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 of Western North Carolina- come join us for one of the Southeast's largest free outdoor street festivals."

Though still a couple of months away, here at AshevilleLive we are keeping this festival on our radar and plan on bringing you a series of reports ranging from exciting events to see and participate in, to some of the changes being made for 2009. One of the additions to this year's festival will be a "battle of the bands-style contest" conducted in conjunction with WNC Magazine and the Asheville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department called "Last Band Standing: Road to Bele Chere 2009".

Other events we'll be keeping an eye on include the 30th Annual Bele Chere 5k, the Lexington Avenue Drumming Tent, and Rashad McCant's "Shoot for the Cure", in which one lucky festival-goer will have a chance to win $10,000 with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research. 

 So stay tuned to AshevilleLive for upcoming reports with more information on how to maximize your fun at the largest street festival in the southeastern United States.

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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 as towing zones, even if the lot is empty." and advising that concert goers "carpool to the concert and to arrive early."

The memo goes on to say: "In order to ensure the most efficient traffic flow and pedestrian safety during the event, streets surrounding the Civic Center will be closed June 9, 9:30 a.m. –midnight. These streets include Flint Street from Haywood Street to Cherry Street and Hiawassee Street from Rankin Avenue to Flint Street."

Another option for getting around downtown on June 9th is always the Asheville Transit System. Though the street closures may affect their service by re-routing lines, chances are pretty good that you'll still get to where you need to go. For a bus maps and schedules, just click here or call (828) 253-5691.

Several nights before and after the actual Phish show local bands will be performing all over town. Its sure to be a crazy weekend! Get out there and enjoy yourself, and be safe!

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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 it!

You will also find incredible local pottery, jewelry, fabric arts, hand carved wood, and amazing paintings. Have some fun and help paint the community mural, get a massage, and buy some fresh plants for your garden. Do not forget to bring your appetite, you’ll discover Jamaican Pasta, Greek Cuisine, and a sampling of Thai Foods as well.

Visit the Montford Festival website for more details:

This street festival, including musical acts and a juried art show, highlight the artistic strength of one of Asheville’s oldest neighborhoods.  Celebrating its sixth anniversary, this festival is free to the public, and sponsored by the Montford Neighborhood Association. For more information, call or email Sharon Fahrer at 828-777-1014 or Ben Scales at 828-225-4840 for directions or more info. 

Montford Music & Arts Festival Schedule:
10:00 Tater Diggers
11:00 Kon Tiki12:00 Ira Bernstein & John Herrmann
1:00   Vollie McKenzie & the Lead-Foot Vipers
2:00    WestSound
3:15   Good Old Boyz
4:45   Snake Oil Medicine Show
6:15   Pure Fiyah Reggae Band

Plus, the Mountain Dragon Lion Dance Troupe will perform complete with gongs, drums, and a spectacular display of martial arts; Hoop dancing; and Morris Dance by Asheville Morris Men and Ash Grove Garland, featuring a Maypole celebration at around 1:00p.m.

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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 your chance to get involved.

Bring any gently used and new soccer gear from your collection to donate for this exciting trip to Africa.  Join this exciting adventure; Stop by  Saturday, May 2nd from 9am to 5pm at the Buncombe County Sports Park or John B Lewis Soccer Complex.


So, clean out your closet! They'll take gently worn or new: Cleats, Shin Guards, Uniforms, Socks, Balls, Pennies, Ball bags, Small cones, etc. All sizes.  Questions? Contact Bob Wagner 828-296-0149.

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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 Out For Life® is an annual fund raising event involving the generous participation of volunteers, corporate sponsors and restaurants. In exchange for their financial support, restaurants are listed in a city wide marketing campaign in an effort to increase customer traffic.

More than 3,500 restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds from this one special night of dining to the licensed agency in their city. Nearly $4 million dollars a year is raised to support the missions of agencies throughout North America. With the exception of the annual licensing fee of $600, all money raised in these cities stays there.

Please help us continue our Education and Prevention services throughout WNC and insure that no one faces HIV alone by dining out for breakfast, lunch or dinner at over 85 fine restaurants. It is the most satisfying meal you will ever eat!

