Highlands North Carolina is blessed to have a very active Rotary Club with extraordinary Rotarians who are dedicated to making Highlands NC the best it can be.    Two of their largest events are just around the corner.  

On Friday evening  April 29th, Monte Carlo Night will be held at Highlands Country Club.     Members of the Rotary Club will host table games, craps and roulette with all proceeds benefitting Rotary philanthropies.   For $60 per person, which includes $15 worth of chips, gamers will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer while they try their luck at the tables.      This evening of fun and excitement will all take place in the magnificent Highlands Country Club clubhouse which went through a $10 million renovation in 2005.

Then on May 29th, golfers from around the area will have a rare opportunity to tee it up on Highlands oldest country club, where legendary golfer Bobby Jones hit the first ball on the course.   Highlands Country Club was designed by legendary Scottish course architect Donald Ross and built in 1928.   Bobby Jones was an early member of the club and honed his skills on the course and practice range before achieving the grand slam.    The cost is $150 per person which included lunch on the course, beverages and prizes.    In addition to the 11am shotgun start, golfers will be challenged with closest to the pin and longest drive contests. 

The Rotary Club of Highlands is grateful for the support of Highlands Country Club again for these two events which put over $15,000 back into the community last year.   Many community organizations benefit from Rotary’s support including The Literacy Council, The Food Pantry, and Highlands School.   Please call any Rotarian or Brian Stiehler at 828.787.2778 for details or reservations for the tournament.

For more information on activities on The Highlands Plateau, give any of the brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty a call at 828.526.1717 or email us at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.    We are your experts, not just for real estate but for all things Highlands.

Plan your visit to Highlands North Carolina for April 29th through May 1st to kick off the 2011 culinary season with Wine and Dine on the Mountain.  

This special weekend will captivate all of your senses through fine meals, accompanied by fine wines and the artistic talents of Thomas Arvid.    Arvid has been named one of the top “25 Artists You Should Know” by US Art magazine.  His compositions of wine invite friends to appreciate the sharing of a great bottle, accompanied by tasteful food and lively conversation. 

The first event is a “Blue Jeans, Bluegrass Spring Harvest Barn Dinner” at the Farm of Old Edwards on Friday evening, featuring Whitehall Lane Wines.    On Saturday, Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro on Main Street will feature W.H. Smith Winery at a four course wine dinner at 7pm.    Finally, on Sunday, finish off the weekend with a delicious Jazz, Wine and Art Brunch at Madison’s Restaurant in the Old Edwards Inn.

The Old Edwards Inn and Spa is offering special accommodation packages throughout the spring.  This Five Star resort and spa has been named the #1 Hotel Spa in North America by Conde` Nast readers.    Seating for all events is limited.  To make reservations, call 828-787-2625 or 828-526-3807.    For additional information visit www.oldedardsinn.com/wineanddine.    

The Highlands experts at Meadows Mountain Realty can help you with all things Highlands, not just real estate but all your should know for a visit to the mountains.  Call us today at 828-526-1717 or contact us by email at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.   

If you are a pet owner and want to put a smile on your face, visit the Woof Gang  Bakery  in downtown Cashiers.    Perhaps you’ve seen the ads on TV featuring smiling dogs…well, the products offered by the Martin Family will put smiles on your dogs’ faces too!

This coming Thursday, April 7 from 4 pm to 6pm,  Dan and Janet Martin  along with their children will be hosting an open house with wine and treats for human guests and exotic treats baked in-house for their pets.      Having vacationed in Cashiers for more than 15 years, their love of the area and the community led to their decision to make Cashiers their home.   The Martin family, including daughter Joy and son Jonathan, has always been involved in community service and they are committed to supporting the Cashiers Highlands Humane Society.  When Jonathan is not in school, you will most likely see him working with Janet at Woof Gang Bakery  making this a true family business.

This Dog Treat Bakery and Pet Boutique Franchise opened one year ago.  Catering to the Highlands Area’s Health-conscious Pet Owners and Pampered Pups, they are open year ’round and provide a continuing source of pleasure to their customers.    Founded in Orlando, Florida about four years ago, Woof Gang Bakery, the franchise, has been growing rapidly, nationwide. This store is located in the heart of Cashiers at 11 Pillar Drive, up behind the Tommy’s Restaurant building off Hwy 107 South.   Their phone, appropriately, is 828-743-WOOF (9663).

We visited the store last Friday and amidst the fragrance of sheets of dog cookies fresh from the oven,  learned that Janet had just returned from the Global Pet Show in Orlando where she  previewed new pet care products and ideas which she could introduce to the Highlands-Cashiers market.

 The furry and four-legged member of their family is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Brady (after Tom Brady the football player). Brady brought tremendous comfort and healing to the Martin family after the loss of their eldest son Jacob. “We have seen first-hand that these incredible creatures bring so much joy to people,” said Janet.

