If it's going on in the county, you'll find it here
MARCH
AROUND THE COUNTY
Thursdays in March • Star Lab • National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank • 304-456-2150 • gb.nrao.edu. Gather at the planetarium balloon every Thursday for a unique look at the sky. There is a $3.00 charge per person and reservations are suggested. Program begins at 2 p.m.
March 2 • Roadside Theatre presents “Music from Home” • Pocahontas County Opera House, Third Avenue, Marlinton, 7:30 p.m. • 304-799-6645 or 800-336-7009 • pocahontasoperahouse.org. A production written and performed by Ron Short, a veteran member of Roadside Theater from the mountains of Whitesburg, KY,
March 2 • Film Fest Friday, 7 p.m. • NRAO, Green Bank • 304-456-2150 • gb.nrao.edu. Come on out and enjoy a great science-themed movie and then discuss the film with NRAO staff. Begins at 7 p.m.
March 14 • NRAO "off limits" area is open to you! • NRAO, Green Bank • 304-456-2150 • gb.nrao.edu. Join us for a guided tour through parts of NRAO normally off limits to visitors like lab areas where sensitive receivers are designed and built. The tour starts at 3:30 p.m. and space is limited to 15; cost is $3.00 so make reservations early.
March 16 • Simple Gifts at the Opera House • Pocahontas County Opera House, Third Avenue, Marlinton, 7:30 p.m. • 304-799-6645 or 800-336-7009 • pocahontasoperahouse.org.
March 17 • Jenny Allinder and Friends • Brazen Head Inn, Mingo • 449-6917 • www.brazenheadinn.com. Jenny Allinder is a two time winner of the Vandalia Gathering fiddle contest, as well as the 1993 West Virginia State Folk Festival fiddle champion.
Her music is a seamless blend of originals along with Appalachian, Irish, Celtic, folk and old-time tunes. Join Jenny, her friends ,and regulars for a real St. Patrick’s celebration at an authentic Irish pub!
March 17 • Party under the stars • NRAO, Green Bank • 304-456-2150 • gb.nrao.edu. NRAO staff will orient you to the star-filled sky and then view the night sky on the Star Party Patio. Bring optical telescopes and binoculars - you won’t believe the view! Program begins 30 minutes before dark. Dress warmly!
March 24 • WV Jazz Orchestra at The Opera House • Pocahontas County Opera House, Third Avenue, Marlinton, 7:30 p.m. • 304-799-6645 or 800-336-7009 • pocahontasoperahouse.org.
March 23 - 25 • The 5th Annual Brazen Head Folk Weekend • Brazen Head Inn, Mingo • 449-6917 • www.brazenheadinn.com. It's an informal gathering of kindred musical spirits that is attracting more people as word gets around, so contact Innkeeper Will Fanning soon to make your reservations. Early arrivals on
March 23 are likely to burst into song at dinner, if not sooner, and the music will continue Saturday afternoon and evening. A traditional gospel sing usually kicks off sometime before lunch on Sunday before easing back into other traditional songs.
On The
Mountain
For more info about any events at Snowshoe, call 877-441-4FUN or visit
online at
www.snowshoemtn.com
NASTAR Racing: Thursdays - Sundays. Show off the Olympian within you with NASTAR! This GS format race is offered each Thursday through Sunday during the winter season. Racing takes place from 1 - 4 pm on Skipjack trail. Registration takes place in the Shavers Centre from 9 am - Noon, and an awards presentation immediately follows the race. Cost is $5 per two runs or $10 for unlimited timed runs. NASTAR is subject to weather and snow conditions. Please consult the daily Snow Report for more details.
March 4 - 7 • Spring Break Snow Bash. Take your spring break at the mountains instead of the beach, and enjoy some of the best snow conditions of the year. Our four-day Spring Break packages offer savings of up to 50%.
Begins March 11 •Almost Heaven Spring Value Season. There's a reason we call it Almost Heaven - sunny days, milder temps and plenty of great snow! Plus, starting on March 11, you can enjoy some of the best skiing and riding conditions of the season at some of the best prices of the year. VIsit our Almost Heaven Season Package pages online for more information. Enjoy some of the best snow of the year with prices too hard to pass up!
