Christmas Jam Road/Transit Info

Street closures associated with Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

ASHEVILLE – The following streets will be closed from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 12 for the Warren Haynes Chris tmas Jam at the Asheville Civic Center :

* Flint Street from Haywood Street to Cherry Street
* Hiawassee Street from Rankin Avenue to Flint Street .

Traffic congestions and delays are likely during the late afternoon and evening. Concert goers are encouraged to carpool to the event and arrive early.

Asheville Transit will re-route the following routes to accommodate the street closures:

Route 11 – Montford/Klondyke/Hillcrest – 5-7 p.m., service will operate to/from the Transit Center & Montford Ave. via Patton Ave. to Haywood St. and to Montford Ave. There will be no service on Flint St. , Cherry St. and the portion of Haywood St. from Montford Ave to Prichard Park . This applies for all inbound and outbound trips.

Route 18 – Erskine Street/Flint Street – 5- 7 p.m., service will operate to/from UNC Asheville & downtown via North Lexington Ave. There will be no service on Haywood St. , Flint St. , Magnolia Ave. or West Chestnut St . This route will be used on all inbound and outbound trips.

Route 15 – Patton Ave. /Deaverview – 5- 7 p.m., service will operate to/from the Transit Center via Patton Ave. There will be no service on Haywood St. or Montford Ave. This route will be used on all inbound and outbound trips.

Route 51 – Montford/Hillcrest – 7:30- 9 p.m., service will operate to/from the Transit Center & Montford Ave. via Patton Ave. to Haywood St. and to Montford Ave. There will be no service on Flint St. , Cherry St. and the portion of Haywood St. from Montford Ave to Prichard Park . This route will be used on all inbound and outbound trips.

Parking will be available in the three city parking decks, the county parking deck or in privately owned pay-lots, all of which are within 10 minutes walking distance of the Asheville Civic Center. Concert goers should obey all no parking signs as some privately owned lots enforce 24-hour towing. Backpacks are not allowed. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m.

For more information regarding bus routes, visit www.ashevilletransit.com, call 253-5691 or email iride@ashevillenc.gov. For information about the Asheville Civic Center , visit http://www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/civic_center/.

Truth and Consequences

Dear BlogAsheville,

I owe you an apology.

On Tuesday, I made a post which was inaccurate and unfair about the YWCA.

We have worked hard for years to build community in Asheville and my post did the exact opposite of that. With that in mind, I am stepping down from the Admin team for a while but leave you in the good hands of the Effervescent Jennifer Saylor and other Unnamed Admins.

It has been a wonderful experience being part of this community for the last four years, and I regret my poor judgment has made it impossible to continue to serve in the same capacity at this time, but fair is fair; and I would not see my own lack of good sense hurt the BlogAsheville community at large.

Sincerely,

Uptown Ruler

Spookypalooza Totals!

The Rev. Heather Dillashaw Spencer of Homeward Bound of Asheville accepts cash raised at Spookypaooza 2009 from new Asheville City Council member and Asheville blogger/activist extraordinaire, Gordon Smith. Smith and Spencer stand in front of bins where the homeless can store their possessions, one bin per person. Rev. Spencer says A HOPE, like all nonprofits, is struggling. Spookypalooza money will go into general fund to try and make ends meet.

Photo by Jason Sandford of Ashvegas.

The checks and cash from ticket sales and raffle tickets have been counted and the totals are finally in...

In the middle of crappy economic times, Asheville's online community raised $1810 for local people in need.

By partying at the Phil Mechanic at Spookypalooza/Blogapalooza 2009, and by buying raffle tix (and by donating to our raffle), we did some good for Homeward Bound of Asheville, an area organization who helps local people find food, shelter and a better life.

Thanks Spookypalooza sponsors, and thanks to amazing local artist (and blogger!) Genie Maples. We couldn't have done it without you.

Thanks, online community. You KNOW we'll see you next year to help out some more and have some more fun.

Asheville Update Episode 1: December 3rd, 2009

This is Episode # 1 of Asheville Update, a weekly video blog about the city of Asheville. The blog will feature a list of featured upcoming events and will often include an interview with an interesting Asheville person.

Covered This Week

Contestants from across the country will bring their culinary masterpieces to The Grove Park Inn this holiday season. Delight in the imagination shown in these sugar-and-spice creations, strolling through the competition display is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit.

For more information on our National Gingerbread House Competition, please call our Gingerbread Hotline at 1-800-413-5778.

Viewing is Nov. 18 - Jan. 3, 2010 Community Viewing is Monday-Thursday only. Resort Guests may view the display at anytime. Groups traveling by bus or passenger van must make parking reservations prior to arrival. Please note that these groups must have dining or lodging reservations or will be charged a parking fee. Large vehicle parking reservations are available only by calling 1-800-438-0050, ext. 1281.

This Weeks Featured Events

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Montford Park Players 33rd Annual Production of A Christmas Carol

Biltmore Village Dickens Festival

Asheville Mural Project Fundraiser at Pisgah Brewing

Asheville Seasonal Sizzle

The Big Crafty

North Carolina Symphony - Holiday Pops Concert

On the Horizon:

Asheville FM Presents the Anti-Jam Jamboree

Warren Haynes Presents 21st Annual XMAS Jam

More Information

View the complete event details here: Asheville Update Episode 1: Dec 3rd 2009

If you would like to subscribe to this weekly video update please visit the Asheville Now YouTube Account. Please leave comments about the show below and send ideas for events and stories to: news@ashevillefm.org.

