#13- The Jackson Building

#13- The Jackson Building

   Ornate and beautiful, the Jackson building is Asheville’s most beloved skyscraper.  Completed in 1924 it was the first skyscraper in Western NC and it stands 13 stories high and is built in a Neo-Gothic style.  Real estate developer L.B. Jackson had the building built to show his faith in the strength of the 1920’s real estate market.

   When completed the building eclipsed the Independence building in Charlotte as the tallest in NC and it held that distinction till a few years later when the Jefferson Standard building in Greensboro was completed.  The Jackson building is set on a tiny 27 by 60 foot lot that many thought was too small to build on. It is steel framed and terra–cotta covered and has several stone gargoyles at the top looking down on the city. All four gargoyles guarding the four corners of the building are fully functional. The bell tower at the top was initially used as a searchlight to draw tourists to the city.  The building also shares an elevator system with its next door neighbor the Westall building.

   A number of stories abound about this building. One is that it was used as a clean air lookout for the city.  Every morning the city inspector would stand at the top and watch for excessive smoke from the coal fired fireplaces that heated the surrounding buildings. If heavy smoke persisted he would write a ticket for the furnace to be cleaned!  Another story is that the building is on the site of the tombstone business run by local author Thomas Wolfe’s father. Also you may hear that a young Walt Disney worked in that building as a draftsman. Finally, the building is also said to be haunted.  People say you can see a ghost at night in the uppermost part of the building. The face in the window supposedly belongs to a man who killed himself by jumping from there during the great depression.  Today the building is mostly inhabited by local lawyer’s offices.

   The 1920’s marked a time of strong growth for Asheville. More than 25 buildings were erected here during that time. Then the depression hit and Asheville was hit hard – the city ended up defaulting on its huge debts. Rather than declaring bankruptcy it decided to pay off the debt which took over 50 years.  Investment in new building ceased during this time and the effect was that many historic buildings were preserved from the wrecking ball enabling many treasures such as the Jackson Building to survive today.

“Architecture, of all the arts, is the one which acts most slowly, but most surely, on the soul. “ Dimnet

#12 River Arts District

#12-River Arts District (RAD)

      AmericanStyle magazine named Asheville the number one small city in the US for art in 2010. But the phrase wrong side of the tracks very aptly portrays our River Arts District.  Huge, ugly warehouses, mills and former factories have a neglected look, some buildings are still abandoned and there really is a railroad that runs thru the middle of the district. It is not an area of cute little stores selling art with regular business hours. But looks are very deceiving as this is an up and coming area of town that hosts many of our most creative residents busy at work in their studios.

   The area has been evolving for the past 25 years as a group of dedicated artists have worked to revive a neglected area of our riverfront and call it home. In 1985 Highwater Clays moved their business into the district. In 1987 the first artists bought a building that they named Warehouse Studios. The early 1990’s saw artists move out of the pricey downtown Asheville area to the RAD. The most unique feature of the area is that most of the buildings are owned by the artists that work in them so there is truly a sense of “ownership.”

   The current guesstimate is there are about 140 artists in residence spread throughout 16 buildings including potters, photographers, painters, candle makers, weavers, woodworkers and sculptors. On most weekends many of the artists’ studios are open for people to observe them working and purchase their creations. Also on the second Saturday of every month they host workshops and classes and other educational opportunities.

   Twice a year two days of festivities highlight our Fall and Spring Studio Stroll. They are held on the second weekend in June and November and over 80 studios are open and the artists are available to discuss their work. It is a very fun and festive atmosphere during this time and a great opportunity to get an early jump on buying presents.

   Other businesses have moved into the district now including 12 Bones Smokehouse, Clingman Café and the Wedge Brewery to name just a few. It appears that the edible and the artistic are very intertwined in life in the RAD. Eating upon handmade dishes, drinking out of handmade mugs not only looks better, it somehow tastes better!  Many of the establishments rotate new art shows in and out of their establishments which causes patrons to want to check out the galleries in the district. It appears to be a win- win for everybody! That’s just the kind of city Asheville is, a place where many of the pleasures in life, not only art but beer as well, are handmade. 

