The Appalachian Best of Boone 2024

The AppAlAchiAn presenTs Best of Boone 2024

besT of Food

The Cardinal has been a Boone hotspot since it opened in 2016. Co-owners Chris Varipapa, Seth Sullivan and Scott Williford say their variety of burgers is a mix of “trashy and classy.” Photo by Maggie Busch

besT burger The Cardinal

Chloe Jenkins

Brandishing the “burger wagon,” its food truck that sits outside of Anne Belk Hall and on the sidelines at football games, The Cardinal made its way into the hearts of the students, faculty and locals in Boone, serving classic road food of the U.S. and handcrafted beverages. Nestled away off the 105 Bypass, The Cardinal brings home the title of Best Burger for the very first time.

The Cardinal first set its roots in Boone in 2016 under the co-ownership of Chris Varipapa, Seth Sullivan and Scott Williford. Walking into The Cardinal one is met with overhead Edison lights illuminating the rustic-style restaurant and bar. This seatyourself restaurant carries a friendly and

informal atmosphere.

Serving an eclectic menu of road food of the U.S., the owners said they walk a fine line between “trashy and classy” food. The menu offers a variety of options including appetizers like the Bisbee roll, a spicy slow braised chicken with salsa verde and queso fresco, pickled veggie salads and burgers and chicken sandwiches ranging from wagyu patty melts and wild game burgers to veggie, beet and tempeh burgers.

What sets them apart from other burger joints in Boone is The Cardinal Burger.

This signature burger is the most popular burger offered and has a variety of styles from All The Way which includes Duke’s mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and onion,

to the Carolina Style, which includes chili, slaw, mustard, diced white onion and pickle, elevating the traditional burger into something everyone can enjoy. However, that is not all The Cardinal has to offer.

The sense of community between staff and customers in the restaurant is irreplaceable.

“I really like our staff. From our management team to the folks who work in the kitchen to the folks who wait tables are all fantastic,” Williford said. “They work really hard and we really appreciate it. Being in food service, you want to make people happy, and that’s what we do.”

The Cardinal has partnered with App State to allow the burger truck as an on-campus dining option during school hours and at

football games as the perfect halftime snack.

While discussing The Cardinal’s growth, Williford said, “We have our big red ‘stay with it’ bumper stickers, which is our motto, and starting to see them around town pretty frequently makes me really happy.”

“The Cardinal is great. I get their fries and veggie burgers all the time, said Raven Drozdowski, a junior anthropology major.

“I’m glad there is a place on campus where I can have a vegetarian option outside of eating at the dining hall.”

besT pizzA Lost Province Brewing Co.

Ann Korwan

The sight of eager customers lining up before opening time and the pleasant aroma of wood-fired pizza will let you know you’re at Lost Province Brewing Co., winner of Best Pizza for the fifth year in a row.

Located behind Mast General Store, Lost Province provides a laid-back space tucked away from the hustle and bustle of King Street.

Lynne and Andy Mason opened the gastropub in 2014, and it has since become a cornerstone of Boone. In 2021, they expanded and opened a second location at Hardin Creek.

Despite the spaciousness of the restaurant, Lost Province maintains a cozy atmosphere with its very own wood-fired

pizza oven and an entire wall of on-tap craft beers. Alex Hartman, head chef of Lost Province, said he believes much of the appeal for the restaurant comes from the farm-totable ingredients it prides itself on.

“We’re focused on quality,” Hartman said. “We make everything in-house, from scratch.”

Sharon Pinney, the general manager of Lost Province, attributes much of the success of the restaurant to the staff.

“We always let our staff know how much we appreciate them,” Pinney said. “We just try to foster a great team environment, let people know they’re taken care of and appreciated.”

The restaurant has a rotating seasonal menu, as well as a popular staple menu with

a vast selection of pizzas, sandwiches and ontap craft beer options to choose from. One of their most popular dishes is their woodfired pretzel that’s served with marinara sauce and beer cheese to dip it in.

In addition to the great food, beer and staff, Lost Province also has live music performances on Fridays and Saturdays, along with trivia and bingo nights. They recently hosted their first drag show and look forward to hosting many more to come.

“The food we put out right now is representative of the people who make it happen,” Hartman said.

besT sAndwich Stick Boy Kitchen

Meg Frantz

“Good music, good vibes, everyone’s fed and had their coffee,” said Josie Sanders, top performing employee at Stick Boy Kitchen. There is a moment of peace when a patron walks into the sunlit diner, greeted by smiling workers behind a small counter, a wide array of baked goods, including croissants and muffins, in a glass case and the aroma of fresh bread.

Stick Boy Bread Company has two locations in Boone, one focused on the sweet tooth and the other focused on the savory. The company was founded in 2001 by husband and wife duo Carson and Mindy Coatney. It began as a hole in the wall with only two employees and 1,000 square feet

and eventually expanded to become an ideal hangout space for students at App State and the surrounding community.

Famous for their sandwiches, Stick Boy Kitchen is this year’s Best of Boone winner for best sandwich.

Stick Boy’s most popular eats are the French Dip and Kluckin’ Kop, both hot sandwiches. The French Dip is a blend of pastrami, caramelized onion, and provolone.

The Kluckin’ Kop is a twist on a BLT, with chicken, mustard and mayo added. On the cold side, the El Presidente, a similar BLT twist but with aioli and spinach, takes the lead as most popular. The kitchen manager creates the weekly specials, which include not only sandwiches, but also quesadillas,

various toasts and even chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day.

For the employees at Stick Boy, the most important thing is the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, which stems from what shift leaders do to help foster that environment.

“I’m always working on how I can improve as a coworker, how can I overall improve as an employee,” Josie Sanders said. “I also do goofy stuff like my Morale Duck, and I’m a goofy positivity person, a huge high-fiver, just checking in on everybody and making sure they’re enjoying their job and this is a positive environment.”

besT wings Rivers Street Ale House

The line for Rivers Street Ale House often spans from their front door to the sidewalk, especially on the weekends, but the wings are well worth the wait. Whether grabbing dinner with friends and family or getting a drink on game day, customers can count on the wings of Rivers Street Ale House to hit the spot.

Due to the deliciousness and consistency of the wings, Ale House has taken the crown for the Best Wings for the third year in a row.

Wings come either bone-in or boneless, and customers can pick from a selection of 16 tasty sauce options they offer, ranging from Thai-Chili to Carolina Reaper, or mix a couple of

sauces. General Manager Josh Lamont said his go-to wing order is the mix of teriyaki and Carolina Reaper for a sweet and spicy combo.

Wings can be ordered in baskets of eight, 12, 16, 24, 48 and a whopping 96, and customers can mix and match their favorite sauces. Once the basket hits the table, customers get to enjoy the wings with a few sticks of celery and the choice of blue cheese or homemade ranch.

“The guys in the back do a really good job with them,” Lamont said. “They go through this whole long process that takes about a day to prep them. When people put in the order it probably takes 10 minutes or so.”

Every Thursday, Ale House holds its

Watch the next game with us!

wing night where bone-in wings are 75 cents and boneless are 45 cents.

“On wing night, we just keep dropping them all night because the orders just keep coming,” Lamont said about putting the wings in the fryer.

One special thing about Ale House is its newest flavor, which comes from a partnership with App State’s quarterback, Joey Aguilar. The special “Joey Wings” are a combination of buffalo hot sauce and lemon pepper seasoning that get char-grilled and served up hot.

besT VegAn/VegeTArIAn opTIon

Coyote Kitchen & Lost Province Taproom

From boats, bowls and burritos to the Triple Chocolate Cake, there is a tasty meal and sweet treat for everyone at Coyote Kitchen & Lost Province Taproom. Known for its allergyfriendly focus, this Boone staple offers a plethora of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

The outside of the establishment lights up with red and yellow lettering spelling out “Coyote Kitchen & Lost Cantina” over their covered and heated outdoor patio. The open restaurant layout is colorful and rustic, making it the perfect gathering space to hang

out at.

The people of Boone have voted it the Best Vegetarian Option for the third year in a row for Best of Boone.

Marketing Coordinator Alyssa Hasty attributes the restaurant’s popularity to the original vegan and vegetarian offerings, all made from scratch, freshly prepared and created by the kitchen staff.

A few of the vegan protein options include the black bean burger, organic tofu — either grilled or fried — and the Smiling Hara Tempeh, as well as vegan dips and sauces like the Chipotle ranch

and garlic-lime aioli.

Hasty said Lost Province Brewing recently took over ownership of Coyote Kitchen. Hasty is sure the new owners are dedicated to keeping the restaurant’s concept alive.

The recent addition of a full bar with over 20 Lost Province beers on tap transformed the atmosphere into a fresh gathering space.

Addressing allergy concerns, Hasty noted their fryers, cooking surfaces and preparation areas are kept separate, along with a designated gluten-free bakery and cooler for allergen-

containing items.

“When it comes to drinks, we also offer Molley Chomper ciders for the folks who are unable to enjoy a beer,” Hasty said.

Prioritizing locally-sourced ingredients, the restaurant collaborates with suppliers from the High Country and surrounding areas as much as possible, Hasty said.

“Our most popular vegan and vegetarian options are the Nomad Bowl and the Isabella Burrito,” Hasty said. The evolving menu introduces new twists like the recently-added

The Sedona bowl served at Coyote Kitchen on March 7 is a coconut rice-based bowl with blackened tempeh, red peppers, onion, corn, black beans, spinach and fried sweet potato all drizzled with garlic lime aioli.

tofu wings with the option of sriracha hot honey glaze, jerk dry rub, house seasoning or blackened dry rub.

Regarding community engagement, Coyote Kitchen has recently partnered with the Boone Barbies to host weekly trivia nights, Hasty said. Prioritizing a welcoming atmosphere for the LGBTQIA+ community remains a priority, with plans to launch a “give back campaign” supporting nonprofits monthly.

besT bbQ The Pedalin’ Pig

Barbecue is a staple food of U.S. culture. Whether one decides to host a cook out and make it themselves or order it from a restaurant, many people across the country are very particular about how they enjoy their barbecue. The town of Boone seems confident in their choice of barbecue restaurant, as they’ve voted The Pedalin’ Pig for Best BBQ for the fifth consecutive year in a row.

The Pedalin’ Pig has operated in the Banner Elk area since 2014. Later, they expanded to Boone and Blowing Rock, providing numerous different options on their menu for anyone to enjoy, from happy hour service to vegetarian options, and their specialty, barbecue practically any way you want it.

Not only does The Pedalin’ Pig offer the best barbecue in Boone, they also host several events to bring the community together. Every Wednesday the restaurant hosts a weekly “Bluegrass Jam,” where bluegrass players of any skill level are invited

to play their music for the restaurant to enjoy, further adding to the homey Southern atmosphere of the establishment.

Each day of the week also has a special menu item, encouraging prospective customers to visit the restaurant on a specific day when their favorite menu item is available. Some days feature new barbecue variations, others serve unique kinds of alcoholic beverages. Every Friday is labeled as “Fish Fry Day,” when the staff serves several fish-themed plates and sandwiches.

The town of Boone has been captivated by the atmosphere and quality of The Pedalin’ Pig and its signature barbecue enough to revere their barbecue as the best in the area, an opinion that stays strong amongst voters.

“The entire Pedalin’ Pig family would like to thank the community for its support,” said Blake Bostain, the general manager for The Pedalin’ Pig. “We really look forward to serving you again this year.”

besT mexicAn-inspired Los Arcoiris

Vivian Shillingsburg

From the moment you walk in the door of Los Arcoiris, you are welcomed with an irresistible aroma of all of the best spices and flavors of Mexican food. The colorful and energetic atmosphere, complemented by the detailed paintings and the lively music, creates a classic Mexican dining experience.

This Boone favorite, which has kept its title as Best Mexican-Inspired food in Best of Boone, is the perfect place to fulfill your Mexican cuisine cravings.

The most special part of Los Arcoiris, also affectionately known as “Los,” is the community the restaurant has created.

“Our clientele base consists of three generations and some of our employees have been with us for many years, that helps us a lot in keeping consistency in flavors and service,” said Alfredo Alvarez, general manager and co-owner of Los Arcoiris. Boone residents, App State students and even visitors to the area can find a sense of family when they come to Los. The consistency in the food and atmosphere provides a feeling of homeliness to returning customers and a place for newcomers to

build memories over delicious meals.

“Since we are a family-owned restaurant, we treat customers same as family, including our employees,” Alvarez said. “Building friendships and strong relationships over the years with people is very important.”

The family-owned business first opened in Boone in September of 1991. Since then, members of the family have expanded the business throughout western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee to extend the community and traditions of Los across the region.

While the community and atmosphere of Los is exceptional, the food is what ties it all together. Los provides a variety of options for their customers, including many vegetarian options and kid’s plates. This restaurant is perfect for anyone who wants to explore new food, families and groups with different palates and picky eaters or people who appreciate Mexican cuisine. Some of their most popular dishes include ACP, fajitas and their notably-large burritos.

If you are hoping to order something new next time you go, or you want to enhance your Mexican food experience, Los always

has something new to try.

“Something new that I really recommend right now is the quesabirrias or birria tacos,” said Alvarez.

Next time one is craving something flavorful and made with love or is looking for a new favorite restaurant, Best of Boone voters recommend Los Arcoiris to support a family-owned business and experience a small taste of Mexican culture here in the High Country.

“Since we are a family-owned restaurant, we treat customers same as family,”

- Alfredo Alvarez, co-owner and general manager of Los Arcoiris

besT new resTAurAnT Fizz Ed

El Shedrick

Since its opening last November, Fizz Ed has brought bright new colors and innovative beverages to Boone in a service-focused environment. Fizz Ed aims to be an inclusive space for everyone in the Boone community.