Thanks for watching.

A Grassroots Job Fair?

Are you looking for work? Ready to take most anything that comes along? Discouraged and disgusted by hacking away at Monster all day, applying for jobs you know hundreds of others are also applying for?

And getting nothing?

If Asheville had a grassroots job fair, how could that work? What would we bloggers and engaged local citizens do to connect local jobs with local people--friends, family neighbors?

Could there be a grassroots job fair for small local businesses? For freelancers looking for admin help and assistance? I think there might be a demand for something like this. The problem is getting it to work.

People need work DESPERATELY, and there ARE jobs out there. How could we use the grassroots power of Asheville citizens and Asheville social media to make this happen?

I (Jennifer Saylor, one of the BlogAsheville admins) envisioned a job fair. One friend said a general meetup (Tweetup?), maybe a bimonthly meetup managed with social media.

But how would we learn about job oppty's? How can we successfully reach out to and attract small businesses looking for help?

We have people who need jobs, but we need the other half of the equation: small local businesses and entrepreneurs/freelancers looking to fill local positions.

I know one thing for sure: this won't happen unless people get behind the idea and send ideas and offers of help to make this happen.

Asheville, I am putting this out to you. What have you got?

Highland Brewing Co. to Release 15th Anniversary Ale

(From Bruisin' Ales)

Highland Announces Release of 15^th Anniversary Ale

Asheville, NC—Celebrating 15 years as Asheville’s first and most successful brewery, Highland Brewing Company announced today the December 15^th release of its latest seasonal, Auld Asheville Vintage Ale. Oscar Wong, founder and President of Highland, indicated that the name and label pays homage to the Scots Irish heritage of Highland’s mountain home. It is a style made famous by British brewers with their holiday offerings of old ales.

According to John Lyda, Highland’s Head Brewer, Auld Asheville Vintage Ale is a high gravity ale in the style of “Old Ales” or ‘English Strong” ales which are traditionally released just prior to the holidays. Contributing to the beer’s complexity is the use of three different yeast strains, two of which were imported from England. Because of the hopping levels, alcohol content, and the completeness of its attenuation with time in the tanks, “the product should cellar incredibly well and increase in complexity for at least the next year.”

Its taste is described as “having a bold profile from fine British Malts, woody and estery aromas from traditional British Ale yeast, and bittering from Styrian Bobek hops. The addition of Sterling hops provides a hint of spiciness in the nose.

Highland will host an Auld Asheville Vintage Ale open house kickoff party at its facility at 12 Old Charlotte Highway on December 18^th from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. Live entertainment provided by Asheville’s Funknastics band, with food by Barley’s Tap Room and Pizzeria. Barley’s is also celebrating its 15^th anniversary

Jimmy Rentz, owner of Barley’s and one of Highland’s original supporters, said “We are pleased to join Highland is celebrating both our 15^th anniversaries. Highland set the standard for all the craft brewers who have followed them in Asheville. We’d like to think that Barley’s has also set a great standard in town by offering the best Craft beer selection in the region, including Highland beers."

Auld Asheville Vintage Ale will be available in 22 oz. bottles and on draft in local restaurants and retail outlets beginning December 20^th.

Arty Asheville

standing there cardboard fish
Originally uploaded by zen

I love living in Asheville - where else would you find in someone's trash, discarded art because it was used to paint rustoleum on a metal art piece - a sort of modern Gyotaku. I considered taking this cardboard home and framing it, but instead took a 'standing there' photo of it and put it back in with the trash.

A Little Holiday Sneer

Cross-posted from Ukulele Rockstar:

Well, looks like the annual avalanche of x-mas “cheer” is upon us once again.

Art by Jake Hollifield

For those of you struggling not to be swept away by it, Mad Tea is throwing out a rope. Namely, we’re giving away two songs dedicated to the grinch in each of us. A little seasonal angst that you can dance to. So click here (or below) to download "Oh Sh*t it’s Christmastime” and “It’s Cold Outside” and add them to your holiday playlist.

You can also hear these songs live at the Mad Tea’s upcoming shows opening for Southern Culture on the Skids – Friday, December 4th at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC and Saturday, December 5th at the Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC.

Have a slammin’ yule! We love you!

http://themadteaparty.bandcamp.com/album/oh-sh-t-its-christmastime

New comedy club offers 50 percent discount to bloggers

Funny Business, the new comedy club downtown is offering local bloggers HALF OFF late show tix Friday and Saturday with the promo code below. That's only $7 for Fri-Sat shows after 8 p.m.

Enjoy!

Hi guys,
We want to offer a discount to the local blog community. We will offer
half off ticket prices if they use the promo code "blogitup" on our
website. The offer is good for late shows Friday and Saturday. The promo
code is case sensitive. Please post this discount on your blog as soon as
possible. Hope to see you at the show!!

Here's this weekend's comedian: