Concerts on the Quad Schedule

Just saw the schedule for this summer's Concerts on the Quad. This year they're featuring all WNC artists:

June 16: Nuevo Montuno
June 23: The Smoky Mountain Brass Band
June 30: One Leg Up
July 7: Bandana Klezmer, 7-8 pm; Jibblin' the Froeline, 8-9pm
July 14: The Buckerettes

More info: http://www.unca.edu/summerquad/calendar.asp

Day in the Life of Asheville reception

When: TONIGHT! Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: The hallway outside Pack Memorial Library (that's the downtown library).
What: A reception to celebrate this spring's Day in the Life of Asheville community photography project. Snacks and drinks (no alcohol, sadly). Much admiring of the photos.
Who: You! And about 60 fotogs and their friends and families.

the Asheville Mural Project (AMP) gets underway!

AMP and Molly Must
Originally uploaded by zen

Finally after much wrangling over insurances and paints, comittments and the ever-present permits, Molly Must officially opened up the Lexington Avenue side of the Asheville Mural Project yesterday working with a group of diverse artists and volunteers.

AMP's first project is to put a mural on the bridge abutments where Lexington Avenue goes under I-240. Molly has been tireless and sometimes tired (like today) after gathering up all the resources and herding the artists into a collective project they can get behind. Look for updates at AMP website

Asheville Music Jamboree stretch

More AMJam photos here.

Time To Car Pool, Wouldn't You Agree?

Jon Elliston over at Mtn. X gives us some local ride-share resources:

• Carpool World — Asheville

• Asheville Rideshares on Craigslist

• eRideShare’s North Carolina Carpool Center

• Share the Ride NC

• Marshall Rideshare MySpace group

asheville changes

What was once this quirky little building (seen here after she was boarded up) at the corner of Broadway and Bordeaux, is now (or is soon becoming) the Pioneer Building.

Legal False Advertising

Dear Charter Communications and Paul Allen, CEO:

I want to share with you my concern for your well-being, as I experienced a rather deep shock and dissatisfying event yesterday when I attempted to sign up for your cable internet services.

I went to www.charter.com and attempted to sign up. Everything seemed fairly easy at first. In fact, I was delighted to sample your wares for six months at an introductory rate of $19.99, going so far as to try and set up an appointment for installation; however, the website was spotty, and I was forced to call a help number.

Now please note, everyone with whom I spoke was helpful and well-mannered, but I must say I was taken back when the person mentioned the $10.00 “no cable fee.”

I asked where in the Terms and Services it contained information on this fee, and in fact it was not in the terms and services section of your website – it was in fine print at the bottom of “more information” regarding the unbundled $19.99 offer.

My dissatisfaction comes with the fact that this is legal false advertising being committed by Charter Communications, and I find it particular distasteful that your good, polite employees are forced to defend it.

Even when I printed my receipt – it contained only the $19.99 per month fee and the installation fee. Meaning I would not have known about the other fee until my first bill arrived.

As gas and food prices continue to increase, your services may be one of the first to be trimmed to save money in each family budget, especially when services and expectations are not being met; consequently, please consider using a sharper honesty in dealings with the public, that your good, hardworking employees not be forced to defend corporate marketing deceit and legal false advertising, and that your company remain solvent despite a host of issues which most of your customers are not aware.

Sincerely,

Admin

I Has A Bucket

Arratik did a "I Can Has Cheezburger" post over at ScruHoo, and I just had to post this photo. It's called a LOLrus. JeeJee at a NYC blog, Belfulton, turned me on to it. Click the pic for a larger version.

Remember Lives Lost to Domestic Violence

Recently two members of our community were killed in domestic violence incidents. The Asheville Buncombe Coalition for the Prevention of Family Violence invites you to join us as we gather for a Silent Walk through downtown Asheville in honor of Donna Lewis, Bonnie Woodring, and all victims of Domestic Violence.

The purpose of the Silent Walk is to raise awareness of the impact of Domestic Violence in our community and mourn lives lost to Domestic Violence. Community members are invited to gather at the front lawn of the Buncombe County Courthouse at 12:30pm on Wednesday, May 21^st to participate in the walk.

These recent deaths are a tragic reminder that Domestic Violence continues to be a hidden epidemic in our area. The effects of Domestic Violence are far reaching. On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day in America. (1) One in four women will experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner in their lifetime.⁽²⁾

1. Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003

2. http://www.nccadv.org

Asheville Myanmar Benefit This Friday

"Stand Up for Burma" features comedian Tom Simmons of Comedy Central, Showtime, BET, NBC and the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. Simmons is joined by Asheville comedians Greg Brown and Tom Chalmers.

