Big West Asheville Craft Sale and Clothing Swap Dec 13

Sure, you might have checked out The Big Crafty this weekend in downtown Asheville. But at 770 Haywood Road (the Bledsoe Building) they are doing it West Asheville style with a clothing swap and craft sale for those last minute shoppers looking for great deals. See below:

West Asheville Craft Sale!
WHEN: Saturday, December 13 2008. 2-6pm
WHERE: 779 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC [map]

Join us this Saturday for an afternoon of arts and crafts by local artists, as well as a clothing swap -- bring 5 items (or 5 dollars) and exchange your old threads for something different!

Local Artists Featured:

Nectarline - Handmade, Recycled Jewelry and Clothing by Julie Coyle and Gemma Dalton (nectarline.com)

Opal Designs - Handmade, Leather Jewelry, Clothing and other Accessories by Adelle Fitzpatrick (myspace.com/opaldesigns)

Original Paintings by Gemma Dalton

Handmade Men's Clothing by Jeremy Salig

Glass Pendants and Ornaments by Lampwork Artist Alex Greenwood (philmechanicstudios.com/loganalex.html)

Handcrafted Furniture by Woodworker Josh Janis

Photography by Evan Wathen (firebynightphotography.com)

Hosted by Nectarline and Opal Designs
Saturday, December 13th 2pm-6pm
779 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806 [map]

(Located above the Westville Pub, Orbits DVD and Beauty Parade)

If you're worried about going out into the cold for shopping do not despair. These two little cuties will be selling hot chocolate and hot cider.

The East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk

Most folks are familiar with the west Asheville renaissance that took place with the Bledsoe Building at its epicenter. What folks may not know is that on the east side of the west side there's another arts and business surge. Just east of I-240 on Haywood Road, a collection of entrepreneurs have teamed up to present the East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk. It's this Saturday from 10am - 6pm.

From their website:

Until recently, if you were to say ‘West Asheville’, thoughts usually ran to the shops and restaurants along Haywood Road at the Bledsoe Building and generally west of State Street. But in the past year alone, several new businesses have inhabited buildings along and adjoining Haywood Road immediately east and west of I-240. These new additions have expanded the mercantile strip of Haywood Road, creating another hub of eclectic businesses to draw drive by and walk by patrons into West Asheville.

On Saturday, December 6, several artists and businesses, including several that have opened within the past year, will host a Holiday Art Walk to welcome the holiday season and celebrate the diverse and growing small businesses of the area. Designated the “East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk”, the parameters of the event span the area on Haywood Road on both sides of I-240, and include Domino Lane – a side street off Westwood Place. Participating businesses include the Bloom Room, Blue Ribbon Hair, Minx and Runny Bunny, just west of I-240 on Haywood Road. On the east side, Haywood Road merchants include The Admiral Restaurant, Harvest Records, Blue Barnhouse, A Touch of Glass, Bookworks, Custom, Marty Mitchell Glass, Krug Creative and Steebo Designs. Crazy Green Studios, Mimi Strang Design and Pleasant Hugh Studio are located on Domino Lane. At press time, additional businesses were being added but had not yet been confirmed.

With ample street parking on Haywood Road and on adjoining side streets, all businesses can easily be reached on foot.

West End Bakery To Re-Open July 6

Asheville's morning coffee meeting & hotspot West End Bakery is starting a "much needed remodel" (their words, not mine) of their location 757 Haywood Road starting today and running through Saturday July 5.

They will re-open on July 6.

Stop by on Sunday morning, get some coffee and enjoy the aesthetic changes (and whatever other surprises they might have in store).

I thought it looked great before, so it will be interesting to see what these "much needed changes" include.

Website: West End Bakery
Website: Asheville Real Estate

Johnny's Inhaler at Westville Pub

Now that I live above Orbits in West Asheville I get to check out a lot more bands at Westville Pub than I used to. So I was pleasantly surprised to hear my buddy Jor Sutton's band was playing last weekend.

Everyone was having such a good time that I wished somebody would have been recording it. On that note I ran upstairs grabbed my CoolPix and came down and shot a video of one song. Check it out.

(Note: The pic is one I took of them at LAAFF in 2006)

used hydraulic press