A June 22 ceremony at Pack's Tavern in downtown Asheville honored 51 local real estate agents for completing the North Carolina Workforce Housing Specialist program. Created by the National Association of Realtors last year, the course teaches real estate professionals about the federal, state and local programs designed to help working families afford to own […]

The Boggs Collective, a new group of local furniture crafters, unveiled its Biltmore Village workshop on June 27. Started by master chair-maker Brian Boggs and his business partner, Melanie Moeller (an organizational development specialist), the company aims to create opportunities for landowners, loggers, sawyers and craftspeople to collaborate. It's the first custom wood shop in […]

Around 15 participants from several states are currently on the seventh day of the second annual Save the French Broad Float Trip, an 11-day outing that covers some 119 river miles, and is intended to build public awareness of river life and local water quality. The trip has been organized by Hartwell Carson, the French Broad Riverkeeper, and the Western North Carolina Alliance. Xpress spent the day with the flotilla yesterday and it was awesome. Photos by Michael Muller

Task Mania, the first business to graduate from A-B Tech's Business Incubator program, is moving to the Ridgefield Business Park (off Brevard Road, behind the Biltmore Square Mall). Founded in 2006 by Katrina Bragg, the company provides freelance administrative, creative and consulting services for businesses, including graphic design, data entry, copywriting, presentations, grant writing and […]

Over 50 real estate agents were recognized this morning for completing the Workforce Housing Specialist Certification Program, a course designed to help realtors learn about financial assistance programs available to potential homeowners. Diane Greene, Director of Community Outreach for the North Carolina Association of Realtors, speaks in this video about the housing affordability gap at this morning’s recognition ceremony at Pack’s Tavern. Video by Michael Muller

The sun rising this morning at 6:20 over the mountains just south of Asheville. Today is June 21, the first day of summer. Photo by Leia Cator — see more of her great pictures here.

Asheville’s First Annual Brew Off — a Home Brew Competition, benefiting Just Economics. Mountain Xpress’s own Alli Marshall was a celebrity judge. The drunken event fine beer tasting was held in The Wedge parking lot from 2-4 Saturday afternoon. There’s a photo slideshow and video segment after the jump.
Photo by Zen Sutherland, http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/

Downtown After Five is back this summer on Lexington Avenue between Hiawassee Street and I-240. The fun goes until 9 or so, and tonight’s featured bands are headliner Drivin’ ‘N’ Cryin’ with featured opener Velvet Truckstop. Photo by Michael Muller

The “Aha Moment” crew has rolled into town, part of Mutual of Omaha’s search for real people with real stories to feature in next year’s national TV commercial spots. Pictured here are Kait Ebinger, Dave Regos, and Jessica Henry. Photo by Michael Muller

Joe Minicozzi was formally installed as the Interim executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association at its “Member 2 Member” mixer tonight in the Centurion Room upstairs at Pack’s Tavern. Pictured here is Minicozzi (left) and ADA President Byron Greiner. Photo by Michael Muller

Big changes are happening at the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, and if you're even an occasional visitor to their Home Store on Meadow Road, you'll start seeing them by summer's end. The organization plans to add 13,000 square feet of retail space and more than 90 parking spaces. They'll accomplish this by moving their […]

The Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival rolled into town and held its Annual Red Carpet Walk and Opening Ceremonies at Scandals last night. Nearly a dozen performers thrilled the audience with singing, dancing, machete juggling and other wacky acts. The fun continues all day today and into the night. For more information, visit www.sideshowburlesque.org Photos by Michael Muller

A bronze cat climbs a street lamp on Wall Street in downtown Asheville. The sculpture is part of the 1.7-mile Urban Trail that winds through the city highlighting landmarks in Asheville’s history. For more information on the Urban Trail, click here. Photo by Michael Muller

More and more people are flying into Asheville, according to numbers to be released tomorrow by the Asheville Regional Airport Authority. April saw a 21.6% increase in “deplanements” (the number of passengers who got off a plane) from this time last year —that translates to an additional 5,183 people.

Dr. Rolland Blake, 86, a geologist originally from Minnesota, is realizing a lifelong dream today as he closes on property here in Asheville. He was spotted eating with his daughter Elizabeth at the new Green Light Café at 18 North Lexington Avenue. Flipping through the latest edition of the Xpress, which hit the streets today, Blake said he “couldn’t believe what a happening place” Asheville is. Photo by Michael Muller

Asheville architects Michael DeVere and Crawford Murphy plan to revolutionize the construction industry, help save the planet and — if all goes according to plan in the next year or so — provide several hundred local manufacturing jobs here in the process. How do they plan to accomplish all this? By using a simple idea […]

Today at 3:00 it will be announced at a joint press conference by the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau and UNC Asheville that the Southern Conference basketball tournament is heading back to Asheville for the 2012-2014 seasons.