Ice Cream in West Asheville

Two Spoons ice cream shop is deemed delicious and now we have "our own Hop" at 721 Haywood road (Half way between Burgermeisters and Tolliver's Crossing, next to the used appliance place). It has a nice little outside area out back and the cones are made on premises. But the most important part, the ice cream, is scrumptious!

sunday sunset w/ montford park players

Say 'Cheesecake!'

Go to the Mountain Xpress photo gallery for more.

Considerations for the New Blog Year

I am considering taking BlogAsheville into uncharted HTML waters this summer.

Blogger has significantly updated their user interface which makes adding links and the like easier.

However, I wanted to put it to the community to see if anyone cares either way.

It would mean that the webpage might get super spotty for a Saturday while I try to figure it all out.

/gulp

Tweak or don't tweak....that is the question

WNC remains in severe drought

The AC-T is reporting "Western North Carolina remains in the grip of an unusually severe drought that Gov. Mike Easley warned is worse than this time a year ago.

Without significant rainfall, the state could face a more serious situation than in 2007, he said.

"It is good that we started conserving a year-and-a-half ago," Easley said. "The drought conditions are worse now than they were last year at this same time."

The federal drought map released this week shows the western half of the state is the driest, with several counties in the central and southern mountains the hardest hit.

Counties listed in exceptional drought, the most severe category, include Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania and Yancey. There are 14 counties statewide in exceptional drought, twice the number of last week..."

Read the rest of the article.


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People get ready! Start conserving now!

Be advised one of the best ways to conserve water is to conserve electricity, as an enormous amount of water goes into the production of nuclear power.

First Meeting of the Firestorm Book Club in a month

The Firestorm Book Club is a project I'm working on for Firestorm Cafe. It will be a free monthly event, open to the public. Each month we will discuss a book chosen the previous month, on a variety of philosophical and cultural subjects. We strive for books that represent opinions and ideas that don't get the showcasing we (we in this case being anyone who shows up to a meeting) think they deserve.
The first book chosen is "Anarchy: A Short Introduction" by Colin Ward. Copies are available at the cafe.
The first meeting time will be Monday, July 28th, at 7 PM, in the cafe, at 48 Commerce Ave. Hope to see you all there!

Skinny Legs and All

The AC-T is reporting that "Skinny Legs and All might be the youngest blues band in Asheville. These players are just in their teens, but they’re good enough to be on stage tonight at the Peggy Ratusz’s Invitational Blues Jam at Tressa’s, 28 Broadway. Come on over to see what they’ve got..."



-------------------------------
Just the facts these 15 year old are referencing Tom Robbins and playing the blues makes me want to go see em!
Support living artists!

Asheville Goes to War

Anti-war documentaries showing at the new anarcho-bookstore/cafe, Firestorm tomorrow (thurs) at 6:30pm.

Discussion to follow with filmmakers and YOU!
Firestorm: 86 Patton or 48 Commerce St. its where Eaties cereal bar used to be.


See ya there!



The details of the films:

Asheville goes to War: Directed by local hero Shane Perlowin, starring the people of Asheville with music by The Black Lung Brass Band and the Ahleuchatistas. Asheville Goes to war is a feature-length documentary depicting events in Asheville at the start of the most recent Iraq war in 2003.

See your friends in a movie!

SHUTDOWN documents a piece of the continuous struggle towards social justice. Using the March 20, 2003 occupation and disruption of the San Francisco Financial District as a case study, the film casts a thoughtful eye on one of the most successful actions of the current anti-war movement, facilitated by Direct Action to Stop the War (DASW). Created to gain insight, inspire, and draw lessons the movie tells the story of how social justice organizers and everyday people came together to plan and shut down the financial district of a major US city.


The film includes details of what made the action successful, followed by reflections from DASW participants on the many obstacles and failings of the organizing model and organizing culture (broken into themes such as race and gender inequality, lack of long-term strategy, and police repression).


Using interviews, video shot by activists, news footage, photos, fliers and newspaper articles from the time of the events Shutdown exhibits the excitement, outrage, and drama on the streets in the Spring of 2003 as the US Government escalated its war on Iraq.
xo
jodi
my life in cake

Asheville's Own Kat Williams Tonight on NBC!

Note June 25: The C-T was mistaken -- Kat's actually going to be on NEXT WEEK's show, on July 1 . Look for her then...


According to the C-T, Asheville's own Kat Williams is on the tube tonight! Look for her at 9 p.m. as a competitor on NBC's America's Got Talent.

