Get ready to kick up your heels at the Cashiers Mountain Music Festival!  This year’s event will be held on Saturday, July 2^nd and Sunday, July 3^rd in the Village Green Gazebo and will feature musical acts by a variety of talented artists including Balsam Range and Doc Watson.   

In addition to the top-notch performances, you can enjoy delicious food and beverages, a car show, a kids’ zone, an arts and crafts show, plus a vendor area for local merchants.  The Cashiers Mountain Music Festival offers fun for the whole family to enjoy!

One of the other wonderful things about this great event is that the Cashier Mountain Music Festival is the chief fundraiser for the Cashiers Preservation Foundation.  This non-profit foundation was started in April of 2009 with the Help of the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce.  With its mission to work towards enhancing and encouraging the continued success of the local schools and area non-profits, money raised by the Cashiers Preservation Foundation goes directly to those organizations.

 The Cashiers Mountain Music Festival is currently seeking sponsors for the event.  There are sponsorship levels ranging from $100 to $15,000 which all come a number of privileges.  Additionally, the festival is also looking for local vendors who would like to sell their wares at the event.  Booth sizes are 10’ x 10’ and are available for $100.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or a vendor, please visit the festival website at http://www.cashiersnorthcarolina.com/cmmf/index.htm.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased on the festival website.  Ticket prices are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the show.  Children 12 and under are admitted free.    

For further information about this exciting event, please visit the Cashiers Mountain Music Festival website at http://www.cashiersnorthcarolina.com/cmmf/index.htm, or call the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce at 828-743-5191.

On Saturday, June 18th, area residents and their guests will have an opportunity to experience the beautiful, mystical way of life in the mysterious land of Shangri-La.     This Asian-based evening is the theme of REACH of Jackson County’s eighth annual fundraiser and will take place at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley beginning at 6:30 pm.   

Shangri-La will be filled with music and dancing.   The Gamelan Ensemble will feature traditional instruments and sounds from the Far East.   The evening will also feature a buffet dinner, drinks, no-stakes casino style games and a silent auction featuring many unique items from the area as well as high-adventure experiences.

REACH is hoping for a great turnout for the event.  Executive Director of REACH, Kim Roberts-Fer says, “We are asking for the public to come out for an evening of fun at Shangri-La to help assist REACH of Jackson Country with the funding of our core services.  With this past year being our toughest financially, it is our hope that you are able to support our mission.”    Throughout it’s 33 year history, this non-profit organization has been helping end domestic and sexual violence, as well as child abuse in the area.   Crisis counseling, legal assistance, community education, emergency shelter and a 24-hour crisis hotline are just a few of the service offered by REACH.

Tickets for Shangri-La are just $75 per person and are available by contacting REACH of Jackson County at 828.631.4466 extension 207.   For more information of sponsorships or donations contact REACH at 828.631.4488 extension 207 or email REACH at outreach@reachofjackson.com.

Ladies, gather your friends and spend this Thursday at the Old Edwards Farm new Pavilion viewing the latest summer fashions from Acorns.   Enjoy champagne upon arrival and nibble on delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Johannes Klapdohr of Madison’s Restaurant.   The show will be accompanied by live Ambient Music.  Learn the newest make-up techniques with a demonstration from the Old Edwards Spa make-up artists.   Learn the basics of face shape contouring and highlighting, personal color com­bining, application techniques, eye contouring and accenting, product knowledge, and brush use.  You will leave with the knowledge to enhance your individual beauty.   

Top off your afternoon, with a shopping trip to Acorns on Main Street where you will enjoy complimentary champagne and a 10% discount off merchandise in the store and in the Spa.

Mark your calendar for Thursday June 9, 2011 at 11:30 am.    Reservations may be made by calling 828.787.2625.  

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.   

For the fourth straight year, the Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center (PAC) Youth Theater  will perform for audiences at the end of April.     The Youth Theater is open to all area students in grades 7 through 12.    They began rehearsals in February for this year’s play “Anne Frank and Me” by Cheri Bennett.

After almost eight weeks of learning and rehearsing, the production will open on Thursday April 28th.    Evening performances are also scheduled for April 29th and April 30th plus a Sunday matinée on May 1st.    Directed by theater veteran, Dr. Ronnie Spilton, the play takes place in real-time and involves students who are studying Anne Frank.      Classrooms, school dances, teachers, and principals are all involved when an accident takes them all back in time to WWII in France.

The Youth Theater program at the PAC is funded by the Eckerd Family Foundation, the Killian Foundation, the Rotary Club of Highlands and Cullasaja Women’s Outreach.    Through the theater program, students are exposed to art, music and dance.    The program  not only teaches techniques in acting and the technical aspects of the stage, it is an effective tool for teaching social, physical and cognitive development.    Students gain self-esteem and poise which then translates into classroom academic success.      