Fizz Ed takes their first Best of Boone title with their win for Best New Restaurant.

“I felt like there was a space here in Boone for a place that was fun and welcoming and bright, and inviting to everybody,” said owner Amy Forrester. “We wanted to provide options that would be exciting for everyone in the group.”

They offer vegetarian and glutenfree options, fun comfort food and a full alcoholic bar with thoughtful nonalcoholic options as well.

In addition to their variety of food and drink items, the restaurant also hosts different family-friendly events, like Sunday trivia nights. Family trivia is from 6:30-8 p.m., and at 9:30 p.m., the bar shifts to its late-night trivia geared towards customers who are over 21.

“We are going to continue building our events and our nightlife,” Forrester said. “I really would like for people to know that when they come here, there is always going to be something fun happening. That’s my push moving forward, is just to continue to provide those fun opportunities.”

The support for the restaurant has been strong right out of the gate.

“The community has been incredibly supportive,” Forrester said. “Opening in the middle of winter, we kind of thought it would be dead constantly, but we see the same people over and over which is really nice. I feel like we’re bringing people back. I definitely feel like not only the university community, but the local community has been really supportive.”

Since opening, Fizz Ed has successfully created a welcoming space for everybody to feel celebrated, while providing some delicious food and drink along the way.

Ann Korwan

Located in the heart of downtown on King Street is Sabeing, a Thai, Vietnamese and sushi restaurant that truly has something for everyone. Between the friendly staff, reasonable prices and delicious food, it’s no wonder that Sabeing is the 2024 winner of Best Asian-Inspired Cuisine in Boone.

Before getting to the door, you can smell the flavorful aromas that will make your mouth water and make you even more excited to dig into the food. Everything comes out fresh and steaming, prepared by some of the friendly staff who take great pride in their jobs.

Sammie Buchanan, one of Sabeing’s front-of-house staff members, has been working at the restaurant since 2018. Buchanan was thrilled to hear the restaurant had won and quickly shared the news with her coworkers.

“The owners, Allen and Pam, have taught me so much and taken care of me throughout the years,” Buchanan said. “We are one big family here.”

Buchanan went on to say how hardworking the owners are, making

it clear they are passionate about the restaurant and care about their employees.

“We are all grateful for the support from this town and from our regulars and will continue to provide the ‘Best of Asian-Inspired Cuisine’ to Boone,” Buchanan said. “Also, I eat here each day by choice. Quality food, quality people.”

Despite being takeout only, Sabeing continues to thrive by offering Asianstyle comfort food, like pad Thai, drunken noodles and pad see ew, to name a few of their popular dishes. The sushi menu also provides a wide variety of choices for customers, ensuring everyone is able to find something that suits their taste.

Sabeing is located at 454 W. King St. Orders can be placed online, over the phone and in-store and can be enjoyed on the patio space outside the restaurant or at the comfort of one’s home.

besT coffee Espresso News

Briley Turpin

The Tuesday morning after spring break, Espresso News was bustling with students and Boone locals eager to catch up after a week off. The frigid outside air had people lingering by the door for warmth as they waited in line for the promise of a hot, reliable cup of coffee.

Espresso News, the comfy little coffee shop in the heart of downtown Boone, has been a staple in the community for 30 years. It almost feels as though the shop has a cult following, and for good reason. Espresso News has won Best Off-Campus Coffee yet again.

Kathleen Petermann, a manager of the shop, said the establishment has been through many iterations, but the community it has built has remained the same over the past few decades.

“Some things have always been the same — we have a long line of dedicated employees, many of whom still live in Boone or the surrounding areas, and we have always roasted fantastic coffee in-house,” she said.

The love they have for their community goes beyond providing a gathering space for good coffee and camaraderie. Espresso News gives back to the community by donating to

several groups in Boone.

“We have cultivated partnerships with OASIS, the Immigrant Justice Coalition of Watauga County, The Children’s Playhouse and Mountain Alliance,” Petermann said. “We really care about being a part of what makes Boone such an awesome place to live, and we love to support local groups that are aligned with that goal as well.”

Espresso News has a large selection of coffee and tea drinks, bakery items and even wine. They have rotating seasonal specials, such as the Yerba Mate with mango puree they released this spring. They also host fun events

besT biscuiT Vicious Biscuit

Cameron Miller

With breakfast spots popping up all over town, competition for the Best Biscuit in Boone is vicious, and Vicious Biscuit has proven themselves to be the most…vicious. Walking in and taking one look at the colorful menu, it’s easy to see why.

Vicious Biscuit is the first-time winner for the new Best Biscuit writein category for Best of Boone.

Manager Jeannie Hopkins said what sets Vicious Biscuit apart is the quality of their ingredients. Most of their sauces, syrups and butters, like their signature hot honey, are made inhouse. They use only fresh, cage-free,

steroid-free brown eggs, and fresh produce is ordered every other day.

“It’s a lot to stay on top of,” Hopkins said. “But if you want that quality, that’s what you have to do.”

When asked about Vicious Biscuits’ bestsellers, Hopkins said it was The Fat Boy “hands down.” The Fat Boy is a buttermilk biscuit piled high with a fried chicken breast and their signature pimento cheese topped with a drizzle of their hot honey.

“But when people want that comfort food they go for The Vicious,” Hopkins said.

The Vicious Biscuit features a crispy chicken breast with maple sausage

gravy and candied jalapeños on a cheddar jalapeño biscuit.

They also serve other iconic southern staples like fried green tomatoes, which are featured in The Mater and The Crab Benny, Vicious’ take on the classic eggs benedict.

Hopkins said Vicious Biscuit is grateful for the welcome they’ve received from the community since opening last year and they look forward to continuing to be a part of the community in the future.

Be sure to check out their new Chicken Bacon Ranch biscuit that made its debut on March 11. Vicious Biscuit is located at 702 Blowing Rock Road.

besT breAkfAsT Troy’s 105 Diner

Abby Buckner

Stepping into Troy’s is like stepping back in time. Metallic chrome accents gleam under the soft glow of neon lights, while the air is filled with the aroma of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee. With its classic booth and counter seating, customers can make themselves at home in the cozy space.

Boasting a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of an era marked by jukeboxes and soda fountains, Troy’s 105 Diner won Best Breakfast for the second year in a row. The electrifying 1950s feel, home-cooked fresh food

and charming staff have made the diner the ultimate Boone breakfast spot. It’s not just the ambiance that has locals and Boone visitors flocking to Troy’s in the morning. The star of the show is undoubtedly their classic menu options. Classic breakfast dishes like fluffy pancakes and hearty omelets are crafted with care along with many other breakfast staples. The menu features several breakfast specialties each with their own unique names like the “Mama Lu” and the “Country Cousin” to create a plethora of delicious and tailored plates to choose from.

for the evening crowd.

“If you are 21, you also don’t want to miss Feral Friday wine nights, typically the first and third Fridays of the month, where we serve natural and low-intervention wines by the glass, as well as sake and other delicious beverages,” Petermann said.

The charm of Espresso News cannot be replicated in any community other than Boone. It stands as the perfect melting pot for the university and the larger community, bridging a gap in Boone.

Espresso News is located at 267 Howard St.

With breakfast served all day and lunch starting at 10:30 a.m., there is a bite for every craving.

The lunch options take the diner flavors to new heights. With half-pound burgers, signature salads, sandwiches and homemade soups, Troy’s offers plenty of options, all under $15. The diner also features daily specials Monday through Friday. Consider finishing off the meal with a sweet treat and enjoy a Troy’s locally-acclaimed milkshake or homemade dessert.

Next time you are looking for some delicious nibbles, savor Troy’s award-winning breakfast and soak in

the nostalgic retro charm of the diner. The diner is a timeless favorite that remains a beloved staple in the Boone community.

besT sweeTs Appalachia Cookie Company

An employee decorates a half dozen cookies fresh out of the oven on March 6. Appalachia Cookie Company offers a large selection of gourmet cookies available for late night delivery. Photo by Leah Matney

Rebekah Mann

Much like the scent of their cookies, Appalachia Cookie Company’s community impact is sweet, warm and welcoming.

Appalachia Cookie Company has won Best Sweets for a fourth consecutive year.

They serve classic cookie flavors like chocolate chip, sugar and snickerdoodle, but their menu also features flavors that can’t be found anywhere else. The Appalachian Gold cookie, also known as the Yosef, is just one example of the company’s unique recipes and doubles as a vegan and glutenfree option. The cookie combines chocolate chunks, coconut, cinnamon, pecans and more all into one recipe.

The newest menu item, a Lotus Biscoff stuffed cookie, also highlights their complex recipes. David Holloman, App Cookie Co. owner and founder, said he’s obsessed with the newest cookie.

“It’s our honey peanut butter base but with cookie butter in place of peanut butter and white chocolate chunks, stuffed with a house made Lotus cookie butter and topped with a Lotus Biscoff cookie and drizzled in cookie butter icing,” Holloman said.

Beyond their uniquely crafted recipes, App Cookie Co. also has a partnership with Boone’s Hunger and Health Coalition called the 30 Thirty Project.

The 30 Thirty project is a subscription service where App Cookie Co. will deliver one dozen cookies of your choice to your doorstep on the first Monday of the month for $35 per month. In addition to receiving your cookies, the monthly fee also provides 30 pounds of food for a local family in need.

The project idea started when Holloman and his wife wanted to use the popularity of the cookies for something that had a direct benefit to the local community.

“The biggest challenge was finding a simple way that would easily translate donations to a product that customers could recognize, and that we could easily communicate that donation and its impact,” Holloman said.

Since the program started about 10 years ago, Holloman estimates the project’s donations have helped contribute to eight tons of donated food.

Holloman said none of this work would have been made possible without the partnership and emphasized how much of a role the Hunger and Health Coalition played in making the project a reality.

“The program would not have moved forward without the late Elizabeth Young, the former director of HHC and a pillar in our community, who worked for countless hours with my wife and I to come up with a solution that would make the program work,” Holloman said.

If one is simply wanting a sweet treat or would like to support the community, App Cookie Co. is the place to go.

besT bAr Lily’s Snack Bar

Pruett Norris

There are a number of bars in Boone. There’s only one with a neon “TATER WEDGES” sign in the window.

Lily’s Snack Bar has racked up Best of Boone awards since 2021, and this year is no exception. Lily’s is 2024’s Best Bar in Boone.

Trevor Moody, general manager of Lily’s, said the bar seeks to foster a community of inclusivity. One example is Lily’s reputation as drag night royalty.

“The drag scene in Boone has really flourished,” Moody said. “The opportunity came to us because we had set up the environment the way we did. A very intentional and safe place.”

Even when the bar faces criticism for its progressive or counter-cultural events, the Lily’s staff know how to handle it. Moody said growing up in the rural South enabled them to learn how to deal with pressure.

“Those pressures also have a way of bringing communities together,” Moody said. “If anything, maybe it enables us to be a more active and

vocal part of our community.”

Lily’s is certainly a vocal part of Boone. The bar prides itself on its commitment to the local rock scene. During Boonerang, Boone’s annual bluegrass festival, Lily’s hosts Doomerang.

“Some people call it a counterculture fest. We’re doing two nights of heavy music,” Moody said. “Punk, heavy, metal, sludge, doom, hardcoreadjacent loud rock and roll music.”

The event is a regional showcase in mid-June, featuring entirely Southeastern and predominantly North Carolinian bands.

Bands, drag and good vibes aren’t the only items on the Lily’s menu. The bar has a popular cocktail series centered around the Zodiac, and the Lily’s liquor bucket is iconic.

The tater wedges are a cultural staple themselves. A constant since Lily’s opened, the tater wedges’ secret origin dates back to the owners’ childhood.

“They grew up with a

gas station in town that sold these awesome potato wedges they have some very fond memories and nostalgia for,” Moody said. “So the famous tater wedges were our attempt to recreate that. I think we hit the nail on the head.”

Moody revealed that the iconic Lily’s “TATER WEDGES” sign is actually in its second iteration. The first burnt out from sheer use.

“It’s fallen down, gotten knocked over, had drinks splashed on it,” Moody said.

Despite it all, the sign has remained as a neon beacon to the town of Boone to come in and join the party.

besT brewery Appalachian Mountain Brewery

Briley Turpin

As rain poured down in sheets upon Boone one February afternoon, the employees of Appalachian Mountain Brewery braved the droplets, grabbing kegs and working as hard as ever for the stream of customers trickling in to warm up and escape the downpour outside.

An oasis amongst the fast food and retail shops along Blowing Rock Road, AMB provides customers with a selection of 30 beers and ciders on tap brewed right here in Boone. AMB has been a staple in the community since

it opened as the first brewery in Boone in 2013, so it’s no surprise they have won Best Brewery for the second year in a row.

Chris Zieber, owner and CEO of AMB, said AMB bought back the company from Anheuser-Busch within the last year. He said it is super exciting to have the company back under local control.

“For the local market, this means we’re gonna continue to invest in fun shows, like the summer concert series, and be able to kinda focus on the business,” he said.

AMB has always been a community-focused company, and Zieber said he has loved watching the market grow and evolve over the past 11 years.

Zieber said that in the beginning, it was millennials who were driving the craft beer movement. Now, many of those millennials have families, and the market has changed.

“I think breweries are still super relevant, but the whole market has become more experience-focused rather than product-focused,” he said.

“It’s really exciting to keep the

Boone scene growing.”

In 2023, AMB partnered with Bojangle’s to create a hard sweet tea drink with a North Carolinian focus. The drink can be found at the brewery and participating stores and gas stations like Circle K, Sheetz and Walmart.

