Marijuana - Does Asheville need some Weed?

North Carolina NORML Chapter Inaugural Benefit Concert


Sunday, June 27, 2010, 9:00pm, The Garage at Biltmore, 101-D Fairview Rd., Asheville

Asheville attorney Jennifer Foster announces the initiation of a statewide North Carolina Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), www.norml.org, a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. No statewide chapter has existed to date.

NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession and responsible use of marijuana by adults. This model, similar to that recommended to Congress by President Nixon's esteemed Shafer Commission in 1972, is called "decriminalization.” NORML also strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering. NORML has advocated for the legal use of medicinal marijuana since 1972. Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate the non-psychoactive strain of cannabis known as hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.

On Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 9:00 pm, The Garage at Biltmore will host a benefit concert for the forming chapter featuring Trouble with Aaron Woody Wood, Jay Sanders, Jason Flournoy, and Mike Rhodes, whose collective resume spans such influential groups as Acoustic Syndicate, The Blue Rags, Donna The Buffalo, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Hollywood Red and Shanti Groove just to name a few. Closing out the evening will be The Screaming Js, featuring Jake Hollifield (The Blue Rags), Jason Krekel (Mad Tea Party), Mike Gray (Firecracker Jazz Band), Jonathan Paul Hess (Erika Jane and Remember the Bees). A minimum donation of $10 at the door will help the forming chapter gain 501(c)(3) status and provide for initial operating expenses.

Information will be provided as to how citizens can become involved to support the pending North Carolina Medical Marijuana Act, HB 1380, and otherwise help to reform marijuana and hemp prohibition in North Carolina.

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Firestorm Cafe & Books

Firestorm Cafe and Books is gearing up for a second anniversary celebration today, Saturday, June 5th!

These folks are super plugged in to the Asheville community and the whole damn world for that matter. They bring you good live music, book signings, readings, and more. They have an active presence on Facebook as well.

A worker-owned community event space located in Asheville at 48 Commerce Street.

Open 10am - 10pm (except Sun)
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On Sunday, June 6th | 4:00pm
Firestorm Orientation [meeting]

Come out to Firestorm to learn about how your local worker owned, worker operated cafe and bookstore runs and operates.


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The Spring Idiotarod: The Legendary Shopping Cart 5k returns on May 23

That's Idiot-irod! Sign your team up at raceforawesomeness.com

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It's The "All Go West" Festival

Haywood Road district gets its own festival on Saturday

The inaugural All Go West Festival in Asheville, NC is on Saturday, April 24th, 2010 from noon -10pm.

Long gone are the days when West Asheville was written off by residents as “Worst Asheville.” That frontier off Haywood Road has been settled by artists and entrepreneurs, hipsters and hippies.

This transformation into a bustling creative neighborhood is what the All Go West festival is celebrating from noon-10 p.m. Saturday.

This free street festival will be behind the Rocket Club and near Harvest Records on Waynesville Avenue, Westwood Place and Michigan Avenue in West Asheville. All Go West focuses on neighboring products featuring local art, food, beer vendors and musicians.

Exhibits and booths will showcase local Asheville artists and local nonprofits. There will be an Asheville craft beer tasting from noon-3 p.m. Tickets for the tasting are $20 advance online at www.allgowest.com or at The Rocket Club.

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The Return of Free Water Project

Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 7:00pm

The Garage at Biltmore
101 Fairview Rd. Suite B
Asheville

The Return of Free Water Project is a multimedia installation exploring issues surrounding the commodification of our world's water supply. We hope that you will join us at 7pm for an educational reception hosted by Ilsa Ananda Door of Creatrix Laboratories. Following the reception, at 8pm, you may mingle and dance the night away to fine local artists for the ear, eye and heart!

The Story of the Oasis…

The Oasis is a grove of trees made from the detritus of the water industry (plastic water & soda bottles, discarded PVC pipe, etc.) linked together to filter rainwater, pond water, or gray water into pure, clean water that you can drink. The Oasis is one phase of the Return of Free Water Project, an immersive, collaborative multimedia installation with the intention of helping people realize that they have the power to make a difference in our world’s water crisis by transforming their own relationship with water.

We invite you to join us in an evening of wonderful music and dance, live art, and transformation. Your donation at the door not only grants you entry to the event but helps the RoFW Project to purchase materials crucial to the timely development of this installation. Art has the powerful ability to draw people’s attention to the relevant issues of our time. When complete, the Return of Free Water will tour the Americas to spread its message to the masses.

