About Blue Ridge's Historic Downtown Blue Ridge

We had the pleasure of attending the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce After Hours this week held at The Art Center Galleries On West Main in downtown Blue Ridge, GA. It was a fabulous evening filled with a festive atmosphere, touring and learning more about the Blue Ridge Mountains Art Association with Executive Director, Sarah Verner.

The vision of The Art Center is to act as an economic stimulus to put Blue Ridge, GA on the map as one of the Top Art Towns in the Nation. And that's just what they’ve done and the results have benefited the entire community. The estimated audience each year is 30,000+. The Art Center depends on its membership to keep it strong and its programs growing. They have tripled their membership in three years and have 1,000+ members - a solid, growing team of inspired individuals, who are interested in the creative spirit of artists and art enthusiasts.

One of the main components of an art town is to provide a place where artists can purchase the tools they require to create. The Art Supply Station provides economical pricing for supplies for their art classes for children and adults. Artists were surveyed to determine the supplies most needed and they are adding to that inventory every day with requests from artist members. Come check out the Art Supply Stations supplies and enjoy the many exhibits at the Galleries on West Main.

The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association also offers a full spectrum of classes and events. Classes in music, dance, watercolors, oil painting, acrylics, collage, pastels, stained glass, woodcarving, drawing, knitting, mosaics, creative writing, pottery, basketry, pen & ink, pressed flowers and much, much more.

Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association

The Art Center Galleries on West Main

420 West Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513

706.632.2144 www.blueridgearts.net

Gallery Hours: 10am - 4pm Tue - Thur and 10am - 6pm Fri & Sat

Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Team

www.MountainLivingTeam.com

Visit Santa's Station and his Elves
in the downtown Blue Ridge, GA Mountains!

You’ll find Santa’s Station right in the center of downtown Blue Ridge across from Depot and City Park. You can visit with Santa and enjoy a cup of hot cider and a famous fried pie from Mercier Orchards.
You’ll also want to check for the special select times to join the Elves from Home Depot to build a craft too.

Santa will be there Friday, December 23rd from 2 to 7 p.m.
and Saturday, December 24th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Home Depot Workshop Friday, December 23rd from 4 to 7 p.m.
and Saturday, December 24th from 4 to 7 p.m.

Ho Ho Ho and a Merry Christmas to All!

Harvest On Main in Blue Ridge, GA offers the glow from the lodge atmosphere, a setting perfect for casual dining. Here you’ll find a lodge setting right in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge with a roaring fireplace, open kitchen and southern hospitality. You might even be fortunate enough to be there one evening when a special musical guest is performing.

And of course you’ll find creative and wonderful ly prepared dishes as Harvest On Main showcases local, sustainable products and regional artisan flavors. Creative American Cuisine with a Southern Twang and a Staff that’s knowledgeable and friendly.

Make sure to stop by Harvest On Main for a delightful dining experience. Located at 576 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Call for reservations 706.946.6164 Harvestonmain@gmail.com

There are many great places and things to do in the mountains. If you’re visiting or thinking of moving to the mountains of western NC, north GA or east TN, we’d love to share more area information and properties with you.

Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain living Teamwww.MurphyMountainLiving.com

L.&L. Beanery & Café in historic downtown Blue Ridge Georgia has done it again! Last year they expanded their unique coffee shop & bakery to include a very successful breakfast and luncheon café, and now, this: Great dining with fine food, libations and live music, set in an ambient atmosphere that reeks of high quality, but offers diners an affordable elegant evening.

We were seated right away. The accent lighting and live music created the perfect setting for a fine dining experience. It was a pleasure to finally be offered a wine list with dinner, as Blue Ridge is no longer a DRY county. By the bottle or by the glass, the prices were a pleasant surprise. We decided on a Riesling, and the entire bottle was $17.00. It was crisp and light, a great accompaniment to the vegetarian lasagna, which was a gourmet step above any lasagna I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying. We were left with no room for dessert, but the plethera of delectable offerings were tough to resist.

I know this new night spot will fill a niche that Blue Ridge area residents and visitors have been painfully aware of: someplace to have a lovely dinner with a bottle of wine and not end up spending a week’s pay. With the passing of the liquor licensing laws, it seems Blue Ridge will soon be the site of many quaint taverns and local breweries. There are two more evening establishments already in the works just around the corner, getting ready for an opening this Fall.

Little by little, places like L.&L. Beanery and Merciers Orchard & Café are offering later hours for those who like to stay up past sunset. Little by little, little Blue Ridge Georgia is stepping up with the times and expanding on what it offers visitors and residents. It’s actually an exciting evolution to watch. Bravo L.&L.!

P.S.- Dinner is ONLY offered Friday and Saturday nights, at this point. Due to the crowds we experience up here in the mountains during the Fall, be prepared to linger and enjoy the ambience, as home-made foods and persoanable waitstaff combined with high customer volume can create wait times.