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December Mid-Month 2023

art...beauty...theatre...poetry...life


THE FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT: PLANT EDITION 

By Jeanne Ferran 

 

“The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I’ve ever seen that I didn’t have to clean.” -Erma Bombeck 

 

           As college teams head into championship playoffs this month, and my alma mater University of Georgia fell in the SEC Championship with a loss of Shakespearean proportions, my mind wandered, as it often does, to plants. In the NCAA, there are 133 FBS teams, and ONLY ONE is named for a plant. There are ZERO plant-named teams in the SEC, but TWO teams named for bulldogs and THREE named for tigers. Not only that, some of the team names that do exist in the bowl subdivision are nowhere near as fearsome or intimidating as some of the plants that grow in our area. I mean… which drives more fear into your heart, a duck, or a poison hemlock? A horned frog or stinging nettle?  

I often anthropomorphize the plants I greet every day on my daily neighborhood walk, so naturally, they are my draft picks. Some of these plants are causing too much trouble- but invasive species and football players fill the niches that are required for their forward progress. 

 So, without further ado, I present to you… the football draft of plants- as- people, found here in Saluda. 

OFFENSE: 

QUARTERBACK: A quarterback needs to have strength and speed, intelligence and leadership, accuracy, and resilience. The plant pick for Quarterback is a MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI.  

Okay. I know that this is technically *not* a plant. But the mycorrhizal fungi take up the nutrients and water, read the soil, and then pump the nutrients where they would work the best for the benefit of the entire forest, just as a quarterback transfers the ball to its optimal position for the team. Mycorrhizal fungi can also prime the forest for dangers of an attack, improving pathogen resistance for its above-ground hosts. Much like a quarterback can make a call under pressure to put the offense in its best position, the mycorrhizal network improves the entire system.

RUNNING BACK AND TAILBACK: Once the running back or tailback gets the ball, his/her job is to get it as far downfield as possible. This position has to be fast. Some plants, like DWARF MISTLETOE, shoot seeds 60 miles per hour. In my neighborhood JEWELWEED, or TOUCH ME NOT, is my pick. The seed pods explode at the touch, shooting seeds in a process called” ballistochory.”  

CENTER: Like the center snapping the ball, the WHITE PINE is adaptable, fast, and versatile. The Eastern White Pine, like its human counterpart, carries its precious little brown cargo (in our case, a cone containing seeds), which is then dispersed by other animals, like our quarterback who passes to another player. The white pine, like the center, is our stabilizer: the player stabilizes the ball for play and the plant stabilizes soil and provides essential food for many species. Finally, the center has to “keep his head on a swivel,” carefully and quickly reading the defense before the snap and communicating it to his line. The white pine also reads each condition and reacts with the most appropriate response, whether that is reseeding an area after a fire or shedding its own branches under the weight of heavy snow or ice.

WIDE RECEIVER: Wide receivers are usually tall and fast. The plant pick for Wide Receiver is TULIP POPLAR. They grow tall (around 120 feet), fast (sometimes 2 feet per year), and they “cover the field” in their canopy. Like a wide receiver, a tulip poplar is versatile (because it grows straight it has a lot of human uses, but it also is a great pollinator for insects and birds). Tulip poplars and their on-field human counterparts sometimes bunch up in clusters, and sometimes they go out on their own.


OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Offensive linemen have to be tough, mean, intimidating. They have to form a virtual wall so that nothing gets past them. My plant pick for the offensive line is the BULL THISTLE. Bull thistles grow up to six feet tall, and they are covered, from leaf to stem to flowerhead, in sharp, pointy spikes. No one can get past a bull thistle without drawing blood or being humbled. 

TIGHT END: The tight end is the “Swiss Army Knife” of the field. The tight end blocks, runs routes, and catches passes. The tight end demonstrates the traits of the OAK TREE, the Jack of All Trades in a habitat. The oak converts sunlight to food sources to countless animals, sequesters carbon, provides leaf litter to replenish soil, regulates watersheds with its root system, and ensures habitat. The oak tree that I am thinking of in particular is the CHESTNUT OAK in my yard, which not only houses a family of rambunctious squirrels and insects and drops golf-ball size acorns everywhere, it also shades my house under an immense canopy, negating the need for air conditioning and providing an excellent branch for a moderately dangerous swing.

DEFENSE: 

DEFENSIVE TACKLES: These players start off low to the ground, then, once the conditions are right, surge forward in a burst of energy to rush the offense, sometimes just to put pressure on the team. The pick for defensive tackle is POISON IVY. Nothing seems to surge through the woods at the snap (of spring) quite like poison ivy, as hikers of the Green River Game Lands well know. Poison ivy also grows in a variety of conditions, including places with poor soil or that has been freshly logged. Perhaps they are the guardians of recovering habitats, warning humans to back off. 


DEFENSIVE ENDS: Defensive ends have to push through the offensive line, then stop the ball, sack the quarterback, or tackle the carrier. They embody the traits of RHODODENDRON. Anyone who has ever been ensnared in a rhododendron thicket knows that you may eventually get through it, but not without leaving your own clothing and flesh behind.  