The Martin family’s enthusiasm is evident the minute you walk in their door. Their bright, vibrant array of pet products for cats and dogs, and caring customer service to Cashiers and Highlands residents and visitors is immediately evident.      “Our approach is very simple  greet everyone with a warm smile and hello, and provide for their pets’ needs and wants,” added Janet.  “We wanted to give back to a community that has so warmly wrapped our family in their arms. We love the people here and the simplicity of life they embrace.  Our guiding principle is care, share and always do what is right!”

Woof Gang Bakery Cashiers specializes in healthy, natural pet foods and treats, including hypoallergenic, wheat-free and grain-free selections, plus food, treats and supplements specially formulated for hip and joint issues.  The store offers a variety of fun, fuzzy, floatable and tough toys, as well as fashionable accessories, collars and leads, and a wide range of pet grooming products.    Special order requests are welcome and delivery service to local homes, resorts and businesses is available.

To put a smile on your pet’s face or for more information please call them at  828-743-WOOF (9663) or visit Woofgang’s online at  http://www.woofgangbakery.com/locations/cashiers.asp.      This post has been provided by Bill Peavey with Meadows Mountain Realty.    Bill can help you with Highlands NC and Cashiers NC real estate, or provide he can also provide information on all that is offered on The Highlands Plateau.   Call Bill at 828-526-1717 or visit us online at www.meadowsmtnrealty.com. 

The Old Edwards Inn and Spa is pleased to annouce ”In Your Own Skin”, A Complimentary, Hands-On Wellness Weekend.     March 24-27, 2011.     The Art, Science and Inner Wisdom of Skin, Beauty and Confidence.   

True beauty begins with joy and confidence, being comfortable in your own skin.      Embark on a journey of true joy and beauty through self-discovery.   Find out what options are available for the real beauty issues that are still remaining.   Enjoy free presentations, demonstrations and round table discussions on healthy skin and graceful aging with experts on inner beauty, confidence and nutrition to medical esthetics and plastic surgery.

Attend any single event or every event each day.     Please call ahead to express your intent to attend this free event at 828.787.2625, so that plans for your food and beverage samples and seating space for discussions can be pre-arranged.   Pre-callers will be eligible for prizes at the event.   For more information please call 828-526-8008. 

The Old Edwards Inn and Spa was voted the  #1 Hotel Spa in North America by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers in 2010.   Even more amazing is that The Spa at Old Edwards received the first ever perfect score in the 20-year history of the competition.    The mountains in the Highlands NC area are said to have a healing power all their own.  And the minute you enter The Spa at Old Edwards Inn you’ll feel that energy.      This is the second event in a series of three wellness workshops that tap into the minds and spirits of noted life and wellness experts to help you embark on your best life ever.

For information on real estate in the Highlands NC area, please call the expert brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty, 828-526-1717.     Stop by our website at www.meadowsmtnrealty.com.   

The best of Highlands amateur chefs will square off on March 12th at the Highlands Community Building for the annual Chili Cook-off.      Every year around this time, when it is still a bit chilly outside, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce organizes a chili cook off and each year is a little different from the previous one.    This year, the theme is ‘Western’.     So get out your boots, bandanas, hats and chaps - come on over at 6:30pm for a toe tappin’ good time!

If you would like to enter the event as a competitor and stir up your best chili recipe, bake your special cornbread or introduce your family’s secret salsa recipe,  contact Jan Healey at the Highlands Chmaber of Commerce –  by phone at (828)526-5841, email her at visitor@highlandschamber.org, or fax in your request at (828) 526-5803.   Don’t wait too long to enter, space is limited and it is filling up fast!

If you would rather eat than cook, tickets will be sold at the door, $20 (doors open at 6:30pm) and children 12 and under get in FREE.   Soft drinks, beer and wine will be served to help cleanse your palate and put out the fire.   But that’s not all, vote to decide the winners of the evening’s competition - your ‘favorite chili’, ‘hottest chili ‘AND ‘most unusual’ .    Country music will set the mood for the evening, so you can be sure there will be dancin’ and we’ll bet, even some singin’ going on!

Stay on top of all the best events in Highlands NC by visiting our website at www.meadowsmtnrealty.com.    Our brokers are always happy to help you in any way that we can to learn more about the Highlands area or to find your special place in the mountains.     Call us at 828-526-1717 or send us an email at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Highlands NC has long been noted for it’s extraordinary restaurants and talented chefs.    From regional Italian and German cuisine, to down home southern cooking, dining is a delightful and varied experience at any of the wonderful restaurants in and around Highlands.      

