Category Archives: Asheville Live

Image via Wikipedia

If you missed the Lord of the Dance production at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in February, you have the chance to see it up close and personal. For one week only fans of the Irish dance sensation will  be able to see the Lord of the Dance production at a movie theater in 3D.

Fans in Asheville will share the experience with movie goes in South Africa, England, Ireland, Canada, and Malta.

Where to see the Lord of the Dance 3D movie in Asheville

• The Biltmore Grande
• Carmike 10

About the film

Shot before live audiences at the o2 in London, the Berlin, and Dublin, the scenes are combined seamlessly to produce the affect of the live show. But what’s better is the different angles, including shots straight down. The 3D effects are captivating but not intrusive- just enough to make you feel like it’s happening around you.

Local Buzz

Daryl Carson, an Asheville native, said, “It was spectacular. The sets were high quality, and the 3D effects were the best I’ve ever seen. It felt like you were there live, except your perspective on the stage changed.”

It’s high energy and loads of information at the Western Carolina Home Show. The Asheville Civic Center will be filled with exhibiters and seminars focused on everybody’s favorite place- the Home.

Keynote Speaker and Seminars

Steve Thomas, Emmy award winning television host of “This Old House,” author of “The Last Navigator,” and world traveler will be the keynote speaker. Saturday, March 19, at 11 AM, Steve Thomas will take center stage with his talk, “What is Green Building?” He’ll focus on 5 main areas:

• Workmanship
• Energy
• Health
• Design
• Materials

Steve Thomas will be just one of many experts in green building.Take your pick from a variety of presentations. Among many others,  Michelle McCain will speak on Eco-Frieldly Flooring, Daya Apunte will lead a seminar on Green Renovations, Grant Gosh will educate participants in the Economics of Solar, and Amy Musser will elaborate on 10 Things Homeowners can do to Save Money and Energy.

Kyle Brown, of www.homeenergypartners.com, says

Asheville’s green home market is very strong.  ENERGY STAR and LEED-H (green building certification programs) are very popular here, and Western North Carolina, in general, has a higher concentration of Healthy Built Homes projects than any other part of the state.  Many builders in our area have committed to building 100% ENERGY STAR or NC Healthy Built.  Homeowners looking to learn a thing or two about high performance homes should jump at the chance to mingle with green building professionals at the Western Carolina Home Show. 

Details

• Dates: March 18, 19, 20
• Where: Asheville Civic Center
• Tickets: Available at the door. Ages 13 and up are $6, children 12 and under are free. Tickets are per day.

Visit http://www.wnchomeshow.com/ for more information.

Image via Wikipedia

On your mark, get set, go!

Registration is on for the 12th Annual Asheville Citizen-Times 5k and Half Marathon. Early bird registration runs now through March 31. The race starts and finishes at the Asheville Citizen Times at the historic Grove Arcade on September 18, 2011.

Race Highlights

• The half marathon course winds through downtown Asheville, through historic neighborhoods, great vistas and around  Beaver Lake
• The 5k race goes through downtown Asheville
• Friendly cheering section
• Challenging half marathon course
• 5k course is great for walkers, joggers, and runners
• 12 aid stations
• Music enroute
• Each runner rewarded with  Highland Brewing‘s micro-brews

New for 2011

• The cap for runners is now 1,750
• Race Expo at a new location on Thursday and Friday of race week. 
• Can’t pick up your packet before the race? For $20, you can have your bib and shirt mailed to you. 
• Bag drop near the Start/Finish line
• Post-race food will offer healthy choices 

The 2011 races are presented in partnership with Mission Health System. Proceeds benefit the Youths Fit for Life and Energize programs of the YMCA and YWCA of Western North Carolina. In 2010, $40,000 was donated to these programs to help children who are overweight and their families to develop healthier lifestyles.

Asheville is a laid back mecca for those in search of the arts, spirituality, fabulous, boutique shopping, hiking, biking, and world class spas. In fact, it seems like everyone is talking about Asheville.

According to WikiTravel

• Often referred to as the Paris of the South or the San Francisco of the East
• Money Magazine calls Asheville on of the best places to retire
• AARP says Asheville is one of the best places to reinvent your life
• Rolling Stone has chosen Asheville as the New Freak Capital
• PETA recommends Asheville as the Best Vegetarian Friendly City
• Author Lee Pantas describes Asheville as “A city not easily forgotten once visited.”
• AmericanStyle has named Asheville the Top Small City for the Arts

Between the kid and community spaces, like center of the city Splashville and the Blue Ridge Parkway, to outdoor pursuits on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which slices through the edge of town, connecting South Asheville with East Asheville, to a plethora of restaurants, taverns, bars, and entertainment venues, Asheville is a small city brimming over with big city amenities.

Lively conversations mix between new age hippies and college intellectuals at downtown cafes. UNCA, Montreat College, Mars Hill College, and AB Tech create a cauldron for ideas.

What’s your favorite part of Asheville? Did we miss it? Let us know, and we might include it in another blog.

The Biltmore House is a wonderful escape from the busyness of day to day life, whether your visiting from Asheville or Anchorage. On cold days, America’s largest private residence is a warm haven. Spring days afford visitors with a chance to wander the gardens and explore the trails, as long as tour the home.

A visit to the Biltmore House just got better- by half. Book your tickets online 7 days in advance of your visit, and an adult ticket is $29. Children under 16 get in free. Hurry, this special expires March 31.

Upcoming and Current Events

• Winter at Biltmore- enjoy off season rates
• Now- March 31
• Orchid Display
• Now-March
• Visit the Conservatory Room where 70 orchids are in full bloom.
• Festival of Flowers
• The Gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted are bursting with color. Tulips and azaleas are the stars of the magnificent gardens.
• April 2-May 15
• Tiffany at Biltmore
• See iconic Tiffany Lamps in this exhibit organized by The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass in New York City. The Biltmore House celebrates the visit with Tiffany touches in the gardens.
• July 1- October 23
• Biltmore Outdoor Concert Series
• Enjoy soon to be announced outdoor performances rain or shine. Watch this space for the line up of Outdoor Concerts.
• July-September

Visit www.biltmore.com for special rates and to plan your trip.

Image via Wikipedia

This year, 1000 Asheville residents will hear, “You have cancer.”  The creative folks at Cupcakes for Cures are raising funds for the American Cancer Society’s research for cures. For a suggested donation of $25, you can get a ticket for the event with 10 cupcake coupons. One coupon is worth a mini cupcake, and 2 coupons are worth a regular sized cupcake. Take home boxes will be available!

From Cupcakes for Cures:

Cupcakes for Cureswas started by two couples in Asheville as our Relay for Life team. Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature event to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs in the fight against cancer. It represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. After you enjoy Cupcakes For Cures on March 26th, 2011 at the Grove Park Inn, we also invite you to join us at the Relay For Life of Asheville on June 3 at Reynolds High School. You might even get another chance to eat your favorite cupcake.

Tickets are available now. Don’t miss out on the sugary goodness!

Event Information:

The event will be held

• At the Grove Park Inn
• Saturday, March 26
• From 1:00 to 3:00 PM

The event is sponsored by the Grove Park Inn and Spa, Bake it Pretty, Sophie Magazine, and the French Broad Chocolate Lounge.