As part of their community-focused mission, AMB has partnerships with several local and state-wide nonprofit organizations. The company regularly gives back by holding a monthly “pints for nonprofits” night where they host a local nonprofit and give back a dollar for every pint of the specific beer

sold. Zieber said they also give directly to charity and host many volunteer events.

“Breweries are the community meeting place. Even though it’s not something we’re necessarily actively doing, but passively, just by being here, we are able to kinda encourage the community to come out,” he said.

“That kind of stuff is super rewarding for us.”

besT smooThie Stick Boy Kitchen

Stick Boy Kitchen’s Spring Green (left) and Mangoes & More (right) smoothies made on March 6 are just two of several delicious smoothies served on the menu. Both smoothies are made with an orange juice base and blended with fruits and veggies. Photo by Taylor Ward

Lauren Lyerly

From their pastries to their sandwiches, Stick Boy Kitchen has more to offer than just good food; they have a variety of delicious smoothies. If you are craving something sweet, satisfying or healthy, Stick Boy has something for you. That’s why the establishment has won Best Smoothie for this year’s Best of Boone.

Stick Boy Kitchen, which opened in 2013, followed the success of Stick Boy Bread Company, which was established in 2001.

The restaurants have a strong connection with the community of Boone and serve to bring good quality food to the community.

Stick Boy Kitchen, which offers eight smoothies in addition to a “build your own” option, also has a diverse menu containing numerous sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries.

Lisa Pearce, general manager of Stick Boy Kitchen, has been with the restaurant for around 19 years and believes the smoothies’ success is due to their simplicity and nutritional value.

besT food Truck El Tacorriendo

Ella Adams

App State students have spoken: there’s nothing better after a long day of classes than a stop for tacos at El Tacorriendo. For the sixth year in a row, the community has voted the business Best Food Truck in Boone.

The iconic red food truck sits on King Street across from App State’s campus serving up Mexican street food classics for students and locals alike. El Tacorriendo sports a vibrant atmosphere, with delicious smells wafting from the grill and Latin hits playing from a nearby speaker. The truck occasionally hosts live music in the evenings, advertised via the El Tacorriendo Instagram account.

The menu has staple Mexican dishes, like tacos, tortas and burritos, as well as unique creations like the original ACP wrap. There are a variety of meat options to choose from, including carnitas, al pastor and chorizo. There’s also an extensive vegetarian menu, with an assortment of meat-free Mexican classics.

Co-owners Alex and Ashley León opened the business in 2015.

“I feel like I can bring something to the community from where I’m from,” said Alex

León, who is from Guadalajara, Mexico. He said people who have been to Mexico before will try the food El Tacorriendo and say it is just like the food in Mexico.

His personal favorite menu items are the al pastor and asada tacos. For any new customers to El Tacorriendo, he recommends the popular ACP wraps and any of the tacos.

“I love what we do, you know,” Alex León said. “I love cooking a lot and I’ve been doing it for a while.”

El Tacorriendo will be expanding to Asheville and opening a taco truck in the city within the next year, he said.

Anyone looking for a quick and delicious meal can visit El Tacorriendo next to Blue’s Brews at 362 W. King St.

“I feel like I can bring something to the community from where I’m from,”

- Alex León, co-founder and co-owner of El Tacorriendo

“The smoothies are made very simply with fresh ingredients,” Pearce said. “There are no extra sugars or fillers.”

Pearce described how the importance of customer service and a commitment to patrons and the community has contributed to the success of Stick Boy Kitchen.

“We are very customer focused and driven,” she said. “I think our service style and our quality ingredients and our involvement in the community is what keeps us well known.”

When asked about her favorite smoothie, Pearce said hers would have to be the PB&J as it is very filling and satisfying.

Not only are the smoothies at Stick Boy Kitchen healthy and flavorful, but the service is attentive and quick, with staff always catering to patrons’ needs and concerns.

The bustling atmosphere illustrates the quality of Stick Boy Kitchen’s food and the commitment the restaurant has to its customers.

Stick Boy Kitchen is located at 211 Boone Heights Drive.

Come Back Shack’s storefront ready for dinner rush on February 29.

Come Back Shack is located at 1521 Blowing Rock Road and offers both drive-thru and mobile orders. Photo by Nicole Evans

besT TAkeouT Come Back Shack

An order comes in just as one goes out and a timer starts on the screen. The order moves from highlighted green to yellow on the screen, signaling to hurry, and is wrapped up as the highlight turns red. It’s handed to the customer just as the timer runs out, and another order appears in its place.

Come Back Shack has won Best Takeout for Best of Boone, making this year its third straight win, solidifying its spot as one of the best places to order takeout food for long study nights or post-shift grub.

Come Back Shack is a family-owned business opened by Steven and Scott Prewitt and their wives, Janie and Allison Prewitt. The restaurant is right in the center of Boone, so people pass the establishment as they drive in and out of town.

The restaurant is renowned for its vast menu, spanning across chicken, beef and vegetarian options. They were voted Best Burger in the 2022 Strange Carolinas Best of NC awards, as well as one of the six best milkshakes in North Carolina by Best Things in North Carolina.

Come Back Shack’s unique menu

features a fried green tomato sandwich and a bacon patty melt on Texas Toast, separating it from other burger joints in the area. Their milkshakes range from chocolate to Nutella to blueberry, all prepared within minutes via drive-thru.

The restaurant has a rustic aesthetic with warm light and lots of laughter.

“I like laughing and having fun. Having a lighthearted, friendly work environment is something that’s really important to us as a company,” said James Dedmon, who has been general manager of Come Back Shack for two months. “We all get along really well and utilize this as a happy harmonious work environment.”

Noah and Renae Jones, diners in the restaurant, said they come to Come Back Shack once every few months, though they don’t feel like that’s nearly often enough.

They drive from Banner Elk whenever they’re craving a tasty burger, fried green tomato sandwich and a good time. Noah and Renae made a date out of their dinner at Come Back Shack before he left for a work trip.

Cadet Summer Training puts you on an accelerated path to leadership as an Army Officer after graduation and can earn you scholarships and a monthly stipend.

Sophomores may qualify for a $5,000 bonus. Contact DJ Weatherford at (828) 262-2994 or weatherforddj@appstate.edu to learn more.

besT food deliVery serVice DoorDash

Jenna Guzman

It’s been a long day. You got home from work or school and immediately crawled into bed to shut out the world. After taking a nap or bingeing a show, you realize not only did you shut out further responsibilities, but you also forgot about how hungry you were.

But you’re so tired; why cook when you can order food delivery? Flash forward about 30 minutes and you’re watching a tiny little car icon drive up to your home with your food of choice on the DoorDash app.

With the convenience of having food delivered to you in a matter of minutes thanks to an app on your phone, DoorDash has been voted as Best Food Delivery Service in Best of Boone for the second year in a row.

Regardless of one’s cravings, DoorDash has a little something for everyone. Food from many Boone staples, such as Come Back Shack, Mint Indian Cuisine, Lily’s Snack Bar and more, can be ordered through DoorDash. Chain restaurants in the area are

besT grocery Publix

Makayla Muñoz

From the bakery to the deli to other everyday items, Publix has a quality selection to choose from. There is food to grab on the go like fresh-made subs for something quick and easy.

Publix has won Best Grocery Store for the third year in a row and is ready to welcome shoppers for all their grocery needs. While quality products are always paramount, maintaining a positive environment is just as important and is something Publix achieves.

“Workers provide excellent customer service by always offering to help bring out groceries to the car or simply to find items in the store,” said Larisa Traylor, a junior psychology major and Publix patron. “There is always someone nearby I can communicate with in the store.”

The store has weekly ads that provide customers with lower prices on a mix of name brand and store brand items, along with a discount on the sub of the week.

Publix’s motto, “where shopping is a

also featured on the app, such as Zaxby’s, Papa John’s, Five Guys and others.

If one wants a meal they ordered in the past but forgot what exactly it was they ordered or the restaurant they got it from, no worries. DoorDash has a tab that shows past orders to reorder with just the press of a button — no need to go back on the menu and find all the things to add to the cart.

For people who ordered food but don’t want to spend money on outside food for a second day in a row, one can also order groceries through DoorDash to cook at home the next time they are hungry. For students on or off campus without a car, DoorDash is a convenient way of getting groceries or non-food items delivered if the markets on campus are closed.

DoorDash delivers groceries or non-food items from stores including Lowes Foods, CVS, Walgreens, Food Lion, Speedway, Big Lots and more.

Whether one is too tired to cook, doesn’t have a car, is at a get-together with friends or simply wants a late-night snack, all they need to do is place the order through the

app and the food or items they need will be there in a matter of minutes. As long as the restaurant or store is accepting orders, one’s food desires will be fulfilled.

pleasure,” doesn’t just stop at their food, but extends to all aspects of the store such as presenting themselves with pride.

“I like Publix because the store is always clean and organized,” Traylor said.

Along with Publix’s in-store customer service, they also offer catering services.

From casual snack platters like their meat and cheese platters to their entree and dessert platters, they have a variety of choices to make a party pop. They have options like seafood, chicken, bakery and even platters made with children in mind. According to the Publix website, they even have catering consultants to help build a menu and plan events of any size for free.

Publix is located at 1620 Blowing Rock Road.

Blush.

We are proud to be recognized by the community for our commitment to providing quality products and outstanding service. Each one of our associates—from the meat cutter who hand trims meat in-store to the baker who puts in early hours baking bread every morning takes personal satisfaction in giving you memorable, positive experiences at our stores.

Thank you to all who voted!

Best Grocery Store

The Appalachian's Best of Boone 2024 Best of Food Publix at Three Creeks Boone, NC

besT of Lifestyle

besT plAce To swim

Kolby Shea

In the mountains of Boone, a creek flows into a small gorge, creating a swimming hole surrounded by rocks and trees. On a warm day in the High Country, the spot is crowded with people swimming, relaxing or jumping from heights.

Laurel Creek Falls, popularly known as Trash Can Falls, is the favorite place to swim for App State students and Watauga County locals as it was voted this year’s winner for Best Swimming Spot.

Located about 15 minutes outside of Boone, Trash Can Falls is a natural waterfall and swimming hole serving as a cool-down for many during the warm spring and summer days of Boone. The nickname could be deceiving, as the falls are far from trashy.

Just off of US 321, a dumpster serves as the location marker for travelers to recognize where their journey begins to the water.

Trash Can Falls

Between the rocky terrain, the flowing water and the green surroundings, Trash Can Falls stands out amongst the natural beauty of the area.

Laurel Creek flows in the area, creating the waterfall and catching in a large hollow between surrounding big rocks, creating a swimmer’s haven.

Due to its popularity, parking is an issue on more popular days with limited spaces. Over the past decade, once the word got out, Trash Can Falls exploded in trendiness. The natural landscape can be a safety hazard, with rocky grounds and high cliffs. Outside of that, the area is safe for all ages to go and enjoy without the dangers of a strenuous hike or rushing waters.

Trash Can Falls has something for all types of adventurers. The falls are a great place for thrill-seekers looking to jump from

the top of the falls, swimmers looking to enjoy the natural water or easy-goers just looking to sit and enjoy the scenery.

besT oVerlook Rough Ridge

Chance Chamberlain

Located at milepost 302.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Rough Ridge Overlook showcases the rolling mountains of the High Country. Featuring a 1.2 mile roundtrip trail to witness views of Linville Gorge, Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct, this overlook was voted Best Overlook in this year’s Best of Boone.

For visitors, the trail provides wellmaintained pathways and boardwalks to safely pass through the rocky and rugged uphill terrain. The moderate difficulty of the trail allows for hikers of all skill levels to be rewarded with marvelous views along their journey.

Along the trail, wildlife is abundant with several varieties of wildflowers, patches of moss and lichen, birds singing amongst trees and the occasional bear or deer roaming the forest floor.

At Rough Ridge’s summit, visitors can look out at the towering peaks for as far the eye can see. From the dusting of snow in the winter to the fresh bright greenery of the spring and summer to the warm reds, oranges and yellows of the fall, Rough Ridge offers a unique view for each visitor throughout the year.

With an everlasting blue sky backdrop, the bright skies are painted with a warm golden hue as the sun sets and rises along the overlook’s horizon.

Rough Ridge features the “Pride Rock,” as it resembles the throne from the 1994 animated film “The Lion King.” The rock’s ledge has been popularly photographed by visitors wanting to display themselves overlooking the High Country across social media.

Hikers wanting to venture the trail should bring water, snacks, rain gear for sudden weather changes, shoes with good traction and a camera to remember the views.

If visitors feel more adventurous, they can embark on the nearby 13.5-mile Tanawha Trail to explore Grandfather Mountain.

Whether students, locals or tourists want to explore and visit the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Rough Ridge Overlook offers a distinctive experience for each visitor wanting to survey the Appalachian Mountains.

besT hike

Rough Ridge Trail

Ella Adams

Offering scenic 360 views of the High Country, a variety of active wildlife and an opportunity to connect with nature, the beautiful Rough Ridge Trail is a popular hike for tourists and locals alike.

Located about 35 minutes from Boone, Rough Ridge Trail offers a 1.2 mile out-andback and was voted Best Hiking Trail in this year’s Best of Boone. The trailhead is located at mile marker 302.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but parking is limited.

Accessible for both beginner and experienced hikers, the trail has a steady incline to the top, with steep sections. Rough Ridge Trail is a part of the larger Tanawha Trail, which runs about 13.5 miles from Julian Price Lake to Beacon Heights.

About a third of the way up, hikers will encounter the boardwalk, which marks the Rough Ridge Overlook. The views of the Blue Ridge attract hikers from all around.

Claire and Andrew McDonald came from Johnson City, Tennessee to take photos at the overlook to celebrate a year and a half of marriage. Claire McDonald, dressed in a

white dress, stood on the rocky overlook with Grandfather Mountain towering behind her.

