Thanks to our SpookyBlogapaloozathon Sponsor: Colorful Palate

Not everyone loves to cook, entertain or plan events. But we do! And we do it all for the love of food.

Our food is made by hand with fresh seasonal ingredients and a creative flair sure to impress everyone from your friends to your most discerning clients. Our aim is to be Deliciously Unpretentious, because down-to-earth is Downright Delectable!

Contact The Colorful Palate for your next event.

Ragan Evans & Tara Letts
828.242.3352
www.colorfulpalate.com

Check out our event space at
www.windowsonthepark.com

Spooky Halloween Weekend Roundup!

Unknown Hinson, playing in Asheville Halloween Night

And whosoever shall be found
without the soul for getting down
must stand and face the hounds of hell
and rot inside a corpse's shell...

Time to get down, Asheville.

***

SPOOKYPALOOZA


THE big event for Asheville ghouls and goblins is, of course, the annual gathering of the online tribe.

• Phil Mechanic Building (corner of Roberts and Haywood in the River Arts District)
• 7 to midnight
• beer, food, cake, music, comedy and a raffle for a $2400 artwork
• $10 suggested donation to Homeward Bound

Meet everyone who's anyone in the world of Asheville citizen media, from Twitterati to random city council hopefuls to the people behind the best damn blogs in Asheville, if we do say so ourselves.

We are friendly people, we don't bite unless it's consensual, and YOU should come out and say hey and drink with us.

***

Birthday Party for Sugar Momma's Cookies
13 Broadway
Friday 4-6 p.m.
From our own Jodi at Short Street Cakes:

I like a bakery that does one thing, and one thing only, and does it really well. That's what we strive for at Short Street Cakes, and its what Sugar Momma's has been doing consistently for four years now! (We can add to that list newcomers Pies in Disguise, but more on them later) Join Sugar Mommas as they celebrate four years as Asheville's best cookie shop, where they will be celebrating with, (what else?) a cake. Go wish them a Happy Birthday at 13 Broadway from 4-6pm.

(There is a rumor Sugar Mama's is having their afterparty at the Spooky, and that there will be cookies. - Ed.)

***

Free Planet Radio In the Round -
"Up Close & Personal"
Friday, Oct. 30
"World Music Supergroup" perform their last concert of 2009
Jubilee Community Center
46 Wall Street
$10 at door or Malaprop's
For Reservations: 828-225-3232
http://www.freeplanetradio.com

***
LaZoom Halloween Bus Tours
From Pollinate Asheville:

Spooky, spoofy tours run on the hour from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. from the Rocket Club in West Asheville on October 29 and 30, and on the hour from 9 p.m. to midnight on Halloween night, the 31st. Tickets are $22 and must be purchased in advance. Ticket prices include admission to the Rocket Club for that evening. Bring Your Own Beer (BYOB) or purchase it at the Rocket Club when you load onto the bus.

Quickly becoming a cult classic, LaZoom’s past Halloween Tours have included the Swamp Monster in 2007 and Zombie Celebrity Impersonators in 2008. In 2009, Axe Man haunts the River Arts District. Be prepared for a Warewolf Striptease, a Public Stoning, and live music from Now You See Them.

***


Spirits of Asheville Masquerade
Haywood Park Hotel Grand Ballroom
Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am
Arts 2 People, Asheville Brewing Company and The Feral Chihuahuas present an all Night Halloween Event!!! Bone Chilling Comedy from the Feral Chihuahuas, Spooky Burlesque and side show antics from Royal Peasantry, Gothic Bellydance from Madame Onca from Baraka Mundi, Delicous Local Beer provided by Asheville Brewing and other local Brewers, A Costume Contest with over $1000 in cash and prizes, and a Live Spun DJ Dance Party into the wee hours.

What more could you ask for?

-Doors open at 8 PM
-Show Starts at 8:30 PM
-Costume Contest at 10 PM
Prizes for:
Most Sexy, Most Evil, Most Disgusting, Most Asheville, and Best of the Masquerade
21 and up only
Tickets: $20
-Available at Asheville Brewing on Merrimon and Coxe Avenue
-Halloween Express (By Michaels off of Tunnel Rd)
-Online at http://www.feralchihuahuas.net/buy.html
-Or at the door

***

Unknown Hinson @ the Grey Eagle
doors at 8, show at 9
$15
Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets.
Standing room only.
Don't forget to dress to impress, as Unknown himself will be the judge during the costume contest! There will be prizes, games, and more!

***

Costume Contest at the Wedge Brewery
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Prizes for:
The Funniest Costume
The Weirdest Costume
Costume Most Likely to Get You Shot (?????? - Ed.)
Judges Choice

Halloween Outdoor Cinema at the Wedge Brewery. FREE, 9 p.m. “Wait Until Dark”
Dress warm, bring your lawn chairs.

***

Graveyard Book Party @ Malaprop's
Saturday, October 31
7 p.m.
Location: Malaprop'sfrom the Malaprop's web site:

Join us for spooky fun at the Malaprop's Graveyard Book Party on Halloween evening. Costume and design-your-own-tombstone contests are just a couple of the fun events we have planned and there will be some fantastic prizes and refreshments. Come meet your fellow enthusiasts for a fabulous celebration of books, Halloween, and, of course, Neil Gaiman and The Graveyard Book.

***

Dia de los Muertos at Short Street Cakes
Sun.-Mon., Nov 1 and 2
Cake, death and activism! Plus the new eco-burial place opens next door. As Gordon said to me, "Cupcakes 'n' caskets!"

Take it away, Jodi:

On Sunday, November 1st, and Monday, November 2, we will be celebrating Los Dias De Los Muertos at the Cake Shop! Come by and help us build an altar to loved ones who have passed, and give them a chance to enjoy our offerings and blessings! We will be selling blank sugar skulls, have a decoration station where you can decorate your sugar skulls, and then take them home, or leave them on our altar!

