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CITY NEWS, INFO & EVENTS
Daily events in Asheville: More>
Will Pit of Despair be on chopping block at Jan. 22 city council meeting? | "Calling all community garden supporters. Speak up for our garden," say members of Elder and Sage Gardens, which is located across from the Grove Arcade and next to The Captain's Bookshelf. At its upcoming meeting, City Council will be discussing the funding and design for city lots on Page Ave. — including the Elder and Sage Gardens' lot. Attend the meeting and let your voice be heard at 5 p.m., Jan. 22, 2019, at the Asheville City Council meeting at City Hall. More details about the gardens at Elderandsagegardens.org: More> Parkway (Sort of Open) in Asheville Area | On Sun., Jan. 6, 2019, the Blue Ridge Parkway was OPEN NORTH of the Hendersonville Rd. entrance/exit to Hwy. 191/North Carolina Arboretum, as well as OPEN SOUTH of Hendersonville Rd. entrance/exit to at least Hwy. 74-A | RELATED: Use extreme caution on Blue Ridge Parkway, via DowntownAsheville.com: More>
OnTrack financial courses | Many free courses, such as "Buy A Home," "Understanding Credit," and "Budgeting on a Fluctuating Income," are open to the public at Ontrackwnc.org: More>
Happy New Year 2019: Turn, Turn, Turn, to everything there is a season | Some things come around to be understood and celebrated again, such as this 1966 vintage song: "A time of love, a time of hate.... To everything, turn, turn, turn... there is a season, turn, turn, turn... a time to every purpose under heaven." Sung by Judy Collins, 1966. Via DowntownAsheville.com: More> The Grey Eagle 2019 calendar | One of Asheville's oldest, finest, most affordable and enjoyable musical venues, located in the Asheville River District, via Thegreyeagle.com: More>
Buy local, save local | Asheville Grown Business Alliance now offers the annual "Go Local Card" to support public education and local businesses. The 2019 card is now available for purchase. As always, it provides discount prices and special members-only offers. Buy in-person at local stores or go online to Ashevillegrown.com: More>
State Democrats stronger after North Carolina 2018 midterm election, but Republicans still in control | Gov. Roy Cooper wields more power to compromise: The Democrats won enough seats in the North Carolina House and Senate to take away the Republicans' previous super-majority ability to override all of Democratic NC Governor Roy Cooper's vetoes. Elections have consequences, and Cooper now has more power to bargain with Republicans, who still remain in the majority but with less power. Details reported by Gary Robertson of the AP and published Jan. 6, 2019, at Winston-Salem News, via Journalnow.com: More> | Related: State Democrats power up after the midterms, as evidenced by newly elected Democrats at the state level who can now overcome Republicans' previous super-majority clout as well as promote their legislative goals, such as outlined by Democrat Van Duyn, who discussed her North Carolina legislative priorities to MountainXpress reporter David Floyd and published Jan. 11, 2019, via Mountainx.com: More> | Related: North Carolina midterm election results updated Jan. 16, 2019, via Politico.com: More> | Related: "2018 midterm election (U.S. congressional) seats that flipped" state-by-state, via Axios.com: More> | Related: "Election fraud is not the same as voter fraud," explains Vox, as it helps to sort out the 2018 mid-term election mess in North Carolina's District 9, the only U.S. Representative race in the nation that remains undetermined, via Vox.com: More>
30 best happy hours in Asheville | The Yellow Pages comes through with one of the better and more diverse lists. It's ideal alike for tourists and residents who haven't been downtown recently. Things are changing fast in Central Asheville, particularly in the areas known as Historic Downtown, the RAD (i.e., River Arts District) and the South Slope| Yellowpages.com: More>