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.  Art is knowing which ones to keep.”  Scott Adams

#11- Change of Seasons - Spring

#11- Change of Seasons – Spring

   Spring in Asheville can really bring a mixed bag of weather. Temperatures can reach 70 degrees and get you all excited to put away your winter clothes. But there is still a chance of snow and certainly a chance of frost. The time has changed and it is light out after work but frequently it is too chilly late in the day to enjoy the extended daylight. T.S. Elliot called April the cruelest month of the year and I think these conflicting expectations may be the reason why!

   April can also be beautiful. Everything is starting to turn green again, flowers are starting to think about sprouting, and the air is sweet with expectation and the smell of new blossoms. It is also a time of spring rain showers. Our local weather is greatly affected by our surrounding mountains and can be very unpredictable.

      Another way to enjoy spring is by taking a scenic drive.  A leisurely drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway towards Graveyard Fields in one direction or Grandfather Mountain in the other will provide you with long range views in addition to wildflowers galore.  Bring a picnic lunch and stop at one of the many overlooks or better yet get out and stretch your legs, go on a hike and have lunch by a stream or a waterfall.  The diversity of wildflowers on the parkway is truly amazing. Blooming starts in late March and actually extends all the way into October. It seems that our  high rainfall totals, rich soils and moderate climates make this an environment where many species can coexist together.

One thing that can be predicted is that more than 100,000 tulips will be in bloom at the Biltmore Estate. The annual Festival of Flowers runs from April 2 through May 15^th and draws locals as well as tourists from all over the country.  It is a visual feast of white, purple, pink, yellow, red and orange tulips.  Descriptions and pictures really can’t do it justice – you just have to see it to believe how incredibly beautiful it is!

   Other spots to check out the wildflowers include the Botanical Gardens where the ten acres offer a half mile walking trail that is easy enough for anybody to do.  Also the NC Arboretum with its 434 acres of public gardens offers miles of trails to explore. The season is changing and we can tell it by using all of our senses. Warm sun, cool breezes, the thawing of the ground, colorful flowers, the sound of birds, and the smell of new blossoms await us. Spring in Asheville provides a treat for all of our senses! Get out there and enjoy it!

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”  ~John Ruskin

#10 - Pack Square Park

#10- Pack Square Park

   Pack Square Park is called Asheville’s front yard and a place where history meets the future. The history of our park is old – in 1901 George Pack gave the city some land on which to build a courthouse.  The terms of the gift required the county to demolish the old courthouse, build a new one and keep the rest of the land a public park forever.  Over the years there have been many dreams and visions of renovating this public space, but cost and disagreements over what it should look like kept anything from happening.

   Finally, in 1999 when a water leak under the old large fountain led to erosion underground and problems for surrounding roads city leaders and local activists got serious about redoing the six and a half acres of land.  In 2000 the Pack Square Conservancy was established as a nonprofit agency responsible for designing, building and funding the park.  They held 24 separate workshops to get citizen input and develop a community vision of what the park should look like. Not surprisingly, it took five years to reach agreement and come up with funds to start the work!

   Another four years went by as the park was closed off area by area as the work progressed (or didn’t according to local business owners.)  Since this park is located right smack in the middle of downtown it was a huge eyesore to both locals and tourists alike. Businesses located around the area had to contend with temporary fencing, closed streets and sidewalks and conditions that made their stores and restaurants virtually inaccessible for a good part of those four years.  The initial estimate in 2004 to complete the park was $12.5 million but by 2007 rocketing construction costs bumped that up to an astronomical $20.5 million!!

   Today we have an incredibly beautiful space to enjoy the outdoors during a lunch break, walk the dog, people watch, or have a picnic on a nice day. It is a space that serves as a perfect complement to my favorite building, City Hall. The park is divided up into three distinct areas.  Roger McGuire Green is located directly in front of the government buildings, Reuter Terrace located mid-park, and finally Pack Square the most historic section of the park.  Each section has its own unique features and functions as well as its own artwork and in future posts I will highlight each one.    

The grand opening of the park was held on May 28, 2011 featuring our local jazz sensation, Kat Williams in concert.  Since then we have seen Tai Chi classes, Shindig on the Green, the Beer City Festival, Church Services, the Symphony and a wide variety of other events being held in this wonderful new space.  For more than a century this park has been a dream of the citizens and city planning agencies. Now it is reality and it was worth the wait!

