Circuit-riding is a venerable tradition here in the Blue Ridge. A plaque on Beaverdam Road in north Asheville commemorates the peregrinations of Bishop Francis Asbury, a Methodist preacher who traveled the region on horseback in the early 19th century, bringing inspiration to the scattered settlements and finding his own inspiration in these magnificent mountains. As … Read more
The advent of alternative fuels in Western North Carolina may be the nudge our area needs to improve air quality. A Blue Ridge Biofuels pump recently installed at Biltmore BP on Hendersonville Road, now dispensing a 20 percent biodiesel blend, is the first of several new fuel options springing up in our area that don’t … Read more
There are a few tough questions with which greasy-spoon diners must inevitably wrestle: Bacon or sausage? Home fries or grits? And would this joint be any better with five-star service and a seafood menu? Artur Loli improbably answered that last query in the affirmative while dining one day at his buddy Kosta Vlahakis’ popular Arden … Read more
A proposed 162-unit gated community adjacent to the Asheville Country Club appears to be on hold after City Council indefinitely tabled the developer’s request for a conditional-use permit. Besides placing the ball squarely back in the developer’s court, the case also raised the possibility of updating of some of Asheville’s subdivision regulations. “This is one … Read more
Walk like a Laplander: Local author Tim Arem will appear at 7 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 23, at Malaprop’s in Asheville to discuss his new book, Nordic Walking: A Total Body Experience. Arem, better known as “T-Bone,” has made youth fitness his cause and this year will travel to 20 schools in 20 states to … Read more
Battle Of The Badly Named Bands Earlier this month, the “multi-genre video music competition” Web site Music Nation began the initial phase of their current contest, featuring the grand prize of a recording deal with Epic Records (a division of Sony BMG), a performance on the syndicated Clear Channel radio show “Stripped” and a one-year … Read more
Whether you’re all thumbs or green-thumbed, there’s a workshop to reinvigorate your joy for digging in the dirt at the upcoming Organic Growers School at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock. This is the 14th edition of the popular conference, which draws upward of 1,000 growers of all experience levels. The 69 planned sessions … Read more
Worth all the bunions: The payoff for Appalachian Trail hikers comes in views like this one from the Roan Highlands. Shown here are hikers Andrew Downs and Ken Revell. photo by Daniel Seed, courtesy Appalachian Trail Conservancy Imagine a small black ant, marshmallow in tow, marching over the backs of 400 Bactrian camels that suffer … Read more
Executive Director Kathryn ‘Kaytlin’ Stead reconnecting with two dear friends, Shirley Owenby (left) and Melinda Davis (right). Remembering their years together, Kaytlin told her friends, “Here I thought I was coming in to help you, and you helped me more than you realize.” The recently formed nonprofit celebrates the lives of differently abled individuals in … Read more