For ideas on how you can make a positive difference, opportunities for participation, and for more information about the Project and our world’s water crisis, visit:

http://www.ReturnofFreeWater.org

7p - Reception and overview of The Return Of Free Water
8p - 5am(ish) - Music with:
LOGOS (live) http://www.logosmusic.net
Annuaki (live) http://www.touchsamadhi.com/live-acts/Annunaki
Gilbot http://www.ashevillefullmoongatherings.org
Arun - AVLFMG
Zennsie - TOUCH Samadhi
PoiZen - AVLFMG / TOUCH Samadhi

Visuals by Creatrix Laboratories & Awe Lucid http://www.awelucid.com

$10 entry 21+ to drink

Live At Moog with Amanda Palmer

YouTube via MoogMusicInc — April 14, 2010 — "Amanda Palmer & Her Nervous Cabaret Live at Moog Teaser. Catch Miss Palmers raucous performance shot live in the Moog Music Sound Studio in Asheville, NC Premiering April 21, 2010 exclusively at www.liveatmoog.com."

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Tears of Color – Abolishing: Human Trafficking

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Asheville Earth Day

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Cartoon: The Girl Gangs of Ashvegas

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Asheville Pet Friendly Restaurants

Downtown

The Laughing Seed Cafe
A completly vegetarian restaurant specializing in foods from around the world. The dishes prepared here celebrate fresh vegetables combined with all natural and predominantly organic ingredients. 828-252-3445

Carmel's Restaurant and Bar
Carmel's is already known as a destination in downtown Asheville with its Alfresco Dining, Romantic and Intimate Dining Room and Jazzy-chic Bar. Located in the Historic Grove Arcade, the exterior boosts some of the best outdoor seating — the perfect place to sit and watch Asheville go by while enjoying cocktails and some fantastic food. Executive Chef Carole Bowers invites you to Carmel's to enjoy what the Mountain Xpress called "Carmel's drop-dead gorgeous menu…" For menu details and reservations, please see our web site. (828) 252-8730

Jack of the Wood Brew Pub
Where the Smokey Mountains meet the British Isles. Handcrafted beers and wine & spirits. Located below the Laughing Seed Restaurant at 95 Patton Avenue. 828-252-5445

Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
77 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. For pizza, brews, and entertainment, this is the place, and they offer indoor and outdoor dining options. Dogs are allowed at the outer tables. They must be under owner's control/care, and leashed or crated at all times. 828-254-1281

Cats and Dawgs
1 Page Avenue, Suite 132, Asheville, NC 28801. Specializing in all beef hot dogs and catfish sandwiches, this eatery also offers indoor or outdoor dining options. Dogs are allowed at the outer tables. Dogs must be well behaved, under owner's control/care, and leashed or crated at all times.
828-281-8100

KAMM'S Frozen Custard Shop
111 O'Henry Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. Located at the Grove Arcade, this creamery offers a variety of daily homemade ice creams and for those who like to build their own flavor there is "Flavor by Request". Dogs are allowed to have their share at the outer tables only. Dogs must be well behaved, under owner's control at all times, leashed or crated, and cleaned up after at all times. 828-225-7200

Modesto
One Page Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. A trattoria specializing in brick wood-fired oven pizza, salads, soups, desserts, espresso coffee, wine and beer. Dogs are allowed to have their share at the outer tables only. Dogs must be well behaved, under owner's control at all times, leashed or crated, and cleaned up after at all times. 828-225-4133

Bouchon
62 North Lexington Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. Visitor and locals agree... Bouchon is the smart downtown destination for a cool cocktail or a great glass of wine. Staying for dinner? Experience an authentic French bistro in the "Paris of the South." Bon appetit y'all!. Dogs are allowed to have their share at the outer tables only. Dogs must be well behaved, under owner's control at all times, leashed or crated, and cleaned up after at all times. 828-350-1140

City Bakery Cafe
88 Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Family-owned and operated bakery offering European-style organic breads and fresh pasteries, all handmade, along with organic coffee, sandwiches, pizza and salads. Dogs are allowed to have their share at the outer tables only. 828-254-4289

Malaprop's Bookstore & Café
55 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801. A booklover's favorite, locally as well as nationally! Great books, great food, great coffee. Live music performances and author events throughout the year. Dogs are allowed inside the book store as long as they are away from the cafe area. 828-254-6734

