Businesses in Asheville continuously grow, move, change, and innovate, and the local brewing industry is no different. We understand that things don’t stay stagnant, so we wanted to offer an overview of what’s new with area brewers. Highland Brewing Company’s newest addition, its outdoor event space and stage, finally came to fruition a few weeks … Read More
Food & Drink
Alex Krug Combo Releases New CD
Sometimes things happen serendipitously that we simply would not have imagined. Thus is the case with the new CD, Divers, from the Alex Krug Combo. Back in June 2012 the Combo was playing downtown at Lexington Avenue Brewery. It was a letterpress release party for Heroes & Criminals Press, where a letterpress poster of the … Read More
Table for One
Their eyes lock from across the table. They both reach for the bottle of champagne to fill the other’s glass, and their fingertips brush. The candle flickers and lights up their blush-covered faces. They giggle, smile, then look away. A piano sounds in the background, and it feels like the keys are striking just for … Read More
Asheville Is for Chocolate-Lovers
Chocolate has a long history with romance, love, and sex. The Aztecs believed it to be an aphrodisiac, with Montezuma supposedly drinking 50 cups of chocolate a day. (And hey, the guy did have many wives and lovers.) When Europeans returned to their homeland, they brought chocolate and its purported benefits back with them. Supposedly … Read More
Beer Enthusiasts Flock to Winter Warmer
Yet another indication of the thriving beer scene in Asheville is the growing success of its winter beer festival, the Winter Warmer. The first one took place in 2008 at The Garage (located in Biltmore Village where the Toy Boat Community Arts Space is now) where the attendance was about 275 people. This year, on … Read More
Amuse Booze: Winter Warmers
Whether it’s the mountain weather having a schizophrenic episode or the slow crawl of global climate change toward the end of days, an Asheville winter is about as predictable as a bouncing football. But on those ass-clinching, 20-degree nights when you have standing plans that you just can’t cancel, you can find warm solace in … Read More
Pisgah Brewing Thrives in Black Mountain
The name Pisgah is synonymous with the geography of Western North Carolina. Outdoors enthusiasts know the natural wonders that make up the Pisgah National Forest, and Mount Pisgah is one of the more recognizable peaks in the state. The name, though, has also become synonymous with organic, handcrafted beer. Located just east of Asheville in … Read More
Asheville Music Hall and One Stop Deli Make Marks in Music Scene
Rocking the heart of downtown in just more than a year in business, Asheville Music Hall has made quite an impression on local music. Add the One Stop Deli downstairs, and you have a one-two punch of constant live music in one building. While the Asheville Music Hall offers a variety of genres, it is … Read More
Creekside Taphouse: An East Asheville Neighborhood Joint
A few kids frolic on the playground while others chase each other on the sand volleyball court. One couple enjoys lunch at a picnic table near the babbling creek. Others enjoy some food under a covered porch. Not too far away a game of cornhole is just getting started. You might think you’re at a … Read More
Mighty Isis Becomes a Force in West Asheville
“Oh wow, this is amazing,” said one patron. “I can’t even believe what they’ve done in here,” remarked another. Standing on the second level looking down at the main stage inside Isis—the new restaurant, bar, and music hall in West Asheville—highly favorable comments from customers was common. The venue cranked out remarkably good sound for … Read More
Laurey’s Gourmet Comfort Food: Classic Downtown Asheville
Don’t Postpone Joy®. It’s not only a registered trademark to Laurey Masterton, it has truly become her mantra. Laurey is the proprietor of Laurey’s Gourmet Comfort Food, a landmark café and catering business located at 67 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. Having undergone cancer treatments for the past year and a half, Laurey has had … Read More
Amuse Booze: Spicy Cocktails for a Hot Night Around Town
In the past, the bar scene in Asheville never was known for its plethora of smoking hot cocktail options, but fortunately the past is just that. Downtown Asheville is experiencing a minor cocktail revolution occurring right before our eyes. The frenzy surrounding Asheville’s craft and microbrew beer scene is evident everywhere you go, so perhaps … Read More