March 16 - 17 • St. Patrick's Bump and Boogie Weekend. Add a little Irish to your winter with Snowshoe's St. Patrick's Day Bump and Boogie Weekend. This event will feature a fun Skier / Boarder Cross race and a bump competition on Lower Shays. The highlight of the weekend will be our St. Patrick¹s Day Bash in the Big Top featuring live Irish entertainment, great food and of course plenty of green beverages!
March 23 - 24 • Mountain Beach Party Music Festival. The legends of Beach Music return to the mountain for the 8th Annual Mountaintop Beach Party Music Festival. Kick off the weekend on Friday night with live entertainment. The fun continues on Saturday with more live entertainment along with crazy on-slope games, fireworks and much more.
March 31 • Last Hurrah. Celebrate the end to another great season of skiing and riding with Snowshoe's annual Last Hurrah weekend. The Pond Skimming Extravaganza, live entertainment, fun and games and more are just a few of the many things that make Last Hurrah a great way to round out the season.
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Ron Short, of Roadside Theatre, plays Friday, March 2.
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March offers a Musical Mix at the Opera House
Barbara Elliott
Contributing Writer
Music from Appalachia, folk songs from around the world and memorable tunes from the Big Band era make for an entertaining musical melting pot at the Pocahontas County Opera House this month.
Roadside Theatre Presents “Music from Home”
On Friday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m., the Opera House presents Music from Home, a production written and performed by Ron Short, a veteran member of Roadside Theater from the mountains of Whitesburg, Kentucky.
The one-man performance features powerful vocal renditions of original songs, sometimes sung a cappella; sometimes accompanied by banjo, guitar, fiddle, or accordion; always inspired by the Appalachian Mountain traditions in which the author/composer was born and raised.
Woven through the musical score is a narrative of plain spoken poems and biting commentary about life and love. Short’s generous performance, versatile musicianship, and soaring voice combine with a compelling script to make Music from Home a surprising evening of live performance that is musically fresh, entertaining, and, finally, moving.
Simple Gifts
Simple Gifts perform Friday, March 16.
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Three women plus 12 instruments equal one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage on Friday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. Drawing on an impressive variety of ethnic folk styles, this award-winning trio plays everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer frailachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Balkan dance music, the lush sounds of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style.
Combining tradition with innovation, Simple Gifts creates some of the finest arrangements in folk music today: swing fiddle creeps into a Romanian dance, spoons show up in an Irish reel, and the concertina ventures far beyond styles considered traditional for that instrument.
Based in the hills of central Pennsylvania, these women play an amazing array of instruments. Linda Littleton, Rachel Hall, and Karen Hirshon switch with ease among two violins, concertina, mandolin, banjolin, recorders, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, baritone fiddle, guitar, piano, and percussion.
Presentation of Simple Gifts is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts On Tour, a program developed and funded by the Vira I. Heinz Endowment, The William Penn Foundation, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
West Virginia Jazz Orchestra
The WV Jazz Orchestra fills the stage Saturday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m.
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If you’re in the mood for some great big band music, don’t miss the performance by the West Virginia Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m.
WVJO is based at Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, and performs three to four public concerts there each year. The ensemble is comprised of 18 musicians – retired music professors, working professional musicians, and excellent amateur musicians. Sponsored by Local 674 of the American Federation of Musicians, WVJO’s mission is to foster interest in big band music.
Tickets to all shows are $5 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free. The Pocahontas County Opera House is located at 818 Third Avenue in Marlinton. For further information, call the Opera House at (304) 799-6645 or the Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-336-7009. In the event of snow or ice, please call to confirm that the concert is still scheduled. Information on upcoming performances can be found at pocahontasoperahouse.org.
These performances are part of the 2006-07 Performance Series sponsored by the Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation. Financial support is provided through a grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Additional support is provided by Pocahontas County Drama, Fairs and Festivals.
caps: Ron Short, of Roadside Theatre, plays Friday, March 2.
Simple Gifts perform Friday, March 16.
Chombard Raspberry Cheesecake is worth saving room for.
Photo by Pam Pritt.
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ADVENTURES IN GOOD EATING
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Village Bistro’s menu varied and sure to please
Pamela Pritt
Editor
The food at the Village Bistro can really be summed up in one short phrase.