Tickets are $15 and 100% of the show's profits are directed to the International Burmese Monks Organization, an organization already on the ground in Myanmar, bypassing the infamous refusal of Myanmar's non-elected ruling military junta to accept and distribute aid to its own people. Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on May 2, and a May 9 United Nations article says 1.5 million people are severely affected, 63,000-100,000+ may have been killed, and the region needs $187 million to keep displaced and starving adults and children alive.

Official show website here.

Laugh Your Asheville Off presents Tom Simmons: Stand Up for Burma

Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place

May 23rd, 8:0o p.m.

Tickets: $15.00

Recommended for mature audiences 18+

Please feel free to cross-post and spread the word about this benefit event.

The cicadas are here

The 17-year cicadas have arrived in Ashvegas. Have you seen them?

What Kind of Blog are You?

Billy Jonas Tickets Go On Sale!


The AC-T is reporting "Tickets are on sale now for Billy Jonas in concert at Vance Elementary on June 1. Doors will open at 3 p.m.

General admission is $5 for kids and $10 for adults. Premium tickets (first two rows) are $10 for kids and $15 for adults.

Tickets can be purchased at: Asheville City Schools Central Office, 85 Mountain St; The Haywood Road Market in West Asheville and The Toy Box on Merrimon Avenue.

The Vance Elementary PTO will hold a 2 p.m. pre-show party serving ice cream sundaes for $3. For more information e-mail kate.pett@asdheville.k12.nc.us."



------------------------
Billy Jonas is an amazing musician. Take your kid to see him. Do it.

You can hear Billy Jonas at his website or myspace.

BlogAsheville Hearts Billy Jonas!

Public Comment Period on Guns in National Parks

cross-posted from MyWeaverville.com

There’s been a lot of debate about the issue of bringing loaded guns into National Parks, so here’s a chance to let the government know how you feel about it. The Department of the Interior has opened the public comment period on the proposed regulations which would allow carrying loaded concealed weapons in National Parks. Go to edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-9606.htm for the full proposed regulation and to www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648053d497 if you’d like to comment online. Comments will be accepted through June 30. More details:

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service, proposes to amend regulations presently codified in 36 CFR part 2 and 50 CFR part 27, which provide guidance and controls for the possession and transportation of firearms in national park areas and national wildlife refuges. The proposed amendments would update the regulations to reflect current state laws authorizing the possession of concealed firearms, while maintaining the existing regulatory provisions that ensure visitor safety and resource protection such as the prohibitions on poaching and limitations on hunting and target practice.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted through June 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the number 1024-AD70 by any of the following methods:

• Federal rulemaking portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: 1024-AD70; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
• Hand-deliver: 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203.

Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment–including your personal identifying information–may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Lake Eden Arts Festival

Y'all Rock

Hiya bloggerati.

Thanks to the folks who visit here for their bloggy linkage goodness and for their Asheville goings-on whatnottery.

We've had over 5,000 visitors each month since January.

If your blog isn't on our radar, just email the Ruler at blogasheville@hotmail.com. He's sometimes slow, but it always gets done.

And if you're not cross-posting your goodies over here, why not? Anyone with an Asheville blog who's willing to follow a few simple rules can be a front-pager at BlogAsheville. Those of you who've been keeping the front page rolling, know that you rock.

Downtown Asheville Master Plan Kick-Off Meeting

[x-posted A Year in Asheville]

Downtown Master Plan Meeting and Survey

By now you know that there's a downtown master plan being created to guide our city's future. They're asking folks to give their input through public meetings, the first of which takes place tonight.

The first public meeting for the Asheville Downtown Master Plan will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Asheville Civic Center Banquet Hall. This is the public kick-off meeting for the plan. Attendees can expect to hear about the Downtown Master Plan process, meet the consultant team and then break up into small groups to give input about what they see as issues and opportunities for Downtown Asheville.

Master Planners are asking folks to take a nifty online survey as well. Here's the survey. Take it.

Hey you bloggahs. Can you put the survey link up at your demesnes?

Looking for a summer read?

Former Ashevillian and all around good guy Patrick Finn has a novella for you to read...get it here

review excerpt:

Patrick Michael Finn has written a fierce and frightening, often gorgeously described, swirling, pulsing, sweating runaway car crash of a novella that reminded me of the darker works of Denis Johnson and Hubert Selby. A Martyr for Suzy Kosasovich is an unsparing look at the other side of the American dream; the collective rage that passes for friendship in some corners. While Finn's characters are often short-sighted and mean-spirited, his luminous writing and knack for telling detail makes their story relevant and unforgettable. --Tom Barbash, author of The Last Good Chance.

Asheville coffee shop update. Work with us Dripolator!

A few weeks back I posted an article on the best coffee shops to work from with your laptop. One of the negatives I gave about the Dripolator was the lousy two hour rule. It was posited that Dripolator had lifted this insane limitation, but the girl sitting behind me at the moment begs to differ, as she got the dreaded "Ooops! It looks like you ran out of time" splash screen.

