Do Asheville Bloggers Twitter?

I am finding that I really enjoy using Twitter, and can see utilizing it in cool ways as some of my projects come online. You can find me at http://twitter.com/donmak.

Some of the ways you can use Twitter:

If you have a lot of followers, you can use Twitter to announce content. For some big internet names that I follow, like Jason Calacanis, Chris Garrett, and Darren Rowse, it is kinda like getting a "sneak peek" at their articles before I get a chance to check my newsreader.

You can also use it to get people to come back a few times AS LONG AS YOU DON'T ABUSE IT.

Example:

Say I just finished an article about social media marketing.

I would post a Twit that says, "Does this article make sense to you?" with a link to the article.

After that I can get some responses from my true fans and generate a small amount of discussion via Twitter.

Then I will edit my post, make some recommended changes, and then via Twitter I will say, "Updated article based on your suggestions", again with a link to the article.

This will do several things: (1) It gives your Twitter followers a sense they are part of your content. (2) It gets you several more page views as your "active" Twitter followers look at the information and offer feedback. (3) Now that these Twitter followers are doubly aware of your article, it is likely they will post references to it on their own blogs.

The main idea and power behind Twitter for bloggers is that it builds awareness in a way that we were previously unable to do.

After all this, you may even be able to link to your article one more time if you have comments on your blog post your Twitter followers may be interested in hearing about.

DON'T ABUSE IT
Naturally with great power comes great responsibility. If you have good content then use Twitter in the way described above. For random entries and unimportant blog posts (like oil change coupons, or Asheville real estate), please don't use this method. Save it for the good stuff.

If you are an Asheville blogger and have a Twitter account, hit me up at http://twitter.com/donmak

The Best Cupcakes In Town

So, this is just to let yall know that Heather over at Chasing The Bread Truck decided, after much deliberation and much laborious cupcake tasting, that Short Street Cakes makes the best cupcakes in town . And now she's using cake to bribe wheelers and dealers to stop trashing the planet. MMMMM. Cake, and sustainability. A beautiful match.
xo
jodi

Using Asheville coffee shops as a remote office

Picture via Ashe-villain

If you live in Asheville and work from home for a large part of your work week - like I do - you may find you occasionally need to re-enter civilization to maintain sanity. I do this using coffee shops. I have a few favorites. Do you use coffee shops as a "remote office" at times?

Here are my favorites:

Dripolator
Located on Biltmore Avenue just down the hill from the Orange Peel. "The Drip" has more of everything I look for in a remote office.

Pros:
Parking: Free parking (if you can get a spot).
Lot of nooks and crannies: The shop is large enough that you can remain fairly anonymous.
Computer Friendly: There are multiple tables and no shortage of electrical outlets.
Drink Quality: The coffee drinks are superb. Make sure and get their frequent visitor card to cash in on free drinks every so often.
Internet Access: Easy and anonymous connection to the internet.
Budget Friendly: $2 French Presses with a bean of your choice.
Other Stuff: Super clean bathrooms. Friendly staff.

Cons:
Internet Access: Halfway through 2007 they put a two-hour cap on Internet access. This caused problems for me when I ordered lunch, initiated a firfox download, worked on a proposal for two hours and then was supposed to meet with a client there to go over it - but alas - no Internet access. FTP Port is blocked as well. (Update: Edgy Mama says the 2-hour cap has been lifted!)
Parking: Yes parking is a pro (because it's free) and a con - because it is often hard to find a spot. There's just no pleasing some people! ;-)

Final Thoughts on Dripolator Asheville:
My number one pick in almost every situation - unless I need FTP or more than two hours.

Izzy's
This one is almost my #1 pick, as the drinks are every bit as good as Dripolator (maybe better) in the Asheville coffee world. But there are a couple things that keep it "just" behind "The Drip" in the Remote Office category.

Pros:
Internet Access: Unlimited Internet with no 2 hour limit. Reliable and fast connection.
Drink Quality: Phenomenal drinks. True artisans of handcrafted coffee drinks.
Other Stuff: Super cool staff. More bohemian crowd than The Drip. Very clean bathrooms.

Cons:
Parking: Metered parking (or park in one of the Garages).
Other Stuff: Very small space - hard to remain anonymous and out of sight. Could use some more electrical outlets.
Internet Access: FTP ports blocked.

Final thoughts on Izzy's:
I love Izzy's - if I go out and don't have to work Izzy's is my #1 choice. It's the closest thing to the old BeanStreets I can get.