“It was easy to take the plunge into a park of national significance,” “Why? Because the people behind it, the people of Asheville, had a vision in the very beginning and they wouldn’t let go of it. They wanted a great park. Nothing short of that would do.” Fred Bonci

#9- Urban Trail

#9- The Urban Trail

   Ashville is known as an arts destination and the Urban Trail was created as a public art walking tour of downtown. Started by a group of volunteers it highlights the unique architecture, historic events and people of the city.  It began in 1989 when leaders with a vision were in the process of revitalizing our downtown area and it was completed in 2002.

   The Urban Trail is divided up into five eras each of which is identified by a symbol carved into pink granite blocks that are placed in the sidewalk for you to follow. The eras include the history of each period and the important milestones in Asheville history. A horseshoe represents the Frontier period which took place when the state of NC first began selling land grants to what would eventually become Asheville.  A feather represents the Gilded Age which began at a time when families of wealth and influence began moving into the area. Naturally, an angel represents the Times of Thomas Wolfe which details the life of the author and Asheville native whose novel “Look Homeward Angel” closely resembled his hometown. Our fabulous court house signifies the Era of Civic Pride which pays tribute to the great sense of pride we have in our city. Finally, an eagle represents the Era of Diversity which showcases our emphasis on individuality and diversity while emphasizing the contributions the African American community made.

   There are 30 stops on the 1.7 mile Urban Trail and takes about two hours to complete. Each stop is represented by a bronze plaque or a piece of art.  This tour can be self-guided or led by local Ashevillians and is perfect for any history buff or architecture lover, local or tourist, downtown stroller or urban explorer alike. Asheville's history is rich and utilizing a map to navigate the stops that take you all around downtown is a fabulous way to spend a few hours and learn a little something in the process!

   A couple of my favorite stops are Past and Promise which shows a little girl drinking from a horse head fountain and was chosen to represent the future of Asheville. Shopping Daze shows three frenzied shopping ladies and their dog. It depicts a time when Haywood Road, where it is located, was the regions fashionable shopping district and celebrates the return of our vibrant downtown. It is also located outside my favorite bookstore, Malaprop's! Finally, the Flat Iron is a replica of one used by a local laundry and reflects the nearby Flat Iron Building. This statue always draws a crowd of tourists getting their pictures taken or one of our local buskers performing in front of it and drawing a crowd of their own. Once you complete the trail I am sure you will compile your own list of favorites!

“Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

#8- The Biltmore Estate - "the House"

#7- Biltmore Estate – “the House”

   How lucky are we to have America’s largest privately owned home right here in our own backyard? The Biltmore is a 250 room, 175,000 square foot, four story home surrounded by spectacular beauty nested into the Blue Ridge Mountains. The estate was built at a time when no income tax existed and the wealthy were able to live a very opulent life indeed.

   The estate was built for George Washington Vanderbilt and took hundreds of workers six years to finally complete in 1895. Now a National Historic Landmark the home is lovingly preserved and offers visitors a glimpse into a different time of style and privilege.  Lovers of antiques, fine art, statues, oriental rugs and china will be amazed at the collections exhibited here.

   Vanderbilt used to make visits to the Asheville area and he loved the mountains and climate so much he decided to build a “summer estate” here. He affectionately referred to the mansion as his “little mountain escape.”  The idea was to replicate the working estates of Europe and architect Richard Morris Hunt was hired to do the job. Originally the estate included its own village which is now located outside the gates called Biltmore Village with lots of shops and restaurants. It also had its own church now called Cathedral of All Souls also located in the Village.

   The house was first opened to the public in 1930 and family members continued to live there till 1956 when it was permanently opened to the public as a house museum. I often wonder what it was like for Cornelia Vanderbilt, the only child of George and Edith to grow up in a house like that. Hosting birthday parties, sleepovers and playing hide and seek in a house that size must have been a real adventure. With 34 bedroom, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces there certainly would be lots of places to hide- you might never be found!!

