Emmitt-Nershi Band Tonight at Grey Eagle

Looking to get out on the town for some great live music? Check out the Emmitt-Nershi Band performing live at The Grey Eagle tonight. Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) and Bill Nershi (String Cheese Incident) have joined forces to create a Newgrass sound that has people dancing in music halls across the nation. 

Other members include: Johnny Grubb, a one time mountain resident and graduate of Appalachian State. Prior to Emmitt-Nershi, he was a touring member of Railroad Earth. Andy Thorn, a graduate of UNC, has played the stage with many big names including Larry Keel and Natural Bridge.

Check out the video below and be sure to go check them out tonight. The show starts at 9PM. Tickets are $12.

Fun Family Activity: Hey Day at the Nature Center

Here's a fun family event for the weekend. Check out the 35th annual Hey Day fall festival will be held at the Western North Carolina Nature Center on Saturday October 1^st from 10 AM – 5 PM.  From their press release:

The Nature Center will be bustling with excitement as more than 30 interactive education stations and entertainers are set to join the fun.  “Hey Day is our biggest event of the year,” notes Chris Gentile, Director of the Nature Center. 

In addition to familiar favorites such as cloggers, live bands, food, and hands-on activities, this year’s event will feature a special pumpkin painting contest, a blacksmith demonstration, and special animal encounters throughout the day.   

Admission to the WNC Nature Center is $6 for adults ($8 for non-Asheville residents), $5 for seniors ($7 for non-Asheville residents), $4 for youth ages 3-15 and children age 2 and under are free, Members are free.

Photo of the Day: Fall Colors at Graveyard Fields

I couldn't narrow it down to just one photo today so here are two photos submitted by Jennifer Mesk. She went hiking over the weekend to Graveyard Fields located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. She was able to capture some stunning shots of the mountains and the early fall color which is beginning to creep across the mountains.

Gaelic Storm's Shamboozle Fest This Weekend

Gaelic Storm is proud to announce its first music and food festival, Shamboozle Fest 2011 at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain!

Imagine the greatest house party you have ever been to, add Pisgah Brewing Company's outdoor stage in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, and then throw in four phenomenal live acts - THAT'S Shamboozle.


OUTDOOR STAGE
$22 in Advance, $25 Day of Show
Hopster & Brewmaster VIP Packages Available
TICKETS: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/192637


3:00pm – Doors
3:30pm – Scott Munns – Taproom Stage (playing all night!)
5:30pm – Big Daddy Bluegrass – Outdoor Stage
7:00pm – The Movement – Outdoor Stage
8:30pm – GAELIC STORM – Outdoor Stage


Check out Gaelic Storm in action...


Green Eyes, Red Hair: Gaelic Storm from Ryan Lacey on Vimeo.

Photo of the Day: Tall Grasses of Max Patch

The Appalachian Trail passes right through Max Patch, a beautiful mountain bald with sweeping vistas in every direction. Keep heading down this trail and you eventually come to the town of Hot Springs, a popular town for A.T. thru-hikers to rest up. This photo of the day was taken by Kristen with KMG*Photography.

Entourage Star Adrian Grenier To Make A Mountain Appearance

Fans of the hit HBO show Entourage will be excited to learn that Adrian Grenier will be stopping by the mountains to screen his new film Teenage Paparazzo. Grenier is one of many celebrities that have made the trip from Los Angeles to Asheville. We seem to attract them. Here's the full report and a trailer of the movie. If there are any sightings be sure to send in a photo!

Adrian Grenier will host a screening of his documentary film, “Teenage Paparazzo,” and take questions from the audience at UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium, on Saturday, Sept. 24. The film begins at 6:30 p.m. with discussion to follow after the film and an art reception with Grenier at approximately 9 p.m.

“Teenage Paparazzo” documents the true story of a relationship between Grenier, the star of the HBO series “Entourage,” and a 14-year-old paparazzo whom Grenier encountered on a night out. Grenier, who had previously directed the documentary “Shot in the Dark,” decided to turn his camera on the paparazzi, to examine why they find fame such a powerful lure. His film also includes interviews with celebrities such as Matt Damon, Eva Longoria, Paris Hilton, Alec Baldwin and Whoopie Goldberg, as well as psychologists, critics and tabloid writers.

