It's the season of long strolls, warm breezes, outdoor dining, lush surroundings and a little dirt under your fingernails. Here's a brief guide to life in the urban outdoors through community gardens, public parks and neighborhood gatherings. So find a friend, choose and adventure and take it outside!
arts
Smart bets: Gringo Star
The psych-rock outfit Gringo Star has been described as a “’60s beach party on acid,” and with musical influences ranging from The Stooges to The Kinks to Sam Cooke, that sounds…Smart bets: Robert Francis & The Night Tide
Indie folk singer-songwriter Robert Francis almost abandoned his music career after a near-nervous breakdown following the release of his critically acclaimed third album, Strangers in the First Place (2012). It…A festival for the rest of us
Festival season is in full bloom, and it seems as if there’s a celebration or gathering for just about everyone. Most of them involve stages featuring live music, imbibed along…Smart bets: Junior Marvin’s Force One
There have been complaints of a dearth of reggae music in Asheville (Letters, April 30), but Jamaican-born, London-raised and, now, Kingston-based musician Junior Marvin is about to set things right.…Scratch made: Atlanta rapper Cyhi The Prynce applies lessons from Kanye West
With lines like “If God had an iPod, I’d be on his playlist” and “Ya’ll just some major haters and some math minors,” Atlanta rapper Cyhi The Prynce held his…Viva La Vida: Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents Looking for Frida
Commemorating 35 years of modern dance, ACDT recreates its signature ballet, "Looking for Frida." First choreographed in 1998, and staged in Asheville; Montpellier and Toulouse, both France; and Merida, Mexico,…State of the Arts: Asheville artists Yamabushi and Ishmael collaborate on “The Fame Game”
The word “fame” is painted directly on the wall beside the Satellite Gallery’s entrance in 12-foot-tall letters. It’s written in the wispy Coca-Cola script, but in a gluttonous and vibrating…Smart bets: Xavier Rudd
Part multi-instrumentalist, part mythical creature, singer-songwriter/surfer/environmentalist/cultural activist Xavier Rudd took the didgeridoo from tribal instrument to legitimate dance club beat-maker. The musician, who lives in Australia, “gradually refined his globally…food
Post-tablecloth dining at Vue 1913
It is a crystal-clear day when I take my seat in the dining room at Grove Park Inn’s new Vue 1913, a more casual take on farm-to-table dining than the…Mixed company: Rhubarb introduces Sunday Supper
Chef John Fleer is taking the traditional American idea of family and friends gathering around a table for a Sunday evening meal to a new level. Fleer’s Pack Square restaurant,…Small bites: A taste of Black Mountain
A new business is opening in Black Mountain that's geared to foodies and history buffs of both the local and tourist variety: Creative Mountain Food Tours, owned by McDowell County…Beer scout: Men on a wire
When Hi-Wire Brewing opened last summer, they pretended a circus was coming to town. The owners made sure that everyone who kept an eye on the beer scene knew something…living
Area therapy programs use ‘nature connections’ for healing
What is the draw of the garden, the chicken coop, the pasture? For many it’s a connection that can offer unseen spiritual, mental and emotional yields. Be it through garden…Breathe it in: Summer brings outdoor yoga opportunities
As we go out to tend the garden, we must remember to also tend to our most important tool — our body. While we love the process of gardening, the…Artists get outside and get inspired in WNC’s green spaces
Public gardens and green spaces can be a regenerative place, especially after hours spent in creative pursuit. Learn how Curve Studios and the gardens of Black Mountain are providing respite…Community gardeners feast in outdoor kitchens
Several community gardens across Western North Carolina have raised funds to install outdoor kitchens, allowing garden participants to cook and eat their meals onsite. Rather than just gardening and going…A Q&A with Nourishing Life Center founder Saraswati Marcus
While teaching women’s-only Dao Flow Yoga class at Asheville Yoga Center, Dr. Saraswati Markus was approached by several women who were seeking natural solutions for their health problems. In response,…Kids learn the value of getting their hands dirty
Blossoming in Asheville is a concept of hands-on learning that takes the school curriculum beyond the boundaries of classroom walls, while also attempting to change the world’s view on food,…Garden strolls build up the neighborhood
Three years ago Scott Miller got a knock on his door — and an offer he couldn’t refuse. That knock on the door was Miller’s initiation into the West Asheville…news
Local nonprofit SisterCare assists LGBT people in times of need
Linda Giannasso hates to ask for help. When she broke her foot a few months ago, she figured she could handle it on her own. “I’m very independent,” she explains.…Carolina Public Press brings ‘News Exchange’ to all of WNC
Give all citizens a voice. Give them in-depth information to make informed decisions. To that end, Carolina Public Press has launched The News Exchange, which aims to give the 18…opinion
Obamas Move
Asheville Disclaimer 6/18/14
Pres. Obama buys $69,000 'getaway' in ClydeState Rewards