Glowing neon letters spelling out “Mars Theatre” beckon as the sun sets on Main Street in the small Western North Carolina town of Mars Hill. Music begins to fill the air as you open the big double doors of the old 1947 cinema house and follow the stairs down to a whimsical eatery, brewery and makeshift community center. Scott Spruill, who operates Mars Theatre Brewing Co., … [Read more...] about Reviving a classic movie house: food, music and charm fill Mars Theatre Brewing
Reviews
Thunderbolts and Lightning: Venerable Airhead still conjures pure magic
As I swung through an area of particularly nice farm country on my 1982 BMW R100 RS, I found myself sitting by the side of the road, simply soaking in the beauty all around. A massive sea of yellow flowers filled the scene in every direction, in rolling waves. The hardwoods are almost in full leaf now in the piedmont of North Carolina, and the bright green of spring makes … [Read more...] about Thunderbolts and Lightning: Venerable Airhead still conjures pure magic
Stops for beer, wine or spirits
Ah, those glorious summer days filled with long rides through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The warm weather, blue skies and yet-to-be discovered roadside stops always enhance the riding experience for many motorcyclists. The questions always arise: Where are we going to stop for lunch? Want to grab a beer? The Southern Appalachian Mountains feature plenty of ale houses, taprooms, … [Read more...] about Stops for beer, wine or spirits
From Russia with love — for motorcycling
Ekaterina Goncharuk arrives at her local bike night on a gleaming Moto Guzzi V7 Racer. Removing her helmet reveals a silky head of straight, raven hair and piercing dark eyes. Then you hear the accent in her soft-spoken voice. It’s as if a Russian villainess from a James Bond movie just rolled up to join the boys for wing night. Kat, as she prefers to be called, now makes her … [Read more...] about From Russia with love — for motorcycling
Improving the odds: A crash illustrates the importance of ATGATT
The weather was unusually awesome on New Year’s Day. It was more like spring than winter. My wife and I joined a group ride in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where friends and bikes of all types were aplenty. We were just entering that group rhythm, headed toward some of our favorite twisties, when it happened — and it happened quickly. My wife, Sheri, was ahead of me on her … [Read more...] about Improving the odds: A crash illustrates the importance of ATGATT
