ASHEVILLE, N.C., Feb. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage,
artistic triumphs, inspired perspectives, justice around the table
and music with meaning color the landscape of fresh travel
experiences heading through 2021 in Asheville, N.C. Below is a roundup of the
latest offerings and events connecting travelers to new and
compelling Blue Ridge Mountain adventures in the year ahead.
Bonus background notes: for more on the people, histories and
stories behind the news go here.
Overview: Musicians and chefs pulling segregation-era
history forward; a riverfront arts district evolving with
recreation and space for everyone; an epic outdoor art installation
coming to Biltmore's blooming estate grounds; and a new curated
collection of immersive tours and packages from creative local
businesses.
SoundSpace @ Rabbit's Links History & Community Through
Music & Food
A historic Black-owned tourist court and
dining room from the segregation-era South is getting new life as a
musician rehearsal space and soul food kitchen. Nationally
acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, recording artist
Claude Coleman Jr. (30-year drummer
for the alternative rock band Ween) and lifelong musician and
producer Brett Spivey are behind the
effort to restore this landmark, honoring the Black community of
Southside in Asheville and the
history of the motel, including famous guests like Richard Pryor and R&B legend Jackie Wilson. Practice rooms in the venue are
open and a soul food kitchen/cafe will open in late 2021, plus
mixed-medium artist amenities, fully realizing this important
Asheville landmark. Chef
Clarence Robinson, an Asheville native and relative to Rabbit's
Motel's original owner, will pay homage to the establishment's
original operators while informing a new vision for this addition
to Asheville's rich food
scene.
Pulling History Forward: News From The Block
New
ventures take flight while important histories are pulled forward
on The Block, Asheville's
historical Black business district. From the late 19th
through 20th centuries, the community was home to
hundreds of Black-owned-and-operated enterprises – a city unto
itself with doctors' offices, restaurants, a drug store, a boarding
house and a library. From the 1950s through the '70s, Urban Renewal
projects dismantled this formerly flourishing area. Today,
individuals like DeWayne Barton have
helped amplify the voices and the history of the community. Barton
leads Hood Huggers International and its Hood Hugger Tours.
- Recently opened, Noir Collective AVL has an important
mission as a retail space for Black entrepreneurs, artists, makers
and social activists. The shop is in the YMI Cultural Center, which
is one of the nation's oldest African American institutions dating
back to 1893.
- Malcom McMillian has been named
the new chef de cuisine at Benne on Eagle, Chef
John Fleer's Foundry Hotel
restaurant that pays homage to its Eagle Street neighborhood and
the often-overlooked contributions of African American cooks to
Appalachian and Southern food. McMillian previously worked in
restaurants in Washington D.C. and
New York. Ashleigh Shanti, former chef de cuisine at Benne
who helped launch the restaurant and recently earned a James Beard nomination, plans to create an
Asheville-based restaurant
group.
- Closed by the pandemic just shortly after debuting, LEAF
Global Arts Center, a cornerstone in the continued rebirth of
The Block, offers dynamic educational experiences for guests rooted
in music, art, community and culture inclusivity. (See the "Art
Scene" section for more information.)
- While you're on The Block, walk a block north to Pack Square to
see the vibrant, expansive Black Lives Matter street mural,
a community- and artist-driven effort, coordinated by the Asheville
Area Arts Council and led by artists Joseph
Pearson, Jenny Pickens and
Marie T. Cochran of the Affrilachian
Artist Project.
Colossal Works of Art Woven Into Biltmore Blooms
Landscape
Unique outdoor sculptural works by environmental
artist Patrick Dougherty, known as
"Stick Man," will reside on the grounds of Biltmore starting
April 1. Renowned worldwide for his
monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into
intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from
gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of
notable buildings. These large-scale artworks may be appreciated up
close as guests walk through and around the creations. The
exhibition coincides with Biltmore Blooms, an annual tradition that
honors the legacy of Frederick Law
Olmsted and is highlighted by thousands of tulips in the
historic Walled Garden and across the grounds of America's Largest
Home. Azaleas, rhododendrons and mountain laurel bloom later in the
season, with buds of every shade appearing in the Rose Garden.
Culinary Festival Explores Social Justice & Climate
Change
Asheville's new
festival celebrating the foodways and makers of the Southern
Appalachian region – Chow Chow – returns in 2021 with a
deepened intention to honor community and explore what it means to
celebrate justly. Chow Chow will host a three-month series of
immersive in-person and virtual events throughout July, August and
September of 2021, building beyond an inaugural 2019 schedule that
included "Appalachian Soul Food: A Celebration of The Block,"
"Brown in the South in Asheville"
and "Women on the Urban Trail." Chow Chow 2021 will bring together
culinary creators, makers and thought leaders for creative
celebrations and meaningful experiences that broaden our
understanding of one another with a focus on food justice, racial
justice and climate change. The official event schedule is coming
soon.