   Some of my favorite parts of the house are the indoor swimming pool which held over 70,000 gallons of water as well as the indoor bowling alley and the exercise room. Tours of the kitchen, pantry, laundry and servants quarters are also very enjoyable and enlightening. Of course, there is NOTHING like the Biltmore at Christmas. A 35 foot tall Christmas tree in the Banquet Hall is a sight to behold and every single room is decorated and dressed up for the holidays. You can go back every year and inevitably see something new you had never noticed before.

   Not surprisingly the Biltmore Estate was the most visited attraction in NC. This was the seventh year in a row that they won this honor. In 2010 alone over 1.1 million people visited the estate. Numerous movies have been filmed there including Hannibal, Patch Adams, Forest Gump and Richie Rich. When you see it for yourself it is easy to understand why!

“At its core, Biltmore will always have the natural beauty of the mountains as well as the majestic house and gardens to inspire us and allow us to escape from the every day.” Bill Cecil President & CEO The Biltmore Company

# 7- Mardi Gras Asheville Style

#7- Mardi Gras Asheville Style

   Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday and it refers to the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before fasting and the beginning of Lent. These days it is more about various cultures coming together to celebrate the things that make them unique and uniting them under the common theme of people who like to have fun, enjoy each other and have a great time.

   While not observed nationally throughout the US, Asheville does make the most of this holiday. The Mystic Mountain Krewe is an all-volunteer community based organization made up of New Orleans ex-pats, aficionados of that culture, and folks who just LOVE a good party! The mere mention of the words Mardi Gras evoke images of wild parties, beads and chocolate flying through the air as well as people dressed in crazy costumes.

   This year’s theme for our parade is “Homegrown, Fancy and Free.”  From the humble beginnings of the first parade in 2006 with only 75 participants today it has become an all out bash with many elaborately costumed partygoers. Our celebration is all about community and fun. Mystic Mountain Krewe calls themselves an arts and culture group that is dedicated to strengthening community connections by using creativity, frivolity and celebration. Our parade is a zany, irreverent celebration at the end of winter and is family friendly with none of the alcohol or nudity seen in New Orleans. Even though parade day was cold and dreary with over 2 inches of rain earlier in the day, not to mention a dusting of snow, the show went on and many hardy souls came out to participate or to watch.

   With the large number of New Orleans expatriates here we offer a number of events around town from the parade to fundraising balls, restaurant specials and bakeries offering the popular King Cake. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005 many New Orleans natives relocated to the Asheville area so we have developed a special affinity for that culture. We may not have voodoo dolls in our gift shops but we have always loved a good party and any excuse to dress up in outrageous costumes! A tragedy may have brought some New Orleans natives to our city but our beautiful mountain scenery and vibrant music and arts culture kept them here and our city is richer for that addition.

   So, Laissez les bon temps rouler, or in English, let the good times roll!

“I have trouble explaining to out-of-towners why people here spend $1,000 to wear a mask so no one knows who they are, and then give away things to people they’ve never met. But I guess it’s an opportunity for everybody to play Santa Claus. That’s at the heart of it.” ~ Arthur Hardy

#6 - Local, Independent Business

#6- Local Independent Businesses

   Those of us who love Asheville are fiercely protective of our local independent businesses.  We don’t want no stinkin’ chains taking over our downtown area!!  We have a very strong locally grown campaign that seems to be taking on a life of its own with posters, bumper stickers, buttons, T-shirts and events appearing all over town. It is impossible to move around without noticing the “Love Asheville – Buy Local” items everywhere. I proudly display a sticker on my own car!

Asheville Grown is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the independently owned businesses in our community that make our town such a unique place to live and to visit. If there were only chain stores or franchises here it would be no different than so many other places you can visit. One example is Park Ave. in Winter Park Florida my old hometown. It used to be a quaint, unique area and is now an overpriced street filled with stores you can find in any mall. One reason Asheville is constantly listed on the top 10 places to live list is because of our unique small shops and businesses.

   What all this amounts to is the “local multiplier effect” where when you spend money at a local business it begins a cycle in which those businesses then spend their money at local shops and so on.  On the other hand, big chains tend to take local money and send it to corporate headquarters draining the local community of valuable resources.  A recent survey, “The Indie City Index 2011” found that Asheville has the lowest chain store saturation of any metro area in NC.  Compared to more than 360 metropolitan areas in the entire USA with populations far larger than ours we placed in the top 15 % in independent retail activity!