LINEBACKERS: The second line of defense, the linebackers demonstrate the traits of the TIGER LILY. Tiger lillies, like linebackers, are tough and hardy, with excellent vision: because these plants respond to photoreceptors, these heliocentric plants follow the sun throughout the day to maximize their exposure. 


CORNERBACK: My top selection for cornerback would be KUDZU. No plant knows “zone coverage” like it. Growing up to a foot a day in the summer, kudzu smothers, strangles, and kills everything in its path. Thankfully, our human counterpart is better-behaved.

SAFETY: A safety has to be everywhere and do everything on defense, whether it’s on the line or in the backfield. Safety is the last line of defense, so this position needs to be able to make quick defensive calls. That’s why the pick for this position is the DANDELION. Dandelion prefers poor, rocky soil in “waste spaces,” and grows where nothing else can. Dandelion is usually one of the first spring greens to pop out of the ground, and, when consumed, has benefits for the entire body. Because it is a “liver plant,” it cleans and detoxifies, boosts circulation, reduces inflammation, carries nutrients, regulates blood pressure, and regulates blood sugar. Dandelion acts throughout the body to help run its best defenses against illness. In short, human Safeties and their Dandelion counterparts can do it all and be everywhere, but dandelions should be the one of the first tools in the herbal toolbox, not be the last resort.

 

           I hope that some of the teams will wise up and name themselves something more intimidating before the big conference shakeup next year. Names like “Longhorns” and “Sooners” may have cut it in the Big 12, but they are no match for our teams in the SEC. I recommend a total rebrand. The Texas Ironweeds or the Oklahoma Prickly Pear Cacti at least sound like they could hold a candle to our Tigers, Bulldogs, Gators, Crimson Tide, and Gamecocks. I mean, can we give the Ohio State Buckeyes some grace in spite of their tough loss to Michigan for at least choosing a cool and original team name? 

I just hope that the Indiana State Sycamores, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms, the Lubbock Christian Chaparrals, and the Delta State Fighting Okra raise hell on the gridiron and on the courts this year. I’m rooting for you! 

 

Do you have a question about the flora and fauna of Saluda? 

If so, please email jmferran1@gmail.com



JIM CARSON AIS OPA

STUDIO / GALLERY

20-2 Main St., Saluda, NC

 

Jim will hold his annual Christmas Sale on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 16-17.


All paintings (framed and unframed) will be On Sale. Framed paintings will be 20% off and unframed paintings will be up to 50% off.

Saturday Sale hours are 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, and Sunday hours are 1:00 PM-5:00 PM.

 

Jim’s regular Studio/Gallery hours are Fridays, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturdays 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sundays 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, and Mondays 11 AM-5:00 PM.

Tuesday-Thursday, By appointment or chance.

 

This painting is titled “Almost There” 20x24.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!


For more information, email jimcarson151@gmail.com,

call 828 7493702(studio), 828 8173376 (cell), or visit www.jimcarson.net.


If you haven’t made your New Year’s Eve reservation yet, it is time! Make your plans now and ring in 2024 in style with party favors, live music by two great bands, food, drinks and tons of fun at Saluda Outfitters and Green River Eddy’s Tap Room & Grill.

 

Doors will close to the public at 5 p.m. and reopen to reservation holders at 6:30 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m. with The Pace Brothers -- Saluda natives Holden and Jadon “Big Jay” Pace’s opening act. Headlining the evening is Borderline Therapy of Landrum, S.C. The 5-member band will take over the stage at 9 p.m. and entertain until 12:30 a.m. Expect to hear an eclectic mix of rock and country from the 60s to the 2000s.

 

We’ll celebrate at midnight with a free champagne toast. Tickets are $20 (with the option of ordering off Eddy’s menu) or $40 to include a New Year’s Eve appetizer trio of beef tenderloin sliders with peppercorn steak sauce, mushroom butter and buttermilk fried shallots; smoked crab cakes with Cajun remoulade; and crispy layered potatoes with crème fraiche, crumbled bacon and chives.

 

Call (828) 848-4060 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily (except Tuesdays) to reserve your seats. For more information, email info@saludaoutfitters.com.

 

RETAIL: In our retail department, be sure to check out our winter weather clothing, boots, shoes and gear. There is always a good sale going on as seasons change, too. Also, our restaurant now offers hot chili, and homemade soups to take the chill off a cold winter day or evening.

 

GIFT CARDS: One of the easiest ways to give a loved one what they want for Christmas is to buy them a gift card and let them pick out their gift. We have gift cards for both Outfitter times such as clothing, shoes/boots, fishing gear, candles, jewelry and so much. We also offer gift cards for Eddy’s tap room for food and drinks. Stop by or give us a call to reserve a gift card for the holidays and wrap up your shopping with ease.

  Stop by to shop, eat or drink at 435 E. Main St., Saluda, or call 843-848-4060 to place a pickup order. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 weekdays and 10 a.m. to 11 weekends. Due to the slower season, you may want to call ahead to check for closings.

 

Both Saluda Outfitters and Green River Eddy’s Tap Room & Grill will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25 for Christmas Day but will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 26 for the benefit of holiday shoppers and visitors.

 

From the owners and staff, may your holidays be merry and bright!

