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As a resort and therapeutic health center since the 1880s, Asheville has long been a destination for people searching for a mountain escape, with its population climbing to nearly 30,000 seasonal residents in 1890. Today, more than 72,000 people live, work, play and create in this city renowned for its vibrant musical, literary and performing arts scenes, Art Deco architecture, stunning mountain vistas and abundant outdoor recreation offerings – from hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway to forest zipline tours. Asheville is also well known for its independent restaurants that focus on local ingredients and a burgeoning craft beer scene.
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north carolina
ashevilleBottle groundBeer City USA once again
cleaning upGreen solutions make local businesses hum
a culture of creativityRiver Arts District is cresting with success
sponsored By the asheville area chamBer of commerce
2012 | imagesasheville.com
about the coverAsheville artist Wendy Whitson’s work, “On the Parkway” seemed to be a perfect fit for this year’s Asheville magazine cover. It combines key elements for which the city is known: breathtaking natural landscapes created by layers of lush, leafy forests, the misty Blue Ridge Mountains and expansive, cotton-fiber clouds draped across crystal blue skies.
And we learned from the artist, there’s even more dimension in the details. Whitson collages sheet music into the trees, “a little surprise” she says.
So there you have it: Music, mountains, trees, clouds and color, observed from the Blue Ridge Parkway, interpreted in an original work of art created by an artist in the city’s flourishing River Arts District. It’s so Asheville.
Read more about Whitson and the River Arts District on page 10.
north carolina
asheville2012 edition | volume 10
contents
Features
10 a culture of creativityRiver Arts District is cresting with success
14 cleaning upGreen solutions make local businesses hum
16 Welcome, linamarCity, county, state collaborate to land global manufacturer
26 Bottle groundBeer City USA once again
32 asheville’s appetite City’s popularity grows with epicurean fans
10
26
anniversaryissue
10th
imAGeSASheville .Com 1
BiltmoreThe AAA Diamond Rated Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East is conveniently located just minutes from downtown Asheville
and Biltmore® – America’s largest home.
Free, Full, Hot Breakfast Buffet • Free Wireless Internet Access Free Business Center • Free Local Calls • Free Newspaper
Free Cookies at Check In • Free Coffee and Tea Fitness Center • Seasonal Outdoor Pool and Gazebo Biltmore® Tickets Sold • Five Miles from Biltmore®
Near Restaurant Row
1430 Tunnel Rd. • I-40, Exit 55 • Asheville, NC 28805 (828) 298-5519 • Toll-free: (877) 299-5519
QualityInnBiltmore.com
Asheville Specialty Hospital (ASH) offers a new option in care. Patients who have suffered a catastrophic illness and are anticipating a lengthy hospitalization are appropriate referrals. Patients with complex medical needs benefit from ASH.
Asheville Specialty Hospital is NOT a nursing home. Otherwise known as a long-term acute care hospital, patients are given the extended time and highly specialized level of care and services to help them obtain their maximum level of recovery. For most patients, the average length of stay is usually between three to four weeks or about
21-28 days. As the only accredited specialty hospital in the region; an experienced staff of physicians, nurses, therapists and case managers work closely together by approaching care from a physical, emotional and spiritual standpoint; ASH’s team maintains a goal of achieving the highest level of wellness possible.
Asheville Specialty Hospital 428 Biltmore Ave., 4th Floor Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 213-5400 tel (828) 213-5443 fax
www.ashevillespecialtyhospital.org
Long Term Acute Care
2 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 3
north carolina
asheville2012 edition | volume 10
32 38
23
departments
6 almanac
18 Biz Briefs
21 economic profile
23 education
25 health & Wellness
38 sports & recreation
40 arts & culture
42 image gallery
47 community profile
48 through the lens
All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.
please recycle this magazine
2 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 3
Visually explore Asheville in our online photo galleries
Flip through the pages of this magazine and easily share articles using Facebook, Twitter or email.
Photos
Digital magazine
north carolina
ashevilleBottle groundBeer City USA once again
cleaning upGreen solutions make local businesses hum
a culture of creativityRiver Arts District is cresting with success
sponsored By the asheville area chamBer of commerce
2012 | imagesasheville.com
Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more
living hereLearn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers
viDeoGet a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions
What’s online imagesasheville.com
4 ASheville
content director LiSA BAttLeS
proofreading manager RAven Petty
content coordinator JeSSiCA WALkeR
staff Writer kevin LitWin
copy editor JiLL WyAtt
contriButing Writers DAn HieB, LAURA HiLL, Joe MoRRiS,
CHRiS RUSSeLL, kARen SCHWARtzMAn, BetSy WiLLiAMS
senior graphic designers LAURA GALLAGHeR,
JAnine MARyLAnD, kRiS Sexton, vikki WiLLiAMS
graphic designers RACHAeL GeRRinGeR, tAyLoR nUnLey
senior photographers Jeff ADkinS, BRiAn McCoRD
staff photographers toDD Bennett, Antony BoSHieR
color imaging technician ALiSon HUnteR
integrated media manager HURCHeL WiLLiAMS
ad production manager kAtie MiDDenDoRf
ad traffic assistants kRyStin LeMMon, PAtRiCiA MoiSAn
chairman GReG tHURMAn
president/puBlisher BoB SCHWARtzMAn
executive vice president RAy LAnGen
senior v.p./sales toDD PotteR
senior v.p./operations CASey HeSteR
senior v.p./client development Jeff HeefneR
senior v.p./Business development SCott teMPLeton
senior v.p./agriBusiness puBlishing kiM HoLMBeRG
v.p./Business development CHARLeS fitzGiBBon
v.p./external communications teRee CARUtHeRS
v.p./visual content MARk foReSteR
v.p./content operations nAtASHA LoRenS
v.p./travel puBlishing SUSAn CHAPPeLL
v.p./sales HeRB HARPeR, JARek SWekoSky
controller CHRiS DUDLey
senior accountant LiSA oWenS
accounts payaBle coordinator MARiA McfARLAnD
accounts receivaBle coordinator DiAnA GUzMAn
office manager/accounts receivaBle
coordinator SHeLLy MiLLeR
sales support coordinator ALex MARkS
i.t. director yAnCey BonD
system administrator DAnieL CAntReLL
WeB content manager JoHn HooD
WeB project manager noy fonGnALy
WeB designer ii RiCHARD StevenS
WeB developer i yAMeL HALL, neLS noSeWoRtHy
WeB account manager LAURen eUBAnk
photography director JeffRey S. otto
media technology director CHRiStinA CARDen
media technology analysts BeCCA ARy,
CHAnDRA BRADSHAW
audience development director DeAnnA neLSon
marketing creative director keitH HARRiS
distriBution director GARy SMitH
executive secretary kRiSty DUnCAn
human resources manager PeGGy BLAke
receptionist LinDA BiSHoP
Asheville magazine is published annually by Journal Communications inc. and is distributed
through the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.
for advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact
Journal Communications inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.
for more information, contact:Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
36 Montford Ave. • Asheville, NC 28801Phone: (828) 258-6101 • Fax: (828) 251-0926
ashevillechamber.org
visit Asheville online at imagesasheville.com
©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,
(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. no portion of this magazine may be reproduced
in whole or in part without written consent.
