Written by Shawndra Russell
Capital at Play Presents the C@P Co-Op: Play Like a Local
We are leveraging our extensive network of local businesses to give special access to our hyper-local readership! How it works – Each month we will give out a new passcode (February is LOVE AT PLAY, used verbally in store, or online when available) granting access to unique offerings and huge deals at businesses throughout Western NC. Each month’s passcode is available in each edition of the magazine, in our once-a-month email newsletter, and on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Continue reading the article, below, to see those offerings. Bonus – We will also be giving away items from those businesses each month (eight separate items worth over $1,500 in February alone) in a special readers’ contest. To make sure you get the passcode each month, keep reading the magazine, or follow us on social media, or sign up for our once-a-month e-newsletter. If you want to win one of the giveaway items, we will choose at random from our e-newsletter members. Sign up today! (For more information visit: capitalatplay.com/coop)
The natural beauty of Western North Carolina creates quite the romantic backdrop for those seeking to spend quality time with their sweetie. In fact, the Blue Ridge Mountains alone have made their way into more than 2,000 song lyrics, and many of the creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs that help make a romantic date possible were drawn here precisely for the region’s scenic landscapes, bounty, and endless inspiration.
To help you indulge this Valentine’s Day—or whenever the mood strikes—we’ve collected a few of Western North Carolina’s romantic destinations and goods that will ensure your next date night is one to remember.
To that end, during the month of February, 2018 we’ve also secured selected special access for you with the businesses profiled below (starting on page 56) in the “flirtatious,” “romantic,” and “sensual” sections—your passcode: LOVE AT PLAY—and they are also giving away special gifts in a contest for our readers, including the grand prize: a two-night staycation at Half-Mile Farm Luxury Country Inn in Highlands, North Carolina. The other prizes are being offered by French Broad Chocolates, Wild Mountain Bees, Little Jumbo cocktail bar, Metro Wines, VaVaVooom, Chestnut restaurant, and Wake Foot Sanctuary.
French Broad Chocolates
The story behind the evolution of French Broad Chocolates sounds like a rom-com. “Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl drop out of grad school and move to Costa Rica via 40-foot, veggie oil-powered school bus-turned-RV to start a business together…” explains co-founder Jael Rattigan. Once in Costa Rica, Jael and her husband and business partner, Dan, opened a cafe and dessert shop. As their love of chocolate and their family grew, the couple decided they were more mountain than beach people and beelined to Asheville aboard said school bus. Today, French Broad Chocolates are carried in retailers in half the states as well as several locations in Canada, and the Rattigans own and operate a bean-to-bar chocolate factory and massive chocolate lounge in Asheville that stays packed. “Chocolate is one of the most romantic foods in history!” says Jael, knowingly.
Lounge: 10 S Pack Square, Asheville / Factory: 21 Buxton Ave, Asheville / www.Frenchbroadchocolates.com
Wild Mountain Bees
Like chocolate, honey has a reputation as a seductive food dating back to legends about Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and pleasure. Western North Carolina is home to three of the 62 certified Bee Cities in the USA—Asheville, Hayesville, and Hendersonville. In Weaverville, Wild Mountain Bees is doing their part to educate folks through their diverse selection of classes, like mead making, DIY balms, and beekeeping. “One of our favorite things as beekeepers and Ashevillians is getting our hands dirty—celebrating all the hard work of a season past with DIYs and crafts,” says Marketing Coordinator Kathleen Taylor. “Many of us here are gardeners, herbalists, and home cooks, and herbal honeys are fun and easy to make. With just a few pointers, participants will be able to make and enjoy their very own honey infusion.” Wild Mountain Bees also sells gear for beekeepers.
23 Merrimon Ave, Weaverville / www.Wildmountainbees.com
Enough about food—time to talk cocktails! This cozy spot has seating for about 50 inside and a small outdoor patio, and it’s tucked away in a former grocery store built in 1920 that greets visitors with its historic black and white, original penny tile. Inside, low lighting, a stamped tin ceiling, and vintage chic decor invite intimate conversations plied by cocktails made with five ingredients or less for quicker service. The menu is divided into Refreshers, Classics, Favors the Brave, and After Dinner, with Manhattans and Highballs poured as “Jumbo Service” for two. “The Manhattan for Two is one of our most popular date-night options at the bar,” shares co-owner Chall Gray (also a contributor to Capital at Play). The inspiration for Little Jumbo derived from a New York City bar owned by Harry Johnson (author of Bartenders’ Manual) that he operated under the same name in the 1880s.
241 Broadway St, Asheville / www.Littlejumbobar.com
If you’re looking to stock up on wine for your date night, head to Metro Wines, 2017’s “Best of WNC Wine Shop” first place winner. Owners John Kerr and Gina Trippi pride themselves on being more than just a store, but a resource for their guests to find the perfect bottle, with wines grouped by fun categories like “Bad Hair Day” and “Bucket List.” Tastings happen daily at Metro, and they keep a full calendar of date-worthy events like film screenings, classes, and exhibits. And never fear—if you run out, they will deliver wine to your door. Kerr, who writes the Capital at Play wine column, says he chose the bottle for our giveaway “because of its unusual history, its symbolism for love, and because it’s a great wine. The blend is unique and better than the grapes individually, much like each couple’s love.”