   And why would you need to shop at a chain when we have so many fabulous independents to choose from?  National Geographic Traveler recently did an article they called “The Perfect Summer Weekend” and they said that everywhere they went--local shops, restaurants, bars--the staff were friendly and helpful, but not overbearing. They concluded that tourism is Asheville's bread and butter, and said we know how to show visitors a good time.

   So, buy local. It is not a new concept but one that is not often practiced or understood in many places. Especially given the American mindset in which we're entitled to get whatever we want, from wherever we want, whenever we want. By supporting Asheville Grown Businesses, we are promoting a dynamic living economy as a way of life. So,  remember to Love Asheville – Buy Local!

"Local Independent Businesses recycle more money back into the local economy and give greater support to a community’s non-profit and civic needs. They are better positioned to respond to the special needs of the community and more tied to the community’s future."
Asheville Grown

#5- City Hall

#5- City Hall

   I never knew I had any interest in architecture until I moved to Asheville.  We are so fortunate to have so many beautiful, historic buildings preserved in our downtown area and my absolute favorite is City Hall. This gem was constructed between 1926-1928 by architect Douglas Ellington. It is this flamboyant Art Deco style which Ellington brought to Asheville that perhaps remains most typical of our city. A native North Carolinian, Ellington left his signature throughout the downtown area, combining his love of color and design with his European training. Other buildings that he graced our downtown with include the First Baptist Church, the S&W cafeteria and Asheville High School.

   City Hall is constructed out of Georgia Pink marble, brick, and terra cotta and the top resembles a beautiful wedding cake.  This roof is so incredible that it is actually the logo for the city of Asheville. In fact, this eight story building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. According to Ellington, the design was "an evolution of the desire that the contours of the building should reflect the mountain background," referring to the amazing scenery that surrounds Asheville and serves as the backdrop of City Hall. On a clear, Carolina blue sky day the sight really is amazing!

   Ellington chose building materials and colors that represented the natural clay-pink shades of the local Asheville soil. The unusual octagonal roof is covered in colors from bands of terra cotta red tiles, pink marble piers and ornamental green and gold feather motifs. The interior of the building is designed in a manner typical of 1920s office buildings--the central core contains public elevators and an enclosed staircase while offices lie along the perimeter of each floor. The second floor houses the distinctive City Manager's Office and City Council Chambers. The interior of the council chambers features murals by New York artist Clifford Addams that portray the story of the American Indians and early white settlers in the area. City Hall has changed little since the 1920s and still attracts residents and visitors alike with its bold and colorful style.

   Right next door is the less than beautiful County Courthouse.  The two structures surprisingly were completed in the same year, 1928, and were to have been both designed by Ellington. As work started on the city hall building, however, local officials decided its design was too extravagant and had someone else take over the county building project. What a mistake that turned out to be! When you look at them side by side you can understand why these two buildings are now known as Asheville’s Odd Couple.

“Good architecture is like a piece of beautifully composed music crystallized in space that elevates our spirits beyond the limitation of time.” – Tao Ho

#4- Chocolate!

#4 – Chocolate!

   Since it is Valentine’s Day it seems that chocolate is the obvious choice for this week’s topic.  Of course we have a tendency to use any and every holiday imaginable as an excuse to (over?) indulge in chocolate.  Who knew that August 4^th is National Chocolate Chip Day or that December 16th is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, or my own personal favorite, February 5^th – National Chocolate Fondue Day?! Obviously any day is a good day for the cocoa bean treat so it is a good thing we have a few outstanding shops to patronize here in Asheville!   Did you know the average American eats 12 lbs. of chocolate a year?!  Could that be where this extra weight has come from???

   Out of the ordinary choices can be found at The French Broad Chocolate Lounge.   Husband and wife team Dan and Jael Rattigan started this locally owned business in their home several years ago. Then they opened a tiny little store front in 2008 and have exploded in popularity since then. They now occupy three floors and have doubled their dining space while adding an in house kitchen.  By using local ingredients, featuring local artists and musicians, and selling local beer, coffee and ice cream they have created a sacred space for “Chocophiles.” There are a variety of options from the Aphrodisiac collection which is perfect for Valentine’s Day to the Buddha Vegan collection which, of course, is so very perfect for Asheville.