Malaprop's
This was the place I used to go to all the time, and I rarely do anymore. I used to like to sit in the window right when it opened and plan my day, do a few small jobs, respond to emails, and so forth.

Pros:
Other Stuff: It's an independent book store dammit! If there's anything to put me in brainiac mode it is grabbing a latte in a book store and sitting down with my laptop to crank stuff out. Large tables.
Drink Quality: Better than average, but not better than Dripolator or Izzy's.

Cons:
Laptop Friendly: The bar at the window is now filled with computer stations, so regular laptop guys like me can no longer sit there. Not enough wall plugs to plug in and work. Spotty internet connectivity - thankfully there are some rogue networks to connect to as well as the downtown Wi-Fi.
Parking: Metered parking (or park in one of the Garages).

Mountain Java - Merrimon
Apparently these were franchise stores (Port City Java) that recently became "un-franchised" - if there is such a word. In other words they are now independent coffee shops. There are a few locations in WNC but I have primarily visited the one on Merrimon.

Pros:
Facilities: Large, well-lit shop. Plenty of large tables for laptops. It's close to UNCA (the Merrimon shop) so they seem to be used to people coming in and doing homework on their laptops. Very welcoming in that respect.
Parking: Free parking in their parking lot.

Cons:
Internet Access: I always seem to have trouble logging on quickly.
Drink Quality: The drinks are only slightly above average. I don't feel the same sense of "passion" for good drinks that I feel when I go to The Drip or Izzy's or even Malaprops.

Final Thoughts on Mountain Java:
It has all the right parts, but something is missing and I'm not sure what it is.

Starbucks - Charlotte Street
I know I know ... how dare I mention Starbucks in a group of independent coffee shops. Starbucks does have some redeeming qualities, however.

Pros:
Business Hours: Seems like they are always open. Late at night too. Great for emergency stops.
Drink Quality: Consistently above average drinks. Some will argue with me on this but if you've ever been in the middle of nowhere and the mom and pop coffee shops don't make good drinks, you have no idea how great it is to find a Starbucks.
Debit Card Friendly: No penalty for buying a latte with a debit card.
Staff: Very friendly.

Cons:
Internet Access: No free Wi-Fi. But it works reliably in a pinch.
Space: Not enough tables.

Final Thoughts on Starbucks @ Charlotte Street:
Not my first choice by any means, but a reliable spot in a pinch.

There are other ones worth mentioning that I haven't tried yet. Have you?

Caffiend (open 24 hours!)
The Green Sage (the old BeanStreets)
Biltmore Coffee Traders (I know Matt Mulder is a fan of this one)

A Couple Tips for the Remote Workers:
There's nothing more frustrating to a coffee shop owner than seeing all their tables filled up with people camped out with their laptops drinking $.75 cups of drip coffee. Our local shop owners are providing free internet access, the least we can do is spend a little money there, especially if we're making money sitting there. So be generous - and thankful we have so many great coffee shops in Asheville.

And ... if you happen to see me at The Drip or Izzy's, walk up and say HI!

remark fom my friend margie

I brought home a Cecil Bothwell sign, presented to me by Mr. Bothwell @ DL on Thursday past. Not being the homeowner, I asked my friend Margie, the homeowner, if she wanted it in the yard. She said "When I graduated from **** I wore a bright pink t-shirt under my gown. It said "Stay on the fringe, the edge is closer than you think."

Sign's up. Happy Spring!
PS Bill, thanks for dropping by.

Bill Clinton @ Asheville High School

Mike Doughty former Soul Coughing frontman wants to DJ in Asheville

Mike Doughty's Band plays The Orange Peel this Sunday. Soul Coughing was the band that had some big radio hits in the late-90's and early 2000 with "Super Bon Bon" and "Circles" among others. He is currently on tour supporting his latest album "Golden Delicious".

From his blog today:

So I've been laptop-djing afterparties on this tour (check out dubiousluxury.net for a taste of my musique), but I'm lacking gigs. If you have a bar with a decent soundsystem, and would maybe like me to come by late night and play, drop me a line at md (at) mikedoughty (dot) com.

Here's the cities/dates I need to plug in dj sets for:

Atlanta 3/29
Asheville 3/30[...]

Much obliged!

Mike

I'm thinking of taking my handy Olympus Digital Voice Recorder and stopping by whatever place ends up hosting him.

Clinton to speak at Asheville High School

The AC-T is reporting "Former President Clinton will campaign tonight at Asheville High School, seeking to boost his wife’s candidacy in a state that could prove crucial in the Democratic race for the presidential nomination.

