Weekly Village Update 8.31.17

Chamber Events & News

Exciting News! Blowing Rock Nets $2M Grant for Middle Fork Greenway!

The Chamber has been a huge supporter of this project and is excited to announce that the Town of Blowing Rock has been awarded $2 million from the Eastern Federal Lands Access Program to construct a 1.3 mile segment of the Middle Fork Greenway across town and National Park Service property! Section one of the project will connect the Blowing Rock trailhead in front of Shoppes on the Parkway to The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge. Read More on WataugaDemocrat.com

First Friday Sip & Shop TOMORROW! Friday, September 1st, 3 pm - until ? Participating Blowing Rock merchants invite you to join them for a "happy hour" style stroll where you can sip and shop in downtown stores! Stop by your favorite shops, or check out a new one before heading over to Music on the Lawn! Free refreshments at participating locations. Facebook Event Shopping Map

Retailers: be sure to display your “Open Late Tonight!” sign in your window or on your door to let customers know that the fun will continue into the evening.

Labor Day Holiday Monday, September 4th is Labor Day! For those who have the day off, we encourage you to get out and enjoy the magnificent natural playground that the High Country offers and shop and eat local! The Visitor Information Center will be OPEN on Labor Day! We wish everyone a safe & happy holiday weekend! #LoveBR

Art in the Park Saturday, September 9th, 10 am - 5 pm Park Avenue, Downtown Blowing Rock More than 90 of the best local and regional artists and craftspeople will be onsite with their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, wood, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more! September Featured Artist: Andy Costine, Woodworker FREE admission. FREE parking downtown on the street and in the parking decks on Wallingford Street & at BRAHM. FREE trolley from Tanger Outlets & Food Lion.

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Community Leaders Visit Tryon Equestrian Center On Saturday, August 26th, a group 17 of Blowing Rock Community leaders participated in an outing to the Tryon International Equestrian Center for one of the Center’s Saturday Night Lights events. The trip was organized by the Town, the Chamber of Commerce and the TDA to witness first hand one of this country’s most elaborate and spectacular equestrian venues. Read More

Round 3 - Vote! Vote! Vote! Boone and Blowing Rock are still in the running for Blue Ridge Outdoors' Top Adventure Towns 2017! Round 3 is down to 12 "mountain biking meccas, paddling paradises, hiking nirvanas, and much more" contending for the top spot. Voting for the third round will be open until September 4th and you can vote once a day! You must be registered with the site to vote, but registration is free.

Boone and Blowing Rock are featured together. Vote Now!

Real Estate Report July was the busiest month in local real estate sales in almost a year as buyers were undeterred by a brief spike in interest rates. Those rates have since dropped to their lowest level so far this calendar year. At the same time, nationally, home prices are increasing as inventory tightens.  There were 204 homes worth $50.04 million sold locally in July according to the High Country Multiple Listing Service which tracks Realtor® activity within Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. Read More

Expanding Horizons: A Seminar for Small Businesses Entering Emerging Markets Tuesday, September 12th Omni Charlotte Hotel The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is set up by the federal government as a private corporation to assist businesses wishing to enter the international marketplace. OPIC is a quasi-government agency that assists business in this country who are looking to expand into the world market. They are conducting a seminar in Charlotte to fully explain what they do and how they can help.

Seminar is free and open to the public. Learn More & Register

CareerFest Discount for Chamber Members Tuesday, September 26th at 1 pm Appalachian State University CareerFest is Appalachian State University's largest and most comprehensive career event. Serving students and alumni of all majors and skills, the event is host to many companies, non-profits, healthcare and government agencies that are ready to network with students and introduce them to valuable internship and job opportunities.  Appalachian State University is offering members of the Blowing Rock or Boone Chambers a $50 registration discount in the “For Profit” category.  Questions? Contact Mary Kelly Glidewell at 828.262.2105 or glidewellmk@appstate.edu

Deadline for registration is September 12th. Registration fee includes table space at Holmes Convocation Center, parking and lunch for two representatives. For-Profit Chamber Member: $350 ($300 after discount) Government & Non-Profit Chamber Member: $125 Additional Representatives: $50 Online Registration

Welcome New Member: Yonahlossee Racquet Club Yonahlossee Racquet Club is an award winning tennis club and resort destination located between Boone and Blowing Rock in the mountains of Western North Carolina. For more information on membership, or to tour the facilities, contact Steven Rogers at 828.963.1800.

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Member Events & News

Fall Hours Village Cafe his now operating under Fall hours 8 am - 2 pm weekdays 8 am - 2:30 pm weekends Closed Mondays Although normally closed on Mondays, Village Cafe will be open on Labor Day.

