WNC Staff

Celebrate—and help preserve—monarch butterflies during their annual migration through WNC

Wilma Dykeman’s posthumously published memoir revisits her mountain upbringing

UNC Asheville opens the first of two major makerspaces

Five local inventors who are changing the world, one innovation at a time

Smart companions for your next cookout

Last spring, we invited amateur and professional photographers alike to enter our inaugural Images of Western North Carolina Photo Contest, and with so much here to inspire a shutterbug’s focus, more than 600 submissions flooded in. Check out the finalists’ photos as well as the winners of the Amateur and Professional categories on these pages, then visit wncmagazine.com to view other honorable mentions and vote for your overall favorite by January 31. The Readers’ Choice winner will be announced in our March/April issue.

Sometimes, smaller is better.

Hugging the banks of the North Toe River, surrounded by blue-tinged mountains, the rural Mitchell County town of Spruce Pine holds a rich history, one with tales of trains and commerce, a hoard of minerals, and a nationally recognized theater. After falling in love with the community and learning of its heritage, Boone-based events planner Elizabeth Hempfling decided to pay homage. “I wanted to do something that portrayed love, but wanted it to be unique and to mean something,” she says. Hempfling staged a photo project that offers period recreations of Spruce Pine’s past, from the early 1900s to the 1950s, as well as snapshots of the thriving community today. In all, some 30 local residents pooled resources and time to stage, style, and snap pictures over four days. The result is a nostalgic portrayal of the town’s story, told with passion and reverence.

Five local bands serve up new summer albums

A Cullowhee artist creates narrative jewelry that touches the spaces within

Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center welcomes its first official director

Whether or not they fight for the title in the WNC Battle of the Burger, these joints are worth a visit

The scoop on WNC’s latest dining destinations

24 must-do experiences await! Hit the road this summer for thrills, beauty, history, and local flavor in every county across Western North Carolina

This Easter, celebrate with eggs of all sizes

For Asheville textile artist Barbara Zaretsky, ancient dying techniques enliven modern designs

Distance 0.7 mile Difficulty: Easy

The scoop on WNC’s latest dining destinations

Sip and savor award-winning wines from WNC

Power up anywhere, anytime with these locally made energy bars

Celebrate a joyous season with performances galore

Whether your holiday dinner includes ham, turkey, beef, or a walk on the wild side, John Kerr of Metro Wines in Asheville offers wine-pairing tips for your pièce de résistance

"Everything is an art material"

Internationally known for the quality of the mica in its soil, Spruce Pine is also ground zero for one of the most highly regarded craft communities in the nation. Potters and other artisan wizards work in the hills and hollers that surround Mineral City, making Spruce Pine a prime base for hiking, touring, and studio-hopping.