Posts Tagged ‘East Asheville’

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.

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!

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

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.

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!!

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.

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.