Weekly Village Update 12.6.18

Commerce Communications

Be "in the know" with Chamber news, local happenings & more!

Chamber Events & News

Last Chance for Holiday Party Tickets Deadline: Tomorrow, December 7th Tomorrow is your last chance to purchase a ticket for our annual Chamber Holiday Party. Join us at the Inn at Crestwood, December 11th at 6 pm for a special menu, cash bar, giveaways and live music. Tickets are $25 per person. Call Harrison at 828.295.7851 to secure your reservation.

Holiday Stroll December 7th, 5 pm - until... Hit the streets of Blowing Rock and finish (or start) your holiday shopping! Plan to be downtown for one of the most charming holiday events of the season. Enjoy holiday shopping with shops open late, live music in the gazebo, Santa & carolers walking around town, Makers Market at The Mountain Thread Company, Carolina Snowbelles dance performance, holiday cocktails and marshmallow roasting, and more! Learn More Facebook Event

WinterFest 2019 2 Deadlines Tomorrow & Volunteer Opportunities December 7th is the last day to reserve a custom ice sculpture for the Ice Stroll and to reserve a participant table for the Rotary Charity Chili Cookoff. Can you lend a hand during WinterFest weekend? There are a few volunteer opportunities available. Please email Sarah, or call 828.295.7851 for details.

A Warm Welcome for Famous Toastery A sunny Thursday morning, November 29th, brought out a crowd of Blowing Rock residents to celebrate the grand opening of the Famous Toastery, located at 349 Sunset Drive. Owners Dean and Beth Kessel expressed their appreciation for the warm welcome they've received in Blowing Rock. Attendees stayed awhile and visited over mini quiches, bread pudding coffee cake and hot coffee. Read More

New Years Eve Happenings Send us Details Is your business hosting a New Years Eve party, event or offering a special dining menu? Please email Harrison the details for the visitor's center! We may also use this information for a special section in an upcoming newsletter.

Blowing Rock Selected one of America's 100 Best Places to Retire Boone/Blowing Rock has been selected as a top retirement destination in the sixth edition of “America’s 100 Best Places to Retire,” a comprehensive guidebook of the country’s most appealing retirement towns. Editors and staff spent 11 months researching more than 800 cities. The final selection represents 35 states and includes eight North Carolina locales. Read More

WELCOME NEW MEMBER Sketchline Architecture Sketchline Architecture is a small practice based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western NC. We specialize in custom residential and commercial projects. Our designs emphasize a connection to the building's surroundings and the needs of its occupants. For more information, call 828.729.3290

Member Events & News

Winter Exhibition Celebration TONIGHT, 5 - 7 pm Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is hosting a reception to celebrate the latest changeover of exhibitions in the galleries. Hors d'oeuvres, drinks and music are offered throughout the evening. You'll have the chance to meet museum staff, exhibiting artists, featured historians and fellow cultural enthusiasts from across our High Country community. Learn More

New Year's Eve Dinner Reserve Your Spot Today Join Reid's Cafe & Catering for New Year's Eve dinner. You are highly encouraged to make reservations today! For more information, call 828.268.9600. Online Reservations

Winter Exhibition Celebration December 7th, 6 - 10 pm The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University invites the community to a Winter Exhibition Celebration. Festivities will include live music from Nate Harris and the Spice Creek Ramblers, savory refreshments, holiday cookies, hot cider and a cash bar. During this celebration, the Turchin Center will celebrate three new exhibitions and the artists will be on-hand to meet visitors and provide insight into their intriguing work. Read More Learn More

Ongoing Entertainment Nightly: Music at Woodlands BBQ Thursdays: Tunes at The Trout at The Speckled Trout Thursday-Saturday: Live Entertainment at Chetola Fridays: Live Music at Town Tavern, and Welter Entertainment Karaoke in Banner Elk Fridays & Saturdays: Charlie Ellis at Green Park Inn Saturdays: Karaoke at Town Tavern

Chamber Information and Meetings

Holiday Stroll: Friday, December 7th, 5 - 8 pm, Downtown Blowing Rock Chamber Holiday Party: Tuesday, December 11th at 6 pm, Inn at Crestwood Board of Directors Meeting: Wednesday, January 9th at 8 am High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast: Thursday, January 24th at 7:30 am, Appalachian Ski Mtn All meetings are held in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.

Ribbon Cutting at Famous Toastery

A sunny Thursday morning, November 29th, brought out a crowd of Blowing Rock residents to celebrate the grand opening of the Famous Toastery, located at 349 Sunset Drive. Owners Dean and Beth Kessel expressed their appreciation for the warm welcome they've received in Blowing Rock. Attendees stayed awhile and visited over mini quiches, bread pudding coffee cake and hot coffee.

Photo credit Thomas Sherrill, The Blowing Rocket Newspaper

The Kessels also operate two other Famous Toastery locations in North Carolina, but they have a special tie to the High Country with two of their children attending Appalachian State University. The franchise's unique offerings include the "every server is your server" system, four-to-eight minute ticket times, and sourcing of fresh and local ingredients. Be sure to check out the Toastery for breakfast or lunch, served seven days a week from 7 am to 3 pm, and welcome the Kessels to our community!