Member the Association of Magazine Media
Member Custom Content Council
Member Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
north carolina
asheville2012 edition | volume 10
Pediatric & Adolescent Dental Specialists
Accepting New Patients at Both OfficesAsheville: 10B Yorkshire St. • (828) 274-9220
Waynesville: 50 Bowman Dr. • (828) 454-9156 www.GreatBeginningsPedo.com
A great reason to smile.
Dr. Doug Pratt • Dr. Bill Chambers Dr. Angie Baechtold • Dr. Ryan Haldeman
4 ASheville
Welcome to AshevilleAn intRoDUCtion to the AReA’S people, plACeS AnD eventS
you Can take it With youWish you could enjoy delicious tupelo Honey Cafe food anytime,
anywhere? thanks to food writer elizabeth Sims and chef Brian
Sonoskus, that dream can now be a reality, as they have created Tupelo Honey Cafe: Spirited Recipes from Asheville's New South Kitchen. the
cookbook comprises more than 125 of Sonoskus' recipes, each paired
with mouth-watering images taken by local photographers. And it's
not just your own belly you'll be helping with your book purchase;
a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Manna foodBank and
the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.
Goodbye, GraffitiWhile the Hunter Banks Company may be one of the best
places to find fly-fishing equipment, it stands out for another
reason, too – because it's pretty hard to miss the giant rainbow
trout and fisherman painted on the side of the building. the
mural, created by Asheville artists Jeremy Russell and Scott
Allred, was completed in June 2011. Shop owner Frank Smith
commissioned the mural as a way to combat the graffiti that
was often gracing his building. For extra protection, the mural
has been coated with a “graffiti-guard” to allow for easy
graffiti removal while also preventing permanent damage.
eat Like a LocalHosted by the Asheville Area
Chamber of Commerce, the Montford
tailgate Market is Asheville’s newest
among scores of markets in the area.
it is open on Wednesday afternoons
from 2 until 6 p.m., and takes place in
the chamber’s parking lot each week
through thanksgiving. Customers can
visit an array of vendors, as more than
20 local farmers set up shop to sell
their produce and goods. for more
information about the Montford
tailgate Market, contact the chamber
at (828) 258-6101 or visit its website
at www.ashevillechamber.org.
Almanac
6 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 7
Artful Home furnishingsA working studio and gallery, the Boggs Collective is located
in Asheville's Biltmore Village. Customers can select from a line of
furniture designs or commission a piece from their own inspiration.
the collective’s master craftsmen, including Brian Boggs, Andy Rae,
Gary Rawlins and Seth Weisenecker, begin their process by
selecting the perfect tree for their creations; from there, these
craftsmen design custom furniture built to inspire generations
of users. Clients often participate in the process, from material
selection to design, and visitors are always welcome. for more
information, contact The Boggs Collective at (828) 398-9701
or visit their website, www.boggscollective.com.
An Asheville AdventureExperience Asheville in a whole new way during
an exciting tree-based tour courtesy of Navitat
Canopy Adventures. take in the beauty of the
Blue Ridge Mountains and fly high during a zipline
canopy tour consisting of 10 ziplines, two bridges,
two rappels and three short hikes. night owls, check
out navitat at night and enjoy star-gazing in Moody
Cove while zipping from tree to tree. each tour
group is accompanied by two trained canopy
guides, as well as a supervisor on the ground.
to learn more about navitat Canopy Adventures,
call (828) 626-3700 or visit www.navitat.com.
Stop Here firstnewcomers, make the Asheville
visitor Center your first stop when
you make it into town. Located
in downtown Asheville and open
seven days a week, the visitor
center provides brochures and
coupons for local attractions and
accommodations, as well as maps
and other must-haves. Guests can
also pick up tickets to Biltmore,
and can embark on tours via
trolley or Segway. And, because
no trip is complete without the
perfect souvenir, visit the Asheville
Shop, which offers prints, photos
and crafts created by local artists,
with Asheville-inspired apparel
available, too. PH
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Fast Factsn Biltmore, America’s largest home, has 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, 70-foot ceilings, an indoor bowling alley and priceless antiques.
n Asheville’s temperate climate makes year-round living a breeze. its average annual snowfall is only 13 inches.
n Renowned golf course designer Donald Ross designed the Buncombe County municipal Course, the course at the Grove park inn Resort & Spa, the Country Club of Asheville and Biltmore forest Country Club.
n mount mitchell is at an elevation of 6,684 feet, making it the highest peak east of the mississippi River.
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Weaverville
Black Mountain
Canton
Swannanoa
Hendersonville
Asheville
asheville at a glancepopulation (2010 estimate)
Asheville: 83,393
Buncombe County: 238,318
location
Asheville is in Western north Carolina,
tucked away in the Blue Ridge
Mountains. two major interstates,
I-40 and I-26, intersect just outside
the city limits.
Beginnings
Asheville was incorporated in 1797
and named in honor of north Carolina
Gov. Samuel Ashe.
for more information
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
36 Montford Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 258-6101
Fax: (828) 251-0926
www.ashevillechamber.org
Asheville
What’s online Take a virtual tour of Asheville, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesasheville.com.
Walk (or Drive) this Way
Helping residents and
visitors make their way around
the city, the Asheville Area
Wayfinding Program began
in 2009. The system includes
signs designed for both
vehicles and pedestrians, as
well as parking identification
signs, gateway/district
identification signs, information
kiosks and more. featured in
American Style magazine, the
signs are decorated with art
created by various talented
locals, complete with historical
and literary allusions. With
more than 2.9 million people
visiting the Asheville area
each year, it's safe to say
that the signs may provide
some much-needed guidance
and reassurance to travelers.
8 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 9
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imAGeSASheville .Com 11 10 ASheville
Throughout its history, Asheville’s riverfront has seen an economic ebb and flow of abundance
and hardship along the waters of the city’s French Broad River.