 



Live Music & Events at Saluda Outfitters and Green River Eddy’s Tap Room & Grill

 

Friday, Dec. 15, 7-10 p.m. | Melody Lane, a popular duo from South Carolina, consists of Peter “PJ” Teague and Jennifer Lewis. The talented duo’s music crosses various genres; including bringing back some of the oldies like “Be My Baby.” Established in 2021, the duo has been hitting the south east week after week bringing a cross genre sound and take on music from the 50s to modern day hits and everything in between.

 

Saturday, Dec. 16, 7-10 p.m. | Izzy Hughes & Eric Congdon are local singer/songwriters who have joined musical forces to bring their individual artistic talents to the stage. A solo artist from Hendersonville, Izzy Hughes began making her way onto the music scene at a very young age when she started playing guitar and writing original songs. Eric Congdon’s finger-picking style radiates skill and charm and his instrumental material incorporates everything from blues to bluegrass. Together, the ultra-talented duo plays originals and cover songs from all genres and decades.

 

Friday, Dec. 22, 7-10 p.m. | Charlie Alexander and Company is best characterized as a country music group; however, country doesn’t say it all. While the band plays a lot of originals, you can expect covers from the likes of Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson and Tom Petty to name a few.

 

Saturday, Dec. 23, 7-10 p.m. | Finkelstein Three is a trio headed by local talent Derek McCoy on guitar/vocals with Tommy Brooks on mandolin/vocals and Phil Simmons on upright bass. Finkelstein Three is a progressive bluegrass trio, playing everything from Bill Monroe to The Beatles. They are based in both Henderson and Cleveland counties in North Carolina.

 

Friday, Dec. 29, 7-10 p.m. | JackTown Ramblers is a Morganton-based bluegrass, swing and gypsy jazz band featuring Shannon Leasure (guitar/banjo), Gabriel Wiseman (lead vocals/mandolin), Brett Setzer (banjo/vocals) and Mike Ramsey (bass/vocals). The band formed in 2019 from a collection of “acoustic ramblers” who met through mutual friends and musical interests. Collectively, they just wanted to do something a little different with their music by melding together traditional bluegrass with sprinkles of swingy feeling tunes, band originals and some gypsy jazz type material just for fun.

 

Saturday, Dec. 30, 7-10 p.m. | Fancy & The Gentlemen Trio is based out of Asheville and brings an eclectic mix of honkytonk, blues, southern gothic, outlaw country and classical roots twist to Americana. The group’s sensitive and rich harmonies weave through the tapestry of original compositions and carefully curated covers that celebrate the roots of southern Americana music. The trio is anchored by talented guitarist and singer/songwriter Fancy Marie.

 

Sunday, Dec. 31, 7 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.:  Ring in 2024 with party favors, live music by two great bands, food, drinks and midnight champagne toast. Doors will close to the public at 5 p.m. and reopen to ticket holders at 6:30 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m. with The Pace Brothers, followed by Borderline Therapy of Landrum, S.C. The 5-member band will take over the stage at 9 p.m. and entertain until 12:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 (with the option of ordering off a limited menu) or $40 to include a New Year’s Eve appetizer trio of beef tenderloin sliders with peppercorn steak sauce, mushroom butter and buttermilk fried shallots; smoked crab cakes with Cajun remoulade; and crispy layered potatoes with crème fraiche, crumbled bacon and chives. Call (828) 848-4060 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily (except Tuesdays) to reserve your seats. For more information, email info@saludaoutfitters.com.




A Waffle House Christmas

By Cappy Hall Rearick

 

“There's nothing sadder in this world than

to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” ~ Erma Bombeck

 

Babe and I had every intention of sleeping in on Christmas morning last year. Our grown children were in South Carolina with their families, so Santa had no reason to drop down our chimney. We could sleep late and visit with the kids after the live greens had drooped, withered and died, and a tired Santa had flown back to the North Pole.

I was dreaming of a steam-driven train full of happy people when my hungry cat plopped down on my stomach, breathing like the huff-puff train of my dream.

So, I shuffled to the kitchen pantry to find non-smelly cat food. It was a special day so kitty should dine on turkey ala Fancy Feast, not questionable generic fish.

I looked around to find Babe seated in a quasi-trance next to the Christmas tree.

“Whatcha doing, Babe?"

He looked at me like I had glitter for brains. “Waiting for you so we can open our presents.”

When my first cup of Starbucks finally kicked in, I heard Michael Bublé dreaming of a White Christmas, so I sat down with Babe, leaned over and kissed him smack on his smackers.

“Can we open ‘em now,” he asked. "Can we, huh?"

“What are you, five?” I gulped more Starbucks. “Okay, Babe. You go first.”

After all our gifts had been oohed and aahed over, we were both hungry, but I didn’t feel like cooking. “Let’s go out for breakfast,” I suggested.

“Where to,” Babe said like a cruise director discussing the available ports of call.

“Waffle House,” I said quick as you please.

We drove to the second home of every man, woman and child South of the Gnat Line. It was packed; the parking lot jammed with cars, motorcycles and pickups.

A family of four got up to leave and before their table could be cleaned of leftover waffle crumbs, we grabbed their abandoned seats.

