Free May Day Festival on Saturday

Looking for free family fun this weekend? Check out the May Day Festival in Biltmore Village this Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Activities include:

• Traditional May Day Dance, 11 a.m.
• Live bluegrass music from the Moore Brothers and Southern Crescent Bluegrass Band, 12 noon-4:30 p.m.
• Live music from Land of the Sky Barbershop Chorus, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Live music from Best of Times quartet, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Horse-drawn carriage rides through the village
• Victorian ladies in character strolling through the village
• Raffle drawing for luxurious prizes ranging from a night at the Grand Bohemian Hotel to a spa day
• Canned food drive for MANNA Food Bank.
  

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Filled with Rare Creatures

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its panoramic views, winding hiking trails and natural beauty. But thanks to a continuing study, the park is now known for its bio-diversity. According to the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), there are 16,570 species in the park, including 6,129 species that are new to the Smokies and 890 species new to science.

Enjoy a sneak peek of what makes the Great Smoky Mountains National Park one of the nation’s most breath-taking parks for visitors and scientist alike.

Blue Ridge Parkway Receives $13.3 Million

The Blue Ridge Parkway, portions of which run through Asheville, was awarded $13.3 million in federal stimulus money. The Blue Ridge Parkway will use the funds for repairs including reconstructing historic stone guard walls, removing vegetation and hazardous trees and repairing trails.

The money is part of the $750 million allocated to more than 750 projects at national parks across the United States as part of the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009.

Ken Salazar, secretary of the interior, said in a statement that the investment in the national park system would create "a new legacy of stewardship for our national park system while helping our economy stand up again."

Celebrate Mother’s Day in Asheville

Show Mom how much you love and appreciate her with a day in Asheville. Plan the perfect celebration with these helpful tips and ideas:

Big on Love, Short on Cash
A memorable day with Mom doesn’t require a lot of money. Stroll through downtown and visit our numerous art galleries. Explore local hiking trails that showcase the area’s stunning beauty. Or simply snag a table at a sidewalk café and people watch while you share a dessert.

Pamper Mom
Being a mom is a 24-hour job. Give her a break by booking a spa treatment that sooths her soul. Or treat her like a queen with a visit to Biltmore House. Biltmore offers free admission to Moms on May 10 (adult or youth ticket purchase required).

Shop ‘Till You Drop
Does your mom love to shop? Indulge in an afternoon of retail therapy as you stroll through downtown. Every street is packed with treasures just waiting to be discovered. From handmade jewelry to stunning clothing to cute house accessories, something is sure to catch her eye.

Dine on Delicious Cuisine
Asheville is the home of the Foodtopian Society, so treat her to a first class meal. Many local restaurants offer special menus for Mother’s Day. Best of all, no one has to worry about doing the dishes!

AB-Tech’s Culinary Team Wins Regional Competition

Asheville-Buncombe Technical (AB-Tech) Community College won the American Culinary Federation’s Southeast Regional Hot Food Competition this month. The winning team included Michael Aanonsen, Shannon Ginn, Steven Goff, Anna McClintock and Travis McCloud. The team was coached by Charles deVries, CEPC.

The team will compete for the national title in Orlando this July. This is AB-Tech’s third trip to nationals in the last four years! With these amazing aspiring chefs in the community, it’s no wonder that Asheville is the home of the Foodtopian Society!

Magazine Ranks Asheville as Top Art Destination

AmericanStyle magazine readers ranked Asheville as the #2 city in the Top 25 Arts Destinations for Small Cities.

Wendy Rosen, publisher of the magazine, remarked on the impact local artists have on their community. “Remember the vital roles played by artists during the last recession. They moved in to dying Main Streets, shuttered factories and warehouse districts, and converted them into galleries and art scenes. Their murals, outdoor sculpture and other public art enchanted tourists and helped spark new investment. Artists led the way then, and they are leading the way now: Just look at what young artists have done to bring tourism to Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, and how artists have made Asheville, N.C., a must-visit destination off the beaten path.”

