September 2011 Enewsletter

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Autumn is in the air, college football has kicked-off, the Braves are fighting for a post-season slot and festivals are everywhere. Soon the land will be ablaze with the fall leaf season and the cooler weather will stir anticipation of the joys on the horizon.      Dublin, Georgia's international recording star E.G. Kight produced a musical photographic journey for Wines Down South and our readers. The song and the images are all about one of America’s most romantic city, Savannah. Click hereto enjoy her song from her new album and the spectacular images of this magnificent city the entire world seems to love.      Doc Lawrence journeys through the Civil War trails of Kentucky, visiting the birthplaces of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis while taking time to drop in at Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Buffalo Trace to taste Bourbon and say hello to old friends, followed by an arts, dining and heritage tour of Louisville, a full-fledged gourmet leader.      Stone Mountain Park’s annual Yellow Daisy Festival is one of the top five arts & crafts shows in the nation and a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event. Despite its growth over the past 42 years, the Yellow Daisy Festival continues to be a big September show with a small-town feel, connecting families and friends with fun, live entertainment and good food. With more than 400 artists and crafters from 38 states, you can enjoy daily live entertainment, clogging and crafter demonstrations as well as fabulous festival food. (Click for details)     Charlotte, North Carolina’s Queen City, hosts the BBQ & Blues Festival starting September 9. From food to music this tradition has become the official kickoff to the Fall season! Details at (click). Festival attendees get a crash course in BBQ madness as more than 90 teams compete for their piece of the $25,000 prize money. The festival is free!      Join us at Wines Down South to cheer on the Atlanta Braves, believing that this is the year our boys of summer reclaim their championship status. We’ve made it easy to do the Tomahawk Chop at home or work. Just click the Braves’ Banner and the rest is easy!   Remember to keep those Tailgatin’ recipes and photos coming! Click herefor details. Friend Us! Follow Us! Share Us! CLICK AND SING ALONG WITH E.G. DOC'S WINE PICK FOR SEPTEMBER Blanc de Syrah Brut from Georgia's Wolf Mountain, a terrific sparkling wine that incorporates a small amount of the winery's Howling Wolf Red. Great with food and promotes effective cheering.   TOMAHAWK TAILGATIN' KABOBS Click for Recipe CLICK.  CHOP.  CHEER!

HENDERSONVILLE-APPLES AND ANGELS

By Doc Lawrence 

HENDERSONVILLE, NC—Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, this fabled city offers some of the best of today’s North Carolina adventures while maintaining strong ties to deep heritage and rich tradition. Hendersonville, an easy drive from large cities like Atlanta, is a top center for arts and crafts, local farm products, history, the live stage and dining of every style. But, it’s late summer and that means apple harvest here.

The North Carolina Apple Festival is held annually over Labor Day holiday weekend in Hendersonville. It has been Western North Carolina’s premier family festival for 65 years.

Start time is September 2 with four days of fun including one of the most best known street fairs in the Carolinas with just picked apples, handmade quilts and folk art, food and free entertainment at the historic courthouse on Hendersonville’s beautiful Main Street

The apple has been called the loveliest of all fruits. It is also one of the most important agricultural crops grown in bucolic Henderson County.  During a normal year it brings in an average income of $22 million dollars or more. Growing apples has been part of Henderson County's culture and heritage since the mid 1700s. Today there are approximately 200 apple growers here and Henderson County grows 65% of all apples in North Carolina. 

The Apple Festival’s non-stop entertainment throughout the festival is presented on a professional stage in front of the historic Courthouse, beginning Friday with the traditional and classical big band music of the Buddy K Big Band. If you love the music of Duke Ellington, Les Brown, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey, put on your dancing shoes and swing.