“My favorite part is just seeing the mountain range,” Andrew Mcdonald said. “Obviously it’s just so beautiful.”

Julia Layman, an App State alumna now living in Raleigh, loves the trail because it is family friendly and everyone can do it.

“This is probably the 10th time I’ve done it,” Layman said. “It’s one of my favorites.”

Along the trail, hikers experience fragile lichens and protected mountain ecosystems guarded by signs advising hikers to stay on trail. At the right time of year, one might experience breathtaking mountain laurel or rhododendron blooms.

Rough Ridge Trail offers expansive views of High Country landmarks like Grandfather Mountain, the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Beacon Heights. Some say they can see the Charlotte skyline on a clear day. While a glimpse of the Queen City may be far-fetched, Rough Ridge Trail offers stunning views, beautiful nature and plenty of community along the way.

besT plAce To skATe Greenway Skatepark

On the walk to the end of the Greenway Trail, you can hear the sound of wheels rolling and skateboards smacking onto the concrete. As you get closer, the park becomes visible and you see skaters of all levels practicing their skills in the middle of a bright sunny nature trail.

The Greenway Skatepark was voted as the Best Place to Skate in Boone.

The park opened in November 2021 and is located along the Boone Greenway Trail at 201 Casey Lane. Skaters can enjoy a beautiful view as they walk down to the end of the Greenway to find the skatepark or pull straight up into the parking lot.

The Greenway Skatepark was voted as the Best Place to Skate in Boone. This can be attributed to its wide array of obstacles such as halfpipe ramps, rails and boxes that all levels of skateboarders can enjoy from dawn till dusk.

Skaters can drop into the ramps to gain speed or perform tricks on and off of the boxes. There is ample space to simply ride on the board.

Beginner skaters can fine tune their skills, while more experienced riders can try more daring tricks.

Despite Boone being famous for its ski slopes, the skatepark garners visitors daily as the weather warms up. Many of the riders include locals and App State students.

These visitors include freshman computer science major Trafford Hill. His favorite obstacle to skate is the quarter pipe.

“It gives me enough speed to catch air,” Hill said.

Hill took some time to become accustomed to the park, but enjoyed the process.

“The park is definitely fun, but at least for me it was a little awkward to skate at first,” Hill said.

Another frequent visitor is freshman building sciences major Eric Leviev.

“My favorite part of the park is the manny pad, but the whole park is really good for learning transition,” Leviev said.

This obstacle is great for practicing manual skateboarding tricks, which is where one rides with the top wheels off of the ground.

The park is an ideal option for students as it is close to campus. It’s not only good for skateboarding, but a great place to come together and meet new people who share similar interests.

besT biking Greenway

Spence Smithback

Located off of Martin Luther King Jr. Street on the banks of the South Fork New River, the Greenway Trail offers more than three miles of paved trails for public use and a unique biking experience. For the seventh year straight, the Greenway was voted the Best Place to Bike in Boone.

The wide, paved paths and mostly flat terrain offer a milder alternative for those looking to exercise outdoors without venturing onto the more intense trails in the area.

The Greenway is not just open to cyclists. Hikers, rollerbladers, strollers, wheelchairs and leashed pets are all welcome on the trails, according to the Town of Boone.

Those heading north from the trailhead travel parallel to the river until the trail ends behind Watauga High School for an outand-back distance of 1.2 miles.

The route passes by the historic hydroelectric power plant on the river, which was built in 1915 and was the first electricity producer in northwest North Carolina, according to Explore Boone. On this path, bikers can view the dam that once powered the campus of Appalachian Training School— now called App State, along with six houses

until it ceased operation in 1924.

The northern half of the Greenway includes numerous benches along the way, providing the opportunity to rest and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

The Don Kennedy Trails run in the same direction as the Greenway, but stray further up the mountain away from the river and are not paved. They serve as the home of the App State men’s and women’s cross country teams in addition to the annual Covered Bridge Open. The main access point is located on Intramural Field Road, north of the Greenway trailhead.

The southern half of the Greenway is more urban, with the trail winding past softball fields and the Leon Levine Hall. After crossing under State Farm Road, cyclists travel along Winkler’s Creek and across Highway 321 before the trail ends at Pride Drive near Walmart.

The connector between the Greenway and the Martin Luther King Jr. Street parking lot takes cyclists past ClawsonBurnley Park, which includes picnic tables, a nearby playground and a manufactured wetland.

In addition to serving as a habitat for numerous plants and animals, the wetland uses a pipe system to keep pollutants out of the adjacent river to ensure that the environment remains clean for cyclists and all other visitors.

besT ski mounTAin Beech Mountain

At an elevation of 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain Resort offers 17 different trails for skiing and snowboarding.

The resort opened in 1967 and is a 40-minute drive from App State’s campus. The energized atmosphere and variety of trails for all skill levels has led to the Beech Mountain Resort winning the award for Best Ski Mountain for the second year in a row.

With many different trails, rental options and pricing deals, the resort is a place where beginners can comfortably learn to ski and snowboard. Beech Mountain Resort offers “Student Night” on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., where students can ski at a discounted price under the lights for four hours.

At the mountain top, there is a bar where skiers and snowboarders can relax and refresh before taking on the hardest trails the resort has to offer. The longest trail is a steep one-mile run that weaves down the right side of the mountain. A few trails also

offer the opportunity to jump and do tricks with ramps and rails.

Beech Mountain Resort has eight chairlifts, allowing for non-stop flow up the mountain. Even on the busiest days of the year, waiting for lifts will take no more than 30-45 minutes.

Over the winter, the resort is typically open from Thanksgiving week through the second week of March.

One of the more unique options at the resort is its summer activities. During the summer, skiing and snowboarding are replaced with concert venues, yoga classes, disc golf courses and mountain biking. Beech Mountain Resort is located at 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway and has rental houses lining the mountain, and allows for great vacation spots even when the snow is gone.

Aside from the slopes, there is a bar and the resort offers a standard selection of burgers, hot dogs and drinks. There is a seating area that looks up to the mountain for people to sit and eat or simply warm up.

With a diverse and large number of trails, pricing deals for a variety of groups and great resources for food and rentals, Beech Mountain Resort has become a favorite for locals over the past two years. With options all year round, the resort is a staple for beginners, experts, locals and vacationers looking to get away with a unique experience.

Anna Banana’s

besT ThrifT Jenna Guzman

With its proximity to campus, wide variety of clothes and a 10% discount for dancing at checkout, what’s a better place to do retail therapy than Anna Banana’s?

Described as welcoming, fun, upbeat and unique by its staff, Anna Banana’s is the reigning champion for Best Thrift once again in this year’s Best of Boone.

When one enters the store, they are greeted by the friendly staff, the sound of dance music and of course, the sight of colorful clothes, accessories and decor.

“Knowing that we have a lot of different kinds of stuff to offer makes me excited when people find something that really resonates with them,” said Anna Banana’s employee of three years Luci DiNonno.

The store’s curation of items is carefully selected to appeal to all customers.

“We take super modern stuff and we take vintage stuff and anything in between that is in style,” said general manager Ali Aita. “It’s a lot of keeping up with the trends, and seeing what from other eras can match the current trends.”

Additionally, the store displays a rack dedicated to showcasing clothes that fit a

certain theme or time of year. In the past, some of the items have revolved around “Barbie,” Halloween costume ideas and spring break.

If one doesn’t find something that catches their attention, there is still a chance. The store has an extension called The Back located further down the hallway of the initial store, where one can see a larger selection of the curated items the store offers. Don’t worry though, the dance discount still applies there too.

If you’re someone who wants to purchase more clothes — probably from Anna Banana’s — but has a closet full of clothes you never wear, Anna’s can help you clear out your wardrobe to make room for those new jeans you know you want.

Customers can bring in clothes they wish to get rid of in exchange for in-store credit. According to their website, items “must be in season, in style, in perfect condition, folded, pressed and clean and secured in a sturdy bag” in order to be consigned. They also request no hangers.

Whether you want to shop till you drop, make room for a new season’s wardrobe or

you’re looking for a place with a “positive environment” as Aita describes it, look for the store with the banana in the logo. As their slogan says, you’ll “never know what you’ll find.”

Sales associates Gigi Waugh (left) and Dalton Sheets (right) fold and rearrange clothes on March 7. Photo by Mayesivy Carlson

besT winTer geAr Recess Skate & Snow

Briley Turpin

While walking around Boone, it doesn’t take long to see the same few stickers plastered on electrical boxes, street signs and trash cans, displaying popular brands and messages in the region. Among these stickers is a black-and-white decal that reads one simple word: Recess.

Recess Skate & Snow is a local skate and snowboard shop located on NC 105. Offering a wide selection of products from shoes and hats to skateboards and snowboards, Recess has been a one-stop shop for winter sports needs since 2009, so it’s no surprise they have won Best Winter Sports Shop for the third year in a row. The store opened as a way to fill a need in the community after the only other skate and snowboard shop in Boone closed its doors in 2008, according to their website.

This winter sports shop has a selection of top-quality winter sports gear catered toward snowboarders of every skill level,

from beginner to professional. In a town where the turnover of residents is near constant, this is a vital resource for students, locals and visitors alike who are looking to hit the slopes and hone their skills on the mountain without fear of judgment.

Recess also supports a team of riders, young and old, who compete in various skate and snowboarding competitions, and they sponsor competitions and events. Additionally, the store played a vital role in the recent addition of a concrete skate park in the town of Boone.

Their passion for the snowboarding and skating community is evident by the care they provide each customer who walks through the door. In fact, the store even has a skate ramp customers can use to test out a board or try out their new shoes.

For those in need of winter gear, no matter the time of year, Recess is located at 1158 NC 105.

besT smoke shop High Life

Siri Patterson

Daisy Church, the field training manager for High Life Smoke Shop, said she believes High Life is set apart from the competition through the high-quality customer service provided at all of the shops. This is one of the many qualities that has put High Life in the position of Best Smoke Shop for the fourth consecutive year.

Church began working with High Life as a store manager three years ago and became the field training manager three months ago. In this position, she oversees 24 High Life Smoke Shops in North Carolina and South Carolina.

“Every store has a different demographic, and it’s fun to see all of the different personalities and stuff,” Church said.

Church and sales associate Monty Carter described the store’s mood as being laid-back and helpful.

Carter works full-time at the smoke shop and said she enjoys building relationships with customers, who ultimately turn into regulars because of their quality of service.

Smoke shop customers can enjoy low prices for quality products, Church said. These products are consumed by most

of the sales associates, so they can give informed recommendations to customers.

“People really like the personal recommendations,” Church said. “Like, I’m recommending this to you because I’ve tried it and I know it works, not because I’m just trying to make a sale out of you.”

Apart from recommending products, sales associates enjoy themselves as they get to know repeat customers and their tastes. Using this information, employees can give customers recommendations for products based on their past purchases.

In the smoke shop, customers above the age of 21 are offered a wide variety of products, such as disposable vapes and other nicotine devices, glass smoking pieces, delta THC products, hemp products, mushrooms and more.

To avoid selling these products to underaged customers, Church said the store utilizes a check-out system that scans IDs and does not allow the cashier to further the purchase if the ID is invalid.

For customers who are under the age of 21, there is a small selection of products they can purchase such as clothing, candles and incense.

Customers can look forward to the many sales High Life holds throughout the year, such as their 420 sale.

Employees of High Life also benefit from programs and contests the smoke shop holds throughout the year, like raffles for the opportunity to earn extra cash.

The front display of vaping devices sold in High Life of Boone on March 6. High Life follows the federal guidelines of selling vapes to anyone 21 or older, but other products may be purchased at 18 or older.

besT bouTiQue Common Good Company

Georgia Dixon

“Holdfast to what is good,” reads the golden neon sign behind the newly annexed espresso bar that immediately invites you in beyond the storefront’s aesthetic pleasure. A step deeper into the exploration of the highly curated three-floor historical building allows customers to get a sense of what is good — a commitment to cultivate a commonality of appreciation for exquisite goods.

Husband and wife team Jacob and Melina Daniels opened Common Good Company in August 2019 as a permanent place to house their own artwork alongside emerging and other experienced artists. The establishment won for Best Local Boutique for the second year in a row.

“All the things we have learned from trying to make a living from our own art, we are trying to teach other folk how to do the same,” Melina Daniels said.

They met during their time as art majors at App State. After working side jobs

following graduating college, they opened a small art studio. Melina Daniels used to work as a tableware ceramics artist, now she focuses on small pieces like earrings. Jacob Daniels, who has always loved realism, is an oil painter.

Previously, both traveled for years selling their art at different venues. Eventually, they started a pop-up artisan market in the High Country.

“An accumulation of us trying to make a living with our art, make a living into a creative business concept,” Melina Daniels said.

An opportunity for a permanent collective studio building came years before expected.

“God gave us the opportunity to get this building, and the doors just kept opening, and here we are,” Melina Daniels said.

The name originated from a sermon Melina Daniels said both she and Jacob Daniels attended on “how we need to live our

lives for the common good of everybody.”

At their opening, the store’s products were almost all fully handmade. After realizing they would struggle to meet the commercial demand, they brought on “core flagshift artists,” who could restock monthly, Melina Daniels said.

The first floor of the store features local, handmade goods from different artists throughout the High Country, as well as an espresso bar. The second floor houses a fine art gallery and the third floor operates as a community workshop and studio for Daniels.

Through their Artist Application on their website, the couple accepts emerging artists according to their supply and demand variety needs, Melina Daniels said.

“We don’t want to over saturate, because if we have 10 people selling the same style mug, that is not fruitful for anybody,” Melina Daniels said. “So, we really try to curate different styles within the mediums.”