It’s a good thing.
The smoked trout dip appetizer is pleasing to the eye and a delight to the palate.
Photo by Pam Pritt.
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From start to finish and with everything in between, The Bistro in the Village at Snowshoe is a great place to warm up from an afternoon on the slopes or to get away for an afternoon.
Portions are large, but not overwhelmingly so, and the prices are more than reasonable.
We took a blustery Saturday afternoon to visit The Bistro and take our minds off the weather outside for awhile.
Our party of four started with smoked trout dip, served with flatbread, red onions, cucumbers and capers and the tuna tartare, served with pickled ginger, Wasabi and wonton crisps.
My theory is, if it’s blended with cream cheese, it must be good, so the trout was a great choice. The flavors blended nicely and, between two of us, didn’t fill us up completely before our main course.
Sushi lovers can get a"fix" of Wasab with the spicy Tuna Tartare
Photo by Pam Pritt.
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The more adventurous pair chose the tuna tartare.
You can’t go wrong with this fiery and delicious dish, a bit of the seashore on the mountaintop.
We chose the open-face ribeye and ciabatta for our meal.
The ribeye was really good. Grilled to order and served with sautéed mushrooms and onions, the sandwich is served on ciabatta bread. The ribeye was tender and juicy and char-broiled to perfection.
Ciabatta bread with grilled chicken is a tasty, filling sandwich.
Photo by Pam Pritt.
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The ciabatta comes with grilled chicken topped with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, Mozzarella cheese and pesto. All that is served on Ciabatta bread and finished with a Balsamic reduction. This sandwich is a carnival of color and flavors that are a quite tasty.
Presentation at The Bistro is almost as delightful as the food, so perhaps no one really wondered why we were taking pictures of our food.
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Always, and I mean always, save
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== room for dessert at The Bistro.
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I’m a big fan of cremé brulee, but I opted for the Chombard Raspberry Cheesecake.
I’m glad I did.
The cheesecake was light and fluffy and the raspberry flavoring brought to mind the raspberry soft-serve ice cream I used to get when I was a child.
Feeling a little decadent? Then try The Tower of Power dessert. It's chocolaty, rich, and is easily enough for four people to enjoy.
Photo by Jaynell Graham-Awad .
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We didn’t order the Tower of Power chocolate cake, but our waiter let us “borrow” one just for a photo. It’s enough dessert for at least two people, if not more.
Four layers of deep chocolate cake topped by creamy, rich chocolate frosting and drizzled with chocolate sauce are sure to delight even the most die-hard chocoholic.
It comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, just in case you need it.
If you bet someone in your party they can only eat the grapes and orange slice that come as garnish, you’ll win.
You can’t beat the service at The Bistro, either. Our food came much more quickly than our bill, so we felt most welcome in the cozy confines of our booth.
For dinner, try the Chesapeake Cakes, Chicken Saute, Big Tuna, Norwegian Salmon or Pork Chop.
If you’re in a steak kind of mood, The Bistro can handle that with filet mignon and New York strip, both cooked your way.
All entrees are served with red skin mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley.
For the health conscious, the restaurant offers three entree sized salads, including the Asian, which has mixed greens, grilled chicken breast, shredded carrots and ginger-peanut dressing.
Kids don’t get left out, either. A menu all their own offers their favorites, spaghetti and meatballs, grilled chicken and mashed potatoes or chicken tenders. They can also choose the Little Bistro Burger, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly or a corn dog.
Even if you’ve stayed out late and want something filling, The Bistro has a menu just for you – from 11 p.m. until closing, you can order sandwiches, wings, and bourbon spiked onion soup.
The Bistro has a lot to offer. And it’s all so good.
The Dam Cabin is the newest lodging option at Locust Hill B&B, Cabin and Day Spa.
Photo by Sunny Given.
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Local B&B expands overnight options
The Dam Cabin
Sunny Given
Occasional staff writer
When Dave and Paula Zorn, owners of Locust Hill B&B, Cabin and Day Spa (formerly Naturally You) on Rt. 39 on the edge of Marlinton, began their remodeling project of the old Locust Hill Dairy Farm, they knew they would eventually add cabins to the package. It’s a dream that David Zorn has envisioned since 1986.