Grenier’s appearance is sponsored by Mars Hill College, UNC Asheville’s Psychology Department, Psych Club, the department of Student Activities, the office of Cultural Events & Special Academic Programs, the Arts and Ideas Program and the office of the Provost.

This event is free with seating for the general public limited to 150 and remaining seats reserved for UNC Asheville and Mars Hill College students, faculty and staff.

For more information, contact Michael Neelon, UNC Asheville assistant professor of Psychology, at 828/250-2359.

Photo of the Day: Flower Art

A special display of fall color was spotted this past weekend, but it's not from the trees. Passerbys on the corner of Walnut & Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville found this beautiful display of flowers spread over an old root system. You have to appreciate people taking time to create random acts of beauty.

Underhill Rose Plays the Grey Eagle this Weekend [VIDEO]

A fusion of Americana, R&B, blue grass, and roots music will fill The Grey Eagle on Saturday, September 24 when Underhill Rose, the “heartfelt country soul” trio, takes the stage. The all-female band, known for their impressive harmonies, will share the night with noted South Carolina blues act, the Shane Pruitt Band. Show time is set for 9:00pm.

Fronted by Eleanor Underhill and seductive songstress Molly Rose, Underhill Rose continues to develop their unique sound. The recent addition of double bass player Salley Williamson makes the band an even lovelier female triad.

Having recently performed at Matt Stillwell’s Shinefest and regularly appearing at the historic Grove Park Inn, the group has made great strides in recent months. Their self-titled, debut CD was released in May and can be heard on radio stations across the country.

Tickets for the Underhill Rose/Shane Pruitt Band co-headline show at the Grey Eagle are $10 and available at the door, online at thegreyeagle.com or by calling 828-232-5800.

Tupelo Honey Cafe: Win a Foodie Vacation

Want to win a culinary vacation to Foodtopia? Of course you do! Tupelo Honey Cafe has put together a great sweepstakes that not only puts you up in a beautiful Bed & Breakfast, but they will feed you delicious farm-to-table meals and get you into the Biltmore. 


Host a Tupelo themed party and you could win. Check the information from their blog below and good luck!

Tupelo Honey Cafe Parties

September 9, 2011 By Elizabeth 

My younger brother and his family live in Jackson, Mississippi, in the heart of some pretty great Southern eats. So, when he and his wife decided to invite a bunch of friends over for dinner, I was pretty jazzed to learn they were going to use the Tupelo Honey Café Cookbook – and have a Tupelo Honey Dinner Party! Each couple picked a dish from the book to prepare and bring over and they had a great time eating, laughing and sharing. That’s what Tupelo Honey is all about, after all. Gathering around the table with friends and family and enjoying the communion of great food and drink.

It got all of us at Tupelo thinking: wouldn’t it be great to start our own culinary rave? Ignite a widespread movement to initiate Tupelo parties all over the place? We’ve sold quite a few cookbooks and believe for those folks who have a copy, planning a Shoo Mercy meal with friends and family could be a great idea – so great that we’ve decided to hold a little drawing to see who can pull off the best spread.

So put your invite list together, pull out the cookbook and put your aprons on! Take photos or video, tell us your thoughts and what sort of group got together. Who came? What was the favorite dish? Did you try new recipes? Did you decorate? What was on your iPod? We want to know everything!

We need all entries sent to lynne@tupelohoneycafe.com no later than December 31, 2011. We’ll review and pick a winner. Click here for the rules and entry details.. You’ll get:

• A 2-night stay at Applewood Manor Inn in historic Montford.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner for two at Tupelo Honey Café.
• Two tickets to Biltmore Estate.
• An autographed copy of the Tupelo Honey Café cookbook.

So, gather your dining and cooking partners together and celebrate the end of summer with a toast to Tupelo! We look forward to hearing about your parties!

Slam Poetry Contest Coming To The Magnetic Field

Looking for a fun Monday night activity? Check out this great event happening at The Magnetic Field in the River Arts District next week, September 26. From their release:


Poetry Slam Asheville is entering its third year of bring powerful
spoken word to the hearts and minds of western North Carolina and is
doing so with a bang.

On Monday September 26th, Poetry Slam Asheville will bring their
menagerie of metaphor to The Magnetic Field (372 Depot Street in the
River Arts District) on a full time basis.
Slam poetry has a long and storied history in Asheville and has made a
comeback after an anemic representation on the national poetry stage
since the last nationally competing team was formed in 2002.