Indie Food Culture Forges Ahead With Openings &
Evolutions
Despite the coronavirus' impact on the industry,
new Asheville restaurants and
culinary offerings showcase creativity, adaptability and fresh
ideas.
- A food hall with history opens in Asheville's iconic Art Deco masterpiece
S&W Building, considered one of architect Douglas Ellington's most refined projects. Chef
Meherwan Irani (Chai Pani Restaurant
Group and James Beard-nominated
chef) and Highland Brewing Company (Asheville's oldest brewery run by Leah Wong Ashburn, a James Beard nominee) open S&W Market
in early spring. Irani will select restaurants to fill the food
stalls (Thai food truck Bun Intended is the first to sign
on), and Highland will offer bars on both levels among the
building's Art Deco details.
- Chef Jacob Sessoms, Asheville's original James Beard semifinalist (2010) and an innovator
of Asheville's modern take on
Appalachian cuisine, has moved his restaurant Table to make way for
El Gallo AVL, with tacos and sandwiches by day and
market-driven Mexican plates at night by Chef Luis Martinez. Sessoms will soon open Table
Right Here nearby with Right There Bar, a burger bar,
opening in the same building.
- Chef Silver Cousler plans to open Asheville's first Filipinx restaurant,
Neng's Jr., named after an affectionate nickname for
Cousler. Cousler, a creative force in Asheville's food scene for many years (Buxton
Hall and numerous pop-ups), pulls inspiration from their travels
and cooking with their mother. Look for a Filipino-style hot dog,
trout roe served with pork rinds and traditional dishes served with
sides like collard greens with coconut milk.
- Also Coming Soon: Baby
Bull, a spinoff from Asheville's iconic Bull & Beggar
restaurant (known for fine dining hidden on a loading dock in the
RAD), will soon open in the River Arts District with sandwiches,
sides and the much-loved double patty Bull & Beggar burger.
Co-owner Drew Wallace also recently
opened Leo's House of Thirst in West Asheville with sandwiches, pasta,
tartines and an extensive wine list. Another beloved Asheville restaurant, Rosetta's, is
opening a new downtown location. The space will expand production
of owner Rosetta Buan's line of
packaged goods (veggie burgers, vegan mac and cheese and pot pies)
and will also serve hearty breakfast and lunch bowls, waffles and
grilled food from an open-air patio grill.
- James Beard-nominated Chef
Elliott Moss of Buxton Hall Barbecue
has opened Little Louie's pop-up, featuring brisket
cheesesteaks, barbecue chicken pizza, wings and smoked turkey
grinders. Located at Buxton Hall, Little Louie's serves up food two
days a week (Sunday and Monday), making it highly coveted by locals
and in-the-know travelers.
- Another pandemic-inspired pop-up is Trashalachian, a
sandwich-focused collaboration between restaurant Avenue M and Chef
Graham House, who helped put
Sovereign Remedies' food program on the map and now leads Citizen
Vinyl's cafe. Look for cold-cut combos, griddled bologna with miso
mustard and Duke's Mayonnaise and double cheeseburgers offered up
at least through March.
- Asheville's historic Grove
Arcade – a retail, dining and architectural landmark – has recently
welcomed three new food concepts. Asheville Proper is a take
on the classic steakhouse, centered around live-fire cooking and a
locally sourced seasonal menu. Restaurateur and modern-day spice
trader, Chef Meherwan Irani, has
opened a grab-and-go eatery, Nani's Rotisserie
Chicken, in the building, and the new Bebette's New
Orleans Coffee House serves up a French Creole-style breakfast
and lunch.
Music News: Vinyl Record Plant With Music Cafe + Giant
Outdoor Venue Rabbit Rabbit
Asheville, where deep-seated bluegrass roots
harmonize with new talent and innovative sounds, has been lauded as
one of America's top music cities. Here are two new ways to dive
into the scene:
- Rabbit Rabbit in the South Slope district is a new
outdoor event venue from Asheville Brewing Company and The Orange
Peel, Asheville's nationally known
rock club that has hosted acts such as Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, The Flaming Lips and The Beastie
Boys. The space, which has been a welcome retreat during the
pandemic, offers live music, movie screenings, DJ-spun dance
parties, socially distant igloo pods, local beer and food
trucks.
- Recently opened, Citizen Vinyl offers an
immersive music experience with a record-pressing plant,
independent record store, music cafe and bar. Powerhouses of
Asheville's maker scene have
combined on this project and include Gar Ragland (music producer
and president of NewSong Music), Susannah
Gebhart (OWL Bakery) and Chef Graham
House (formerly of Sovereign Remedies).
