Weekly Village Update 11.9.17

Chamber Events & News

Silent Auction During Hometown Harvest to Benefit Rehab of Parks & Rec Community Space This Sunday, November 12th, 5 pm - 7 pm Blowing Rock School Auditorium The auction, hosted by the Blowing Rock Leadership Challenge group, will feature goods & services from around the Blowing Rock Community.  100% of the proceeds will go towards renovating the heavily used Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation space that hosts community fitness classes, summer camps, holiday festivals and more throughout the year. Donations to the project can also be made at the Chamber.

Donations Accepted! For more information contact Kelly Cox at 252.287.3774 or blowingrockleaders@gmail.com

Business After Hours Tuesday, November 21st at 5:30 pm The Inn at Crestwood Don't miss the LAST Business After Hours of the season! Join us at the beautiful Inn at Crestwood for a fun fall evening of networking & nibbles! Don't forget your business card!

Thanksgiving Weekend is Just Around the Corner!

Thanksgiving weekend is special in Blowing Rock! Several restaurants and eateries will be open on Thanksgiving Day to welcome you! Click here for a list. We encourage you to call now to check availability. Reservations are required at most and seatings will sell out! Don't miss Christmas in the Park on Friday, November 24th and the Holiday Parade on Saturday, November 25th! Click here for details. Plus, the local Choose & Cut Christmas Tree season gets underway during Thanksgiving weekend. Make time to get your family tree at a local farm!

For more events, visit the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce online calendar!

Hotels & Restaurants: We Need Your WinterFest Promotions! It's that time of year again! Blowing Rock WinterFest is just around the corner! It's our 20TH YEAR! Let's make it the best yet! We want to promote your business, but need your help. Please provide your lodging package information or comfort food items and we will include you on the WinterFest website! Please contact Harrison at 828.295.7851 or harrison@blowingrock.com with your information!

A change at the Chamber: Billie Rogers is no longer with the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. If you were working with Billie on WinterFest or other Chamber events and/or projects, please contact Loni Miller, Director of Membership Services at 828.295.7851 or loni@blowingrock.com.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for SBA 2018 Business Week Awards SBA is now accepting nominations for its 2018 National Small Business Week Awards, including the Small Business Person of the Year. Since 1963, National Small Business Week has recognized the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for their contributions to their local communities and to our nation’s economy. Do you know the 2018 SBA North Carolina Small Business Person of the Year?  Is it YOU?

Nomination Forms

Register Now for the 2018 High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast Tuesday, January 9th at 7:30 am Appalachian Ski Mountain, Snowcloud Room Register now and mark your calendars for the 2018 High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast hosted by Dr. Harry Davis. Dr. Davis, Professor of Banking and Economist for the North Carolina Banking Association, will provide the keynote address as he delivers his 2018 forecast. Cost: $10 per person.

To register, call Harrison at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce 828.295.7851or email harrison@blowingrock.com

Member Events & News

Members in the News!

Ugga Mugga Bakery Photo by Tim Robison Ugga Mugga Bakery's pear-cranberry galette graced the cover of WNC Magazine's November/December 2017 issue! See Cover

Green Park Inn Photo by Charles Harris The Green Park Inn is featured in Our State Magazine's article, "The Green Park Inn is Giving the American Chestnut a Place to Shine". Read Story

New General Manager at Chetola Bradley Anderholm, whose background includes more than 30 years of hospitality administration experience, takes the helm as General Manager of Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock, as Margaret Holder steps down following 27 years of service. Read More

Now at The Speckled Trout

Book Your Holiday Party Now! The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop is now accepting reservations for your holiday parties!

Lunchbox Special The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop offers a $9 Lunchbox Special, Mon-Thu, 11am-3pm!

For more information, or to book your party, call 828.295.9819, email: info@thespeckledtrout.com or visit: thespeckledtrout.com

Share the Warmth Now through November 30th Mast General Stores Winter is just around the corner! Mast Store is helping Share the Warmth in all its communities by holding a coat collection. Columbia Sportswear, Mast Store’s vendor partner, is making a donation of new coats, jackets and fleeces to keep the chill away too. Donations made at the Original Mast Store & Annex and the Mast Store in Boone will go to Hunger and Health Coalition and Hospitality House. The new outerwear from Columbia is going to students in the Watauga County School System. Donations should be clean and gently used, so they are ready for the recipient. Blankets, gloves, hats and heavy sweaters are also accepted.

For more information, call 828.963.6511 or 828.262.0000.

Wonderful Women Sunday, November 12th, 2 pm - 5 pm Stickboy Kitchen The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is excited to partner with Anna Banana’s and Stick Boy Kitchen for our Wonderful Women clothing drive! On November 12th, drop by Stick Boy Kitchen (across from the Wellness Center on Boone Heights Drive) and donate your gently used clothing. While you are there enjoy a tasting opportunity of the Wonderful Women Cookie, a limited release by Stick Boy!

Learn More

Locals Night Sunday, November 12th, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Chestnut Grille at Green Park Inn Locals Night every Sunday beginning November 12th. Live music by Holden Bare and other local favorites! Food & drink specials and discounts.  Specials while supplies last, discounts all evening long!