Co.

8.

Alumni Hall

The town is buzzing with visitors ready to cheer on their favorite team in an intense football matchup. King Street is flooded with fans, and one store in particular is crowded with people buying gear and attire before the big game.

Alumni Hall was voted this year’s Best of App Gear winner for Best of Boone, and that is evident when the doors are constantly opening and closing on busy days such as game day. Clothing racks stand in front of the store on the sidewalk, luring shoppers in with eye-catching clothing and appealing deals.

Brian Farmer is the manager at Alumni Hall’s Boone location. Farmer said the inventory rotates on a regular basis. From hoodies and crewnecks to T-shirts and crop tops, Alumni Hall accommodates current styles, seasons and temperatures.

The store opened on King Street in 2021 and is part of a larger chain of stores located mostly around the east coast. Currently, the chain carries licensed gear from over 20 universities. One of the busier times for the store comes around App State football season, where the store sees many visitors, alumni and students.

“During football season we will

Madalyn Edwards

change the layout of the store to have a better customer flow,” Farmer said. “Making sure people don’t feel clustered or claustrophobic in there when they’re shopping.”

Farmer said the store tries to regularly order new inventory that has not been introduced before in order to keep the stock “fresh.” This ensures customers have a wide selection of gear and do not have to choose from the same selection year after year.

Currently, the store is stocked with App State baseball shirts and attire to reflect the present season.

App State students and faculty can receive a 10% discount with a valid App State email address. Members of the Student Yosef Club are eligible to receive a 20% discount with proof of membership.

The store currently has 18 employees, all of whom are App State students. Farmer said he tries to cater to the availability of student employees.

One thing Farmer said the store takes very seriously in addition to general customer service is customer feedback.

“If somebody comes in and is looking for a specific item, we do try to see if it is possible to get such items in the store,” he said.

besT ouTdoor geAr

Mast General Store

When you walk into Mast General Store, you smell the sweet aroma of candy, the woodsy smell of cedar planks and you see the vivid colors of all the merchandise that has won for the Best Outdoor Gear in all of Boone, for the third year in a row.

In 1979, Mast General Store in Valle Crucis was purchased by John and Faye Cooper. They moved in with their family in 1980, and lived on the third floor of the store. They turned it into a thriving business after it was closed for three years.

In 1988, Mast General Store on King Street was born. Kendra Sink is currently the manager at Mast General, working there for over 10 years.

“They are so community centered,” Sink said.

There are 11 Mast General Stores located throughout the South, leading all the way up to Roanoke, Virginia.

Lisa Cooper is the owner and president of Mast General Store.

Sink recounts a conversation involving an older gentleman who came into the store.

“This was the highlight of my weekend,” Sink recounted from the gentleman. “I can’t wait to show my grandkids the candies I ate when I was kid.”

Not only is Mast General a versatile store, but it is an experience and adventure. They sell everything from

Tess McNally and Vivian Parks camping equipment to board games for kids. There is a growing number of brands in the store, along with the staple items to have a fun outdoor adventure.

Mast General has camping gear and weighted blankets that will be sure to keep you warm for those cold Mountaineer nights. They have all types of footwear, from slippers to rock climbing shoes. Mast General displays a massive selection of camp chairs, backpacks, coolers and everyone’s favorite insulated cup, the Stanley.

When COVID-19 first started, Mast General had to close their doors and say goodbye to employees and customers for around two months.

“The joy of having everyone come back together and opening the doors is one of my favorite memories and to see how excited the community was,” Sink said.

Sink invites anyone in the town of Boone to stop in and say hello. There is a friendly staff and memorable merchandise that will produce a laugh and a smile.

When taking a walk around the store while picking up some candy from the ‘90s and trying on a new pair of hiking shoes, it is easy to say there is something for everyone.

“Mast truly loves their employees and customers,” Sink said.

besT piercing Noble Tattoos & Piercings

Kaylie Morales

A plastic skeleton greets passersby at the front window of Noble Tattoos & Piercings.

Upon entering, guests are welcomed by rock or hip-hop music bouncing off of the black walls with alternative artwork hanging from them.

The checkout counter displays many different arrays of piercings from helixes to belly button jewelry. On top of a shelf is a silicone hairless cat pierced from head to tail that watches as clients get pierced in a black cushion chair.

Located at 432 W. King St. across from the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts resides Noble Tattoos & Piercings, which has been serving Boone since 2017. For the past three years, they have won Best Piercing Shop in Best of Boone. The shop’s friendly staff, alternative atmosphere and welcoming environment keeps clients coming back for more.

Noble prides itself on its welcoming atmosphere, cleanliness and safety for their staff and clients.

“I just want clients to leave feeling happy and confident with themselves and feeling like they got tattooed in a safe,

clean environment,” said tattoo artist Ivy Woodren. “I want them to walk away feeling fulfilled and satisfied and hopefully they would want to come back because good service was provided.”

While Noble is excellent in their service and atmosphere, their No. 1 selling point is the care they put into their customers while they are in the shop.

“I have come here before and a lot of my friends got their nose pierced here or gotten tattoos here, and everytime I come it is really great and it is super comforting,” said senior psychology major Keeli Morgan when asked about her experience getting pierced at Noble.

Allison Fields is one of three owners of Noble. Besides coming home with a new piercing or tattoo, Fields wants her clients to go home loving themselves with their new body art.

“You want them to feel beautiful, to just kind of love themselves,” said Fields. “We love to make people feel good about themselves.”

Noble is first come, first serve and accepts walk-in appointments.

besT TAn Planet Tan

Hayden Wittenborn

As summer rolls around, more people are tanning to get ready for shorts and T-shirt weather. If you’re in Boone and looking to get a little bronze before your beach vacation, check out Planet Tan on Greenway Road.

Voted the best of Boone the last two years, Planet Tan continues their streak in 2024. Manager Sadie Hellman said her favorite part of working at Planet Tan is the clients she has grown close with in her two years at the salon.

“The clients over there too, they’re all very welcoming and like family, and every week they’re checking in on me,” Hellman said.

Hellman said she has a good mix of local and college clients she interacts with regularly. Planet Tan has many loyal customers due to their friendly environment and different tanning options.

“We have so many different beds,”

Hellman said. “We’ve got 10 different beds. We just got a brand new spray tan machine that came out this year.”

One thing that sets Planet Tan apart from other tanning companies in Boone is their pricing. Planet Tan offers five bronze sessions for $49. Students, healthcare workers, law enforcement and military personnel get a discount: $59.25 for a whole month of unlimited tanning.

Hellman said they know they serve college students and want them to be able to afford a tan. Not only does the affordable pricing make Planet Tan more appealing to customers, but so does the customer service.

“I always welcome people in and say ‘Hey how are you?’ and then get them set up and talk them through all our different options and figure out what would be best for them,” Hellman said.

Hellman will be leaving Boone after the summer to student teach in her hometown, but will never forget her experiences working

at Planet Tan.

Between the family-oriented clientele, friendly environment, variety of services and affordable prices, Planet Tan strives to give its customers the best.

besT TATToo ArTisT Sloan Blinsink

What do Lois Griffin, Dolly Parton and scorpions all have in common? They all permanently adorn the bodies of satisfied clients of Sloan Blinsink.

For the second year in a row, Boone has chosen Blinsink as Best Tattoo Artist in Best of Boone. Having been a tattoo artist for three years, Blinsink has made their mark on the community with their signature brightlycolored style.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Blinsink said of winning again. “There are so many amazing tattoo artists in Boone and I look up to all of them, but it’s sick to know that people like my work and I’m doing a good job.”

Since winning last year, Blinsink has attended tattoo conventions in Charlotte and Tampa, Florida in addition to doing more guest spots across North Carolina.

Additionally, they have moved from Noble Tattoos & Piercings to Elevated Piercing & Tattoo, which recently expanded their shop to include an area for tattooing.

Though Elevated has had guest artists in the past, Blinsink is the first resident artist in the newly-renovated shop.

Blinsink’s work has also evolved over the past year. Though they still enjoy doing the colorful, fine-line anime and meme work they became known for, Blinsink now does more traditional style tattoos.

“I still like the crazy colors,” they said. “But, I really enjoy ripping something with a thick, black liner.”

Blinsink’s roots in the community run deep, saying this community “feels more like home,” than many other places they have lived. They enjoy working on King Street, and being able to visit other businesses in the area and interact with students.

Blinsink also maintains good relationships with those they have worked with in the past.

Blinsink’s mentor Allison Fields, co-owner of Noble, called to tell them how proud she is of them upon learning of Blinsink’s Best Tattoo Artist win.

Blinsink hopes to continue strengthening their ties in the community by providing quality work and a positive experience.

Before becoming a tattoo artist, Blinsink was a photorealistic portrait artist and they hope to bring it into their tattooing work.

“I did a Dolly Parton portrait on my

sister, but that’s really the only one so far,” Blinsink said. “I would really love to do a Biggie portrait next.”

If one is interested in getting a tattoo from the Best in Boone, Blinsink can be contacted on their Instagram account @naols to book an appointment.

“It’s sick to know that people like my work,”

- Sloan Blinsink, tattoo artist

Canvas Beauty Bar

While in Canvas Beauty Bar, any client can expect to be treated with the highest standards. From lounging in their comfortable waiting area filled with beautiful plants and accessories for sale to being pampered by sweet souls to leaving with a fresh new look, it’s hard not to want to come back.

From peers to co-owners, Heather Rogers and Miah Zimmerman opened their own hair salon, Canvas Beauty Bar in Boone.

Rogers and Zimmerman met while working together at Hair 101 in Boone and worked on photoshoots together around the area.

One day after a photoshoot, Zimmerman introduced the idea of opening a salon.

A plan was made in 2014 and they opened in May 2015. In 2021, they moved from their original location on Howard Street to Meadowview Drive, where they tripled their size and employees and was voted Best Haircut for a second year in a row.

Canvas Beauty Bar provides a variety of hair services from colors, highlights, curl cuts and buzzes as well as facials, waxes, lashes and wedding services. Their staff varies in pricing based on their stylist level.

Descriptions of each stylist can be found on their website, so you can find your best

fit. They are also open to having new models for their staff to train on at a lower price.

Canvas Beauty has a saying used on their website and social media platforms: “making beauty social.” They aim to make every client’s visit feel comfortable and welcoming by making sure to engage with their clients.

This locally-owned salon connects with the community by promoting other businesses and boutiques and is open to holding fundraisers and auctions for anyone or any event. They recently have held fundraisers for the Watauga Humane Society and participated in Runs for Buns at Beech Mountain.

Canvas Beauty has also created a support system through long lasting bonds with salons in the surrounding area. Recently, Rogers and Zimmerman have begun a mentorship with Watauga Women in Leadership from App State’s Women of Walker.

Canvas Beauty Bar is an appointment only establishment located at 181 Meadowview Drive.

besT nAils Appalachian Nails and Co.

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Appalachian Nails and Co. opened its doors to the public in January 2020.

Despite closing for several months due to the effects of the pandemic, co-owner Lisa Rector said the nail salon has made a name for itself in Boone with locals and students, and now sees regular business. The salon usually operates on a reservationbased schedule, as they are too busy to accommodate walk-in clients.

The salon’s popularity is reflected in the votes, as it’s been voted Best Nail Salon in Boone, keeping its crown for the third year in a row.

Rector runs the salon alongside her mother and sister. She said every employee at the salon is a member of their family.

She said the salon has several regular clients who come every two weeks to have their nails refreshed and are essentially part of the family.

“They call my mom ‘mom,’” Rector said. “It’s great.”

Appalachian Nails and Co. offers a multitude of nail services, as well as full-body waxing and eyebrow-shaping services. Every

pedicure service includes a massage.

Rector said the services tend to lean toward Signature Nail Systems products, which are healthier for the natural nail.

Rector said she likes acrylic nails, but they are more harmful for nails compared to SNS and wants her clients to have the healthiest nails possible.

A second nail salon called Lumina will be opening in April in downtown Boone. Rector said she and her husband decided to open the salon, featuring more massage options as well as nail appointments.

Rector encourages Boone locals and students to make an appointment at Appalachian Nails and Co. or Lumina as soon as they can to unlock their full nail potential.

“Everyone is welcome here,” Rector said.

besT bAnd The Weasels

K. Slade

“Everybody’s got a little weasel in them,” said The Weasels’ lead singer and lyricist Jack Weasel. “To us, our fans are just as much of a weasel as we are.”

The Weasels, a first-time winner of Best of Boone, formed in November 2021 after each member bounced around different local bands. Since the band’s conception, the members adopted the last name “Weasel.”

“It’s kind of grown to not just being an image of the band,” Jack Weasel said. “Our EP is called ‘Kings of the Forest,’ like we’ve really embraced this.”

The band’s name reflects the flexibility and versatility of their musical genre. Gaining inspiration from bands such as Wean and The Doors, The Weasels aim to appeal to everyone, regardless of age. Their sound has been described as ‘60s garage rock.

A year after the band was formed, The Weasels booked their first concert at a charity fundraiser in conjunction with the child advocacy club.

In preparation, The Weasels treated the performance as if they were practicing in a garage.

“We just stay true to what we did, which

was every Friday, we’d be in our garage practicing, in the winter when it was 20 degrees,” Weasel said. “We’re doing that and we just never broke that discipline.”

In addition to their genre-blended sound, chemistry and connection sets The Weasels apart from other Boone bands.

“We’re friends first and musicians second,” said Joey Weasel, one of The Weasels’ guitarists. “We’re not just playing music together, like we hang out on our own.”

The band’s other guitarist, Andrew Weasel, said their music is “available to everyone.”