The Block Off Biltmore's list of Jan. events | Experience the original and very much needed The Block Off Biltmore, a place for music, meetings, drinks and community building in Downtown Asheville. Read all about it at Theblockoffbiltmore.com: More> Asheville's double dose of record-setting weather | As 2018 comes to a close, Asheville is on track to have weathered its wettest and warmest year ever; that's right, 2018 is likely to be the new benchmark. Details of the inches of rain and high temperatures experienced by Ashevilleans in 2018 was reported Dec. 26, 2018, by local ABC affiliate TV13 WLOS, at Wlos.com: More> 2018-2019 flu season takes NC lives | Time to protect yourself during the new influenza (flu) season. Last year's flu season in North Carolina was deadly: 342 died. While nothing like last year, North Carolinians who have died of the flu, as of Dec. 31, 2018, is now 10. | News Flash: Yes, you can get the flu twice in one year, because there are different strains of the flu. The season's flu season runs from October through May. Beware. Be safe. Be smart. Be clean. Current updates and details at Flu.nc.gov: More>
The Regeneration Station | For unconventional shopping featuring 36,000 square feet of "repurposed treasure," at Regenerationstation.com: More> | Cool "rolling through the store" tour on a bicycle, via YouTube.com: More> History in the making: Over the years, Asheville, North Carolina, has made a lot of history, and DowntownAsheville.com features news, info and events (current and historical) about the city and region, as well as the state and nation, of today and yesteryear:
For example, take Dec. 17, 1903: "Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft... which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight," explains History.com: More> | Nationally, Happy Hanukkah had special significance on Dec. 17, 1979, when "President Jimmy Carter walked to Lafayette Square from the White House to participate in the first National Menorah Lighting, in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah... (and) the National Menorah Lighting has since become an annual event," reports the U.S. Library of Congress, via LOC.gov: More> | Furthermore, "How nationalism is changing the American landscape" by Rosa Inocencio Smith, published July 3, 2018, at Theatlantic.com: More> Asheville Area weather today and forecast: More> | Related: October 2018 was earth's second hottest October ever, via Wunderground.com: More> Asheville Area attractions | Diverse. Plentiful. Entertaining: More> What's it like to live in Asheville? | In 2018, US News & World Report will be rating Asheville in its Best Places to Live Ranking. Its current write-up gives newcomers a good overview now: More> ASHEVILLE DAILY NEWS
Page Avenue downtown community garden is always open for the public | Elder & Sage Community Gardens renewed its edible garden use agreement with City of Asheville. For photos and news, via Elderandsagegardens.com: More> UNCA selects new chancellor: Nancy Cable | "Following a recommendation from University of North Carolina System President Margaret Spellings and approval by the UNC System Board of Governors, we are pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Nancy J. Cable as the eighth Chancellor of The University of North Carolina at Asheville," announces UNCA at UNCA.edu: More> | RELATED NEWS: After 325 years of having only men as its presidents, the College of William & Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, has finally broken the glass ceiling for women by selecting its first woman president, Katherine Rowe. Beginning July 1, 2018, Rowe will be William & Mary's 28th president, via WM.edu: More>
ADVISORIES WHAT POPULISTS DO TO DEMOCRACIES: "According to our research, populist governments have deepened corruption, eroded individual rights, and inflicted serious damage on democratic institutions," explain Yascha Mounk, a lecturer on government at Harvard University, and Jordan Kyle, Senior fellow at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, in their article about 46 populist leaders published Dec. 26, 2018, in The Atlantic, via Theatlantic.com: More> LOCAL AND STATEWIDE: Current real time NC travel info provided at NCDOT.gov, includes the Asheville Area and Western North Carolina: More> MORE ADVISORIES: DowntownAsheville.com: More>
ASHEVILLE AREA INFO Employee ownership could be the key to Asheville's future prosperity | Commentary at Asheville Grown Business Alliance, via Ashevillegrown.com: More> "I have seen the future, and it is in the United States." | So writes James Fallow in his May 2018 The Atlantic article, "The Reinvention of America: Americans don’t realize how fast the country is moving toward becoming a better version of itself," as noted in DowntownAsheville.com's Featured News: More> Asheville's alternative movie house | Features locally produced and independent movies. Also, every Tuesday, the Asheville Film Society presents a favorite classic. For details, visit Grailmoviehouse.com: More> Artsy Asheville | According to Lonely Planet: More> ABC's of Asheville | An independent mini-tour of sorts features the Biltmore Estate by the travelog website Starkinsider.com: More>