In addition, Short Street Cakes will be hosting an altar built by local immigrant rights organization Defensa Communitaria. Proceeds from the sale of the sugar skulls will benefit Defensa Communitaria. In addition, November 1 and 2 are the grand opening days for our new next-door neighbors, Bury Me Naturally and Farm Girl Flowers! And, of course, we'll have cake. xo

***


The Asheville International Children's Film Festival
Mon-Sun., Nov. 2-8
From the web site:

The Asheville International Children’s Film Festival provides culturally diverse, value affirming cinema for ages 3-18. By using media as a tool, the goal is to stimulate critical thinking and to promote intelligent dialogue, through the introduction of passionate and provocative cinematic works.

AICFF raises the curtain on a world of wonderment certain to enchant cinema enthusiasts both young and young at heart. We’ve searched the globe to bring together pearls of illuminating tales, invigorating adventures and pure cinematic exhilaration.

More about the movies here.

***

Now, more music to get you in the Halloween mood!

Absinthe Twilight

From Pollinate Asheville:

Jason Smith of locally-based Night’s Bright Colors has a 24-track, solo Halloween project called “Absinthe Twilight.” According to Jason, the album “attempts to depict one complete day of delirium, one track per hour. There are very little vocals or percussion and plays almost like a soundtrack for a Tim Burton film. Download it for free and listen.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM BLOGASHEVILLE!

Tomorrow Night!

Thanks to our SpookyBlogapaloozathon Sponsor: Arts2People

Throughout the day we'll giving mad props to the local businesses and non-profits that have helped make the Asheville Blog Awards happen. We're so grateful for their contributions to this annual event.

Arts2People

If you've ever seen the cool "Live As Art" bumper stickers, you've seen the influence of Arts2People on our local art and music scene.

Arts2People is a non-profit social service organization devoted to promoting the role of the arts as an integral part of our culture by serving the entire community through arts outreach, bringing the arts to those in need of the healing power of art, supporting the careers of artists, and through community cultural development.

Our major projects include the Lexington Ave Arts and Fun Festival (LAAFF), the Asheville Mural Project (AMP) and The REACH educational programming. For more information, please visit our website at www.Arts2People.org

Mission

1. We believe everyone should have access to the transformational power of creative expression. We offer classes to the general public on a sliding scale, and provide arts-in-education opportunities to underprivileged populations.

2. We see a need for local career artists, musicians and craftspeople to learn more about marketing themselves and networking with others in their field. We offer a variety of showcasing, networking, and mentoring opportunities for these professionals to increase their ability to be financially self-sufficient.

3. Lastly, we are committed to strengthening the reputation Asheville has as a haven for the arts. We want to make the arts so firmly established here that the future growth of Asheville will not weaken our identity as an artistic community.

Arts2People Website

Spookypalooza: The Afterparty

To paraphrase Prince: There's something else -- the afterparty.

The Spookypaloo afterparty is at the Rocket Club at 401 Haywood in West Asheville, where 2008 Blogapalooza musicians Sirius.B take the stage from 9 p.m.-until as part of the Halloween Craziness show.

Tix are $8 for mere mortals, $6 for Spookypaloo attendees with a discount ticket available only at our Spooky soiree.

See you at the Phil Mechanic on Friday! Don't forget we have wireless (bring your devices)! and don't forget COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED!

NC Hall of Shame: Blue Cross Blue Shield

I don't know about you, but I just got a friendly letter (which I will scan soon and add to this post) from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina which told me my health insurance premium went up from 326.00 to 397.00 a month starting in 2010 - this after an increase of the same percentage only year and half ago.

Just wondering out there in Asheville and the great Western Carolina beyond, if you got a similar letter, giving the the good news, that despite record profits, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is raising rates again.

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

Blue Cross Blue Shield Raises Premiums Then Uses Money to Oppose HealthCare Reform
"We need Blue Cross to stop using our premiums to prevent real health care reform and to stop standing in the way of a public option," Adam Searing of the of the N.C. Justice Center's Health Access Coalition, told the Carrboro Citizen."

Bob Greczyn column: I want more money, less competition
"Blue Cross CEO Bob Greczyn, whose company is doing just fine during the recession, has a letter today in The Herald Sun calling on Congress to enact reforms that will net his company hundreds of thousands of new customers without any meaningful competition from a public option"

Speak of the devil … Bob Greczyn of Blue Cross Blue Shield, that is
"As we were saying in our last blog entry, the health insurance industry has largely become a collection of predators who make a fortune off Americans’ bad fortune. One of the worst of the breed, Bob Greczyn, announced that he would retire next year from his job as CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. You might remember Greczyn from his role in creating lie-filled ads against health care reform, as well as his failed attempt to change BCBSNC from a non-profit to a for-profit company. His failure in that venture doesn’t seem to have hurt Greczyn too badly, however, since the “non-profit” CEO raked in $3.9 million in pay last year. That’s right – nearly 4 million bucks for the head of a health insurance company that has jacked up its rates, denied coverage to patients in need, and worked against a federal plan to reduce premiums. Like I said, predators."

North Carolina's Blue Cross Blue Shield Trying to Kill Key Plank of Obama Plan
"One week after the nation's health insurance lobby pledged to President Obama to do what it can to constrain rising health costs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is putting the finishing touches on a public message campaign aimed at killing a key plank in Obama's reform platform."


Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Has A Pre-Existing Condition, Greed!
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Non-Profit) Ceo Bob Grezcyn raked in $3.99 million in 2008 and now he seems to be busy writing story boards (View it after the hump) for commercials to stop real health care reform. Shades of Harry and Louise. Of Course Mr. Grezcyn works for a Non-Profit, but his $3.99 million salary sounds like profit to me"

Time for Blue Cross to act like a non-profit
"Nearly $190 million. That’s the just-released annual “profit” of “nonprofit” NC Blue Cross Blue Shield, NC’s largest health insurer. $3.1 million. That’s the latest annual compensation for Blue Cross CEO Bob Greczyn. In fact, when you add in this year’s nearly $600,000 raise, Mr. Greczyn has seen a 261 percent rise in his income at Blue Cross since the year 2000. The typical North Carolina worker, whose premiums make Mr. Greczyn’s outsize salary and profits possible, has seen a 1.7 percent drop in yearly wages over the same period of time."