Check their site for a full List of Participating Asheville Restaurants

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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 Kindermusik program.

“Kindermusik® is a music and movement program for newborns up to age 7. Kindermusik® is a great opportunity to be a part of a child centered and age appropriate program that creates musical children by letting them explore all the possibilities that surround them.”

The Asheville Arts Center also brings you high-quality instructions on a variety of instruments that are student centered with a focus on individual learning styles. You will have access to group instructions, recitals and a great performance space! Lessons in Bass, Guitar, Violin, Piano and other instruments are available.

Check out their "Parent's Night Out" program every 2nd and 4th Friday night. Now this is Very Cool for the whole family!

With two locations, the Asheville Arts Center is conveniently located. One location is at 308 Merrimon avenue just a few blocks down the street from Claxton Elementary School and directly across the street from Musicians Workshop. The second location is in South Asheville just off Hendersonville Road behind Quiznos.

Come check them out, here is a list of their Upcoming Events for May 2009:

The Wizard of Oz Performance  at  Montford Park  
Friday, May 1 @ 6pm
Saturday, May 2 @ 2pm & 6pm
Sunday, May 3 @ 2:00pm 

Jr. Company Showcase-- Great Hall, AAC
Tuesday, May 12 @ 6:00pm   

Academy Showcase    -- Great Hall, AAC
Thursday, May 14 @ 6:30pm   

Dance Recital-- Diana Wortham Theatre
Saturday, May 16 @ 10:00am & 11:30am
           
Music Recitals-- Great Hall, AAC
Sunday, May 17 @ 1:00-3:00pm   

Irish Dance Concer --  Diana Wortham Theatre
Wednesday, May 20 @ 7:00pm   

Academy Dinner--  Great Hall, AAC
Thursday, May 21   

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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 next door or in your own backyard before you know it. 

Asheville City Chickens is a diverse group of Asheville residents dedicated to awareness, advocacy, and education concerning urban chickens in Asheville. We believe that responsible urban chicken ownership can be part of sustainable urban agriculture and can lend Asheville residents more control over their food sources.

On April 28th the Asheville City Council meeting will discuss the Animal Control Ordinance. With any luck it will soon be easier for people to keep backyard chickens. Asheville City Chickens helps teach Asheville residents responsible practices for raising these animals in an urban setting, complete with an emphasis on positive neighbor and community relations.

Check out these photos of a wonderful Urban Chicken residence in Oakley.

Take a moment to view the proposed changes to the Animal Control Ordinance, and sign the petition.

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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 in the fewest number of throws. Courses are usually in forested areas and use the trees, hills and other natural terrain to make the game more challenging.

Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee. The sport shares with "ball golf" the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws).

A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the "hole." The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole, an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed.

The trees, shrubs and terrain changes in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the "putt" lands in the basket and the hole is completed. Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it's sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. There are few differences, though. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee, you probably won't need to rent a cart, and you never get stuck with a bad "tee time." It is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status.

The sport is also one that is played year-round, in rain or shine, snow or ice. When it comes to Disk Golf; the more natural hazards to contend with, the better. With at least 6 courses nearby, you can conveniently enjoy one of these wonderful locations:

For full details and directions see WNC Disk Golf

Richmond Hill Disc Golf Course, Asheville, NC is a heavily wooded course with elevation changes in abundance. A full 18 holes are available for play. Installed in 2001, this course was designed with the serious player in mind. The primary tee box placement is set for the advanced/professional player, although many holes contain alternate/amateur tee box placements.

Mars Hill College Disc Golf Course
-An 18-hole course in and around the Mars Hill College Campus. Check kiosk for details.

Black Mountain Recreation Park Disc Golf Course, Black Mountain, NC is a 9-hole course that caters to the recreational player. This course contains a mix of wooded and open shots. A river comes into play for many holes. Black Mountain technically challenges even the advanced player with tight skill shots.


