Downtown Asheville Blog

Oct. 29, 2008. Are you going to be in Asheville on Halloween? If so, get a costume and get ready for a night on the town. Here are a few events coming up:

Hallelection (Oct. 30) - The Feral Chihuahuas play at an early celebration the day before, first at 8 and then 9:30 p.m. at 35Below, 35 E. Walnut St. Tickets cost $10 (available at Adorn Salon Boutique, 82-B N. Lexington Ave., and Wink Heads and Threads, 19 Brook St.) Call 280-0107.

Pumpkin Pedaller - This Halloween bike tour through Asheville begins at the City-County Plaza and ends at the Wedge Gallery with food and dancing. Cyclists should come dressed up - but make sure you can safely ride, and bring a helmet and riding light. Starts at 6:30 p.m. $10. Email ashevilleonbikes@gmail.com.

Halloween Jager Rockfest - Jagermeister, anyone? This Ironside CD release party at Stella Blue will also feature Weedeater, Black Cobra and Dissent. And, of course, lots of Jager and Jager giveaways and prizes. Starts at 9 p.m.

Oct. 27, 2008. When most people crave fall colors, they head out on the Blue Ridge Parkway, not into town. But with the foliage display moving downward in elevation, many of the high elevation spots will begin to fade.

To be sure, fall colors are at their prime in the mountains right now, from 3,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation. If you arrive late, however, here are some spots around town to enjoy autumn at 2,000 feet:

The Sky Club - This inconspicuous bar employs the balconies on floors 6, 7 and 8 of Asheville’s Flat Iron building, at 18 Battery Park Avenue. With little signage or advertising, however, many people don’t know it’s there. The western aspect offers some of the best views in Downtown, especially at sunset. Just make sure to dress warmly this time of year. Open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Asheville Botanical Gardens - Less than five minues from Pack Square, this is one of the city’s favorite hiking spots. The grounds display native Southern Appalachia flora, including some of the most colorful trees around. Nearby greenways on Broadway and Weaver Boulevard also offer easy bicycle riding.

Town Mountain Road - This aptly named highway heads out from the city and eventually climbs up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Come down one of the parkway’s lowest (but not least!) stretches and exit via U.S. Highways 70 or 25, or via NC Route 191.

Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, an Asheville real estate broker at Keller Williams Realty.

Oct. 23, 2008. Asheville has seen quite a few powerful politicians this year, from Barack Obama to both Clintons. This Sunday, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will appear Downtown at the Civic Center.

According to an article in the Citizen-Times: “Free tickets to the event will be available from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the local Victory 08 headquarters, 16 Regent Park Blvd… There is a limit of two tickets per person.”

North Carolina has become a battleground state this year, bucking decades of trends in which state voters elected GOP candidates. One recent poll found Obama ahead of McCain, 51-47.

How the election will play out is anyone’s guess, but there’s no doubt that Western North Carolina will be a great place to mix politics and pleasure this weekend. As the fall colors move down in elevation, our charming mountain town is beginning to see quite a bit of color.

No word on whether Palin will have time to drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway and soak in the scenery…

Oct. 21, 2008. Longtime Asheville favorite Keller Williams will play a free show this Friday in Downtown. Williams is touring this fall, and his stop in WNC is one of a few free shows. He normally plays at the Orange Peel at least once per year, and also plays many of the local music festivals.

Williams gained notice for his unique one-man-band style of music. To watch him play is akin to watching a musician. He might begin on a bass guitar, with a simple funky beat. Then he records a section and uses a special recording device to play it back, looping it over and over again to lay down a rythym. He might do the same with the drums, then guitar. Then he might add some vocals. Things get really weird when he brings out a variety of instruments, from kazoos to bongos.

He has also played with local bluegrass group Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and toured with bands. He’s expected to play a solo set in Asheville.

The show will be held on Lexington Avenue. Openers EOTO and Josh Phillips Folk Festival kick things off around 4:30, with Keller expected to play around 8:30.

Oct. 10, 2008. Two local legends, Doc Watson and David Holt, will play two concerts tomorrow at the Diana Wortham Theatre in Downtown Asheville. Watson and Holt are kicking off their “Hills of Home” tour to support their new album, “Legacy.”

Holt, a well-respected songwriter who lives in Buncombe County, penned songs for the new album chronicling the storied life of Doc Watson, a bluegrass/folk icon from the mountains closer to Boone. In addition to having a historic place in Americana, Watson also helpd found Merle Fest, one of the largest and longest-running Americana music festivals in the country. The songs, according to a recent interview in the Asheville Citizen-Times, include stories about a haunted stove and the time Watson’s father took him to a healer to cure his blindness.

The two shows are at 3 and 8 p.m. at the Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place. Tickets cost $45, or $43 for seniors and $40 for students. For more information, visit www.dwtheatre.com.

Oct. 6, 2008. Parents of young children have probably seen the new Curious George television series on PBS. The cartoon has gained a loyal following for its positive messages and an animation style that seems a little less hyperactive than some of the ruling cartoons of the day. This week, a traveling exhibit based on the cartoon comes to The Health Adventure inside Pack Place.

Curious George: Let’s Get Curious combines sets and characters from the TV show with interactive lessons on math, science and engineering. The exhibit targets children in the 3-7 year age range.

Also on display at The Health Adventure are two other programs, Toys, The Inside Story and Moneyville. The children’s museum is a real treasure for families are looking for a way to spend the day with their children. There are also some ice cream shops and toy stores in the Downtown shopping district.

The Health Adventure is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from 1p.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed Mondays. Admission costs $8.50 for adults; $7.50 for students (12 & up) & seniors; $6.00 for children ages 2-11; Children under age 2 are free.