Truffles and Herbal Aphrodisiacs!

To celebrate Valentine's Day this year, Farm Girl has made chocolate truffles and aphrodisiac bath products for sale along with their usual products. Check them out!

Downtown Merchant Shuffle

Businesses on and off Main Street are taking advantage of this slower time of year to better position themselves.

Nana's Antiques (website needs revision) has moved from 122 W Allen St to 255 N Main Street, the previous location of Delton & David Interiors.


Kurtz Studios and You Teez Me, both sharing the space at 202 N Main Street, have moved to a new location at 420 Kanuga Rd (Hendersonville).




Jongo Java, Once Upon a Sign (moved from 622 N Main Street) and Mountain Lore Books (moved from 408 N Main Street/using a new name?) have opened at 117 S Main St, in the space previously occupied by Savannah's Tea Room and Cafe.

Red Step Artworks has moved from 142 3rd Ave to 242 N Main Street, the previous location of Picasso's.

And lastly, Wag - A Unique Dog Boutique, is opening at 231 N Main Street.

Hendersonville's Rudi Haug Honored by NC Main Street Champions!

On Thursday, January 28, Rudi Haug was recognized as a 2009 Main Street Champion at the North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards Dinner in New Bern, N.C. He was selected for this special honor by Downtown Hendersonville, Inc. in appreciation of his exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process. Haug, who was unable to be present for the ceremony, received a certificate commemorating his designation, along with Champions from 33 other communities.

Each of the state’s active Main Street programs is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion. The dedication and hard work of countless volunteers is required to make a local Main Street program successful, and the Main Street Champion designation acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of those persons who have played pivotal roles in the revitalization of their downtowns.

“N.C. Main Street Champions are valued leaders, and we honor them for their commitment to downtown and to their community,” said Parham. “They are Main Street board members and volunteers, elected officials and city staff, downtown developers and small business owners. They are those individuals that give 110% to their community and then ask, ‘What’s next?’”

“We celebrate their individual contributions: to assess the needs of their communities and to develop innovative solutions, to identify opportunities and to implement positive change, and to enhance community capacity through the creation of public and private partnerships. Main Street Champions are downtown defenders, protectors and pioneers, and we thank them for their commitment to community,” she said.

In recommending Haug for this honor, Downtown Hendersonville, Inc. offered the following:

Downtown Hendersonville, Inc is enthusiastic in designating Rudi Haug as our 2009 Main Street Champion. Rudi served many years on the DHI board, beginning with its inception in 1985, and he has been actively involved in implementing and supporting all four elements of Main Street.

Rudi has continually worked to develop marketing plans and promotional activities to benefit all of downtown. He led the effort to light the rooflines of downtown’s buildings during the holiday season, using much of his own money to complete the job. This project, which has now been taken over by the city, has become the envy of other downtowns.

Rudi was also instrumental in initiating a wreath program for downtown’s colonial light fixtures, with his customers at The Goldsmith by Rudi providing initial financial support. The wreaths continue to be an important part of downtown Hendersonville’s holiday decorations.

Through the years, Rudi has supported efforts for special events including “Blooming City Celebration,” the forerunner of “Garden Jubilee.” He also donated plaques for the benches that line downtown’s sidewalks.

Without question, Rudi Haug has been a Main Street Champion and a true friend of downtown throughout the history of the Hendersonville Main Street program.

Main Street is a downtown revitalization program for smaller towns based on economic development within the context of historic preservation. The North Carolina Main Street Program, which provides technical assistance to its communities, is part of the Office of Urban Development in the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.

In 1980, North Carolina was one of six original states, selected from 38 that applied, to launch the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center. The North Carolina Main Street Program began working with its five original cities – New Bern, Salisbury, Shelby, Tarboro, and Washington – in September 1980 and has since grown to include 61 communities across the state.

Flat Rock Playhouse Gardening Club Meeting

For those of us who like to get our hands dirty, this not only looks like a lot of fun, but also a chance to meet others who have similar interests!

The Gardening Club of Flat Rock Playhouse will host an informal coffee meeting on Tuesday, February 9th at 10:30 am, at the Playhouse. The meeting is for Henderson County Master Gardeners; new and returning volunteers; and any one who interested in helping to implement landscaping and gardening plans on the Playhouse grounds for the current year.

Some of the plans to be discussed include:

• Re-introduction of the American Chestnut Tree
• Treatment of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
• Converting a volleyball court into a lawn
• The creation of a Camellia garden

All interested in attending, please contact Tamsin Allpress at (828) 697-0588

Hendersonville Boys & Girls Club Kids Raise Over $600 for Haiti!

The children of the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County have donated $628 to the Park Ridge Hospital Foundation in support of ongoing relief for the survivors of the January earthquake in Haiti. These dollars were raised by club members through a week of collective fundraising efforts including a Club bake sale, yard sale and proceeds from the Keystone Club snack shop.




On February 3rd, Christina Varble of Park Ridge Hospital accepted a check for $628 from children of the Boys & Girls Club to go toward the Hospital's efforts to send sleeping mats to earthquake survivors and fund other needed recovery items and medical supplies for the people of Haiti.

Red Step Opening & 2 Year Anniversary Party Postponed

Due to inclement weather, Red Step Artworks is postponing their opening on Main Street and 2 year Anniversary Party originally scheduled for Saturday, February 6th.

The party is rescheduled for next Saturday Feb. 13 starting at 6 pm.

Red Step Reminder!

This Saturday Red Step Artworks will be celebrating it's 2 year anniversary in it's new location at 240 N. Main street (next to Tempo Music). Party starts at 6 pm, music at 7pm.

Ellen Trnka, Galen Kipar, James Harrell and Kelli Redmond, Joel Corns and friends, and Paul Johnson and Keith Minguez of "Johnson's Crossroad" will be performing throughout the evening.

There will also be wine, and light refreshments.

Red Step Artworks
240 N. Main St
Hendersonville NC

Josh Sneed @ Funny Business Comedy Club

The Purple Onion - February Lineup

• FEBRUARY 4 – CHUCK BRODSKY. Musical storyteller par excellence returns. http://www.chuckbrodsky.com/
• FEBRUARY 6 – MENAGE. The cafe swings when they are here. www.myspace.com/menage
• FEBRUARY 11 – JON SHAIN. Showcasing a new recording from this returning blues performer. http://www.jonshain.com/
• FEBRUARY 13 – JACOB JOHNSON. Even more fabulous guitar for all of us. www.myspace.com/jacobjohnson
• FEBRUARY 18 – BRIAN MCGEE & HOLLOW SPEED. Melodic country rock is back. www.myspace.com/mcgeehollowspeed
• FEBRUARY 20 – KELLIN WATSON. It is good to have this Asheville singer/songwriter back. www.myspace.com/kellinwatson
• FEBRUARY 21 – BEAUCOUP BLUE. This father-son blues duo returns as part of our Sunday night concert series. The performance starts at 7 o’clock. Tickets are $15 per person. Call the cafe at 828-749-1179 to make reservations. http://www.beaucoupblue.com/
• FEBRUARY 25 – FAYSSOUX MCLEAN & BRANDON TURNER. An intimate evening of song. http://www.fayssouxmusic.com/
• FEBRUARY 27 – TAYLOR MOORE & THE BORDEAUX BROTHERS. We are excited about having this band with us for the first time. http://www.taylormooremusic.com/

The Purple Onion
16 Main St
Saluda, NC
828-749-1179