“That’s what’s cool is I think there’s like areas where everybody can get into our music,” he said. “Whether it’s like Caleb’s baselines where he’s like doing some funky s--- or putting down, like, some metal over like a rock track, is, like, very different than what a lot of other people would think to do.”

Caleb Weasel, the band’s bassist, said their most electric performance was at Boone Saloon.

“This one time we were playing our song ‘Glitter’ and like we were in so hard that my body was llike shaking and I was like

screaming so loud,” he said. “I couldn’t even hear myself, which is super cool dude.”

Their EP “Kings of the Forest” released March 29 on Spotify and Apple Music. The Weasels said they are in the process of recording a full-length album.

“We’re friends first and musicians second,”

-Joey Weasel, guitarist

besT nonprofiT Hospitality House

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina’s life-altering contributions to the struggling community members of the High Country.

Often in rural communities, lack of access to supportive services for those experiencing homelessness is common.

Voted Best of Boone this year for the nonprofit category, the Hospitality House is a nonprofit striving to challenge these conventions and prides itself on providing those in need with resources to help rebuild their lives sustainably.

Todd Carter, chief director of development for the Hospitality House, said the organization’s focus is to move people out of homelessness and into their own stable places to live. It targets the unique needs of its aid recipients through housing, food access and crisis assistance.

“We have to connect on an individual basis,” Carter said. “Helping them achieve what they define as their personal victories in life.”

Serving seven counties in the High Country, including Watauga, the Hospitality

House features a multi-faceted housing agency consisting of nine housing programs, each specializing in the distinct needs of its aid recipients.

As reported on its Instagram, since 2020, the program has helped transition around 550 people out of homelessness, 26% of whom are children, Carter said.

For those seeking food assistance, the organization is equipped with a community kitchen open to all, implementing resources from its organic garden to provide healthy, reliable meal access.

Hospitality House is the only food pantry open seven days a week in the High Country. Including a food locker in Tennessee, In 2023, the program provided roughly 160,000 meals, almost 13,000 meals per month, to any community member regardless of need status, according to Carter.

One of the organization’s goals outside of homeless assistance is to strengthen community ties through the sharing of food. One way they achieve this is through their annual “Savor the Summer” Food Truck Rodeo event, which will be held the third Thursday of June, July, August and

September of this year.

The organization includes a robust internship program for App State students, as well as volunteer opportunities open to anyone with the compassion and integrity parallel to Hospitality House’s core values.

Anyone wishing to help the Hospitality House with their mission in helping the homeless rewrite their own stories can make donations through their website.

“This is our 40th year, but in so many ways, we’re just getting started,” Carter said.

besT gym Anytime Fitness

It’s a Tuesday, and you’re dying to go work out, but there’s a problem: you don’t have a gym membership and don’t know where to look.

For the third straight year, Anytime Fitness has been voted Boone’s Best Local Gym. Located at 368 Highway 105 Extension, it is in a convenient location for all gym visitors to get a lift in.

As the name suggests, the gym is open 24/7, offering customers maximum flexibility when designing their schedules. In addition to weights, strength machines and cardio machines, Anytime Fitness members also have access to tanning booths, parking and private showers.

Anytime’s strength training area includes squat racks, strength machines, battle ropes and kettlebells. The cardio area features elliptical cross-trainers, exercise bikes, treadmills, stair climbers and TVs for entertainment.

Anytime Fitness was founded in 2002 by Chuck Runyon, Dave Mortensen and Jeff Klinger and debuted in Cambridge,

Minnesota. Since then, Anytime Fitness has expanded to over 5,000 locations in 50 countries worldwide. Entrepreneur magazine named them the top franchise in 2014 and its current headquarters is located in Woodbury, Minnesota.

While membership rates vary, the average cost starts at around $41 per month, according to the Anytime Fitness website. The Boone location offers a seven-day free trial included with a three month pass to Apple Fitness+. Membership with one location grants access to all Anytime gyms worldwide.

Anytime Fitness offers a personalized plan, free fitness consultation and personal and group training included with a membership, making it a complete experience for gym veterans and those just starting out.

On Instagram, Anytime Fitness boasts a pretty large following with 141,000 followers with the Boone location having over 320 followers. On X, they have over 251,000 followers, where they have a variety of different posts.

Folks come to Grandfather Mountain for all sorts of reasons — to get close to nature or simply get away from it all. But after a day on the mountain, and in the new interactive Wilson Center For Nature Discovery, everyone leaves inspired.

besT hoTel Horton Hotel

If you’re planning a trek up to Boone, a unique and comfortable staying experience can elevate your vacation. You can find that at the Horton Hotel, the winner of Best Hotel for Best of Boone for the fourth year in a row.

Fixed in the heart of King Street, this boutique hotel occupies the historic building constructed in 1920 by Henry Walton Horton. As stated on their website, it originally served as a Studebaker car dealership and department store, but underwent renovations in 2019 to become the Horton Hotel. Nods to Boone’s history cover the walls with black and white pictures and old Studebaker parts.

The Horton’s 15 unique guest rooms combine a refined elegance with lively furniture, yet retain the comfort of a familiar home. Along with a standard room, the hotel offers various amenities such as on-site parking, breakfast, a complimentary robe and the ability to bring a furry friend on your trip to the bustling center of Boone.

The Horton is the only boutique-style hotel in Boone, according to their website. It is also the only hotel on King Street, making for an easy walk to all the local businesses planted up and down the center of town, including places to shop, drink and eat.

When entering the hotel, you are greeted by a lobby adorned with an eclectic mix of ornate furniture and a friendly face behind an earth-toned desk constructed from hundreds of stone slabs. Beyond that is one of two lounge bars stocked with any spirit one could ask for.

The second more popular bar is located on the rooftop where you can enjoy scenic 360 degree views of the small college town and the surrounding mountains. Both bars offer delicious custom drinks carefully handcrafted by the bartenders themselves. To book a room, you can visit their website and click book now to choose your own unique room.

besT renTAl compAny Winkler Organization

Being accepted for on-campus housing can be difficult. However, with its 25 properties, 16 within a half-mile of App State, and 1,000 total bedrooms, the Winkler Organization provides students with plenty of options to find a place to live in Boone.

Over two-thirds of App State students live off campus and Winkler has housed many. Having an opportunity to live off campus can make a big difference toward the success and well-being of a student.

“My friends wish they lived with Winkler after we tell them about the incredible perks and affordable rent we pay,” said two-year tenant Zach Bowyer. “Thanks to Winkler for making my last two years in Boone absolutely incredible and very smooth.”

The apartment locations are rated 4.25 out of 5 in a survey of 52 students, recorded on the App State Off-Campus Student Services website.

The organization’s mission statement

states, “The Winkler Organization’s reputation is built on tenant satisfaction, referrals, personal service, incredible locations, well maintained properties, and longevity.”

The majority of Winkler Organization tenants have a positive outlook on their living situation. Ninety-one percent of surveyed Winkler residents described their experience with the organization as “good” to “excellent.”

Some common housing amenities on their properties include on-site parking, hardwood and tile floors, washer and dryer, dishwasher, high-speed wireless internet, basic expanded cable and air conditioning.

The Heights on Green Street is one of the more popular complexes. It opened in 2016 and includes free housekeeping, one bedroom, one bath and is located one mile from campus.

Another popular complex is Winkler Oaks. The apartments are located 0.1 mile

from campus and include amenities such as laminate countertops and solid cherry wood cabinets.

These are just a few of the many innovative features the apartments include.

The organization has been around since 1983 and continues to grow as a leading provider of apartment rentals for App State and Caldwell Community College.

Due to the high demand of Winkler properties, the 2024-25 leasing year is fully booked, but students can apply for 2025-26 leasing on their website.

“My friends wish they lived with Winkler after we tell them about the incredible perks”

- Zach Bowyer, tenant

besT off-cAmpus housing University Highlands

Off-campus housing is a part of many people’s college experience at App State. Many students move out of their dorms and have to find housing elsewhere in the Boone area, and University Highlands highlights these off-campus housing features.

Winner for Best Off-Campus Housing, the Highlands are hard to miss, located next to the junction of NC 105 and the NC 105 Bypass. The apartment buildings catch your attention any time you drive into town.

The Highlands offer two kinds of apartments: a four-bedroom, twobath apartment and a two-bedroom,

two-bath apartment. The two-bedroom apartment is available for co-ed occupancy, while the four-bedroom is not.

The apartments have multiple amenities as the kitchen comes with an electric range, refrigerator, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave and a fullsize washer and dryer.

The living room is furnished with a couch, entertainment center, coffee table, end table and a dining table or bar. Bedrooms are furnished with a full-size bed, night table, dresser, desk and chair.

The apartments also come equipped with several safety features such as

deadbolt locks on entry and bedroom doors, a monitored security system, smoke alarms and a sprinkler system.

After a day full of classes or work, the rest of the complex has multiple options to unwind either alone or with friends, with a fitness center, swimming pool, jacuzzi, sundeck, tennis court, basketball court, volleyball court and a walking trail on the property.

Other features on the property include a clubhouse, a fireside lounge, a computer lab with printers, resident and visitor parking, free on-site bus shuttle service, a covered bus shelter, an on-site maintenance staff, on-site management and a car wash with a

vacuum.

Rent is all-inclusive, covering electricity, water, ethernet, Wi-Fi and the monitored security system as well as all the amenities.

All these features combined with an affordable price are what make University Highlands the Best OffCampus Housing in this year’s Best of Boone.

besT plAce To liVe Alone King Street Flats

It’s a Tuesday morning and you have quite the busy day coming up. Before you leave for class, you remember you have to put your laundry in, pick up a package, take out the trash and watch a video for class. How are you supposed to do all this in less than an hour? The answer is simple: be a resident at King Street Flats.

This is one of many reasons the apartment complex won Best Place to Live Alone for Best of Boone two years in a row.

With the apartment’s many amenities, it offers a home environment like no other, in which this lengthy

to-do list can be done in a matter of minutes. The washer and dryer are one in the same, automatically drying your laundry after the wash cycle has ended. There is an Amazon Hub Locker in the complex, trash valet almost every night and an included smart TV.

The apartment complex consists of three floors, 60 apartments and 11 floor plans.

Located on King Street, the apartment complex is walking distance to everything; a perfect balance between alone time and community, and great for when you need to get somewhere quickly.

“When it’s time to study or just

relax your smartly furnished and welcoming studio awaits you,” reads the apartment website. “App State is across the street, along with restaurants, coffee shops, retail, grocery and pharmacy.”

The website also lists walking distances to popular locations in Boone, ranging from two to 10 minutes. Wherever you need to go, King Street Flats puts you in a position to get there quickly.

Many college students have a desire to live alone, with it potentially being the first time they aren’t under their parents’ roof. However, a large part of college is finding a work-life balance,

and King Street Flats provides the perfect place to do so. The complex is central enough to the entire Boone community that one could easily have a fun night out with friends while staying within walking distance to home.

“Live here and discover what convenient living was always meant to be with community-centric amenities,” the website reads. “Privacy at home and community within reach — don’t just sleep here — live here.”

It is evident King Street Flats have everything a resident could ask for in the most central location possible. To top it all off, pre-leasing is available for next academic year.

besT peT friendly complex The Finmore

Nothing beats the feeling of coming home to an eager dog awaiting your arrival or the feeling of sitting down on the couch after a long day and having your cat curl up next to you. For those looking for a place to stay along with their furry friends, one location stands above the rest.

Located at 241 Shadowline Drive, The Finmore at 241 is the 2024 Best of Boone winner for Best Pet-Friendly Complex.

The Finmore offers residents a wide variety of amenities, including a 24/7 gym, exclusive outdoor social area with fire pits and grilling stations as well as a resort-style hot tub. Additionally, they feature a partially-covered parking lot and an AppalCart stop.

They offer floor plans for one, two and four residents per apartment with each unit having its own features.

“At the Finmore 241, our housing in Boone, NC give you a lifetime of memories in each semester,” reads the Finmore’s website. “Here is where living truly begins. Let our App State off-campus housing be the foundation for your next great adventure.”

Apartments are fully furnished and come with stainless appliances, voicecontrolled thermostat, lights and ceiling fan as well as private bathrooms for each room, according to the Finmore’s website.

Other amenities include roommate matching, full-size washer and dryer, virtual doorman, Amazon Echo in each unit, USB-ready wall units, full XL-size beds with built-in storage, 55-inch smart HDTV’s in each apartment with water and included internet access.

The Fimore’s location is one of its many perks, being just minutes away

from campus and downtown Boone. It’s also within walking distance of the Shops at Shadowline, which includes stores such as Harris Teeter, Woof Pack Dog Training and Top Nails.

For those with pets, the Finmore is pet friendly and located about 10 minutes away from State Farm Fields, a great place to run around and play that includes a 24-acre sports complex and picnic shelters.

besT of Campus

besT side of cAmpus West

Sam Deibler

Whenever the temperature climbs above 50 degrees, Lydia Sillies and her friends leave their dorms, lay down blankets on the quad and spend time together while finishing homework. If openings appear, they’ll set up hammocks on the green metal posts by the grass’s edge as others kick soccer balls and throw frisbees.

“We’ll do our homework in the hammocks and it’s the most fun thing to do if it’s nice out,” said Sillies, a freshman cellular/molecular biology major who lives in Laurel Creek Residence Hall, one of West Campus’s eight residence halls.

For the third year in a row, Best of Boone voters selected West Side as the best side of

campus. From stadiums to dorms to gyms, the west side of campus provides its residents with everything necessary for a functional and fulfilling campus experience.

Since 2020, App State has added four new dorms to West Campus, including the two-year-old flagship New River Residence Hall, which houses 737 of around 4,000 residents on West Campus.

