Upstairs Art & Downtown Music Make a Romantic Evening

This weekend offers a lovely chance to ask out that special someone and take a local adventure. Whether you’re dating or happily married, there is plenty of variety to allow some choices along the way. After all, it’s always easier to discuss a few options rather than get stuck in that awful loop of “What do you want to do?” and “I don’t know” or “I’ll do whatever you want to do.”


So, here’s a suggested starting point. Meet at the Upstairs Artspace in Tryon sometime after 5pm for the public reception of their new shows “Where in the World: Looking for Cultural References,” “A Gathering of Form,” and “A Landscape for All Seasons.” Whoever arrives first can begin exploring the variety of works noting what catches their interest and what they think their date would enjoy. It’s a small enough gallery that you will eventually run into your date, and then you can begin discussing what you’ve seen. Share your favorites and try to explain what you like about them. Maybe it’s one of Len Fury’s exquisite wood and metal sculptures, something from the colorful and diverse media of the “World” collection, or an amazing landscape painting by a regional or NYC artist. Now that you’re discussing your interests, try offering a couple choices for dinner and music.

One option is to take a scenic drive up US-176 toward Saluda. Turn right on Ozone and you’ll find that the City Grill has become Shaffer’s Roadside Grill. Try out what the new owners have to offer on the menu while enjoying the beautiful gospel bluegrass of the Green River Boys.


Or, if you both prefer, as you leave the gallery walk down Trade Street and pick up dinner from Buck’s, Elmo’s, or Kyoto’s. Then settle down for a picnic over at Rogers Park. Dine “al fresco” while listening to wonderful music brought to you by the Summer Tracks series. Fans of the DesChamps Band will be especially thrilled to hear the new offerings from the Fayssoux McLean Quartet and the lively gypsy swing of The Belleville Outfit. The brave might even try a little dancing after dinner.

When dinner is finished, keep up the evening rolling by offering one of the following options. Up in Saluda you might head outdoors for the electric blues of Geoff Achison at Frank & Amy’s Front Porch. Or, down in Tryon, take a walk over to the Melrose Inn and step inside for cocktails while enjoying the free 9pm screening of the 48Hour Short Films. Chris Riddle and the MircleMax production team are thanking the community for supporting the project by sharing their film “A Romantic Yarn” created for this year’s competition in addition to their past entries in the festival.

Before saying goodnight to your date, don’t forget to offer some options for another night out. Saturday night the town of Columbus offers the Lonesome Road Band for their Saturday Night in the Park concert series at Veteran’s Park. Or, you could break out the dancing shoes and go shagging to Southern Pointeat the Saluda Mountain Jamboree. What more time to talk? How about coffee and the sweet folk music of Jan & Barney at the Gallery Coffeehouse? Need a date a different weekend? How about making a plan to revisit the show at the Upstairs Artspace and find out more about your favorite pieces from the artists themselves at the Walk & Talk on September 9th?

Whatever you and your date choose to do, there’s nothing like a little bit of adventure to spice up a romantic evening. Enjoy the journey.