Curated Asheville: Personalized Experiences, Tours &
Wellness Adventures
Asheville's community of passionate creatives
and wellness-minded adventurers offers a new collection of
carefully crafted experiences, with safety at the forefront,
through Curated Asheville. From waterfall yoga hikes to
forest bathing to chakra-boosting aromatherapy, couples, solo
adventurers and families may select private, semi-private and
highly personalized activities to care for their mind and body,
activate a new hobby or refresh their spirit. Click here for the
full list of Curated Asheville experiences – offered winter through
March 2021.
- Sip cocktails and learn Asheville history while taking in views of the
sun setting behind the mountains with the Sunset Rooftop Bar
Tour by Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours.
- Enjoy a guided mountaintop or sunset yoga hike when you book
the Asheville Yoga Hike Package at The Lion and the Rose
Bed & Breakfast.
- De-stress with a private, 60-minute professional massage,
vibroacoustic therapy, local chocolates and organic aromatherapy
and body care products during The Salt Spa of Asheville and Himalayan Salt Cave Sanctuary's
Private Celebration Spa Special.
- The Snowshoe Hike offered by Hike Bike Kayak
includes the necessary equipment and a naturalist-led hike around a
nearby snowy mountain.
- Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast is offering Bread,
Bed & Breakfast, an overnight package that includes baking
lessons. Guests also take home a batch of dough and loaf of
bread.
River Arts District Evolves in 2021
Asheville's colorful art-and-warehouse
neighborhood along the French Broad River, the River Arts
District (RAD), is coming into a new era as a walkable
riverfront destination and entertainment district that fully
embraces its scenic location along one of the oldest rivers in the
world. A longer, improved greenway system with art-infused
pedestrian connectivity offers visitors a new way to experience
this intensely creative area (home to more than 230 artists) by
foot, bike or floatation-device-of-choice via new river access
points. Take a SUP tour; watch artists working in studios; wander
to airy wine bars or music venues; or sample famous barbecue and
food-truck finds in courtyards filled with street art.
Art Scene: New Museum Lands Major Exhibits + LEAF Announces
Festival Dates
Long-known as an arts colony with connections
to the American Craft Revival and mid-20th-century
avant-garde movements, the Asheville area features hundreds of fine
artists, mountain crafters, folk artists, colorful arts
neighborhoods and galleries.
- This year, visitors can finally explore the newly renovated
Asheville Art Museum that was unveiled just before the
pandemic, with safety measures and capacity limits in place.
The $24 million-plus, state-of-the-art building features
expanded gallery space, education facilities, an art library, a
lecture and performance venue and a rooftop sculpture terrace.
Through March 15, the museum is
hosting "Vantage Points: Contemporary Photography from the Whitney
Museum of American Art," highlighting representation of
individuals, places and narratives through photography. Through
April 19, the museum welcomes "Across
the Atlantic: American Impressionism Through the French Lens."
- Also shuttered by the pandemic soon after opening its doors is
LEAF Global Arts Center, a cultural and creative hub
fostering connection, curiosity and preservation with immersive and
interactive experiences located in the city's historical Black
business district, The Block. The center provides educational
experiences for guests rooted in music, art and community via
virtual offerings and advance reservations to explore the center.
The well-known festival arm of the LEAF nonprofit recently
announced its signature events for 2021: Spring LEAF Retreat
(May 13-16) at nearby Lake Eden,
LEAF Downtown/Reimagine (Aug.
27-28) in downtown Asheville and Fall LEAF Festival
(Oct. 14-17) at Lake Eden. Events
will be limited in size, with LEAF members given priority or, at
times, exclusive access to tickets.
Beer, Bites & Man's Best Friend
Now open,
Wagbar's unique concept merges 25,000 square feet of
off-leash dog park with a food-and-beverage bar. With plans to host
events throughout the year such as dog adoptions, themed parties,
dog-training sessions and live music, Wagbar strives to create a
safe environment – both for humans and their canine companions,
alike – while reinventing the traditional dog park. Day passes are
$10 (with immunization
documentation). The dog-centric design includes water and bathing
stations, a swimming hole, a selection of locally sourced treats
and other amenities.
ABOUT ASHEVILLE
- Surrounded by the highest peaks in the Eastern U.S.,
Asheville is steeped in natural
history, outdoor adventure and cultural legacies – including
America's Largest Home, Biltmore, and America's favorite scenic
drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway (which intersects Asheville at several points).
- Tucked away in the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
Asheville is located in the middle
of the Eastern Seaboard and is roughly a day's drive or less for 50
percent of the nation's population. Abundant outdoor dining,
plein-air art experiences and walkable neighborhoods and districts
have earned Asheville its
reputation as the "Paris of the
South."
- Asheville and the surrounding
Buncombe County is committed to
the adherence to safety guidelines during the pandemic. Downtown
kiosks remind visitors that North
Carolina requires masks indoors and outside, including
sidewalks when social distance cannot be maintained. Information on
the safety actions of local businesses and shared responsibility of
visitors can be found via the "Asheville Cares Stay Safe
Pledge."
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SOURCE Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau