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Cafe in Dahlonega, Georgia blends local culture of art; wine; food, and live music

 

A November cold snap had surrendered to a clear and relatively balmy Thanksgiving-eve afternoon as we made our way through roughly 40-miles of scenic winding mountain roads in route to Dahlonega, Georgia, a quaint jewel, or should I say gold-piece of a town nestled in the north Georgia Appalachians. Leigh, my wife and retired senior insurance adjuster, who was dubbed “the navigator” long before the advent of GPS due to her penchant for delivering detailed and animated consultations on my driving during trips long and short, confirmed that we should take Highway 183 out of Dawsonville. My enthusiasm for a travel destination always peaks about twenty miles out, and as the voice of my GPS unit and the navigator confirmed in near unison, we were at that point.

 Dahlonega is literally rich in history, as a particularly strong vein of gold was discovered there in 1829 and led to an eastern gold rush on the Appalachian village. Dahlonega is a Cherokee term that translates roughly to “yellow money”. A pre-civil war US Mint was established in Dahlonega and produced its first gold dollars in 1849. The mint survived for only 24 years and was officially closed June 1, 1861, victim of the civil war after Georgia seceded from the Union. It never again operated as a minting facility. The T-shaped building eventually burned to its hammer-stressed stone foundation but was rebuilt on that very foundation and exists today as Price Memorial Hall on the sprawling North Georgia College and State University campus, another great contributing factor to Dahlonega’s history and culture.

However, we weren’t looking to pan for gold, tour Dahlonega’s sterling contribution to Georgia’s University system, or view the locally famous Christmas lighting of Dahlonega town square. We came to town to eat, drink and otherwise mingle with the folks of Dahlonega. In town square there is an 1833 plaque commemorating and dedicating the square as an embodiment of the people’s right’s as guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States, in particular the freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble, two of my personal favorites.

As we approached North Park Street, I noticed the two-story Crimson Moon Cafe with its colonial-posted lower porch, full-span balcony and high pitched gable elevation that made it look like an 1800s Western saloon except for the jeeps, minivans and an eight-cylinder mustang parked out front. Like all of the shops and buildings along town square, it was restored, not renovated, and the aforementioned steel stallions were the only clues to a contemporary world. We entered through an old storefront door and sat on stools at a small round table for two near a wall opposite the stage.

The Crimson Moon Cafe, a food and drink emporium owned by Dana Marie LaChance and named for the area’s occasional crimson harvest moon was our choice of venue for integrating ourselves into the town’s culture for an evening. Crimson Moon Cafe, a truly charming restaurant-and-saloon rich in Appalachian flair features live performances by local musicians and is stocked with many brand-name wines and beers - and more importantly –local vineyard wines and micro-brewed beers. The cafe proved the perfect gateway to the culture of Dahlonega.

White walls are lined with north Georgia art as the first chapter in the Crimson Moon’s existence was spent as a showcase for eclectic art and antique tables and chairs. Next, the coffee shop was added and the stage and state-of-the-art sound system, then local wines and micro-brewed beers. After a few years, LaChance added the commercial kitchen and opened the restaurant, bringing together a diverse entertainment package that today appeals to college students, ranchers, travelers and locals alike. Some social establishments possess a certain magic that draws people in from the streets like a bear to honey or a humming bird to a bed flowers. The Crimson Moon holds such powers of appeal.  

There are rows of sturdy wood tables with benches for drinking, dining and enjoying live performances on stage. Guests filed in faster than they left, and open tables disappeared fast upstairs and on the main floor, but there always seemed to be another table available.  One of the first things I observed was that the dark-stained highly varnished floor looked to be at least a hundred years old. I learned later that that the building is 150 years old. The walls and ceilings are beaded board and pine plank. Time has long settled the historical structure into its unique character and there isn’t a plumb board in the place, sideways or up and down. For those who enjoy the local brews a tad too much, in the back room downstairs there is a small coffee shop with exotic brews to clear the mind before driving. Upstairs is a large bar with many dining tables and enough room left over for cutting a rug, only there isn’t one as far as I remember.

We enjoyed a lively bottle (or two) of 3-Sister’s Chestatee Rose from a local vineyard. For dinner I had Primavera, a light mushroom and vegetable pasta dish and Leigh had a pasta salad topped with roasted pine nuts. We shared orange-and-cranberry Crème Brule Du Jour for dessert. I’ll leave the restaurant reviews to others, but I will say that your pallet should be finely catered by the food and drink at Crimson Moon. Our server was Kay, a colorful and competent middle-aged woman who obviously enjoys people and is a credit to the house.

As pleasurable as our wine and dining experience at the Crimson Moon Cafe was, it was the music that rounded out the evening. Before entering the café I learned that Tom and July were performing live music in about an hour. I expected the common fare of bluegrass, which is fine but can become tedious after a while because each tune starts to sound just like the last. After enjoying my first glass of Chestatee we listened to a CD recorded and produced by Jennifer Daniels, a local artist. It was an interesting blend of folk and contemporary styles with smooth vocals by Daniels that seemed to enhance if not create the relaxed ambiance in the café.

Still, it was Tom and July who most seasoned the evening’s mood. Being a child of the sixties whose taste in music evolved quickly in the seventies, their song list could have been chosen by me. Tom began with the Harry Chapin ditty, Taxi, and the husband and wife duo followed with renditions of greats like Crosby, Stills and Nash; Joan Baez; Jimmy Hendrix; Arlo Guthrie; Credence; and Carol King to name just a few. Tom was excellent on the guitar and it was July’s night to drive Old Dixie back up for Joan Baez.

If you find yourself traveling through north Georgia without reservations, don’t think about it; just set the GPS on Dahlonega. There are ample clean hotels and plenty of shopping and entertainment right in town square.  While you are there, take time to enjoy the rich culture and background of this town, and don’t miss spending a couple of hours at the Crimson Moon Café. You will leave with the best local vineyard product on the pallet, having enjoyed a deliciously satisfying meal, and with a slice of Dahlonega that will warm your heart.

Click below for detailed visitor information

 http://dahlonega.org/index.php/visitors/visitors.html

Click on below link for Crimson Moon website:

 

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