After years of holding court in coffee shops, hookah bars and the
historic Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville, PSA has decided that a
dedicated performance venue with a full stage, full bar, and full
kitchen is more suited to its needs. So come out on Monday September
26th at 7:30 to sign up to perform in the open mic or compete in the
slam proper. The show kicks off at 8 with new host and seven time
National Poetry Slam competitor Andrew Procyk handling the emcee
duties. Enjoy a drink or dinner while you watch the slam in the
comfort of The Magnetic Field's black box theatre.

$50.00 cash prize and a spot in this season's GRAND SLAM goes to the
winner of the night's festivities. www.poetryslamasheville.com or
www.themagneticfield.com for more information.

Photo of the Day: Morning Sky Over Western North Carolina

Our photo of the day proves that the early bird gets the most amazing views of sunrise. Thanks to Robert Herrin who snapped this photo of the morning sky in Fletcher, a community just south of Asheville. There's a reason this place is called Land of Sky and you'll find that September and October are the most amazing months for gorgeous sunrises, sunsets and starry night skies in Western North Carolina.

SFB to AVL: Enjoy a Special Rate with Allegiant Air's New Direct Flight!

The Florida/Asheville connection just got a little closer this week. Allegiant Air announced a new non-stop flight that connects Asheville directly with Orlando. While this gives Ashevillians access to the many attractions offered in Orlando it also give Floridians a chance to explore the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The flight begins November 18 which is a perfect time to experience fall activities and shop for unique gifts for the holiday season.


ASHEVILLE TAKES OFF TO FUN AND AMUSEMENT

ALLEGIANT ANNOUNCES NONSTOP, LOW-COST TRAVEL SERVICE BETWEEN ASHEVILLE AND ORLANDO WITH INTRODUCTORY $49.98* FARES

ASHEVILLE, N.C. —Allegiant today announces new, nonstop jet service between Asheville, N.C., and Orlando, Fla., which will begin Nov. 18. The company, known for its exceptional travel deals, will introduce the new service to Western North Carolina area residents with fares as low as $49.98* one way.

The new flights will operate two times weekly between Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) with service Monday and Friday. Flights will depart Asheville at 8:20 p.m. arriving in Orlando-Sanford at 9:50 p.m. Flights leaving Orlando-Sanford will depart at 6:10 p.m. arriving in Asheville at 7:40 p.m. (all flight times are local). The carrier will utilize a full-size, 150-seat MD-80 jet aircraft on the route.

Allegiant’s $49.98* one-way introductory fare is limited, must be purchased by Oct. 3, 2011, and is valid for travel between Nov. 29, 2011, and Feb. 14, 2012. Introductory fares are not available on all flights.

Reservations can be made on the airline’s website at www.allegiantair.com or by calling the company’s travel experts at 702-505-8888.

Foodtopian Spotlight: OneFiftyOne Serves Up Amazing Local Fare

The Hotel Indigo in downtown Asheville may not be the first place you expect to serve farm fresh food, but prepare to be amazed. Not only does their OneFiftyOne Boutique Bar & Kitchen embrace the Foodtopian farm-to-table concept, but they're serving up incredible dishes, including the best crab cake in Asheville (hands down). 


The Hotel Indigo brand has always supported local artists, community and history. Now they want you to experience food the way it should be enjoyed - local and fresh. The Indigo is also hosting a contest to find the best local dishes in America, but more on that in a moment. First, I want to share the food you'll find at OneFiftyOne. Check out these delicious dishes. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

Local spring greens, garlic toasted walnuts, gorgonzola, citrus vinaigrette with an English cucumber wrap. 

Crab cake with citrus beurre blanc and baby arugula. (Absolutely amazing - and this blogger's favorite dish of the night)

Braciole - you would find this in a traditional Italian home. It's red wine braised, thinly sliced Angus sirloin wrapped with prosciutto, romano, fresh herbs and tomato on house-made pappardelle pasta.

Sorbet, made in house, includes blackberry, drunken peach and ginger. Very refreshing.

Craft cocktails are a specialty for the OneFiftyOne. They also have an incredibly impressive wine list that pairs well with most of the dishes they serve.


The list of local food vendors is impressive. Their ingredients come from Three Graces Dairy, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Sunburst Farm, Mountain Sunshine Farm, Spicewood Farm and a number of others. They have a decent selection of local brews as well.