Saturday features Steve Weams and The Caribbean Cowboys Band. For over 20 years they have provided wildly popular music and have a huge fan base. Following them are The Mighty Kicks! Ranked among the top echelon of entertainment in the South, it’s non-stop choreography, non-stop music and non-stop energy

Sunday is all day gospel followed in the evening by Still Cruzin', a dynamic rhythm section and an electrifying brass segment.  The sweet soul and Motown Revue of The Legacy closes out this year’s festival in grand style.

When you aren’t dancing, eating apple turnovers or dining in Hendersonville’s variety of outstanding restaurants, take time to visit a Connemara, home of America’s poet Laureate Carl Sandburg and a national shrine. Your soul will be replenished walking through the beautiful home and lovely grounds. Next-door is the fabled Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theatre of North Carolina with shows equal to Broadway. And about a block or so up the road is Saint John’s in the Wilderness, one of America’s loveliest and oldest churches with a church graveyard that reads like “who’s who” in Southern history.

 

The weather this time of year in Hendersonville is divine. With the French Broad and Green Rivers close to town, the fishing’s good. And the air is clean all the time.

Hendersonville’s Oakdale cemetery is a top attraction. Bring a camera. The white marble angel inspired the title of Thomas Wolfe’s “Look Homeward Angel.”

For more exciting festival and useful vacation news, visit www.winesdownsouth.com.

Folk Fest 2011

DEVIL OR ANGEL- 

IT’S HERE AT FOLK FEST

By Doc Lawrence

ATLANTA--This is where you learn to laugh again, or stand in awe of something reaching out from the sky. An alligator is flying, spewing fire from its mouth. Or, a bucolic scene speaks symbolically of things peaceful. Men and women, some from places you’ve never heard of, have their art works on display here in this huge exhibition hall just outside Atlanta, hoping to make a buck while making a new collector happy.

It’s Folk Fest 2011, the world’s largest folk art event, now celebrating many years of roaring success. Folk art is what this gathering is all about. These are the artists, wood carvers and sculptors who paint based on memories or inspiration from mysterious voices. You’ll find many reasons they create, but the common thread is that they are the outlaws of the art world. No lessons, no big promotions or agencies putting out the word on them. Just self taught men and women, mostly from the Deep South, who can tell a story through the power of their hands and imaginations.

“These artists,” said founder Steve Slotin,” do not seek out the art world. The art world seeks them. Everything here is produced by untrained people who draw on their culture and experiences in an isolated world; made with a true, untutored, creative passion. It’s raw, expressive, unconventional, nonconforming, genuine and truly original. Artistically acclaimed acceptance has caused this art form to blossom.”

The existence of this grass-roots art is threatened by the inevitable urbanization and population of formerly rural areas. Folk Fest serves to celebrate these artists, bring their works of art together, and share with the public the experience of a culture whose roots may soon disappear.

Join me here this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 19- 21, and we’ll meet some of the greats like Chris Clark of Birmingham, Missionary Mary Proctor and O. L. Samuels from Tallahassee, Lorenzo Scott, who lives in Atlanta and Rabun County’s spectacular Eric Legee. And don’t forget to bring the kids and your camera. This is Georgia’s best family affair, as much fun as a Braves game.

Folk Fest 2011

North Atlanta Trade Center
1700 Jeurgens Court
Norcross, Georgia 30093

IMPORTANT- Send those recipes and photos for Tailgating: http://www.winesdownsouth.com/tailgating/Tailgatin.pdf

ELVIS IN ATLANTA

By Doc Lawrence

The Reverend Howard Finster, the revered folk artist, told me on his porch one day the Elvis was dead, but “his soul isn’t rested.” Elaborating, the country preacher who gained enough fame to do album covers for R.E.M. and appear on The Tonight Show said that Elvis died before he completed God’s mission.

I have one of Finster’s paintings of the King-he did many- called “Winged Elvis.” Dated July 2, 1983, it depicts a young farm boy with a straw hat in coveralls. Inscribed on near the left knee is this: “Elvis at age 3, was an angel to me.” The painting goes with me everywhere. It brings a peace that I am unable to describe. But, I trusted and loved Reverend Finster and know he saw things that eluded the rest of us.

