Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/15933
Best Little Known Attraction/Best Thing to Show Out of Towners/ Best Museum Airborne and Special Operations Museum 100 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville 910.643.2766 www.asomf.org The Airborne and Special Operations Museum is one of the key anchors of our city center. Built on the corner of Hay Street and Bragg Boulevard, it will now serve as an anchor to the N.C. Veterans Park, and as such will probably lose its title as Best Little Known Attraction, but will probably tighten its grip on the title of Best Museum and the Best Thing to Show Out of Towners. The museum tells the history of the Airborne and the Special Operations soldier. In a community known for heroes, it’s a story well worth telling, and the folks at the museum do a pretty darn good job of it. There are some static exhibits that take you through the history of the Airborne and special operations. Much of this history revolves around World War II. While at the museum, you’ll find yourself walking through French villages, dropping in behind the lines with the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and dodging German soldiers. The storyline continues all the way up through Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan. If you haven’t followed the story all the way through, it’s well worth your time to spend an afternoon wandering the museum’s exhibit halls. If, for some reason you haven’t “dropped” in on the museum, take this as your invitation. Tell them we sent you!! Best Overall Restaurant, Wait Staff, Restaurant for a First Date, Best Romantic Restaurant, Best Appetizers and Best Chef Blue Moon 310 Hay St., Fayetteville 910.860.4700 An eclectic menu, friendly service, charming atmosphere, a great drinks menu and reasonable prices all converge at the Blue Moon Cafe on Hay Street — Fayetteville’s Best Overall Restaurant (among other fabulous things.) Just step inside and the hardwood fl oors, muted lighting and intimate dining space decorated with the works of local artists create just the right mood for a great fi rst date — or 50th date for that matter. Even the patio with its cafe tables gives a great view of Hay St., the Arts Council and a trickling fountain, hinting at the possibilities of romance and style that can be found downtown. With menu items like baked brie, smoked salmon, capresé and an assort- ment of panini it is no wonder that Fayetteville diners including those looking to make that great fi rst impression, head to Blue Moon Café to relax, have a drink and enjoy some gourmet appetizers and a good meal. “We are so honored that our customers think so highly of us,” said Man- ager Joey Meyers. “We are committed to continuing to live up to our reputa- tion, in fact, we have some really neat changes coming this fall that I think everyone will enjoy.” One of the reasons Blue Moon won so many categories is, at least in part, the fact that they employ the town’s Best Chef. Dustin Day. Whether he is plating baked brie in a puff pastry with rasp- berry spread, balsamic reduction and pita, or assembling a salmon melt with spinach, capers, onion and garlic cream cheese spread on foccacia, Day puts a lot of thought and energy into the food that leaves the Blue Moon kitchen. That doesn’t go unnoticed by the diners that frequent the restaurant either. Up & Coming Weekly readers obvoiusly voted him Best Chef for a reason. “We are so proud of Dustin,” said Blue Moon manager Joey Meyers. “His creativity and hard work adds so much to what we are able to provide our customers. He’s really creative and our menu refl ects that.” WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 8-14, 2010 BEST OF FAYETTEVILLE 31