Downtown Asheville Blog

Sept. 3rd, 2010 Slip your canoe paddle into the tranquil waters of the French Broad and ease your way down stream as the day’s light fades to dusk. The sounds and life of the river this time of day just can’t be compared! You’ll paddle 8 miles, approximately 4 hours downstream through what many claim as the most beautiful section of the French Broad River. Watch the different bird life glide through the air in hunt of their last meal of the day, be it an insect zipping through the wind or a fish splashing through the current around you. Catch a glimpse of the beaver’s tail as he escapes into dark recesses of the river in search of his burrows entrance. Every trip provides the opportunity for a wide array of wildlife observation around every bend. Reservations are required and are confirmed with a 50% deposit. The trip fee is $50.00 per person which includes; canoe, paddle, life jacket, transportation to & from the river, and river guide. headwatersoutfitters.com

Sept. 3rd, 2010 National all Mustang car event at the Biltmore Estate. Over 500 Mustangs registered for this 3 day event. National vendors on site (Kicker, NPD, UPR, Aerofinz, Moss Muscle, etc). This is a judged national event, and the best of the best Mustangs in the country will be on display. Admission is free, but limited to car show site only. Does not include admission to Biltmore house or other attractions. brmcoa.org

Sept. 5th, 2010 Join us in the annual FREE end-of-summer celebration of Asheville’s artistic and musical communities, The Lexington Ave Arts and Fun Festival. LAAFF is entering our 9th year of filling three blocks of N. Lexington Ave in downtown with all local art, food, beer, music, street performers, and random acts of creativity. LAAFF takes place on Sunday, September 5th, 2010.

Aug. 27th, 2010 Since 1982, the YMI Cultural Center has presented Goombay!, one of several worldwide variations of the centuries-old celebration. Goombay! can be viewed as a Cultural Expression of a people.

Aug. 28th, 2010 This special event is in celebration of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary. Join Park Rangers for guided tours along the “Voices of the Parkway Trail”, and learn about parkway history. Tours will be at 10:00 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. This is a free activity, but registration is required. Call 828-298-5330 x 304. At 2:00 p.m., the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area will sponsor a free concert by the Elkville String Band, from North Wilkesboro, performing traditional old-time music.

Aug. 29th, 2010 Take the challenge! The Park’s winding entrance road averages an uphill climb of 7%, but the views from the finish line are well worth the effort. Part of the 6th Annual Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad, medals are awarded in age groups. Registration begins at 6:30am. chimneyrockpark.com

Aug. 20th, 2010 Flower Carpet-This 14,400-square-foot design features thousands of plants woven together on the South Terrace of Biltmore House to form a one-of-a-kind lush floral carpet. Biltmore continues to expand this legacy with this imaginative twist, featuring colorful summer blooms covering the ground in a design inspired by one of many historic treasures at Biltmore.

Aug. 21st, 2010 The Greater Haywood County Chamber of Commerce presents the Blue Ridge Breakaway ride, Saturday, August 21, in the mountains of Haywood County. Slated to be an annual cycling event in support of the initiatives of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, the Blue Ridge Breakaway offers four routes specifically designed for riders of all skill levels. The event features a Century (105 miles), Metric Century (65 miles), Panther (40 miles), and a Rabbit (24 miles). All routes will begin at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, which is located off of Interstate 40 and Hwy 23/74. Riders will explore mountain valleys near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Pisgah National Forest, and roads in the shadow of Cold Mountain. The Century ride will also include 30 miles on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway with a cumulative elevation gain of 8,209 feet. “The Blue Ridge Breakaway showcases the best of Haywood County,” said committee chairman Ken Howl of Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. “Riders will travel from 24 to 105 miles on scenic roads and have the unique opportunity to also experience Haywood County’s famous mountain hospitality. It will be a fun event for participants and spectators alike.” August in Western North Carolina provides sunny days and cool mountain temperatures, perfect for an adrenaline-pumping ride through the mountains. Registration is now open. Riders may pre-register online at www.blueridgebreakaway.com. Early registration discounts are available.

Aug. 21st, 2010 Ever wonder about those GPS units you have seen? Have you heard family and friends talking about how much fun it is to go Geo-caching? Join us for a lesson on how all this works and we will go out on a search to try it out. Join our guest staff from National Climatic Data Center for a presentation on weather and our amazing planet. GPS Day is part of our Super Science Saturdays program. Super Science Saturdays are assorted family-friendly themed activities based on the current traveling exhibit. Activities are aimed at families with children preschool age and older. The Health Adventure’s Super Science Saturdays are now every Saturday from 12-2 PM (unless otherwise noted). The Health Adventure (828) 254-6373

Aug. 13th, 2010 Since 2002, Abbey Road LIVE! has been rocking the music of the Beatles at clubs, theatres, festivals, and private events. Initially a tribute to the monumental “Abbey Road” album, the band has expanded its scope to include more than 100 Beatles tunes, from all eras of the Fab Four’s career. The band specializes in complete, start-to-finish album performances of masterpieces such as “Abbey Road”, “Magical Mystery Tour” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band”. Abbey Road LIVE! is not your typical Beatle look-alike tribute act; don’t expect mop-top haircuts and vintage Rickenbacker guitars. Rather, this show is about bringing to life some of the more mature and complex Beatles material in a raw & spirited fashion, while remaining true to the original recordings. Combining attention to detail with a creative exuberance, the band always delights its audiences with its diverse repertoire of hits and more obscure favorites. The Orange Peel

Aug. 14th, 2010 Help us celebrate the beginning of the grape harvest season and the kick-off of Asheville’s Wine and Food Festival! This event will show how important the burgeoning wine community of growers and wineries is to the sustainability and culture of Western North Carolina.