Today, abundance is f lowing again, as a riverfront renaissance is riding a crest in Asheville’s f lourishing and eclectic River Arts District (RAD).
setting the stageIt started in 1985 with Brian and
Gail McCarthy’s Highwater Clays, the first arts-based business, followed by Porge and Lewis Buck, who in 1987 transformed a former feed store into Warehouse Studios.
“They unknowingly set the stage for what is today’s River Arts District,” says landscape painter Wendy Whitson, owner of Northlight Studios and president-elect of the River Arts District Artists. “On any given day there are 65 artists, studios and businesses open for business,
and it’s growing every day as more people discover this great area and the energy we are generating.”
When RAD pioneer and leader Pattiy Torno was seeking a new location for a nightclub in 1989, she spotted the neglected area and saw potential.
“There was no arts district at the time; it was just an abandoned part of town,” she says. “The buildings are so amazing in their construction, with high ceilings and big banks of glass windows.”
Today, Torno’s CURVE Studios & Garden, located in three renovated Riverside Drive buildings, houses 13 working artists specializing in a wide variety of media, including her own quilts and eclectic clothing.
arts studios, restaurants find a home
Pink Dog Creative, taking over an expanse of buildings on Depot Street, recently opened its doors to more than a dozen artists and The
asheville’s river arts district is cresting With success
the River
StoRy By Betsy WilliamsPHotoGRAPHy By jeff adkins & Brian mccord
clockwise from left: the River Arts District includes a variety of businesses such as hofman Studios, which specializes in handbuilt porcelain; Wedge Brewing Company; and pink Dog Creative, where founder and creative director Randy Shull paints in his studio.
Down By
imAGeSASheville .Com 11
Junction restaurant, while Glen Rock Depot has debuted with 60 affordable residential units and commercial space, including The Magnetic Field Performance House & Café and West One Salon. Wedge Brewing Company, 12 Bones Smokehouse, Clingman Café and Hatchery Studio’s White Duck Taco Shop are just a few of the restaurants creating the river scene.
“The River Arts District has flourished amazingly well in the last five years,” says Torno, who serves on the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission. “It’s continuing
to grow; people are purchasing buildings and investing in this area.” New construction, building renovation and an influx of restaurants, new businesses and full-time residents have created a hip urban feel down by the river. Events spaces, framing shops, health- and pet-care providers, landscape architects, building suppliers and nonprofit organizations are all adding to the vibe that is the River Arts District.
new streetscape, Wayfinding in place
A $1.2 million streetscape
improvement project, funded by the city of Asheville and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, is bringing a real sense of place to the RAD, with sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and parking improvements. A recent wayfinding project, spearheaded by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, is helping residents and tourists alike better find their way to an array of glassblowers, weavers, sculptors, painters, and ceramic and furniture craftsmen, including one furniture maker whose goal is to resurrect North
clockwise from above: Artist Wendy Whitson’s gallery is located at northlight Studios; ian Whitt blows glass for a crowd of spectators in the River Arts District; Acrylic paints; pink Dog Creative on Depot Street
12 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 13
Carolina’s furniture industry, says Torno.
Twice-yearly Studio Strolls, outdoor movies, live theater productions and concerts lure people unfamiliar with the RAD who then return on a regular basis to enjoy the offerings of art, food and entertainment.
“It’s succeeding because of collaborative efforts,” Northlight’s Whitson maintains. “The artists who are here are very serious and passionate about their art form. They love what they’re doing, and that passion makes this neighborhood have a real heartbeat.”
12 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 13
twenty-seven tons of trash. That’s how much waste Danny Keaton’s company diverts from the landfill each week by making it easier for other people to compost and recycle.
His Danny’s Dumpster is one of several businesses around Asheville that have found making money and helping the environment can intersect.
Business leaders say that not only do environmentally sound practices help keep Buncombe County beautiful, they also make for higher profits and a more stable economy. In a county where tourism generates a $1.9 billion annual economic impact, the lessons learned could help keep the region attractive for generations to come.
danny’s dumpster turns restaurants greenWhen Keaton started his waste disposal business
in 2007, a new state law was on the horizon, and with it a new opportunity. The 2008 law said that businesses that sold alcohol for on-site consumption – bars and restaurants – had to recycle alcohol containers.
Keaton started hauling the recycling, but soon realized that restaurants also generate a lot of organic waste. Now he hauls food scraps to Crowell Farm for composting. Keaton returns the resulting rich soil to customers who want it, like Sunny Point Café, where compost helps feed the backyard garden that supplies fresh ingredients.
“When you look at what’s being diverted from the landfill, sometimes it’s 75, 80 percent of what they were sending,” Keaton says of his customers.
And the cost of disposal isn’t any higher, since less winds up in the dumpster.
thermo fisher scientific sets a Bold goalJeff Powers’ inspiration came during a conference
at Penn State, in which a fellow presenter told students how Subaru had managed to cut its landfill waste to zero at a plant in Lafayette, Ind. Powers, who is director of manufacturing operations for Thermo Fisher Scientific-Asheville, set out to duplicate the feat.
Last fall, the site established a “green team” that promotes recycling. Monthly waste dropped
green solutions make asheville Businesses hum
greening asheville
StoRy By dan hieB | PHotoGRAPHy By jeff adkins
14 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 15
25 percent. This summer, employees did a dumpster dive to see what was still being thrown away. Powers estimates that 75 percent of what was found could be recycled or composted. He hopes to eliminate the remaining 25 percent by 2015 by adjusting manufacturing processes.
The site, which is already part of Thermo Fisher’s company-wide lean-enterprise program focusing on eliminating waste, went through an “E3” process, which identified ways to cut consumption and be more efficient. Implementing the changes has not only saved money, but led to a smoother operation that has achieved 100 percent on-time delivery to customers.
keeping extra trucks off the roadTo begin to understand the impact of the WNC
Transportation Alliance, consider this number: 42,000.That’s how many gallons of diesel are saved each year
along one trucking route between Asheville and Florida.The alliance serves as a matchmaker between
businesses that truck products. For instance,
Southeastern Container Inc. ships soda bottles to Florida, while Ingles Markets imports fresh produce from the state. With a little coordination, the same truck that carries bottles to Florida can return with groceries.
Sharing that one route is saving the companies $307,652 a year and prevents 462 tons of carbon emissions by reducing miles driven with empty trailers.
“That’s out of the many, many shipping channels that those two companies have,” Clark Duncan, spokesman for the alliance, says.