“Cheese omelet,” I told Donna, the big-haired server dressed in a red T-shirt with Merry Christmas, Y’all stamped on the front. “And lots of coffee.”

Donna, seemingly unconcerned about the jam-packed little café, smiled at me and winked at Babe who then ordered one of everything before winking back at her.

I gazed at the assorted groups of people gathered in the house of pecan waffles and enough fat fuel to power us all to Uranus and back.

Taking up two tables pushed together was a group of bikers all dressed in red leather eating waffles, hash browns and milk. Milk?

A mom and dad at another table were trying to keep their pajama-clad kids from killing each other. Dad probably suggested eating out and Mom probably replied, “You had me at eating out.”

I noticed an elderly woman wearing a wig that didn’t fit. She was much too thin, and her eyes were rimed in red. She ate alone and looked so very sad. It broke my heart.

Donna refilled our cups, spilled some on the side, then rolled her eyes. Babe winked at me. A lot of winking was going on. 'Twas the season …

My omelet arrived loaded with cheese and animal fat. Babe stuffed himself with eggs, waffles, bacon, sausage, grits and hash browns, then requested whole-wheat toast. Go figure.

More pajama-clad kids arrived with their exhausted parents evidenced by Dad's blood-shot eyes and Mom's yawns. I flashed back to when I was a young mother having to search for missing screws for unassembled toys, to when it wasn’t cats waking me up, but tiny hands shaking me with whispers of, You awake?

Christmas morning was different for us last year and I liked the difference.

I liked watching the family, their five kids still clad in pajamas, eating at the Waffle House.

I liked that Donna proudly wore her Merry Christmas, Y’all T-shirt that showed off the thirty pounds she lost at Weight Watchers. Good for her.

I liked that I didn’t need to call 911 because Babe scarfed down almost every item on the Waffle House menu and then asked if we had any leftover fruitcake at home.

I liked that Christmas at the Waffle House became our tradition last year, and I liked that fruitcake was still best eaten late at night at home.


Crisp winds flow through trees, loosening the last leaves from their homes. Birds snuggle on their perches, singing songs which travel in the now clean mountainous terrain. Winter approaches in its quiet way, as nights lengthen and the air frosts. A balance to the vivid excitement of summer and bustle of fall. A calm space inviting us to linger, allowing us time to recenter. As the year draws to an end and the Holidays are in full swing, we invite you to take a moment to breathe, to meander, to still in moments of serenity. We welcome you to our hearth and hope to offer you the warmth of shared community, love of excellent company, and the comfort of the season’s flavors. Happy Holidays from our Family to yours.     

 

Thank you for being part of our 25th Anniversary! It warmed our hearts to see and hear from all of you. As we look to the holidays, we are reminded of how much this community has brought us and how much we cherish all of you that make up our Purple Onion Family. Here's to many more years of culinary excellence and shared experiences.

 

Holiday Schedule

 

Hometown Christmas, Friday, December 8th

Come stroll through our town as shops and restaurants open to the community with holiday cheer.

Stroll from 6 pm - 8pm

Warm cider and cookies at The Purple Onion

Churros, Mexican hot chocolate, toasty fire, and outdoor holiday movie

 

Cowboy Judy Christmas Extravaganza, Sunday Concert

December 10th

Doors open at 5:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm

 

Christmas Eve ~ Closed

Christmas Day ~ Closed

Happy Holidays from our Family to yours!

 

Tuesday, December 27th, Open 11 am - 3 pm and 5 pm - 8 pm

Extra Holiday Hours. Open for lunch and dinner.

Wednesday, December 28th, Open 11 am - 3 pm and 5 pm - 8 pm

Extra Holiday Hours. Open for lunch and dinner.

 

NYE, Open 11 am - 3 pm and 5 pm - 8pm

Join us for lunch or dinner as we help you celebrate the end of 2023. Start your festive day with us before your final destination to reign in the new year. Reservations highly recommended.


January 1st - 11th, 2024 ~ Closed

Closed for some rest and repairs. See you Friday, January 12th, 2024 for lunch and dinner!

 

Holiday Gifts

Looking for something special, one-of-a-kind, local, made-from scratch, small business supporting gift? We’ve got you covered! Come see what great goodies we’ve got available for the Holiday Season. Home-made ornaments, magnets, cookies, coffee mugs, locally roasted coffee, wine, desserts, t-shirts, and more. Not sure what to give? Give the gift of an amazing experience and snag a gift card! See us at the restaurant or order online here.

 

Christmas Desserts

While we won’t be able to join you on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can take a bit of that delicious Purple Onion flavor with you to enjoy with your families and friends. 

We’ll be offering a selection of Thanksgiving desserts for sale. 

Options of whole Apple Tart, Pumpkin Praline Tart (Praline may be left out), Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Tart, and Caramel Apple Bundt Cake (DF)

Come by and we’ll fill out an order form for you or order online https://order.toasttab.com/online/the-purple-onion scroll to whole desserts.

Accepting orders until Monday, December 18th. Pick up for desserts will be December 22nd and 23rd from 11am-8pm

The S.P.O.T.!