For gameday enthusiasts, West Campus is ripe with App State Athletics. Home for basketball and volleyball, Holmes Convocation Center is a jaunt away down Rivers Street. Baseball fans can hike up the trails through the forest to Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

On six Saturdays through the fall

semester, West Campus residents can walk out of their dorms, weed through tailgates and fans decked in App State gear to Kidd Brewer Stadium and scream “APP! STATE!” as the Mountaineers’ football team sprints onto the field.

With the Quinn and Student Recreation Centers, the west side of campus has ample opportunity for exercise. Quinn, which includes weight-lifting, basketball courts and a cycle studio, is just beyond New River Residence Hall up Stadium Drive. The SRC, which includes the same plus a climbing wall and an Olympic-size swimming pool, is a short trip away by walking west on Rivers Street.

After a long day of classes, studying

and enjoying nature, famished West Side residents can satiate their appetites at Trivette Dining Hall for breakfast, lunch and

besT residence hAll

Living in a dorm room is a quintessential part of the freshman year experience; navigating living with a roommate, maximizing your space and getting to know the people in your hall. App State is home to many residence halls, and this year, there has been a tie for Best Residence Hall.

New River

Abigail Eggers

Ascending the steps into New River Residence Hall, the first thing that is likely to draw attention is the size of the lobby. Walking in the front entrance, immediately on the left there is a black desk, a multipurpose room to the right and an overall spacious area furnished for students and their guests.

The resident assistant desk is backdropped with a simple mural: yellow lines creating the outlines of mountains with the App State logo painted over a portion of the mountains. The ceiling contains a design made with panels of wood, and hanging down is a short but wide cylindrical light.

The building which was built in 2022, stands across from the duck pond and is located directly next to Garwood Hall. It is able to house 737 students, making it the largest on campus and is one of two winners for Best Residence Hall.

The multipurpose room contains couches and tables, similar to many of the spaces in New River, as well as a projector.

Connor Suggs, a freshman biology major, was enjoying the large lobby space on one of the many pieces of furniture as other students walked in and out of the dorm at a steady pace. Suggs said his favorite thing about New River is it’s one of the newer buildings and very clean. He also likes the kitchens.

“They’re accessible, they’re clean, and they’re nice,” Suggs said.

Each floor of New River has a fairly spacious kitchen. The kitchens contain a television, a sink, a stove and an oven. There are two tables and an island for people to sit at. Residents are met with the kitchen as soon as they get off elevator one.

“I have people over sometimes and we cook,” Suggs said.

Along with the kitchens, each floor contains a place to sit and look out a window at the end of the hall. There are floor lounges and study rooms, some even containing pingpong tables. Places to socialize and do work are endless in New River.

Thunder Hill

Thunder Hill Residence Hall is located right next to Raven Rocks Residence Hall and across from Laurel Creek Residence Hall, creating a quad, which tends to fill with the sounds of students laughing and socializing as Boone approaches warmer weather. On this quad students can hammock, be active, do homework and engage in many other types of socializing while enjoying the outdoors.

Thunder Hill’s design to encourage students to socialize and be outdoors becomes more apparent the closer one approaches the back entrance, filled with benches and picnic tables on the brick sidewalk.

The lobby is cozy and well-furnished. Taking a seat on a couch or chair, one can see out the large windows to view the picnic tables and the quad area, as well as the Blue Ridge Parking Lot and the woods behind it. Many of the pieces of furniture are up against a wall containing a mural of abstract yellow lines with the App State logo in the center of the wall.

The dorm is named after an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and has won Best Residence Hall for the fourth year in a row.

New River is the newest on-campus dorm and is in its second year of use since the 2022 Fall semester. Photo by Ashton Woodruff

Abigail Eggers

The ribbon for the building was cut along with Raven Rocks in September 2020 on Founder’s Day.

Cameron King, a freshman accounting major, said one of her favorite things about the dorm is the amount of space there is and having a suite-style bathroom as opposed to a communal bathroom for the entire floor.

“There’s more closet space than some of the older dorms,” she said.

The building has study rooms on each of its five floors, with the east study rooms on each floor providing a view of Rivers Street. The first floor contains a kitchen and laundry room.

The building is located next to Trivette Dining Hall.

“Thunder Hill is really close to everywhere I need to be,” said Augustine Iglesias, a junior management major.

He said the building is an overall nice environment to be in.

This residence hall offers both suite and apartment style rooms. The apartment-style contains two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The suite-style rooms are smaller, containing one bathroom that is shared amongst four students.

Sanford Mall

On soft hills covered in lush green grass, the sun warms students’ faces as they gather to chat with friends, play music together or toss a ball back and forth. Come lunchtime, food trucks park most days on the sidewalk spanning the face of the commons, serving hot meals and scents that ride the breeze straight to passing noses.

On the sprawling lawns of Sanford Mall, there’s room to hang out with friends or find a quiet spot to read a book away from all the commotion. Some students even take to the trees, preferring to do their studying up high in a hammock where all the social activity fades into the background.

Sanford Mall doesn’t wait until the warmer months to come to life. Life on the commons captures the changing seasons.

From making snowmen in the winter to slacklining in the summer, there is always someone to be found enjoying the outdoors

on Sanford Mall, leading to the mall being voted this year’s winner for Best Outdoor Hangout Spot.

In early March, folks gathered to attend the Sanford Vintage Market, where independent vendors from around the community came to peddle their vintage wares. Events like this happen on the mall throughout the year, hosted by any of App State’s variety of on-campus clubs and organizations. Most of these events can be found on the school’s Engage site. The Office of Sustainability is hosting an Earth Day celebration April 19 and the Watauga Humane Society is offering students the chance to de-stress from finals week with dogs on May 1.

The mall does not sleep when the sun goes down. After dark, students can still be found hanging out or attending events. In the past, many on-campus clubs and organizations have held events using the fire

pit to make s’mores. For example, The Office of Transfer Admissions and Engagement asked students to come enjoy music and make s’mores in the mall’s own fire pit on the night of March 21.

Seeing someone leaning back on the grass with their face to the sun on one of the first warm days of the year is not uncommon on Sanford Mall. All around sidewalks bustle with students heading from class to class, but Sanford Mall seems to remain sealed in its own bubble of serenity.

besT plAce To sTudy on cAmpus

Belk Library and Information Commons

The smell of books drifts through the air as a student sits down at a private desk, ready to lock in. Around her, hundreds are doing the same, filling Belk Library and Information Commons with students hard at work.

Belk Library, located next to Plemmons Student Union, is the hot spot for students studying, and was voted the best place to do so for the second year in a row. With five floors and a multitude of resources, hundreds of students can utilize the space at once for anything they may need.

Daniel Huggins, a junior psychology major, prefers to study in the library over other locations on campus.

“I would say, like, certain spots in the library are definitely quieter,” Huggins said. “Keeping myself in the same environment, you know, every time I decide to study is going to make me more efficient while I’m studying.”

With its numerous desktop computers, printing services and designated silent floors, Belk Library has it all.

The variety the library offers is the largest reason it is so popular amongst students.

There is a place for everyone, regardless of your study and work methods.

The lower level and first floors offer desktop computers, printers and a place for collaboration. The second floor has more private study locations while still allowing students to talk quietly, the third floor is designated as a strictly silent floor, and the fourth floor houses the Special Collections Research Center. Students have their pick of the litter, and can completely change their environment by simply taking a flight of stairs.

“If I’m like really locked into studying, it would probably be the second floor or third floor, just because, like, they’re quieter,” Huggins said. “But if I’m here, and I’m kind of doing work, kind of not, I just sit on the first floor with some other people I know.”

The library is open 24 hours Monday through Thursday, with adjusted schedules Friday through Sunday.

No other location on campus has the versatility that Belk Library offers. Whether you are an education, art or physics major or anything in between, there is a place for you.

besT fiTness clAss Yoga

Mia Seligman

Before beginning his class, junior exercise science major James Gatlin invites his students to set an intention to focus on while practicing yoga. Whether students choose to focus on releasing stress from classes or gaining a new sense of self, Gatlin hopes each student leaves their yoga mat feeling refreshed and lighter than when they began the class.

University Recreation offers a large variety of physical education classes for students to participate in, from caving to the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira to yoga. Many students choose to take yoga classes to stay active and relieve stress during the academic year, and voted yoga as this year’s Best Fitness Class.

Gatlin has been taking yoga classes since he was in high school and chose to begin teaching in the second semester of his freshman year.

“I started practicing yoga my freshman year of high school, and just instantly fell in love with it,” Gatlin said.

He completed his yoga teaching certification in the spring of his freshman year and has been teaching classes each

semester. He aims to allow for a refreshing class and said he witnessed a student using yoga to help relieve stress about graduating.

“One of my students, who’s been coming to classes since I started teaching, came in and was super stressed with graduation and postgraduate stuff,” he said. “We were doing a hip opening backbend, and she started crying. It was the physical practice that brought that out of her, and it was very cool and interesting to see and hold space for that.”

Gatlin said that as a student, yoga classes are his stress reliever, and hopes to allow students to have the same rewarding experience he gains from teaching.

“It’s a fine way to just feel connected,” he said. “It gives me a break from all my school stuff, especially because I teach at App State Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. It’s a fun excuse to stop doing homework.”

Gatlin currently teaches yoga at Mt. Mitchell Fitness Center in the student union on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. He also teaches at High Country Yoga on Sundays and Wednesdays.

besT elecTiVe clAss Skiing

Andrew Rice

Some may not know that for more than 60 years, App State has offered students the chance to shred the slopes while earning class credit. Skiing has been offered as an elective at App State since 1963, operating out of Appalachian Ski Mountain.

With three prominent ski resorts located within 25 miles of App State’s campus, ski class created a culture of skiing at App State which is often cited as a reason for incoming students attending the university.

Skiing won Best Elective for the third year in a row and is offered through the department of recreation management and physical education in the spring semester.

Any student can sign up for class and equipment rentals are $75 for the duration of the course. Classes typically go for eight weeks starting in the beginning of the spring semester.

Drew Stanley, the marketing director at App Ski Mountain, said he has seen many students come to App State because of the opportunity to take a skiing class.

“You would not believe the amount of students who come and are really excited and surprised,” Stanley said.

Jim Cottrell founded the French-Swiss ski college in 1969 after a trial period in coordination with Central Piedmont Community College. The school integrated with the already existing App State ski elective program in the early 1970s, Cottrell said.

The school was purchased by Appalachian Ski Mountain in the 2021-22 ski season after Cottrell retired.

In the Spring 2024 semester 319 students registered for ski class, according to class registration data. The university offered 15 class sections to accommodate the interest.

As the class grows in popularity, App Ski Mountain continues to make adjustments to its ski class program. For the 202324 season, the ski mountain hired more instructors to create a smaller student-toinstructor ratio, Stanley said.

Ski class offers a unique opportunity for App State students other universities can’t offer, Stanley said.

“It brings out, you know, this like childish energy,” Stanley said. “It just kind of makes everybody a kid again.”

besT on cAmpus coffee Crossroads

Bella Lantz

It is a busy day and there are many people sitting at the tables chatting away, losing track of time. Professors discuss upcoming meetings, students debate over the latest homework or trends, App State alumni reminisce and family members stop by for a drink or snack during campus tours.

Most are smiling, smelling coffee being made and waving to friends across the way. Many people are chatting, while others are sitting at a table with their homework sprawled out, attempting to study. The music playing overhead creates a lively atmosphere for those within. This is the environment of Crossroads Coffeehouse, this year’s Best of Boone winner for Best On-Campus Coffee. Located in Plemmons Student Union, Crossroads is known for its delicious seasonal or fun drink listings. If you go in, these drinks are listed right at the front when ordering, a place where everyone is able to see. Crossroads does not just offer delicious coffee, but also delicious food. Stick Boy Bakery pastries are constantly being stocked and the campus sushi is always being purchased. The coffee and food is not the only thing that makes this place stand out.

“I love it. I love how chill it is and the music,” said Peyton Baker, a sophomore communication studies major.

However, students are not the only ones who like the atmosphere of the small coffee house.

“It is really chill. Students are usually our customers and they can be really understanding if we mess up an order,” said student manager Avery Lacroix, a senior majoring in digital marketing and professional selling.

Crossroads is also well known for having student employment opportunities. With the chill environment and low-stress customers, it has become an ideal place to work on campus for many students.

“It is a really good place to work. I just send my availability and my manager works with it and when you are an employee you just sign up for times,” Lacroix said.

With a bulletin board towards the front listing all of the ongoing opportunities on campus, the shop can also be a hub for student engagement. With the addition of bluegrass jam every Thursday night from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Crossroads is branching out and creating more of a nightlife,

accommodating those who are night owls and not early risers.

As the winner of Best On-Campus Coffee for four years in a row it is evident how Crossroads continues to hold this title.

“I love it. I love how chill it is and the music,”

- Peyton Baker, a sophomore communication studies major.

besT on cAmpus food Cascades

Macy Grymes

Walking into Cascades Cafe, a customer is greeted by smiling employees and a vast array of options. The customer struggles with the choice between a smoothie and a sandwich, before ultimately deciding on both. She goes up the stairs of Plemmons Student Union to do her homework whilst enjoying a grilled cheese sandwich with a mango smoothie.

When students and faculty aren’t able to decide what their craving is, Cascades Cafe is the place for them to be as it was voted Best On-Campus Food. They have options such as sandwiches, coffees, soups, cookies, yogurt, smoothies and muffins.

Conveniently located in the student union, Cascades is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, ensuring students with 8 a.m. classes still get a chance to grab something to eat.

One thing that draws students to Cascades is its many inclusive options, with choices for vegan and vegetarian diets.

Cascades also offers a dining option for people who want to eat on campus but do not want to go to the dining halls.