The perfect place in Marlinton, where they’ve operated their bed and breakfast for the past five years.
Photo by Mike Condon
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It was then that he decided his long term vision - a concept of 10 to 20 acres of property that included water and rental income. The search for the perfect place led them to Marlinton, where they’ve operated their bed and breakfast for the past five years.
The cabin was completed after a year’s labor and opened for the first guest in late December, 2006. Motorists traveling through Marlinton heading east on Rt. 39 get a view of the structure which sits just south of, and slightly below the earthen dam which contains Marlin’s Run – hence “Dam Cabin.”
Dave was initially determined to do all the work himself. After some fits and starts, he relented, and, with the help of local contractor Terry Bennett, the cabin was put together and roofed. Another contractor, Jim McCoy, provided his expertise on the interior. The Zorns credit both these builders and their crews for keeping things on track to completion.
The Zorns were committed to quality construction, and cut no corners throughout assembly of the 22’x22’ Appalachian style kit. The logs are square, and are 11” high and 8” thick, sporting dovetailed corners. Paula, with the help of Debbie Walker, did all the chinking, finishing up only hours before their first guests arrived. The cabin has a red metal roof, great for lulling you to sleep on a rainy night.
Guests can enjoy the hot tub and the sunset at the same time. Deer are early morning visitors to the Marlin Run Dam,in the background.
Photo by Sunny Given.
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There is a large wrap-around porch on three sides, comfortably wide enough to accommodate a four-person hot tub, and grill in the summer, with plenty of spare room to sit and enjoy the western sunsets and abundant deer, along with other wildlife. Parking for the cabin accommodates two vehicles.
Inside, guests enjoy a kitchen and living area with a gas log fireplace, a downstairs bath with a large tile shower, and bedroom with queen-sized bed. The loft, accessed by a spiral iron staircase sleeps three with a double and a twin bed. There is oak flooring throughout, and much of the trim is wormy chestnut.
The kitchen is fully equipped and features an antique gas stove that Zorn picked up in 1999 from the Harvest Bread Company in St. Louis. It has been converted to run on propane and has a small oven as well. There is also a microwave oven, if you’re more comfortable with technological advantages. For longer stays, folks even have the convenience of a washer and dryer in the cabin.
Who could resist cooking or baking on this antique gas stove combo?
Photo by Sunny Given.
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Cold weather forced the Zorns to postpone staining the exterior, but that will happen this spring, along with screening in one side porch. They plan to add a picnic table, and a massage table for guests who’d like their spa service on-site. Porch swings are just another touch that will be installed with warmer weather.
Guests staying at Locust Hill can take advantage of rowboating, canoeing or fishing on the 2.5-acre lake on the property, and additional fishing in the smaller pond below the dam. The property is about one-half mile from the Greenbrier River Trail and Zorn says most of their guests come to bike and hike in the area, and enjoy river recreation.
Rates for the Dam Cabin are $125 for a two-night minimum stay for two; with up to an additional three people at $10 each. Guests can take advantage of breakfast at the B&B for $6 if the Zorns are serving B&B guests. Dinners and the day spa amenities can be arranged when making reservations.
For more information or to make reservations, call (304) 799-5471, or visit locusthill.net or naturallyou.org. The Naturally You website will be on line through June, and will bounce you to the new website.
Pines groaning under the weight of a heavy snow, seem to point the way along the Pocahontas Trail atop Kennison Mountain.
Photo by Drew Tanner
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March snowstorm giving you cabin fever?
Hit the trail!
Drew Tanner
Staff Writer
Late March may mark the official beginning of spring, but it’s a well known fact that the month can produce plenty of cold and snow as Old Man Winter reluctantly releases his grip on the Allegheny Highlands.
For those suffering from cabin fever, a March snowstorm or two might be enough to push one over the edge. For many, however, outdoor fun begins with snow covered trails. And the trails of the Monongahela National Forest offer some of the best winter recreation in the region. After a good snowfall, a drive to either end of the Highland Scenic Highway will find a number of folks taking to snowshoes, cross country skis or even snowmobiles to ply the winter wonderland.
The middle falls of Hills Creek.
