Asheville’s Hotel Indigo Chosen for Building of America Award

Asheville’s Hotel Indigo is in the limelight again, this time as a gold medal winner of the Building of America Award.

The Building of America Network showcases the most innovative, unique and challenging new projects — projects that are particularly noteworthy and give back to their respective communities.

Need an excuse to check out Asheville’s hip hotel scene? Start planning your Asheville getaway now.

Asheville Chef Named in Top Chef List

Asheville is home to nearly 250 independent restaurants, so it’s no surprise we have more than our fair share of talented chefs. This week, Chef William Dissen, owner and chef of The Marketplace Restaurant, was included in Mother Nature Network’s “40 Chefs under 40: Readers’ Choice.”

The list requested that all the chefs have a commitment to local and organic produce, humanely raised meats, sustainable seafood and artisanal food.

Mother Nature Network remarked, “As executive chef and owner, Dissen tries to create innovative farm-to-table cuisine with ingredients from less than 100 miles away.”

Learn more about Chef Dissen, and create some magic in your kitchen with this secret recipe from the restaurant.

Share Your Asheville Favs at Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigo and singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield are partnering together for the “Locals Know Best” contest. Think you know the coolest spot to grab a beer, catch a late-night jam, or shop in Asheville? Prove it!

Take two minutes to share your Asheville love by logging onto localsknowbestcontest.com. Or share your knowledge in person by visiting Hotel Indigo on August 11, 2 p.m.-7 p.m.

Four lucky winners will receive a VIP trip to New York City, an opportunity to meet Natasha Bedingfield, admission a special performance by Natasha and a spot in a Hotel Indigo ad in People Magazine.

Take a Virtual Asheville Vacation

We think Asheville’s a pretty cool town, and it looks like we’re not the only ones. The road-tripping crew from Humongo Nation stopped by Asheville and recorded their adventures in the city. Check it out for a little desktop R&R.

Asheville's Bele Chere Offers Park-and-Ride Shuttles

Looking for an easy way to experience Bele Chere? Take advantage of the city’s cheap park-and-ride shuttles, available July 23-25. Simply park at one of the designated locations around town and purchase a shuttle ticket at the onsite Bele Chere booth.

The shuttle will transport people downtown, relieving the hassles associated with finding parking and dealing with traffic. Shuttles run Friday, 12 noon-11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 noon-7 p.m. The cost for the shuttle is $2 round trip.

Park-and-Ride Locations Include:

West Asheville Shuttle: K-Mart on Patton Avenue

• Parking location: Use the K-Mart parking area, northeast corner of Patton Avenue (US-19/US-23/US-74) and Louisiana Avenue.
• Downtown pick-up/drop-off location: At the Civic Center, the corner of Haywood Street and Flint Street.

East Asheville Shuttle: Asheville Mall, Sears Department Store

• Parking location: Use the Asheville Mall parking area in the back near the Sears Department Store near White Pine Drive.
• Downtown pick-up/drop-off location: At the corner of Market Street and College Street in City/County Plaza.

Make the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Asheville, aka home to the Foodtopian Society, has some of the most delicious cuisine in the Southeast. Don’t fret if you’re not a resident and can’t enjoy our great restaurants every day. Just enjoy this special how-to video on crafting the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich, Asheville-style!

Make Plans Now for Bele Chere

It’s hard to believe, but Bele Chere arrives in Asheville next week. The fun starts on Friday, July 23 and continues through Sunday, July 25. The free street festival offers three days of food, drink, music, crafts and children’s activities.

Featured Musical Acts

Friday

• Fabulous Thunderbirds at the Coxe Avenue stage

• Southern Culture on the Skids at the Biltmore Avenue stage

• Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band at the Battery Park stage

Saturday

• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at the Coxe Avenue stage

• Bomshel at the Biltmore Avenue stage

• Toubab Krewe at the Battery Park stage

Get the Lastest News

To get the latest news on Bele Chere festivities, follow the festival on Twitter @BeleChere.

Reserve Your Room Now

If you haven’t already, plan your Asheville trip online and reserve a room close to downtown.

Asheville Comedy Festival Starts Today

Why wait for the weekend to have fun? Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival dares you to let go of the workweek and cut loose at the largest stand-up comedy event in the southeast.

Festivities are lead by Jake Johannsen, a regular on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” HBO and Comedy Central, and are nightly now through Saturday, July 17.

Tonight, the festival is at the Diana Wortham Theater and includes headliner Josh Gondelman, winner of the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, and a late show with the Beards of Comedy tour, featuring Asheville’s own Joe Zimmerman. Friday features back-to-back

showcases with over twenty rising stars in comedy. On Saturday, Jake Johannsen takes over the stage.

Purchase tickets online or at the Diana Wortham Theater box office.

North Carolina Arboretum Celebrates Summer with Art Exhibit

Immerse your senses in nature’s beauty at the North Carolina Arboretum this summer. In addition to their lush gardens and hiking trails, the Arboretum’s exhibit center will host artwork from painter Margaret Scanlan.

The exhibit, named “Balance and Beauty: A Visual Celebration of Rural Life” features watercolors that capture the beauty of pastoral rural landscapes. Scanlan’s work has won numerous awards and has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

The paintings will be on exhibit through August 22. Admission is free with the parking fee of $8 per personal vehicle; parking is always free for Arboretum members.

The Big Crafty Returns to Asheville Art Museum

Looking for a way to experience the funky arts-and-crafts side of Asheville? Check out the Big Crafty on Sunday, July 11, at Pack Place and Pack Square from 12 noon to 6 p.m. This larger-than-life festival features over 140 artists and crafters carefully selected for their innovation, creativity and eco-mindedness.

The result is a free event that has an incredible reputation for being the best in the region. The emphasis is on local hand-made creations, so each booth is a testament to originality and Asheville’s unique spirit.

The Big Crafty also features artist demonstrations, music by DJ Whitney Shore, live music, food and drinks. Short Street Cakes will have cupcakes available for purchase and micro-brewed beer from Pisgah Brewing and other local breweries will be available for a small donation.

Where to Watch July 4th Fireworks around Asheville

Independence Day weekend just isn’t complete without a fireworks show. Here’s the local roundup on where to catch the best fireworks on Sunday, July 4.

Downtown Asheville Fireworks

The City of Asheville hosts the Ingles 4th of July Celebration. The free event starts at 4 p.m. with family activities and live music from Skinny Legs and All and Brushfire Stankgrass. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.

Town of Black Mountain Fireworks

Known as the Front Porch of Western North Carolina, this small town celebrates with a downtown street dance on Sutton Ave. The fun starts at 5 p.m. and includes crafts, kids’ games, food and evening fireworks.

Lake Julian Fireworks in South Asheville

Looking for just fireworks? Buncombe County hosts a spectacular fireworks display at dark. Park at Estes Elementary School and then walk across to Lake Julian’s Long Shoals Road entrance.