February 2006 Archives

Spring is a time when the earth softens after the long winter freeze. Gentle showers, rebirth and blossoming flowers bring a sense of rejuvenation to the world that breeds a new energy among many people. Spring is prime time for enjoying the outdoors!

In the last Pigeon Forge eNewsletter Issue, we asked readers what their favorite Spring pastime was. Many wrote that they loved vacationing, attending fun outdoor events, shopping, and simply enjoying the beauty of spring. Here are a few comments we received:

The annual Saddle Up! week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee begins this evening and lasts through Sunday. Saddle Up! will feature concerts and narratives by some of America’s finest western musicians, cowboy poets and storytellers. The event features concerts from legendary western cowboy artists including Donnie Blanz, Jim Bowman, Trudy Fair, Charlie Halloway, Chris Isaacs, Brian McRae, Dan Roberts, Amanda Shires, Red Steagall and the Boys in the Bunkhouse, the Quebe Sisters, Dave Stamey, and Andy Wilkinson.

A rousing narrative play “A Way in the West” will be showcased during Saddle Up! as well. This 90 minute, one-act performance consists of six frontier women telling stories of how the wild West shaped their lives. It is a tale of freedom, struggle and triumph, delivered with charm and clarity.

Do you view Gatlinburg as a prime fishing destination? Maybe you should.

The city of Gatlinburg is the only city in Tennessee in which officials actually stock the rivers with trout in an attempt to further heighten tourism. There are very few cities in the nation that spend resources to stock animals for the enjoyment of the population, and Gatlinburg is one of them. The project began in 1980 and continues today. Last year Gatlinburg ordered a large upgrade of the trout facility, and anywhere from 35,000 to 45,000 fish ranging from 8-14 inches long are placed in Gatlinburg streams annually.

The Music Road Hotel in Pigeon Forge is holding the Pigeon Forge Songwriting Seminar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. February 25th. Keynote speaker Beverly Ross was named one of the top 10 greatest female songwriters by DigitalDreamdoor.com; she has a great passion for music and writing. "Lollipop" performed by the Chordettes, "Candyman" by Roy Orbison and "Judy's Turn to Cry" by Leslie Gore are just a few of Ross' compositions.

Aspiring writers should bring a CD or cassette tape containing two songs along with song lyrics for critique.

The schedule is as follows:

Need some furniture at bargain prices? Hit the Cabin Fever Winter Sale this Saturday, February 18th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Music Road Convention Center on 303 Henderson Chapel Road in Pigeon Forge. Admission is free, and all sale proceeds will help the Music Road Hotel Relay for Life team's effort to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Items for sale include used hotel furnishings like lamps, chairs, desks, and footstools. Donated clothing, household items and home decor will also be available for purchase. For more details, call 865-286-2244 and ask for Sharon Hurst.

Do you enjoy saving money while planning tons of fun for your family vacation? Do you like having a huge list of choices for vacation accommodations, activities, eateries and souvenir shopping? Do you relish the good life at great prices? If your answer is YES, then you must visit the PigeonForge.com Vacation Packages page to plan your next trip to the Smokies.

The annual Saddle Up! Week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee from February 23-26 will feature concerts and narratives by some of America’s finest western musicians, cowboy poets and storytellers. The event features concerts from legendary western cowboy artists including Donnie Blanz, Jim Bowman, Trudy Fair, Charlie Halloway, Chris Isaacs, Brian McRae, Dan Roberts, Amanda Shires, Red Steagall and the Boys in the Bunkhouse, the Quebe Sisters, Dave Stamey, and Andy Wilkinson.

Did you know that many foods you eat daily actually enhance your libido? Aphrodisiacs, named after the Greek goddess of love, beauty and sexual ecstasy, come in many forms. Any food, drink, drug or scent that arouses sexual desire falls into the aphrodisiac category. This Valentine's Day, use an array of aphrodisiacs to heighten the romance with your Valentine! Here are some of the anciently acclaimed foods of love:

Though the holiday's true origin is shrouded in mystery, many believe Valentine's Day originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D. Historic sources say that Saint Valentine was a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius, who jailed Valentine for defying him. Before his execution, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had befriended Valentine. He signed the note, "From Your Valentine". In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to remember St. Valentine.

Raised on a ranch 60 miles outside the nearest town, 33 miles of dirt road separated young Waddie Mitchell from the main road that led to the nearest city. Growing up with no electricity, TV or modern refrigerator and living 14 miles away from the closest neighbors, the old-fashioned ranch life helped Waddie develop his current trade. It was natural, and even expected for everyone to jump in and tell a piece of the stories that were told at night on the ranch. For Waddie Mitchell, storytelling was social interaction with his family and the cowboys that worked for his father.

Every other year the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts invites select local artisans to exhibit their masterpiece works in the Sevier County Invitational. This year, the display is titled, "A Sense of Place", focusing on each artist's interpretation of the beauty they find in Sevier County. The art chosen is not only visually appealing, but moreover, the works inspire a sense of wonder at the glory captured.

Each February Sevier County residents celebrate Smoky Mountain storytelling heritage in the Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival. Storytelling ancestors of old would spin wild tales combining education with humor to create what is now recognized as traditional mountain art. This year, some of the nation’s best storytellers will perform and instruct workshops at the Pigeon Forge Winterfest Storytelling Festival.

Each year at dawn on February 2, crowds of tourists, locals and journalists gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to watch as the world-famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, sees his shadow... or not. Legend has it, if Phil does see his shadow, six more weeks of winter will to follow. If the hog sees no shadow, then spring is on the way!

This year, Phil did indeed see his shadow. Phil's official forecast, projected at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob reads: