Fall is a popular time of year for visitors to the Smokies—those from all over flock for a glimpse at the sprawling view of reds, yellows, and oranges. But early Sunday morning, a rockslide hit North Carolina’s Highway 40, leaving a mountainous pile of boulders just past the Tennessee state line and closing the road in both directions.

Authorities say the rocks may leave the road blocked for several months, but don't let a highway closure put a hold on your road trip just yet! There are several detours available, so there's no need to miss out on long Fall drives or Winter ski trips this year.

Follow the link for additional routes that offer a scenic drive and great stops for amazing views.

 
  
I read this morning in the New Orleans Times-Picayune that oysters in the off-season are on the brink. Regulators could be shutting down restaurants from serving the Louisiana staple - how many times have I had a dozen at Acme, Casamentos, Pearl! - from April to October. Same goes for Florida, the Carolinas, the Chesapeake, and onward. In an effort to cut down on a rare bacterial illness from bad bivalves, the new FDA sterilization rules means big time losses for oystermen, restaurants, and consumers. To put it in perspective in New Orleans, Lousiana harvests one-third of the nation's oysters. If the FDA plan happens, the new rules will likely take effect in 2011.

Read the full article here.

Shreveport icon, Strawn's Eat Shop, is best-known for its strawberry pies topped with smooth domes of whipped cream.

But this little restaurant (featured in SL's November mega-story "Secrets of the South's Best Diners") also serves a mean meat-and-three lunch. The daily menu is so stone-sure, it's painted on one of the walls...

Yesterday morning, TALES FROM THE ROAD, the travel and culture blog for Southern Living magazine, received the Bronze Award from the Society of American Travel Writers. We were chosen out of 25 other such blogs for the honor during SATW's annual conference in Guadalajara, Mexico.

It's the first award for TALES, and in the spirit of awards, we'd like to celebrate in ways only Southerners would choose. After all, we Southerners know how to have a good time. Here's our best picks for an unabashed, deep-fried, roll-tide-roll victory lap:

10. We'll drape the blog in a Derby garland of roses. Roses are the official flower of Kentucky's great race, and Governors since Burgoo King won in '32 have been draping the 554-rose blanket across the winning horse's back. Hides the smell of hay, we guess. 

Georgia's small farms took a devastating hit with the record-setting rains. Some even lost all their crops. Judith Winfrey, owner of Love is Love Farm near Atlanta, saw an overflowing Aneewakee Creek ruin most of their fall harvest completely.

To help, a series of events and fundraising efforts will be happening in the coming days. Slow Food Atlanta is a great place to start if you'd like to help out these growers. Visit SFA here.

RELIEF EVENTS:

WHOLE FOODS: All 7 Metro Atlanta Whole Foods (including Harry's Farmers Market) stores will be hold a 'Donate Your Dime' program for the entire month of October. You can donate your $0.10 per bag refund to the Georgia Flooded Farmers Relief Fund when you shop at any Whole Foods store and bring your own bags. On Wednesday Oct 21st, all 7 Metro Atlanta Whole Foods stores will be donating 5% of their net sales to the Georgia Flooded Farmers Relief Fund. This includes the Harry's Farmers Market stores in Marietta and Alpharetta. In addtion, the Briarcliff, Cobb, and Duluth stores will be holding special farmers' markets at the stores where you can purchase produce directly from local farmers.

Oct. 7-11, Rosebud: Rosebud is hosting a week-long dine out to raise money for the Georgia Flooded Farms Relief Fund. Dine at Rosebud anytime between Monday, October 5 - Sunday, October 11 (lunch, dinner or brunch) and 15% of the proceeds will be donated to this important fund. 1397 North Highland Ave Ne

Oct. 8: Brick Store Pub and Leon's Full Service in Decatur will donate 20% of all profits to the relief efforts. Click here for more.

Oct. 11, Woodfire Grill: Woodfire Grill will host a fundraiser for Love is Love Farm, starting with a cocktailm party at 6,  followed by a seated dinner.

Oct. 11, Canoe: Chef Chris Hall & friends will be cooking for Canoe on Sunday, $33 per person for three-course prix fixe menu. All proceeds benefit the employees and staff of Canoe after it was wrecked by epic flooding in Atlanta last week. Please contact them for more information at 770-434-1114.