Clinton is scheduled to speak about 9 p.m. in the school’s main gym, Asheville High Principal Carol Ray said.

Doors open at 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and tickets are not required, she said.

“Bill Clinton, as a former president, we are very excited about hosting him on our campus,” Ray said..."

• Former President Clinton will speak at 9 p.m. in the gym at Asheville High School. The event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. Doors open at 8 p.m.

• Parking is available at the entrance to the school off Victoria Road, with some additional spaces on the side of the school facing McDowell Street.

• Shuttle service will carry visitors from additional parking off Victoria Road on the campus of A-B Tech. Personnel will be on the roadway to direct traffic.

"...Ray said she was told by the campaign official that Clinton would speak for about 45 minutes, then would shake hands and greet the crowd along a rope line.

Secret Service agents will be on the campus this afternoon to make security checks, and Clinton will arrive in a motorcade from Hickory, she said.

Officials with Clinton’s campaign earlier this week downplayed the importance of the North Carolina primary, as both she and Obama announced plans to stump in the state.

North Carolina has 115 delegates to divide in its May 6 primary..."

Read the entire article


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

This is really exciting!

blogging poets of the world, unite and take over

Stephen @ chicken inwind & hillfoot adrift has amassed a list of Rules for Poets that is, well, long and detailed. Any other bloggin' poets out there who need to study up? I have "wear only red," "wear only black," and "wear only brown" down. Other than that I'm flailing, I admit.

Downtown Cherry Blossoms

[x-posted from http://www.a-year-in-asheville.com/]

Pack Square, World War I

The future of Jason Bugg as we know it.

Hello everyone, this is Jason Bugg from So Much For Tact. Over at my little blog, I do all sorts of fun stuff like Project Fridays, where I write about music to kickstart everyone's weekend. I am reaching a bit of an impasse about what to do with my blog. I've pointed it outward for a while, and it's been fun, but part of me wants to point it inward.

"So what does this have to do with me?" is what I bet some of the more selfish pricks out there are thinking right now. Well, all I am asking you to do is to go to my blog and answer the question I've posted in a recent post. Think you can do that? I bet you can do that, unless you are stupid or something.

Also, if this breaks any rules by me posting this, I'm sorry. You can kiss my sweet bippy.

spring irises

spring irises
Originally uploaded by zen

Spring is springing out all over, like these irises. Runners with their shirts off, people riding scooters about, walking the little ones, people out back in their gardens - it's coming folks.

looking for ideas to blog about?

wpvm shadows
Originally uploaded by zen

We just had a wonderful 2nd meeting of Asheville Community Media and there will be interesting things to post, but for now, we'd like to promote a little cross-posting.

Who reads blogs? Mostly bloggers. Who watches URTV? Mostly TV gear heads. We'd like to get some crossover, some swapped thinking to get people looking at the wider range of Asheville media. If you blog and there's a WPVM radio show you've heard that interests you, blog about it. If you have a URTV show that deals with local ideas, promote a blog that you read or give some support to a WPVM radio broadcast. The idea has always been to keep Ashevillians informed of the local goings on, and we are blessed with many forms of media. Many locals read the Mountain Xpress and the AC-T and feel informed or entertained. But the idea here is to cross-pollinate between print and net and sound and vision to form a more complete community. One in which YOU have some input.

These are only suggestions, but try listening or watching another of Asheville's citizen-media, then blog about it, write about it, broadcast about it. The growth of our own grass roots media will thank you for it!

Saturday Grand Opening: Pet Harmony

Sorry to always be talking about ACN, but the pet rescue group is newsworthy yet again:

The Grand Opening of ACN's new "pet store" offering adoptable rescued pets and shelter animals is this Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pet Harmony is like any other pet store, only all the animals are formerly homeless -- and spayed, neutered and completely adoptable.

Pet Harmony features cats housed in cat habitats and formerly homeless dogs (some rescued from local shelters) romping in playrooms.

It's also a retail space with quality pet food (Wellness, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Nutro, Canidae), pet treats and toys -- and every dollar shoppers spend at Pet Harmony helps local animals in need.

Pet Harmony Grand Opening March 15:

• special appearance by WLOS's Julie Wunder
• live radio remote with WOXL's Tammy Jones
• cat and dog adoptions
• free cat and dog treats compliments of Bone-A-Fide Bakery (while supplies last)
• local artists Angela Alexander and Jackie Teeple
• face painting & pet photos

Here's Pet Harmony's regular hours after the Grand Opening:

Wed - Sat: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pet Harmony is located at 803 Fairview Street behind Province 620 restaurant, less than half a mile off of I-40. Phone number is 274-DOGS (3647)

Learn more about ACN and Pet Harmony here.