Meet us at the S.P.O.T. and indulge in some mouthwatering tacos and refreshing margaritas. If you're craving some serious flavor, head over to our website. We've got all the juicy details waiting for you there. But hey, why settle for just reading about it? Why not swing by and experience it firsthand? 

#meetusatthespot

http://www.thespotsaluda.com 

 

The S.P.O.T. Hours

Monday - Closed

Tuesday - Closed

Wednesday Closed

Thursday 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Upcoming Live Music Calendar

Thursday Evening @ 7:30 p.m.

*Cover Charge*

 

December 7th~ Joseph Hasty & Center Piece Jazz Christmas Show- $8

In a musical career that has spanned over 30 years, Joseph Hasty's extensive performing experience has carried him to stages in America, Australia and Europe - where he lived for seven years. A three-time recipient of the Regional Artist Grant awarded through the North Carolina Arts Council, Joseph is a gifted performer who displays talents as a composer and arranger. His band, Centerpiece Jazz, performs straight ahead classic jazz, swing tunes, show tunes, and other standards. Centerpiece Jazz plays all of your favorites. From Miles & Monk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Ella to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Coltrane & Cole Porter. 

Ticket Link

 

December 10th ~ Cowboy Judy Christmas Extravaganza (Sunday Concert)

A return performance quickly becoming a tradition at the Purple Onion, this energetic group of ladies is an event you don’t want to miss. Cowboy Judy always brings the show to, well, every show they perform. Couple their infectious stage presence, melodic songs, and penchant for grooving tunes you can’t sit still to? Exhilarating. Throw in some holiday cheer and festive motifs? Pure Magic. 

Female fronted super group, Cowboy Judy (formally Sweet Claudette,) is the bringing together of worlds, in the best of ways. Singing an upbeat hybrid of country and motown, you would be hard pressed to find another group as gifted with their harmonies and charisma as you have here.

Ticket Link

 

December 14th ~ Lonesome Road Band - $8

The Lonesome Road Band regularly travels as a three piece group, featuring banjo, guitar, and bass. In a nutshell, the band plays country and folk, but that wonderfully rustic country that walks you down a dirt road, with a pleasant breeze tickling your face, while the grasshoppers chirp. Founded back in 1995, the band has gone through a few changes in members, but has never lost its heart and soul – thanks in abundance to its founder Larry Keith. The charming yet stark fervency of The Lonesome Road Band’s music instantly takes audiences back to a time where songs told the world of man’s great love and great sorrows. Huddled around a vintage mic, the group would be right at home next to the Soggy Bottom Boys in “O Brother Where Art Thou.” 

Ticket Link

 

December 21st ~ West End String Band - $8

Dedicated to playing and performing traditional bluegrass music and old country songs with modern appeal, the West End String Band has been walking the perfect balance between nostalgia and a thumping good time. Don’t let the name fool you. The West End String Band is refreshing and invigorating, while holding true to the roots that formed this unique tradition of music. Formed back in 2008, the West End String Band blends the gritty and energetic vocals of lead Charlie McDaniel with harmonies from Kathy McDaniel and the driving banjo of Jim Rollins. Rounded out with the rich baritone and unique mandolin of Matt Purinton, this group is weaving together americana, bluegrass, and country in the best of ways.

Ticket Link

 

December 28th ~ Tiny and Her Pony - $8

Indie, Appalachian-folk band, Tina & Her Pony, was formed in 2009 in Asheville, North Carolina by Tina Collins. Internationally known for their tight, sweet, smooth harmonies and simple, exposed, crafted instrumentation on cello, tenor ukulele & guitar, Tina and Her Pony has a fresh, palatable, sound that is bewitching. With warm smiles and honest simplicity, Tina & Her Pony bring a unique sound to the American folk tradition, featuring original songs that echo the sound of Appalachia, while creating new waves with radical, queer lyrics, uncommon instrumentation and vocals tighter than your mamas’ brazier.

Ticket Link


Hiring

Immediate positions available at The Purple Onion and The S.P.O.T. Come work in a team-oriented, high-volume, fast-paced, environment to deliver the best dining experience to our guests. MORE INFORMATION HERE

News from Saluda Studios


Holiday Gifts!

Preserving a Picturesque America has become well known for bringing together artists who care about the natural world and want to protect it. When you visit the gallery at Saluda Studios, you'll have the opportunity to find something wonderful for your home that also helps protect these mountains we love so much. We not only have fine art with handmade frames, but we also have less expensive limited edition prints, pottery, and jewelry. Not to mention books that show what it was like to be an artist in the 1800s and new publications that show what it's like to follow in their footsteps. They are quite interesting to read, and the artwork is magnificent. Please consider these ideal stocking stuffers this season and help us raise money for our conservation efforts.


Fun Winter Art Classes

During the colder months, it's a perfect time to stay inside, learn some new skills, and exercise your creative muscles. Saluda Studios will be hosting several courses - printmaking, charcoal and pastel painting, and ink-wash painting. Classes will be given by PAPA founder Scott “Doc” Varn and author/ artist Mike “ Sketch” Wurman of Appalachian Trail fame.


You will pick your subject matter, and Mike and Scott will help you find and improve your artistic voice. All skill levels are welcome!


Classes will meet once a week for 4 weeks starting in January.