I saw Elvis twice as a young kid growing up in Atlanta. I even met him in a hotel lobby when he was very approachable. He was talking to a beautiful girl but greeted me when I said hello and took a moment to chat. A couple of hours later, when he took the stage of Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theater, everything in my life forever changed. For the better.

I was no longer just another Southern kid. I was an amalgamation of accents, rhythms, races, styles, language, woes, victories, love and despair that added up to an identity. The guy on the stage sang, and I sang. He laughed and made me laugh as well. He moved like no man ever did before and he sang songs that made me and those two thousand girls in the theater feel good.

I bought a Martin guitar with cash from my paper route, learned a few chord progressions and begin playing and singing along with records my mother brought home from work that had SUN on the label. Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins. Off to college in Florida and discovered that many classmates had the same experience and soon a decent band was formed. We did the fraternity and sorority houses of the Deep South, honk-tonks in places like Thomasville, Albany, Douglas, Gainesville, Port St. Joe, Bainbridge and wherever we could make a buck. Even some officer’s clubs on Military bases.

Graduation, marriage, graduate school and Vietnam ended the best part of my baby days.

Long ago, on August 16, the mother who brought home all those records, called me and said Elvis had died. I turned the radio on and heard “How Great Thou Art,” by Elvis and the Jordanairres, confirming the tragedy.

There’s still part of Elvis in me, and it’s the good part that laughs, accepts, creates and when riled, can be defiant. I remember him much like a song I heard after his death.

“No one sings a love song like you do,

No body else can make me sing along.

No one else can make me feel

That things are right,

When I know they’re wrong.

No body sings a love song quite like you.”

IMPORTANT: Tailgating recipes and photos welcomed. See www.winesdownsouth for details. We will publish the best, the most delicious and the photos that make us smile!

SHERMAN’S NECKTIES

WHERE THE MARCH TO THE SEA BEGAN

By Doc Lawrence

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA-A new and very original Civil War monument will be unveiled in this incredibly beautiful village just outside Atlanta in a few days. The story is captivating. The monument, “Sherman’s Neckties,” location in the village of Stone Mountain marks the approximate place where General William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea,” actually started, giving it added importance to historians and tourists now and in the future. From here, this part of the Civil War became a military campaign of total destruction and more than one observer said it was also the beginning of modern warfare.

Around Midnight on July 20, two days before the Battle of Atlanta, Sherman published an order mandating the heating and twisting of rails along the designated railroad tracks preventing rail transportation during the war. The red-hot rails were bent around trees and telegraph poles, and coined by soldiers and journalists as “Sherman’s Neckties.”

The impressive monument was an effort from the City of Stone Mountain’s Civil War Committee chaired by noted author and prominent civic leader, Dr. George D. N. Coletti. Dr. Coletti’s acclaimed historic novel, Stone Mountain: The Granite Sentinel tells a compelling story about life, death, suffering and survival during the tumultuous war years in Georgia and adds greatly to an understanding of the impact of this war on women, children, refugees and soldiers caught in the tragedy.

 A state-of the art brochure, City of Stone Mountain Civil War Sesquicentennial 1861-1865, is highly useful for visitors. Complete with photos, stories and maps, everything is designed to make the tourism experience here interesting and educational as the nation observes the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War. Copies are available at the dedication ceremonies.

The story will get much better during the public dedication ceremonies scheduled for August 16, 2011 at 9 a.m. Dignitaries with join local officials including Stone Mountain’s Mayor and Council members, clergy, historians, media and descendants of the Civil War still residing in one of America’s most historic communities.

Hovering over the “Sherman’s Neckties” monument and the dedication ceremonies is Georgia’s inland Gibraltar, Stone Mountain. Drawing over 5 million visitors each year, the mountain and vast park features the enormous Civil War carving, plus museums, Indian trails, outdoor recreation and of course, a stunning view of Atlanta from the mountain top that will steal your breath.

