Sallie shared some of her pictures from earlier in the season when Mountain Air's Dining Divas had a great meal in Heritage Ridge Park.  If you like to cook and enjoy sharing delicious food together, talk to Sallie about joining Dining Divas.  Sallie is also one of our Heritage Ridge Villas' board members.

Nearby Asheville is always winning awards and making many different top 10 lists.  A recent Country Living article ranks Asheville #1, among the top ten coziest cities!  Enjoy a visit to Asheville, perhaps to one of their great restaurants, or breweries, to an art gallery, for some bluegrass music, or check out all the many Asheville activities on our helpful Links page.   

We have the best location in the world here at the Heritage Ridge Villas.  We are an easy 35 minute 4 lane highway drive from Asheville.  But we gain 1500 ft. in elevation along the short trip.  That means we have much cooler summer temperatures than Asheville.  Every one of our villas has amazing long range views, as we are nestled on a ridge top with views to the east and the west sometimes.  We have our own on site hiking trails and all the amenities of Mountain Air, including restaurants, a spa and swimming pool, tennis courts and golf,  But lovely Asheville beckons whenever we are up for trying a new restaurant, seeing the latest movie, or attending one of the world class festivals that call Asheville home.

Old cars, of all sorts.  The police chief and his wife, from a local small town, And the "burn out" contest at the Poplar Car Show.  Photos © Louise Lindsay

​For those who are old car fans, or who simply love old time Appalachian parties, check out the Poplar Car Show, coming up on August 27, 2017.  Louise Lindsay and her husband and their two poodles have enjoyed these shows in the past and hope to attend this year.  ​Louise had a lot of fun practicing "street photography" at a prior trip to the Poplar Car show and shares some of her photos with us.

Poplar is out in the middle of no where, but not too far from Mountain Air.  There is a huge field, full of old cars.  Then there is the local "burn-out" contest, where cars compete to spin their wheels and see who can create the most "smoke and burn".  There are food concessions with "funnel cake" and all sorts of Appalachian specialties.  This show is mostly for mountain locals, but is very welcoming of guests.  It is a beautiful drive through the country to get there.  

We get to wake up in our beautiful condos with their long range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  We get to enjoy our lovely summer coolness brought by our 4,000 ft. in altitude.  But at our finger tips, adventures await.  A short drive to Asheville brings us all the restaurants and riches of city life.  And a drive through the country brings us the Poplar car show, the world class arts and crafts at Penland School of Crafts, and all sorts of theater, concerts, and literary events very nearby.  Or we can stay put on our mountain all day, enjoy our local hiking trails, eat in our lovely Mountain Air restaurants, and rock on our back or front porches, after a lovely massage at our Mountain Air spa, or a relaxing yoga class, or tennis game, or round of golf.  

Many events are occurring around Mountain Air in June and early July.  For those of you wanting to take some artistic workshops, checkout the new schedule at the world class and nearby Penland School of Crafts.  There are workshops in clay, and in journal making, as well as photography and painting.

​The world class Carolina Mountains Literary Festival is in September, but the time to get tickets for the banquet and keynote address is now.  They usually sell out quickly.  This year the Sept. 8 keynote address is by Ronni Lundy, author of Victuals: An Appalachian Journey, winner of the 2017 James Beard Award, Best American Cookbook as well as Book of The Year.  You can contact them directly at:  cmlitfest@gmail.com  Volunteers are also always needed.

June means the rhododendrons are in bloom on Roan mountain, and all over Mountain Air also.  There are many concerts and festivities scheduled at Roan Mountain over the next few weeks.  Be sure to check them out.  The phone number is 423-772-0190.

Several of our villa residents were at Heritage Ridge and Mountain Air for Thanksgiving.  The feast at Mountain Air Country Club was reportedly fabulous.

After the big meal, everyone needed some exercise.  Our resident naturalist, Kat, guided a lovely morning moon walk.  Several of our residents attended.  

Not only are there all sorts of organized activities available at Mountain Air, but there are also many member-organized activities.  One of these is Dining Divas. About once a month, women get together and each woman prepares a gourmet dish, and then they all dine together at someone's home.  If you are interested, just ask almost anyone around the mountain, and someone will make sure you are invited.  Mountain Air and the Heritage Ridge Villas are a very friendly, inviting and welcoming community.  One of our residents, Sallie, hosted the Dining Divas recently, and you can see what a lovely table she set.  Maybe there is even a new name, "Dining Divas With A View"!

Be sure to check out Mountain Air Country Club's Fall festivities, Sat., Oct. 8, 4-7 P.M. on the #1 fairway, as well as an all day trip to Hickory Nut Gap Farm.  These activities are for club members only, and real estate guests.  Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, NC can also be visited by anyone.

Meanwhile, right here in Burnsville, Fri. night brings The Great Gatsby, at the Parkway Playhouse.  And Sat. brings Newtown with Yancey native Mitchell Cannon playing bluegrass (fiddle) at the Burnsville Town Center.

From Rob Levin comes this message, sent out to those on his email list:
 “If you're in the mountains next weekend, here's a quick reminder that the Hwy. 80 South Art Hop will be Saturday & Sunday, October 8 & 9, from 10 - 5.   A number of studios on or near Rte 80, south of Micaville, will be opening our doors to visitors, including 4 of the 5 glass studios in our valley.  With the tour involving a relatively small area, it should be a relaxed, easy to navigate studio tour.  Studios will be marked with Art Hop signs; maps and info can be picked up at the One of a Kind Gallery in Micaville.  Here's a link for more info:  http://www.80arthop.com/

Also on tap next weekend -- the Spruce Pine Potters Market and fall colors at higher elevations!

AND: Mark your calendars for the annual TRAC Holiday Studio Tour, coming up December 2,3 &4.  You'll be pleased to know my daughter Hannah will be joining me in my studio to exhibit her pottery.  More info to follow next month.
Hoping you are having a happy and artistic Fall,
Rob”

1    One of a Kind Art Gallery               
2     Garold Amsberry                
3       Lynda Gayle Banner               
Bridget Fox               
  4    Rolf Holmquist               
5     Sarah House                
6      Loretta Forde & David Wilson               
  7     Kat Turczyn               
Jane Willig               
Matt Willig               
  8    Rob Levin               
   9  Kim & Pete McWhirter               
10     Mountain Farm              
 11    Toe River Crafts               
 12     Katie & Billy Bernstein               
​

"The Spruce Pine Potters Market is a unique gathering of our region’s greatest potters and clay artists. Enjoy wonderful food and beautiful handmade pottery on a colorful autumn weekend. Admission is free and lunches are available for purchase on site."   October 8th and 9th.

​We had lunch at the Harvest Market restaurant, near Bakersville.  Locals recommended it, and the food was fabulous, organic and fresh.  Check it out.  1284 NC-226, Bakersville, NC 28705,  (828) 537-4726,

Debbie and Diane (Resident and friend)

Friends from Nashville visiting.  Some played golf.  Some took a trip to nearby Weaverville.  We all highly recommend the Well Bred Bakery there.  Weather at Mountain Air is gorgeous also!  Cool and sunny.  Touches of leaf color change.