Kat Williams on MySpace

Creme: Patisserie & Confectionery

So, yeah, I was in Orbit DVD the other day trying to rent Star Wars for my 4 year old son, when I stumbled upon a flyer for Creme: Patisserie and Confectionery - the simple reading caused me to ruin my dinner. Desperate to learn more, I tried to google them, but no avail, hence this blog.

From their brochure:

"Summer 2008

Creme is a local pastry company specializing in artisan breads, chocolates, whole cakes, and a wide variety of petit desserts.

We feature all natural, organic, and local ingredients on our seasonal menu.

Each of our items are handmade in small batches to enhance the true quality in each product. We offer low fat, sugar-free, and vegan options for many of our menu items. Please allow at least 48 hours notice for all orders.

Contact us for more information on customizing your next party, large or small."




Now to the goodness, please note this is not a compete rendering of all their offerings; however, you can always stop by Orbit DVD and pick up a flyer!


Pies and Tarts - $22/each

Chocolate Banana Mousse Pie
Lemon Meringue Pie
Jack Daniels Pecan Pie
Red Wine Strawberry Pie
Apple Almandine Tart
Chocolate Hazelnut Tart
Roasted Pineapple Carmel Tart
White Chocolate Key Lime Tart

Cheesecake for Two - $12

Banana's Foster - with graham cracker crust
Berry Cheesecake - with vanilla shortbread crust
Mocha - espresso cheesecake with a chocolate crust
Traditional New York - with lemon shortbread crust
Triple Chocolate - with chocolate shortbread crust


I could go on and on, but I shall just leave you with a list of the other areas of their culinary delights and let your imagine do the rest - Chocolates, Truffle Box Assortments, Confections, Pasteries, Petit Fours, Whole Cakes, Daily Breads, Sweet Breads, Specialty Loaves, Cookies, and Bar Cookies


------------------

Please call between the hours of: Monday - Saturday: 9am-5pm [Sunday: closed]

828-350-9839
cremeasheville@gmail.com

Jennifer Jacobs and Jitra Neal

------------------


Support local artists and businesses!

retraction: so excited about this use of public resources

Although a basic search revealed nothing in the media, my understanding is that there has been more than one serious incident involving assault in the surrounding area. You have an excellent point, nancymac. The State Troopers also made me wonder so I asked around. This is strictly word of mouth but I still retract my remarks.

so excited about this use of public resources

Ok, I just went by Beaver Lake on Merrimon Ave. In the half mile between the library and Glen Falls Road there were:
three Asheville Police cars
three State Tooper cars
one undercover Impala car

parked on the grass or in the lake parking area in what may be is the most ridiculous speed trap that ever happened.

Asheville Free Book Exchange

Just read about this on a listserv. Anyone been?:

We are Asheville's newest recycling center, keeping books out of the landfill and on bookshelves in your homes… We accept donations for all kinds of books and give books away for free. We are happy to display art for local artists and we do not take commission for any work that is bought or sold.

Our studio space has free books, free wi-fi, comfy couches, a children's section and really nice people. We can screen movies, host benefits, have book circles, story time, classes, you name it… and we can grow with the help of volunteers getting involved and bringing their own ideas to the Asheville Free Book Exchange.

Asheville Free Book Exchange is located at 191 Lyman St. at the Riverview Station in Asheville's river district.

Did You Pass The Good Person Test This Weekend?

[x-posted from A Year in Asheville]

BlogAsheville Hearts Buncombe County Public Libraries

Free Wireless Internet Available at all Buncombe County Public Libraries

"Buncombe County Public Libraries now have free

wireless internet service for library card holders. All twelve libraries will be wifi hotspots, with free wireless service available from 7am until 10pm daily. Anyone who wishes to use the service must bring their library card and their own laptop or wireless device to the library. Library staff cannot offer technical assistance to patrons for their equipment.

“Wifi access has been at the top of the list in requested services. We’re happy to expand our internet access across the community and encourage more people to come down and check out their local library,” says Library Director Ed Sheary. For more information, please call your local library or email library@buncombecounty.org"


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Well bloggers, there is no excuse now, get thee to the library for books and blogging!

Petition to Abolish the Government of the USA Petition

Petition to Abolish the Government of the USA Petition

Downtown After Five

Downtown After Five is happening again tomorrow night. Festivities start at 5 p.m. and end around 9 p.m. Woody Wood and Hollywood Red kick things off, with John Mooney and Bluesiana headlining. It's a new location (again) this year -- on North Lexington Avenue near the I-240 overpass.

I'm not sure how the parking situation is with the new location, since I skipped last month's (I'm no longer young enough to appreciate standing in the cold rain to listen to live music).

Also at Downtown After Five: ME! I'll be working the Wine Tent 7-9 p.m., so stop by and say Hi if you're downtown.