   You won’t find any boring, ordinary choices here.  Instead look for creative pairings like fig and port, lavender and honey and cabernet and anise. Not in the mood for candy? They have you covered with cakes, brownies, cookies, ice cream and beer and wine.  In the unlikely event you aren’t a chocolate lover you can buy a 6 or 12 month chocolate subscription for someone who is, like me! Besides lots of local press this business has been mentioned several times in Southern Living Magazine – not bad for a little local chocolate shop!

   To prove that Asheville is indeed the place to indulge in the sweet life, we also have another world class shop called the Chocolate Fetish.  A part of the downtown scene since 1986 this shop has been voted Best in Western NC for 12 straight years.  They also started off as a two person operation and now, 25 years later, have a full staff and a loyal following all across the country.

    In addition to all the creative flavors, this place is known for their artistic gift packages. Painters, sculptors, and musicians are drawn to Asheville for the natural beauty surrounding it and for the creative energy that buzzes through its streets. The Chocolate Fetish has their own artists that work in the medium of chocolate. The Chocolate High Heel Shoes are a great way to satisfy two fetishes at once and don’t miss out on the Smash Cakes, Chocolate Covered Strawberry trees or the Chocolate Putting Green cake for the golf lover.  These are true masterpieces.  They are so beautiful that you don’t want to eat them.  All right, maybe that is going too far, but they are amazing works of art!  

“There are four basic food groups: chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles.”   ~Author Unknown

#3 - Beer!

#3- Beer!

Not just any beer, but local craft brewed beer! Asheville was voted Beer City USA in a 2010 contest and was runner up in 2009 to Portland, OR.  For a city with 74,500 people we are so lucky to have 9 breweries serving over 50 hand- crafted, tasty local brews. I often wonder how I drank beer back before this craft brew craze. As you age and evolve as a person so too must your tastes. The thought of Busch beer in a can now makes me shudder. There is a world of difference!

   In addition to the breweries and their tasting rooms other beer related businesses abound! We now have 5 local beer festivals that are spread throughout the year with Brewgrass being the granddaddy of them all. Started in 1997 it has become a tough ticket to get with all 3,500 tickets selling out months in advance, often in one day. And why not, with 40 breweries and live national and regional bluegrass bands it is a beer lover’s paradise. I have to work the event every year and I can guarantee you there is nothing sadder than a beer lover surround by all that beer and not being able to partake of any of it!

   We also have Brews Cruise which offers a behind the scenes glimpse of the ins and outs of operating a brewery and tastings at each of the four businesses visited. They provide the van and driver so nobody is trying to get behind the wheel if they overindulge on the tour.  Of course I am not sure exactly what service they provide on the "Walking Tours" - possibly a wheel barrow to transport the heartiest of partiers back to the starting point!

   Brusin' Ales is a locally owned store specializing only in craft beer with over 900 beers as well as beer related merchandise. They were voted the # 3 beer retailer in the WORLD!  Local bakeries and ice cream shops have also jumped on the beer bandwagon and now produce products made with our local offerings. Finally, another unique feature is The Beer Guy who explores the "Beer-niverse" with a weekly article in our local paper.  All of our beer mania started back in 1994 when Barley's taproom opened long before there was much of anything in our downtown area. That was followed by Highland Brewing who opened the first brewery in the basement of Barley's. How far we have come since those early days! We even have a women’s only beer group called “Asheville Beer Divas” which I plan to check out soon. To me the ultimate justice is that one of our local tap rooms has a 7 page beer menu and only 1 page of wines! Take that you wine snobs!! So stop, think and drink good locally brewed beer! There is no excuse to drink a bad beer!

“A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it is better to be thoroughly sure.”   Czech Proverb

#2- Malaprop's

#2 -Malaprop’s

 I confess, I am a total book nerd. Anybody who knows me knows I am NEVER without a book that I am reading. As soon as I finish one I start another - I am sure I would have a panic attack if I was book- less but really can't say for sure as this has never happened. So how lucky am I to live in a city with the best damn independent bookseller around?

