Asheville Awaits the 31st Annual 'Bele Chere' Fest ...
July 24th will mark the start of Asheville's 31st annual 'Bele Chere' Music and Art Festival and the influx of 350,000 estimated  festival-goers. According to their website, "The festival features four stages of free- live music and an impressive array of arts and crafts; as well as entertainment and activities for children. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the mountains o ... Read More...

Asheville Edition of TED Talks in the Works
Local fans of the California-based TED conference (technology, entertainment, design) have begun planning Asheville's own TEDx event for late summer in hopes of highlighting our own group of inspiring thinkers with fascinating ideas.  TED (technology, entertainment, design) is an annual conference that defines its mission as "ideas worth spreading". TEDxAsheville executive direc ... Read More...

Phish Concert Expected to Clog Asheville Streets
Phish Comes to Asheville~ and is bringing a following of nearly 15,000 fans. The City of Asheville is planning ahead for a Tuesday, June 9 concert (with a ticketed attendance of 7,200) by the band Phish that is expected to cause traffic delays and result in limited parking. Officials have released a memo via Citizen Times warning downtown drivers to "avoid parking in lots marked with signage ... Read More...

Asheville Gets $32 Million Climate Research Center
Full Story from the Asheville Citizen Times :Asheville will be home to a new federal research center that will look to satellites to study the Earth's changing climate.The National Climate Data Center in downtown Asheville will house the new Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites that will bring $32 million to the area over the next five years and at least 20 scientific jobs.The inst ... Read More...

Secret Agent 23Skidoo DVD Release Party
For the first time EVER on planet earth, the 23 Skidoo DVD will be available, with award winning videos and uncut, vivid footage of the one-year anniversary show........WERE YOU THERE??? Maybe you are on it!! So come on out May 16th to the Grey Eagle from 12:30-3pm. Tickets are only $7 and children under 3 are free. Puppet Master Hobey Ford (our wonderful Evergreen music teacher Sue Ford's hub ... Read More...

Annual Montford Music & Arts Festival – May 16 ...
Just around the corner and its time for the Montford Music & Arts Festival. Come out and witness Montford come to life. Bring the kids, comfy shoes and be ready to enjoy some great music and good times. There are  going to be some great performers at this year’s event, including; Snake Oil Medicine Show, Pure Fiyah Reggae Band, the Good Ole Boys, Westsound and more, so do not miss i ... Read More...

2009 French Broad Fins & Gills Tournament
The 2009 Fins and Gills Classic is a fishing tournament to raise money for RiverLink and to promote the fun of Western North Carolina’s most under used asset, the French Broad River. Come on out Saturday May 9th for a fun time fishing in this tournament fundraiser. This tournament will take place from 8am – 2pm. All participants must launch by 9am and return to the Asheville Outdoor c ... Read More...

Donate Soccer Equipment to Children in Uganda
Here’s a great way to act locally and have a global impact. One of our local ABYSA families is planning a trip to Uganda.  Supporting Community Development through Sports, they will be distributing soccer equipment in many rural villages. WOW - Just like that your used soccer equipment will be sent around the world to other children & adults who will appreciate them. Here’s yo ... Read More...

12th Annual French Broad River Festival
Come on out to Hot Springs this weekend for the 12th annual French Broad River Festival. Three days of absolute magic. The line up is going to make for a great festival. Reverend Horton Heat, Acoustic Syndicate, Larry Keel and the Natural Bridge, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Josh Phillips and the Folk Festival and Jen and the Juice are just a few of the musicians performing. And with this weather, is ... Read More...

Asheville Dining Out For Life – April 30th
Dining Out for Life in Asheville NC is a fabulous fundraiser.  Take a moment to plan your meals out and you’ll see this is an “easy way to make a meaningful contribution without spending more than you normally would each meal. Have breakfast, lunch or dinner at participating restaurants today, April 30th and help in the fight against HIV and AIDS.”Dining Out For Life:Dining ... Read More...

Blue Ridge Parkway Awarded $13.3 Million Stimulus
Great news for the Blue Ridge Parkway, and all of us who enjoy scenic cruises around Asheville and throughout WNC. This 13.3 million dollar stimulus is part of the larger American Recovery & Investment Act of 2009, these funds are slated to help with repairs and needed maintenance.  Explore Asheville has more details:The Blue Ridge Parkway, portions of which run through Asheville, was aw ... Read More...

Airport Receives $7.5 Million in Stimulus Funding
Although it’s tough times economically, the Asheville Airport is expanding, thanks to 7.5 Million dollars in stimulus funding. Just a few weeks ago it was announced they will be operating new routes to both Orlando Florida and NY city. This is great news to many traveling professionals who often found themselves connecting in Charlotte or Atlanta. The details of the stimulus package are list ... Read More...

Asheville Arts Center – Exciting Learning Atmosphe ...
The Asheville Arts Center is a school based on unlimited opportunities for students to explore their interests in music, dance and drama. They offer a variety of classes, including everything from Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop Dance Lessons to Children’s and Adult’s Theater collaborations. They even offer a creative arts preschool for the younger generations. I personally recommend their ... Read More...