POETRY READING @ HARVEST RECORDS

Jennifer Callahan, founder and editor of PIG, a local literary journal, is hosting an inaugural reading:

SATURDAY, JUNE 21,@ HARVEST RECORDS IN WEST ASHEVILLE, ON HAYWOOD RD., 7:00.

Those reading include: Chall Gray, Hope Rinehart, Mara Simmons, Mark Prudowsky, Shad Marsh, Jaye Bartell and Jennifer Callahan.

The reading also includes an art exhibit featuring Brad Reagan's paintings. Letterpress broadsides of some of the poems in Pig will be available for sale.

Megan Mulhearn, a local musician, will bookend the readings with music.

Food will be provided. Please bring beverages with you!

The Nasty Namaste

Also, check out Alli Marshall's
review of my friend
Julian Vorus' newly released CD
collection of screamy,
raunchy poetry, the Nasty
Namaste, on the Mountain
Xpress Blog. Click here
to read the review.
xo
jodi
my life in cake

Big Fun this Weekend!

OK friends, this is a big weekend!  Here's some things going on of note (ahem... that also involve cupcakes from Short Street Cakes)
On Friday: Asheville Fashion Conspiracy!

AFC is an organization "Taking Action for Fashion: Building Economy and Community by Marketing Asheville's Independent Designers" Check it out! And all weekend long:

Ashevillage Building Convergence

"ABC 2008 is the exciting inaugural three-day collaboration and celebration of sustainability for the city, the land, and the people of Asheville. ABC features: an Opening Celebration & Benefit Night with not-to-be-missed presentation, local music & finger food; an action-oriented Ashevillage Town Meeting with nationally renowned presenters and local pioneers; Ashevillage In Action Day, with 14 hands-on sustainability projects throughout the city; a summer solstice celebration, community potlucks, local music and arts,  closing ceremonies, and much more."

Saturday, the historic Shiloh neighborhood celebrates the completion of the community pavilion and garden from 12-4.

And on Sunday:

Everybody's Favorite Food (But Local) Pizza and Cupcakes!
Sunday June 22nd  5pm at the West End Bakery! 

This is an event organized by Slow Food Asheville.  I know the Joys of Pizza and Cupcakes- my two staple foods. Come out and support the work of Slow Food Asheville. Thanks to the very good people of the West End Bakery for hosting.
Also, two great businesses are having their opening parties on Sunday:

Custom: Hers and Home Boutique owned by my friends Michelle and Tammy Goni!

Custom will hold a grand opening on Sunday, June 22, at 7 p.m., featuring catered food, drinks, and a DJ.  Custom, located at 415A Haywood Road, is open Sunday and Monday from noon to 6 p.m., and Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call the store at 257-4007.

And also on Sunday, the fabulous new Dragon Lady Salon, owned by my friend Erin Hardy, hosts its Grand Opening Party at 50 McCormick Place (just at the bottom of the hill off of Biltmore Ave).  Opening goes from 6-10pm.  There will be beer and wine,  catered menu, and a DJ.  And, of course, cupcakes. Contact Dragon Lady: 828.252.8022 or dragonl8y@gmail.com

Love,
Jodi
my life in cake

Ashevillage Building Convergence, June 19th-21st

The first annual Ashevillage Building Convergence (ABC) is a citywide collaboration and celebration of what's beautiful, practical, and life-affirming about sustainability and takes place throughout Asheville from June 19th – 21st.



There's a party on Friday, June 20, at Bobo Gallery to raise awareness and money. Doors open at 9 p.m. Music starts at 10pm with Johnson's Crossroad. Then at midnight David Earl and the Plowshares featuring Molly Rose Reed from the Barrel House Mamas will perform. The door cover charge is $5.


Other activities of the ABC include an opening celebration night with City Repair from Portland, Oregon on Thursday, June 19th at Jubilee. On Friday, June 20th there will be an Ashevillage Town Meeting, also at Jubilee, with hundreds of local leaders and citizens, participatory round table discussions, and inspiring presentations by nationally renowned sustainability pioneers, including Julia Butterfly Hill. Saturday, June 21st is the Ashevillage in Action day, when a dozen local organizations will be hosting hands-on participatory projects – with as many local community members who would like to join.



ABC is being organized by a partnership of 25+ community leaders and sustainability pioneers and organizations. For more information visit www.ashevillage.org. There is also a blog site for the Ashevillage Building Convergence.