   Malaprop's is the largest locally owned independent bookstore in the region and it is a true treasure! In 1982 when downtown was nothing more than a boarded up, deserted ghost town owner and founder Emoke B'Racz had the vision to see what Asheville could become and opened a store that let her showcase her addiction to literature. 

   I have been here long enough now to remember when Malaprop's was in its original location with the cafe down in the basement accessed by a long, steep staircase. Now it is all on one level and Malaprop's cafe has delicious treats from local bakeries and wonderful locally roasted coffee drinks. It is a cozy space to relax and enjoy a book of your choice. There is always something going on here from author readings many of which I have enjoyed over the years to poetry groups which I tend to avoid like the plague as I just don't understand poetry. There are also literary trivia nights and several book clubs including the Bridging Differences club that I am currently really enjoying.

   Their staff picks often point me towards titles I might never pick up on my own. The banned book section, at times both funny and sad, offers insight by drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted banned books.

   With the new e reader craze you have to wonder what will become of "old fashioned" books. I can't imagine that I am the only one out there who refuses to give up the comfort of holding an actual book in my hands. I enjoy the art on the cover, the weight of the book in my hand, the paper cuts you can get by turning a page too fast and the smell of a book. Yes, I have been caught smelling my books on more than one occasion! Doesn't everybody?

   Malaprop's has won numerous awards and honors over the years and is a very community minded business. From sponsoring races, to donating products, and serving on boards they take their commitment to the community seriously. Fortunately, the community appears pretty committed to them too!

You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.  ~Paul Sweeney

#1 - Change of Seasons - Snow!

  

#1 – Change of Season’s – Snow

   These are in no particular order. It is just that we are surrounded by snow this winter so it is the first thing that comes to mind. Personally, I love snow. I guess it’s because I spent so many years living in Fl where the monotony and heat gets to you after awhile. I don’t often admit to being from Fl here in Asheville – it does not make you a popular person. Locals call people from Florida “Flor-idiots.”  After 17 years of living here I now find myself shouting that exact same phrase at folks with Fl license plates as they are driving down the middle of the road admiring our beautiful scenery at 5 miles an hour. How soon we forget….

   But back to the snow… The great thing about living here is that we will get snow and it stays around for a few days and then it is gone. This is unlike other parts of the country where the snow lingers on and on for months on end and gets dirty and disgusting. Ours does not last long enough for it to get black from cars driving on it or yellow from, well; you know what it would get yellow from! It really is the best of both worlds – we get it but don’t get sick of it. Winters are quite moderate and you are generally able to get out and enjoy them.

   This year we have had several good snow storms bringing 10 plus inches of snow and it has been wonderful! Locals have a tendency to think I am mentally ill as excited as I get over the white stuff. The main reason is that due to our steep mountain roads and lack of snow plows people just give up and stay home when we get more than a few inches. There really is nowhere to go anyway as the city has a tendency to shut down. We won’t even discuss the schools who have been known to shut down at the mere mention of the “S” word when not even a flake has been seen flying around.

   We could discuss why we seem to be getting more snow than we have in years past and why there is more of everything whether it is rain, heat, severe weather events like mud slides and tornados and melting ice caps. But that would necessitate a political discussion involving whether or not there really is such a thing as global warming and since this is not a political blog we will just stick to the main subject, which is snow!

   I look at it as an extended mini vacation. It is great to see folks cross country skiing thru our downtown, snow shoeing on the Blue Ridge Parkway, sledding on city streets and frolicking with their 2 and 4 legged children. There is a quiet that comes over the area and the views are just spectacular with the leaves missing from the trees and a coating of white on everything in sight. It is a refreshing and magical time here.

“The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?”  ~J.B. Priestley

I Love Asheville: 52 Reasons Why I Love My City

I am NOT a creative person. I really don't feel like I have a creative bone in my body but I do love this fabulous little city I have chosen to live in.  It is stimulating mentally, physically and visually so I thought that if anything could help me develop my creative side this would be it! My hope is that on a weekly basis I will be able to list something that caused me to fall so in love with Asheville, document it with a photo and write about why it is important to me.  At the end of the year I will, hopefully, have 52 photos that show Asheville from my perspective as well as a story about why they matter to me. Wish me luck!