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Urges Its Enrollees to Oppose Health Care Reform
"As the Senate prepares to vote on health care reform, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina sent its enrollees a mass mailing on Wednesday asking them to oppose health care reform by sending a pre-paid postcard to Senator Kay Hagan, a Democrat and supporter."
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yuna-shin/bluecross-blueshield-of-n_b_329474.html

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina's Desperate Attempt To Deceive
"BlueCross BlueShield Of North Carolina Lost $128 Million Lawsuit For Fraudulently UNDERPAYING DOCTORS. As reported by the Durham Herald-Sun, "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina was among 23 Blues plans across the country that Friday announced a $128 million settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by 900,000 physicians regarding the insurers' business practices. Numerous state medical societies, including the N.C. Medical Society, were involved in the lawsuit, which charged that North Carolina Blue Cross and other Blues plans harmed doctors with unfair business practices that denied and delayed payments for medical care... The complaint identified numerous Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans as defendants in an alleged scheme to defraud doctors in violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)." [Herald-Sun, 4/28/07]

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Raises Premiums on Customers as Economy Slides of Cliff
"Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state's largest insurer, earned $186 million last year while raising premiums on customers as the economy slid into recession. Such large profits by a nonprofit company elicited sharp criticism from health care reform and state employee advocates. "I think it's outrageous. We have North Carolinians losing their jobs, losing their health insurance, really hurting, and then you look at Blue Cross," said Adam Searing, director of the NC Justice Center's Health Access Coalition and a longtime critic of Blue Cross."

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

I also wonder if folks who oppose Health Care reform, specifically the Public Option, feel about their premiums going up exponentially every year.



For the record, Blue Cross Blue Shield's Bob Greczyn and his out of control greed has brought shame to his family's good name in North Carolina forever...

Voting ends TODAY

(Photo by Nick Smith)

Mountain X needs a day or two to count up all our votes, so

VOTING.

ENDS.

TODAY.

for Spoookyblogapaloozananny.

Vote early, vote well, vote often.

Vote here.

See you at the Spooky Friday night! Wear a costume!

PS: Don't forget we've got wireless!

PPS: If you're online, you're one of us!

PPPS: We found a great costume for you, Felicity!

Spookypalooza: The Lineup

VOTE!!!!

And also check out our Spookypalooza 2009 lineup...

From 7-9 p.m.

• juggling from members of 40 Fingers and a Missing Tooth
• stand-up from Asheville comedian Joe Zimmerman
• Wendy Lou and Jose Ibarra delivering short versions of the social media talks they delivered last weekend at BarCamp Charleston
• a brief address from Jeff Fobes of Mountain Xpress -- what kind of online community do we want to build here at BlogAsheville?
• the awards!
• VJ neb.Cinema
  

Music, dancing, chilling and drinking starts in earnest (thanks AFG!) at nine with live music from Albatross Party and It's Elephant's. Beer from Bruisin' Ales too, plus catered food fromLuella's BBQ and the Colorful Palate, and a Short Street cake!

COSTUMES ENCOURAGED!

Albatross Party on MySpace

It's Elephant's on MySpace

Voting Ends TOMORROW

BlogAsheville Citizen Media Awards voting ENDS WEDNESDAY!
Get your vote in for Asheville's online best!

Vote HERE!

Here's what we're voting for...

Bloggers
Blogger I'd Most Like to Have a Beer With
Most Likely to Make You Laugh Out Loud
Best Art/Photos
Blogger You'd Most Like to See Naked
Best Design
Best Local Happenings
Best Political Blog
Best Mommy Blogger
Most Inspirational
Most in Need of a Redesign
Best New Blog

Tweeters
Most Re-Tweetable
Best Hashtags
TMI Tweeter
Rising Tweeter
Funniest Tweeter
Best News Tweets
Tweeter I'd Most Like to Have a Beer With
Tweeter I'd Most Like to See Naked

And overall
Most Sociable on Social Media

Spookypalooza: Voting Ends Wednesday

Spookypalooza voting ENDS this Wednesday. Have you voted yet?

(And have you voted for BlogAsheville for Best Local Happenings?)
VOTE HERE: http://www.mountainx.com/blogs/blogapalooza

***

Costumes are encouraged! I ran into Paul VH of Brainshrub last night at the Mountain X Best of WNC blast and learned he is coming as a biker "with a cape."

What's in your costume closet, BlogAsheville?

***

The Afterparty -- after the Spooky, head to the Rocket Club in West Asheville to check out 2008 Blogapalooza party band/Best of WNC Best Local Rock Band winner, Sirius.B, purveyors of "Absurdist Gypsy Metal Folk Funk Punk."

All Spookypalooza attendees get a ticket good for $2 off the $8 price of the Rocket Club show.

***

The Phil Mechanic has wireless! Bring your laptops, your crackberries and all your toys and Tweet and blog your heads off! Muhaha! Muha hahahaha!

***

Here's Ami and Jason again to get you in the Halloween party mood! Click here to Zombie Boogie!

Win a $2400 Painting at Spookypalooza

In the biggest donation in Blogapalooza history, BlogAsheville fan/blogger/painter Genie Maples donated one of her creations to our upcoming social media blast. Genie is represented by Echo Gallery and her painting, which is utterly bloody gorgeous if we say so ourselves, is valued at $2400.

That's an image of the actual painting above. It's titled The Home You Ain't Got, and it's 24X24, oil on canvas. More about the painting here (link to Genie's blog).

We're splitting up our raffles (more about other prizes here -- and they are pretty fabulous). Genie's painting will be raffled off separately, and tix are $5 and available now.

Other raffle prizes include local pottery from Greg Vineyard, two loaves of artisan bread, tix to the new comedy club... Good stuff!

To purchase a ticket for the painting raffle, call Genie at 828-273-8426. You can also buy tickets at Genie's Visual Poetry Studio at 122 Riverside Drive, Studio G, or at Spookypalooza this Friday night. Checks can be made out to Homeward Bound.

The drawing is at Spookyblogapaloozananny 2009, this Friday at the Phil Mechanic. You have to be present to win the other raffles, but you don't have to be present to win Genie's painting.