Weekly Village Update 11.29.18

Commerce Communications

Be "in the know" with Chamber news, local happenings & more!

Holiday Stroll December 7th, 5 pm - until... Hit the streets of Blowing Rock and finish (or start) your holiday shopping! Plan to be downtown for one of the most charming holiday events of the season. It’s like a town-wide holiday open house and an evening of fun surrounded by the twinkling lights of the season. Enjoy holiday shopping with shops open late, live music in the gazebo, Santa & carolers walking around town, craft market, Carolina Snowbelles dance performance, holiday cocktails and marshmallow roasting, and more! Learn More Facebook Event

Bragging Rights: Amazing work happening in our Community, Government & Education Committee Our Blowing Rock Chamber has several committees that are doing AMAZING work for our members.  Historically, we haven't slowed down long enough to brag about these big projects. We would like to take a moment to update YOU - our members, on the important advocacy work our Community, Government & Education Committee (CG&E) has completed this year.  This committee has had such an impact on our Chamber and area that we hope you will take the time to read this update, and understand what an impact we can make together! Read more 

Mayview Plaza Project We are happy to report that the Mayview Plaza project is now complete... in time for the holidays! A big thank you to 4 Forty Four for completing the final piece of the design, and to all who helped make this project possible! 

Real Estate Report Local real estate sales eclipsed 200 for the fourth consecutive month in October, as sales year-to-date continue to be the highest in more than 10 years. Realtors® sold 225 homes worth $64.51 million in October, according to the High Country Multiple Listing Service. It records all Realtor sales in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. Read More

Tar Heel State's Workplace Injury and Illness Rate Drops to a Historic Low New figures show North Carolina’s nonfatal workplace injury and illness rate for private industry declined to a historic low in 2017. The 2017 rate is 2.3 cases per 100 full-time workers, a drop from 2.5 in 2016. The Tar Heel state remains one of the safest states in which to work with a rate below the national rate of 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers. Read More

Chamber Holiday Party Tickets Deadline Approaching Join us at the Inn at Crestwood, December 11th at 6 pm for our annual Chamber Holiday Party. Enjoy a special menu, cash bar, giveaways and live music. Tickets are $25 per person. Call Harrison at 828.295.7851 to secure your reservation. Deadline to purchase tickets is December 7th.

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WinterFest 2019 Important Deadlines Deadlines to participate in several events are quickly approaching. Reserve your spot(s) today; don't wait until it's too late! WinterFeast: Deadline to reserve a table to serve at WinterFeast is November 30th. Ice Stroll: Deadline to reserve a custom ice sculpture for the stroll is December 7th. Charity Chili Challenge: Deadline to reserve a challenge participant table is December 7th. Questions? Email Sarah or call 828.295.7851.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER Tammy Taylor Interiors At Tammy Taylor Interiors we believe design is for everyone. We know that our clients want to concentrate their resources on what matters... the "pretty stuff", not the consultation fees it takes to make it happen. That is why we keep our fees low and the customer service we provide high. Every project is different as is every budget. Everyone deserves the time and attention needed to make their home a beautiful place to live. For more information call 704.842.3969. Visit Website

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Give the gift of Westglow this holiday season! Take advantage of Westglow’s annual Holiday Gift Certificate Sale Print or email a gift certificate for someone!

Member Events & News

Festival of Trees November 29th - December 2nd Join Western Youth Network at Chetola Resort and stroll through a room brimming with holiday cheer! Open to the public with admission by donation. Over 75 themed trees and wreaths will be on display and available for purchase by silent auction! Bid on your favorite fully decorated tree that even comes with presents! Facebook Event

Winter Exhibition Celebration December 6th, 5 - 7 pm Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is hosting a reception to celebrate the latest changeover of exhibitions in the galleries. Hors d'oeuvres, drinks and music are offered throughout the evening. You'll have the chance to meet museum staff, exhibiting artists, featured historians and fellow cultural enthusiasts from across our High Country community. Learn More

Winter Exhibition Celebration December 7th, 6 - 10 pm The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University invites the community to a Winter Exhibition Celebration. Festivities will include live music from Nate Harris and the Spice Creek Ramblers, savory refreshments, holiday cookies, hot cider and a cash bar. During this celebration, the Turchin Center will celebrate three new exhibitions and the artists will be on-hand to meet visitors and provide insight into their intriguing work. Read More Learn More

Chamber Information and Meetings

Board of Directors Retreat: Thursday, December 6th at 9 am, Blue Ridge Mountain Club Holiday Stroll: Friday, December 7th, 5 - 8 pm, Downtown Blowing Rock Chamber Holiday Party: Tuesday, December 11th at 6 pm, Inn at Crestwood Board of Directors Meeting: Wednesday, January 9th at 8 am High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast: Thursday, January 24th at 7:30 am, Appalachian Ski Mtn All meetings are held in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.