“It hits the triple bottom line,” he says. “They recognize they can run their business in a smarter, more efficient way while also benefitting the environment. And making businesses more profitable means more jobs for Buncombe County.”
clockwise from top left: Danny Keaton of Danny’s Dumpsters; Recycling containers are emptied into a Danny’s Dumpster truck; thermo fisher Scientific-Asheville’s dumpster dive; thermo fisher Scientific-Asheville
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By capitalizing on years of bringing everyone to the table, Asheville and Buncombe County
economic development officials now can add global manufacturer
Linamar to
their roster of success stories.The Canadian firm, which
makes parts of engines, transmissions and drive trains at facilities around the world, has taken over a former Volvo plant in south Asheville. After some retooling, the facility will supply precision-machined components
to customers of Linamar’s Industrial, Commercial
and Energy Group.
state, local officials offer grant, tax packages
A combination of state and local incentives was put into play to help seal
the deal, including state Job Development
Investment Grant funds that could reach $2.5
million if Linamar meets its specific job-creation targets,
and a $200,000 One North Carolina Fund grant. To get those funds, Linamar has agreed to create 363 jobs over four years beginning in 2012 and to make a capital investment of at least $80 million. The company’s jobs are expected to average nearly $40,000 per year, not including benefits.
Asheville and Buncombe County officials say that the Linamar deal is just the latest successful result of literally decades of getting every conceivable player involved in business recruitment and retention.
“Five months before the announcement, we were meeting with them,” says K. Ray Bailey, a Buncombe County commissioner who also is president emeritus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and board chair of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County.
city, county, state collaBorate to land gloBal manufacturer
Welcome, linamar
StoRy By joe morris
Business
16 ASheville
“The state department of commerce was involved, as were the board chair and president of the chamber, county manager, city manager, mayor, local colleges, employment commissioners and school superintendents. We put a large group of people around that table.”
As Linamar narrowed down its potential sites, Gov. Bev Perdue was brought into the talks with the company’s top officials, which showed the area’s seriousness about making a deal, Bailey says.
advance planning speeds linamar startup
“We agreed early on to make sure we had an incentive package, both for the city and county, and then the state came in to help with their grant funds,” he says. “We kept working at it, and they saw us working at it, and eventually we came to an agreement.”
Linamar has held job fairs and is hiring for the facility in anticipation of being fully operational by January 2012 in order to begin meeting orders that have already come in to the plant. It’s been able to keep to that accelerated schedule thanks to all the local stakeholders being on board early in the process, which allowed for training programs and more to come online quickly.
“That’s how we do it here,” Bailey says. “We gather everybody and talk about what each group or organization can provide. That’s been important, and I think that the successes we’ve had over the years are because all of us in the community work collaboratively to make them happen.”
scorecardBusiness at
a glance
$2 billionannual retail sales
$29,279retail sales
per capita
$391 millionannual hotel
and food sales
9,224total number
of firms
source: U.s. Census QuickFacts
Business
Biz BriefsBUSineSSeS – Both lARGe AnD SmAll – thAt help Define
ASheville’S eConomiC ClimAte
jus’ runningBiz: Shoe storeBuzz: The perfect pair of running shoes awaits in Jus’ Running, a shoe store dedicated to not only supplying a variety of shoes, but finding the exact pair to suit each customer. The store provides a professional fitting process that includes a free biomechanical analysis and matches appropriate support and cushioning. Brands include Nike, New Balance, Adidas and more.www.jusrunning.com
18 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 19
Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.
Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon
Living greenstarts from the ground up.
groveWood galleryBiz: Arts and crafts retailerBuzz: Grovewood Gallery opened officially in 1992 to take over for Biltmore Estate Industries, an established education program known for its hand-loomed fabrics. Now Grovewood has evolved to include the NC Homespun Museum, Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, a cafe and a studio. Visit the gallery to purchase unique jewelry, ceramics, glasswork and sculptures.www.grovewood.com
B.B. BarnsBiz: Garden centerBuzz: Asheville gardeners get their green thumbs at B.B. Barns, a 7-acre destination garden center. Along with the garden center, B.B. Barns offers landscape design, installation and garden maintenance services, as well as education programs in areas such as container gardening for beginners. Also on-site is a gift store with selections ranging from outdoor furniture and accessories to candles and bath and body products.www.bbbarns.com
sunny point cafeBiz: RestaurantBuzz: Restaurants like Sunny Point Cafe have given Asheville an edge on the foodie scene. Sunny Point is best known for its famous breakfast, which is served all day, but they also serve lunch and dinner. The restaurant grows its own garden and has received rave reviews from the likes of Southern Living magazine and a slew of foodie favorite blogs.www.sunnypointcafe.com
avl technologiesBiz: Mobile satellite and antenna manufacturerBuzz: Founder Jim Oliver, former engineering manager for the antenna division of Scientific Atlanta and co-founder of SatCom Technologies, began AvL Technologies in 1994. Originally designed to manufacture a lightweight positioner for ERA Technology, the company has grown to specialize in the design, development and production of mobile satellite antenna/positioner systems and offers the world’s largest range of satellite antennas for vehicle mount and flyaway applications.www.avltech.com
18 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 19
Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website
10 SurprisingFood Cities
EUGENEOregon
PUEBLOColorado
LOGANUtah
WICHITAKansas
ASHEVILLENorth Carolina
BOULDERColorado
KANSAS CITYMissouri
WALNUT CREEKCalifornia
ALBUQUERQUENew Mexico
TRAVERSE CITYMichigan
Ashevillemade the list.10 Surprising Food CitiesSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.
imAGeSASheville .Com 21
and enter the Parkway in
Asheville than at any other
point along the road’s 470
miles. there are seven
Asheville-area Parkway exits.
