Downtown Marshall NCThe Creative Life on the River

The last French Broad Friday in Downtown Marshall for 2010 is Friday, September 10th with lots of very exciting activites planned.  The theme, “Drovers’ Last Stand”, ties in with the town’s history of being on the Drover’s Road (where farmers would walk their animals to market). 

Below is the Program of Events with times and locations of the various activities.  NOTE:  Due to a scheduling conflict, the Petting Zoo will NOT happen.  Sorry for any inconvenience!

5:30 to 9:00PM:  Main Street will be closed.  Parking on the Island.  FREE horse & wagon shuttle to and from Main Street provided by Sandy Bottom Trail Rides.

5:00 to 8:30PM:  SCAVENGER HUNT!!  Match Architectural features with the building or business. Pick up a copy of the scavenger hunt materials in the SECU parking lot.  Participants who turn in answers will receive a “special” Marshall giveaway (while supplies last) and are eligible for prizes.

5:00 to 9:00PM:  GRAND OPENING of the Democratic Headquarters in the old Zuma location, across from the Courthouse.  Enjoy snacks and participate in the cake auction.

5:00 to 7:00PM:  OPEN HOUSE at the French Broad Institute (of Time & the River).  Lulu’s Beauty Parlor – pretty or dude yourself up for the evening!  Bring any beauty goodies you’d like to share (ie hairbows, make-up or nail polish).  Drover’s Ballads on the half hour and roving Cowboy songs.  Sign up to read part of “The Great Drive” from Wilma Dykeman’s book, “The French Broad”. 

5:30 to Sundown: QUILT-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by members of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit.  Buy raffle tickets to win the quilt (benefitting Neighbors in Need & My Sisters Place).

6:00 to 8:00PM:  ART OPENING at Zuma.  See the mixed media work of the Advanced Studio Class of AB Tech and meet the students and instructor Paula Parker.

6:00 to 8:00PM:  Madison County Arts Council:  LAST CHANCE!  This is the last night of the Hot New Pots exhibit.  And the new retail space will be open for business!

5:00 to 7:30PM:  Visit the historic rail car offices of the News Record & Sentinel on Back Street and VIEW ARCHIVES of a century’s worth of storied Madison County newspapers and photographs.

6:00 to 9:00PM:  GRAND OPENING of “Pace Cycles” on Back Street next to the Junk Store.  Carson Pace has created a very unique space for his bike shop.  Sign up to win a FREE bicycle tune-up!

6:45 to 7:15PM:  Blue Grass MUSIC by award-winning fiddle player Adam Masters and the Yellow Dawgs – in front of the Democratic Headquarters.

7:00 to 10:00PM: The Marshall Depot.  The Depot on Main Street is a community sponsored venue that hosts an old time bluegrass jam every Friday night at 7 p.m. This is always a free event, but donations are welcome. Come on out and bring your dancin’ shoes!

7:15 to 8:00PM: Introduction of Democratic candidates and live cake auction – in front of the Democratic Headquarters.

8:00 to 8:45PM:  Blue Grass music continues.

9:00 to 11:00PM:  FREE CONCERT on the Courthouse steps (weather permitting).  Bring your blankets and/or lawn chairs and enjoy some funky jazz and Appalachian weirdness from Marshall favorites, the Steve Davidowski Duo. 

9:00 ish:  Third Annual Spitball Tofurkey Shoot, outside Good Stuff.

~ Studios and Galleries ~

Flow:  14 South Main, open till 9PM.  Showcasing local pottery, artisan furniture, woodworking and jewelry.

Marshall High Studios:  Studio 104, Blannahassett Island, open from 6PM to 9PM.  See the art that is created in the old high school.

Hill Street Studios:  Open 6 to 9PM.  Studios are located on the corner of Main & Hill Streets, back door/second floor. 

Mary Maupin Paintings in acrylics and oils

Suzanna Biro Jewelry and other unique pieces

 ~ Food, Drinks and Stores ~

Ain’t that Cuticle  63 South Main Street, open until 9PM. First floor features antiques, gifts and oddities.  Hoping for the return of the fried pickle!!

Bacchus Bistro  18 North Main, open until 10PM. Special “vittles” are Smoked Pork Ribs, Hearty Steak or the popular Shrimp Pasta.  Live music with the Dirty Gondola’s on the new back patio. 

Foreverland  280-ish South Main, GRAND OPENING!  Mixture of locally handmade & vintage clothes, furniture, household items & accessories as well as musical instruments & art.

Good Stuff  133 South Main, open until……  Café open until 10PM.   Meet Brandon Dana and taste “Brandon’s Kolsch”, winner of the 2010 Highland Cup.   Live music with Asheville blues musician JP Delanoye at 8PM.  Kevin Edwards is the featured artist this month.

Lapland Bookshop and Arts  147 North Main, open until 8PM.  New and used books and regional art in a storybook setting on the French Broad River.  Special fiber event to be announced!

Joe Penland’s Indoor Flea Market  148 South Main, open until 9PM.  Indoor flea market and jam with Joe Penland.

Junk Store on Back Street, open until 8PM.  Secondhand store with good junk.

My Sister’s Attic 103 South Main, open until 8PM.  The inventory is constantly changing – so stop on by for great deals!

Natural Canvas Tattoo and Museum  133 South Main, open until 9PM.  Very cool shop – stop in and chat with Chad.

Pace Cycles  Back Street, open until 9PM.  Marshall’s newest business venture!  Meet Carson who KNOWS his bikes!  FYI: Carson is a metal artist as well, so he fits in well in Downtown Marshall!

Penland’s Department Store  50 South Main, open till 9PM.  Old time department store – Carhartts, clothing, books from local authors and much more!  See the Drover’s Rack for SPECIAL DEALS!

 Zuma Coffee  7 North Main, open till 9PM.  Marshall’s meeting place!  Creative healthy comfort food.

Looking for a special dog bed?  Come to Downtown Marshall!

Special to the News Record & Sentinel

In conjunction with the upcoming Dog Daze French Broad Friday on August 13^th, several local artists have created one-of-a-kind dog beds that will be auctioned off as a fund raiser for Friends of Madison County Animals (FOMCA).  FOMCA is headquarted in historic downtown Marshall, and works to reduce the number of unwanted animals in Madison County and increase their well-being.  Programs include a spay-neuter program, vaccination clinics, feral cat trap/neuter/return, an outreach center, educational programs and a pet pantry.

Dog Daze is the third in the 2010 series of “French Broad Friday” events in downtown Marshall.  (See prior post for the Program of Events).

Several of the dog beds were made by local woodworkers using locally harvested, recycled, reclaimed and repurposed materials.  Lois Simbach created a half dozen bed cushions – some are paired with the wooden beds and others will be auctioned off on their own.  Some of the beds are for big dogs and others are more suitable for medium or small dogs.  The unique beds are on display at the following businesses in downtown Marshall:  Ain’t That Cuticle, Bacchus Bistro, Bowman Hardware, Flow, Good Stuff, Lapland Bookshop & Art, Madison County Courthouse, Penland’s Department Store and Zuma, with more to come.

The fund raiser is a silent auction that opened last week.  Bids are accepted any time until the auction closes at 8:00pm on Friday, August 13^th when the highest bidder will win the bed.  Artists donated their work to the event and all proceeds from the auction benefit Friends of Madison County Animals.