'Moonshiners' cast in Rocky Mount Sat Feb 4

FRANKLIN COUNTY IS THE MOONSHINE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

J.T. (left) and his Dad Tim (center) and their buddy Tickle (right)

Two area residents on the TV Reality Show "Moonshiners" will be in Rocky Mount on Saturday February 4, 2012.  


Tim Smith and his son J.T. (from nearby Pittsylvania County - the next county over) will have a meet and greet and sign autographs at Aaron's in Rocky Mount Plaza, 11a.m.  The first 50 to show up will get an autographed camo-hat.


Tim will share stories about moonshining. I read last night that this Discovery Channel Series had 2.6 to 2.8 million viewers per episode watching! 
But we all want to know:

"What did you do with Tickle?"

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Whet you whistle from an old fruit jar

The Dixie Bee Liners "Down On The Crooked Road" 


A fiddle and a bow and an old banjo what we call mountain soul...come and be a part of it down on the crooked road...

The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail starts here, just one block behind The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA. See our music events page here.

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Wordless Wednesday in a Small Town

Keep your eyes on your goals!

Book it Danno!

Ever been totally frustrated trying to book your getaway online? 

I know I have been, B&B's can be the worse offenders, offering poor websites and no online reservations.

This has just got to change! 

Experience the difference at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast

Comfort and modern conveniences (Cable TV, Central HVAC, WIFI) & homecookin'!

Consider this, if an inn does not present itself professionally online, then what are you expecting in person? Part of customer service is allowing guests to reserve the room of their choice without waiting for innkeeper emails and/or telephone tag.

At The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast we know how important booking your special getaway can be, you are there ready to firm up your plans, your routes and your activities. 

The Claiborne House wants you to know you can book your room or rooms right here right now from anywhere in the world, we make it simple. You will receive your confirmation immediately, our online system is secure, up-to-date and you will see photos of the rooms and all policies before you book your room, we will even give you $10 off your room rate to book online!

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

February Virginia is for Lovers Special!

Buy One Night and Get the Second Night Free!* 

Virginia is for Lovers Y'all

Romance never goes out of style!

1. Valid in the month of Love - February Only, must be consecutive night stay/same guests. 
2. Must be prepaid upon online reservation with credit card (*no date changes/refunds/cancellations/paid in full at time of booking. Not combined with other discounts.)
3. Discount will show in reservation system as 50% off, discount does not apply to one night stays. 

Escape the rush of the cities; come relax in these Blue Ridge Mountains where the pace is slower, where Southern folks treat you as a neighbor, and Appalachian culture greets you at every turn of this crooked road.

We can deliver breakfast to the Love Shack for a nominal fee - select this at time of booking

The Love Shack (aka The Wash House Cottage) a romantic stand alone oasis of privacy

Love grows in small houses

Original exterior renovated inside with cedar vaulted ceiling and white pine flooring

BOOK NOW ON OUR SECURE WEBSITE TO REDEEM THIS VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS SPECIAL! CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR ROOM. This is a one time only special, the first ever at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast.

See our website for more information on local wing dings and sites of interest.  Add on Fresh Fragrant Flowers and surprise your sweetie for an additional $43 (you can add this to your reservation online.)

+ + + +

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Word from the Appalachian South

The Revivalist delivers the word from the Appalachian South. It's a blog for anyone who flatfoots, who hikes the AT, and who eats applebutter by the spoonful.

http://therevivalist.info/

Appalachian South is a very special place

I would like to recommend this blog to you. I would also like to recommend you don't miss: 

Dear West Virginia

For a heartfelt essay about leaving "Home"

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.  

Elton John in Roanoke VA March 15th

Just got the email alert from the Roanoke Civic Center, yes indeed Sir Elton John will be performing in Roanoke March 15, 2012!

Elton John

& His Band

Thursday, March 15 at 8:00 PM

Tickets go on sale Saturday, January 28 at 10:00 AM

If you're purchasing at the RCC box office, please line-up at gate 12 no earlier than 4 AM

Ticket Prices: $38, $89, $139

8 ticket limit per customer

Prices subject to convenience fee.  Roanoke Civic Center reserves the right to cancel the entire order of customers found in violation of the ticket limit policy.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ON SATURDAY

Please be advised:

The  Roanoke Civic Center is expecting very large crowds this weekend for Elton John, Monster Jam and Hunt Fest.

No parking lots will be reserved for a specific event.

Shuttles will begin running to the Elmwood Park Garage at 10:00 AM

Pit Party entrances for Monster Jam are at Gates 2, 3, and 5

Pit Party passes may be purchased at Gate 3 only.

The Special Event Center box office will be for Hunt Fest only.

Gate 3 will be open for any non-Elton sales.

Click Here for preview of the Show

Elton John and his band will return to Roanoke Civic Center Coliseum on Thursday,

 March 15, at 8 PM, performing in concert, featuring number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton's incredible five-decade career

Elton John’s band includes: Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Kim Bullard on keyboards. One of the most successful live bands on the road today, Elton and his band put on the kind of concert you will never forget: the entire audience standing , dancing and singing along with much-loved classic songs such as “Your Song”, “Rocket Man”, “Bennie and the Jets”, “Philadelphia Freedom”, “Crocodile Rock”, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, and many more.

Tickets start at $38.00 and will be available online at HomeTownBankTix.com, at the Roanoke Civic Center box office, or charge-by-phone at (877) 482-8496.

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is just 20 minutes from the Roanoke Civic Center

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121. We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.  