C'mon Drip. Help us out. When someone just spent $10-15 to sit and do homework while dining on rather pricey coffee shop food that person should be able to finish what they came to do.

Possible solution:

When a loyal customer runs out of time, allow them to go to the counter and buy another drink and have their account reset. "It doesn't work like that" you say? Well it should.

Otherwise I hear there is a great place called The Green Sage just up the street. I haven't tried it yet, but you wouldn't want me to work on my songwriting blog there would you? :-)

Housing Market in USA Today

In case you didn't manage to snag one from your fifth-grader here's the link to the USA Today story on the housing market that features Asheville. Excerpt:

"The market started falling apart every place else, and we were just chugging right along," says Tom Tveidt, director of research at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

But this year — belatedly but unmistakably — the housing slump struck the Asheville area. Though home prices haven't fallen drastically, sales have. The primary cause has been a drop-off in out-of-state buyers.

"We're a destination market," says Terry Horner, president of the Asheville Board of Realtors. "It's a desirable place to live."

Voting Day!

BlogAsheville is, of course, an inclusive community that doesn't specialize in any sort of political stance. In the spirit of ecumenism and in the light of our moment in the national spotlight tomorrow, I thought I'd cruise our local blogosphere to see what folks are saying.

Ashvegas has predictions.

A Year In Asheville captured Free Hugs and Silver Statue Girl.

Cecil Bothwell (who's running for Buncombe County Commission) has a post on the weird robocalls.

Kai Schwandes at Brainshrub has a history of North Carolina ballot access.

Chasing The Bread Truck was a Hillary supporter, but she's switched to Obama.

Eat Bees looks at Obama's controversies and responses.

A Girl Named Boo unbunches your panties with a public service announcement.

Appalachian Scribe asks if Hillary is closing the gap in NC.

Hillbilly White Trash is perseverating on Obama's vague associations.

Jennifer Saylor offers a Grassroots Guide to Neighborhood Political Volunteerism. She also writes her picks for the Democratic primary.

Liminal Screeds has Obama on Asheville's Abbey Road.

Mountain Xpress has oodles:
- Michelle Obama at UNCA
- Local candidates fundraising information
- Their voter guide to the County Commissioners and Republican Congressional candidates

Pancho's Via links to the fun New York Times graphic journalism on Asheville and Yancey County.

Petulant Rumblings is a hedonistic hailstorm of politics. Just go read.

randallt says that Hillary is making it hard to like her.

Restless Mama went to Barack The Vote.

Scrutiny Hooligans, like Petulant Rumblings, is nonstop chock-a-block politics from national to county. I have a voting advice guide for folks if they're interested.

Bruce Mulkey covered Michelle Obama's visit to UNCA.

The Mills River Progressive goes off on the extended primary season in Make It Stop, Part II.

The War In Context has more on how ridiculous the Wright thing is.

Thunder Pig has a teaser of the Republican Gubernatorial candidate debate in Asheville.

Pokey Sticks and Politics has photos of Chelsea Clinton.

Undercover Blue is also loaded with thoughtful political posts. I can't pick one. Go read.

What To Expect When You're Expecting went to see Bill Clinton at Asheville High School.

Where's the Outrage? is Dr. Errington Thompson's ongoing political infofest. Like so many other excellent political blogs in this town, you'll have to go read it because I can't pick anything.

Asheville Transit System to run extra buses to UNC-Asheville for Michelle Obama visit.

Heads up: Use the bus to get to UNC-Asheville tonight. It's easier for everyone involved... especially you, since you won't have to get stuck in traffic or fight for a parking spot.

In anticipation of heightened traffic on Friday night due to Michelle Obama’s visit to UNC-Asheville, Asheville Transit System will run a bus every 15 minutes from the downtown station at 49 Coxe Avenue next to the U.S. Post Office, from 4:30pm to 9:30pm.

“The extra route is on top of the regular bus service UNC-Asheville receives,” said Mariate Echeverry, interim transit manager “We want to reduce traffic congestion, decrease the chance of accidents, and make parking at the University more available for people with disabilities.”

"The last bus leaves UNC-Asheville at 12:45 am., so there is little chance of anyone being stranded,” said Echeverry.

University and City of Asheville officials are urging people to use the Asheville Transit System for Michelle Obama’s Friday night visit. Supporters are expected to flood onto campus in the early afternoon, backing up traffic and making parking for students and faculty nearly impossible.

“It’s better for visitors if they use public transit – not only because of space limitations, but for the environment as well,” said Yuri Koslen, Transportation Planner at UNC-Asheville.

For additional information about bus routes to UNC-Asheville, call 253-5691 or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/transit.