As mentioned previously, the Hotel Indigo brand is searching for the best local dishes in America and have teamed up with celebrity chef Curtis Stone to seek them out. Foodies from across America can enter for the chance to win a VIP trip for two to NYC to experience some of the most diverse food neighborhoods and dishes in the country. Visit the Hotel Indigo Facebook page for the full scoop.

Photo of the Day: Mount Mitchell

Today's photo of the day was submitted by Asheville enthusiast, Margo Millure. Taken at the summit, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi (6,684 elevation). From here you can see four different states, explore hiking trails and enjoy breathtaking scenery. It will also be one of the first places you can expect to see fall colors. Be sure to plan a trip to the Mount Mitchell State Park the next time you travel to Asheville.

The Grove Park Great Gatsby Giveaway

In honor of the celebrated American novelist, the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is hosting a Salute to F. Scott Fitzgerald, an event surrounding Fitzgerald's birthday. Enjoy guided tours of Fitzgerald's room, fortune tellers, a cooking demonstration, chair massages, guided history tours and live vintage music throughout the resort. The event is slated for September 23-25, 2011.

This is your chance to take a trip back in time to an era complete with speakeasies, flappers and that one golden girl that got away. That's the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby. A former guest at the famed Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Fitzgerald spent much of his time in Asheville where his beloved Zelda was being treated at a nearby hospital.

Now you can join in on the tribute and win an exciting gift courtesy of the Grove Park. It includes:

A copy of The Great Gatsby
A Grove Park Inn history book
2 tickets for the Grove Park Inn history tour
Plus: a couple of surprises thrown in for fun.

Enter now!

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Photo of the Day: First Signs of Fall

We may be a couple of weeks away from the official start of Autumn, but as you can see in this photo taken by Jennifer Mesk, the colors are creeping in. This photo was snapped at Graveyard Fields off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Learn more about this year's fall forecast and where you can go to see vibrant color.

The Feral Chihuahuas & A Fistful of Glitter

The Asheville based comedic sketch troupe, The Feral Chihuahuas are back with a brand new show. This Friday at 8PM and Saturday at 7PM & 9:30PM, the group will present A Fistful of Glitter. From their website:

FISTFUL OF GLITTER!  This show promises to leave hilarity clinging to the clothing of all who attend.  Come enjoy a Multimedia Sketch Comedy Event that will fall in right in your lap.  And your hair.  And your beer.  It will be hard to wash off.   

Tickets are $10 online and $13 at the door.  As always we’ll have delicious Asheville Brewing Beer on tap and a show chock full of hilarity. There is limited seating at the Be Be Theater so get your tickets early.  (Plus save a few bucks)

The Mountain State Fair Offers New Delights For Family Fun

The Mountain State Fair kicks off today at the WNC Agricultural Center. This event runs through September 18 and is one of the largest fairs in the southeast. This year there are a lot of new activities planned. 

From the Mountain State Fair website:

Visitors will find exciting new grounds entertainment to go with plenty of their fair favorites. The Zerbini Family Circus offers up family-friendly fun under the big top with an array of acrobats, trapeze artists, daredevils, circus clowns, dancers, jugglers and animals.

The Kenya Safari Acrobats will amaze with their high-energy show. End-over-end flips, spectacular displays of balance and strength, and choreographed jump roping are all signatures of this troupe, whose members serve as artistic ambassadors for Kenya. Fairgoers will want to catch this daily show near the newly renovated Davis Event Center.

Sept. 9-13, Josh Knotts & Lea will perform extreme illusions and escapes on the Got to Be NC Stage. The magic show features a mix of illusions, theater and comedy that will have fairgoers asking, “How’d they do that?”

Sept. 14-18, Mike Bishop, a comedy hypnotist, will entertain fairgoers on the Got to Be NC Stage. Bishop encourages audience participation and through the power of hypnotic suggestions he will have people impersonating Elvis and doing other entertaining skits.

Drew Exposition returns to provide the thrilling midway rides and games for visitors to enjoy. The Bojangles Music Stage will host local and regional bands and performers for daily shows. In addition, the Mountain Music Competition that runs Sept. 8-17 offers more great entertainment.

Organicfest Celebrates 10 Years

Head down to Pack Square this weekend for the 10th anniversary of Organicfest. This downtown festival will provide you with a day of live music, vendors and great food. 