On Saturday, March 5th, four of the top local chefs will face off in a “Iron Chef” competition that will feature a dual competition of two chefs with the winner facing off in the finals.   Chef Nick Figel of Cyprus Restaurant will defend his “King of the Mountain” title against last year’s runner up Johannes Klapdor of Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden plus two other invited chefs.   

Make your reservation by calling 828-526-4419.   This culinary event starts at 3pm and runs until 7:45 pm at Cyprus Restaurant, located at 470 Dillard Road across the street from Dusty’s.  Tickets are limited.   The competition plus dinner is $118; coveted counter seating is $159.   

For more information on all aspects of life on the Highlands Plateau, call any of the brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty.   We know Highlands NC like the back of our hand.   Call us today.   828-526-1717.

The Highlands and Cashiers area of North Carolina offers great theater.  The Highlands Cashiers Players conduct plays and musicals on a year round basis, enhancing the cultural lives of the community and entertaining residents and visitors alike.  Founded in 1995 on a shoestring budget and a menu of three plays, the Players currently perform at the Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center in Highlands NC with a variety of theatrical events throughout the year.

The current production on stage in Highlands, “You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running”, is comprised of four one act plays that offer the audience a funny, satirical view of the sexual revolution of the 1960s.  If you missed “You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running” this past weekend you still have another chance.  The play is running Friday through Sunday, March 4 – 6, with performances each evening at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee performance at 2:30 on Sunday.  The cost of admission is $20, call 828-526-8084 for more information or to purchase tickets.

The Highlands Cashiers Players undoubtedly adds to the area by providing theater without having to travel to the city.  Please contact us today to learn more about the Highlands and Cashiers area and all that it has to offer.

Click here to visit the website for the Highlands Cashiers Players.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the HighlandsNC/CashiersNC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

It may be winter in Highlands NC but that does not stop the fish from biting, there is fly fishing all year round here.  In fact this Sunday novice and experts alike can partake in a fly fishing clinic put on by Headwaters Outfitters.  Whether you simply want to practice or learn from scratch, this is a great opportunity to wade into the water and absorb some of the beautiful scenery that Highlands is known for.

What can you work on?  All types of casting techniques, including a roll cast, sidearm cast, and an overhead cast to name a few.  The clinic will cost $30 and will include the rods, reels, waders, and boots.  Reserve your spot or find out more information about Sunday’s fly fishing clinic by calling 828-877-3106.

While many people consider visiting Cashiers NC or Highlands NC in the summer, our area is a wonderful destination at any time of the year.  Fly fishing is one activity that our area is known for and fly fishing enthusiasts can enjoy our rivers and lakes on a year round basis.

Contact us today to learn more about the Highlands/Cashiers area.  We have access to all homes that are currently listed for sale and can help you get to know the Highlands real estate market.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

The annual Christmas parade will be held in Cashiers NC this Saturday, December 11, at 1:00 p.m.  The annual event is truly an anchor of the holidays here and is enjoyed by big and small, old and young.  The parade takes place at the Crossroads and emanates the spirit of community that permeates our Southern Blue Ridge Mountain area.  In fact, most of the population of Cashiers is in the Christmas parade or watching it as it passes by.

The Christmas parade in Cashiers this weekend has over 60 entrants that include school groups, clubs and organizations from around Cashiers.  Of course Santa Claus, firetrucks, and plenty of other interesting things will be marching down the street as well.  Come prepared for all types of weather!  Contact the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce to learn more about the parade, 828-743-5191.

Please call us today to learn more about living in Cashiers and the real estate opportunities that exist here.  Whether you want to live in our beautiful area year round or have a vacation home to escape to, Cashiers offers a wonderful lifestyle experience.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Art is available to both see and create this weekend in Highlands NC. The Bascom is a cornerstone of the Highlands art community and this Saturday it has a variety of offerings.  From exhibits to classes, The Bascom offers exposure to art to all living in Highlands.

This Saturday at The Bascom there are quilts on display that demonstrate a variety of themes and techniques in an exhibit titled “A Stitch in Time Quilts”.  There is no doubt that when it comes to American culture and crafts over the years that quilts surface in one’s mind and the ability to view this collection of quilts from local collectors shows quilting as an art form.

Also in Highlands this weekend is the opportunity to visit Christmas tradition from around the world.  The class, “Christmas Crafts Around the World”  allows participants to see what gifts and tree ornaments are tied to different countries as well as the opportunity to create individual crafts for the Christmas season.

Another class being offered at The Bascom this Saturday is “Play in the Clay”.  Anyone who has been yearning to learn how to throw a pot or learn different clay techniques can attend this class.

Highlands North Carolina inspires the creative side of life and The Bascom is a place where this energy can be fostered.  Please contact us today to learn more about living in this wonderful area, as well as for Highlands real estate opportunities.

Click here to visit the website for The Bascom and learn more about class times, registration for classes and more.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.