AVL LIFE

North Buncombe High Wrestlers Winning Big
Last weekend my son Aydan Arroyo won 2nd place in the NC High School State Wrestling Championships and is the only wrestler from North Buncombe High's history to make it to the State Championship as a sophomore.

3rd Annual Soumu at New Mountain > Friday March 20
Lush Life and Zansa present Asheville's 3rd Annual Soumu at New Mountain Friday, March 20, 2015 at New Mountain. It will be a celebration of African Music, Dance, Food, and Culture. A party for all ages.

Why I Celebrate Black History Month
You don’t have to be Black to celebrate, and you don’t have to be Black to learn. What you do need is an open mind, and the courage to check your privilege and engage in conversation.

Asheville Weekend Grit Picks
It's the weekend of love. Or so some say. If you've got a special someone or if you're happily single, there's lots to get into.

Hazel Twenty > Fabulous Fashion on Wheels
Asheville has a plethora of delicious food trucks but did you know that it also has a fashion truck? Introducing Hazel Twenty, a mobile boutique! It is fabulous female fashion on wheels and you must check it out.

Beloved Local Restaurant Keeping Up the Passion
Zambra's Mark Reiford knows romance. At least, he knows how to ensure a restaurant keeps its title as the Top Romantic Spot to Dine in Asheville five years and counting, according to the Mountain Xpress’s annual Best of WNC community contest.

Up Close + Personal with Asheville's Posh Hammer
Photographer and blogger Abi Fields sat down with probably the youngest retro band in Asheville for an in depth discussion on what it's like being Posh Hammer.

Help Asheville Filmmakers Win National Competition
A few guys who have been participants (and winners) in the Asheville 48 Hour Film Project were asked to participate in a national competition where the goal is to highlight your town.

Interconnecting Cities with Maggie Ullman
Asheville's Maggie Ullman talks about her work with 200 cities to create a more collaborative United States that can adapt to Climate Change and face big problems together.

Asheville Musicians Band Together To Help African Family
Asheville musicians have banded together and launched an Indiegogo campaign to help rebuild the home and the Djembeso Drum & Dance Education Center.

The View from the Blade: Answers in Winter
As the cold, largely basically snowless January has lingered on, I'm sure many of you have had plenty of questions. What are our elected officials up to?

Asheville Weekend Grit Picks
It's the definition of blustery out but we suggest you bundle up and take on some of the fun things going on around town this weekend starting tonight.

Asheville Weekend Grit Picks
Sure it might be rainy and cold out. We may even get a little snow (gasp!). But there is still a ton to do around town no matter what and we've listed just a few.

Meet Hollie Stephenson > New Head Brewer at Highland Brewing
Asheville Ale Trail sits down with Hollie Stephenson, new head brewer at Highlands, who you can also meet at their very first Scouting Party on Thursday, January 29th.

5 Reasons to go to the Fringe Fest + See Something NEW
Why should you go to a true Asheville Oddity of a festival showcasing performances from artists from all over the world and that has been going on in our little town for 13 years? We will tell you.

Vote for Asheville's Climate Collider in NC Spaces for Innovation Challenge
You may have heard about the new Climate Collider coming this fall to downtown Asheville – it is a finalist in the Institute for Emerging Issues “North Carolina Spaces for Innovation” Challenge.

A Winter Weekend Detox Doesn’t Have to be Boring in Asheville
A winter detox in Asheville. Groupies, animal parades, sex art, and sudsy pasta.

Asheville Weekend Grit Picks
What are you doing this weekend, Asheville? Plenty happening and plenty of listings. We just wanted to throw a few more your way.

Local Musician Adama Dembele's African Home Demolished By Government
The Ivory Coast government demolished the family home of local musician Adama Dembele and those of the entire area displacing hundreds with one week's notice.

5 Questions with Chef Mike Moore
You would think Stu Helm the Food Critic would sit down with Mike to just talk about food, food, and more food. But this time, he is asking one of Asheville's most renowned Chefs about the family friendly nature of his restaurant.

Why You Should Go to Asheville Fringe Fest
Do you know that the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival has been going on for over a decade and showcases local and international artists in all sorts of mediums? We didn't either.

View from the Blade: The Rest of the Story
A lot's happened and if you haven't read the Asheville Blade before or wonder what we're about, this is an excellent place to start.

My Wishes for 2015
The freezing temperatures may be a sign, or the sudden explosion of people hogging the treadmills at the gym. Or maybe it’s the sense of excitement and ambition you feel. Because it’s here. A New Year.

Designing Our Future -- Promiscuous Hybrids
I'm kicking off a new series of posts inspired by the new construction in Asheville. Being both a designer and realtor I'm hyper-conscious of the changes occurring with our built environment...

Being Sober in Beer City USA
People, perhaps accountants or carpenters or acupuncturists by day, reveal oceans of beer esoterica as they trade shop talk that makes my head swim...Then, an astute someone notices something. “Where’s your beer?”

