MountainXpress Best of WNC 2009 Awards

Several Flat Rock area businesses received honors in the MountainXpress Best of WNC 2009 Awards.

Carl Sandburg Home Best Little-Known Attraction

Best Art gallery:

#1 Hand in Hand Gallery 2720 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 697-7719 Where better to begin a gallery than as an artist studio? Jeweler Molly Sharp and potter David Voorhees did just that nearly 13 years ago. Their own studios have long since been relocated to make way for a variety of Southeastern artists, many of whom are members of the storied Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Festival

#2 Flat Rock Music Festival www.flatrockmusicfestival.com

Little-known attraction

#1 Carl Sandburg Home 81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, 693-4178 In 1945, the writer, poet and historian moved to 264 acres of Flat Rock countryside he named "Connemara" and spent the last 22 years of his life there. Today, the house and grounds are open for touring, and many of his books and papers are still on display.

#3. Flat Rock Playhouse 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 693-0731

Music venue

#1 Back Room at the Flat Rock Wine Shoppe 2702 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 697-6828 With a capacity of only 100, the Back Room is what they call "intimate." But that's what owner David Brannock thinks brings an impressive list of local and touring acts back again and again. "True musicians want to play to people who want to listen," he says. The venue turned 4 years old last month.

#2 Flat Rock Playhouse 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 693-0731

To view the complete list of winners in all categories visit MountainXpress - Best of WNC Regional Sections