Thank you Genie!

Night of the Living Blogs

More Wickedness: Weekend Roundup Oct. 23-25

Mountain X Best of WNC emcee Cookie LaRue, as usual

Fall is here, Halloween approaches and one of the funnest weekends of the post-summer year is upon us. Craft market, art sale, gallery opening, free concert with Galactic, fiber fair and two fabulous nerd-friendly events I will NOT be missing: a talk by media artist David McConville and a UNCA stargaze honoring Galileo Galilei. AND the Mountain X Best of WNC blast at the OP, complete with this superb drag queen shown above! Yay Asheville!

This weekend anyone who doesn't have fun in this town has a problem, and we here at BlogAsheville cannot help you. Grab your purple wigs and get with it, people.

***

Arts for Life & Crafts Market
Fri-Sat, Oct. 22-24
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
30 Cedarcliff Road in Biltmore Forest
FREE
"Start your holiday shopping early and support a meaningful cause! Arts For Life Asheville will present its first annual Arts and Crafts Market October 22, 23, & 24 in Biltmore Forest to raise funds that will benefit thousands of children facing medical challenges. The market will feature pottery, textiles, jewelry and many other great craft items donated by artists and community members from all over Western North Carolina. The entire proceeds from the sale will be used to provide hundreds of hours of art lessons to young patients and their siblings."

Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair
Thu.-Sun., Oct. 23-25
WNC Ag Center
$3
"SAFF is a weekend event which showcases fiber producing animals: sheep, llamas, Angora goats and rabbits, and alpacas. Hands-on workshops in weaving, spinning, knitting, felting and dyeing are offered. A variety of vendors will be carrying fiber arts supplies and unique finished garments and goods. WNC Agriculture Center, across from Asheville Airport."

Galilean Nights Stargaze on the UNCA Quad (weather permitting!)
7:30-11:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat, Oct. 23-24
"As part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (commemorating the 400th anniversary of the use of a telescope), members of the Astronomy Club of Asheville will have telescopes set up on the UNC-Asheville Quad on the nights of Oct. 23rd and 24th, Friday and Saturday nights, from 7:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.. Weather permitting you will be able to come either night to observe Jupiter and its 4 Galilean moons, the waxing crescent moon, the Andromeda Galaxy, and many stars and sparkling star clusters. Mark your calendars and come by for a view of the heavens above."

Grupo Fantasma & the Afromotive at the Orange Peel
Friday Oct. 23
8 p.m./9 p.m.
$14/$16
Latin horns, then Ashevillestyle Afrobeat funk.

(image from directionsforpest on Flickr. Check out this amazing photostream!)

Seduction Sideshow: Grotesque Burlesqe
Friday Oct. 23
10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Club 828, 64 Carter St.
$12
From TicketLeap.com:
"The Seduction Sideshow is back on the stage with their hilariously sexy blend of burlesque, circus sideshow, and vaudeville for a Halloween inspired show. With special guests including Theatre de Fetiche, 40 Fingers and a Missing Tooth, and some boo-tiful new members, this performance promises to be absolutely spook-tacular!"

Cecil Bothwell fall festival event at Hanger Hall
pumpkin carving and bonfire at 31 Park Ave. N. in Chicken Hill
Friday, Oct. 23
free
6 p.m.
From Cecil himself:
We want to keep the party in politics, and it's time for a good, old-fashioned fall bash. We're going to have a bonfire at Hanger Hall and you and your children and your pumpkins are invited! Cider, cookies, hay bales, kid-safe pumpkin carving tools ... we'll get the stuff together ... but we need you!


Echo Gallery opening (new art cooperative!)
6-9 p.m. Friday.
8 Town Square, Suite 160, Biltmore Park.
www.echoasheville.com
687-7761
Textile art, pottery, painting, ceramic sculpture, photography.Light hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

From artist Genie Maples, who generously donated one of her works to the Blogapalooza raffle:
"Good food, good drink, good art, good time! And eight of my brand new paintings."

Asheville Green Drinks with David McConville
Friday Oct. 23
free
6p.m.
Bobo Gallery, 22 N. Lexington
TEDxAVL's own David McConville, the Obama of our fine city's media artists, presents new initiatives that have been submitted to the the Buckminster Fuller Challenge, a yearly $100K award that supports the development and implementation of strategies that have significant potential to solve humanity's most pressing problems.

Eliada Haunted Corn Maze
$8 adults, $5 children
The 1-acre Eliada Corn Maze in West Asheville turns spooky after 6 p.m. this weekend with a little help from the UNCA drama department (before 6, it's just autumn fun in the corn). Hay rides and pumpkins, too.

There are three mazes, one that takes only about 10 minutes for wee ones, another that takes about 45 minutes, and another that takes a good 90 minutes at least.

Asheville 350 Gathering for Climate Change Awareness
Saturday Oct 24
Events all day regarding "an ambitious, fair, and binding global climate deal," including a 2 p.m. rally in front of City Hall and a 3:30 photo stunt that'll look something like this:

Learn more by clicking here.

Ursula Gullow Studio Sale (cheap art from a great local artist!)
Saturday Oct. 24
top floor of the Phil Mechanic
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
From Pollinate Asheville:
Ursula Gullow has been sharing a studio with friend Steve Brown in the River Arts District for a year on November 1. In celebration — and with hopes of clearing out some of the creative baggage that has accumulated over the last year – she is hosting a studio sale on October 24th. There will be food and drinks and give aways (like art magazines and art materials.)

She will also be selling her creative “experiments” (collages/drawings) at hyper affordable prices. her paintings, and prints of them, will be for sale. All prices are negotiable, BUT there is no need to buy anything – she asks: “just show up and put a smile on my face.”

Just Because You're Asheville free concert
Saturday Oct. 24
first band 1 p.m., last band 7:30 p.m.
Free concert with Galactic, Larry Keel, Dubconscious, Soulgrass Rebellion and the Jaime McLean Band, and more. Local food and crafts, plenty of local beers and featured wines.