For ticket information, call the Performing Arts Center at 828-526-9047.      For more information on the arts or any aspect of living on The Highlands Plateau, please call one of the experienced brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty at 828-526-1717.     We know Highlands!!

It’s that time of year in Highlands when the buds come out on the trees, the sun comes out in earnest and we roll out the sidewalks! The sleepy town we know in winter starts to stretch, opens it’s eyes and throws back the covers to see the loveliness that is Springtime in the mountains. 

Restaurants like Wolfgangs, On The Verandah and Nicks open their doors on the Spring weekends to those savvy visitors who know how nice Highlands can be this time of year. Those who have remained open all winter like Madison’s and Paoletti’s happily see more customers coming through the doors while the shop owners open up and prepare to see Main Street buzzing again on the weekends.

So whether you are planning a Spa Weekend at The Old Edwards Inn or just need a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city – Highlands in Spring will always offer that breath of fresh air and relaxation you need!

If you would like to find a special place of your own in the mountain, not just for spring, but for all four seasons, call any of the brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty at 828-526-1717 for your personal tour of Highlands real estate.   Send us an email at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com and we will be happy to prepare a package of materials to send to you about The Highlands Plateau.  

Come to Highlands NC and get more than a weekend in our spectacular mountains! Relax and enjoy a sumptuous wine dinner featuring the culinary talents of Chef Todd Ginsberg and wine pairings by Sommelier Steve Pignatiello. 

The Inn at Half Mile Farm is proud to present a special April Fool’s weekend including this special wine dinner on April 2^nd.  Chef Todd is preparing a tantalizing multi-course feast with each course being paired with one of the exquisite wines from Pignatiello Wine Importers.

The Inn at Half Mile Farm welcomes guests to a magnificent blend of the past and present…  Relax in the spacious privacy of beautifully decorated rooms… with fireplaces and jetted tubs. Relax on our front porch, take a relaxing walk, visit the quaint shops in downtown Highlands, or spend the afternoon on an invigorating hike. Sunrise over the mountains precedes a hot, bountiful, gourmet breakfast, and just before sunset, evening hors d’oeuvres are paired with carefully selected wines. The Inn at Half Mile Farm offers simple luxury, quiet beauty, and graceful hospitality.

You don’t want to miss the debut of Chef Todd Ginsberg and Sommelier Steve Pignatiello working together for the first time. Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized! This special April Fool’s Wine Dinner weekend starts at just $650 per couple, plus tax & gratuity. Additional nights can be added for just $195 per night. Package includes:

• Luxurious accommodations for 2 nights at The Inn at Half Mile Farm
• Hot, country, gourmet breakfast each morning
• Wine & hors d’oeuvres each evening
• Multi-course wine dinner, Saturday evening

For more information about Chef Todd Ginsberg, click here. For more information about Sommelier Steve Pignatiello and Pignatiello Wine Importers, click here. For reservations for the April Fool’s Wine Weekend and dinner, call 1-800-946-6822 or visit the Inn at Half Mile Farm.

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 celebration of St. Patrick’s Day dates back over a thousand years. For centuries, the Irish have observed March 17th as a religious holiday where families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon.

While the celebration of this holiday may have originated in Ireland, did you know that the first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in the United States? Irish soldiers serving in the British military marched through New York City on March 17th, 1762. From that point forward, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished so much that the parade which takes place in New York each year is not only the world’s oldest civilian parade, but it is also the largest in the United States with over 150,000 participants.

Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds across the US, including here in Highlands, NC. The Old Edward’s Inn and Spa has planned events that will help you get into the spirit and make your St. Patrick’s celebration last through the weekend:

• Special Irish Cocktails and Beers will be served in Hummingbird Lounge and Madison’s

• The Hummingbird Lounge will feature Steve Wohlrab live on Friday and Saturday from 8 pm

• Special Irish Dishes in will be featured in Madison’s throughout the weekend.

Guests of Old Edwards will enjoy:

• An authentic Irish Whiskey Tasting Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 4pm to 5pm in the Hummingbird Lounge

• Irish Coffee Making Experience on Saturday, March 19

A Pot O’ Gold—including an overnight stay at Old Edwards—awaits the winner.

• Complimentary Irish Hors D’oeuvres in the Hummingbird Lounge Friday and Saturday evening from 6 pm to 7 pm

• Complimentary Irish “after party” hors d’oeuvres in the Hummingbird Lounge Friday and Saturday evening from 10 pm to 11 pm

• Special turndown amenities throughout the weekend

Come to Highlands NC and make this St. Patrick’s Day one to remember….and don’t forget your green!

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the HighlandsNC/CashiersNC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 828-526-1717 or email us today at info@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.