For more information, call 828.414.9230

Breaking the Glass Ceiling Tuesday, November 14th at 5:30 pm Appalachian State University Athletics Center Watauga Women in Leadership invites you to an evening hosted by Chancellor Sheri Everts, featuring Senator Deanna Ballard. Senator Ballard will be talking about Breaking the Glass Ceiling for women.  Free to attend! Light hors d’oeuvres provided.

Register Online

Book Your Holiday Party at The Blowing Rock Ale House & Brewery The holidays are just around the corner and finding the right venue for your special occasion can be a challenge. Good news, we can help! The Blowing Rock Ale House & Brewery provides custom holiday party packages to meet the needs of your gathering. Contact us to schedule your holiday party by calling 828.414.9005.

Upcoming at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Coffee with the Curator Comic Stripped: A Revealing Look at Southern Stereotypes in Cartoons Tuesday, November 14th at 11 am Take a walk through the galleries with the Curator and get a behind-the-scenes look into "Comic Stripped: A Revealing Look at Southern Stereotypes in Cartoons." Guests are invited to converse and pose questions while enjoying complimentary cookies (courtesy of Appalachia Cookie Co.) and coffee (courtesy of Hatchet Coffee Co.) with the Curator at the Museum. Learn More

The True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Lee Adams' Appalachia Thursday, November 16th at 7 pm An audience favorite at Sundance, The True Meaning of Pictures is an introduction to the work of photographer Shelby Lee Adams. Born in Eastern Kentucky, Adams has devoted 30 years of his life to visiting and making portraits of families living in Appalachia, those who have been misrepresented in the media and derogatorily referred to as “hillbillies.” Learn More

Us the Duo Friday, November 17th at 7 pm Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Their crisp, affecting pop delivers its intimate emotion in the same way Us The Duo has always communicated with their fans: directly, and from the heart. “Just Love,” the first album by the Southern California-based couple since 2014’s “No Matter Where You Are” was recorded at The Smoakstack Studio in Nashville with co-producer Nathan Thomas. Their soulful new album reflects the couple’s musical bedrock – the soul of Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson and Prince, hip-hop forebears like Lauryn Hill, and the jazz that inspired Michael when he was learning to play piano.

Tickets: $20 adults / $15 staff / $10 student  Learn More & Purchase Tickets

The Inn at Crestwood's Thanksgiving Buffet Thursday, November 23rd, 12 pm - 7 pm Join The Inn at Crestwood for their annual Thanksgiving Day Buffet! Please call 828.963.6646 for reservations!

Visit Website

Thanksgiving Weekend at Chetola Resort Friday & Saturday, November 24th & 25th Only a couple of more weeks until the holidays are in full swing at Chetola. The annual Thanksgiving Weekend events return with carriage rides, cookies and Santa! Also a special meet-and-greet and book signing of "Bob Timberlake's Letter to Home."

Visit Website

SNIPS Craft Sale Saturday, November 25th, 11 am - 4 pm Mast General Store Annex, Valle Crucis Get an early start on your holiday shopping! There will be an array of handmade crafts including jewelry, notecards, coasters & trivets, dog & cat toys, bandanas, knitted hats, blankets, scarves, magnets, college themed items, holiday items and much more!  Proceeds benefit Watauga Humane Society's spay-neuter community assistance programs.

Be sure to check our website calendar often for more events! The calendar is updated regularly with local and area happenings.

Community Events & News

Veteran's Day Saturday, November 11th There will be two different opportunities to commemorate Veteran's Day in Blowing Rock. Local veterans will gather in Memorial Park with American Legion 256 on Saturday at 11 am for a community ceremony. All are welcome. Tanger Outlets will also be recognizing the holiday on Saturday by honoring a local veteran and unveiling a special mural created to honor vets in our community. Their program begins at 11 am.

10th Annual Hometown Harvest Sunday, November 12th, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Blowing Rock School Gym Bring your favorite covered dish to share and enjoy dinner with your community! Enter your cake in the cake decorating contest! The Blowing Rock Leadership Challenge Group will hold a silent auction. Please consider bringing a donation for Casting Bread Food Pantry!

Blood Drive Monday, November 13th, 7 am - 12:30 pm Watauga High School Call or text 828.406.2861 to sign-up!

Christmas in the Park Friday & Saturday, November 24th & 25th Downtown Blowing Rock Friday visit Santa and enjoy hayrides, hot chocolate, bounces houses and much more. Don't miss the Christmas Parade on Main Street, Saturday at 2 pm!

For more information, call 828.295.5222

Chamber Events, Information & Meetings

Chamber Board Retreat: Wednesday, November 15th, American Legion Business After Hours: Tuesday, November 21st at 5:30 pm, The Inn at Crestwood Christmas Parade: Saturday, November 25th at 2 pm, Main Street Small Business Saturday: Saturday, November 25th, Shop Local Small Businesses Chamber Executive Board Meeting: Tuesday, November 28th at 8 am, Chamber Office Chamber Board Meeting: Wednesday, December 6th at 8 am, Chamber Office Ribbon Cutting: Friday, December 8th at 4:30 pm, BRAHM Gift Shop Holiday Stroll: Friday, December 8th at 5 pm, Downtown Blowing Rock Chamber Christmas Party: Wednesday, December 13th, The Gamekeeper Restaurant