Asheville transit Authority
360 W. Haywood St.
(828) 253-5691
AiR:
Asheville Regional Airport
61 terminal Dr., Ste. 1
Fletcher, NC 28732
(828) 684-2226
ww.flyavl.com
RAil:
Amtrak
www.amtrak.com
Workforce
77% White-Collar Jobs
23% Blue-Collar Jobs
education
26%Associate Degree
23%Bachelor’s Degree
16%Graduate Degree
taxes
2.5%County Sales tax
4.5%State Sales tax
7%total Sales tax
$.945/$100 Residential property tax
$1.5/$1,000Commercial property tax
income
$27,829 per Capita income
$49,257Average Annual household expenditure
transportation
ROAD:
I-40 East from Knoxville, Tenn.;
I-40 West from Statesville and
Raleigh, N.C.; I-85 to I-26 from
Charlotte and South Carolina;
and 19/23 South from Johnson
City/Bristol, tenn.
for a more scenic and leisurely
drive, try the Blue Ridge
Parkway. More motorists exit
major employers
3,000+ employees
Buncombe County
Public Schools
ingles Markets, inc. (Home
office) Buncombe County
Mission Health System and
Hospital
1,000-2,999 employees
City of Asheville
the Biltmore
Company Museums
Buncombe County
Government
the Grove Park inn
Resort & Spa
vA Medical Center –
Asheville Department
of veterans Affairs
750-999 employees
BorgWarner turbo &
emissions Systems
CarePartners nursing &
Residential Care facilities
eaton Corporation –
electrical Division
500-749 employees
Asheville City Schools
MB Haynes Corp. (Division
offices) Construction
Arvato Digital Services
Business climateAsheville has both low unemployment and strong job growth.
fueling the area’s sound business climate are stable population
growth, a healthy housing market, expanding professional services,
robust small business and health care industry growth, and a steady
tourism industry.
economic profile
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imAGeSASheville .Com 21
exciting news occurred in
Asheville in July 2011 on a
couple of fronts.
first of all, Canadian-based
Linamar Corp. announced that it
is investing $125 million to establish
a construction-equipment parts
manufacturing plant in Asheville
that will create 400 jobs. Adding
to the excitement is that Linamar
chose Asheville-Buncombe
technical Community College to
provide an array of pre-hire training
for employee candidates, then A-B
tech will also provide post-hire,
on-the-job follow-up training.
“We scheduled leadership and
managerial skills classes along with
computer training and quality-
control sessions for Linamar,” says
Shelley White, A-B tech senior
executive director of economic
and workforce development and
continuing education. “the state
of north Carolina funds the
training costs, which was part of
the incentive package for Linamar
locating here.”
the Linamar success story
is one of many occurring these
days within the Workforce
Development Department at A-B
tech. White says 17,000 students
a year enroll in classes that are
earmarked toward getting people
ready for today’s hottest careers.
“nowadays we are offering our
students a lot of computer and
software technical classes plus
plenty of training in health
occupations,” she says. “We make
great efforts to connect with local
businesses and groups like the
Asheville Area Chamber of
Commerce and their economic
Development Coalition to ensure
that we are in touch with the
training needs in the community.”
White says a popular current
curriculum is a nurse’s aide
program that takes only seven
weeks to complete, and another
is an automated-machining
program that takes only 12 weeks
a Force behind the WorkforceA-B teCh hAS Key Role in eConomiC Development
education
Students learn about manufacturing processes at Asheville-Buncombe technical Community College.
for students to finish.
“Most machining students
are going right to work after
completing the program,” she
says. “that’s a good deal –
getting a good job after only
three months of training.”
one local company that has
a history of accessing A-B tech
training programs is eaton Corp.,
which is involved with metal
working for the aerospace
and automotive industries. one
specific program that A-B tech
offers to Eaton is a 40-hour pre-
hire training session that teaches
applicants about blueprint
reading, lean-manufacturing
principles and other fundamentals
of a manufacturing environment.
“After the 40 hours of training,
we advise eaton of the students
who are best qualified for their
company,” White says. “even if
a student isn’t hired by eaton, that
student now has the skills to seek
employment and get hired at
other manufacturing companies.”
Part of the A-B tech campus
is also set up as a small-business
incubator, with a small-business
information center for anyone
interested in starting a small
business.
“We can also lease office
and storage space at a very low
cost to fledgling business owners,”
White says. “in addition, we have
a large commercial kitchen on-site
where people can manufacture
food products and then go
through the process of testing,
marketing, selling and so forth.
Workforce development programs
in a variety of areas – that’s what
is occurring these days all over the
A-B tech campus.” – Kevin Litwin
imAGeSASheville .Com 23
rusty owen says the
accounting profession tends
to be somewhat of a sedentary
lifestyle, with employees sitting
at a desk and computer all day
except for going out at lunch
to grab fast food.
owen himself, director
of marketing and business
development at Johnson, Price
& Sprinkle, says his marketing job
at the Asheville-based accounting
firm often has him on the “wine-
and-cheese circuit,” attending
corporate and client functions
where plenty of food and
beverages are served.
“i’m a big guy to begin with, and
I could easily weigh 400 pounds if
i wanted to,” he says. “About two
years ago, i realized that i needed
something to get myself and other
people at JP&S in better shape, so i
approached our Ceo Ben Hamrick
about the possibility of embarking
upon a wellness program. Ben
was totally on board with it.”
90 percentJP&S has accounting offices
in Asheville, Boone and Marion,
so owen began conversations
with officials at the yMCA, which
has branches in those three cities.
“Ben and our company partners
voted that JP&S would pay
90 percent of annual YMCA
membership fees for any of our
employees interested in joining,”
owen says. “our company has
gotten a lot of attention from this.”
Johnson, Price & Sprinkle has
a total of 55 employees, and
about 35 are participating in
the yMCA program.
“Some can’t join because they
getting better all the timeCompAny SUppoRtS employee fitneSS initiAtiveS
Health & Wellness
forty-five Johnson, price & Sprinkle employees and family members participated in a Chamber Challenge 5K.
have health issues that make
it impossible to go out and run
2 miles or whatever,” Owen says.
“But for us others, the yMCA
puts together a good schedule
of activities such as zumba
classes, water sports, weightlifting
sessions and so forth, plus they
host short seminars on stress
management and nutrition.”
Friday Wallyballowen says a group activity
that the yMCA hosts every friday
evening is wallyball, which is a
game like volleyball that is played
inside a racquetball court. All
walls are in play and there are
teams of usually four against four.
“Wallyball has been an
interesting company tool, because
the Ceo and an intern might
be playing shoulder-to-shoulder
or nose-to-nose on the court,”
he says. “then when everyone
gets to work on Monday morning,
communication barriers that
might have existed between
people don’t exist anymore.”
sick days decreasedowen says sick days at JP&S
have decreased and insurance
premiums have gone down.
the company also recently
had 45 employees and family
members take part in a Chamber
Challenge 5k.
“We are also working with
north Carolina Prevention
Partners that is involved in
something called WorkHealthy
America,” he says. “We are one of
about 10 businesses in Asheville
they are tracking for two years to
chart our health progress. We’ve
made a lot of changes at JP&S.
our company used to have pizza
fridays, and now there is still
pizza, but also salads and fruits
and other healthy alternatives.”
