateful that we’ve had a fan base from the beginning, sticking with us through all of this. We look forward to feeding everyone!”
Lunch service will be available Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-3pm. Diners can place their orders online via Toast or call to order ahead, with curbside pickup only. Griff’s Kitchen and Bar is located at 1390 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC 28715. For questions or orders, call (828) 633-2153.
About Griff’s Kitchen & Bar
Griff’s Kitchen & Bar, created by husband-wife duo Ian and Gina Griffin, is what a restaurant was intended to be: a place where everyone feels taken care of like a regular. Whether you’re a neighbor or a new face, we’re dedicated to serving you and supporting our local community and farmers with a delicious contemporary American menu. We welcome food lovers of all tastes! Enjoy a meal crafted with ingredients “sourced from our backyard.” Learn more at https://www.griffskitchenandbar.com
The 2020 Garden Jubilee has been reformatted to avoid totally cancelling the event by shifting the festival from Main Street to the individual nurseries and orchards for the safety of festival goers and vendors. The event has been extended to four days, Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25 of Memorial Day Weekend.
Henderson County offers a wealth of agritourism related business, which includes nurseries, farms and orchards. The self-guided Nurseries & Orchard Tour will introduce the public to a whole new experience, by having access to products that they may not have access to on Main Street, due to space constraints. By visiting these locations, people will have the opportunity to peruse their entire inventory, for a much broader selection of merchandise.
Local nurseries will be selling annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetable plants, herbs, hanging baskets, planter boxes, garden accessories, flowers pots, garden soil and much more. Some of the products to be found at the orchards include cider, produce, baked goods, apple chips, jams, jellies, honey and apple butter. Several of the stops along the way, will feature crafters, selling such items as: pottery, soap, wind spinners, wreaths, aprons, jewelry, wind chimes, bells and sculptures.
A brochure is being created with a map and listing the participating Henderson County nurseries and orchards. For more information call the Visitor Center at 828-693-9708.
Asheville’s new culinary festival, Chow Chow, is being re-scheduled for September 2021 due to the disruption and uncertainty caused by Covid-19.
After the Board of Directors of Chow Chow, a 501(c)(3) organization, determined launching ticket sales in April was unrealistic, the group also considered the future rules and regulations regarding social gatherings and the indeterminate nature of the impact of the pandemic. As a result, the board voted to postpone the festival until September 2021.
“It was an extremely tough decision and a decision that we don’t make lightly. We so appreciate the support of the community, our sponsors, and our partners during last year’s festival as well as in preparation for 2020. We’re determined to be back better than ever next year,” said Board of Directors President Katie Button. “We’ll all be ready to welcome friends and family back to Asheville and we think Chow Chow will be a great way to celebrate our re-opened doors.”
The organization will also continue its mission in 2020 with a series of events, dinners and an on-line presence that will offer meaningful content celebrating farmers, chefs, makers, and artists. The board remains committed to elevating Asheville’s greater creative community through food and the communal table.
The festival will also shift its focus to support the many farmers, restaurants, chefs, artists, makers, and non-profits severely impacted by Covid-19.
Season’s at Highland Lake announces “Picnic-on-Property“, a new safe way to get outside and enjoy a great meal!
It’s been weeks since this community was quarantined to their homes. In that time, Season’s at Highland Lake has adapted by offering fresh, local cuisine in a manner that is both safe and convenient. A new Take Out menu was created while Season’s market was added to offer essential items. A new online ordering and payment platform was launched to allow customers to easily place orders any time of day. Additionally, curbside pick-up and home delivery services were added to promote social distancing and provide safe operations for everyone.
While social distancing efforts remain crucial, Season’s at Highland Lake has heard the struggles that people are experiencing. The “trapped at home” mentality is weighing heavy on nearly everyone while the concern for safety is still paramount. People want to get outside but the health risks of doing so can often present a challenge. It is with this in mind that Season’s at Highland Lake is excited to announce their newest offering in response to this new reality.
Starting today (May 1st), Season’s at Highland Lake is pleased to begin offering a new concept for safe dining. The “Picnic on Property” is an alternative to eating at home that allows a safe way to get outside and enjoy a delicious meal. As a part of Highland Lake Inn & Resort, Season’s is able to take advantage of the spacious nature of their 26-acre property.
Guest can choose from a variety of outdoor tables that have been set up across the property (A larger map can be found here). From peaceful lakeside locations to shaded, grassy areas, there are many options to choose from. Guests will place an order and select “Picnic” at the beginning of the process. They will arrive at our curbside area at the specified pick-up time. Each order will include everything needed to enjoy the meal on property. Once the guest has their food, they just pick a spot and enjoy their picnic on property.
“This is just one way that we can serve our community and provide a way to stimulate mental health by getting outdoors” says Season’s F&B Manager, Peter Fassbender. “We are fortunate to be located in such a beautiful area. We hope that guests will take advantage of the spring weather and enjoy the natural beauty of our property.”
To learn more about menu offerings or online ordering, visit HLIresort.com/seasons. Please contact Peter Fassbender, F&B Manager, at pfassbender@hlinn.com with any questions.
