Eat out for the Parkway

Local restaurants are collaborating with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to raise money for the iconic roadway that connects 469 miles of mountain landscapes and communities.

More than a dozen local restaurants will donate at least 10 percent of their sales on Tuesday, Sept. 18 to support the Parkway. Loretta’s Cafe in Asheville and City Lights Cafe in Sylva will donate 20 percent. Other restaurants participating include Café Azalea, Chai Pani, Chef Mo’s Restaurant and Bar, Copper River Grill, Corner Kitchen, Early Girl Eatery, Filo Pastries, Guadalupe Cafe, The Junction, The Local Joint, Piazza, Plant, Pomodoros Cafe, Salsa’s and Tomato Jam.

“The Parkway is the most visited unit in the National Park Service, and it gets more than Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite combined,” says Christy Bell, development director at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. “But it's one of the only ones that doesn't charge an admission fee.”

After 77 years, the Parkway could use some love and some cash. “It's an aging resource,” Bell says. The Foundation donates some $650,000 to the Parkway for projects and programs, including helping restore trails and developing educational programs.

Restaurants farther afield will also contribute to the fundraising effort. For a full list of participating eateries all along the Parkway, visit http://brpfoundation.org/content/plates-parkway.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.