– Kevin Litwin
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24 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 25
bottle GRoUnD
26 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 27
Asheville has refreshing answers to whatever “ales” you, thanks to 10 microbreweries doing business in the community.
In 2011, and for the third consecutive year, Asheville won the national title of Beer City USA as voted by readers of Examiner.com and organized by the Denver, Colo.-based Brewers Association.
“I was the first person to start a microbrewery in Asheville back in 1994 and never could have imagined that today there would be 10 microbreweries in a city of 70,000 residents,” says Oscar Wong, president of Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. “People here are supportive of local businesses and are open to new ideas, and that has really helped this industry succeed. Plus, the city’s location is ideal because water that flows down from the nearby mountains is great for brewing.”
asheville tapped again as Beer city usa
bottle GRoUnD
StoRy By kevin litWinPHotoGRAPHy By jeff adkins
owner oscar Wong gives a tour of highland Brewing Company.
26 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 27
fresh enthusiasmWong says he is also surprised
that microbreweries have actually become an important part of Asheville’s tourism sector, with brewery sites serving as destinations to many visitors.
“Speaking of which, I was given the 2011 William A.V. Cecil Tourism Leadership Award by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce at their annual dinner,” he says. “The microbreweries in Asheville are like teenagers, still with an enthusiasm for this business. Many microbrew operations in other cities have matured and became complacent and even a bit boring, but Asheville is still a youngster at all of this.”
Highland Brewing Company is the largest microbrewery in Asheville and in the top four in microbrew sales throughout the entire Southeast United States. Their beer brands are sold in restaurants, beer stores and
above: visitors listen to music on the lawn at highland Brewing Company. far right: employees at Asheville pizza and Brewing Company
28 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 29
events always Brewingcity hosts many Beer-related festivals
Many tourists to Asheville actually
make visiting a microbrewery a
priority, so it makes sense that the city
hops to it when it comes to hosting
beer-focused festivals and events.
For example, more than 30
American breweries from throughout
the nation showcase more than 100
different beers every mid-September
at the Brewgrass festival. the
popular event takes place at Martin
Luther king Jr. Park, with food and
water vendors in attendance, along
with live entertainment provided
by a lineup of national and regional
bluegrass musicians.
Bavaria meets ashevilleonly a few weeks later, the well-
known oktoberfest descends upon
downtown Asheville on Wall Street.
the city’s reputation as Beer City
USA makes the downtown district
an ideal place to enjoy this festival
that blends Bavarian traditions with
Asheville’s eclectic scene. Live music
is also a major part of the festivities.
Meanwhile, local microbreweries
are also a big part of Bele Chere, a
festival that occurs in late July along
a number of downtown streets. Bele
Chere allows anyone in attendance
to drink beer along the streets as
long as they stay within the
designated festival boundaries.
fifteen microBreWsAnd throughout the entire year,
Asheville is home to an Asheville
Brews Cruise that allows beer
enthusiasts to ride in a roomy
12-passenger van to tour three local
microbreweries in the span of 3.5
hours. For $40 a person, participants
sample 14 or 15 microbrews during
that time, with each beer sample only
about four ounces. the participants
drink about the equivalent of four full
beers during the entire trip.
– Kevin Litwin
28 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 29
30 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 31
taverns in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
“We produce a Gaelic ale that accounts for about 50 percent of our sales, and the second most popular is an oatmeal porter dark beer,” Wong says. “Highland Brewing also does a lot of specialty brews, including an occasional wheat beer and one specifically for Oktoberfest.”
houdini and ninjaA key reason why Asheville
microbreweries have become so popular in recent years has been the establishment of an Asheville Brewers Alliance that markets the industry. The ABA was formed knowing that Asheville’s microbreweries (and a few others in surrounding communities) are in individual competition with one another, but as a unified group the alliance can market the entire industry to attract the brew tourist to Asheville.
The alliance’s president is Mike Rangel, who also owns Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, which has two locations and has been crafting ales since 1999. His company produces a variety of brews with names like Houdini, Ninja, Rocket Girl and Scout Stout.
“The Asheville Brewers Alliance doesn’t necessarily market to tourists who visit Biltmore and places like that. We target the tourist who actually makes visiting a microbrewery a priority,” Rangel says. “Alliance members meet once a month at different breweries to talk about interactions with the city as well as supporting nonprofits that approach us, and we discuss how to further promote the Beer City USA brand for Asheville.”
A variety of local beers are on tap at Asheville pizza & Brewing Company.
30 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 31
appetiteasheville’s
32 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 33
known as Foodtopia for its impressive array of fine restaurants, commitment to locally grown ingredients and variety of food-related events and initiatives, Asheville
soon may also lead the nation in green restaurants.With 100,000 residents, the city already has an
oversize devotion to culinary excellence and variety. It boasts more than 250 independent restaurants, 17 active farmers markets, longstanding support for the farm-to-table movement and a bevy of local farmers.
“We’re one of the top destinations in the country, and what makes people want to come here also makes chefs want to ply their trade here,” says Steve Frabitore, proprietor of Tupelo Honey Cafe’s two locations and head of Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR). “We’re surrounded by natural beauty, this is a free-spirited and eclectic town full of great art and theater, and we have a great farming community. The quality of food and service here has just skyrocketed in the last five years.”
StoRy By laura hill
city’s popularity groWs With epicurean fans
local squash noodles with fettucini, portobellos, patty pans and heirloom tomato sauce at Corner Kitchen.J
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32 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 33
independent eateries growProving the point, membership in Asheville
Independent Restaurants doubled in 2010-2011 to 70 members, Frabitore says, thanks to dedicated chefs and owners, and the organization’s commitment to “helping make our members better at what we do.” Active community sponsors, from hospitals to linen companies to credit card processors, help support AIR’s educational and community programs. The group has partnered with Mission Hospital on improving kids’ menus, offered $10,000 in scholarships to culinary students in 2011 and is developing an innovative program to retrain workers for the culinary field. In 2011 AIR trained 25 restaurants in gluten-free cuisine, making Asheville the nation’s leader in that regard. And now AIR aims to make Asheville No. 1 in the country in per capita number of restaurants certified green by the Green Restaurant Association.
“If we can say that Asheville is the greenest restaurant city in the country, that’s a very big thing,” says Kevin Westmoreland, co-owner of the Corner Kitchen and part of AIR’s Green Team. “Asheville is a city that wants to be green, that is trying to be green, and this is a big step toward making that happen.”
clockwise from above: Corner Kitchen is one of more than 250 independent restaurants in Asheville; Broccoli and gorgonzola quiche at the Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe; french comfort food is served at Bouchon.
