Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
Issue link: https://ballantynemagazine.epubxp.com/i/79319
"One Sunday night we'll have 40 old-time pickers playing 'I'll Fly Away,' and the next night some indie rock star like Gillian Welch, with 700 people squashed in here." — Heather LaGarde Zachary Davidson tickles the ivories at The Eddy Pub. lofts overlooking the river began selling for $300,000 to $600,000. The prices reflect the artsy, eco-oriented crowd attracted to Saxapahaw for its bucolic chic. What gives Saxapahaw its true originality, however, is the eclectic culture where farmers in overalls rub elbows with artists at community farm suppers. "I love watching people's jaw drop when they arrive here," says Heather LeGarde, who moved in 2004 from Manhattan with husband Tom, a former UNC Chapel Hill and NBA basketball player, and settled on an old dairy farm close by. "The juxtaposition is a huge draw for those who want more space and beauty, but not the high end urban stuff." Inspired by the Jordans' plea to help build the community, the couple started a free summer farmers market and music series on Saturdays where people could gather by the river on a grassy slope beside the upper mill. Today, up to 2,000 people attend each week, with 400 bands competing for 17 slots. The LeGardes' next move was more ambitious: Reimagining the upper mill's ugly dye house into the Haw River Ballroom, a three- story, 10,000-square-foot music and event venue. They repurposed dye vats into uplighting and rebuilt two mezzanines to create a perfect sight line to the stage. "One Sunday night we'll have 40 old- time pickers playing 'I'll Fly Away,' and the next night some indie rock star like Gillian Welch, with 700 people squashed in here," Heather says with amusement. High Locavore Style In 2008 the LeGardes persuaded Jeff Barney and Cameron Ratliffe to take over the Saxapahaw General Store, which may qualify as the only five-star convenience store where you can dine in high locavore style, seated amid bait worms with a view of gas pumps. "The store remains a marvel of nature, in and of itself," admits Barney, chef of this foodie mecca in the middle of nowhere. "I'm astonished at the business we do and the distance people come for a dining FALL 2012 BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 89 presented by BID ON COLLEEN ODEGAARD hosted by WWW.PURSESWITHPOWERNC.COM BENEFITTING THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION