Former Chicagoan Joyce Heitler invited me down to perform for a benefit in Spartanburg, SC. A mere hour away through the Smokey Mountains is Asheville, NC, a cultural hub in the Southeast with the Biltmore Estate as the must-see architectural jewel of the area. Equally interesting is Biltmore Village, the planned community for the estate workers. The historic houses are now boutiques and charming restaurants making this a shopping and dining destination.

We dined on pecan-crusted trout with sweet potato and salmon atop a celery root croquette in the very busy, yet cozy Corner Kitchen, pictured above. For history buffs, President and Michelle Obama dined at this award-winning restaurant in 2010.

Pecan-crusted trout at Corner Kitchen in Asheville, NC

Just a block away was All Souls Church, site of a chamber concert entitled “Songs At Twilight” presented by Amici Music featuring flautist Lea Kibler , soprano Amanda Horton and pianist/impresario Daniel Weiser.

Daniel Weiser of Amici Music

http://www.historicbiltmorevillage.com

http://www.thecornerkitchen.com

http://www.amicimusic.org/the_front_door.aspx

Spartanburg, SC has a vibrant downtown scene with Hub City Coffee and Bookshop along with tony boutiques such as Lily Pulitzer and Couture Closets Consignment. The Chapman Cultural Center is home to nine different cultural organizations such as the Spartanburg Art Museum, Ballet Spartanburg and the Music Foundation of Spartanburg.

Hub City Bookshop

The Carlos Mosely Series at Converse College hosted a recent vocal recital with world-class counter-tenor David Daniels and superlative accompanist Martin Katz. Daniels was being inducted into his home town of Spartanburg’s Music Trail.

http://www.hubcity.org/bookshop/about/

http://www.chapmanculturalcenter.org/#sthash.d2OXZs8E.dpbs

http://www.spartanburgmusictrail.com