“Be prepared” goes the Scouting movement’s mantra. And being able to face any challenge is often a goal of institutions. But the question is always: How? How can we be best prepared for whatever may come? The Boy Scout carries his pocketknife. Emergency services train for possible scenarios. Young people study to pass the big […]
Buncombe County’s Farm Heritage Trail supports an agricultural legacy
Out-of-towners who flock to Asheville for mountain views, world-class dining and a taste of Appalachian culture probably don’t often make a point of including a drive to northwest Buncombe County on their travel itineraries. Sparsely populated rural communities like Sandy Mush, Leicester, Newfound and Alexander tend to be pretty far off the radar for tourists — and even for […]
Making local tourism sustainable
What does a catchphrase like “sustainable tourism” mean here in Western North Carolina? How do you make it work at the ground level? Local businesses, organizations and public officials weigh in on what such a model might look like in the region.
Lexington Corner Market launches this month with soft openings
As an in-and-out kind of place to grab a fresh sandwich, a jar of Lusty Monk mustard, a to-go pint of ice cream from The Hop or a couple of Buchi kombuchas (sounds like a fun night!), Lexington Corner Market will add a new facet to the mix of merchants downtown.
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.
Tool library aims to build community, sustainability
The long-awaited Asheville Tool Library will hold its grand opening Saturday, April 9. The collaborative effort has been several years and a couple of false starts in the making, beginning with a crowdfunding campaign and a series of community meetings in the spring of 2013. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have finally found a […]
Fonta Flora Brewery expands to a historic farm site
Partnering with the Foothills Conservancy and Lake James State Park, Fonta Flora has bought historic farmland near Nebo with plans to become Western North Carolina’s first true farmhouse brewery.
Trade and Lore Coffee is set to open on Wall Street
A new downtown coffee shop aims to create a hub for community building and social justice in the wake of Waking Life.
Asheville Heritage Food Project celebrates endangered vegetable and fruit varietals
A group of local farmers, gardeners, educators and food enthusiasts recently joined forces to participate in Slow Food Asheville’s first Heritage Food Project, honoring and promoting the Nancy Hall sweet potato.
Taco Temple opens on Charlotte Street
The owner of Mamacita’s is bringing a new tacocentric restaurant to Charlotte Street that will feature handmade tortillas with corn imported from Mexico.
Hall Fletcher Elementary hosts third annual Star Chef Junior Cook-Off
Local chefs gathered at Hall Fletcher Elementary School Friday to judge dishes prepared from fresh ingredients by teams of fourth-grade students vying for awards in several categories.
Small bites: Mama’s Fast Food closes after 25 years
Haywood Road institution Mama’s Fast Food has closed; Sour Fest returns to Thirsty Monk; ASAP holds its annual CSA fair; and the Riceville Volunteer Fire Department invites community members to a chili cook-off meet-and-greet.
Smoke and mirrors: the death of tobacco in WNC
Few crops have been as central to North Carolina’s economy and culture — or as controversial — as tobacco. Historically, its high market value and the relative ease of growing it made tobacco a staple for many Western North Carolina farmers. As late as 2002, 1,995 mountain farms grew tobacco. The crop’s prevalence, however, was […]
Local buzz: Yaupon tea takes the Asheville stage as a native source of caffeine
A black tea made from the yaupon holly, the only known caffeinated plant indigenous to North America, is creeping onto Asheville store shelves and coffee shop menus.
Asheville Truffle Experience returns to explore the fabled fungi
The Asheville Truffle Experience happened downtown last weekend for the second time in as many years with guest speaker appearances from regional experts and master chefs sharing their knowledge on the fabled Tuber melanosporum. A continuation of a smattering of past truffle-related events in the Asheville area, this year’s festival was organized by Susi Gott Séguret. Séguret says she […]
Dawn of the oak age: Local wineries and breweries collaborate on barrel programs
The first story in a two-part series on the use of barrels in the Asheville-area beer industry.
Chefs converge on Asheville for Appalachian food salon
In early February, downtown restaurant The Market Place hosted more than 20 chefs and Appalachian food artisans and experts for the James Beard Foundation’s inaugural Chefs at Work on Policy and Change salon. The private discussion allowed participants to dig deeply into issues of sustainability, food inequality and cultural heritage.
Local businesses drive Asheville vibe
Walk any downtown Asheville street and you’re likely to encounter some quirky storefronts offering unusual products. Together, these “specialty shops” or boutiques, most of them locally owned businesses, are a key component of the city’s distinctive flavor, attracting thousands of tourists each year and helping fuel the economy.
Green Side Up Foundation holds fundraisers Jan. 30 – Feb. 4 to support child cancer patients
As we roll into 2016, it’s easy to neglect the resolutions for the new year many of us made a month ago. But for children and their families battling cancer and dealing with the side effects of treatment, giving up or forgetting isn’t an option. To assist these children and their families in their time […]
Feeling Fancy: Madison Has Heart hosts 3rd annual Fanciful Flea fundraiser in Marshall Feb. 13
To help its neighbors in Madison County manage these costs, local nonprofit organization Madison Has HEArT is hosting its third annual Fanciful Flea event on February 13 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Marshall Island Studios in downtown Marshall.
Home, sweet home: Mountain Housing Opportunities celebrates The Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments
In its latest efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, the nonprofit organization Mountain Housing Opportunities hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gift registry drive Thursday evening at its brand new apartment complex, The Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments, just off New Leicester Highway. MHO staff, partner organizations, sponsors, local and state government officials were […]