I’m from Southwest Virginia.  That’s no secret.  I feel like when you’re from a place as special as Southwest Virginia, you don’t take many of your regional assets for granted, but the outside world does.  That’s why I am so glad that other people have discovered and rediscovered Ralph Stanley.  I know, I know…you’re probably saying, “who DOESN’T know Dr. Ralph?” Well, I’m here to tell you, there are people that don’t and people that only discovered him in the post-2001 “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” world known as the Bluegrass/Old Time Renaissance.  Anyway, Dr. Ralph has just published his memoirs and The New York Times picked up the story while he was in New York to perform in Carnegie Hall with Steve Martin, another amazing banjo player.

 It sounds like this reporter was genuinely impressed with the legacy and man that is Ralph Stanley.  The interview and book review read like a Ralph Stanley primer for those who are not yet fortunate enough to know him.  It covered his life in Dickenson, County, or as Dr. Ralph puts it, where he was “borned and raised way back in the hills,” and asks about his God given musical talent.  The good Doctor’s answer? “It tends to run in families like a good line of dogs, and there ain’t nothing you can do to change that.”

This article embodied the very essence that is Dr. Ralph.  It sounded down home, felt genuine, but at the same time, Mr, Stanley was not afraid to remind the interviewer that he was in the prescence of someone truly great.  The interviewer wrote, “It used to be said that when you heard a Ralph Stanley tune, you either wanted to get drunk or go to church and get saved.” I know this to be true and I believe that the interviewer saw the light after sitting down with the man.

 Where does this leave us and what does this blog even mean? It means 1) be thankful we have cultural gems in the area like Dr. Ralph.  2) The good ‘ol Doc is 82 and I highly suggest you go enjoy him at your earliest convenience and 3) We’re not the only ones that appreciate great music and yes, there are those who are quite jealous of our cutlural heritage.  Do yourself a favor today; read the article and bask in the thought that The New York Times just wrote something about a good ‘ol boy from Dickenson County, VA.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/books/14stanley.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Are you in Southwest Virginia?  Do you look for things to do, or are you one of those who want to come to the area and are afraid of the lack of things to do?  Well, fret not. It really depends on where you are in the area and where your interests lie, but regardless of that, there are many things to do!   

For example, if you’re in Floyd County, a good Friday night can mean going to the Blue Ridge Diner (I highly recommend their black bottom pie) and then going to the Floyd Country Store for live music and dancing.  Often there is not only music going on inside the store, but outside on the porch and around the corner as well.  If you’re looking for other music venues, try The Rex Theatre in Galax, the Bristol Country Music Alliance’s Pickin’ Porch in Bristol or the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion in Bristol in the Fall which is a phenomenally huge traditional music festival! 

Music abounds in the mountains and can be found anywhere from a square dance in Grayson County to a fire department Friday night jam in Smyth County to anywhere along The Crooked Road.

In the area, we are blessed to have a plethora of natural wonders just waiting to be explored.  From Tazewell County’s Burkes Garden, which is known as “God’s Thumbprint,” to the Creeper Trail, Appalachian Trail or Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest point, there are many things to do and see.  The Blue Ridge Parkway and many hiking and biking opportunities offer you the best views for miles around.  It has been rumored that on a clear day, one can see Detroit, Michigan from the summit at Mount Rogers, but you’ll have to look and see for yourself!

In the New River Valley (Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford), you can enjoy a busier scene with shopping and dining options.  Also, you can benefit from having the colleges close by for quality entertainment whether it be concerts, plays, lecture series, etc… 

Going down I-81 gives you the option of dinner and a show at the Wolfhart Haus in Wytheville, several wineries in the region such as Chateau Morissette and the Davis Valley Winery, performances at The Lincoln Theatre in Marion, The Paramount and Theatre Bristol in Bristol and The Barter Theatre in Abingdon– the state theatre of Virginia.  There are many other cultural opportunities such as The Carter Fold in Hiltons and plenty of fine dining experiences to be had between The Martha Washington Inn, The Tavern and The Hardware Company, just to name a few. 

The area is also rich in consignment, second-hand and antique shops.  The areas of Floyd, Abingdon Bristol are particularly rich in these stores.  In the summer months you can attend the Virginia Highlands Arts and Crafts Festival in Abingdon which features a huge antiques market.

I could literally go on all day and suggest things that are not only great food and a good time such as The Dip Dog Stand in Marion, In the Country in Damascus, or Cuz’s Barbeque in Tazewell County, but I would be depriving you of your chance to explore on your own!

–Shai Cullop