Asheville's 2014 in My Nutshell
I have crawled out of my cave that holds all my artisanal jams I have been making over the past few months in solitude to give you a run down of the best, worst, and funnier moments of Asheville history/herstory of 2014. Let's go bitches!

Ringing in the New: A New Year’s Eve Walking Tour of Downtown Asheville
Dear readers, I have compiled a New Year’s Eve Downtown Walking Tour just for you giving options to wander between spots or find your perfect venue and stay put.

Last Minute #AVL Holiday Gift Guide
So, I've compiled a list of some great gift ideas, all local, all purchasable before the big day to be sure to wow anyone. GET GOIN'!

Dispatches From the B.A.D.
Last week I posed a question to a number of local arts professionals both inside the B.A.D. and within the surrounding community.

3 Things To Do with Kids Over Holiday Break
There are three things I absolutely must do while we’re out of work/daycare the next two weeks. (I highly recommend these activities to all of my parent-friends!)

View From the Asheville Blade: Watch Out For the Little Things
A number of recent Asheville Blade stories illustrate how often big consequences can often come from seemingly small or overlooked matters that can have major impacts on our lives, our city and our futures.

Scenes from the 2014 Fashion Victims' Ball
About 900 attendees took over the Highland Brewing Company's tasting room as comic book and Saturday morning cartoon characters, celebrities, lovers of Ugly Holiday sweaters and more for the annual Keller Williams Fashion Victims' Ball.

Make Your Own Ugly Christmas Sweater
Hosting or attending an ugly Christmas sweater party is probably going to be on your holiday calendar, so have a fabulously tacky sweater in your arsenal to pull on at a moment's notice to make a memorable appearance.

Wild South Collaborates With Breweries to Release New India Brown Ale
Raise a glass for the wild as we unveil Wild South IBA (India Brown Ale) – a special collaboration brew with Asheville Brewing Company and French Broad Brewing Company!

5 Questions with Dano Holcomb of Root Down Food Cart
I caught up with Dano Holcomb, Chef & Co-Owner of the Root Down Food Cart, at the Wedge Brewery where he parks his truck every Wednesday night to ask him a few questions. He also let me inside the truck! Yeah, Man.

Home Sweet Home
A change of scenery over the holidays is usually something to look forward to, with the promise of family and good food waiting for your arrival, but coming home back to Asheville never gets old.

Who Wants to Win Tickets to the XMAS JAM?
Are you a veteran Jammer? Never been but always wanted to go? Just straight up curious as to what all the fuss is about?

Holding Vigil
Last week, as the holidays and winter started to sink their teeth into our city, hundreds showed up on short notice, gathering around the Vance Monument.

Thanksgiving Weekend ThankFULLness
Some of our bloggers + friends agreed to get crafty(?) and send in some lists of things they are most thankful for. Enjoy.

Five Reasons the Broadway Arts District is 100% B.A.D. Ass!
It’s an exciting time for contemporary art in Asheville, and a lot of the energy is coming from a rapidly transforming section of downtown I’ve decided to playfully dub, The Broadway Arts District, or, B.A.D.

Five Reasons This Cookbook Is Different
I was asked to contribute my thoughts about how Farmer & Chef Asheville is different from other cookbooks and was thrilled...

5 Questions with Russ Keith of the Grey Eagle Taqueria
I'm doing a new thing for Grit in which I'll be conducting very short, 5-question interviews with chefs, servers, owners, staff, and patrons of local restaurants. I start off with Russ Keith of the Grey Eagle Taqueria...

Asheville's Best Bars for Reading Books Alone
Sometimes you just want to go out to get a drink and settle in with a good book. I've compiled a list of my top 10 bars in Asheville in which to read.

Artist Finds a Niche in Asheville with Tattooing
Born in Texas, raised in Arkansas, artist Kris Roberts talks about his childhood, coming to Asheville, and what inspired his love for tattooing.

Meet Dayna Reggero + The WNC Climate Listening Project
I'm excited to share stories here on Asheville Grit. I'm starting with the Climate Listening Project because it showcases a bit of who I am and what inspires me.

Miss Gay Latina Asheville 2014!
Saturday's 7th Annual Miss Gay Latina Asheville pageant at the Diana Wortham Theatre was anything but your typical drag show.

It's Just College So Get On With It
Everyone's perception of college before they actually get in is that it's easygoing, fun, and full of free time to engage in partying and whatever else you feel like doing. But here's the real story...

Local Flavor AVL to Celebrate its Members 11/ 5 at Highland Brewing
Since its launch earlier this year, the local smart phone app designed to showcase local businesses has expanded to three other cities.

Ta-dah! Halloween is This Week!
I love this time of year, when countless pint sized little vampires, witches, zombies and other sugar crazed fiends come out to plunder.

A Different Kind of Storytelling
Mastering the ability to emit compassion and genuine charm while still maintaining presence and laser sharp focus.