Connie Regan-Blake offers stories with a glass of wine at Metro Wines, Lex 18 hosts a vintage radio variety show Father’s Day event, Addison Farms Vineyard holds Dinner in the Vines and tickets go on sale for the 2016 WNC Battle of the Burger.
Asheville bartenders face off in rum cocktail competition
Six Asheville bartenders took their best shot at a chance to win accommodations for three nights at the 2016 Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans during the Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Beat It Rummy craft cocktail competition at Tiger Mountain on June 10.
Negroni Week returns to Asheville
This week, over 6,000 bars, restaurants and retailers around the world are offering their own variations of the Negroni cocktail as part of the third annual international Negroni Week
Chill out: Laid-back cocktails for summer in Asheville
Local bartenders offer ideas and recipes for making cooling summer drinks using scratch-made syrups and simple ingredients.
Brews and bites: Food and beer pairings add flavor to AVL Beer Week schedule
AVL Beer Week beer dinners and food pairings bring unusual ingredients, interesting venues, Asheville chefs and local brews together for tasty and out-of-the-ordinary events.
A traveling gala revisits Asheville’s past
Trolleys will pick guests up from the Grove Arcade and usher them around town, delivering them to three separate parties throughout the evening.
Small bites: Asheville VegFest returns
Asheville VegFest’s smorgasbord of food and drinks will be strictly vegan, though the event aims to be as light and fun as its kombucha beer; The Inn at Glen Alpine hosts its first Turkey Tail Wine Festival; Patryk Battle leads a no-till gardening class at Living Web Farms; and the River Arts District Farmers Market opens for business.
Mack Kells Pub & Grill celebrates 35 years as an Asheville neighborhood hangout
On Friday, May 13, the Tunnel Road bar celebrates its 35th year in business with throwback specials, music and neighborly fun.
Small bites: Buffalo Nickel brings the Kentucky Derby to West Asheville
Buffalo Nickel expects a run on mint juleps at its second Derby Party; Post 70 hosts its own Derby Day Cookout; Luella’s Bar-B-Que opens a second location in South Asheville; and Velvet & Lace hosts its last dark and witchy cocktail party.
The Final Ritual: Buxton Hall’s Velvet & Lace hosts its last bewitching hurrah
If you haven’t yet fallen under the spell of Buxton Hall Barbecue’s monthly Wicca-themed extravaganza, Velvet & Lace, you have one last chance. Organizer’s Kelly Vormelker and Sam Pennington started the bewitchingly memorable pop-up concept to celebrate outstanding women behind the bar, and after six months of parties, it is time to pack the cauldron away. […]
High spirits: A guide to Asheville Cocktail Week
A new effort from the organizers of the Asheville Wine & Food Festival, Asheville Cocktail Week highlights the local and regional craft cocktail scene with a week of competitions and workshops. The region’s growing distilling industry will also take the spotlight at the Southeastern Distilling Expo.
UPDATE: Conscious party: Befriending the French
An upcoming wine tasting fundraiser hosted by Asheville Sister Cities International aims to strengthen local bonds with the French town of Saumur. The event is at MetroWines on Sunday, April 24.
A summertime cure: Sovereign Remedies expands with new outdoor space
A rezoning arrangement with the city of Asheville will allow the downtown bar and restaurant to offer outdoor dining and lunch service starting in May.
WNC Rail Corridor Committee hatches new strategy
For more than 20 years, the WNC Rail Corridor Committee has worked tirelessly to prove the economic viability of restoring the historic rail link between Salisbury and Asheville. With changes in the rail industry looming and younger travelers showing increased interest in train travel, the committee is partnering with towns and municipalities and freight rail companies to pursue a new, three-pronged strategy.
Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest highlights a local industry
In addition to cheeses, meats, breads, jams and other artisan foods, Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest offers demonstrations on milking, butter-churning and mozzarella-making, plus kids activities and educational pairing workshops. The festivities are Sunday, April 24, at Highland Brewing Co.
ICYMI: Xpress feature reads of the week
Ahh, Spring is in the air! The tourists are buzzing around downtown and the lovely smell of Bradford pear trees is wafting on the breeze….which means we’re probably in for a heavy frost or one more freak snow shower in the coming weeks. Anyway, here’s some feature stories from the past week, if you’re looking […]
Breathing room: Asheville’s ABC Board expands capacity
Expanded capacity at the Asheville Alcoholic Beverage Control Board’s warehouse could mean local bartenders and restaurateurs will see increased availability of and dependable access to some hard-to-acquire spirits.
UPDATE: Paint the Town Red with the Red Cross
Tips are highly encouraged at this competitive bartending event, not only to raise extra funds, but also because the celebrity guest with the most overflowing jar will be crowned the Mardi Gras King or Queen. The benefit night is at various bars on Fat Tuesday, March 29.
Time to wine: March marks the beginning of winery tour season
March marks the beginning of winery tour season. Western North Carolina’s wine industry boasts about 30 wineries and vineyards, many of which welcome visitors for tours and tastings.
Conscious party: Organic Growers School plans a four-course comedy dinner
French food snob Pierre Geaux (an alter ego of local homesteading authority Bill Whipple) will host Organic Growers School’s upcoming farm-to-table benefit dinner, curated by Meredith Leigh. The event is at UNCA on Saturday, March 12.
Asheville’s culinary community caters OpenDoors Art Affair 2016
Members of Asheville’s culinary community are collaborating to provide a Greek-themed feast to benefit OpenDoors of Asheville, a nonprofit focused on helping at-risk, underserved youths.