That’s why Tricia and I recruited a small posse of (carefully-quarantined) friends to join us at Cashiers Valley Smokehouse

Over the course of the last year, Tricia had been slowly succumbing to the pernicious social cocooning madness. She’s a deeply social woman who thrives on conversation, and sharing a meal with friends, and warm, reassuring touches for her patients.

Zoom sessions and tele-health checkups were taking their toll on something precious inside. 

We arrived at Cashiers Valley Smokehouse on an early Friday evening and sat around a table with our small troupe of beloved, seldom-seen friends. 

It was an immediate balm for Tricia’s stressed psyche. 

For me, the comfort came from settling into a place that understood, really understood, Southern Barbecue.

As I’ve noted here before, I’m the product of a mixed marriage – Mom was raised in the Church of Sweet Tomato-Based Sauce, and Dad was a staunch Eastern Carolina Vinegar Man (the product of his upbringing in then-rural Guilford County). Somehow the marriage worked, which I suppose is testament to the transcendent power of Love, and is best left to philosophers and theologians. 

We were serious about barbecue. We once made a two-hour drive through the nighttime wilds of  middle Georgia to dine at Sweat’s Barbecue outside of Sandersville, after one of Dad’s Army buddies at Fort Benning had grown rhapsodic about a pulled pork sandwich.

(On a side note: My particular faith promises that at some as-yet undisclosed time, I’ll be admitted into Paradise. If it turns out that Big Mike Sweat is not serving up that glorious pulled pork and slabs of ribs, I plan to complain to Management. Of course, Big Mike’s notion of Paradise may not involve slaving over a pit of blazing hickory logs for Eternity, but let’s leave that to the team of theologians already trying to decipher my parents’ marriage.)

Our table wasn’t shy about diving into our meals. There were traditional pulled pork sandwiches, a half-chicken lovingly prepared, brisket, and a rack of St. Louis Style Ribs. 

There’s barbecued pork, beef and chicken, and all the traditional sides. And this is important – they offer a full range of homemade sauces. You’d be surprised at how many barbecue places don’t even try anymore. It makes serving barbecue to a crowd of (again, safely-distanced) friends so much more harmonious. 

Speaking of harmony, though we all settled in to the serious business of eating, everyone, everyone, had a barbecue story. Some were poignant, laced with memories of happier times, populated by people who’d long ago departed. Some were uproarious, and have only gotten funnier with the steady accretion of time. 

This is Comfort Food, and it’s more precious than ever in this strange, unsettled age.  

Oh, and perhaps it’s the time to try something new, to find a Contemporary Comfort Food to carry us through whatever the 21st century has in store for next year.

Let me just offer this suggestion – Smokehouse Nachos. It’s a startling melange of your choice of chicken, pork, or brisket, blended with wonton chips, black beans, queso, mango-pineapple salsa, cilantro and beans. This will play your taste buds like a xylophone. 

We shared our meal inside, in the warmly-appointed Dining Room, but it was a chilly February evening.

Speaking to you who are luxuriating in a beautiful spring, see if you can’t snag a table on the patio. These are meals to be enjoyed outdoors. 

Or place your order to go, and carry your selections to The Village Green which – and I have no quantifiable proof, just a very lucky feeling – is the Finest Picnic Spot in the Southeast.

Cashiers Valley Smokehouse is located at 281 US 64 West. It’s open from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Wednesday through Saturday; and 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Sunday.

The post Sauce it Up and Savor It | Cashiers Valley Smokehouse appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

Cashiers

June 30–July 1: “Pots on the Green” at the Village Green Gazebo is a two-day festival celebrating the area’s rich pottery history from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.

July 1: “Red, White and Blue Ridge” is a 5k run to benefit Blue Ridge School at 8:00 A.M. 

July 1: Friends of Lake Glenville Annual Fireworks at the Point at Lake Glenville at 9:00 P.M.

July 4: Fireworks Extravaganza on The Green at the Village Green Commons, festivities begin at 6:30 P.M. featuring a concert by Continental Divide, followed by fireworks at dusk.

Highlands

July 4: Festivities at the Town Ballfield: 

9:00 A.M. – Build Your Own Water Bottle Rocket

11:00 A.M. — Family Game Fun

July 4: Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park Annual Rotary Barbecue at 11:00 A.M.

July 4: Mill Creek Rotary Duck Derby at 2:00 P.M.

July 4: Concert at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park at 6:00 P.M. featuring Silly Ridge Roundup.

July 4: The Highlands Presbyterian Church Patriotic Men’s sing at 8:00 P.M.

July 4: Town Fireworks start at 9:00 P.M.

The post The Plateau’s Patriotic Events appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

What is an outhouse race you ask?  Well, imagine watching someone dressed in a crazy outfit, climb into a decorated outhouse built on skis, sit on a toilet seat, and fly down the slopes, all while attempting to stay upright without crashing into the banks.  That’s a taste of Sapphire Valley’s annual Outhouse Races, an event enjoyed annually by hundreds of cheering spectators.

Want to get in on the fun and enter your own creative throne? The entry rules are simple: you must register in advance and your outhouse must be five feet tall, be equipped with a toilet seat and toilet paper, and be built on skis of course.  Beyond those requirements, outhouses are encouraged to be creatively decorated, and the more outlandish the participant’s costume, the better. 

Past participants included themes like “Who Cut the Cheese?,” “Redneck Wishing Well,” and a clown dressed up in an outhouse named “Party Poopers.”  Free to watch, the Outhouse Races are a spirited event full of creativity and humor.  It’s an afternoon of fun you won’t want to miss.

The 2018 Outhouse Races will be on February 17.  The afternoon starts out with a parade to view all the outhouses, followed by racing at 3:00 P.M.  Details are available at skisapphirevalley.com/great-outhouse-races.  All proceeds of the event benefit local charities. 