Season’s at Highland Lake is located at Highland Lake Inn & Resort in Flat Rock, NC. For over 20 years, they have used the finest local and organic ingredients to create contemporary cuisine. The historic charm is undeniable on a property that has been community treasure for over a century. In addition, they host private functions and offer signature wine dinners and other special events.
Season’s at Highland Lake Inn & Resort | 86 Lily Pad Lane, Flat Rock, NC 28731
He handed me his hotel room key. He and three buddies, all powerful men suited up for the occasion, were sitting in a booth at an intimate private venue in DC. It’s politics. The occasion was an opportunity to schmooze with Tip O’Neill back in the 70’s when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives.
That summer, my college boyfriend was a congressional aide. He’d asked me if I wanted to meet Tip O’Neal at a party that night. I’d get to shake his hand. I told him I couldn’t care less about shaking the hand of someone who could care less about me, but I’d go with him to the party.
After spending time around politicians in DC, I became incredibly cynical. No matter what party, they may start out idealistic and wanting to make changes, but as soon as they encounter “the machine”, they change. It might be faster for some than others, but it inevitably happens.
Power, money, and sex are what fuel politics, no matter what party and sometimes not in that order. Maybe, and I say maybe, not as much at the local level, but definitely at the national level.
True story: Original family documents include an 1800’s diary entry from an ancestor who was elected to the House of Representatives. He was a hard working farmer who rode his horse to DC, honored to take his place and get to work. It took days to get there. A week later (maybe less), he rode his horse home and resigned, saying they are all a bunch of drunks that don’t get anything done.
Someone’s got to do it. Serve as a politician. Be willing to publicly lie, or at least obfuscate to achieve the “greater good”. Of course compromise is necessary, but in today’s world public-facing politicians say what works in the moment more often than not. When the tide turns, they say whatever will get them reelected, no matter if it’s the complete opposite from their previous stance. They count on people not remembering from one week to the next.
Tip O’Neill arrived, the gaggle of fawning admirers, or at least people who wanted something from him, formed and the hand shaking commenced. I went to the bar for a drink.
The men at that booth must have assumed that my boyfriend was a “handler”, introducing me as a starry-eyed co-ed who would have sex with power. Or sex for no reason at all. Why else would the man, later identified as the National President of what was then known as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, offer me the key to his room right in front of said boyfriend? Maybe he knew and didn’t care? Maybe he thought my boyfriend wanted some favor in exchange? You never know when it comes to politics in DC.
So what did I do? I looked at the key, looked back at him, laughed as I handed it back to him, and walked away. If I’d had more life experience, I might have told him where to go and how to get there. Maybe not. That might not have gone well for my boyfriend and his political ambitions. Scratch for scratch. Stab in the back for stab in the back.
I can only hope this man felt the sting of embarrassment in front of his friends. But being a cynic, I imagine he didn’t, but instead moved on to the next co-ed.
Watching Asheville restaurant owners and employees speak about handling the COVID-19 crisis, you can feel their search for reason and a way forward as they speak about how they’ve been affected, what they’ve done so far, and what they’re thinking about doing to survive going forward.
At first, we were cautious, keeping the amount we put on most of the Ingles cards at a level that would allow us to help the most people possible.
Season’s at Highland Lake Staff
But because of GENEROUS DONATIONS, this campaign has raised more money than we thought possible, allowing us to raise the amount we send all vetted furloughed restaurant workers. Not only that, we went back and sent an additional card to those that received the lower amount, bringing everyone up to the same amount of support.
To a person, everyone who has received an Ingles card has been so appreciative of the help, we thought we’d share some messages of thanks we’ve gotten.
Umi Japanese Fine Dining
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This first message is from someone who got a second card:
“I am so grateful for your extension of an Ingles card for my family! I cannot thank you enough!! My husband and I both work on main Street in the food industry, and we have two children. We so appreciate your blessing!
I would like you to know that I received a second card in the mail today and I wanted to let you know that I am aware this may be an accident. I would like to return it if there was another need somewhere in our community. I saved the return address from where the initial card was sent. I can mail it back there, if it’s a good spot for you! I just don’t wish to be greedy during such a trying time. Thank you for your time! And most importantly, thank you for your kindness!!”
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Postero Staff
“Thank you so much for the gift card!! It’s a saving grace, and brought tears to my eyes. ♥️🤗”
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“Thank you so much for your gift cards..it’s very thoughtful of you and I’m sorry if I seemed short at all..I was so overwhelmed by what was going on and my jobs getting shut down.
I ended up getting a night job at Walmart and I got my stimulus check. Your gifts cards and everything has been a really big blessing!
Thank you again for showing such kindness to me and I hope you are doing well:)”
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“We all thank you all who put this together to help us out!”
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Shine Staff
“Wow. Thank you so much. I super appreciate it!
It truly is a huge struggle.”
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“Thank you so much for the Ingles gift cards for me and my family it helped out alot.”
100% of donations (minus the 2.9% +.30 cents per donation GoFundMe fee) go to vetted by employer, furloughed Henderson County restaurant workers who apply.
To date, all but one applicant has received an Ingles Grocery/Gas card.
Thank you,
Laura Huff, Carolina Epicurean, LLC
Jason Reasoner, Postero
Lisa Hoffman, Underground Baking Co