Entertainment includes music by Sirena Squires, Dawn Humphrey, Ian Booth, Jimmy Landry, Chriss Rosser, Jen Worthen, Coco Palmer/ Tom Dolce, Cliff Rubin, Lyndsay Wojcik, Jeff Michels, Highlight, Richard Shulman, Every Mothers Dream, Terry Kirkpatrick, Ginny Waite and Sonia Kelley.

Visit here for more information.

VIDEOS: Highlights From LAAFF 2011

Did you miss this year's Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival? It's one of Asheville's many festivals that takes place annually in downtown. Enjoy these highlights found on the web.

Fantastic Fall Color is On the Way (and So Are the Deals!)

It's beginning to feel more like fall in the mountains, and expert predictions are in agreement that environmental conditions and weather trends are aligning for what could be one of the most memorable fall foliage seasons in recent years. (from Fallinthemountains.com)

Color Predictions
“So far, the region’s weather pattern suggests that Western North Carolina will be a premier destination for viewing incredible displays of fall color. Many areas received a cool spring and ample moisture through July. Since then, the area has been in a fairly dry pattern which is potentially very beneficial for striking autumn color.” –Ron Lance, Naturalist, Chimney Rock Park

“Our area has not experienced severe drought which often causes trees to lose their leaves prematurely. Yellow poplar trees should retain their leaves longer this year and show more vibrant color on the slopes. If the weather continues to cooperate, bright red leaves will pop alongside the orange and yellow, a combination that gives us our more memorable fall color displays.” –Dr. Howard Neufeld, Professor of Biology, Appalachian State University

Keep reading for more predictions & fall deals!

You Can't Help But LAAFF

Come to the event that helped put downtown Asheville on the map. This weekend, Sept. 3 and 4, the Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival (LAAFF) will celebrate its 10 year anniversary. Three blocks of N. Lexington Avenue will be brimming with local art, food, beer, music, street performers, and random acts of creativity. 


Highlights include the always popular bicycle jousting, the Feral Chihuahuas performance on the LaZoom Traveling Stage Bus and a super fun kid's area as this is a family friendly event.


For more information visit here.

Asheville's Calling... Answer the Call and Win A Smartphone!

In Asheville, we dance to the beat of a different drummer. Now we're giving you a chance to take that drum rhythm with you everywhere you go. We're giving away a free “Rhythm of Asheville” ringtone recorded live from the Asheville drum circle, a Friday night tradition in downtown. 


On top of that, Asheville's calling one lucky person and giving them a new smartphone! Want to win? Download the ringtone, enter the form and you may find yourself with a brand new HTC Droid!


Enjoy our new video to hear the ringtone.

Moms-To-Be Could Win Free Food For A Year

Jack of Hearts in Weaverville is celebrating a different type of Labor Day this year. They are inviting pregnant women who are about to go into labor to their restaurant for a free meal. On top of that you could win free food for a year, but the rules on that contest are pretty nuts. Check out this piece from local news source, The Mountain Xpress.

How about this for a quirky and unique holiday event? On Sunday, Sept. 4, Jack of Hearts is taking Labor Day in a whole new direction, inviting all expecting mothers in their third trimester to eat for free at the Weaverville pub. From noon until 10 p.m., moms-to-be receive a lunch or dinner entree on the house, while their kids (those not still in utero) eat for half price.

Live music will be provided, and door prizes will be offered from local businesses like Sensibilities Day Spa, Nest Organics, Dancing Bear Toys and more.

Very funny — and slightly disturbing — is the offer of a year's worth of meals at Jack of Hearts, should you have your baby at the event and then name it either Jack or Jackie. We wonder if there's anyone out there crazy enough to consider it. "We will have a live doctor on staff just in case, as well as some nurses. I think there will be some midwives there, as well. It could get wild," says Jack of Hearts publicist Bob Collins.

The owner of both Jack of Hearts and Jack of the Wood, Joe Eckert, says that a couple of the women that work for him are either expecting or have just given birth — to this he credits his inspiration for the event. “When I think of Labor Day — I have kids — I think of labor,” Eckert says. It’s a tough time. So let’s get them all together and let them have a good time. It’s meant for the women to chill and have a little contact with each other while they’re going through this.” 

Jack of Hearts is located at 10 South Main St. in Weaverville. For more information, visit jackofheartspub.com or call 645-2700.