Asheville City Chickens = Healthy Fresh Local Eggs ...
Chicken Coops in the city? But of course, where else would we be able to find delicious fresh local eggs in such abundance. On first thought you may not envision Urban Chickens, however in Asheville it’s becoming a popular hobby. Especially with the help of Asheville City Chickens, and their proposed changes to Asheville’s Animal Control Ordinance, these fresh local eggs may be right n ... Read More...

Asheville Herb Festival - May 1-3 2009
Just as I was looking at our tomato starts in the kitchen this morning, I realized I had very little seeds in the herb department. I really want to plant a medicine herb garden and culinary herb garden. Then I realized it’s almost time for the Asheville Herb Festival. What a great way to celebrate spring and her wonders.“Our 20th annual festival will take place May 1-3, 2009 at the WNC ... Read More...

Free Family Fun: Asheville Earth Day
Come one come all; have some healthy, family fun at Martin Luther King Park today, Saturday April 18th Join us for the Second Annual AED: Asheville’s Earth Day Celebration! Just Announced: the fabulous musical line up; Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Laura Reed & Deep Pocket, Zach Deputy, Jen and the Juice! It’s going to be a great day! Asheville Earth Day:  This FREE, all ... Read More...

Local Disk Golf Courses - Asheville NC
Asheville is host to many exciting outdoor activities. One such activity your friends and family are sure to enjoy is Disk Golf.Disc golf got started in the 1970s, combining the basic elements of ball golf and Frisbee. The game is played on a nine- or 18-hole course by throwing a weighted disc, slightly smaller than a Frisbee, over fairways with the object of sinking it into special metal baskets ... Read More...

NC Arboretum is a Fun Time with the Kids
Spring is here, Perseophone is home and Demeter is basking in love and gifts of blossoms and warm breezy days. If you are looking for a new place to take the kids, Kelby Carr gives her list of reasons why the arboretum is a great place to take the kids. From Kelby Carr's Full Article: NC Arboretum with Kids  “It’s cheap. It costs $6 for the whole family (as long as they fit in ... Read More...

Local Parks & Green Ways Near Asheville
Wow, check out this great directory of local parks and green ways around Asheville. You’ll find many local hotspots.  From Vance Birthplace, NC Arboretum, Buncombe County’s 44 Acre Sports Park & the Folk Art Center to many Local Pools, Golf Courses, and the Western NC Nature center. Have some time to enjoy outdoors? Try exploring North Asheville’s  Beaver Lake, ... Read More...

HATCHfest Asheville :: April 15-19
The inaugural HATCHfest is approaching quickly and it will be a festival experience unlike any other. HATCHfest is a mentoring festival for the creative industries featuring world-renowned artists. Hosting panels, workshops, keynote speakers, exhibits, performances, receptions, networking parties and more. Detailed HATCHfest Schedule: www.musicallies.com For more details, See MountainXpres ... Read More...

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs - You've Got to Try This!
At the beginning of this experiment, I have to admit I had my doubts! Thinking: "there is no way this is going to work..." however it did work, and probably will work even better on my second attempt. On this first batch, I did not use vinegar, or the second layer of white cloth; Both of which would probably make for better pattern transfer and brighter colors. Nonetheless it was fun, he ... Read More...

Easter Bunny has Arrived: Local Easter Egg Hunts
Luckily for those of us in Asheville there are ample opportunities for the kids to join in some Easter Egg Fun! From community park egg hunts to Train Rides with Snoopy you can have a blast this weekend, joining the fun of Traditional Easter Egg hunts. One year our family visited the Biltmore Estate for our Easter egg extravaganza, and I have to admit it was pretty fun. Although the organized egg ... Read More...

Fun This Week: Dyeing Easter Eggs
No matter what else you have going on, take some time this week to dye a few Easter Eggs. Thanks to the numerous farmers nearby and the Asheville City Chicken movement, it should be easy to find some inexpensive fresh local eggs. Keeping with the healthy theme this Easter, here are some great organic Easter Egg coloring recipes:Crush ingredients and Boil in water for ~5 minutes:(the longer eggs r ... Read More...

UNC Tar Heels Win 2009 NCAA Championship
Last night the UNC Tar heels defeated Michigan State University 89 / 72. UNC took the lead fast; 21 / 7 in the first few minutes of the game. By half time the Tar Heels were leading 55 / 34, which is both the highest number of points ever scored and the largest lead ever seen in the 1st half of any NCAA Championship game! They continued to held on to this lead the entire game. Although it wasn&rsq ... Read More...

The Haw Creek Black Bear Returns!
The bear that was in my yard a few weeks ago returned again yesterday and visited with us for a few hours around lunch time; peacefully munching old apples that are buried under our leaf pile. We were able to snap a few more photos, ~Enjoy:We watched in total amazement as she enjoyed her lunch. These creatures are truly incredible; we are so blessed to live in such a beautiful area rich with nativ ... Read More...