Crookston Disc Golf Course, Fletcher, NC is a professional caliber 9-hole course installed in 2001. The course is located at the Fletcher Community Park and contains many open shots as it meanders around a pond. There are professional as well as amateur tee boxes at every hole. Out-of-bounds comes into play throughout the course.

Western Carolina University Disc Golf Course
9 holes - Disc Catcher

Vance Street Disc Golf Course (Waynesville)
18 holes with 2 pin locations for each hole and a mixed bag of tee surfaces including grass, asphalt and concrete. The long pin total distance is 6692 and the short pin is 5010. The course is an open course with a few choice tree shots to give all who play it a good challenge!! Lots of O.B. to make it interesting including streams and creeks for plastic swimming!! The course offers some great views of the Southern Appalachians!!

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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, tour the famous Biltmore Estate, take a cruise on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Thrash Skate Parks, Enjoy Local Hiking trails and much more.

Discover amazing family fun outdoor opportunities around Asheville with this handy online resource:  Year of the Park (via Google Maps)

This is a fabulous online resource that everyone should bookmark.

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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 hunt proved to be only somewhat entertaining, we had a blast hiding and rediscovering our own eggs hidden strategically throughout the beautiful tulip gardens that are blooming this time of year!

Asheville Citizen Times: Guide to WNC Easter egg hunts:

April 11, 2009
Community Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m.-noon, St. Paul's Church, 32 Rosscraggon Road, Building B, Skyland. Inflatables, activities, refreshments, more. Third grade and younger. Call 277-7730.

Fletcher Easter egg hunt and parade of hats. 12:15 p.m., Fletcher Community Park. Visit www.fletcherparks.org. The fields will be covered with over 8,000 eggs full of prizes and candy for everyone participating, and the Easter Bunny will be there to officially start the Easter Egg Hunt!

Grovewood Gallery and Café Easter egg hunt, 11 a.m., 111 Grovewood Road. Ages 2-9. $10; RSVP by April 6. Activities, Easter Bunny. Call 253-7651 or visit www.grovewood.com.

Lake Junaluska Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Stuart Auditorium/Harrell Center, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Many more Easter events scheduled for April 11-12.

Malvern Hills Park Easter egg hunt, 1-3 p.m., ages 2-10, hosted by Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church. Call 258-8624

Dillsboro's Easter Hat Parade, 2 p.m., Dillsboro. Participants and pets of all ages. Prizes, Easter Bunny, more. Hat-making in advance at Dogwood Crafters. Call 800-962-1911

April 11-12, 2009
Train ride with Snoopy, the Easter Beagle, 10:30 a.m., the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, departing Bryson City. Children 2-12, $29; adults, $49. Refreshments, egg hunt, photos with Snoopy. Call 800-872-4681 or visit .

April 12, 2009
Biltmore Easter egg hunts, 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Biltmore Estate admission required for age 6 and older.

Chimney Rock Park sunrise service. Gates open 5-6 a.m.; service at 6:30 a.m. Arrive early, dress warm and bring a flashlight.

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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 remain in dye the brighter the colors will be)

Orange: Paprika
Dark Orange: Chili Powder
Yellow: Orange/Lemon Peels, Shredded Carrots, Onion Skins, Cumin, Curry Powder, Turmeric
Blue: Blue Berries, Blackberries, Grape Juice
Green: Try spinach, Kale
Red: Organic Rose Hips Tea or Pomegranate Juice
Brown: Organic Coffee grounds or Used Tea Bags
Pink: Fresh Organic Beets or Cranberries
Lavender: grape juice + lemon juice + red onion skins

For the regular food coloring method, try these Easter Recipes for more exotic coloring. Following each color listed below, add the number of drops of each food coloring to about 2 - 4 ounces of vinegar for dipping:

Lime - 24 yellow, 4 green
Purple - 15 blue, 5 red
Cantaloupe - 24 yellow, 2 red
Jade - 17 green, 3 blue
Plum - 10 red, 4 blue
Spearmint - 12 green, 6 yellow, 2 blue
Raspberry - 14 red, 6 blue
Maize - 24 yellow, 1 red
Watermelon - 25 red, 2 blue
Teal - 15 green, 5 blue
Grape - 17 blue, 3 red
Fuchsia - 18 red, 2 blue
Orange Sunset - 17 yellow, 3 red
Jungle Green - 14 green, 6 yellow  

Have fun and snap a few photos of your Easter Egg Masterpiece!
I'd love to see how they turn out.