Even the options have options. At the sandwich station, customers can choose between different breads, meats, cheeses and toppings.

“I think their sandwiches are really good, especially the vegan one,” said Lucy Hermann, a sophomore public relations major. “It was like my staple as a freshman.”

The smoothies are also a favorite among customers. Jessica Brewer, a freshman biology major, said she loves the Mountaineer Mango.

From a post on Reddit three years ago, one user wrote, “It’s been a year since I graduated but can’t get those Cascades smoothies out of my mind.”

A comment left on the post said, “I’m sort of old and didn’t realize how deeply buried my memories of Cascade smoothies were. I think I drank one almost every day at one point.”

The fun music chosen by employees and the brightly-lit cafe ensures an uplifting eating experience.

Whether they’re getting a grab-andgo item and going on their way, sipping on a smoothie while doing homework in

everyone.

besT club ASU Cycling

The whir of tires glide across a mountainous path overlooking the scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains as a tight-knit group of riders ascend the trail.

App State boasts a wide variety of clubs and organizations, and one of these clubs is ASU Cycling, this year’s Best of Boone winner for Best Club.

Jacob Jarvis, a senior marketing major, is president of the ASU Cycling Club. He said the club participates in road biking, mountain biking and cyclocross, which he said is like road biking, but with knobbier tires “in the mud and cold.”

Jarvis said the club is a part of the Atlantic Collegiate Cycling Conference and USA Cycling. Through the organizations, the club travels to various universities and locations throughout the year to compete in racing competitions. A recent event the club attended was the Tidewater Classic hosted in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The club president said students do not have to be experienced racers or interested in racing to join the club.

“Honestly, most of the meetings are just talking about bikes and having fun,” he said.

Jarvis started mountain biking in middle school but didn’t begin competing in official competitions until college. He joined the club during his sophomore year and was inspired to take a leadership position after meeting the club’s previous president, who he said was a great influence to him.

“Being competitive in bikes is definitely something that can be scary,” he said. “My first race was in college, so I’m not like a lifelong racer or anything.”

Jarvis said the club has around 20-25 active members. The club holds a roster of

group road and mountain biking events for new members to participate in. He said some of these group rides are held on “world-class” trails that are difficult to access unless riders know the exact location, allowing for the more experienced members to show new riders the ropes.

For road cycling, the club partnered with the Boone Area Cyclists to organize group rides.

The club meets bi-weekly on Wednesdays in the Student Recreation Center.

“A lot of people think we are super competitive and if you don’t love racing bikes and you don’t have a $20,000 mountain bike or whatever, you can’t join, but we’re not like that at all,” Jarvis said. “Whatever bike you have, whatever attitude you want to bring, there’s always someone in the club for you to have fun with.”

wellness.appstate.edu

Mountaineer Recovery

#Announcement New All Recovery Meetings

When: Every Monday @ 1:30 PM

Where: Mountaineer Recovery Student Lounge located inside Wellness and Prevention Services

besT sTudenT-run business Student-Made

Samantha Salvador

During a Handmade Market event on March 22, the first floor of the Plemmons Student Union was lined with tables consisting of painted vinyls, handmade jewelry and stickers. There are quiet conversations between vendors and their peers as they work on an amigurumi octopus or a new sticker design for future events.

“Student-Made is not only an on-campus club, but a network of entrepreneurial students dedicated to supporting each other in their journey to becoming a successful business,” said Jenny Fuentes Cruz, the community engagement manager for Student-Made.

App State is one of 13 college campuses in the country to have a Student-Made store.

Student-Made is a student-run business established to give student creators a place to start up their own businesses and have support from peers along the way and is this year’s Best Student-Run Business winner.

“Student-made is a way for college students who craft to collaborate and meet new people who have similar interests,” said Avery Blackwell, a junior psychology major and owner of Crafty Cat Crochet. “It also allows students to learn new ways to improve their own craft and learn a new craft.”

Blackwell sells a variety of crocheted

items such as coasters in different shapes like cats or hearts as well as crocheted plants.

“Student-Made selling events are usually pretty chill after you get through the whole setting up frenzy,” said Wren Foreman, a sophomore anthropology major and owner of Chemical Birdie Creations. “There are quiet times and then there are times where your table may be filled to the brim with customers.”

Foreman said interactions with customers can lead to conversations as many are intrigued by the process or have some experience with crocheting themselves and share tips.

“My favorite events are the ones that are on campus,” Blackwell said. “All of the students that stop by are very supportive and I always hear kind words from them.”

Blackwell said the creators of StudentMade are supportive of one another and these events have been a great way to make new friends.

Student-Made hosts a variety of events including pop-ups, art crawls, handmade markets and seasonal events on campus and within the community.

Customers are able to purchase student’s products through Student-Made’s website.

besT professor Colby Carr

Siri Patterson

Despite being a lecturer at App State for only three years, Colby Carr has already made a profound impact on students and faculty members, making him the winner of this year’s Best Professor in Best of Boone.

Carr works in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance and teaches classes like Introduction to Finance and Survey of Finance.

Throughout his childhood, Carr said he watched several family members struggle to learn how to effectively manage their finances.

“Growing up extremely financially disadvantaged made me much more interested in figuring out how I can permanently get out of that position,” Carr said.

As a lecturer, Carr said he works to make his classes as engaging as possible so students will connect with the material and retain it. Because of his passion for learning and teaching financial literacy, Carr said he does not rely solely on the textbook and connects the material with the personal lives of students.

To foster a personal connection with each student, Carr said his office and classroom

are always open to any App State student who needs help with financial information and any student struggling in his class. Additionally, the Survey of Finance course he teaches is open to all students and is not major-specific.

Sophia Kiser, a senior marketing major, took Carr’s Introduction to Finance class during the Fall 2023 semester. Kiser said she approached Carr about the apprehension she had in taking a class she knew nothing about.

Kiser said Carr worked with her every step of the way, making sure she and every other student understood the material to the fullest extent.

“I’ve never had a professor before that has been so kind and understanding,” Kiser said. “Even if he repeated an answer three times and I still didn’t understand it he’d be like, ‘OK, what part do you not understand? What can I walk you through to help you gain a better understanding of this?’”

Dinesh Davè, a professor and director of the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, said Carr’s approach to teaching is one that all instructors should adopt.

“He enjoys working with students and

he’s always available to help students and going out of his way,” Davè said. “And we joke around all the time, you know, so he just is a pleasant personality.”

Carr graduated from App State in 2017. He said one of his current role models is a professor who taught him when he was an App State student; Associate Professor John Dawson in the Department of Economics. Dawson still teaches at App State.

Dawson said when Carr was a student, he was a dedicated learner who continuously

worked to understand course material in its entirety.

“I am pleased to hear of this award but not surprised as I believe he approached his teaching preparations in the same way he did his studies,” Dawson said. “My congratulations go out to him for this achievement.”

besT AcAdemic depArTmenT Communication

Thomas Turner

Upon completing the trek to the southern corner of Bodenheimer Drive and Rivers Street, Walker Hall may not look like much to the untrained eye. Many students know Walker Hall as the hub for many of their math courses. However, Walker Hall’s other departmental resident, the Department of Communication, has connections both big and small that have struck a chord with students who’ve been a part of it for even a single class.

For the fourth year in a row, the Department of Communication has been voted as the university’s Best Academic Department.

While the department is home to classes of all shapes and sizes, from public speaking to audio/video production, it is also the nexus for several prominent campus organizations, including AppTV, WASU, The Peel, Second Story Media and The Appalachian.

“I think it’s such an honor that students choose us to be the best department on this campus,” said Shanshan Lou, interim chair of the Department of Communication.

“Our department is actually in a very unique sort of situation because we have, you know, the TV station, radio, and also The Appalachian, The Peel and we have an inhouse communication agency that students run, and it’s really cool.”

The Department of Communication offers five majors: advertising, communication studies, electronic media/ broadcasting, journalism and public relations. Students majoring in disciplines outside of those also have the opportunity to interact with the department in several different ways.

Many of the classes the department offers are required for general education credits, such as Thinking Through Communication and Public Speaking, but students are also free to join any and all of the aforementioned student organizations affiliated with the department, even if their major doesn’t align.

“Of course, I think our students are really awesome too. I’ve really really enjoyed our students during my time here,” Lou said. “I’ve been teaching for more than a

decade, but here at App State I think our students are very respectful compared to different experiences I’ve had with different institutions. I think the work of our students and staff combined is what really makes this department special.”

besT of Alumni

besT ciTy for Alumni Charlotte

Emily Escobedo Ramirez

With a population of nearly 800,000 people, the city of Charlotte is no match for the App State graduate community. Ranked by U.S. News as the eighth-best place to live in the U.S., 20th in best cities for job growth by Forbes and surrounded by countless activities, App State alumni have spoken: Charlotte is the Best City for Alumni in this year’s Best of Boone.

Charlotte is home to corporations Bank of America, Duke Energy, Wells Fargo, Lowe’s and other reputable businesses. It welcomes start-up companies and has been ranked by Lending Trees as the

second-best place to start a company, close behind Raleigh.

Charlotte is favored due to its businessfriendly tax climate and a strong start-up survival rate. With the ability to create a business or join strong foundations, it is a beacon of light for alumni.

It is sports galore for fans of all games, as this city is home to Bank of America Stadium, Truist Stadium, Spectrum Center and Charlotte Motor Speedway. With consistent matches all year round, it proves to be one of the best cities to watch a game live. Charlotte FC, the Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte

Knights are teams that ooze excitement and entertainment, all mere minutes inside the city.

Alumnus Patrick McRee, a communications specialist, mentioned what exactly makes the “Queen City” similar to Boone.

“In Charlotte, there is always some kind of activity or event happening,” McRee said. “Just like Boone with all of the clubs and organizations hosting events for the community to participate in. You can always make a new friend wherever you go.”

How do Mountaineers keep their pride ongoing? Fellow alum Gracie Small answers the question.

“I keep my mountaineer pride alive by repping App State gear, telling others about my experiences there, and making sure to keep up with all the sports,” Small said.

The Charlotte Alumni Center churns out event after event of watch parties, networking socials and volunteering services that make sure the App State spirit is strong.

With its skyline supposedly visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Charlotte has proven time and time again it is a home away from home for all Mountaineers

Its strong job growth, embracement of entrepreneurship and ideal location to other major cities in North Carolina all make its case as the Best City for Alumni.

besT Alumni chApTer Charlotte

The App State Alumni Association is deeply committed to creating connections between graduates and the university, ensuring a chance of opportunities well beyond graduation. The Charlotte Alumni Chapter — winner of this year’s Best Alumni Chapter — stands out, creating a vibrant community for Charlotte-based alumni through different App State-themed events.

Emphasizing their dedication to the Alumni Association’s mission, the chapter’s website highlights their commitment to lifelong and beneficial relationships between the university and alumni. They strive to inspire pride among current and future graduates.

From different hAPPy hours at local venues for networking opportunities to gathering at hockey games and cheering on any and all Mountaineer sporting events, the Charlotte Alumni Chapter ensures there is something for everyone. Their engagement does not stop there. The chapter actively participates in community support initiatives, including volunteer cleanups, especially for their adopted street Poindexter Drive and school supply drives, demonstrating a commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond their alumni circle.

Their online presence, especially on Instagram @appstatecltalumni, serves

as a platform for regular members and newcomers to connect and engage with one another, allowing for a sense of belonging.

Through their website, the chapter extends an open invitation to alumni to partake in a wide variety of events and activities throughout the year, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and continuous engagement.

In addition to organizing social and community events, the chapter offers a diverse range of programs and services aimed at facilitating alumni’s reconnection with App State. With over 8,882 alumni in the Charlotte area alone and a global alumni network exceeding 142,000, the chapter shows the power of community and connection.

For the Charlotte chapter, the primary objective is to unite App State alumni, solidifying their reputation as the Best Alumni Chapter and a premier destination for recent graduates and seasoned alumni seeking connection within a familiar community.

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besT Thing AbouT VisiTing As An Alumni Football games

Madison Nance

After graduating from App State, all graduates earn the privilege of calling themselves App State alumni. There are dozens of ways to remain engaged after graduating, including alumni events in surrounding cities and connecting with the large numbers of alumni across the globe.

Alumni consistently remain intertwined with one another despite decades of graduation years and return to campus for a variety of reasons, primarily for attending football games.

Football games were voted the Best Thing About Visiting as an Alumni, and there are certainly a wide range of reasons why.

Whether it is to visit an old friend, a family trip to Boone or just for a walk down memory lane, many will agree one of the best things to do when visiting campus as an alumnus is to show some never-ending school spirit by attending App State football games.

Football season is a huge magnet not only for students and fans, but also for graduates who have remained loyal to their university. Alumni have had their fair share of memories

made, and returning to App State gives them the chance to make even more.

Games draw people back not only for team spirit, but also for reunions with old classmates and friends. Football presents itself as an incredible opportunity to spend time with others at tailgates, have a few drinks and bring in food and fun to share with family and friends.

Alumni have the chance to see the growth and changes of the team over the years, and bear to witness the successes achieved with new up and coming players. Iconic moments such as App State’s victory against Troy University with a last second Hail Mary and visits from College GameDay acts as major magnets for alumni, once again letting them see the development of App State football.

The university continues to welcome fans, students and alumni alike to campus for a variety of events, but football games will always take the cake for allowing thousands to let loose and get loud while cheering on their favorite team.

Alumni continue returning to campus for a reason; there will always be a more

than welcoming atmosphere here to invite alumni back to their roots, whether it is for a fun visit, events for alumni or simply for a good time at a football game. Either way, sporting events remain an amazing way to stay connected with App State.