All Of The Above

The 48 Hour Film Festival is happening this weekend, and some friends of mine are having a little soiree tomorrow night to kick off the cinematic tsunami:

A Look at Life in 1916 in 2008

Wolfe Memorial to Host “In the Good Ole’ Summertime” June 21-22

In 1916, as the United States found itself becoming ensnared in World War I and summer settled heavily over most of the country, the resort of Asheville in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains was thriving. Eager to breathe in the cool mountain air as well as the town’s culture, visitors flocked to the town on the banks of the French Broad River. On Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, from 1-4 p.m. each day, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site will evoke those days in the program “In the Good Ole’ Summertime, 1916.” The living history program will feature characters like those who peopled Thomas Wolfe’s most famous novel “Look Homeward, Angel.” Admission is $6 and house tours will leave every 20 minutes.

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site is located at 52 N. Market Street in downtown Asheville.

Welcome to Blog Asheville Summer Edition

Painting by Jeff Pittman, Asheville artist


Well, its been quite sometime since I updated the blogroll, so with this welcome comes another apology! Sorry folks!

Drum roll please! It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the newest editions the BlogAsheville family.

Take a gander and say hello!

livin In kenya
"I am not sure how this blog thing works, and the internet connection I am currently tethered to seems fragile at best. However, I will attempt to post some pictures and tell fanciful tales of my life here."

Sarcasticam
"If you believe you can tell me what to think, I believe I can tell you where to go."

The Asheville Janes
"A blog about the Asheville Janes and their adventures in and around the mountains of Western NC. This blog has no purpose other than to entertain and to challenge you daily."

Flypaper of the Mind
"The ramblings, thoughts and brilliant ideas of Tina.M.F.CooK"

Three Cats and a Baby
"Story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop."

J J Big Paws
"JJ Big Paws was named after our kinda, sorta Maine Coon cat, Java Joe."


The Raucous Rooster
"My parents once saw a rooster moonwalk in Key West. He was looking them dead in the eyes. Love that attitude."

WPVM
"The Progressive Voice of the Mountains"

For What It's Worth

The View From (Ab)Normal Heights

Trapdoor Into Dinosaur Pit

A Dark Topography

Call Me Lightning
"cut me some slack - i'm no rhodes scholar."

The Grey Coats

Idea Power
"A problem solver generating process improvement profit."

Ptak Science Books
"A Blog of the History of Ideas--unusual connections in the history of science and mathematics with the arts and social history."

Sorry for the delay! Y'all get to reading...


Painting by Jeff Pittman, Asheville artist

Tonight, If you need to laugh

Show One is this Saturday June 14th at 35 Below Theater. Showtimes are 8:00 and 9:30 PM. Tickets are $10. You can get them at the box office of Asheville Communtiy Theater.

Support local theaters and artists!

Salute to Barber Melton this Friday

The Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods (CAN) is celebrating 25 years of neighborhood advocacy with a funraiser "Salute to Barber Melton!" Barber helped found CAN and has spent an incalculable amount of her free time going to public meetings and watch-dogging local government. She's help preserve many a park from the bulldozer.

Here are the details:

Salute to Barber Melton
St. John's Episcopal Church
290 Old Haw Creek Rd.
Friday, June 13
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tickets:
$15/person (or host a six-top table for $90)
For tickets, call Chris Pelly at 231-3704

Laurey's is catering. Also, the Honorable State Representative Susan Fisher will be the keynote speaker.

URTV Media Fest and Birthday Festivus

Asheville Citizen-Times shoots us a URTV press release:

URTV, Buncombe County’s local public access TV station, marks its second anniversary with a MediaFest this weekend, featuring parties, an auction, workshops and an awards program.

The opening night VIP gala will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at URTV studios in the Asheville Office Park on College Street, just before the Beaucatcher Mountain Tunnel.

A video music showcase afterparty will be held at 9 p.m. Friday at the Garage at Biltmore. Admission is $5.

Saturday offers an open house and silent auction at the URTV studios from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Workshops on animation, web publishing, advanced studio, lighting, podcasting and other skills will held throught the day. Go to www.urtv.org for a complete schedule. The workshops are free for members and $10 for others.

A late night spotlight afterparty will be held at 9 p.m. at Westville Pub. Admission is $5.

On Sunday, the Urtie Awards for URTV programming, saluting the best in locally made shows, will be held at 4 p.m. at the Cinebarre movie theater at Biltmore Square Mall on Brevard Road.

A full schedule, workshop listings, and directions can be found online at www.urtv.org and myspace .com/urtv20.

River Arts Studio Stroll - June 14 & 15th!

jo anna fireman sculpture

The River Arts District Studio Stroll isn't just for tourists. It's also a show of support for more than 90 artist studios and a chance to pick up some wonderful art. It will be open from 10-6 each day and there's some events happening Friday so you might wanna sneak around. Besides, it's a good chance to get a great sandwich at the Clingman Cafe.