HATCH Asheville Begins Today

The first annual HATCH Asheville kicks off today at 1:00 p.m. with a screening of short films at the Fine Arts Theatre. Festivities continue through Sunday, April 19, and include panel discussion, hands-on workshops, exhibitions, keynote speakers and special film screenings.

The event is dedicated to mentoring, inspiring, educating and recognizing the next generation of creative innovators. Mentors for the event include notables such as Ashley Capps, founder of the Bonnaroo music festival; noted photographer Ken Abbot; Jeff Pohlman, Emmy Award-winning director and producer for CNBC; and Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada, artist, curator and textile researcher.

HGTV Celebrates Earth Day in Asheville

The HGTV network celebrates Earth Day in Asheville with the April 22 episode of “House Hunters.” In this new episode, a Florida couple moves to Asheville in search of an eco-friendly community. Mark your calendars and set your TiVo to record, so you don’t miss this taste of Asheville.

Asheville Ranked #6 for Best Place for Business & Careers

Forbes released the winners of its annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers, and Asheville ranked in the top 10. The city ranked #6 in the list of Best Metros. Neighboring Raleigh took the #1 spot. Read the complete article here.

Asheville Highlighted with Living Local Documentary

Asheville’s food scene, local breweries and tailgate markets take center stage with a YouTube mini-documentary focusing on local, low-impact living. Check out the first installment here.

LaZoom Tour Combines Asheville History with Laughs

Want a true taste of Asheville? Hop on the LaZoom tour bus for a wacky—and educational—look at the city. This big purple theatre on wheels rolls through the city and serves up fascinating historical facts with a side of saucy attitude. See for yourself!

Asheville Airports Receives Funding for Improvements

Good news for travelers flying in and out of the Asheville Regional Airport! The airport received $7.5 million in economic recovery funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The funding will be use to make renovations to the A-Gates and security checkpoints. Renovations will be complete by spring 2011.

Bears Welcome Governor to Asheville

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue had a warm welcome from Asheville’s furry residents during her visit to town last month. This security video shows bears exploring the Governor’s western residence in Asheville. Looks like they made themselves at home!

Biltmore House’s New Rooms Open

Biltmore reveals the personal side of life at America’s largest home with the opening of four new rooms in Biltmore House. The Vanderbilts' story of family, love and daily life come alive with this meticulous restoration project that took three years to complete. Get a sneak peek of the rooms with this special video.

Kick off Friday with Asheville Art Walk

Looking for something fun to do this evening after work? Feed your spirit with Asheville’s Center City Art Walk. Downtown galleries are open until 8 p.m., so you can see the city’s newest shows and artists. Asheville Downtown Gallery Association’s 24 galleries are included in tonight’s festivities. Pick up a gallery guide with map at the Asheville Visitor Center, any participating downtown gallery or Pack Place.

Hatchery-Supported Fishing Starts on Saturday

Get your tackle box organized, because fishing on hatchery-supported waters starts on Saturday at 7 a.m. It looks to be a promising fishing season, as the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is stocking local rivers with over 800,000 trout. The majority of fish released this year average approximately 10-inches in length, with a small percentage exceeding 14-inches! (Bring a camera to ensure bragging rights for years to come.)

Hatchery-supported waters are marked with green and white signs. Asheville-area fishing spots include:
Ivy Creek/Ivy River (Dillingham Creek to U.S. 19-23 bridge)
Dillingham Creek (Corner Rock Creek to Ivy Creek)
Stony Creek
Mineral Creek
Corner Rock Creek
Reems Creek (Sugar Camp Fork to U.S. 19-23 bridge, except where posted against trespassing
Swannanoa River (S.R. 2702 bridge near Ridgecrest to Wood Avenue bridge, except where posted against trespassing)
Bent Creek (headwaters to N.C.Arboretum boundary line)
Cane Creek (headwaters to S.R. 3138 bridge)
Lake Powhatan