Sen. Paul Lowe introduces bill to extend of renewable energy tax credits in North Carolina

March 18, 2015 press release: Raleigh, NC – Today Senator Paul Lowe, of Forsythe County, introduced Senate Bill 329, legislation extending the renewable energy tax credit. This legislation allows individuals and companies that have constructed, purchased, or leased renewable energy property a tax credit equal to 35% of the cost of the property, during the […]

Public asked to vote favorite pairing of stage talent & business leaders in Flat Rock Playhouse ‘Theater of the Stars’

Seven local business leaders will partner with Flat Rock Playhouse artists to present a one night only evening of song, dance and theatre – all with the hopes of raising the most votes to win the title as well as $1,000 for their selected charity of choice. The curtains go up April 11, when pairs […]

Asheville Outlets opens its doors for charity night April 30

Asheville Outlets will open their doors for a charity preview night Thursday, April 30: 5-9 p.m. Guests will enjoy a preview of Asheville Outlets and an evening of shopping, savings, prize giveaways, entertainment and more. Organizers say 100 percent of the ticket proceeds go to benefit 20 local non-profit organizations. Tickets are $20. Tickets are […]

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design invites audience participation with experimental artist series

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design is staging four events in the coming months featuring nationally known artists; each event asks attendees to join with the artist in exploring the creative process. The first event, “Hand in Hand,” takes place April 3-4 and features Tanya Aguiñiga. Press release: The Center for Craft, Creativity & […]

Pilobolus set to propel Asheville with speed, accuracy & strength April 7,8

Internationally acclaimed Pilobolus Dance Theater will bring its mix of humor, invention, drama and even partial nudity to Diana Wortham Theatre, Tuesday & Wednesday, April 7 & 8, 2015, 8:00 p.m. The troupe’s name is taken from a barnyard fungus that propels its spores with extraordinary speed, accuracy, and strength. Pilobolus has appeared on Sesame […]

Air quality forecast for Wednesday, March 25: Moderate (YELLOW)

Wednesday, March 25, 2015, is a code YELLOW air quality forecast day for the valleys of Asheville. This means that unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. For the ridge tops, it is a code GREEN air quality forecast day. No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range. Please […]

Wheels4Hope celebrates Asheville launch; provides worthy recipient with used car

Nikita Smart drove away in her own car last week, a recently donated and repaired 1996 Honda Accord, following a ceremony for Wheels4Hope, which is celebrating its recent launch in Asheville. The car recipient, along with her 11-year old daughter, were referred to Wheels4Hope by Community Action Opportunities. Reliable transportation matters and many in our […]

N.C. solar-energy prospects could dim soon, says Duke University report

“Just seven years ago, North Carolina produced virtually no solar energy. But solar-friendly policies at the state and federal levels and a robust group of investors, developers, contractors and manufacturers have created rapid changes,” say Christopher Gergen and Stephen Martin in a commentary that appeared recently in the Charlotte Observer. They continue, “A report released […]

Allow short-term rentals in residential areas? Asheville Council to hear community views Wednesday

City Council will host a community conversation about short-term rentals — which include bed and breakfasts and Airbnb rentals — on Wednesday, March 25 in the banquet room of the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. While areas zoned residential generally do not allow lodging, the zoning code provides exceptions for homestays and bed and […]

And again! Governor names Tryon’s Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival a Carolina State Championship

Tryon’s Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is on a roll: Once again, the governor of North Carolina has decreed that the annual Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival, “shall be known as a North Carolina State Championship,” and that the days of the festival “shall be ‘The Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival Days’ in North […]

Huffington Post declares Asheville the fourth most romantic city in the South

Do you get dreamy thinking of visiting these nine cities: Savannah, Charleston, Miami, Asheville, New Orleans, Charlottesville, Louisville, Oxford, and Knoxville? “Take a look, book a trip, and take off with your lover!” declares Huffington Post’s Travel writer Carly Ledbetter in her March 14 post listing her favorite Southern cities. The Asheville entry links to […]

Biltmore Estate included in Endless Vacation’s list of top botanical gardens in the world

Endless Vacation’s spring 2015 “Top Botanical Gardens Around the World” lists 10 notables, from Suzhou, China, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and nestled among them is the Biltmore Estate, which the list describes as: This 8,000-acre estate is home to six formal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who played a key role in creating […]