Mountain Xpress Best of WNC bash at the Orange Peel
Sunday Oct. 25
$15/$17
6-11 p.m.
Food from The Lobster Trap, Mela, Doc Chey's, Jersey Mikes, Mamacita's, Asheville Brewing Company, Rosetta's Kitchen, Jack of the Wood, City Bakery Cafe, Wasabi, Laughing Seed, Tomato Cucina Latina and The French Broad Chocolate Lounge [HELLZ YEAH]. Llive music from Skinny Legs and All and the Firecracker Jazz Band, plus "a raffle, a slide show, art by Gabriel Shaffer and more on the bill, but perhaps the best part of all this best-ness is that the evening benefits best do-gooder group MANNA FoodBank. A barrel will be available at the event to collect canned and nonperishable food items; proceeds from the event will also be donated to MANNA."

***

I'm likely hitting at least 4-6 of these, time and energy permitting. See you out and about in the 'ville!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

BA Bloggers Take All Four Top Spots

Mountain Xpress just announced its readers' picks for the Best of WNC, and who should take ALL of the top four blogger awards but four of our very own BlogAsheville bloggers?

Thanks for the love, Asheville. We here at BlogAsheville couldn't be prouder of our winners or the fine work they all represent:

#4: My Life in Cake
Mixing business and personal topics with caring, community-mindedness and serious writing talent, Jodi Rhoden showcases not only gorgeous scratch-made mostly-organic cakes with local ingredients, but her commitment to supporting local craft, local food and local business. She's got a great big heart and a great big writing talent.

Plus she always gives us free cake for Blogapalooza. And her cupcakes are to die for.

Jodi, you rock. Period.

#3 Edgy Mama
Anne Fitten Glenn chronicles her life as a beer goddess, pet owner, freelance writer, mother of two and wife of "enviro-spouse" in a blog with humor, self-deprecating style and consistently great writing that's won her a slew of local blog awards. She's the current holder of the Big Ugly Orange German Typewriter, the blogger "prize" for Best Writing handed out annually at Blogapalooza.

Have we mentioned she's gorgeous and smart as well? Congrats AF & thanks for all the great Mountain X columns!

#2 Scrutiny Hooligans
Whether they're leading the charge against suspect back-room land deals or taking local and regional politicians to task, head Hooligan Gordon Smith and crew are behind the go-to Asheville blog for insightful local, regional and national political commentary from a left perspective. Smith's succesful city council run might have impacted how often he posts, but didn't dent fan appreciation for Asheville's finest progressive political blog one bit.

Good luck in November, Gordon.

#1 Who else? It's not like the contest for the top spot wasn't over before it began.

From the Mountain X site:

Want the cyber-skinny on what’s moving and shaking in Asheville? Look no farther than Ashvegas, an oft-updated blog by veteran local journalist (and Xpress multimedia editor) Jason Sandford. Probing and profiling all things Asheville, the site is one more reason that what happens in Ashvegas, doesn’t stay in Ashvegas.

Congrats to all our bloggers! You rock, we're proud, Asheville loves you and we do, too.

Way to go!

This Week in the Asheville Blog Universe

Lots happening.

Ursula Gullow writes about The Imagined Realms of Jason Sabbides:

"Sabbides begins each painting with a monochromatic under painting, which he overlays repeatedly with glazes - developing highlights and shadows as he progresses. The forms are given the luminosity and timeless three-dimensionality of Renaissance works while evoking a magical and surreal experience."
Read the full article

Asheville.FM posts they will be having a general meeting tonight (October 22nd) at Izzy's Coffee in West Asheville. More info

Jodi at the Short Street Cakes Blog gives her long time best friend, what else? A cake!

"I'm lucky that Lexi is my best friend. Lexi, on the other hand, is lucky that I'm a cake baker. Lexi really, really likes cake. Lexi and I have been best friends since the third grade."
Read more.

Figs and Ginger has an insane whiteboard picture posted on their latest blog post charting their inventory needed for the upcoming holiday rush.

"wowzers. last night i decided to figure out our ‘ball park’ estimates for the holiday making season so i can get an idea of what i need to order. i estimate fairly high, keep in mind, but this is what i came up with. it may look like gibberish, but it’s a pretty insane amount of work! and very very exciting!"
Read more.

Yes, We Cook! offers up a lentil and hemp seed loaf recipe that is sure to make all you obnoxious health freaks squeal with delight:

"Today, though I made a lentil/hemp loaf. I’ve made vegetarian nut loafs for my husband a number of times. Apparently they are popular in Britain and he grew up there. I’d never had or made one until I married him, and so the idea comes from the nut loaves I’ve made. They are essentially a vegetarian variant on meat loaf."
Read more.

Oh, and be nice to Edgy Mama ok? Seriously. I'll beat your ass. Oh that's right, I forgot, you're insulting her anonymously. Pussies.

Pumpkin Fever

Since recovering from Cat Scratch Fever, I have come down with a crazed illness of another kind. Before moving to Asheville, summer was my favorite season. These days, once Bele Chere’s over, I start getting all jittery in anticipation of this moment, right now. The biting air, pregnant with smoke from bungalow fireplaces, scenic mountain hikes with trees aflame, corn mazes and costumes and more reasons for kids to be cute, but especially, pumpkin flavored beverages and foods. I ordered my first pumpkin spiced latte from an airport a couple of weeks ago, and the toasty, festive, creamy warmth of it brightened my entire trip. And now it’s official: I’m cuckoo for pumpkin flavor.

A few nights ago, I had a couple folks over for pumpkin carving. I provided spiced hot cider, pumpkin beer, chili, apples with caramel, Pumpkin Bars, and the crowning dish, my first attempt at pumpkin cheesecake.


The recipe I used is an amalgamation of Moosewood’s basic cheesecake recipe and Paula Deen’s pumpkin cheesecake recipe. Looking at the two juxtaposed, it kind of feels like Mollie Katken wants you to live a long, sad life, while Paula Deen is trying to kill you, giggling devilishly as you go.


What I call Pumpkin Bars were actually called Pumpkin Chocolate Brownies on the Libby’s website, but that is not the proper term for these desserts. They are kind of the consistency of brownies, but redolent of pumpkin with a handful of chocolate chips thrown in for contrast. Don’t get me wrong, they’re delicious, I’m just sayin’ don’t tell me I’m getting a brownie and feed me something orange.

