Sounds like money: New projects seek to increase local music tourism

Asheville may never be able to swipe the “Music City” moniker from a certain similarly named titan of sound in Tennessee, but several new initiatives aim to boost this area’s image as a serious music destination. The Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, building on its success in helping nurture the city’s growing national reputation as […]

Creative Sector Summit aims to help bridge tourism industry and artists

Tourists spend about $1.5 billion in Buncombe County every year and the fourth annual Creative Sector Summit will explore opportunities for local artists to raise that number and better benefit from it. The series of panel discussions, workshops and other events will unfold Thursday-Sunday, March 20-23, at venues throughout downtown Asheville.

Circle the wagons

I understand that nostalgia is popular, but I have to ask, at what cost? A horse sharing the pavement with motor vehicles has never been a good mix, and the new business of offering carriage rides in downtown Asheville seems quite problematic. Besides questioning the humaneness of forcing a single horse to pull a heavy […]

Shame on the Grove Park Inn

Shame on the Grove Park Inn for charging $10 for self-parking. Every year it has been a tradition in our family to go and see the display of gingerbread houses and other holiday decorations. We bring our out-of-town guests who enjoy shopping in the Grove Park Inn stores, buying refreshments and, most importantly, seeing the […]