169 Charlotte St, Asheville / www.metrowinesasheville.com
What comes after delectable foods and drinks? Lingerie, of course! At VaVaVooom, couples will find intimate apparel and toys that have been carefully curated by owner Lisa Ziemer, who describes her store as a “boudoir boutique.” Couples will find an array of gifts from silky robes to an adult toy room that is decidedly more upscale than your typical novelty store. “At VaVaVooom, we cover the spectrum of possibilities and make available all sorts of items to enhance pleasurable connection,” explains Ziemer. She is also committed to only stocking sexual health and wellness products of the highest quality, including natural oil massage oils and candles, and her goal is to help women feel strong and sexy, but also tender and feminine. Ziemer and VaVaVooom, incidentally, were profiled in the February 2017 issue of Capital at Play (“Sensuality in the City“).
57 Broadway St, Asheville / www.Vavavooom.com
Rated one of the top restaurants in Asheville’s Foodtopia, Chestnut occupies part of a beautiful 1920s building that “has the look and feel of an early 20th century French restaurant,” says co-owner Kevin Westmoreland. “The warmth of the wood, the cozy, private booths—it’s the ideal place for a special night out.” After dinner, he suggests enjoying the fireplace and a nice drink at The Grand Bohemian in Biltmore Village, one of his and his wife’s favorite things, to complete a great night out.
Chestnut is the sister restaurant to Corner Kitchen, another Asheville favorite. Westmoreland and co-owner Joe Scully opened Corner Kitchen in 2004, but waited nine years before opening their second venture. Scully attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York, where he earned a fellowship before holding executive chef positions at prestigious restaurants, including Indigo Coastal Grill and The Druid Hills Golf Club. One of the many reasons locals love supporting Westmoreland and Scully’s establishments can be attributed to their philanthropy. Each quarter, they donate a 4-course meal to eight people at the Chef’s Table, which nonprofits then use to raise money at auctions or as a thank you to loyal donors. In 2018 the duo is starting a new fundraising program, Cheers for a Cause. On Wednesdays throughout the year, a portion of all wine sales will support a local nonprofit, with the first recipient being Our Voice, Buncombe County’s rape crisis and prevention center.
Chestnut’s menu consists of locally-sourced ingredients provided by several local farms, including Hickory Nut Gap, Sunburst Trout Farm, Dry Ridge Farms, and Imladris Farms. They also rely on Eat More Bakery, City Bakery, Round Mountains Creamery, and No Evil Foods for the best plant-based protein. Start with the lobster bisque, made with cream that incorporates Troy & Sons Oak Reserve whiskey. Then, opt to share some medium plates like braised beef tongue pierogi, rabbit pot pie, and sesame-crusted black sea bass, or go for bigger entrees like cider-braised pork shank or stuffed boursin chicken. Add an award-winning wine list and craft cocktails like De La Terre Rose (made with Cathead honeysuckle vodka infused with De La Terre tea, Lillet Blanc Rose, rose water, and fresh lemon juice), and your evening is planned.
48 Biltmore Ave, Asheville / www.Chestnutasheville.com
Wake Foot Sanctuary
Arguably one of the most romantic gifts you can give is the gift of relaxation, especially of the pampered variety. At Wake Foot Sanctuary, services are feet first and always start with your choice of 10 distinct soaks scented with natural, nourishing ingredients that recharge your feet in 45 minutes. And since foot health is tied to your overall health, giving the gift of Wake Foot Sanctuary soaks makes for a thoughtful gift, too: Foot soaks can increase circulation, relieve pain in other parts of the body, reenergize us, and eliminate toxins, among numerous other benefits. Lindsey Kugler, Director of Guest/Media Relations for Wake Foot, comments on one such soak they offer, saying, “The sensual but subtle combination of frankincense, cardamom, and cedarwood creates the light scent reflected in the soak, while almond oil leaves your skin soft and touchable.”
Plus, sitting still in a plush chair, with a warm neck collar and soft blanket, will certainly put you in a zen state of mind, ready to connect over dinner, drinks, or conversation. “Wake Foot Sanctuary is such a unique date night experience—it’s both intimate and social at the same time, and guests feel transformed after taking some time to truly relax. Nothing grows the feeling of love better than being able to completely leave your cares at the door and truly enjoy your partner’s company while you both are getting pampered and doted on,” says Kugler.
Two of their soaks have earned the description of evoking a sensual scent, which makes it perfect for a Valentine’s Day outing: Good Vibes, a combination of vetiver, patchouli, and coconut oil, and Salty Beach Rose, which combines lavender, jasmine, and detoxifying rose salts. Massages can be added on for three problem areas: foot and lower leg, hand and lower arm, or head, neck, and shoulders, with the ultimate goal to leave you tension-free so you can enjoy the rest of your romantic rendezvous in a relaxed state of mind. Up the romance factor by opting for the truffle and tea add-ons, too!