Pumpkin Cheesecake
Crust:
2 cups crushed graham crackers
1/2 stick of melted butter
2 tspns cinnamon
In a bowl, mix ingredients with a spoon and then pour into a 9 inch springform pie pan, press down with hands. Then, with an electric mixer, mix together the following ingredients for the

Filling:
3 pckgs cream cheese
1 can pumpkin (don’t know the fresh equivalent, 2 cups maybe?)
1/2 a lemon, plus 1.5 tsp lemon zest
3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup sour cream
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg (or 1/4 tsp if you like more)
1/8 tsp ground cloves (or 1/4 tsp if you like more)
2 tblsn all purpose white flour
1 tspn vanilla extract

Once this is all blended, pour on top of graham cracker crust and bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Chill in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours.
You can find the pumpkin bars recipe on my link to the Libby’s website.
Does anyone have any other great pumpkin ideas, sweet or savory? Post them here so we can eat until we turn a pleasant shade of orangy-yellow. Mmmmm.

Oh, and my verdict on the BEST PUMPKIN ICE CREAM IN ASHEVILLE is Ultimate Ice Cream’s version of the cult favorite. You only have 24 hours to try it over at West Asheville’s Two Spoons. They close tomorrow, Oct. 21 for the winter season and won’t reopen until March.

How are YOU Voting? Spookypalooza Open Thread

Stumped for how to vote for your 2009 citizen media favorites? Looking for inspiration?

Find a little here. I (BlogAsheville admin Jennifer S.) posted my own Spookypaloo picks for 2009.

Check them out, share, post your own, comment with suggestions... And don't forget to vote here for your own picks for Asheville's citizen media standouts.

Our 2009 Extrava got a brief mention in the ACT today. Spread the word, we still need sponsors and volunteers... Sponsors (so far, Short Street Cakes, Mountain Xpress, Applied Solutions Group and the Colorful Palate) can post signs/banners, address the crowd, get a logo and free publicity here on BlogAsheville, and receive exposure to leading local bloggers, citizen journalists, social media mavens and an eclectic mix of creative minds across multiple social media platforms.

Sponsors also get to to know they contributed to a 100%-to-charity event that raised $1000 for Asheville homeless services last year.

Want to learn more about Homeward Bound, AHOPE and where our all our money is going? Check out this video made especially for BlogAsheville last year by Wu Media and narrated by our very own Gordon Smith of Scroo Hoo.

Fall: New Bloggers Welcome!

Craftwork by local artist, Faerie Made

Well, the Fall is upon us, and therefore it is time to welcome a new group of local bloggers. There are some real gems here in the mix. Please check them out and make them feel welcome to the BlogAsheville Community!

Jazz and Poetry
"Feed the Muse"

Nina
"Food, Motherhood, and More"

Sanuk D
"I don't know what I'm doing here, I should be someplace else."

The Word Hoarder
"Father, bookseller, gardener, writer, jack-of-many-trades"

Get River Linked
"RiverLink is a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to work, live and play. Since 1987 we have engaged in simultaneous efforts to address water quality concerns throughout the French Broad River basin, expand public opportunities for access and recreation, and spearheaded the economic revitalization of Asheville's dilapidated riverfront district."

Go Graham Go!
"Mom's Take on What Products Work!"

Lover's Loop Retreat

Amateur Style Polymath
"Welcome to your one-stop shop for style musings and news from an average woman. Here, I will attempt to dig out and dust off my inner chic, providing (mostly) budget-conscious tips and opinions on every topic that could benefit from some panache and flair: fashion, beauty, health, food, home, etc. Also, I will try to share as much local style as possible so you can learn about a few of the elegancies of life to be found in Western North Carolina, USA."

Carolyn in Carolina

Famous Amys
"True stories of an Iowa-transplant who is living in the South, raising a sassy toddler, becoming a master homemaker and trying not spill her glass of wine."

Asheville Advocate
"A blog exploring political thought in and about Asheville, NC. Looking to be a pillar of fire seen from the mountaintops."

North Coast Cafe, South

-------------------------------------
New Bloggers, we look forward to seeing you at the 2009 BlogAsheville Award party: Spookypaloozanany! You can learn more about it here!


Craftwork by local artist, Faerie Made

Weekend Roundup Oct. 16-18

What's in your weekend, Asheville?

(Image from the official photographer of BlogAsheville, The Zen)

***

LEAF
Oct. 14-17
Black Mountain, NC
Already bloody sold out. It'll be back in May though.

***


The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands

what: 62nd annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
where: Asheville Civic Center
when: Oct. 15 to 18 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Adults, $7, children under 12 free. http://www.craftguild.org or 298-7928).

***

Early Voting

It started yesterday and continues, fittingly, through Halloween. City council candidate (and BlogAsheville blogger) Cecil Bothwell hands out cupcakes while supplies last to early voters at the BoE, starting today (Friday) at noon.

***

The Blue Ridge Orchestra

The orchestra opens its 10th season with Pictures at an Exhibition, featuring some of classical music's most-beloved pieces: Mozart's overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Dvorak's "Slavonic Dance No. 8" and two of Debussy's "Nocturnes."

The group is made up of amateur, semi-professional and professional musicians who volunteer in an effort to make orchestral music more affordable and accessible.
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Diana Wortham Theatre. $15 adults, $10 students and groups of five or more, free for children under 5. http://www.dwtheatre.org or http://www.blueridgeorchestra.org.

***

Fall Fest 2009
Biltmore Park Square
Saturday, Oct. 17
11a.m.-5p.m. festival
7-9p.m. free concert, Caribbean Cowboys

From a press release:

Biltmore Park Town Square is gearing up for Fall Fest 2009, where retailers, restaurants, and entertainers will color the season fantastic with their displays and performances. A perfect outing for the whole family, the festival will feature plenty of activities for both adults and children, and with the back to school rush settling down and routines starting to take hold of our days, now is a better time than ever to spice up your weekends by getting outside with friends and family.