Asheville Trolley Car, 1934

Around BlogAsheville

Xty at Liminal Screeds has a picture taken in her neighborhood of a goat on a trampoline.

Hazen Hunter has video of an incredible piece of culture jamming / performance art featuring 207 people in Grand Central Station, NYC.

A Girl Who Wears Glasses embarrassed herself:

As I was grabbing his special order he said he wanted to look around the store in case he wanted something else. Eventually, he returned with a book on premature ejaculation (which i didn't think anyone would ever have the courage to buy.)

He then comments on his special order: "Oh, I'm surprised the book I special ordered is here already."
To which I replied, "Yeah, it came a lot quicker than I thought it would."

Giannakali at Bipolar Blast celebrated a year of blogging by looking at how far she's come. No relationship to Specs Appeals' embarrassment intended.

The Avant Garden has video at YouTube - Herd of Arches:



Waterfall over at A Sort Of Notebook hasn't had time for blogging, but her house has...

Both Ashvegas and mothertrucker are attracted to Camp Lickalotta.

Pancho's Via is royally pissed about the fake non-fiction books now being exposed.

What have y'all been reading?

Local Music, Cajun Food This Sunday

Amazing Savings shoppers know Steve Liebenhaut as the unflappably friendly checkout guy with silver hair and glasses.

Liebenhaut celebrates his 50th birthday this weekend in an amazing way -- with a local music showcase at the Grey Eagle benefiting an Asheville-based nonprofit that provides food and personal care items to local people living with HIV/AIDS or in home hospice care.


The Eagle Flies On Sunday -- concert/catered dinner/raffle benefiting Loving Food Resources
Sunday, March 9
doors/catered Cajun meal from Twin Cousins Kitchen 5:30 p.m.
concert 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
tix are $20

• Gas House Mouse (blues/rock)
• The Buckerettes ("free range trailblazing cowgirls" w/Councilwoman Cape on upright bass)
• Burnt Bridges (rock)
• raffle ($5/ticket) includes bed & breakfast package, Shoji hot tub soak, Doc Chey's dinner for 2
• Cajun dinner from Twin Cousins Kitchen
  

Get tix online here. Citizen-Times article on Liebenhaut's birthday blast here.

Advance tickets available at:
The Grey Eagle by phone at 1-800-594-8499
Harvest Records | 415 Haywood Road | 828-258-2999
Orbit DVD | 783 1/2 Haywood Road |

Help Weaverville Say No to a Concrete Plant

Please help Weaverville say No to a proposed concrete plant just outside town limits.

For a little background information and residents' objections, check out the latest Mountain X article: http://www.mountainx.com/news/2008/030508buzz1

Plans for a concrete plant outside Weaverville have resurfaced. A hearing for a conditional-use permit for the facility is on the agenda for the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment’s March 12 meeting. The announcement has neighbors of the Murphy Hill Road site scrambling once again to oppose the project.
...
Area residents say the site is woefully inappropriate for a variety of reasons. Neither the two-lane Murphy Hill Road nor the Old Mars Hill Highway intersection can handle the anticipated high rate of truck traffic, they maintain. And the property’s proximity to neighborhoods and schools makes it a poor site for a concrete plant that will have significant environmental impacts.

You can help by:

1. Attending the public hearing by the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment on Wednesday, March 12 at noon at the County Training Room, 199 College St., Asheville.
   
   or
   
   
2. Signing the online petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopconcreteplant
   

Thanks!

Comedy at the Wortham This Friday

(Image: featured comedian Tim Northern)

Like stand-up comedy?

A new local production team is hoping to stimulate Asheville's comedy scene by bringing nationwide acts to town on a regular basis, starting with what they figure is Asheville's first-ever show of nationally touring comedians, "Three Comedians Crash the Wortham."

who: Melanie Maloy, Tim Northern and Scott Oseychik with appearances by Asheville's Tom Chalmers and Charlotte-based stand-up comedian Joe Zimmerman
where: Diana Wortham Theatre
when: Friday, March 7. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m
Tickets are $24.

Yesterday's Mountain X article on the show is here.

Producers Greg and Rowan are looking for volunteers to usher both shows ( 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.) in return for free tickets. You might also possibly get a free beer or two. Send email to laughyourashevilleoff (at) gmail (dot) you-know-what.