1 Page Ave #115, Asheville / www.wakespa.com
Half-Mile Farm by Old Edwards
For those seeking an adults-only luxury country inn, Half-Mile Farm, located outside Highlands about an hour and 45 minutes southwest of Asheville, is the answer. One can choose between a room in the historic farmhouse (“for cozy elegance,” promises the inn), a courtyard room (“spacious luxury”), or a charming cabin (“a rustic-luxe getaway”), several of them two-story. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a glass of champagne before heading to their guestroom or cabin, some with gas fireplaces, jetted tubs, and furnished balconies overlooking the lush mountain forest. And the inn’s strict zero-tolerance noise policy means you’ll get an excellent night’s sleep whenever you stay.
“The fact that only guests of age 18 and older stay at Half-Mile Farm means that you are going to enjoy a serene retreat where you can re-center and decompress,” explains Director of Marketing and PR Amanda Sullivan, noting that the inn also boasts a heated mineral pool and jacuzzi.
In 2015 the folks behind famed Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands purchased the inn at Half-Mile Farm and got to work renovating this special location. Owners Art Williams, a retired successful insurance entrepreneur, and his wife, Angela, knew a thing or two about designing romance, having previously overseen a multimillion-dollar renovation of Old Edwards Inn; it subsequently earned a top ten spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of Most Romantic Hotels and was named by TripAdvisor as one of the top 25 hotels in the United States. (The Old Edwards Inn also includes the acclaimed The Spa at Old Edwards and The Fitness Center at Old Edwards.) The couple travels to Europe frequently and always have an eye out for new furnishings and decor they can bring back to furnish the individually-appointed rooms at their three properties.
When it came time for the Williamses to transform the Half-Mile Farm, says Sullivan, “The idea was to preserve a historic property while bringing it up date with touches like those found in a modern Napa Farmhouse, and also to bring the experience in line with the Old Edwards standards. Now, guests alternate stays with Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm, depending on the type of vacation they are in the mood for.”
Weekend evenings at Half-Mile mean live music by the fire in the Woodland View room, while days can be filled with dips in the outdoor heated mineral pool and hot tub, stand-up paddle-boarding or canoeing across the six-acre Apple Lake, casting a line in the glistening waters, or hiking along one of the trails winding across the 14 acres of streams, green fields, and forest. Other tasty perks include a chef-made breakfast each morning and hors d’oeuvres reception each afternoon.
Half-Mile Farm guests can also enjoy experiences at Old Edwards Inn hassle-free, as room-signing privileges apply to any spa service or dining experience. Since Old Edwards is located only three miles away, on Main Street in Highlands, why not book the Bliss for Two Massage or treat your partner to the heavenly Four Hand massage that features two massage therapists working simultaneously? The lengthy spa services menu at Old Edwards Inn also includes unique facials like the mountain quartz energy facial, therapeutic body work and treatments, acupuncture, and even a luxurious bath ritual that starts with exfoliation and ends with a massage. One can also take advantage of the full-service salon for haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and waxes so guests can get glam before enjoying dinner at the Inn’s on-site farm-to-fork restaurant, Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden.
Incidentally, the charming town of Highlands is well-worth exploring, with its downtown web of restaurants, art galleries, antique stores, and boutiques. There’s also the Highland Playhouse for summer theater, the Performing Arts Center, The Bascom Center for Visual Arts, the Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music concert series, outdoor concerts in summer, and the Highlands Greenway network of trails in town and on the outskirts. And the surrounding area, like Half-Mile Farm, has hiking, fishing, lakes, waterfalls, and streams, all with impressive mountain views.
Although guests coming to the Half-Mile Farm have high expectations for a peaceful getaway, Sullivan notes that “the sense of serenity and relaxation seems to take many guests by surprise. They aren’t expecting this expanse of land and lake so close to downtown Highlands, and they always comment at how peaceful they feel immediately after arriving and how refreshed they feel after their stay.” Plus, the country-inn feel also extends to the staff. “Guests always relate to them and say that their warm hospitality makes such a difference in their stay,” Sullivan adds. One timely tip: For regular bookings, guests can get the best rates and packages January through May, especially weeknights, and enjoy a 2PM late checkout on weekdays in the winter.
214 Half Mile Dr, Highlands / www.Halfmilefarm.com
Capital at Play chose lucky readers from our monthly e-newsletter to receive the following items. For future contests, sign up for the newsletter at our homepage.
- A 12-piece chocolate basket from French Broad Chocolates Aphrodisiac collection.
- Herbal aphrodisiac honey infusion workshop for two and a tasting flight of honey infusions from Wild Mountain Bees.
- Jumbo Service Manhattan & Dessert for two, drink served in a carafe on ice presented on an antique silver platter with proper glassware and real cherries.
- Bottle of Guado al Melo Jassarte, which is a blend of several ancient, indigenous Italian grapes in the way vintners have done since the Etruscan empire.
- A $50 gift certificate from VaVaVooom.
- Couples massage, which includes a 10-minute head, neck, and shoulder massage paired with a 20-minute foot and lower leg massage while you sip on a warm and aromatic pot of tea and share some delectable treats as your feet soak.
- Dinner on the house at Chestnut for Valentine’s Day.
- Two-night staycation at Half-Mile Farm.
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