Call Sam Varn at 828-713-2130 to register. 


Until then, we wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!



At the Gellert Baths, Budapest

by Christy Prahl

 

Here in the body museum,

women speaking Hungarian

rinse one another with buckets of water,

warmed from a spigot in a turquoise room.

Their hair a long, flattened cat down their spines,

curved to the bend.

These are antique women

with elegies tattooed on the skin –

a bruise, a mole, a scar where an iron

once fell from the board.

The women forget the devils they married

in adjacent rooms where only men are permitted.

The world is gentler here

among the magnesium and tiled swans.

Water ripples like jellied handkerchiefs

where their clavicles hit the surface.

I am frozen in place by the audacious nudity of bodies.

The brazen loaves of fat in the leg.

Bellies sodden after so many babies.

The quiet, nonsexual touching of women

as they soap one another in the spots of their backs

that none of us can reach on our own.



from the journal SALT HILL

Featured Poet


Christy Prahl is an Illinois Arts Council grant recipient and the author of the poetry collection We Are Reckless (Cornerstone Press, 2023). Shortlisted for the Stephen Meats Poetry Prize and a Best of the Net and two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, her publications include the Penn Review, Salt Hill Journal, Eastern Iowa Review, and others. She has held residencies at both Ragdale and the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow and is the founder of the PenRF reading series. She splits her time between Chicago and rural Michigan and appreciates subways and siloes in equal measure. 




2024 Season Subscription Are On Sale Now!


Call our box office at 828-692-1082.

Our box office will be open Wednesdays-Fridays from 10 am-5 pm.

All messages will be answered in the order they are received. 

Single tickets will go on sale December 18, 2023.

Season Subscribers save 20% on the cost of single tickets, plus the following subscriber benefits: 

  • Pre-season priority booking in advance of the general public
  • Season Subscriber Plans do not include additional specials events added throughout the year. However, subscribers will receive discounts on select Special Events.
  • Ability to purchase additional tickets to theatrical events ahead of the general public.

The 2024 Theatrical Season includes the following shows:

February 1-10, 2024

The Vagina Monologues

By Eve Ensler

A poignant and hilarious tour of the last frontier, the ultimate forbidden zone, The Vagina Monologues is a celebration of the feminine experience in all its complexity and mystery. Based on countless interviews conducted with real-life women, the production features stories of body image, consensual and nonconsensual sexual experiences, genital mutilation, direct and indirect encounters with reproduction, sex work, and several other topics through the eyes of women of various ages, races, sexualities, and other differences. A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment and the ultimate embodiment of individuality.

Approximate Run Time: 1 hours, 45 minutes

Rating: Mature due to adult themes, humor, and language


March 21-30, 2024

Sordid Lives

By Del Shores

In this beloved cult classic, chaos erupts in small-town Texas when the elderly family matriarch, an upstanding member of the community, accidentally dies during a clandestine meeting in a seedy motel room with her married lover. The woman’s family must deal with more skeletons coming out of the closet while preparing for what could be an embarrassing funeral. In this ‘coming out’ story, the hilarious, sad, trashy truth about their lives runs amuck.

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Rating: PG-13 due to adult language, themes and situations.


April 13, 2024

Act2 Players Present the Reader’s Theatre

On Golden Pond

By Ernest Thompson

Exploring the often turbulent relationship between adult children and parents, and the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage, On Golden Pond is a heartwarming and hilarious show about generations of a family learning to communicate and to care. Ethel and Norman Thayer return to their summer home on Golden Pond for the forty-eighth year. They are visited by their divorced, middle-aged daughter and her dentist fiancé, who then go off to Europe, leaving his teenage son behind for the summer. This classic American comedy/drama is every bit as touching, warm, and witty today as when it debuted on Broadway in 1979.

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours

Rating: PG due to adult situations and mild language.


and more...!

Health - Wellness

SLIP IS OFFERING an educational opportunity to learn more about scams. It is scheduled for December 20th at 10 AM at the Saluda Center and will be led by Lt. Edwards of the Polk County Sheriff's Department Community Relations. So, mark your calendars, this will be a good opportunity for all of us.

 

Scams are in full swing: Stay alert

The holiday season is in full swing. While many shoppers are keeping their eyes on the plethora of Black Friday sales that have already started, there’s another thing to be aware of while checking off gifts on your list this year: scams.

“The holiday shopping season is a busy time for cyber criminals,” said Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of privacy innovation for Norton. “During the hustle of the holiday season, shoppers often fall victim to scams as they look for discounts on popular holiday gifts, make last-minute purchases, and overlook suspicious activity. 

“Avoid the cost of falling victim to cyber criminals by knowing how to recognize a scam and keeping vigilant for suspicious links and unfamiliar activity in your bank and credit card accounts.”


What to look for

With scams coming in from nearly every angle, what should consumers be on the lookout for this holiday season? 