Aug. 14th, 2010 Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues Traditional, “Muddy Waters” Blues Mac is the last remaining, original artist from the famous, “Muddy Waters Band”. His unique style of traditional blues, combined with a band of modern talents, is recognized as one of the Best! Blonde Blues “Chicago Electric Blues” Cindy Adams has the soulfulness of Susan Tedeschi and the power of Grace Slick! Match this to great, “guitar driven” blues. This is the “Hottest” new “Blues/Rock” band in the southeast! WSNB “Delta, Mississippi Blues” Recognized by Bill Wax of XM radio’s “BBKings Bluesville”, Willie and his band are “Harp Driven” swampy blues. The Orange Peel

Aug. 5th, 2010 Join in the celebration and discover the nation’s longest running folk festival. Founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford in 1928, the Festival showcases an amazing repertoire of mountain performers who share songs and dances that echo centuries of Scottish, English, Irish, Cherokee and African heritage. Each evening is a joyful exploration of the rich culture found in the valleys and coves between the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Presented at Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in downtown Asheville, Thursday August 5 - Saturday August 7, 2010 at 7:00pm nightly. Tickets available at (828)257-4530. For more information please visit the Folk Heritage Committee’s website: www.folkheritage.org.

Aug. 6th, 2010 The Asheville Antiques Fair in its sixty-fourth year is one of the oldest Antiques Fair in the Southeast. Upwards of sixty antique dealers from all over the country participate in the Fair annually the first week of August. The Fair also host an “Heirloom Road Show” with expert evaluations of your personal antiques. Plus, expert lectures on a variety of interesing subjects. Summer Garden Cafe with gourmet luncheon selections available during your visit to the Show. The Asheville Antiques Fair is a non-profit organization - volunteer organization. All proceeds from the Fair are donated to historical projects within the Asheville community for conservation, preservation, restoration and education.

Aug. 7th, 2010 Join us at Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, mile marker 451.2 from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, August 7 for a special event, Blue Ridge Parkway: 75 Years of Heritage and Communities. There will be a variety of free, ongoing craft demonstrations throughout the day as well as Cherokee Dancers, Appalachian story tellers, old time and bluegrass bands. The Visitor Center and Eastern National gift shop will be open as usual from 10 am to 5 pm. Come and enjoy a day of family fun on the southern end of the Parkway. This event is outside and may have to be canceled if inclement weather arises. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: Entertainment 10:30 & 1:00 Cherokee Dancers: The Cherokee Friends 11:00 Old Time Appalachian Music: The Bean Town Boys 12:00 Ammon Sisters Mountain Storytelling 2:00 Bluegrass band: Francis Family Band Demonstrators Mud Dabbers Pottery, John Burtner- Blacksmith, Debra Locust-Cherokee jewelry artisan, Cherokee Friends, Ron Yount-woodcarver, Haywood County Arts Council-quilting, Pyrwood Dairy-goat cheese, Fiddlehead Farms-spinning, Nannie the Plott Hound accompanied by David Brewin Food will be available for purchase from Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro

July 29th, 2010 See more stars in more locations with the 2010 Biltmore Concert Series. Enjoy performances on the South Terrace with its breathtaking sunset views. And, new this year, take in live music at our Diana at Biltmore location—set on a high hill with sweeping views of Biltmore House framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Steve Miller Band

July 30th, 2010 Native sons of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hanson has been making music together for nearly two decades. Thirteen years ago, their out-of-the-blue, soul-inspired brand of American pop-rock‘n’roll was introduced to the world. Unaffected by charts or fads, they’ve spent more than a decade building a community of fans connected to one another and fueled by the energy and craftsmanship of three brothers and their music. Their fifth studio album, Shout It Out, is set to be released on June 8th 2010 on their label 3CG Records. They deliver a powerful group of soulful, melodic tunes that will leave you with a contagious sense of optimism for the future and welcomed reminiscence for American rock ‘n’ roll. The Orange Peel

Aug. 1st, 2010

The Work of Julie Armbruster, Tiffany Ownbey and Patty Bilbro August 1st-31st, 2010; Opening Reception Friday August 6th 5pm to 7pm Three mediums, three perspectives, three unique approaches to narrative expression. Come meet the many characters inhabiting the minds of painter Julie Armbruster, papier-mâché sculpture Tiffany Ownbey and ceramic artist Patty Bilbro. “Imaginary Friends” will be on display at Clingman Avenue Café, 242 Clingman Avenue, during the month of August with an opening reception planned on Friday, August 6 from 5 to 7pm. Each artist uses narrative imagery to evoke curiosity, self-reflection, imagination and emotion challenging the viewer to place themselves in the midst of the story whether dark, humorous or absurd. Julie Armbruster has a Masters in painting from New York University. Armbruster has participated in solo and group exhibitions in galleries throughout the east coast and abroad including The School of Architecture in Venice Italy, 80 Washington Square Gallery in New York, and Rebus Works in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is currently a River Arts District Artist with a studio in the Wedge Building. Tiffany Ownbey is a self-taught papier-mâché artist and holds a BFA in ceramics and printmaking from Western Carolina University. Ownbey travels the country with her art exhibiting in galleries and art fairs such as The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. She is a native to Western North Carolina and her work was recently shown in Yokohama, Japan. Patty Bilbro holds an Associate Degree in Clay from Haywood Community College Craft School as well as a BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina, Asheville. Bilbro has exhibited throughout the southeast and east coast including The Society For Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, PA and The Greenhill Center for NC Art in Greensboro, NC. She is a River Arts District Artist whose work can be found locally at Curve Studios and Garden. Clingman Cafe