Hey Asheville, Laura + Brook here. Between the two of us, we get the privilege of sharing the news with 43,000 of readers in Asheville, daily — both through our newsletter + social feeds.
We’ve got some new faces at AVLtoday, so please allow us to re-introduce ourselves. |
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Photo of Brook + Laura frollicking with goats at Mt. Gilead Farm. | Photo via @AVLtoday
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Meet Brook 👋
Q: You can only choose one local restaurant menu to bring with you to a deserted island — which one is it + why?
A: This is a really tough one, but my all-time, OG favorite spot will forever be the Laughing Seed Cafe. Everything on the menu is spectacular, especially those jalapeno fries, the raw manicotti, and that Sunday brunch.
Q: Describe Asheville’s personality in three words.
A: Passionate, engaged, and dedicated.
Q: You’re taking someone on a date in Asheville. Where are you going?
A: This is one I actively fantasize about, seeing as how I have had all of one actual date with my husband here on account of the fact that babysitters are nigh on impossible to come by. Assuming I could find one, I’d start at Antidote and nab a spot on the roof to dig the scene while sipping a craft cocktail or two. Then, I’d want to wander around downtown before supper at Strada Italiano before heading to Old Europe Pastries for a few treats (plus some to take home).
Meet Laura 👋
Q: What were the last 3 things you did downtown?
A: I ate tapas for brunch at Zambra’s new patio space, checked out a rad vintage clothing pop-up hosted by the Booth Fairy Project at Bodega on Broadway + grabbed a slice of peanut butter mousse cake from Old Europe Cafe — all the ingredients of a perfect Sunday in AVL.
Q: In your opinion, what is AVL’s unofficial mascot?
A: Definitely our local black bears! It is a rite of passage to have some form of interaction with our furry pals, whether it’s on the Parkway, in a backyard, or even inside your trash bin (true story).
Q: What building in AVL do you want to see revitalized + what would you do with it?
A: It would be awesome to see some of the unoccupied/abandoned buildings in the River Arts District be transformed into apartment complexes. This is already happening at the former Asheville Cotton Mill site on Riverside Drive and I’m hopeful that this area will develop in a way that’s inviting and affordable for locals. |
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| We’re testing your local knowledge — for $25. |
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| We shared our #ProTips about AVL so it’s time to hear about yours. In the spirit of welcoming new faces, share something that you think Ashevilleans should know when first moving to town. We’ll enter your name into a drawing + the winner will receive $25 to Gypsy Queen, on us. |
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Weather
○ 72º | Partly Cloudy | 20% chance of rain
Civic
○ At today’s meeting, Asheville City Council will decide whether to purchase 21 acres of land intended for affordable housing. If approved, Council will use $1.6 million generated from the December sale of urban renewal land to yeast manufacturer and brewpub White Labs. Tune in here. 📃 (Mountain Xpress)
○ Council will also vote on plans to donate ~$950,000 in unused funds received from a 2018 class action lawsuit to two local organizations: the Asheville City Schools Foundation + CoThinkk. The money will fund two scholarships at ACS and address racial equity and structural/systems change within Asheville.
Coronavirus
○ Check out the latest COVID-19 stats for NC from the Department of Health and Human Services here. As of Monday afternoon, 16,783 cases and 310 deaths have been reported in Buncombe County. See more Buncombe County-specific info, including waitlist numbers and vaccines distributed, here.
Number
○ $185,000. The amount of grant money that the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership will provide to 15 projects across the state. The grants support craft, music, natural heritage, Cherokee culture, and agricultural traditions. Local recipients include the Asheville Art Museum, Appalachian Barn Alliance + Asheville GreenWorks. 🖼️
Outdoors
○ Curious about the future of NC state forests? Forest supervisor James Melonas — who replaced Allen Nicholas last year — shares his top priorities for the 4 national forests he presides over in this feature. His purview includes Pisgah and Nantahala Forest. 🌲 (Carolina Public Press)
Community
○ Need a laptop? Starting April 16, you can check one out for a month through Buncombe County Public Libraries’ new Library Laptop Loan Program. Anyone with a library card in good standing and who is 18+ may check out laptops and/or hotspots. Call (828) 250-4700 to request a device. 💻
Drink
○ North Asheville cocktail bar Little Jumbo (241 Broadway St.) will reopen today after more than a year-long hiatus. Its new hours are Tues.-Sat., 4:00-10:00 p.m., and there will be indoor + covered outdoor seating available. Make a reservation here. 🥃
Edu
○ Gov. Cooper signed 3 education bills to address learning loss from the pandemic. K-12 school districts are now required to offer at least 6 weeks of summer school to get third grade reading levels up to speed with the Excellent Public Schools Act. 📝 (WLOS)
Regional
○ Top-ranked whitewater slalom canoeist + kayaker Evy Leibfarth is heading to the US Olympic Team Trials April 12-14. The 17-year old WNC native continues to crush goals as she was previously the youngest woman (15 at the time) to take a bronze medal at the 2019 International Canoe Federation Senior World Cup. 🛶 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Trending
○ Live music is returning to the Asheville area as temps rise, vaccines roll out + restrictions become more relaxed. Venues such as the Grey Eagle, ISIS Music Hall, Orange Peel + more can now hold indoor showings at reduced capacity. Looking for upcoming shows? Check out our April PlanAhead. 🎸 (BPR)
Finance
○ This no annual fee cash back credit card has a $200 bonus offer, and 3% cash back on the category of your choice, like online shopping, dining, travel, or home improvement (hello, new deck for summer). Bonus: 0% interest for 15 months + a 75% bonus reward for qualified customers. Ⓟ
Click the button below for local resources regarding the coronavirus.
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It’s official — local strawberries have landed at the WNC Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd.) and we are swooning over the prospects of eating these juicy, sun-warmed gems with shortcake and whipped cream, rhubarb pie + of course, fresh out the basket with our fingers.
Wanna know where else to get the city’s freshest fruits + veggies? Check out our guide to area markets here. 🍰 |
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Show
○ Magnetic in the Smoky Park | Tues., Apr. 13 | 7 p.m. | 375 Depot St. | $15 | An outdoor variety show filled with comedy, theatre, music + more. 🎶
Art
○ Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door edited by Stephen C. Wicks | Tues., Apr. 13 | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free, Suggested $10 donation | Discuss the book that examines the 38-year relationship between painter Beauford Delaney + writer James Baldwin. 📖
Wellness
○ Yoga and Goats Adults + Kids Class | Tues., Apr. 13 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Highland Lake Cove, 215 Rhett Dr., Flat Rock | $15+ | Meet farm animals and take yoga classes separately or together with kids + adults. 🐐
Trivia
○ Robert's Totally Rad Trivia | Tues., Apr. 13 | 7-9 p.m. | French Broad River Brewery, 101 Fairview Rd. | Free | Six rounds of pop-culture trivia. 🎤
Cause
○ Asheville Cat Weirdos Cat Pantry | Tues., Apr. 13 | 3-5 p.m. | The Thrift Hound, 234 Leicester Hwy. | Free, Register | Pick up cat food, litter + more. 🐈
Find more of this week’s local events in our April PlanAhead.
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Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in any mentioned events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.
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Answered: The topic of which Carolina BBQ sauce is best is even more hotly contested than we thought, but there is a clear, albeit slight, winner. 45.8% of you prefer vinegar-based sauce, while 42.8% opt for tomato-based. Only 11.4% of y’all go for the mustard-based variety that’s most popular in South Carolina.
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