Marble Slab Creamery
14 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. Select the ice cream flavor and "mixins" of your choice and watch as they are mixed into your creation on a frozen marble slab. Dogs are allowed to have their share at the outer tables only. 828-225-5579

New French Bar Courtyard Café
12 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. A quaint European bistro with a variety of menu options specializing in crabcakes and chocolate mousse. Enjoy Sunday Brunch in the garden courtyard and nightly drink specials at the bar. Dogs are allowed to have their share at the courtyard area. 828-254-5070

Salsa
6 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. A funky blend of Mexican and Caribbean flavors, Salsa offers innovative cuisine in a unique downtown Asheville setting. All food is made fresh. Organic and vegetarian fare are available. Dogs are allowed to have their share at the outer tables only. 828-252-9805

Thai Basil - Asheville
Authentic Thai cuisine by native Thai chefs. Enjoy fabulous food surrounded by authentic handmade Thai art. Outside dining in season. Pets allowed in outdoor seating area. Located in historic Grove Arcade Market. 828-258-0036

North Asheville

Usual Suspects
North Asheville Neighborhood Bar & Restaurant. Independent and locally owned. Patio and large dining area. Relaxed atmosphere. Dynamic global menu and daily specials. Boutique wine list and temperature controlled cellar. Full liquor bar. Extensive bottled beer selection and 14 on tap. Emphasis on evolving food and beverage options. 791 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 828-350-8181

Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company
675 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804. For pizza, brews, and entertainment, this is the place, and they offer indoor and outdoor dining options. Dogs are allowed at the outer tables. They must be under owner's control/care, and leashed or crated at all times. 828-254-1281

South Asheville

Corner Stone Restaurant
Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Open seven days a week. 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM. Homemade Soups, Salads, USDA Steaks, the fines Seafood delivered and prepared daily, Pasta, Charbroiled Burgers and Fresh Daily Specials. 102 Tunnel Road. 828-236-0201

West Asheville

Westville Pub
West Asheville at 777 Haywood Road, smoke-free neighborhood pub and restaurant, featuring microbrews, imports, and domestics on tap and bottled, with a full bar. Freshly made menu items include award winning wings, grill favorites, and light to hearty meals for carnivores and vegetarians. Live music 5 nights a week. Hours 12 noon - 2 am daily.. Kitchen open 12 noon - 11 pm daily, till 1am Friday and Saturday. 828-225-9782

Sunny Point Cafe and Bakery
626 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806. This eatery and bakery specializes in using local, organic ingredients with dinner and daily specials, and indoor and outdoor dining options. Dogs are allowed at the outer tables. Dogs must be under owner's control/care, and leashed and cleaned up after at all times. 828-252-0055

West End Bakery and Cafe
757 Haywood Road, West Asheville, North Carolina. West End Bakery and Cafe use 100% organic flour and the freshest ingredients available. Everything served at the West End is made from scratch, and whenever possible we use locally grown produce and organic products. Dogs are allowed at the outer tables. Dogs must be under owner's control/care, and leashed and cleaned up after at all times. 828-252-WEST (9378)

East Asheville

Cafe Azalea
1011 E. Tunnel Rd. Suite. 100, Asheville, NC 28805. Breakfast includes a three-egg omelet with lobster and brie cheese and French toast stuffed with raspberry cream cheese and topped with a raspberry-orange compote. For lunch, the restaurant features paninis, fresh salads and sandwiches, including a pulled duck in molasses barbecue sauce. Dogs are allowed at the outer tables. Dogs must be under owner's control/care, and leashed and cleaned up after at all times. 828-299-3753

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Gaia's Handfasting

Handfasting is THE traditional way to marry. It reaches across nationality, religions, race, and sex. We have sold many beautiful cords to satisfied couples all around the globe.

Nestled in the mystifying mountains of Asheville NC, USA.

We specialize in beautiful hand-crafted handfasting cords custom designed to match your lifestyle.

Officiating for all types of weddings, handfastings, unions, or poly-amorous bondings.

Visit our website for more information on our cords, services, and to read our satisfied customer reviews.

Call us: Monday-Friday from 8am-7pm EST

(828)670-1768

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Joyful Belly

creates yummy, healthy recipes using Ayurveda. We're an encyclopedia of food complete with ingredients and health tips. We make it simple to enter your doshas and create a personal Ayurvedic diet online, complete with a grocery shopping list and your own personal recipe book shipped to your door.