The aromas from the food vendors will probably be familiar because they come from your favorite Asheville restaurants including Brixx Pizza, 131 MAIN Restaurant, Cold Stone Creamery, and soon to be open Travinia Italian Kitchen. The adults in the crowd will love exploring the offerings of spas, salons, boutiques, and national retailers REI and Barnes & Noble, and of course the children will find it hard to resist the moonwalk, face painting, magician, and more.

The fun starts at 11 a.m. and lasts all day until 5 p.m. But if you haven't had your fill by then, grab a bite to eat or catch a movie and stick around for a free concert by The Caribbean Cowboys that will take place from 7-9 p.m., and dance the evening away.

Find Biltmore Park Town Square immediately off I-26 at exit 37--just ten minutes from downtown. Be there. Be square.

***

(Stephen Miller/smmiller@citizen-times.com)

Basilica of St. Lawrence Centennial Celebration

(a jewel of Asheville architecture is 100 years young)

Oct. 16: Concert featuring organ recital, vocal group Pastymes and the Biltmore Brass, 7 p.m., in the Basilica.

Oct. 17: Mass at 11 a.m. Reception follows at the Haywood Park Hotel. Vans will be provided for the elderly and disabled to get to the reception.

For more information about the church or centennial celebration, call 252-6042 or visit www.saintlawrencebasilica.org.

Spookypalooza: Still More Goodness for 2009

As well as beer, live loud rock from from Albatross Party and It's Elephant's, and yet another sugarbomb from our city's finest maker of scratch-made mostly-organic cakes, this year's Extravapalooza 4.0 (Now with Citizen Media!) offers a raffle with some sweet, sweet, take-homeable only-in-Asheville prizes:

• pottery from Gregory Vineyard
• 2 loaves of bread from master baker/BA contributor Jim Jenkins
• a gift from 2008 craft blog winner, kniter extraordinaire Amy Kett of Crankypants
• tickets to Funny Business, Asheville's new downtown comedy club
• Zombie Boogie, the spooky new ukebilly EP from Asheville's own Mad Tea Party
• a gorgeous new Genie Maples painting

(if you're a crafter/artisan/service provider, consider donating to our 2009 raffle and getting the word out to the sexiest social media nerds in town...)

Plus there'll be catering from Colorful Palate and schmoozing and boozing with the most awesome bloggers in the known universe. Tweeters and Facebookers too!

RSVP to our Spookypalooza event page here.

(Our awesome 2009 poster above is from an up-and-coming new designer, Ohia Quaint of Ohia Design. Hire her for your own original, amazing designs at designohia at gmail daht cahm!)

Asheville Blogs. What's new around here, anyways?

Here is some yummy bloggy goodness from around Asheville this week:

• YWCA of Asheville reminds us today is Blog Action Day and dashes off an impressive list of green initiatives they have undertaken.
  
  
• Joe Kendrick of the phenomenal What It Is show, which airs on WNCW has some great new podcasts online at his blog. Go listen.
  
  
• AvlPetSitter reminds us October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month.
  
  
• Skew Records is an Asheville, NC electronic based label. Artist include Sonmi Suite, Intrinsic, Peripheral, Moving Temple, DM Stair, Know How MC, Nigel One. Check check it.
  
  
• Edgy Mama might suck, but she has some new handy dandy bookmarking tools now for her blog. Let her know what your favorite bookmarking tools are here.
  
  
• Jennifer Saylor proclaims her love of October with a poem by W. S. Merwin.
  
  
• Rich Rennicks offers some suggestions to small business owners to keep from driving away customers, or at the very least, get rid of some negative impressions you might not even realize you are projecting.
  
  
• Ami Worthen's Ukelele Rockstar is regularly updated. Today she gives us a taste of the band Locos Por Juana, and gives a shout out for fall. Who doesn't love fall eh?
  
  
• Felicity at Hangover Journals offers a smattering of items in her latest post, including raindrops, the Russian Navy, and the magical phenomenon of white sweaters and large muddy dogs.
  
  
• Should you really change your oil every 3000 miles. Check out Oil Change Coupons
  

Mountain Express has the 4th Annual Blog Awards ballot up online. Since it is taking place October 30th, it has been cleverly re-branded "Spookyblogapaloozananny" for 2009. If you have yet to vote, go do it.

Every year I get to present the award for "Blogger You'd Most Like To See Naked". So do me a favor and nominate some great ones please ;-) Vote here.

Any other local Asheville blogs that you have enjoyed recently? Let me know. I will be doing these roundups weekly. You can send suggestions to me directly via this form.

Happy blogging!

New Vortex Cabaret on 10/21/09

Its another fine night of comedy, sensuality, surreality, and puppetry. Sponsored by the Pleasure Saucer, the Vortex Cabaret will be this upcoming Wednesday, October 21st, at the Boiler Room, underneath Scandals, on 11 Grove Street, at 10 PM. For only $5, you'll get more entertainment than a movie for almost half the price. And if you're really jonesing for a movie that night, then come early. We'll be screening the Subgenius cult classic experimental movie, "Welcome to the World of Tomorrow."

The Vortex Cabaret. More fun than a candy enema. Come early, drink often. To RSVP for the Vortex Cabaret, go here.

2009 Blogapalooza Awards Open Thread

So... This year's Extrava gets a spooky twist, happening the day before Halloween. And it gets a Web 2.0 upgrade with the addition of Twitter categories and social media.

So who do we vote for? This is our open thread for self-pimping and nominees.

The Adventures of Supermom is already leading a campaign for votes in a new category, Best Mom Blogger. And Don Mak is wondering what the good food blogs are. Asheville, who's got the blogs we need to vote for?

Julie of Bruisin' Ales is all over the nakedness -- here's hoping we get a report soon. Post your findings to BA, Julie?

(Uptown, you got some new blogs coming up for us?)

