Downtown Asheville Blog

Downtown Asheville has been just full of world-class dance this week. After an appearance from Momix, the modern dance troupe that has been visiting much larger cities, we receive a performance from the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre.

The Russian ballet company will present Romeo and Juliet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. The performance sets the classic tale by William Shakespeare to a classic dance art form, from a country known for producing some of the greatest ballet dancers.

Tickets cost $25 to $60 and are available at the Asheville Civic Center or from Ticketmaster.

The production comes thanks to the Asheville Bravo! Concerts series, which brings international acts to our nice little mountain town. This will be the last performance of the season.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, a Asheville real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Kasey & Associates.

What would modern dance be like if it were performed in outer space? A show in Downtown Asheville this week answers that question.

Internet reviews of “Momix: Lunar Sea,” playing at the Diana Wortham Theatre, often refer to the fact that dancers seem to be floating through the air, as if unconstrained by gravity. Comparisons to the deep sea and deep space abound, with the dark set punctuated by flourescent costumes, creating a mood evocative of stars or sea creatures. The multimedia infusion of lights, video, music and special effects creates a futuristic vibe.

Critics differ on whether the production relies too heavily on technical gimmicks, but everyone seems to agree the Momix dance company has plenty of athletic prowess. Considering the show has been hitting big cities like Boston and Sacramento, Asheville residents will no doubt be pleased to have the opportunity to judge for themselves.

“Lunar Sea” plays only two nights – Wednesday and Thursday, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40 and are available through Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, an Asheville real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Kasey & Associates.

Need an excuse to eat out Tuesday? Here’s one: Area restaurants will be donating 10 precent of their proceeds to the Animal Compassion Network, an animal rescue non-profit.

The 5th annual Dine to Be Kind event raises money for the spay/neuter program. The program offers free and discounted spay and neuter services, an important part of preventing stray and unwanted dogs and cats.

The event lasts all day, so patrons can come out for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Many of the restaurants on the list even offer take-out. Click here for a list of restaurants that qualify.

If you’ve been looking for a furry companion, browse the non-profit’s selection of dogs and cats. Many of the cute little animals can also be seen at the PetSmart at the Super Wal-Mart Plaza in Asheville.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, an Asheville real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Kasey & Associates.

If you love dessert, Downtown Asheville has the goods. And I’m not just talking about a piece of cake at one of the local restaurants. A crop of cafes specializing in sweet goodness has grown.

The latest addition, the French Broad Chocolate Lounge (10 S. Lexington Ave.), has been generating a buzz. There’s chocolate truffles, chocolate cake, hot chocolate, dark chocolate… you get the picture. All in a comfortable, chocolate-coma-inducing atmosphere. It’s also a great place to have drinks or grab a coffee.

Speaking of coffee, World Coffee Cafe (18 Battery Park Ave.) deserves mention for its dessert selection. The bakery-fresh brownies, cakes and cookies tempt every patron from the display case in front of the cash register and coffee machines. They also have the best patio dining when the weather warms.

Temptations (5 Biltmore Ave.) takes the cake when it comes to cake, from chocolate mousse to Black Forest to Angel Food.  They also have a mean coconut cream pie. And I know you’re not think about ice cream this time of the year, but they are across the street from Marble Slab Creamery.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, an Asheville real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Kasey & Associates.

It seems like there’s never a shortage of live music in Dowtown Asheville, but I wanted to give some press to some shows I think will be especially good.

Singer/Songwriters Rebecca Pronsky and Valorie Miller will play a free show at the French Broad Brewery and Tasting Room, near Biltmore Village. If you’ve never heard these beautiful voices, this is your chance. They’re perfect for the venue, which essentially amounts to a homely corner of the brewery warehouse.

Reggae band Roots of Creation plays the Emerald Lounge on Wednesday. Jamaica in Asheville, mon.

Yonder Mountain String Band plays bluegrass with rock n’ roll energy, and they’ll be rockin’ the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on Thursday. This Colorado-based band has been a perennial favorite in town, and recently outgrew the Orange Peel with their loyal following. They took a stylistic leap and included some drums on their last album, so they will be inviting Phish drummer Jon Fishman to sit in with them.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, an Asheville real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Kasey & Associates.

If you’re looking for an opportunity see a show in Downtown Asheville, you’ve got several options in the coming weeks at the Diana Wortham Theatre.

“Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano!” will play Feb. 19-24. The retrospective features classic tunes such as “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “White Christmas,” and “Cheek to Cheek.” Irving is widely regarded as one of America’s most talented and prolific songwriters, even though he never learned to read music. He was a product of the Tin Pan Alley days, and many people know his songs without knowing he wrote them.

On a contemporary note, the North Carolina Dance Festival will have two performances at the Wortham on Feb. 29 and March 1. The lineup for each night will be different, and will consist of modern dance troupes from North Carolina. Tickets go on sale Friday.

The Diana Worth Theatre is located in Pack Place, right in the middle of the city. That makes it a great place for an evening out.

Guys - these are both great Valentine’s dates.