Joseph is the founder of leading Ayurvedic dieting website JoyfulBelly.com. He promotes practical Ayurveda at diverse locations nationally from local yoga studios to world renowned Yale University (invite him!). He is a faculty member at the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism, director of Ayurveda for Yoga Spirit Studios and writes for the Light on Ayurveda Journal. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University where he was also a teacher of mathematics, business and software development. Joseph studied Ayurveda under Dr. Vasant Lad and in India.

He runs an Ayurveda clinic in Asheville, NC. Contact 828-348-4880 for an appointment.

Prior to Ayurveda, Joseph worked on public health projects with a particular focus on South Asia & the Middle East. He continues to manage a public health project using mobile communications for clean water in Bangladesh. Joseph studied the language and culture of Bangladesh over ten years and is fluent in Bengali. He loves Bengali art and spent a year filming folk music in the streets of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. He is also a student of Sanskrit.

The Joyful Belly technique is practiced around the country. To find a practitioner in your area and for more information, you can visit the website. link

Friday @ Asheville Green Drinks

This Friday, Rev. Itsumi and Sister Denise of the Nipponzan Myohoji peace-walking Buddhist monks will be speaking at the weekly Green Drinks gathering.

People gather for Green Drinks at 6:00 to socialize, and the presentation starts at 6:30. It usually involves a talk of about 20 minutes with questions to follow. The location is the Bobo Gallery, 22 North Lexington (just off college Street).

Itsumi and Denise will speak about the interrelationship of peace and environmental issues, specifically emphasizing how they are intertwined at the nuclear weapons manufacturing complex in Oak Ridge, TN, just over the mountains and upwind of western North Carolina.

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Green Drinks isn't just an Asheville thing but it does lean "Green". And it's global. If you're not in Asheville, see if your local node has a gathering.

Asheville FringeArts Festival!

Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 8:00pm
End Time: Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 5:00pm
Location: Bebe Theatre and other venues
Street: 20 Commerce St, etc

Come One, Come All! Experience the best of the avant-garde, the experimental, the fringey, freaky, and titillating performances at the 8th Annual FringeArts Festival!

Featuring many talented local performers in a few venues!
All shows are different, so come see them all!

Festival Opening Night Extravaganza!
Jan 21st at 8pm
Located at Scandal's Nightclub, 11 Grove St.
Tickets only $8.00
Jen & The Juice, our musical headliners with Cookie La Rue, our mistress of ceremonies!

Fringe in a Blackbox: A Fringe Focus on Movement and Theatre
Jan 22nd, 23rd at 7:30pm, Jan 24th at 3pm
Located at Bebe Theatre, 20 Commerce St.
Tickets: $12 Students with ID/Seniors $10

Fringe on Wheels: A LaZoom Bus Mystery Tour
Jan 22nd, 23rd at 7:30 and 10pm
Bus departs from the Bebe Theatre
Tickets: $12 Students with ID/Seniors $10

Fringe Audio: A Fringe Focus on Sonic Experimentation
Jan 22nd, 23rd at 8pm
Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center, 56 Broadway
Tickets: $12 Students with ID/Seniors/BMCM+AC members $10

GET YOUR FREAK PASS AND SEE ALL SHOWS FOR JUST $25!!!
**Tickets for individual shows are also available

Visit ashevillefringe.org for schedules, to buy tix, and get more fringey info.

See you at the Fringe!

Haircuts for Haiti: Bringing Community Together in Support of Relief Efforts in Haiti

Area citizens and business are finding ways to contribute to the Haiti relief efforts and by getting your haircut in a participating salon on Feb. 1, you can participate as well.

Haircuts for Haiti is one way Asheville citizens and businesses are coming together to support relief efforts in Haiti. Five Asheville salons are holding a cut-a-thon and donating 100% of haircut proceeds on Monday, February 1, 2010 to relief efforts for the earthquake that devastated Haiti.

The salons welcome other businesses to match what is raised or become part of Haircuts for Haiti in whatever way is feasible for them.

Participating businesses will be listed on the Wildflower Studio website, www.wildflowerstudioasheville.com.

Businesses interested in participating in this effort should call Amanda at 505-9490.

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Way to go, guys. I wish you tons of success.