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Let’s see, dogs? Check. Floats?   Check. Marching Band? Check. Santa Claus?  Of course!  The 43rd Annual Cashiers Christmas Parade has them all and some entries that might surprise you.

Saturday, December 9, is the date and the theme is “Silver and Gold Bells: It’s Christmas Time in the Village,” in celebration of The Village Green’s 25th anniversary and the Cashiers Glenville Volunteer Fire Department’s 50th anniversary, who will be serving as Grand Marshals.  Sponsors include the Cullasaja Club, Hattler Properties, Landmark Realty Group, Old Cashiers Realty, Harris Custom Builders and Zoller Hardware.

This year’s theme is especially important.  Can you imagine Cashiers without The Village Green?  It’s the center of the community and plays a most important role in the life of Cashiers Valley.  The Cashiers Glenville Fire Department was founded in 1967 and its service covers approximately 130 square miles, including the communities of Cashiers, Sapphire Valley, Glenville, Big Ridge, Yellow Mountain, Pine Creek, Norton, Breedlove, and Heady Mountain.  Both of these organizations deserve to be celebrated in grand style and you can expect to see lots of silver and gold on the parade route.

The parade will start at noon at Cashiers School Road, near Cornucopia Restaurant.  It then travels north on Highway 107 to the Crossroads where Parade Emcees will announce participants via the amplification system.  The parade then turns left and continues on Highway 64 West ending at the Community Center on Frank Allen Road, for the traditional Cashiers Cares free lunch and photos with Santa.  Bring your cameras and start a family tradition the hometown way.

For those who can’t be there in person, they can watch the live streaming broadcast at live.HighSouthAdventures.com.

For more information on this year’s Cashiers Area Christmas Parade, Saturday, December 9, contact Eli Ramirez at (828) 743-5191 or at info@CashiersAreaChamber.com. Rain date is set for Sunday, December 10.

The post Cashiers NC Silver & Gold Bells Parade appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

The theme is “Silver and Gold Bells: It’s Christmas Time in the Village.” In celebration of The Village Green’s 25th anniversary and the Cashiers Glenville Volunteer Fire Department’s 50th anniversary, you’re encouraged to feature the silver and gold theme in your entry this year.

Having trouble thinking of something? No problem. The are several creative volunteers standing by to help you brainstorm ideas, just get in touch with the Chamber. When it comes to how to dress and decorate for the parade, theme or holiday adornment is required, so it’s time to pull out those reindeer hats and all your red and green (and gold and silver) if you plan to  join in the fun.

If you want to sit back and watch the fun, the parade route starts at Cashiers School Road near Cornucopia Restaurant. It then travels north on Highway 107 to the Crossroads, where Parade Emcees will announce participants via the amplification system. The parade then turns left and continues on Highway 64 West ending at the Community Center on Frank Allen Road, for the traditional Cashiers Cares free lunch and photos with Santa!

If you’ve never experienced the village parade, you’re in for a treat. You can expect lots of dogs, lots of children, and lots of wild and wacky vehicles, but all of them will stay true to this year’s theme of silver and gold. It’s always a treat to see how the parade entries manage to follow the guidelines.

For more information on this year’s Cashiers Area Christmas Parade, Saturday, December 9, contact Eli Ramirez at (828) 743-5191 or at info@CashiersAreaChamber.com.

The post Kicking off Christmas in Cashiers appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

This date needs no explanation.  American Independence Day. Barbecue, hot dogs and hamburgers, and fireworks abound.  

But there’s more to it than that. This is the day, above all others, where people set aside their differences and come together as Americans.  What better way to do that than with a vibrant mountain community?  

This Independence Day, come on out to The Village Green in Cashiers for an evening of food, music, and of course, fireworks. 

The annual Fireworks Extravaganza on the Green will take place at 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday, July 4, at The Village Green Commons.  Entertainment will be provided in the form of the rhythm and blues band Continental Divide, as well as a 30-minute fireworks show featuring over 1,000 colorful bursts. 

Admission is free, however, donations will be collected to help with the cost of the event.  Many small communities have eliminated fireworks from their celebrations due to the costs of a large pyrotechnic display, but The Village Green believes it’s important to preserve this patriotic tradition for the Cashiers community.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase, but attendees are encouraged to bring picnics and coolers of their own.  We hope to see you all there, and God Bless America!

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 The Fireworks Extravaganza On the Green will begin at 6:30 P.M. Tuesday, July 4, at The Village Green Commons on Frank Allen Road.  The festivities include a live concert by Continental Divide, a band featuring kicking horns and smooth vocals that will have people dancing on the lawn.  The crowning moment of the night will be the magnificent fireworks show. 

“Come to The Village Green and watch the rockets’ red glare, and every other color in the rainbow,” said Ann Self, Executive Director.  “The show has more than 1,000 colorful salutes, crowns, and brilliant bursts to light up the mountain night sky.”

Admission is free, however donations to a community fireworks fund will be collected at popular parking locations and at The Village Green to help with the cost of the event.  Many small towns have been forced to eliminate fireworks because of the expense of putting on a pyrotechnic display. 

“The Village Green thinks it’s important to celebrate America’s birthday with a fireworks show for the community –  it’s an important tradition,” states Joe Thompson, Chairman of The Village Green Board of Directors.

The Village Green is a 12.5-acre park that was created to preserve the legacy of the bucolic mountain lifestyle.  The Village Green is the beautiful, “green heart” for public use but relies on private funding to provide this exceptional venue for everyone to enjoy.  

“Events like the fireworks extravaganza would not be possible without the generous support of our donors,” Self pointed out.  For more information about The Village Green, visit villagegreencashiersnc.com.

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