2019 DOWNTOWN CALENDAR AshevilleChamber.org - Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly events: More> AshevilleArts.com - Asheville Area Arts Council news and calendar of events: More> Malaprops.com - Asheville's favorite bookstore features new books and events: More> MountainX.com - Superb daily calendar for downtown and beyond: More> ExploreAsheville.com - 50 things to do in Asheville: More> TimeAndDate.com - Create your own monthly calendar: More> ASHEVILLE BUSINESS "Craft beer is the strangest, happiest economic story in America" | Small breweries are thriving in Asheville and across the nation; it's the Davids beating up on the Goliaths, due in part to "intense local support," explains TheAtlantic.com on Jan. 19, 2018: More> The U.S. used to have high tax rates on the rich | And why it makes sense now, too, as reported by economist Paul Krugman on Jan. 5, 2019, via Nytimes.com: More> ASHEVILLE EDUCATION
UNCA celebrates 90th anniversary | UNCA turns 90 during its 2017-18 semesters. Ongoing events, shareable photos and updates will continue in 2018. Visit 90years.unca.edu: More> Will Asheville city schools get real about school security? | "Parents criticize Asheville City Schools response to Parkland tragedy," posted on April 13, 2018 by Daniel Walton at MountainX.com: More> Higher education in North Carolina ranks high in Kiplinger's latest 'Best College Values' | University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) ranked #61 of all public colleges in this year's recently released Kiplinger's Best College Values list; details at Kiplinger.com: More> | Also noteworthy, UNC at Chapel Hill was rated as the Number One value of all public colleges in the nation: More> | Furthermore, Kiplinger's top 300 Best College Values ranked all colleges and universities in the US and gave high rankings to many located in North Carolina: More> GET SMART: A good reason to pick A-B Tech or UNCA | The debt crisis at America's colleges reported in TheAtlantic.com | More>
MORE DowntownAsheville.com NEWS & VIEWS "Asheville's music scene is putting North Carolina on the map in a big way" | Posted Dec. 21, 2017 by writer Caitlin White on UPROXX.com: More> Asheville is one of the top 100 best places to live in America | Published by Livability.com | More> Yummy Asheville, says Zagat food survey | Asheville just got in at Number 30 by a respected foodie site, Zagat, as one of America's "30 most exciting food cities for 2017." In summary, Zagat said the past decade has been good for Asheville's food and drink scene. It pointed out AVL "has more breweries per capita than any other city in the US," and noted several top-notch chefs by name, adding this sweet kicker: "(T)he dynamic dining destination just keeps getting better." | Report published Dec. 17, 2017, at Zagat.com: More> Asheville Number One on Lonely Planet's List | Greatest place in the U.S. to visit in 2017. Wow! | More> Enjoy your 'daily constitutional' and satisfy your curiosity about local history | A walk along the Urban Trail in Downtown Asheville is a free and memorable way to experience this unique mountain city | More> Animals can make us healthier | More>
MEDIA MATTERS Listen LIVE on WNCW-FM radio | Arguably, Western North Carolina's best community-oriented radio station | More> Carolina Public Press provides an independent non-partisan news perspective | Explains the media outlet: "Carolina Public Press is an independent nonprofit news organization dedicated to nonpartisan, in-depth and investigative news built upon the facts and context North Carolinians need to know. Our award-winning, breakthrough journalism dismantles barriers and shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing the state's 10.2 million residents." | For news and views online at Carolinapublicpress.org: More> | Sign up for free news emailed to you: More>