I've ushered their two previous comedy shows, and here's a tip from me: Comedians are funnier at the later shows. It just seems to be the nature of the comedic beast.

Did everyone see the sky last night?

Once the rain quit last evening, the light in the sky was amazing. People in shops just came out and watched the sky change every minute or two - See Marty's downtown shot below too. Any other links to that?

Downtown Asheville After The Rain

Public Forum on Wind Energy

Public Forum on Wind Energy
Friday, March 7, NC Arboretum Auditorium, Asheville, NC

The North Carolina Wind Working Group invites the public to attend a “Public Forum on Wind Energy in Western North Carolina,” Friday, March 7, from 4-7 p.m. at the NC Arboretum Auditorium in Asheville, NC. This meeting will be a forum for the public - from local government representatives, local environmental and business groups, and residents – to voice their support, questions and concerns about wind energy development in the mountains of Western North Carolina. After a brief presentation on topics such as WNC wind resources; benefits of wind energy; wind energy concerns; and the process of developing a wind project, the floor will be opened for a question and answer session with our panel of environmental and technical experts.
This is a free event, no registration is required.

Brochure: http://wind.appstate.edu/doc/mar7publicforum.pdf

Novelist Turned Blogger, Now Journalist, Writes About Film - Anywhere, USA

Anne Fitten Glenn, the talented supermama with scads of joie de vivre, is the author of this week's cover story in the Mountain Xpress.

Go read it, peoples!

Community Media Strategy Session 3/15

Asheville area Community Media mavens are gathering again. Our February strategy session produced some excellent ideas, one of which I'll ask for suggestions about in a couple of paragraphs.

First thing first though. Our next Community Media Strategy Session will take place March 15, 4:30pm - 6:15pm at URTV studios. James Wilson of Talk Asheville will present ideas for our Community Media Wiki at that time. I'll also put out a rough agenda in a few days and ask for everyone's input.

If you aren't on the Community Media email list (which is different from the BlogAsheville mailing list!), just shoot me a message at scrutinyhooligans AT yahoo SPOT cOm. Then I can keep you updated as things happen.

If you haven't taken the Priorities Survey, take a minute and do that now.

Cross promoting our various media was at the top of folks' priorities at the last session, and it's been good to see that a lot of people have been busily linking readers, listeners, and viewers to other media orbits. If you haven't yet taken the time to shout out to your favorite bloggers, radio hosts, artists, and television personalities, do it today. By pointing Community Media consumers to more of the same, we'll all become stronger.

Here's the part where I ask for comments and suggestions:

The last strategy session produced the idea of doing a Media Swarm on a topic, issue, or area. A Media Swarm is intended to draw attention to a specific topic via our various media. It also serves the purpose of making folks more aware of Community Media. There will be ideological agenda involved in choosing the topic. It'll be up to each person to decide how to address the topic. The inaugural Media Swarm is going to take place this month, and it's time to decide what we'll swarm around. Here are the ideas suggested so far in the Priorities Survey:

1. Issues that are effecting Asheville and her residents that our established media isn't following closely.
2. The potential of Asheville community media
3. Staples billboard, Asheville's energy footprint and any proposed peaking plant
4. co-option of new technology by entertainment industry, eg "news"
5. real coverage of asheville items, crime news, police oversight, development issues, quality of life
6. controversial local decisions by local police & council (e.g,. the prostitution "shaming" plan)
7. Transportation, local politics, local economy, local arts
8. Promoting local businesses (new and existing). Promoting areas and specific events outside of Asheville which often get ignored by WLOS and the Citizen-Times (for example, the upcoming QuickDraw event in Waynesville).
9. local neighborhood-level issues, culture/arts, and city council/local govt issues like development, crime/police, green practices, etc.
10. Issues that Conservatives and Liberals agree on
11. Graffiti, crime, local residents' dreams, invasive plants, local technologies, global climate change and how it affects asheville, local heroes, sound pollution, light pollution, city councils, asheville history, alternative religions
12. policing housing crime

Leave your suggestions in the comments and at the survey. We'll finalize the decision at the Community Media Strategy Session on March 15 and get to swarming one week later.

So let me know if you're coming or not coming, and invite everyone you think wants to get in on our growing unity. scrutinyhooligans AT yahoo PERIOD c om.

Appeal to the Masses

Anyone out there able to go through our source code and add a right sidebar, making BlogAsheville a 3 column blog?

It may be time for BlogAsheville 2.0

If you can, please email me at blogasheville (at) hotmail (dot) com