  • Online shopping scams: These are often fake websites that promise all kinds of deals, discounts, and perks of buying with them. They get consumers to provide personal financial information to scam them. 
  • Phishing scams: Scammers will take the form of popular charities, retailers, or organizations, mimicking brands that consumers know well in emails or text messages. They provide fake links to click on that steal consumers’ identities. 
  • Fake delivery scams: Beware of any correspondence you receive from a supposedly trusted delivery service – Amazon, UPS, FedEx, USPS – this holiday season. Notifications posing as these companies are often trying to get consumers to provide payment information in order to receive packages – but they’re really just from scammers. 
  • Gift card scams: Scammers urge their victims to buy gift cards in order to help them pay off a seemingly urgent financial matter. 
  • Overpayment scams: If you’re selling something online this holiday season, beware of anyone who offers to pay more than the listing price. Scammers do this and then ask for the excess amount back; when the seller goes to cash the check, and send the extra funds back, the original check bounces, leaving the victim on the hook for the total amount. 
  • Charity scams: Cybercriminals will lure victims into donating to fake charities. 
  • Travel-related booking scams: With these scams, consumers land on fake hotel or airfare booking sites that are advertising great deals. Scammers get them to book fake trips and steal their financial information. 
  • Investment scams: Fake websites will tout great investment opportunities for consumers looking to get involved in long-term investment plans. However, they steal personal and financial information, with no reward.   
  • Fake gift exchanges: These can take the form of a virtual “Secret Santa” where consumers receive a gift after sending one to someone else. However, scammers bank on consumers wasting their own money on purchasing and sending a gift, as well as providing their personal information for a gift they never receive. 
  • Temporary holiday job scams: Steer clear of any potentially suspicious holiday job postings. While many retailers are hiring extra help for the holidays, not all listings are legitimate. Scammers look for ways for consumers to share personal information, including bank routing numbers. 
  • Imposter scams: Cyber criminals will often pretend to be people in consumers’ lives to get them to send money, gift cards, etc. 
  • New pet scams: Scammers create fake pet listings and get consumers to send them money for their new family pet. However, there is never a real pet, and consumers are out hundreds of dollars. 


Staying safe this holiday season

To help consumers avoid a costly scam this holiday season, here are some tips to stay safe when shopping: 

  • Never buy from unrecognized retailers. 
  • Check that websites are secure and start with https. 
  • If anything looks too good to be true, it probably is. 
  • A virtual private network (VPN) can keep your personal and financial information safe when shopping online. 
  • Strong passwords will prevent you from getting your accounts hacked.
  • Device protection software can help keep your devices safe. 


Kristen Dalli Reporter

Kristen Dalli is a New York native and recent graduate of Marist College. She has worked as a writer and editor for several different companies and publications, including Thought Catalog, The Oddysey, Thomas Greco Publishing, and several travel blogs.



Saluda Acupuncture

This Holiday Season, give the Gift of Peace, Relaxation, Health & Wellness to yourself and your loved ones.

 

Celebrating 1 1/2 years on Main Street, Saluda Acupuncture is happy to offer 20% off regular prices during the Month of December, for all Gift Certificates and pre-bought sessions to be used during 2024, for new and existing clients. 

 

Asha Woo, LAc has been practicing acupuncture since 2007 and combines different modalities including esoteric acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, cupping, gua sha and moxa. She leads continuing education workshops locally and nationally teaching acupuncturists, massage therapists and nurses the unique style of acupuncture she practices that can be done with or without needles. 


New Day and Time for Tai Chi. 

The Tuesday evening Tai Chi class has moved to 10 am on Wednesday mornings at its current location in the Saluda Presbyterian Church activity building.

Contact Rob Bruce at 828-435-0816 or rbtbrc@yahoo.com for more details.



Community News

Call for Korean Defense Veterans Stories


Ellie Varn is a Senior at George Washington University interning for the Korea Defense Veterans Association. She is hoping to highlight the service of any active or retired member of the armed services from WNC.


Korean Defense Veterans are any member of the armed forces who has served in Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. Ellie will conduct an interview and write an article about the servicemember's reflections that will be published in the KDVA's quarterly journal. 

 

Please contact Ellie at eliasvarn@gmail.com.


Calling All Saluda Teenagers 13 to 18 Years Old

You are eligible to compete in the Sister Cities International 2024 Young Artists and Authors Showcase. The medium may be artwork, literature, photography or music. Submissions are judged around an annual theme and judged based on creativity, composition and theme interpretation. This year’s theme is “Climatescape: Resilient Cities for Tomorrow’s Climate. Prizes range from $1,000 for first place down to $100 for third place. Art may be oil, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal or colored pencils. Digital art is allowed but is a separate category. In literature, students may submit essays, anecdotes or other written work. Poetry is a separate category. The deadline for entries to Sister Cities International is May 1, 2024.  Students who are interested in participating must contact Saluda Sister City by January 15, 2024. If interested, please contact Judy Thompson at address below. Depending on the level of interest, we may hold a local competition to narrow entries as only 5 can be submitted in any one category from Saluda.  More detail is available at https://yaas2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/YAAS-2024-ONE-PAGER.pdf and at https://yaas2024.org.

Lasagna Competition and Dinner

Saturday, February 3 at the Saluda Senior Center. All you can eat lasagna, salad, bread, beverage and dessert. Adults will receive ticket for one glass of red wine. The Mountain Page Payers will entertain with Italian songs and more. This event is a gift to the Saluda Community to show what we are doing here and in Carunchio. We hope you will come, have a great time, eats lots of amazing food, and support our efforts.