Fall Exhibition Celebration Thursday, August 31st at 5:30 pm Blowing Rock Art and History Museum BRAHM invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of five new exhibitions during their Fall Exhibition Celebration. Free admission, live music & hors d'oeuvres.

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Groovy Nights Friday, September 1st at 7:30 pm Blowing Rock Country Club It's your last chance to catch everyone's favorite hilarious variety show! Tickets: $35 per person, cash bar. Questions? Call BRCC at 828.295.3171

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Garden of Biotanical Delights: Diane Soloman Kempler September 1st - January 6th Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Mayer Gallery Experience a captivating new exhibition, “Garden of Biotanical Delights". Diane Kempler’s colorful, wildly gesturing ceramic works reflect the richness of life seen through a microscope. Read More Save the Date: ArtTALKS Wednesday, September 6th at 6 pm

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5th Annual Blue Bear Music Festival Thursday - Saturday, September 7th - 9th Blue Bear Mountain Campground A 3-day music and camping experience like no other making it’s home on a gorgeous mountaintop outside of Boone, just minutes from the New River. This will be the highest quality lineup Blue Bear Mountain has ever seen featuring The Darrell Scott Bluegrass Band, The Steel Wheels, Larry Keel Experience, Acoustic Syndicate, Sol Driven Train, South Hill Banks, The Tim Carter Band, Sally & George, The Josh Daniels/Mark Schimick Project, Wil Maring & Robert Bowlin and more!

Multiple ticket packages available. Call 828.406.4226 or visit website for details.

Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Day Saturday, September 9th Mast General Store This year marks the 40th anniversary of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail. In celebration of the milestone, all Mast Stores in North Carolina are donating 10% of the day’s sales on September 9th to the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The stores will host volunteers and a Mountains-to-Sea Trail information table. A brochure will show the closest access to the trail from the store.

To learn more and find out how you can become more involved, visit the MST website.

Sculpture Dedication Saturday, September 9th at 5 pm Edgewood Cottage Everyone is invited to attend the dedication of the life size bronze sculpture "Elliott Daingerfield en Plein Air". The program will welcome Dr. Lawrence Wheeler, Director and CEO of the NC Museum of Art. A rare collection of Daingerfield paintings will be on display.

Grilling, Eating and Mingling Sunday, September 10th at 2 pm Rogers' Pavillion, Deep Gap Ladies, sign up today and join Watauga Women in Leadership to explore fun recipes on the grill, mingle and enjoy a late summer day together. Charles Rogers will be teaching grilling classes! Participants will divide up in groups and create appetizers, salads, entrees, sides & desserts on the grill. Join us and create a party while networking and having a blast with new and old friends!

Sign-Up Online

Blueprints & Bow Ties Call for Sponsors! Watauga County Habitat for Humanity will host Blueprints & Bow Ties Live Auction and Gala on October 19th. It will be a memorable evening supporting Habitat's mission of building homes, communities and hope. Please consider sponsoring this event! Watauga Habitat is changing lives one family at a time; your sponsorship is an investment in our community. Contact Allison Jennings at 828.268.9545 or allison@wataugahabitat.org for more information on premiere, platinum, gold, silver & bronze sponsorship opportunities!

Event tickets are on sale now! Purchase tickets online

Chamber Events, Information & Meetings

Blowing Rock Farmers Market: Thursdays at 4 pm, Park Avenue Chamber Board Meeting: Wednesday, September 6th at 8 am, Chamber Board Room EDC Entrepreneur & Business Development Sub-Committee Meeting: Thursday, September 7th at 3:30 pm, Chamber Office Art in the Park: Saturday, September 9th, 10 am - 5 pm, Park Avenue Sunday Concert in the Park: Sunday, September 10th at 4 pm, Memorial Park EDC Community Development Sub-Committee Meeting: Tuesday, September 12th at 4 pm, Chamber Office BR Young Professionals Meetup: Monday, September 11th at 5:30 pm, Blue Ridge Mountain Club Sales Office on Main Street Business Before Hours: Wednesday, September 13th at 8:30 am, The New Public House Village Foundation Board Meeting: Thursday, September 14th at 4 pm, Chamber Office Business After Hours: Tuesday, September 19th at 5:30 pm, Timberlake's at Chetola Chamber Executive Board Meeting: Tuesday, September 26th at 8 am, Chamber Office Partner Appreciation Dinner: Thursday, September 28th at 6 pm, BRAHM Call Charles, Loni or Billie at 828.295.7851 for information.