34 ASheville
crazy for cocoa chocolate shops in asheville create treasures
As aficionados know, there’s chocolate,
and then there’s chocolate: the kind some
swear is better than – well, you know. And
fortunately, available right here.
indian kulfi, Dragon’s Sigh, Ancient
Pleasures, Canela Picante and Masala Chai
may sound like exotic treasures – and they
are. All are unique chocolate truffle flavors
you’d be hard-pressed to find in an
ordinary sweet shop, but are right at
home in Asheville’s finest chocolate shops.
the french Broad Chocolate Lounge is
just that, a quiet retreat where chocolate
lovers can relax with coffee, wine and an
assortment of fine chocolates and pastries,
courtesy of owners Dan and Jael Rattigan.
the Rattigans learned their art in Costa
Rica, opened their “sacred space for
chocophiles” in Asheville in 2007 and are
nationally acclaimed for their chocolates,
passionately conjured up from locally
sourced fruit, honey, maple syrup, berries,
nuts, butter and other ingredients – just
about everything but the cacao itself.
on Haywood Street, the Chocolate
fetish has tempted visitors with hand-
crafted, small-batch chocolates, made
without vegetable oil or preservatives,
since 1986.
Proprietors Sue and Bill foley and
daughter elizabeth say “it takes a village”
to produce their unique chocolates, which
include their trademarked America’s Best
truffles and ecstasy truffles.
Bill and Sue lived for years in Brussels,
Belgium, and have visited and been
inspired by europe’s finest chocolate
shops. elizabeth studied at the french
Pastry School with chocolatier Jean-
Pierre Wybauw.
– Laura Hill
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imAGeSASheville .Com 35
greening the restaurant sceneThe group’s Green Team had earlier helped
restaurants go greener with low-cost, simple steps, from using low-flow sprays on dishwashers to eliminating Styrofoam. But in July 2011, AIR received a $240,000 grant, courtesy of the state of North Carolina and federal stimulus money, that allowed it to go bigger – and greener.
Seventeen member restaurants underwent training that will lead to certification by the Green Restaurant Association. Grant money, matched by participating restaurants, will help provide solar panels, efficient water heaters, insulating curtains in walk-in coolers and other energy-saving features. Restaurants will save energy and, over the long term, money. And the community will reap considerable benefits too.
“This will pull a lot of BTUs out of the system that we are currently using,” says Westmoreland. “It amounts to the electricity that would be used by 100,000 televisions each year, which will help ease the strain on the power grid. We’re excited about this. When we get done we can walk the walk and not just talk the talk.”
above: fresh, local ingredients at Bouchon right: tupelo honey Cafe
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Sports & Recreation
in Asheville, outdoor recreation
is out of sight.
from whitewater rafting and
scenic biking trails to beautiful
gardens and horseback riding,
Asheville is a hub for outside
activities.
it’s no wonder the city recently
hosted the annual conference
of the outdoor industry
Association, a trade association
that provides services for more
than 4,000 manufacturers,
distributors, suppliers and
retailers in the industry.
With such a strong reputation
as a leader in open-air activities,
it’s only natural that a unique
retail and concept shop would
find its way to the area.
nantahala outdoor center at the grove park inn resort & spa
Asheville’s historic Grove Park
inn Resort & Spa is teaming up
with the city’s nantahala outdoor
Center to build the nantahala
outdoor Center at the Grove
Park inn Resort & Spa.
Described by noC Marketing
Director Charles Conner as an
“adventure concierge,” the location
will allow visitors and guests of the
hotel to inquire about the best
and most appropriate outings
around Asheville.
“Guests can reserve numerous
guided trips including whitewater
rafting on four nearby rivers,
canopy tours, fishing excursions,
area day hikes, flatwater paddling
tours and more,” Conner says.
“Beyond guided trips, our staff
will provide resources for do-it-
yourself adventures and maps
to recreation areas, as well as
expert advice on how to best
enjoy these destinations.”
outdoor gearthe shop will have a limited
selection of gear and apparel
from such leading outdoor
lifestyle brands as Patagonia,
Mountain Hardwear, keen and
the north face.
“Beyond just outfitting guests,
the shop will have gifts and
information about Asheville’s
outdoors, making the shop
valuable to armchair adventurers
or those on an all-business
itinerary,” Conner says.
leed-certiFiedAnd as a LeeD-certified
establishment, the nantahala
outdoor Center at the Grove
Park inn Resort & Spa will be
built with not only outdoor-
adventure seekers in mind,
but the outdoors itself.
its LeD lights consume low
amounts of power and don’t
emit much heat. the floors and
countertops will be made from
rapidly renewing resources like
bamboo and wheatboard. the
building will also utilize renewable
power and even encourage
sustainable practices from the staff
and guests, such as promoting
bicycle use for transportation.
“We’re excited to be the official
activity provider for the Southeast’s
most beloved resort, and we’re
determined to add value to every
guest’s visit. Asheville visitors can
now have it all – the best of the
indoors and the best of the
outdoors,” says Sutton Bacon,
Ceo of the noC. – Chris Russell
the great outdoorstWo entitieS ComBine to CReAte An ADventURe ConCieRGe
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38 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 39
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perfect place to growoutdoor-themed companies ready to gain traction
it’s known as the great outdoors.
in Asheville, that word can also
describe the future of outdoor-
product companies – great.
A few of the successful
organizations that are poised
for prosperous years in this area,
rich with natural resources, include
Pyrahna Mouldings (a British-
based kayaks and canoe company
with an Asheville location), Astral
Buoyancy Company, (which
specializes in clothing, primarily
buoyancy jackets), Columbia
and the north face.
the new nantahala outdoor
Center at the Grove Park inn
Resort & Spa, which will feature
gear and apparel from popular
outdoor retailers, only adds to
the potential.
Being part of the new store is “a
great opportunity to showcase the
innovative products from Columbia
and further our partnership with
noC, a premier outfitter in the
Southeast,” says Columbia sales
representative Chappie Powell.
“Having the north face
involved with two great companies
like the noC and Grove Park inn is
a great fit,” says Adam Pinkston,
representative for the north face.
“Having the expertise of outdoor
adventure from the noC will be a
great benefit to guests. And with
all the new outdoor activities, the
great relationship between the
north face and the noC makes
this a very exciting time.”
– Chris Russell
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Arts & Culture
music rocks the city of
Asheville with the coming
of Moogfest, the three-day, multi-
venue event where artists,
audiences and energy coexist
in harmony.