CATEGORIES

Best Food Blog

Best Craft Blog

Most Underrated

Best Writing

Best Overall

Blogger I'd Most Like to Have a Beer With

Most Likely to Make You Laugh Out Loud

Best Art/Photos

Blogger You'd Most Like to See Naked

Best Design

Best Local Happenings

Best Political

Best Mommy Blogger

Most Inspirational

Most in Need of a Redesign

Best New Blog

Tweeters

Most Re-Tweetable

Best Hashtags

TMI Tweeter

Rising Tweeter

Funniest Tweeter

Best News Tweets

Tweeter I'd Most Like to Have a Beer With

Tweeter I'd Most Like to See Naked

And overall

Most Sociable on Social Media

Pardon Our Mess

Pardon our look, one of two things has happened.

1. We've been hacked.

2. The free template we were using is no longer supported.

I will try to sort it out tonight!

Uptown Ruler

It's Coming.....

Oct. 9-11 Weekend Roundup

Fall's here. Spooky decor appears in malls and bars, and maybe you've heard Blogapalooza is back with a new name, new award categories and a new venue?

More on that later... For now, mark your calendars for Friday Oct. 30 at the Pump Gallery in the River District. Pick out your costume (encouraged, not required) and vote here for Best Blog, Blogger You'd Most Like to See Nakies, and our NEW Twitter categories, too!

So what's going on this weekend, Asheville?

Re-Viewing Black Mountain College: An International Conference
October 9-11

From the website: The legacy of Black Mountain College continues to influence contemporary culture in multiple realms. This conference aims to investigate its history as well as the multiple paths of influence, actual and possible, identifiable in the contemporary world and beyond.

All presentations except the Friday night reception and the Sunday afternoon Black Mountain College original campus tour take place at UNC Asheville.

Admission: $10 per day or $15 for the weekend
UNCA faculty, staff + students free

Complete schedule here.

Blue Ridge Pride Festival

Free festival near downtown at Martin Luther King Park

Saturday Oct. 10, 12- 8 p.m.

Info from Mountain X: "a day-long festival set for Saturday, Oct. 10, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in downtown Asheville. It will feature a variety of vendors, food, drink, local bands, the Asheville gay men's choir and, yes, even a few female impersonators. Add a beauty pageant and an interfaith worship service, which were held last weekend as a lead-up to the big event, and event organizers say they've put together a showcase that embraces both the gay community and the larger Asheville community."

Oktoberfest
Saturday Oct. 10
Wall St.
1-5 p.m.
Ticketed event, $25
21+
beer, German food, music

Fiesta Latina
Saturday, Oct. 10
12-8
Fletcher, NC @ the Ag Center
Iinfo via Mountain Xpress: "a celebration of Latin American culture in Western North Carolina. Featuring performances from Flamenco jazz outfit Cabo Verde (3:15 to 4 p.m.), Cuban ensemble Ahora Si (4:30 to 5:15 p.m.), Sin Fronteras traditional Mexican dance (5:45 to 6 p.m.) and spicy-hot salsa orchestra Nuevo Montuno (7 to 8 p.m.). There will be plenty of Latin food, and niñoville for the kids. Fiesta Latina runs from noon to 8 p.m. at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher."

Canceled: Twilight Zone Returns This Weekend

Sorry everyone, just heard this was canceled. :0(

Dark Horse Theater again produces a live onstage version of classic Twilight Zone episodes.


Tonight - Saturday @ BeBe
$10 (cash only!)
reservations recommended

"Women Living in Community" Event This Sat.

Women Living in Community Networking Day

Saturday, October 10th, 2009
9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Jubilee Community Creation Room
46 Wall Street, Asheville, NC.

From a website, an interesting event for women who want to live in community. This event is mostly geared towards women 45+:

- Do you have dreams or ideas about where or how you want to live?
- Do you yearn for a sense of community, friendly neighbors and close relationships?
- Do you want to create a strong web of community support?
- Are you ready to make plans for where you want to live ?

Our Mission is to support the growing age-wave of women who are seeking communities that will enable them to have continued friendships, life-long learning, civic engagement and mutual support as they journey, along their life’s path.

Who might want to attend-
- Asheville and surrounding-area women interested in living in some type of communal setting primarily in the 2nd Half of Life

Activities:
General questions and discussion in small groups
Panel with professionals- Q and A
Exercises- What Do You Want ? (Experiential)
Presentations of current models that exist
Form connections for future events and community building

Cost: $20 per person
Register here

Info:
Marianne Kilkenny, info(at)womenlivingincommunity.com
828-230-2093

Our VOICE Benefit Concert Tonight

VOICES (benefit concert for Our VOICE)
Sunday Oct 4
Doors 5:30/Show 6:30
$15
The Grey Eagle

From a press release:

Our VOICE honors 35 years of providing services for victims of sexual violence in Buncombe County with a benefit concert featuring the musical talents of Skinny Legs and All, Nikki Talley and Stereofidelic on Sunday, Oct. 4 at the Grey Eagle. Doors open at 5:30 pm.

This is an all-ages show with a raffle for a $600 weekend getaway (provided by the Sweet Biscuit Inn, Spa at Biltmore Village, Savoy, and 6 Star Executive Limo Service) and a silent auction with items from Asheville artists, merchants, and restaurants. Ice cream and coffee are free at the event, and food/beverages are available from Twin Cousins Kitchen inside the Grey Eagle. Tickets are $15.

In working to create a community free from sexual violence, Our VOICE serves all people of Buncombe County affected by sexual assault and abuse. For the past 35 years, Our VOICE has provided services to thousands of people and their families who have been victimized by sexual crimes.

Formerly the Rape Crisis Center of Asheville and Buncombe County, Our VOICE was founded in 1974 as an all-volunteer grassroots organization. Our VOICE provides 24-hour crisis support, case management, counseling, and education programs.

“Shortly before the last benefit concert that I hosted on my birthday at the Grey Eagle in March, I found out more about how Our VOICE is helping our community. I was speaking with a former client who currently volunteers for Our VOICE and was impressed at the services they provide and how they offer a comprehensive recovery program and assist their clients in a most loving, caring, and compassionate way.”

– Steve Liebenhaut

“We are so grateful that Steve has decided to host this benefit for Our VOICE; his dedication to our community is such a great example of how one person can make such a huge difference.”

– Barb Anderson, Our VOICE Executive Director.