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Spring is here and trout season has begun. Now is the time to grab the kids, get your gear and head off to the river. Our local trout waters have been generously stocked and are ready to be fished.

Details from Asheville Citizen-Times:

“This year, staff with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will stock more than 818,000 trout, with 96 percent of the stocked fish averaging 10 inches in length and the other four percent exceeding 14 inches in length.

When fishing on hatchery-supported trout waters, anglers can harvest a maximum of seven trout per day, with no minimum size limits or bait restrictions. These harvest regulations, combined with the generous stocking numbers, can result in some fantastic fishing opportunities. “         

Another item of interest for the 2009 fishing season is the first official fly fishing trail! According the the Highland News:

"The trail features some of the best trout waters in the Great Smoky Mountains and encompasses 15 prime spots for catching brook, brown and rainbow trout. The trail includes portions of four rivers, the Tuckasegee, Chattooga, Whitewater and Horsepasture."  

This is the perfect chance to take your loved ones out and nature and capture some perfect memories of spring days on the river. Not to mention bringing home some grub.

"A companion Web site, www.flyfishingtrail.com, allows fly fishermen to access trail information online, and post pictures of their catches. GPS coordinates of each stream will be posted by April 4, which is opening day for trout season in the hatchery-supported waters of western North Carolina."

For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org or call the Division of Inland Fisheries, (919) 707-0220.

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A dozen local artisan bakeries celebrate bread!

Come on out to GreenLife for the bread sale and workshops on baking.  You will be able to taste bread from 13 local, artisan bakeries. Meet your local bakers and taste a variety of cheeses from two local dairies. And the best part, if you buy a loaf of bread you’ll get a ticket to any of the following workshops:



Asheville Artisan Bread Festival Schedule
Each workshop has space for 35 people; a separate ticket is required for each session. You can get a workshop ticket for each of loaf of bread you purchase (as long as tickets are available).

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Asheville was mentioned in the UK Times with appreciation. It’s good to be reminded that this little mecca we call home is an exceptional place and that even a short visit can make a lasting impression.

North Carolina: The USA's New South

“After two days in Dixie, I was beginning to regret my decision to lure my wife, our teenage son and twin daughters on a road trip into the South. Although I’d promised them an encounter with a unique part of America, so far we’d seen mostly strip malls, corporate headquarters and McMansions. The new South, I was beginning to fear, was no different from the rest of America.

Then we entered the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, and it soon became clear that we had arrived in a place unlike any other in the United States. Asheville is a case in point. Although the darkly wooded hills surrounding it were full of Baptist churches, barbecue shacks and billboards threatening eternal damnation, the city itself (pop 72,000) proved to be an oasis of stylish liberalism with a distinctly Southern accent.

…Arriving here, you feel you’ve discovered something increasingly rare in homogeneous America: a regional city with a personality all its own.”

So true, so true, we really couldn’t ask for a better place to call home.

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United Way’s 2-1-1 is a community service information line that links people to health and human services in the area.  Just dial 211 from a land line and it’s free. The call is confidential and available 24/7. Whether you need help paying the heating bill or looking for resources for your grandmother, 211 is there to help.

2-1-1 services include housing, medicine, transportation, money management, support groups,  legal assistance, counseling services and much more.  There is even free tax preparation services for low-income individuals.  There are over 200 health and human service programs in the 211 database and a friendly voice to help you navigate your dilemma.  Whether you are a social worker yourself looking for a particular agency or someone in need, the trained referral specialists can help you find what you are looking for.  

211 also has a website: www.211wnc.org, this extensive database covers beyond Asheville to neighboring counties in Western North Carolina.  At these times of economic stress for everyone, it is important to know that there are resources available and it’s only a phone call away. If you know someone in need please share this information, or call 211 and find out what other resources are available to them.

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