Downtown Asheville Blog

The tag is what hooked me: “If your parents never let you break open your Etch A Sketch to find out how it works…” Toys: The Inside Story is a new exhibit at The Health Adventure, a museum at Pack Place. It will fascinate children and parents alike.

I was one of those kids who always took apart his G.I. Joes and then rearranged the body parts to create new characters. One of my childhood friends started his electronics career by taking apart every radio and alarm clock he could find, much to the chagrin of his mother.

Now, we have an exhibit with features on pulleys, circuits, cams, linkages and gears. The interactive displays incorporate recognizable icons such as an Elmo doll and the board game Operation.

The Health Adventure is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The children’s museum also features exhibits on nutrition, the human body, energy and mechanics.

This particular show is sponsored by The Toy Box of Asheville, a great little store at 793 Merrimon Avenue. Another great local toy store is The Enviro Depot at 58 College Street.

Posted by Asheville real estate agent Mark Vanderhoff, who can’t wait to take his one-year-old daughter to a museum one day.

After recently writing about Downtown Asheville’s Art Walk, it’s only fair that I mention the River Arts District’s Studio Stroll. This funky, industrial part of town has been incubating its own vibrant arts scene, which includes everything from glass blowers to welders to painters to furniture makers and more. Best of all, visitors will literally be touring the artists’ studios, as well as galleries that carry a variety of work.

Located barely one mile from downtown, the River Arts District became popular with artists seeking an inexpensive place to set up shop. Just ten years ago, most of the old buildings and warehouses were completely abandoned. Now, it’s the Next Big Thing.

As an added bonus, the Wedge Brewing Company, Asheville’s newest microbrewery, will be open all weekend during the Studio Stroll. Located in the Wedge Building, site of many artist studios, the buzz has been intense. This new watering hole has had very limited hours up until now, and only one beer - Iron Rail IPA - on tap. Word on the street is that new beers will be introduced this weekend.

Posted by Asheville realty broker Mark Vanderhoff.