Check out their webpage for maps and suchnot.

Yep, this is Asheville

This was a classroom sign at the Appachia School of Holistic Herbalism down the road from me.

a great lookin' evening at beaver lake

'round my crib. the sailboat men loved me stopping to take pictures of them.

Wanna Win?

Last year's winner left last week for back-to-back Safaris through Kenya and Tanzania and then to Mount Kilimanjaro.

Hey - bloggers! Pack Place would love for you to spread the word about this...

Saturday, June 14: Knit, Get Naked, Do Yoga, Crack Geodes!

Summer's here (if not quite officially) and there's all kinds of things to do next Saturday in Asheville:

the World Naked Bike Ride
(NSFW link contains relatively harmless images of naked people on bikes)
Sadly, the WNBR is never quite naked in Asheville. This year's ride is mentioned here in Ashvegas.

World Wide Knit in Public Day
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in E.W. Grove Park in North Asheville
(Nudity? Maybe.)

Asheville Gem Fest
Colburn Earth Science Museum
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday)

Free Yoga Day at Lighten Up Yoga
9 am Wake Up Yoga - Laura Stone- Iyengar Inspired
10 am Standing Poses - Mili Perez - Iyengar Inspired
11 am Level 1 Flow - Gea Skeens - Dalai Lama Inspired
12 am Open your Heart -Danielle Goldstein- Anusara Inspired
1 pm Intro to Inversions - Lillah Schwartz - Iyengar Certified
2 pm Into to Anusara - Joe Taft - Anusara Inspired
3 pm Twist & Shout - Didier Cuzange - Iyengar Inspired
4 pm Yoga for Confidence - Emily Van Eman- Vinyasa Style

Johnny's Inhaler plays Westville Pub Saturday

Johnny's Inhaler is playing Westville Pub tomorrow night (June 7). You'll have a great time dancing and singing along. Naturally I'm a little biased because I have been playing with them for a couple months now. ;-)

Last month we played the Montford Arts Festival and French Broad River Festival. Now we're bringing it home to West Asheville.

Stop by, say hi. Dance. Sing. Inhale.

Asheville Real Estate

There must be something in the water...

There's just something about this month that keeps what my wife likes to call the "wedding-industrial complex" afloat year after year...

It's not every day when a friend of ours ties the knot, but today we found out about not one but two June weddings that we would like to stop and acknowledge.

• Local activist, one-time Asheville City Council candidate and all-around cool person Lindsey Simerly is getting married this weekend! (In fact, her bachelorette party at the Trophy Club could very well still be going on as I type this, so if you're still awake and in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello for us!)


• Also, former NC-11 GOP Congressional candidate John Armor (who, you may recall, sat down with several BlogAsheville contributors back in March of 2006 for an on-the-record interview during his run against then-Congressman Charles Taylor) and his fiancee Michelle are tying the knot out in Highlands on Saturday!

BlogAsheville would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the the happy couples!

Kinda sorta cross-posted from Scrutiny Hooligans

Call for Volunteers

Hi There,
You know how I always come in here and announce how it's Gem Fest this weekend and everybody should really get on down to Pack Place to check it out? Well, this year, how would YOU like to participate in Gem Fest, which is not this weekend but next weekend - June 13 - 15? Join the exciting crew of rockhounds and mineral dealers and help out science education in WNC by volunteering to help the Colburn Earth Science Museum present their largest - and really their only - annual fundraiser! They could really use people to either crack geodes, which is actually extremely fun, outdoors, mildly athletic and makes a satisfying loud noise, or watch the silent auction, which is air conditioned, mellow and offers the possible chance to foil evil doers. Two hour shifts are available on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday. For more info or to sign up, call the Colburn at 254-7162. Please. Your community rock museum needs you. You will get free coffee and donuts and soda and possibly even trail mix. And it's fun!

Local author/comedienne to appear at Malaprop's

Hi Everyone!
Susan Reinhardt, one of the funniest people I know, will be at Malaprop's this Saturday reading from her new book. If you want to laugh hysterically then here are the details:


Time: Saturday, June 7, 2008 7:00 p.m.
Location: Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe
Title of Event: Susan Reinhardt

Asheville Citizen-Times columnist and author of Not Tonight Honey, Wait ‘Til I’m a Size 6 and Don’t Sleep with a Bubba Unless Your Eggs are in Wheelchairs, Reinhardt returns with Dishing with the Kitchen Virgin. Booklist calls her “a modern-day, southern-fried Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry.” Be prepared for a good laugh.