Photo by Drew Tanner
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With the substantial snowfall and cold temperatures of this past February, Mary Willis, who with her husband Gil, runs Elk River Touring Center, is optimistic that the base that has accumulated will stick around into March. At the north end of the scenic highway, Willis recommends the network of trails that is accessible across from the parking area, near the junction with U.S. 219.
Marlinton Ranger District Recreation Technician Tim Henry says the 1.5 mile trail system is designed with novice cross-country skiers in mind, with opportunities for loops and maps of the system located at trail junctions. A small warming hut with a woodstove can also be found on this small trail network.
Opposite U.S. 219 from the scenic highway, Willis and Henry also recommend the Gay Sharp area and Forest Road 202, or Clover Lick Road.
It still a winter wonderland out there, and plenty of trails to try. This solitary cross country skier is on Charles Creek.
Photo by Drew Tanner
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“That’s a nice ski,” said Henry. “If you ski out that way for about 1/3 or 1/2 mile, you’ll come to an open field with some high ground. There are some nice views up there on a clear, winter day.”
There are some loop trails in the Gay Sharp area, as well, though Willis says they can be a bit tricky to find and follow if the snow has been blowing and drifting. But for many who enjoy cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, blazing one’s own trail can be half the fun.
Away from the scenic highway, toward Slaty Fork, Henry also recommends the network of trails near the base of Gauley Mountain, off of Route 219, while Willis is partial to the Props Run Trail, which connects to the touring center’s own four-mile network of trails.
Mine Road is also worth a try, as well, said Willis.
“It’s great skiing, if you can get up there,” she said. “The road itself holds snow well, all the way up to Sharp’s Knob.”
For the diehard, the Gauley Mountain Trail — a relatively level former railroad grade — is also good for skiing when there is plenty of snowfall to fill in the wet spots, said Willis. However, getting to the trail can require an additional five-mile trek across the scenic highway
These rabbit tracks at Hills Creek are just one of many animal prints you can come across.
Photo by Drew Tanner
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Perhaps the most popular area among cross country skiers, however, is the south end of the Highland Scenic Highway and the network of trails between the Cranberry Nature Center and the Cranberry Glades, as well as Kennison Mountain and the Pocahontas trails.
On a given snowy weekend, as many people can be found on these trails as during peak summer season. Granted, on the Monongahela, that doesn’t necessarily mean the trails feel crowded.
The interior of the Shearer Run warming hut reveals just the basics: shelter from the wind, a small wood stove, fuel (under the bench seat), and fire starter.
Photo by Drew Tanner
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While you may need to remove your skis or snowshoes for the steps along the way, the Falls of Hills Creek on this end of the forest are also well worth a visit this time of year. The way can be slow and difficult at times, but the scenery is breathtaking. The three waterfalls are transformed into icy cascades. The lower falls—the state’s second highest at 63 feet—creates a striking mountain of ice that nearly reaches the top of the falls after a long stretch of cold weather.
For those who prefer motorized recreation in the winter, the WV 150 stretch of the Highland Scenic Highway is the only part of the Monongahela National Forest open to snowmobilers. The road itself, which is not plowed during the winter, is also popular with cross country skiers and snowshoers.
While many are tempted to throw their truck or SUV into four-wheel drive and attempt to drive across the scenic highway, Henry advised against it. Portions of the highway are well above 4,000 feet in elevation, which means lots more snow that can stick around a lot longer than the stuff found melting away at lower elevations.
The warming hut can be a welcome sight after several hours our on the trail.
Photo by Drew Tanner
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“The conditions at the beginning are a lot better than what you’re going to encounter at higher elevations,” said Henry. “It’s just not worth it.”
In the mountains and on the trail, the weather can change quickly— especially in the winter. Henry advised checking the weather forecast for the day before going out and keeping in mind that elevation differences can mean changing conditions. It’s also a good idea to dress in layers, take along plenty of water and leave word of your plans at home.
If you don’t have your own shoes or skis, rental options can be found at either end of the Highland Scenic Highway. In Slaty Fork, Elk River Touring offers ski and snowshoe rentals as well as individual and group lessons. In Richwood, the friendly folks at Four Seasons outfitters offer ski and snowshoe rentals and are happy to give pointers to new skiers.
shgiven@pocahontastimes.com