 

And if you are a cook, we are looking for more cooks to put their best lasagna into the competition. We’ll have judges and name the best meat and best meatless lasagna. And we’re working on PRIZES for the winners!

 

Tickets can be purchased on the Sister City website at https://www.saludasistercity.org or at Saluda Moon Glass Gallery or by contacting Sister City at the contact below.

 

Holiday Connections Between Saluda & Carunchio Schools

Since the two Saluda teachers visited Carunchio last April, connections between the two schools have gotten stronger with children exchanging emails and sharing pictures. The Saluda 5th graders wrote to the Carunchio students to tell them about their favorite holiday traditions. They shared information on their favorite movies, Christmas Carols, Christmas tree decorations, and more! Letters were written in English and translated into Italian, and sent as a digital slideshow for instant delivery and hard copies were mailed.

Italian Dinner at Orchard Inn

Mark your calendars to hold the date for a gala Italian Evening on March 14,2024, at the Orchard Inn. The chef is creating a classic Italian dinner, and the Mountain Page Players will be there to bring a festive note with some well-known Italian songs and more.

 

Let’s Travel in 2024

Several trips are open (Contact Sister City for details):

*One room available due to a cancellation for June 1, 2024, for Flower Festival in Carunchio. All-inclusive experience except for your airfare. 2,400 Euros if paid in cash (slightly more for credit card).

*New trip for September 8, 2024, which should catch the grape harvest. Same price as above. You will experience amazing food, cooking lessons, touring… fabulous experiences.

*Want to make your own trip to Italy? Sister City will help Members plan trips at no cost to you. Tuscany, Chianti, Rome, Naples, Puglia (the southern “boot” area), Sicily, offshore islands; guides, tours to study art, history, Etruscan culture, ceramics, wine, whatever. We are here for you to help you plan.

 

Update on Benedetta

Our first student delegate from Italy, Benedetta Formisano, has completed her undergraduate degree and enrolled in a master program in marketing. She will be at a private university in Milan and has applied for a double degree program which will let her do her first year in Milan and second year at another university in the US. She is considering Florida International University in Miami. That would enable her to come for visits here on breaks. We, of course, are urging her to get closer to us!

 

When Claire Thompson was in Italy as our student delegate this past July, she spent a week with Benedetta who took her by train to Milan for touring and then to gorgeous Lake Como. They ended with time at Benedetta’s home in Vasto. Chances are that the connection between them will continue their whole life. It began when Benedetta was here in Saluda and Claire and her family entertained Benedetta in their home and on outings on several occasions. This sort of connection makes the world smaller and helps us value our differences.  

 

For further information, contact Judy Thompson at JDT@JDThompsonLaw.com 828-489-6578



Unlock the Power of ChatGPT (AI) for Your Business:

A Free Seminar for Saluda-Area Businesses


Join us for a hands-on seminar showing how you can use the amazing new tool … ChatGPT … to dramatically improve your online marketing.


What To Expect

  • Expert Insight: Learn how ChatGPT can serve as your personal marketing assistant, helping you create captivating social media content that resonates with your audience.
  • Real Success Stories: See concrete examples from a Saluda business owner who is already reaping the benefits of ChatGPT’s marketing prowess.
  • Interactive Learning: Participate in an engaging session where you can test and experience the capabilities of ChatGPT firsthand.
  • Practical Skills: Learn how to interact with ChatGPT effectively, ensuring you get tailored results that fit your business needs.


Event Details

Cost: Absolutely Free!

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Location: Saluda Senior Center, 64 Greenville St, Saluda, NC 28773



How to Register

Seats are limited, so register now by visiting https://shorturl.at/qBCK7 or scan the QR code below to secure your spot.


Have Questions?

Proudly sponsored by the Saluda TDA (Tourism Development Authority) and the Saluda Business Association (SBA), this seminar is tailored to empower local businesses like yours.


Don’t miss out on the chance to transform your business with the power of AI. We’re excited to see you there!


For further inquiries, please reach out to Scott Cardais at 704-661-5393 or drop an email to Scott@Cardais.com.

Some Things to Know About This Publication


It is what it is. 


Saluda Lifestyles makes an effort to verify information and does its best to edit for spelling and grammatical errors but some just slip through. 

   

If you know someone who would like to receive this e-version, have them send an email request to saludalifestyles@gmail.com

  

All material contained in Saluda Lifestyles is original work by Saluda residents and others with an interest in Saluda unless otherwise specified. None of the material may be reproduced in whole or in part except by written consent of the editor or by the originator of the material.

  

To submit articles to Saluda Lifestyles, please email greg @ saludalifestyles@gmail.com

  

Saluda Lifestyles is currently being published by

Greg Bryant, PO Box 48, Saluda, NC 28773

 saludalifestyles@gmail.com

  

The paintings used to create the Saluda Lifestyles Masthead, are the work of local award-winning painter and painting teacher Jim Carson. Jim generously donated pictures of his work depicting Saluda for the masthead.

Watching Kaya just being in the woods,

reminds me to breath, and be.

In that moment, being is enough.

Ahhh the aroma of life!