Marketing the mountains: The fight for tourist dollars heats up
Volume
24
/ Issue 43
Cover Design Credit:
Scott Southwick
With over 90 hotels in Buncombe County now and more on the way, the need to keep ramping up demand in the local tourism industry means there’s no rest for the folks promoting the area at the Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
arts
Open mics in and around Asheville
There’s typically a time limit for each presenter, and some open mics have a theme or a host to usher the evening along, but what happens in front of the…Poet Reginald Dwayne Betts on words, incarceration and his commencement address
Betts, who completed his MFA in 2010, will return to Warren Wilson on Saturday, May 19, to give the commencement address to the school’s undergraduate class.Smart Bets: Rob Haze
The Atlanta-based standup and "Tonight Show" alum performs at The Southern on May 19.The Downtown After 5 concert series celebrates a major anniversary
Friday, May 18, the 30th annual Downtown After 5 concert series launches with an especially localcentric show: Asheville All-Stars, a super-group comprised of a rotating cast of Asheville’s favorite singers…Sarah Louise shares a new forest-themed record at The Mothlight
The Asheville vocalist and multi-instrumentalist plays a record release show May 17 at The Mothlight.Smart Bets: Welcome to the Bassooniverse
Pan Harmonia ends its 18th season with a pair of free local shows, May 18 and 20.Smart Bets: Norse Folk Rave
The night of adult-themed storytelling and music takes place May 18 at The Grey Eagle.Smart Bets: Alice in Wonderland
Susan and Giles Collard’s dance interpretation of the Lewis Carroll book runs May 18-27 at the BeBe Theatre.Theater review: ‘The Mercy Seat’ at 35below
While it's unlikely that viewers leave two-person drama 'The Mercy Seat' laughing or smiling, but it's a production that will stick with audiences for a while.food
Creative local students help MANNA FoodBank achieve a food drive milestone
By linking donations to friendly competitions and events and publicizing efforts on social media, Western North Carolina schools brought in more food and funds than ever before in this annual…Virgin territory: Mocktails claim their own space in Asheville’s craft drinks scene
Liquor-free drinks receive the same artisan treatment as their spirited counterparts at many Asheville restaurants and bars.Small bites: Kitchen Ready Showcase Dinner spotlights New Orleans fare
Kitchen Ready graduates are set to showcase their culinary skills in the program’s capstone project. Also: A Taste of the Vineyard raises funds for Big Brother Big Sister of Henderson…living
Seniors hesitant to engage in end-of-life conversations
A lack of planning for long-term health care has left many Asheville seniors and their families unprepared to meet end-of-life medical needs. But local experts in advance planning say there…Blue Ridge Biofuels brings its closed-loop cooking oil initiative closer to home
Although some question its overall sustainability, Blue Ridge Biofuels’ Field to Fryer to Fuel program is transitioning to a new facility and on the verge of expansion.movies
Screen scene: Local film news
The Fine Arts Theatre and Women AdvaNCe team for an advance screening of "RBG," James Rosario launches a film noir series at the Fairview Library and more.news
Asheville Archives: The Lost Cause narrative
From textbooks to newspapers, from monuments to public orations, the Lost Cause narrative sought to present the Confederates’ wartime efforts, not as one of defeat, but heroism in the face…Growing Asheville’s tourism industry
Qualitative findings, paired with broader, quantitative surveys, support Explore Asheville’s ongoing quest to better understand its expanding roster of target markets. Because while Asheville’s total visitation numbers continue to rise,…Historian Karen Cox confronts Confederate monuments
On Saturday, May 19, historian Karen Cox will present "Confederate Monuments in the Jim Crow South" in the Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library.Conscious Party: Power of the Purse
The luncheon and talk by journalist Maria Hinojosa takes place May 22 at Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville and benefits the CFWNC's Women’s Fund.Fire chiefs ask county for $2.7M increase for retention, other needs
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners heard requests by 12 fire departments on May 8 to increase fire tax rates in their districts. If all the requests are approved, the…opinion
Letter: Assault weapons stance violates oath of office
"Such declarations made by these pubic officials constitute a violation of their sworn oath of office to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution from all foreign and domestic threats."Letter: Trump, WNC politicians fail to consult veterans
"I ask the president why no one seems to care about any input from us about who we think should head the VA?"Letter: Word choice insults ‘real immigrants’
"Reading that illegals have the temerity to insist that county commissioners do something to stop immigration enforcement should enrage anyone who believes in the rule of law."A tussle in your hedgerow
ASHEVILLE, NCLetter: On movies, Spillcorn and Trump
"Lots of insight into helping us transplanted urbanites comprehend the ongoing support for our current president, whom many of us consider an amoral charlatan, even when they are voting against…The mayor-y cyclist
ASHEVILLE, NCLetter: Finding a way to health requires careful thought
"It is my belief that health care practitioners themselves need to be in the process of discovering or knowing what food, what diet, what lifestyle supports their individual mental, physical…Letter: Fee hike makes downtown less welcoming for locals
"Council needs to quit blaming tourists and take care of locals — and local businesses."