Taste of Asheville: This weekend, May 21 and 22, the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association hosts its second annual “A Taste of Asheville” food festival. More than 20 local restaurants will offer up their morsels at City/County Plaza, where attendees will also take in live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, kids activities and more. For more information, see the festival’s ad in this issue of Xpress, or visit www.airasheville.org.
Dancing for diversity: On Saturday, May 21, Los Volcanes #2 will host a spicy fundraiser for the Center for Diversity Education, an Asheville-based organization that promotes diversity in local schools. The restaurant, which is located at 275 Smokey Park Highway (near the I-40 exit ramp), is the second location opened by owner Martin Luna, who says that this is “much more than just another Mexican restaurant.” For example, he says, salsa dances hosted by the restaurant provide “an excellent way for the Anglo population to develop a sense of community with their Latino neighbors.” The fundraiser will feature a full dinner from 7 to 10 p.m., salsa lessons and demonstrations from 8 to 9, and music by the six-piece Latin band Picante! from 9 to midnight. Tickets cost $10; food and drink sold separately. For more information, contact the CDE’s Deborah Miles at 232-5024 or dmiles@unca.edu, or Martin Luna at 691-8272 or martinluna@charter.net.
Through the grapevine: Looking for fine wine, fellow oenophiles, and maybe even love? The Wine Guy is launching a new series of Singles Mixer Wine Tasting events. The hosts will pour six to eight wines, reception-style, and provide light hors d’oeuvres. The first of the mixers, which will all be held at the store’s 555 Merrimon Ave. location, is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, and subsequent events will take place the third Thursday of each month. At $5 per person, the price is a bargain. For reservations or more information, call 254-6500. Cheers!
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