Wordless Wednesday it's not about us

Picnic near a waterfall...

SAMMY SHELOR IS COMING TO TOWN!

Two By Two BBQ is excited to announce our next performance for Friday, February 3rd. Performers include 4 time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year & Leader of the Lonesome River Band **SAMMY SHELOR !** 

Sammy Shelor and Lonesome River Band

Also performing are Roger Handy, original member of the Lost & Found, Gale Shockley, Barry Collins, and Harold East.

This is a treat you won't want to miss.
Music starts at 9pm Fri Feb 3rd and tickets are $5 each. Come out and enjoy some great BBQ and BBQ Pork Ribs, and sit back, relax, and enjoy some awesome music. Look forward to seeing you!

Walk to Two by Two BBQ it is just a couple blocks from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast!
370 Tanyard Rd, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 Phone 540-489-4955

 

This is an alcohol free restaurant.

Listen to Sammy Shelor and Lonesome River Band here and here on Youtube here.

Rocky Mount is the start of The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. As a community, Franklin County has more weekly jams and wing-dings than any other along this trail! Come on out and innjoy some bluegrass!

In Franklin County you can toss a rock in any direction and hit a musician

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.  

Better Breakfasts

ALL HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON A LEISURELY BREAKFAST - YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!

A fresh home-cooked breakfast is in order at The Claiborne House!

Roasted Coffee, fresh fruit, a fulfilling meal is what I am talkin' about

Just Say No to Neon Tucker!
Well folks, or shall I say yawl or gidday, here I am, your innkeeper at The Claiborne House Bed and BREAKFAST touting our great breakfasts again. Why? Because so often people look for lodging as a place to lay their head and do not anticipate the other B, which of course is the fantastic breakfast! They are so unaccustomed to a nice meal they just accept whatever.
ALL RATES INCLUDE A COMPLIMENTARY HEARTY HOME-COOKED BREAKFAST -"Continental" is not spoken here

Do I need to remind you that breakfast IS the most important meal of the day? 
So why then are we allowing these substandard meals to enter our bodies? Is there a reason McDonald's sells more for breakfast than the rest of the day combined? Should we be eating all of our meals out of paper or plastic?

It's a tradition!
I bet you remember, as I do, when breakfast was a special part of life in America, all the nations of the world heard us bragging about our breakfasts and complained of our many choices. They thought it was insane to offer endless cups of coffee! Filler up old sport.

Remember going out for breakfast and the food was actually cooked for you? imagine that. Now it arrives frozen or packaged from the back of a Sysco truck. Even those old diners and truck stops I loved when we traveled are not up to par. Why do we go out to eat and pay for them to merely warm up or reheat our food and not actually make it? Doesn't that seem strange?

NO POP TARTS ALLOWED!

There she is in the kitchen door hey hey good lookin'
Our family went on vacation this month and I can tell you one thing for certain, the toast was not toasty, the butter was not butter and there was zero fruit on my plate. The bacon? well who the heck knows when it was cooked. A waffle came out of a package and they forgot to even warm it up.

Here is the Aussie Slim Dusty singin' one of my favorite songs...
I think it is time we took a stand  - just say no to neon tucker!
We all have compassion for small businesses in this economy as things are tight, but dang it give me what I am paying for! Do you agree? Are you fed up (excuse the pun) with these inferior breakfasts?

There is a better breakfast
Bed and Breakfasts are notorious for pleasing their guests, for providing delicious breakfasts. We have guests who tell me at check-in "I can't wait to see what you make for breakfast tomorrow!" This makes me a wee bit nervous, but then I realize, this is my thang, I want happy guests, I want them fat and happy! (at least full and happy)

Allow me to cook you breakfast!

Your Innkeeper

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.  

Footlights of the Blue Ridge Heritage Music Program

Just two blocks from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is the Footlights of the Blue Ridge Heritage Music Program at The Depot. 

Blue Ridge Heritage at its best here in Rocky Mount VA

Visit the Footlights Facebook page here and become a fan to stay updated on the latest events! Bill Fuller doesn't want you to miss these upcoming amazing toe-tappin' shows:

• Fri Feb 10 Jeanette & Johnny Williams 
• Fri., Feb 24 Bluegrass Brothers 
• Fri., March 9 Tim Massey 
• Fri., April 13 Mark Templeton & Pocket Change
• Fri., April 27 Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice 

If you're a bluegrass fan you know these are all highly respected, award winning bands and individuals in their profession. If you didn't already know this, come here them and find out why. Hope to see you at the Rocky Mount Train Depot (two blocks from The Claiborne House)  for all of these shows except Junior Sisk, which will be at the Rocky Mount Farmers Market (two blocks the other direction from The Claiborne House). All shows begin at 7:00pm.  Google map here.

Just two blocks from the Claiborne House

Stay with us here at The Claiborne House, where you can park it and walk to these fantastic bluegrass events. Admission is just $5 per person (except the Junior Sisk show which is $10 per person). All shows begin at 7pm.

Learn more about the musical heritage here in these Blue Ridge Mountains here: The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail.

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.  

Yes we have our own knob!

Franklin County, VA, a summit located in Franklin County, Virginia; Bald Knob. It is 1400 feet and located in the county seat of Franklin County here in Rocky Mount.

Many people ask us where Rocky Mount got its name, well this is where: from The Claiborne House B&B (just a couple blocks) you can see or walk to Bald Knob. 

Bald Knob taken from Chestnut Hill