MAIN is a local, non-profit, aggregator of local, state and national news. MAIN has long championed freedom-of-the-press issues: More> NC POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Quick Guide to many official City of Asheville websites | Includes up-to-the-minute news and advisories | More> NC legislators do not expand Medicaid | Those most in need are hurt the most by the Republican-run North Carolina legislature, states WRAL.com's editorial on June 15, 2018: More> Pit of Despair or Mountain of Repair | This DowntownAsheville.com commentary considers how local power brokers have a wonderful chance to do something great for citizens and tourists and, in the process, repair trust in their leadership. | More> "The People, Yes" City will keep water system rules NC high court: Thanks to a 5-2 ruling by the North Carolina Supreme Court, the people of Asheville will keep its water system. | For five years, the City of Asheville fought against Republicans in North Carolina who wanted to take over its water system valued at approximately $173 million — and pay nothing for it: More> "Clean Water for North Carolina," a nonprofit organization, was a strong supporter of the people's perspective and the final ruling by the NC Supreme Court that protects Asheville from being required to transfer its water system to the state against its will and without payment: More> Federal judge rules North Carolina gerrymandered congressional districts unconstitutional | Report by NYTimes.com: More>
Love LIVE music? | AshevilleOnStage.com puts the spotlight on Asheville area musicians, bands, clubs, venues and festivals: More> ASHEVILLE AREA ACTIVISM Local grassroots climate change movement | 350.org, one of the top environmental groups educating people about climate change and what can be done to reverse the increasing problem, is focusing its efforts on nurturing a local grassroots climate change movement that relies less on government action and more on what people demand: More> "At least 12 arrested by ICE Saturday in WNC; hundreds rally in protest downtown" | Reported by Asheville Citizen-Times' Sam DeGrave, published April 14, 2018, and updated April 15, 2018 at Citizen-times.com: More> | RELATED NEWS: Via DowntownAsheville.com: More> How to help Americans hit by hurricanes | Asheville-based MANNA FoodBank offers advice on how to best assist in the hurricane and flooding relief efforts: More>
'Good and plenty' to do in and around Downtown Asheville 1. The Flat Iron Building, on Battery Park Ave., is a wonderful eight-story historic building, via Flatironbuilding.org: More> | For coffee, drinks and desserts, it houses the World Coffee Cafe, via Smokymountains.com: More> 2. Grove Arcade, just across from the Wall Street City Parking Garage, is a shopping and architectural treat in the heart of Asheville | Grovearcade.com: More>
3. Woolworth Walk, the largest art and craft gallery in Asheville, 20,000 square feet of displayed creativity with an old-timey lunch bar | Woolworthwalk.com: More> 4. Asheville Civic Center (with the U.S. Cellular sign) on Haywood Street, offers great events throughout the year | Uscellularcenterasheville.com: More>
6. The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue always rocks with live performances | Theorangepeel.net: More> 7. The Biltmore Estate just south of downtown offers ticket discounts online | Biltmore.com: More>
8. Sierra Nevada Brewery, a few miles south of the Asheville Regional Airport off of Hwy. 280, is great fun no matter how big of a crowd you're bringing | Sierranevada.com: More> 9. North Carolina Arboretum, southwest of downtown off Hwy. 191 or the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a wonderful walk any time of year | Ncarboretum.org: More> 10. Additional Highlights | DowntownAsheville.com: More>
KEEP ASHEVILLE WEIRD
Amazing downtown pub cycle keeps it crazy and legal | All through the year you'll see a mobile party on the streets of historic Downtown Asheville. Details at Amazingpubcycle: More>
Loved Kim's Wigs? Been missin' Kim's? | "Goodbye" shots and stories of Kim's Wig Center's close-out in late 2017: More> | UPDATE: The Asheville Club pours local brews where wigs once ruled, reports Mountainx.com on June 6, 2018: More> | UPDATE: Via business at DowntownAsheville.com: More>
Board a bus-full of laughs | Laughing is good for your health. LaZoom Kid's Comedy Tour has the whole family covered: "A kid-friendly comedy tour your kids will never forget — even with therapy! Funny... educational... entertaining," at Lazoomtours.com | More> Funny Business | Stand-up comedy at The Grey Eagle, via Ashevillefunnybusiness.com: More> Beyond Asheville | 52 places for 2019 to get out into the world, via Nytimes.com: More>
Malaprop's current events | Downtown Asheville's favorite bookstore and cafe at Malaprops.com: More> Help a pet in need | Visit a local charity that's worthy and lives up to its mission: "Uncompromised compassion." Take in the kindness of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue at Bwar.org: More>
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