What’s A Man To Do? Plenty!

I can write about girly things to do in Cherokee County ad nauseum (and I probably will at some point.)  But what of our men? When they’re let loose from their weekly toils, what local manly pursuits await? I was curious about this very thing, so I asked my husband to skip out of work one day and be my  “man-date” guinea pig. All day long, we did only the things that he wanted, and they were all within a ten-minute drive from our house in Woodstock.

1. A Straight Razor Shave at E’s Barber Shop in Woodstock

Our first stop was E’s Barber Shop on Highway 92.  E’s is run by a father-and-son team, Jim and Engelbert, and they specialize in giving the old-fashioned straight razor shave that is, hands down, the closest shave you’ll ever get in your life.  For the rest of the day, I  spied my husband’s hands being drawn instinctively to his face and then his head shaking in disbelief.  ”This is amazing,” he kept repeating.  A thirty-minute luxury, the service includes steamed hot towels, a rich lather cream, a precision shave, an astringent, and a moisturizer.  They also offer a man’s haircut for only twelve dollars with the added benefit of big screen TV’s, free wi-fi, and sports talk.

2. A Cigar from Little River Cigar Company in Holly Springs

As you drive down Highway 5 towards Holly Springs and past the old train depot, there’s a cigar shop tucked behind the railroad tracks of which every man should take note.  Swinging open the door  of Little River Cigar Company transported me instantly back to my childhood home filled with the deep, heady aroma of my father’s den.  That distinctive scent of cigar tobacco, leather, and cedar gave me the strange satisfaction that I was being given leave to trespass for a while into a modern-day man cave with its walk-in humidor and hardwood floors with their own stories to tell. Dwayne, the owner, offers coffee (on the house) and a smoking lounge with leather club chairs and a big screen TV.  For the true connoisseur, a locker in the humidor can be rented to stow away your purchases for future visits.

3. A Game on the Big Screen at the Right Wing Tavern in Woodstock

The Right Wing Tavern has established itself as the ultimate watering hole for men (regardless of their politics) who want to grab a couple of brews with friends and catch a game on the big screens.  Located in Woodstock’s historic train depot on Main Street, the tavern’s co-owner Jamey Snyder  always has a drink and/or food special going on.  On a particularly nice day, you can go sit outside under the protection of the patio next to the tracks and, if you’re very lucky, catch sight of the glass-rattling train going by.  (Beer, football, food, and trains–it doesn’t get much more “manly” than that.)

4.  Hi Caliber Firearms in Holly Springs

Described as “your neighborhood gun store and indoor range in Cherokee County,” Hi Caliber in Holly Springs is astonishingly women-friendly.  (That’s a blog post for a later date, for sure.)  Club chairs and a stone fireplace greet you just inside the door, and an expansive gun and ammo selection line the walls all around.  For a weekday during mid-morning, business remained surprisingly brisk as men donned their goggles and ear protection and headed for the indoor gun range.   Besides providing all levels of training sessions for both men and women, the range maintains ten spacious lanes that rent by the day, not the hour. This guarantees the chance to relax and take your time without having to check the clock every five minutes.  For the true gun enthusiast, the store extends the rare offer to deliver any purchased gun safe within twenty miles.