Maria Santomasso-Hyde, owner of Alta Vista Fine Art Gallery in Valle Crucis N.C., openly admits that like many others, she fell in love with the High Country while attending Appalachian State. A Concord native, Maria and her husband Lee Hyde moved to the High Country in 1994 and bought a dilapidated farmhouse in Historic Valle Crucis. They poured all their heart (and their money) into the two year renovation. As a result of all their hard work, the house is now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and is the current home for Alta Vista Fine Art Gallery.Maria and Lee opened th…

Toni Carlton owner, curator of Carlton Gallery knew from a very early age that she wanted to be an artist. Toni has been fascinated with drawing since before she can remember. Drawing wasn’t her only artistic outlet as she was encouraged to weave by her family. By the time Toni was nine years old she was being taught how to weave by her grandmother on a loom that her father and grandfather built for her. This early fascination with art followed her through her education where she won the Senior Art Award from Watauga High School. Toni went on to attend Appalachian State where she obtained a ba…

Sally Shelton Nooney is an accomplished artist whose work is influenced by the beauty of nature and wildlife. Her work reflects her love of gardening, animals, and the outdoors. The beauty of nature and wildlife has always been a major influence in Sally’s life. She grew up in the S.C. low country; where fishing, hunting, and walks in the wild were almost daily activities. Living just outside of Charleston gave her a love of history, antiquities, and architecture as well. Sally has painted throughout her life but decided to seriously pursue her creative talents when she and her husband, Fran…

The Best Cellar Restaurant was established in 1975. The original location was in a basement on Main Street in Blowing Rock, where previous owners sold soups, sandwiches and new and used books. The name was derived from the fact that the restaurant sold books in a basement, hence The Best Cellar. In 1980, the restaurant found a home in a 75-year-old log cabin, just outside the downtown area of Historic Blowing Rock. The cabin provided a rustic charm that welcomed visitors for years. Currently, The Best Cellar is thriving at The Inn at Ragged Gardens, the premiere place to stay in Blowing Rock.…

Hartley’s Interiors was formed out of necessity. In 1978, there weren’t many interior designers in the High Country and there was a need for the business. Over the past thirty years the family run business of Hartley’s Interiors, has specialized in the perfect combination of detail and design. Located at 916 North Main Street in Blowing Rock, Hartley’s Interiors offers a variety of services including custom window treatments and bedding (with their in-house workroom), fine furnishings, accessories, designer fabrics and wallcoverings with professional installation. At Hartley’s Interiors, their…