I’ll see you at the dedication on August 16, and introduce you to some fascinating people. Walk with me along the historic streets, view beautiful homes, the granite railroad depot, the hauntingly beautiful Confederate cemetery and meet some mighty friendly people, Georgia’s finest ambassadors of Southern hospitality.

Tailgating Recipes Request: http://www.winesdownsouth.com/tailgating/Tailgatin.pdf

Stone Mountain: The Granite Sentinel is now available: www.thegranitesentinel.com

More about Stone Mountain Park: www.stonemountainpark.com.

August 2011 Newsletter

DOG DAYS FUN- FOLK ART AND MORE The world’s largest folk art show, FOLK FEST, takes place Aug 19-21 just outside Atlanta. It’s family-friendly: the paintings, wood and stone carvings, constructions and more by hundreds of self-taught outsider artists will make you laugh, ponder and be inspired. Here is where thousands were able to meet the legendary Rev. Howard Finster and buy his works that appreciate in value almost daily.  You can learn and you can begin your art collection here. If there’s a dull wall at home, brighten it with a painting by Rabun County Georgia artist Eric Legge. Need a little inspiration in your life? Biblical themes abound. You simply will never meet more religious people than Missionary Mary Proctor, Marguerite Durham or the great Lorenzo Scott whose work are in the Smithsonian. Must Folk Fest gallery stops: Jeanine Taylor Folk Art (Sanford, FL) and Clayton, Georgia’s wonderful Main Street Gallery. Main Street will have in person Birmingham’s heralded Chris Clark Meet our own Doc Lawrence here who been covering Folk Fest for magazines since the beginning.   LATE SUMMER EXCITEMENT The North Carolina Apple Festival begins Labor Day weekend. Add in a visit to nearby Connemara, home of America’s poet laureate Carl Sandburg and a Broadway-quality production at the Flat Rock Playhouse for a perfect weekend vacation. Libby’s-A Caberet is performing at the Highlands Playhouse in Highlands, NCwww.highlandsplayhouse.org over the Labor Day weekend. The Playhouse is a beautiful performance space with a rich history of providing the summer visitors to Highlands a wonderful season of high quality theater. Always, Patsy Cline is playing now. Tailgating began during the Civil War and now is a solid part of college football celebrations. Check out the entree and Doc’s Sangria, a primer for cheering on your favorite team. Wines Down South will be featuring Tailgating feasts outside the stadiums of ACC and SEC colleges plus some others from Appalachian State, Furman, Georgia Southern, Western Carolina and many others. We welcome your favorite tailgating photos, special recipes and crafted beverages Send these directly to Doc Lawrence by email:editors@docsnews.com. The most original ones will be featured in our blog, eNewletter and magazine. DON'T MISS THE FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS, DESTINATIONS AND ADVENTURE IN AUGUST. JUST CLICK AND JOIN THE FUN WITH US! Friend Us! Follow Us! Share Us! Dine With Doc at Dante's Down The Hatch GRITS, SHRIMP AND COLLARDS From the Let Us Say Grace cookbook, Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church, Clarkesville, GA (Click for full recipe) BETWEEN THE HEDGES SANGRIA (Created by Doc Lawrence and some UGA fanatics) 2 bottles red Muscadine wine. Many Georgia wineries produce this.  2 cups silver Tequila 1 cup Triple Sec 1/4 cup fresh Lime Juice 1’2 cup Agave Nectar 2 pints fresh Raspberries or 10 ounce frozen package (thawed) 4  cans) Ginger Ale ice Lime wedges, for garnish (optional) Crush raspberries with a wooden spoon. Add wine, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Stir in the Agave nectar until everything completely dissolved. Stir in raspberries. Cover bowl and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Immediately before serving, stir in the ginger ale and add ice. Serve in wine or margarita glasses. Add a wedge of lime to the rim of each glass.                                                 Copyright © 2011 Wines Down South, All rights reserved.