But the music remains long
after the curtains close on
Moogfest’s final act.
creatively contagious
thanks in part to an art-
conscious culture, Asheville has
grown a music scene to rival
cities twice its size, and its
creativity is proving contagious.
“Asheville attracts an active,
arts-going crowd that has been
extremely receptive to live acts,”
says Liz Whalen, marketing and
special events director for the
orange Peel music venue. those
live acts include major names
like Bob Dylan, Smashing
Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, Lauryn
Hill, My Morning Jacket, Arcade
fire and the Avett Brothers,
to name a few.
the Peel, as Ashevillians
affectionately call it, is the largest
venue of its kind in Western north
Carolina and has been highlighted
as one of the best live-music
venues in the nation by the likes
of Rolling Stone, USA Today
and Cosmopolitan.
“it helps that we’re in downtown
Asheville, a fun, urban neighborhood
where people can make a night of
eating dinner, walking around and
catching a show,” Whalen says.
Also bright on the scene is
the Grey eagle, where all ages
are free to enjoy the space and
sounds brought by a range of
well-known bands.
in the mood For moogWhen a late-night concert
doesn’t cut it, Moogfest comes in.
“it’s a wonderful opportunity
for people to come together in a
social environment and share their
enthusiasm for life, music and a
sense of community,” says Ashley
Capps, president of AC
entertainment, the company
that produces the festival.
Still in its beginning phases –
moog to the musicneW feStivAl A hiGhliGht of thRivinG live mUSiC SCene
right: Gillian Welch at the orange peel
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40 ASheville
Moogfest is set to put on its
second annual festival in october –
the concert series has garnered
praise and big names in a short
time. Moogfest began as a way
to honor the legacy of Bob Moog
and the many contributions he
made to the music industry,
and features mainly electronic
and alternative rock, according
to Capps.
“the focus is really on
musicians whose work displays
a genuinely restless, innovative
and creative spirit,” Capps says.
overall, Moogfest aims to
celebrate Asheville’s already-
established and diverse music
scene.
“We hope that serves to inspire
musicians, artists and the creative
community as a whole to create
more, and is seen as another
aspect of the continuing growth
of arts and culture, not just in
Asheville, but throughout the
Southeast,” says Capps.
– Karen Schwartzman Ali mousavi performs at moogfest in Asheville.
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40 ASheville
image Gallery
42 ASheville
Downtown Asheville
Photo by Brian McCord
imAGeSASheville .Com 43
The fountain in J. Rush Oates Plaza in downtown Asheville
Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto
image Gallery
44 ASheville
Sunflowers for sale at the Montford Tailgate Market
Photo by Jeff Adkins
imAGeSASheville .Com 45
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46 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 47
climate
84° FJuly high temperature
27° FJanuary low temperature
37”Annual Rain fall (vs. national Average Annual Rain fall of 37”)
time zone
eastern
cost of living
$43,592median household income
$195,800median home price
$688median Rent for a two-Bedroom Apartment
Asheville, NC 99.7
Charlotte, NC 94.0
Durham, NC 92.1
Raleigh, NC 92.4
Wilmington, NC 99.8
Winston-Salem, NC 90.3
Atlanta, GA 97.5
Charleston, SC 101.1
Columbia, SC 94.3
National Average = 100
land area
40.9Square miles
household information
AGe:
40median Resident Age
22% 19 and Under
48% 20-54
30% 55 and over
MARiTAl sTATUs:
46% married
54% Single
eThNiCiTY:
77% White
14% Black
5% hispanic
4% other
transportation
16 minutesmedian travel time to Work
numBers to knoW
driver services nCDot Division of
Motor vehicles
600 tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
(828) 298-4544
www.ncdot.org
curbside recycling Curbside Management
116 n. Woodfin Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2532
www.curbie.com
voter Registration
Board of elections
35 Woodfin St.
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 250-4200
www.buncombecounty.org
snapshotAs a resort and therapeutic health center since the late 1880s,
Asheville has long been a destination for people searching for
a mountain escape, its population climbing to nearly 30,000
seasonal residents in 1890. More art deco architecture built
in the late 1920s and early 1930s can be found in downtown
Asheville than in any other city in the Southeast outside of Miami.
community profile
46 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 47
Ad Index 17 Asheville City sChools
8 Asheville DentAl AssoCiAtes
C3 Asheville sAvvy
C4 Asheville sChool
2 Asheville speCiAlty hospitAl
C2 Asheville-BunComBe teChniCAl Community College
C3 BeAr Creek ApArtments
C3 BmW Asheville
8 BrightstAr
22 CArolinA DAy sChool
31 Christ sChool
41 DeerfielD episCopAl retirement Community
24 four seAsons
46 givens estAtes
5 greAt Beginnings peDiAtriC & DentAl speCiAlists
C3 hAmpton inn & suites/ homeWooD suites
C3 hunter BAnks
46 JonAs gerArD fine Art
39 lAke pointe lAnDing
24 mAheC DentAl heAlth Center
Ad Index 24 mAheC fAmily heAlth Center
39 mAheC oB/gyn speCiAlists
C2 mission hospitAl
37 pArseC finAnCiAl
8 pisgAh vAlley retirement Community
2 QuAlity inn & suites
2 sAlvAtion Army of Asheville
19 the fArm
through the Lens
Asheville, north Carolina has
been named Beer City USA by
readers of Examiner.com for
the third year in a row. this
is why i love Asheville.
Last week, i was assigned
to photograph the Highland
Brewing Company as well as
Asheville Pizza and Brewing
Company to illustrate a story
about microbreweries for
Asheville magazine.
the week started out with
a tour of the Highland brewery
by oscar Wong, president of the
Highland Brewing Company, also
known as the “grandfather of
beer” in Asheville since he opened
the first microbrewery in the area
– not because he’s old. i made
several return trips to catch the
bottling line in action as well as
the friday evening live music that
happens every week. i also made
several trips to both of Asheville
Pizza and Brewing Company’s
locations to see how they make
beer from scratch, from milling
their own grains to filling kegs
with the final product …
From our photo blog: asheville
PoSteD By Jeff ADkinS
more online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.
Now that you’ve experienced Asheville through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.
get the story behind the photo
48 ASheville
Bear Creek Apartments
110 Bear Creek Ln. • (828) 258-0623bearcreekapts@alcomgt.com • www.bearcreek-apts.com
Your new home in west Asheville
Asheville Savvy?
Asheville’s First Mobile GuidePromoting Local Merchants, Events, Restaurants,
Pubs, Festivals and More
Visit us at: www.ashevillesavvy.com
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